We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of these lands and waters.
World Rivers Day was the fourth Sunday in September.
“Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.”
Mark Angelo. https://worldriversday.com/
Jacob, one of our younger Landcare members, has recently written a project (attached to this update) about freshwater fish. One question he poses is, “Why hasn’t research been done in our local rivers on the native (fish) species?”
The good news is that, as a result of the challenges managing impacts of recent high rainfall on water quality during highway construction at the Black Spur, extra monitoring and research of our nationally vulnerable Australian Grayling Fish will be undertaken both upstream and downstream (thanks to our EPBC laws). This may give insights into Grayling breeding habits and will take place when there are significant events or incidents and then each April for two years after road construction is completed.
High sediment loads have been clearly visible and CPB contractors have been putting in a major effort to slow run-off, catch sediment, anticipate where flows will occur and even be prepared to proactively treat water to improve water quality. Under special conditions, they have been allowed limited access to the flood plain. The white protective sheeting to slow erosion made me think of the wrapped cliffs of the artist Christo!
Take extra care on highway and rail trail. There will be more short stoppages as soil is transported from one side to the other. Major Road Projects Victoria (and CPB Contractors) has released an informative community update for October.
Amidst the construction delays and challenges, spare a thought for the original builders of the Great Southern Rail Trail and its bridges - which subsequent 1890 floods washed away. Coral found a newspaper article about it – “How the Money Goes” The Age Saturday 13 1891. It is available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190625094 . “Fearfully rough country” was mentioned. “About 75% of the timber used was Blue Gums, the remainder being Red Gum, Iron Bark, and Box brought from the Gippsland Lakes” by steamers and schooners to Franklin River.
Our group bird-monitoring walks have resumed in small numbers again after being interrupted by Covid 19 restrictions. A platypus and koala were recent highlights (even though not birds!). It’s also good seeing Black Cockatoos unperturbed by road works and Australian Clematis (Clematis aristata) looking beautiful with their white blossom draped over shrubs. Control of Sweet Pittosporum (recently begun along the Rail Trail) followed by revegetation will assist these species. Unfortunately the Rail Trail Management Plan only specifies removal of 50 % of the canopy over 3 years which, without follow up, will provide only partial and very temporary control.
At Mel and Luke’s wetlands, swans hatched 6 cygnets and they now seem to wander between adjoining Black Spur Wetlands and Sue and Eric’s place. This will be good news to bird watching members of The Blackburn Creeklands https://blackburncreeklands.wordpress.com/ who have been in touch since their visit earlier in the year.
The documents from Nerrena Tarwin Valley Landcare Group’s September Annual General Meeting are on our website. There was a very interesting piece on the Koonwarra Fossils in the Sentinel Times 16 September 2020 https://sgst.com.au/2020/09/new-road-to-old-discoveries/ . Dr Stephen Poropat is scheduled to present to us on 16th October .
|
