Contents

• Note from the Editor
• Errata
• For Your Diary
• Update from the Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink
• News and Opportunities
• News from Peninsula Landcare and Related Groups
• Grants
• Local Information
• Newsletter Feedback
• Image at The End: White Boomer

No matter how much care is taken with correcting errors and checking facts, the odd one sneaks through and this happened in the last newsletter, where the story of Chris Brayne meeting with Dunns Creek folks sported the wrong image. So with apologies, here is the correct image and caption.
 

Chris Brayne (second from right) with members of Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare (including from left: Mark Lethlean, Michelle de la Coeur and Peter Scott).
 

Note that the full events section has been transferred to the Events Page on the MPLN Newsletter. We shall continue with brief notifications of imminent activities here as a reminder.

World Wetland Day 

World Wetland Day is coming up on February 2 2020. Check the web for event announcements, including an all-day set of activities at Boneo Park.

Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere

Did you know that we all live in one of only two biospheres in Victoria?

The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere was established under UNESCO in with the goal of achieving "a sustainable balance between the goals of conserving biological diversity, promoting economic development, and maintaining associated cultural values".

Encompassing and area of over 2,100 square kilometres, the biosphere is broken loosely down into three zones for management purposes:

A recent exploratory meeting between biosphere and landcare folks exchanged information on current activities and priorities. We also agreed to exchange newsletter items on items of mutual interest. The first such item on the Bryozoan Reefs of Western Port is included under State of the Environment in this newsletter.

Shire’s Revegetation Guides Now Easier to find Online!

Hooray! The Shire’s revegetation guides are now easier to find and have their very own page:
 
Revegetation Plant Guides - https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Environment/Flora-Fauna-Biodiversity/Revegetation-Plant-Guides
 
MP Shire Declares Climate Emergency

On 13 August 2019, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council unanimously declared a Climate Emergency, calling for immediate and urgent action to reverse global warming.

In doing this, the Shire joins more than 190 jurisdictions in 24 countries and 290 million citizens worldwide that have declared a climate emergency.
 
The motion also called for the Australian State and Federal Governments to follow suit and declare a climate emergency supported with legislated programs.

The Shire will now develop a community-supported Action Plan outlining clear targets, outcomes, estimated budgets and time-frames for the Peninsula.

Shire Mayor David Gill said Council was calling on the nation to join the fight for our planet. "We’ll do everything we can to address and mitigate climate change at a local level but it’s going to take action from the State and Federal Government to make a real difference".

“This is a time to put political preferences aside and unite for the sake of our environment and the future of our next generation”.

    - Image from Getty Images
 
Crittenden Estate (Dunns Creek Landcare) Receives Sustainable Winegrowing Award

We’re thrilled to share news hot off the press that one of our Landcare members – Crittenden Estate - has just won the International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition.
 
The most significant international award of its kind, this prestigious American based competition assesses wineries from all over the world for their ground-to-glass sustainability programs and wine quality.
 
Awarded first place ahead of other international winemaking families such as Henschke in South Australia, Portugal’s Herdade dos Grous, and Jackson Family Wines of California has been pretty humbling news, but a great reward for the land care and environmental practices at the Estate.
It’s been a decade long passion project for the Crittenden family to innovate the way they care for their farm on the Mornington Peninsula. They have abandoned synthetic chemicals, started a program of inter-row cropping, a comprehensive composting program, added bee hives, solar power and water reclamation, with such efforts aimed at continually improve the quality of their wine. The award recognises these initiatives together with our 2017 Cri de Coeur Pinot Noir to showcase of their viticulture and winemaking approach.

• Click here for the official Crittenden Press Release on the award
• Click here to read more on this international award presented by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in partnership with FIVS, a Paris-based international federation of sustainability-minded wine organisations
• You might also be interested in viewing these two videos which further highlight their composting efforts and commitment to under-vine management.

Meantime, they are drawing straws to see who’ll fly from the family estate in Dromana to the US to claim the coveted glass trophy at the award presentation in January.

    - Image: Crittendens.
 
Caring for our Wildlife in the Heat

You can help our native birds and other wildlife by leaving out clean water in a safe, accessible, and shady place for them - particularly during heat waves. Shallow bowls are best, as small birds can get trapped in deep dishes and drown. Make sure the water for birds is high enough to be protected from predators e.g. cats.

If you only have large bowls or buckets, place some large twigs or rocks inside to allow any trapped animals to make their way out.

If you spot heat stressed or struggling wildlife, call a local wildlife care group for help. In the interim, provide water in a small bowl - or if they are young or completely incapacitated, an eye dropper or wet cloth can help. If possible to do safely,  move to a shady, cool spot.

It's also a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car including water, a blanket/towel and a box for injured wildlife. And make sure you have the wildlife emergency contact on your phone: 0417 380 687 or 0417 395 883 - all hours.

     - Image: Greg Holland
 

Artificial intelligence to Help Weed Out Pests

 
In some exciting news to end the year, Minister for Agriculture Senator Bridget McKenzie, has officially announced that Centre for Invasive Species Solutions will be leading a consortium of partners to develop Australia’s first real-time weed identification app, which could yield considerable benefits for farmers and the environment.

“I’m excited by the trailblazing work of the to produce Australia’s first real-time, easy to use automated identification app of national, state and regional priority weeds" the Minister said in her media statement.

“The project will adopt the latest advances in technology including artificial intelligence and smart phone accessibility to identify weeds, including seedlings, to facilitate effective early control."

The Centre looks forward to working with project partners from the Atlas of Living Australia, CSIRO and across the states including, NSW DPI, Agriculture Victoria and Primary Industries, and Regions South Australia on this groundbreaking project.
 
Have Your Say on the Draft Coastcare Victoria Strategy 2020-2025

The draft Coastcare Victoria Strategy 2020-2025 is now available for community feedback.  DELWP invites you to review the document and provide your feedback at the above site.  Your feedback will help them refine the draft strategy to ensure it represents stakeholder aspirations for the Coastcare program.

ABC Landline Invites You to 'Meet the Ferals'
 
Produced and presented by reporter Prue Adams, this ten-part series will focus on a different feral animal each episode.

The content has been gathered from the three decades Landline has been on air.

The series covers:

1. wild dogs
2. feral cats
3. goats
4. rabbits
5. feral pigs
6. wild deer
7. brumbies
8. cane toads
9. camels
10. carp

The first of five episodes began on December 1, in Landline’s Summer Series, and will air each week. The whole series also will be available on iView and YouTube soon and you can view the first two episode on wild cats and dogs here.

     - Image from here.

Landcare Trailer Available for Members

A reminder that Landcare groups are welcome to borrow the new trailer for working bees, etc - it comes with a wide range of tools for weeding, planting, and other landcare activities. Our new gas burner also is available to tackle annual weeds (in wet conditions only). Please contact Jacqui to book.

Monitoring the Outcomes of Revegetation
 
Tim O'Brien, La Trobe scientist Sacha Jellinek, and ARI / La Trobe University co-appointment Andrew Bennett are trialling a simple revegetation monitoring protocol. The aim is to harness the power of citizen science in combination with Catchment Management Authorities, Landcare groups, and other non-government organisations such as Greening Australia to assess the outcomes of revegetation activities in Victoria.

It is envisaged that the data produced will be used to gain a better understanding of how revegetation planting success varies between plant species, how it varies between sites, the factors that influence planting success, and how revegetation might be more effective in the future.

Help Needed for Wildlife Carer on Southern Peninsula
 
Crystal Ocean Wildlife Shelter is a not-for-profit wildlife shelter in Rye. Carer Brenda has been involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for over 25 years. puts her whole life into rescuing and saving injured or lost wildlife and birds in need.

Brenda currently has a number of kookaburras and tawny frogmouths in her care which are expensive to feed. She relies on donations to care for the wildlife brought to her. If you’re able to donate, please go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/crystal-ocean-wild-life-shelter

Brenda also is looking for donations of aviaries for the many birds brought to her.

Contact information:
https://www.facebook.com/CrystalOceanWildlifeShelter/
https://crystaloceanwildli.wixsite.com/crystaloceanwildlife
Address:  Golf Parade,  Rye, Vic 3941
Rescue Hotline:  0407 787 770
E-mail:  crystal_ocean2003@yahoo.com.au
 
https://www.facebook.com/CrystalOceanWildlifeShelter/

Climate and Weather Extremes They are A’changin

The last few months have been interesting – weird even – when it comes to the multiple signals on whether climate change is changing the face of Australia.

Many scientists, including myself, consider the current and ongoing changes to our climate to be among the gravest of threats to our civilisation and way of life. An increasing number organisations and groups also are become aware of the threat and beginning to do something about it.

But sadly, much of the current debate is obfuscated by spin and cherry-picking designed to confuse the urgency and gravity of the situation, particularly as all-sides of federal politics indulge in political point-scoring,  obfuscation, and incorrect claims about climate change and its impacts.

For example:
The Australian government continues make assurances such as:

And yet:

The topic now dominates the major news headlines, but the degree of misinformation and partial truths makes it difficult for all of us who are being/will be affected to make any rational conclusion or decisions on what to do.
 
The remainder of the article is devoted to simply providing you with the available information - either the facts or the current best scientific assessments - so that you can make up your own mind.

Warning, this is a bit longer than most articles, deliberately so, so you can see all the relevant evidence.

So What are the Facts?
 

First, we present the data on domestic greenhouse gas emissions and where Australia sits relative to international emissions. Next, we examine the large response of extremes to relatively small changes in the mean climate. And finally, we consider temperature trends and the climate change impacts on a range of Australian weather extremes.

1. Australian Emission Trends

On a per capita basis, Australia’s domestic greenhouse emissions have fallen since 1990.
 
However, what counts against our international obligations is the total emissions and here we have had some interesting ups and downs, but with no overall trend of any consequence since the mid 1990’s – emissions actually have risen slightly since the repeal of the carbon tax after the change of government in 2014.

The  breakdown of all major contributors to our total domestic greenhouse emissions in the figures to the right and below further indicates that the only negative contributors have been:

In all other sectors, emissions have increased by 35-60% since the mid 1990’s.

2. Australian Emissions relative to Global Emissions
 

Our per capita emissions are amongst the highest in the world, and are the highest of all developed countries (first figure).

When counted in terms of the final emissions others make from our exports of fossil fuels, we are the third-highest global contributor - behind only Russia and Saudi Arabia (second figure).
 
This historically has been due largely to our massive export of dirty coal, but the recent rapid increases in LPG exports (300% since 2015) have made them a substantial contributor also.
 
Including this export would triple our domestic emissions contribution. It is not counted in our international obligations because the Paris Agreement agreed to count only emissions that occurred in the country where they were released.
 
It is fair to say that if we were not providing the coal, then other countries would step forward, and that this provides a substantial source of export dollars and jobs. But the atmosphere and oceans do not recognise international boundaries, so this export comes back to have a direct impact on our local climate. Perhaps, therefore, it should be counted in the balance sheet by comparing export earnings against the increasing cost of climate-change damage to Australia.
 
3. Temperature Trends
 
Global temperatures are now at 1^oC above the mean for the 20^th century and the large bulk of this warming has occurred since 1970. Land temperatures have increased at 2-3 times the rate of those in the ocean, with some areas such as Arctic tundra increasing by up to 3^oC (not shown).
 
The IPCC has concluded that there is a 95% probability that these changes have occurred mostly from the increasing greenhouse gases arising from human causes.

Relatively small changes such as 1^oC can be hard to conceptualise. One easy method is to note that the 1^oC temperature increase at Melbourne has meant that we are now experiencing conditions (including extremes) in September that were typical of those in October before 1970! Related changes include: bud burst and germination of plants are several weeks earlier; once the rain stops, the land dries out faster; and we are seeing throughout eastern Australia an earlier transition to severe bushfire environments.

This example emphasizes the unfortunate fact that for any distribution of weather elements (temperatures, heavy rain, tropical cyclones, etc) small changes in the mean are accompanied by very large changes in the extremes.

4. How Small Changes in the Mean Result in Large Changes to the Extremes
 
This is illustrated by the accompanying figure showing the observed distribution of maximum daily temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere for a baseline period from 1951-1980 (white line) and a climate change period of 2004-2014 (red area). In this display, temperature anomalies are along the horizontal axis and the frequency of occurrence is plotted in the vertical. Also shown along the top are the zones of below average, above average, and extreme temperatures for the 1951-1980 period.
Notice the massive increase that has occurred in both rare and previously unheard of temperatures. For example, extreme heat occurred only 0.4% of the time in the first period. The observed 1^oC increase in the mean temperature has been accompanied by a 20-fold increase to 8.1% in these extreme heat occurrences.
 
As the growth in frequency of heat extremes in the above graph shows, had you lived and died before 1950 you would have probably experienced a similar number of extreme heat days in your lifetime to those that people who were born after 1950 are now experiencing every year!
 
This simple example applies widely across all weather and climate extremes. So the question we should be asking ourselves is not “whether there is a climate-change signal in the current intense rain/drought/temperature” but “how much has the amplitude and frequency of this intense rain/drought/temperature increased because of the changing climate”.

5. Impacts on Australian Extreme Weather

The following table shows a recent expert assessment of the current scientific understanding of the response of severe weather events of relevance to Southeastern Australia. It is from a recently released report by IAG (Insurance Australia Group) and NCAR (US National Center for Atmospheric Research), which contains a detailed assessment across a wide range of weather and climate extremes. The table shows those extremes directly relevant to southern Australia. The full report and the presentations accompanying its formal release may be downloaded here.

6. Impacts on Global Extreme Weather
 
Similar information to the above table, but for the globe can be found here. This report also includes information on climatic extremes such as droughts and heatwaves.

7. Conclusion
 
This article has attempted to provide a straight-forward, objective indication of the available information on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change – all with the sole purpose of providing sufficient information for you to make up your own mind.
 
Should there be sufficient interest, we shall continue to explore this area in future newsletters, but with specific focus on the Peninsula and nearby environments.
 
For now, let’s leave the final word to that much-revered sage, Bob Dylan.
 
Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth saving
Then you better start swimmin' or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’

Further Reading:

Dunns Creek
 
In late November 2019, Dunns Creek Landcare members undertook a weeding working bee along McIlroys Road, Red Hill with assistance from a Natural Systems contractor.
 
These were the species found in an area roughly 10 metres x 100 metres in the work area:
Australian Buttercup (Ranunculus lappaceus)
Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellate)
Austral Cranesbill (Geranium solanderi s.l.)
Prickly Woodruff (Asperula scoparia)
Moss sp.
Common Grass-sedge (Carex breviculmis)
Grass Trigger plant (Stylidium graminifolium),
Common raspwort (Gonocarpus tetragynus)
Wattle Mat Rush (Lomandra filiformis)
Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia)
Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa)
Kidney weed (Dicondra repens)
Weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides)
Twining glycine (Glycine clandestina)
Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis)
Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Mountain Clematis (Clematis aristate)
Soft Tussock Grass (Poa morrisii)
Austral Bracken (Pteridium esculentum)
Bristly Wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia setacea)
Shady Wood-sorrell (native oxalis) (Oxalis exilis)
Variable plantain (Plantago varia)
 
Main Creek Catchment
 
The Macpherson Lane project is coming along nicely. The majority of Sweet Pittosporums have been treated and further weed control scheduled for the coming weeks. Our working bee successfully planted 300 indigenous tube stock and removed 3 ute-loads of wire and rubbish from the laneway. Thank you to all who helped achieve this fantastic result.

Greg Holland is still negotiating with the Scientific Advisory for the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 for Karamu (Coprosma robusta) to get “Nomination of a Potentially Threatening Process for Listing”. Karamu is devastating our local bushland and has started to cross breed with local native species Prickly Current (Coprosma quadrifida). We are currently monitoring a hybrid plant to see if the fruits on this bush develop into viable seeds that will potentially spread this new species.
 
Balcombe Moorooduc

A number of successful community events have been coordinated this year, including composting and a fire biodiversity workshop.
 
Sheepwash Creek Catchment
Sheepwash Creek Landcare have focussed predominantly on consolidating previous years’ weeding via regular working bees this year.  
Achievements:

Devilbend

Jacqui has been working with this group on its renewal this year and the group now has a new committee, a new name (TBC – Possibly Devilbend Hastings Landcare) and a new project! Stay tuned for more next year!
 
MP Equine

Jacqui has also been working with this group to help consolidate their numbers. We ran a ‘Sustainable Grazing’ workshop recently which was well attended and resulted in new memberships.
 
Merricks Coolart Catchment

We have been working towards our goal of creating a biolink between Civic Reserve, Balnarring and Western Port Bay. We recently received a grant through Greg Hunt to undertake a fauna survey in the area and ran a successful biolinks community meeting mid-year. We are now looking forward to working with Michele Sabto and Virginia Carter in the ‘LMPL” project in 2020.
 
Manton & Stony Creeks

Recently received funding through Greg Hunt’s Community Grants to undertake biolink work in Shoreham.
 
Red Hill South

Worked with Homesglen students to set up fauna cameras on private properties across Red Hill South and with the MP Shire to install interpretive signage at the Red Hill-Merricks Trail. Recently applied for funding for koala trees through Greg Hunt’s Communities grant.

South West Mornington Peninsula

Recently received funding from PPWCMA for biolink work along Hyslops Road, Main Ridge. Continuing 1080 baiting in the Drum Drum Alloc Valley. We now boast the highest membership of all Landcare groups!

Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation

Our Sunday BBQ went very well and we had just over 50 people braving the weather. We were really excited by news from Councillor David Gill that a motion passed at a Council meeting last week notes the grave concerns of the community regarding the diminishing koala population on the Mornington Peninsula and elsewhere and takes a number of actions including organising a public meeting and instigating an Advisory Committee to investigate the koala situation as well as other threatened flora and fauna on the peninsula.
 
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mornington-Peninsula-Koala-Conservation-172593936728985/posts/?ref=page_internal
 

Community Conservation Grants: Protect Native Species, Habitat, Landscapes and Cultural heritage

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife(FNPW) is welcoming grant applications for conservation projects. Grants are available for both field projects and education programs that have a direct outcome for nature conservation in Australia.

FNPW Community Conservation Grants aim to fund urgent and high priority projects that have a direct outcome for nature conservation.

Applications are now open and close on Friday 31 January 2020.

https://www.fnpw.org.au/grants/conservation-project-grants
 

Regular Grant Opportunities
 

Do you any questions or complaints? How about a story to tell? Is there a weed, plant, fungus, slime mould, or animal that you want to know about? Have you identified a new, rare, or interesting species? Or a good book? How about a great photo?

Please contact Greg Holland for it to be featured in the newsletter.

Jacqui Salter: Landcare Facilitator, MPLN ph: 0408 213 079
Greg Holland: Newsletter Editor.
David Maddocks: President of MPLN ph: 0429 990 518
Michele Sabto: Project Coordinator for ‘Linking the Mornington Peninsula Landscape’ project.
Chantal Kelly: Project Coordinator for ‘Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink’ Project.
Sarah Saxton: MP Shire Agribusiness & Food Industry Officer.
Lizzie Younger: Melbourne Water River Health Officer.

Species name: Macropus giganteus ssp clausius, Family: Macropididae.

Origin: Reputedly bred by elves in Tasmania.

Status: Extremely rare, only six known to be in existence.

Reproduction: Requires a chance genetic mutation.

Similar Animals: Grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus - easily distinguished by their grey/blue colour.

Environmental Role: An aid to strolling down memory lane.