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1. Cobaw Biolink 2005>
2. Monitoring Snow Gum Health – adapting to climate change 2022
3. Newham Roadside Biodiversity Monitoring Project 2020
4. Pest Animal Eradication Project
5. Newham Deep Creek Project 2005
6. Paterson’s Curse Eradication Project 2005

Campaspe – Maribyrnong Headwaters Biolink (the Cobaw Biolink)

Little by little the landscape around us has changed through the commitment of local landowners and NDLG to the ideal of functional landscape connectivity.

Our district lies in the watershed catchment area of the Campaspe and Maribyrnong rivers and contains a number of areas of significant remnant vegetation (eg. Hanging Rock Reserve, the Jim Jim, some roadsides and along Monument Creek).

Development of Cobaw Biolink (otherwise known as Campaspe-Maribyrnong Headwaters Biolink) has been the major goal of our group since its inception. A functional landscape connection between Cobaw State Forest (north) and Macedon Regional Park (south) will hopefully protect our area against further local extinctions of animal species – a ‘critical mass’ of native vegetation provides habitats for native animals and allows them to safely move across the landscape. However this connection has an importance far greater. We are strategically important because of our central position, for connectivity more broadly within Victoria and also northwards through the Great Eastern Ranges Biolink, which extends all the way up the Great Dividing Range to Queensland.

The geological diversity, and resulting diversity of Ecological Vegetation Classes present in our district, and the existence of two large areas of remnant vegetation at higher altitudes makes this biolink particularly important in a time of climate change.

The Landcare group is able to assist landowners with advice on a range of subjects, including native vegetation, pest management, project development and grants available.

Since late 2005 we have actively sought Government funding to support on-ground works within the Biolink area, resulting now in a investment of more than $1 million. This is made up of $521,760 in grant monies, and more than $600,000 in matching contributions.

“Over a million dollars has been invested in development of the Biolink.”

A total of 21 grants have been obtained, supporting works on more than 50 private properties, Hanging Rock Reserve and Newham Primary School.

In all, NDLG has been responsible for around 142,000 tubestock being planted in the Cobaw Biolink by distribution to our 100+ member properties. Of these, c75,000 tubestock have been distributed as part of grant activities, and another c67,000 via Treeproject, NDLG propogating group volunteers, or commercial growers at rates subsidised by NDLG.

A Biolink Boost Grant of $5000 enables us in 2024 to give way 4000 local indigenous plants to Landowners in the Cobaw Biolink – details on flier.

Other works have included fencing to protect remnant vegetation, revegetation to enhance or buffer remnant patches (including costs of plants and tree guards or direct seeding), control of rabbits and woody weeds, two property planning series, educational events and production of a poster about the biolink and what individual landowners can do to enhance it. Download the Biolink Poster

In April 2021 we released our 5 minute video called Linking the Landscape – the Cobaw Biolink. (Further detail below)

History

Our very first grant in early 2005 was $1000 from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to support a flora and fauna survey along the Dry Creek at Newham. Remaining funds came from a mix of State and Federal grants. All funding obtained has required a matching contribution from the landowner/ Landcare group/other interested parties [except for $80,000 allocated by Melbourne Water for capital works along the Dry Creek at Newham].

By 2013 25 properties had received funding for works as part of this project, through ten separate funding applications.

Communities for Nature in 2014 awarded $157,000 to Newham & District Landcare Group to progress the biolink. (Media release 28 Jan 2014)

Hanging Rock Action Group website has more on the ‘Campaspe-Maribyrnong Headwaters Biolink’ project.

Landcare support and co-ordination of landowners was instrumental in gaining the support of Melbourne Water for rehabilitation works on rather degraded waterways high in the catchment, that might otherwise have remained a low priority.

Melbourne Water provides funding for rehabilitation of waterways to individual landowners through its Stream Frontage Program. This program has been moved in 2022 into the Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program – go to the box titled Information for private landholders.

The $50,000 2018 Biodiversity On-ground Action grant, from the Victorian Government, continues in 2020. It has supported works on 10 private properties – revegetation and fencing to exclude stock; and the purchase of more nesting boxes for Brush-tailed Phascogales, a pole camera for monitoring nest boxes, and a motion-sensor camera for use by members to record wildlife on their property. In addition it has enabled gorse control to be undertaken at Twin Bridges Bushland Reserve – public land adjacent to  Monument Creek.

In 2022 we were awarded $17,580 North Central Catchment  Landcare grant for the Langethy Creek rehabilitation project. Three properties undertook on-ground works that include fencing to exclude stock, treatment of woody weeds and revegetation to either enhance or establish a riparian zone. Several events were associated with the grant (see Events page for May) and article in Newsletter no.70, Winter 2023 p9-11).

In September 2023 we were awarded a Victorian Landcare Grant of $19,982 for further enhancement of our Biolink activities. This will include further work on the latest Triangle project on public land on the corner of Anderson and Boundary roads (see articles in Newsletter no.70, Winter 2023 p12-13, and Newsletter 72, Summer 2024 p6-7 with photos).

Also in September NDLG worked in partnership with Braemar College to replenish an area of the Cobaw Biolink by planting at the Woodend campus. See article Braemar plants for a purpose | Midland Express.

As mentioned earlier, a Biolink Boost Grant of $5000 enables us in 2024 to give way 4000 local indigenous plants to Landowners in the Cobaw Biolink – details on flier.

We have been working at it for 18 years, and will continue to do so – supporting interested landholders in on-ground works, providing educational and social events for both adults and children and raising community awareness of the meaning and importance of biodiversity…and seeking Government funding for works so we may expedite progress.

If you are interested in undertaking works on your land, express your interest.

See our 5 minute video released in April 2021 called Linking the Landscape – the Cobaw Biolink. It aims to engage landholders and residents and make them aware that their contribution to improve connections between Mount Macedon and the Cobaw Range, on both private and public land, and no matter how big or small, is environmentally vital. Landholders can help contribute to the biolink through enhancing waterways, undertaking weed and pest control, protecting remnant vegetation and revegetation and encouraging native grasslands on their properties.

Protecting existing high quality native vegetation and creating connectivity in the biolink will help native plants and animals adapt to climate change. Spotlight surveys on habitat-rich roadsides round Newham found more animals present in the Cobaw Biolink than during similar surveys on Mount Macedon.

Thanks for funding support from Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Melbourne Water. The video was a contribution to the on-line version of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Festival where it also online at https://mrsg.org.au/environment.

The project also featured in our video made to accept the ACM Community Landcare Group Award in November 2021.

Adapting to Climate Change – Monitoring Snow Gum Health 2022

We partnered with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Parks Victoria, the Arthur Rylah Institute and other Landcare groups in this citizen science project, funded through the Victorian Governments ADAPT Loddon Mallee Program.

Click here for MRSC’s limited details on the project – details of how landholders added records by the deadline 17 April of Snow Gums to the research project have disappeared but the printable brochure is still on our site.

On 10 April Newham Landcare and Field Naturalists Macedon Ranges hosted a Eucalypt/Snow Gum identification visit to a local property where we saw this wonderful old Snow Gum. See the article in our Newsletter no.66, Autumn 2022, pp.11-13.

On Friday 17 June in the Newham Hall, project ecologists Karl Just and Tim D’Ombrain presented the study, and the report was launched.  The final report is online at MRSC and also on our website here as a pdf: Assessment of the distribution, health and ecology of Snow Gum populations in the  Macedon Ranges Shire. See also an article in our Newsletter no.67, Winter 2022, pp.11-12.

Since then, Tanya Loos (Biodiversity Projects Officer, Macedon Ranges Shire Council), has published a lovely article in ParkWatch, March 2023 – see it at Macedon Ranges’ majestic Snow Gums – Victorian National Parks Association.

Newham Roadside Biodiversity Monitoring Project 2020

In 2020 NDLG partnered with Macedon Ranges Shire Council on a federally-funded project to monitor roadside diversity. This was done by spotlighting for mammals across 10 roadsides in the Newham area, followed by community engagement workshops to further educate people about the value of roadsides as habitat. See the articles in Summer 2020 Newsletter no.59, p10-11, and Autumn/Winter no.60, p6-7.

Ecologist Karl Just presented the findings of this joint MRSC/Landcare project at an supper event in Newham Hall on 24 March 2021, when his report – Newham Roadsides nocturnal fauna surveys – was launched.

See the Rural Roadsides page for other activities.

Newham Deep Creek Project

This was the first project started by the group; it aims to rehabilitate the riparian zone along the ‘Deep Creek’ at Newham. The Landcare group consulted with Melbourne Water and hosted a meeting for interested landowners. Five properties received funds through a 2nd generation Landcare grant. See progress reports in early newsletters eg Spring 2004, no3, p3-4; Summer 2005, no 4, p3; Autumn 2005, no.5, p3; Winter 2005, no.6, p3, Winter 2006, no.10

Melbourne water upgraded the priority of works in this section of waterway due to the high level of interest shown by landowners and funds were made available for engineering works. Many landowners joined the Melbourne Water Stream Frontage Management Program and received additional funds towards the work they were undertaking. Follow the link to see if you are eligible.

Pest Animal Eradication Project

Targeting rabbits and foxes, this project started in early 2007. The district was divided into a number of areas, each to have their own co-ordinating group. A pilot project was undertaken in 2009, funded by Envirofund and covering 600 acres.

This proved successful, but extension to other areas will depend on the willingness of someone in each area to act as co-ordinator. Advice, a model action plan and assistance with grant applications are all available.

Sue Barker in June 2018 volunteered for the Pest Animal Coordinator role for N&DLG, following the departure of John Lucock. Until 2022 Sue worked on enabling members to prepare pest animal management plans for their properties and coordinate community responses to pest animals.

February marks ‘Rabbit Buster Month’. This successful campaign began in the 1990s and continues to serve as a reminder to plan for and act on rabbit control. See Connecting Country’s post of 5/2/2109  for a page with lots of information and links.

See Sue’s table of Landcare resources on rabbit management 

Sue Barker’s August 2019 note about Rabbits

Winter is a great time to work on rabbit control. Where do you need to improve exclusion? Do your fences need repair? Would adding rabbit mesh in some areas help? Will a “tidy up” reduce opportunities for harbourage? It’s also a good opportunity to consider your rabbit control plan and strategies you will use between Spring and Autumn. Search for “European rabbit – pest smart connect” online and you’ll find some terrific resources to help you. If you haven’t already started using the FeralScan app to register rabbit sightings, take time now to learn to use it. (Search for “rabbitscan” online to find out more – there’s a video tutorial available). Get the app from the app store so you’re ready for Spring. With good exclusion and harbourage actions done in winter, and armed with data on rabbit activity, you will be ready for more direct actions in summer and autumn.

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) launched a new website in late 2020, to help support community action on rabbit management in Victoria. It contains information on best practice rabbit management, training programs, videos, grant programs, research and so much more. Visit: www.vran.com.au

Paterson’s Curse Eradication Project

This was an early focus due to the presence of a number of outbreaks in the Newham area eg see early newsletters Summer 2005, no.4 and Autumn 2005, no.5. The assistance of the walking group (as spotters), the DSE (in contacting some landowners) and funding bodies (NCCMA and Envirofund) and Landcare volunteers (to assist landowners in managing this weed on their land where needed) has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the area affected.

Constant vigilance and early action will be necessary to prevent a resurgence of this weed. Be aware that the area that was central to the main outbreak was the top of the Jim Jim and that Paterson’s Curse is still present there and isolated plants appear each year on the surrounding properties.