Dandenong Ranges Restoration Project Magazine
A publication written and directed by Annette Young for the Catchment Management Authority, with photography by award winning landscape photographer Annette Ruzicka.
A publication written and directed by Annette Young for the Catchment Management Authority, with photography by award winning landscape photographer Annette Ruzicka.
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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
This publication is copyright. Copying for noncommercial/non-profit
purposes is permitted subject
to the publication being copied entirely.
The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA believes that the
information contained in this publication is accurate and
reliable at the date of printing. It is the responsibility of
readers to avail themselves of the latest information
and advice in respect of the information contained in
this publication after this date. Any financial projections
in this plan are intended to provide a simple forecast of
estimated finances, costs and expenditure.
Disclaimer: this publication may be of assistance to
you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not
guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and
therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other
consequence which may arise from you relying on any
information in this publication.
If you would like to receive this publication in an
alternative format, please contact the Port Phillip
& Westernport CMA on 03 8781 7900 or
enquiries@ppwcma.vic.gov.au.
This document is printed on uncoated, 100 per cent
recycled stock using vegetable-based inks and water
based glues.
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
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 4
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 5
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 6
PROJECT
HIGHLIGHTS
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 7
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 8
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 9
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.”
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 10
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 11
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.”
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 12
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 13
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.”
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 14
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.”
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 15
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 16
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
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 17
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 18
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.
DANDENONG RANGES | CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 19
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