Dandenong Ranges Restoration Project Magazine

DANDENONG RANGES WILDLIFE RECOVERY,

WEED CONTROL AND FUEL REDUCTION PROGRAM

CELEBRATING

our ACHIEVEMENTS

2015

—

PORT PHILLIP & WESTERNPORT

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Celebrating our Achievements:

Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery,

Weed Control and Fuel Reduction Program

Published by Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment

Management Authority, Frankston, September 2017

03 8781 7900

www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au

Copyright © The State of Victoria, Port Phillip and

Westernport Catchment Management Authority, 2017

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DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 2

Introduction 4

Foreword 5

CONTENTS

Program overview 6

Project highlights 7

Trust for Nature: Protecting Properties Connecting People 8

Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group: Protecting the 9

Lyrebird in Sherbrooke Forest

The Country Fire Authority: New life for Macclesfield 10

Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushland: Glenfern Valley 11

Bushland brought back to life

Friends of Holly Hill: Ferny Creek revitalised 12

Cardinia Shire Council: Council and Landcare working together 13

Sherbrooke Community School: School creates a 14

different kind of corridor

Community champions making a difference to the Dandenong Ranges 15

Wurundjeri Tribe Land, Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council: 17

Bullen Bullen Cultural Tours

Community Weeds Alliance of the Dandenongs: Weeds Without Borders 18-19

DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015

3

INTRODUCTION


FOREWORD

The rolling hills, weathered gullies and dense rainforests of the Dandenong

Ranges conjure fond memories of Sunday drives and weekends away

for millions of Melbournians. It is the closest cool temperate rainforest

to Melbourne and attracts visitors from all over the world.

hat many people don’t realise is that the

W rainforest we’ve grown to love is under threat.

Introduced pest plants and animals are degrading

the native environment. What may look like an

abundance of new plant and animal species is

actually a life threatening infestation.

Weeds like Sycamore Maple, Cape Ivy, Radiata

Pine Trees and English Holly can be beautiful in

their natural environment. But in the Dandenong

Ranges, they dominate and smother the fragile

native vegetation, taking away food sources and

habitat for native animals. They slowly eliminate

a wide variety of native plant and animal species,

threatening this entire unique ecosystem.

As well as being a threat to the biodiversity, many

of these weed species pose a serious fire threat to

nearby communities.

The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment

Management Authority (PPWCMA) works to

protect 1.4 million hectares of Victoria’s natural

environment including the Dandenong Ranges.

Collaborating with local stakeholders, the

PPWCMA designed a community-led program

focused on wildlife recovery, protecting

threatened species, and controlling weeds

and pest animals, as well as reducing fire risk to

communities.

With funding of $3 million over three years from

the Australian Government’s National Landcare

Programme, the PPWCMA and many other

community groups and organisations delivered

the Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed

Control and Fuel Reduction Program.

The program provided grant funding to empower

passionate and motivated community groups to

undertake activities including extensive and largescale

weed removal, planting of native species

and fuel reduction burning, as well as community

events and training, in areas that were priorities for

local action.

In these pages, you will find a snapshot of the

stories of success, as we celebrate the incredible

efforts of dedicated friends groups, community

groups, councils, local CFA brigades, Landcare

networks and groups and the Wurundjeri Council,

who all worked together with a shared vision to

protect the Dandenong Ranges.

Because as this program shows, it is not just the

role of one person, one agency or one organisation

to find one quick fix. What really makes a

difference is when we all work together.

—

Stephen Thuan, Project Manager, Dandenong

Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed Control and Fuel

Reduction Program.


PROGRAM OVERVIEW

For the past three years, the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA has been

coordinating the Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed Control and

Fuel Reduction Program.

he program was funded by the Australian

T Government’s National Landcare Programme

that provided $3 million over three years,

with specific requirements for environmental

improvement and bushfire risk reduction.

The program aimed to improve the health of

the Dandenong Ranges through the delivery of

community-based environmental projects for

wildlife recovery, weed management and bush

fire fuel reduction projects.

It also aimed to educate and inform the

community on bushfire risks, weed identification

and removal, Indigenous cultural heritage, and

protection of the unique Dandenong Ranges

environment.

The program consisted of the following three

components:

• $2,040,000 over three years for 63 community

grants (Dandenong Ranges Environmental and

Bushfire Reduction Community Grants)

• $450,000 over three years for a large-scale

project by the Community Weed Alliance of the

Dandenongs

• $150,000 for a project to develop and market

the Bullen Bullen Cultural Tours

The community grants component was the largest

part of the program and were categorised to

reflect the range and scale of works that groups

could undertake.

These were:

• $50,000 and above (projects addressing

large-scale issues over multiple years)

• $10,000-$50,000 (medium-sized projects

addressing a range of issues)

• Under $10,000 (small on-ground projects under

12 months)

The program was truly collaborative, involving all

levels of government, Traditional Owners and the

community. PPWCMA provided the coordination

and expert advice and the community took

ownership of each project, leading the way in

achieving outstanding outcomes.

The PPWCMA would like to acknowledge all the

Landcare networks and groups, community groups,

councils, government agencies and departments

and local CFA brigades that contributed through

the delivery of the 63 community grants.

Together they achieved vital on-ground action

and community capacity building to improve the

environment and reduce the risk of bushfires.

The PPWCMA would also like to acknowledge the

effort of the Federal Member for La Trobe, Jason

Wood MP, in supporting this program to be a great

success.


PROJECT

HIGHLIGHTS


PROTECTING

PROPERTIES

CONNECTING PEOPLE

A unique Trust for Nature project has helped to protect native vegetation

and endangered wildlife across more than 100 hectares in the Dandenong

Ranges, by removing more than 20 species of noxious weeds.

ative orchids, Powerful Owls and Bandicoots,

N which are often indicators of healthy

ecosystems, have been spotted at several

properties since the work was completed.

The ‘Protecting Properties, Connecting People’

project aimed to help at least 10 property owners

with permanent protection covenants in the

Dandenong Ranges improve their biodiversity values

and reduce bushfire risk by controlling high-threat

weed species.

With a $70,000 grant, Trust for Nature went

above and beyond their target, treating weeds at

17 covenanted private properties and two nature

reserves across the Dandenong Ranges in Yellingbo,

Monbulk, Emerald, Olinda, Belgrave South, Selby and

Lysterfield.

The project engaged the expertise of the Traditional

Owners of the Dandenongs, the Wurundjeri

Council and their Our Country or ‘Narrap’ team,

who undertook specialised weed removal and

revegetation works.

Trust for Nature Regional Manager for Port Phillip

and Western Port, Ben Cullen, said the funding has

had a meaningful impact to both the environment

and communities in the Dandenong Ranges.

“I’ve worked in the Port Phillip and Western Port

area for almost 10 years and it is some of the most

positive feedback from landowners we’ve ever had.

They were so grateful for the quality of work and

knowledge shared,” Ben said.

Ben added that landholders are sometimes new

to the area and need help to identify weeds and

protect endangered species.

“MANY PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THE

CITY AND BUY A PROPERTY IN THE

DANDENONG RANGES DON’T HAVE

THE KNOWLEDGE OF WEED CONTROL

OR SENSITIVE SPECIES ON THEIR

LAND. WE HELP BY GIVING THEM

THE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO

IMPROVE THEIR LAND, PROTECTING

THE NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF

THE AREA.”

Trust for Nature plans to expand the project and has

identified 120 properties in the area where they can

continue the project.


PROTECTING

THE LYREBIRD IN

SHERBROOKE FOREST

A $50,000 project to reduce the impact of wild Sambar Deer in

Sherbrooke Forest has helped to protect one of the Dandenong’s most

loved birds, the Superb Lyrebird.

ed by environmental scientist and president

L of the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group,

Alex Maisey, the project was designed to protect

the cool temperate rainforest, which is the habit

for Superb Lyrebirds, from being destroyed by wild

deer.

“The damage caused by deer in Sherbrooke Forest

is not only threatening the Lyrebird habitat, but the

entire rainforest and waterways of the Dandenong

Ranges,” Alex said.

“Old Sassafras trees are slowly being destroyed

by wild deer as they rub their antlers on the bark,

ring-barking the trees until they snap and fall

over. The Sassafras trees are a vital part of the

cool temperate rainforest as they form the top

canopy. If the canopy is lost it threatens the whole

vegetation community.

“Something had to be done to alleviate the stress

on the Sassafras trees and conserve the threatened

vegetation community.”

The deer are destroying creek beds as they roll

on the ground creating wallows and trampling

sensitive vegetation. The creek banks are the

breeding area for the Lyrebirds, who nest in the

protected trees and ferns.

“This is a 300 kilogram animal running through a

sensitive environment that is not evolved for an

animal of that size.

“It is shocking to see the extent of the damage to

the Sassafras trees and creek beds,” Alex added.

The focus of the project was to protect the

salvageable Sassafras trees and cool temperate

rainforest in Sherbrooke Forest. Works included

building fences around 15 bushland plots to protect

the trees, constructing tree guards around other

sensitive rainforest tree species such as Mutton

wood (Myrsine howittiana) and removing woody

weeds that are overtaking native communities,

including Ivy and Pittosporum.

“AS A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, WE

COULD NEVER HAVE ACHIEVED

THIS LEVEL OF WORK WITHOUT THE

GRANT FUNDING.”

The group hopes to continue monitoring deer with

Parks Victoria, to measure the impact of control

efforts. They also plan to continue to survey fauna

and complete detailed mapping of the threatened

Slender Treefern population, with complimentary

weed control.


NEW LIFE FOR

MACCLESFIELD

Powerful Owls, Echidnas, native Orchids and wildflowers have returned to

a bushland area north of Macclesfield, thanks to a CFA and Macclesfield

Landcare Group project designed to reduce the risk of bushfire and

increase native biodiversity.

he 53 hectare property was infested with

T weeds, including Ragwort, Spanish Heath,

Holly and Pine trees (Pinus Radiata). The weeds

were taking over the native vegetation and creating

a fire risk to the Macclesfield township, especially

the nearby school, church, hall and fire station.

Interestingly, within the 53 hectare property were

pockets of pristine bushland supporting rare native

plants and animals.

Environmental scientist and CFA volunteer,

Jess Merritt, said the landowners took over the

property because of its significant ecological

value, but they needed a lot of help and support

to manage the land.

“From our point of view, we needed to reduce

the bushfire risk to the community and protect

threatened species,” Jess said.

The CFA developed a program of controlled

burning, specialised weed removal, revegetation

and monitoring of the site. With the help of

Landcare, they removed significant weeds

including Pinus Radiata, Pittosporum and Holly

and revegetate the site with native grasses.

The controlled burning also allowed native trees

that rely on burning to regenerate, such as Wattle

and Banksias.

The site has been constantly monitored by the

CFA with outdoor cameras to observe the area.

Jess feels that the project has made a huge

difference to the biodiversity of the area.

“WE’VE PHOTOGRAPHED OWLS,

WALLABIES, ECHIDNAS, FROGS,

KOOKABURRAS AND A WIDE VARIETY

OF NATIVE PLANTS AND GRASSES.

WE’VE BEEN SO EXCITED TO SEE

NATIVE PLANTS SPRINGING UP

THAT WE’VE NEVER SEEN ON THE

PROPERTY BEFORE.”

“ONCE YOU REMOVE THE WEEDS

THAT ARE DOMINATING THE

ENVIRONMENT, IT IS AMAZING HOW

QUICKLY THE NATIVE VEGETATION

RETURNS.”


GLENFERN VALLEY

BUSHLANDS

BROUGHT BACK

TO LIFE

A $34,000 grant has helped the Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands

bring new life to Glenfern Valley Bushlands and protect the work they’ve

been doing over the past 16 years.

he Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands have

T been working on the 40 hectare reserve in

Upwey for the past 16 years, slowly transforming

the area.

What was once a neglected site, dense with woody

weeds, is now a thriving native forest. Wallabies

and Kookaburras have been spotted in the area

and Yellow Box and Eucalyptus trees are sprouting

through the native grasses.

The community grant allowed them to remove the

largest thicket of Sweet Pittosporum remaining in a

section of the reserve as well as Boneseed, which is

a weed of national significance. It was an important

project, as the Pittosporum and Boneseed were

spreading seeds into areas where weed removal

had been completed in the past and was reinfesting

the rehabilitated bushland.

The grant also funded the revegetation of the

reserve, with 450 locally sourced indigenous

plants. The Friends Group coordinated a planting

day with Trinity College students and volunteers to

plant trees and will continue to monitor the site to

ensure any emerging weeds are removed. They also

provided community education, sharing information

at the local market and through their website.

“This reserve was once covered in dense

Pittosporum thickets and Boneseed bushes, which

smothered the native forest, leaving the ground

storey barren,” Vice President of the Friends of

Glenfern Valley Bushlands, Andrew Fullagar said.

“SINCE REMOVING THE WEEDS, WE

HAVE SEEN YELLOW BOX TREES

FLOURISHING AND NATIVE GRASSES

AND HERBS GERMINATING. NATIVE

WILDLIFE LIKE WALLABIES AND

WOMBATS HAVE ALSO RETURNED

TO THE AREA.”

Removing the heavy infestation of Pittosporum

trees also reduces the fire fuel load in the reserve,

helping to protect the nearby community.

The group plans to produce an information brochure

for the community in collaboration with StopPitt

and the Southern Dandenongs Community Nursery.

The brochure will raise awareness of how to identify

and treat Pittosporum in the area, with suggestions

on suitable native trees to plant in gardens.


FERNY CREEK

REVITALISED

When the founders of the Friends of Holly Hill, Lyn and Peter Witt, saw

Mountain Ash trees being slowly choked by Ivy in the national park near

their home, they knew they had to do something.

he Dandenong Ranges National Park at the

T headwaters of Dobson’s Creek in Ferny Creek

was so overgrown with weeds there was no native

vegetation able to grow.

“It was impenetrable. You couldn’t walk through

it or see anything. It was just black,” Lyn said.

“The area was dense with woody weeds like

Sycamores, Cestrum, Holly and Sweet Pittosporum.

At the top were Mountain Ash that were going be

killed by the Ivy.”

The Friends of Holly Hill have been removing weeds

from the park by hand for many years, but there

were two areas on the other side of the creek that

they could not access.

“We were concerned about the biodiversity of

Indigenous species and the fire danger. We wanted

to address both issues,” Mrs Witt said.

The group were successful in receiving two grants

totalling nearly $90,000 from the PPWCMA to

coordinated expert contractors to remove weeds

from two sites they could not easily access.

Six hectares of the park was cleared of woody

weeds including mature Holly trees, Sycamore

Maples, Cestrum, Sweet Pittosporum, Wild

Tobacco and the Ivy that was choking the Mountain

Ash trees. Once the area was cleared of weeds,

the group could access the sites to maintain them.

“What is amazing is we have such lovely

regeneration of Indigenous vegetation. Ferns, fungi,

Forest Starwort, Sassafras trees and native orchids

have been able to grow and have emerged in

abundance,” Lyn said.

“We also rescued nearly 40 tiny Sassafras seedlings

which were in a very vulnerable position, nurtured

them for two years, and they’ve been planted along

the creek.

“IT IS NOW A LOVELY NATIVE FOREST

AREA AND IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.”

With the small and middle storey weeds removed,

it has reduced the fuel load in the park, which helps

to reduce the intensity of bushfires.

The group has also observed an increase in native

wildlife in the area, with Yellow Breasted Robins,

wallabies and wombats in the park.

“Our initial aim 20 years ago was to be able to

access and improve both sides of the creek. With

this funding, we could completely remove the

infestation of woody weeds and help to revitalise

the area. We’ve also been able to protect the

original site from being re-infested with weeds.”


COUNCIL AND LANDCARE

WORKING TOGETHER

A $50,000 project to remove weeds and revegetate three significant Cardinia Shire Council reserves has

helped to reduce bushfire risk, improve biodiversity and raise awareness of weeds issues in the Dandenong

Ranges.

ardinia Shire Council and Landcare

C groups worked together to improve

areas of Emerald Lake Park, Clematis

Bushland Reserve and Wattle Creek

Bushland Reserve.

Cardinia Shire Council’s Natural Systems

Officer, Marianne Sawyer, said that they

saw working with Landcare groups in

their reserves as an opportunity to really

extend the scope of the work and make a

significant impact.

“The reserves have high biodiversity

values, are visited by a lot of tourists and

surrounded by neighbouring communities.

They were infested with weeds, which

poses a fire risk and puts a big strain on

native plants and animals.”

“The overhead canopy and middle story of

weeds was stunting the growth of native

vegetation.

“A LOT OF NATIVE SPECIES NEED

QUITE A BIT OF DAYLIGHT TO

GROW. SINCE WE OPENED UP

THE FOREST THERE HAS BEEN

A LOT OF NEW GROWTH AND

NATIVE ANIMALS RETURNING

TO THE AREA, WHICH HAS BEEN

WONDERFUL TO SEE.”

The next step for Cardina Shire is to maintain the

sites with the help of Landcare groups and continue

removing weeds in other reserves.

Below is an overview of the work undertaken in

each reserve.

EMERALD LAKE PARK

At Emerald Lake Park, a 52 hectare park where

Puffing Billy travels through, there were infestations

of mature Sycamore Maple, Red Cestrum and

Sweet Pittosporum. The trees and shrubs were

dominating the middle story and canopy structure

and spreading seeds through the park and

neighbouring properties. The dense weeds were

also posing a fire risk.

With the help of a contractor, Cardinia Shire

removed seed baring weeds throughout the park.

The Friends of Emerald Lake Park then worked with

the contractor to revegetate the sites and maintain

the areas: ensuring the weeds did not return.

The work was part of a 10 year plan that Cardinia

Shire developed with the Friends of Emerald Lake

Park. As grants become available they can continue

the work with the goal of restoring the biodiversity

values of the park.

WATTLE CREEK RESERVE

In Wattle Creek Reserve, there is a critical wildlife

corridor that runs between Emerald Lake Park and

Wrights Forest. It is used by the Powerful Owl as a

breeding and feeding area.

The aim of the work was to protect the habitat from

weed invasion taking over native bushland.

The weed species were removed and replaced

with good canopy species that would create

roosting sites for the Powerful Owl and other

species. Native vegetation was planted around the

waterways to help the quality of the water.

The Johns Hill Landcare Group were involved in the

project, running weed workshops to educate the

community and regular working bees.

CLEMATIS BUSHLAND RESERVE

Clematis Bushland Reserve is a unique reserve

containing endangered tree fern varieties. Weeds

including Sycamore Maple, Sweet Pittosporum and

Himalayan Honeysuckle had infested the reserve

and spread to neighbouring properties.

Contractors removed the mature trees and bushes

from the reserve and the John Hill Landcare Group

complimented the work in neighbouring properties

by removing weeds and revegetating with native

vegetation.


SCHOOL CREATES

A DIFFERENT KIND

OF CORRIDOR

Being so close to the Dandenong Ranges National Park, teachers from

the Sherbrooke Community School were inspired to help improve the

health of the surrounding environment and reduce the risk of bushfire.

ith the help of students and parents,

W teachers from the school co-ordinated a

project to expand a wildlife corridor between the

Dandenong Ranges National Park and the Sassafras

Creek reserve.

With a $35,000 grant from PPWCMA they were

able to reduce the threat of Sycamore Maple trees,

remove rubbish and plant Indigenous vegetation.

Sherbrooke Community School teacher and project

co-ordinator, Denise Dempsey, said that since

removing the weeds, a diverse variety of native

vegetation has also naturally regenerated and

native birds and animals have been spotted through

the wildlife corridor.

Denise added that the project has been a great way

to educate the wider community.

“THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD LEARNING

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS

AND PARENTS, AS WE HAVE BEEN

ABLE TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE

DAMAGE THAT THESE WEEDS CAN DO

AND THE STEPS INVOLVED IN CARING

FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.”

“The highlight for us was seeing a Lyrebird using

the wildlife corridor,” Denise said.

“Many areas of our grounds were choked with

weeds. We felled 30 Sycamore maple trees,

some of which we left to create habitat trees

for microbats and nesting birds that use hollows.

We have added to the natural revegetation with

indigenous plants and it’s lovely to see them

growing profusely.”


COMMUNITY

CHAMPIONS MAKING

A DIFFERENCE

When it comes to community led projects, it is often a small number of people that

create and sustain momentum, encouraging others and leading the way. Some great

examples of this were shown in the delivery of the Dandenong Ranges project.

onbulk resident, Bill Incoll, is one of these people,

M and has turned improving the environment in to a

lifelong passion that is making a significant impact in the

Dandenong Ranges.

Mr Incoll was instrumental in securing 12 community

grants totalling nearly $140,000 and was also part of

implementing the $450,000 Community Weed Alliance

of the Dandenongs (CWAD) project.

Each of the community grants aimed to remove

environmental weeds and revegetate the Dandenong

Ranges with native vegetation; to improve biodiversity,

restore native habitat and reduce bushfire risks.

“What we are trying to do is to rehabilitate biodiversity.

The weeds simplify the diversity of plants growing in

the Dandenong ranges which can be devastating for the

ecology of the whole area,” Bill said.

“IT IS AMAZING WHEN WE CLEAR

WEEDS LIKE SYCAMORE MAPLE,

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, WE GET NATIVE

VEGETATION COMING BACK. PIONEER

SPECIES COME UP FIRST AND TAKE

ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW CONDITIONS.

AS TIME GOES BY, MORE AND MORE

NATIVE PLANTS COME IN TO CREATE

A NEW AND DIVERSE NATIVE FOREST.”

Bill has been working tirelessly to restore and protect the

Dandenong Ranges for the past 25 years and is now part of

five different groups, including Landcare groups, friends of

groups and CWAD.

He has been fighting the battle against weeds in three ways:

getting his hands dirty and removing weeds; advocating to

the community, agencies and politicians to provide solutions

to the issues and securing community grants for extensive

weed removal and revegetation work.

“Community grants are often the most effective way to get

work done,” Bill said.

“ We can access the expertise of contractors who can

remove weeds quickly and effectively across large areas.

We can then follow up their work with weed removal

maintenance and planting of native vegetation. It helps us to

get on top of the problem more effectively.”

“Given the sheer geographical size of the Dandenong Ranges

and the amount of weeds present, it can seem overwhelming

to tackle the problem. However, when you have multiple

projects addressing the issues, collectively each project

contributes to making a big difference to the biodiversity of

the area.”



OPENING OUR EYES

TO THE SPIRIT OF

THE DANDENONGS

The Wurundjeri Council’s Bullen Bullen Cultural Tours are using Indigenous

storytelling to teach the community how to care for the environment.

y simply pulling off the sap as it falls you can

“B eat it like honey ... along with the water found

in fern roots you could easily survive in the bush for

a few days.”

At the Bullen Bullen Cultural Tours, 20-year-old

Wurundjeri man, Jayden Mills, explains how the sap

of the Mountain Ash tree is a great source of food

if you find yourself lost in depths of the Australian

bushland.

With guidance from Wurundjeri Elder Diane

Kerr, Jayden walks participants through the rich

biodiversity of the Sherbrooke forest, explaining

how his ancestors lived from and respected this

bushland.

The Bullen Bullen Cultural Tours were created by

the Wurundjeri Council with support from The Port

Phillip and Westernport CMA. The Bullen Bullen

Cultural Tours, held through Sherbrooke Forest in

the Dandenong Ranges, were designed to educate

visitors on Indigenous culture and Australia’s

biodiversity. The Council received a $150,000

grant to develop, run and market the tours.

Michelle Mills from the Wurundjeri Council said

that the tours are about sharing knowledge which

has been handed down from their ancestors.

“We’ve always spoken about caring for Country: if

you care for Country, Country looks after you. That

is the way we see it. We want people to understand,

respect and protect this Country,” Michelle said.

The tours address conservation, biodiversity and

Indigenous storytelling, sharing the cultural and

environmental values of the Dandenong Ranges

bushland. They aim to teach visitors about the

environmental, cultural and spiritual values of the

area, through the eyes of the original owners: the

Wurundjeri. They also provide an opportunity for

the Wurundjer Elders to pass on knowledge to

younger members.

“THE TOURS PROVIDE MEANINGFUL

EMPLOYMENT AND ARE A GREAT

WAY TO INVOLVE OUR YOUNG

PEOPLE. IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING

TO SHARE THAT THEY ARE PROUD

OF. THEY LEARN SO MUCH FROM

THEIR ELDERS AND SHARE THIS

GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE WITH THE

COMMUNITY.”

The tours run three times a week from the Grants

Picnic Ground in Sherbrooke Forest. Special

tours are offered for school groups with activities

including painting with locally sourced Ochre. For

details visit wurundjericulturaltours.com.au


WEEDS WITHOUT

BORDERS

A $450,000 project that took a holistic view of the weed problem

in the Dandenongs has helped native plants and animals flourish.

o-ordinated by the Community Weed

C Alliance of the Dandenongs (CWAD),

the project involved assessing the extent of the

environmental weed problem in the Dandenong

Ranges and tackling the issue from many angles, to

make a significant difference to the biodiversity of

the area.

The project addressed weed infestations across

the Dandenong Ranges by mapping threatened

Cool Temperate Rainforests, mitigating the threat

of the environmental weeds along waterways,

extensive revegetation of native trees and plants,

community education and working with 120 private

land owners to help them remove weeds from their

property.

CWAD Secretary Anne Elizabeth said that

although government agencies were doing

some fantastic weed removal programs in the

Dandenongs, it could be nullified by re-invasion of

weeds from neighboring private properties.

“Weeds don’t have any borders and nature doesn’t

have any boundaries. As far as nature is concerned

it is all one picture,” Anne said.

CWAD worked with local councils, Parks Victoria

and private landowners to treat weeds including

Tradescantia fluminensis (also known as Wandering

Trad), Ivy, Holly, Red Cestrum, Sycamore Maples

and Sweet Pittosporum.

To understand the extent of the weed problem,

CWAD started by mapping places where the

endangered Ecological Vegetation Class,

Cool Temperate Rainforest was threatened by

Wandering Trad: an environmental weed that forms

thick mats of leaves and stems along stream banks,

suppressing the growth of all other plants.

“WANDERING TRAD IS THE BIGGEST

THREAT TO THE CREEKS IN THE

DANDENONGS,” ANNE SAID.

“IF THE CREEKS ARE UNHEALTHY

NATIVE ANIMALS LIKE PLATYPUS

CAN’T SURVIVE AND IN THE LONG

TERM IT WILL AFFECT THE HEALTH

OF ALL WATERWAYS IN THE PORT

PHILLIP BAY CATCHMENT.”

CWAD mapped infestations in cool temperate

rainforests along 55 kilometres of creeks and

waterways including Sassafras Creek, Perrins

Creeks, Clematis Creek, Ferny Creek, Menzies

Creek, Hardy Gully, Monbulk Creek, Pound Creek,

Gully Creek and Monbulk Creek to Birdsland

Reserve: many of which crossed private land.


An interactive digital map was created, to show the

extent of the infestation within the cool temperate

rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges (see the

website: www.cwad.org.au). Once the infestation

was assessed, the Wandering Trad was targeted

and treated on both public and private land.

“We realised to protect the creeks that we needed

to stop environmental weed infestations from

both public and private property owners,” CWAD

Treasurer Jane Hollands explained.

CWAD coordinated a program to work directly with

landowners, helping them to identify and treat the

weeds and understand the significant vegetation

and native habitat on their property. They also

provided detailed weed reports and support in

treating and removing weeds.

“THE WEED PROBLEM IS SO

OVERWHELMING FOR MANY PRIVATE

LAND HOLDERS SO THIS GRANT HAS

BEEN FANTASTIC,” MS HOLLANDS

SAID. “IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY

PEOPLE ALREADY REALISED THAT

THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT DIDN’T

KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE’VE BEEN

ABLE TO PUT THAT NEED TOGETHER

WITH PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE.”

The result has been an immediate return of native

vegetation such kangaroo apple and prickly

currant-bush and Victorian Christmas bush. CWAD

also observed Powerful Owls, wombats, ringtail

possums and echidnas in the area.

“I used to drive around the Dandenongs and say -

why doesn’t someone do something? And now

I am part of doing something,” Ms Elizabeth said.

“It has been an education on how to tackle these

problems as a member of the community and how

you can affect change. You can achieve amazing

things if you all work together.”

The next step for CWAD will be to continue

monitoring the success of the project, continue

working with landowners to remove weeds, extend

community education programs and support the

CSIRO in the release of the biological control for

Wandering Trad.

“This weed problem has been 100 years in the

making in the Dandenongs so there is no quick

fix. It requires a long-term vision and to good

cooperation between agencies and the local

community,” CWAD President Bill Incoll said.


—

PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERNPORT

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

LEVEL 1, 454-472 NEPEAN HIGHWAY,

FRANKSTON, VIC, 3199

03 8781 7900

WWW.PPWCMA.VIC.GOV.AU

ENQUIRIES@PPWCMA.VIC.GOV.AU

Dandenong Ranges Restoration Project Magazine

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