Yearly Archives: 2006

State of the Environment 2006 – Ramsar sites

On Dec 6th the Australian Government released the “Australia State of the Environment 2006, Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage” which may be viewed at: http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/index.html

With commendable honesty the report states: “As many as 231 nationally important wetlands are under pressure across Australia. Of the 64 Ramsar wetlands, latest assessments indicate that 22 have changed in ecological character or have the potential to change …”. The report goes on to outline some of the key threats, increased conservation activity, and hopes that national programmes may begin to improve the health of wetlands. What is less clear are the specific steps that the state (provincial) and federal governments will take to reduce threats to the ecological character of each of the 22 Ramsar wetlands that ‘have changed or have the potential to change’.

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State of the Environment 2006 – A dying shame – Australian coastal freshwater lakes

Author: Professor Graham Harris

Citation: Harris G 2006, A dying shame – Australian coastal freshwater lakes’, paper prepared for the 2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra, http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/emerging/lakes/index.html

The Gippsland Lakes are the largest of a number of coastal freshwater lakes (or lagoons) that lie along the east coast of Australia from Tasmania to the central NSW coast. These beautiful lakes are the home of many rare and endangered species and contain many valuable ecological assets from seagrass beds to breeding sites for fish and birds. All are separated from the sea by a barrier of sand dunes and would originally have opened to the sea intermittently when rainfall caused lake levels to rise and a flush of water to break through the dunes. Understandably people wish to live or spend their weekends beside or close to these places. Unfortunately the rapid spread of tourism and coastal development along the coast means that they are now subject to many pressures. These coastal lakes are suffering from land use change and forest clearing in their catchments, suburban development, alteration of freshwater inflows, storm and waste water discharges, over fishing and resource development of various kinds. In addition, because they make excellent harbours for small craft along an otherwise exposed coastline (and local residents found the occasional changes in lake level inconvenient), many of the lakes have been opened to the sea, and some are now permanently dredged at their mouths. Read More

Fat cows, trashed Morass. Macleod Morass and the effects of illegal grazing.

The Macleod Morass State Reserve is Ramsar listed and fenced to protect it from livestock damage. To the neighbouring farmer that doesn’t seem to matter. Is this flouting of the law and damage caused acceptable? These photos may help you decide.

   

As a side note: Martin O’Brien, Wildlife Biologist – Threatened Species & Communities Section, DSE visited Macleod Morass recently and saw a handful of Royal Spoonbills which may have been nesting.

Royal Spoonbills are restricted colonial breeding waterbirds in Victoria, so any nesting needs to be reported.

Martin is keen to hear of anyone’s experience for this site. His contact details are: martin.obrien@dse.vic.gov.au

FOGL accepts Envirofund funding for Project Burragarra

The funding of $15350 will help towards FOGL’s plan of eradicating pest animals from Boole Poole Peninsula.

Project Burragarra, which means ‘the returning’ is focused on restablishing biodiversity and habitat on Boole Poole Peninsula – the long strip of land on the south side of the Gippsland Lakes separating the Lakes from the sea.

The pest animal eradication program will take place over the next few months and will involve trapping and removing feral pigs and extending the fox baiting program already undertaken by Parks Vic.

FOGL needs more volunteers to help with Project Burragarra, if you would like to be involved in this extremely worthwhile project please contact Maurice Burns via the Contact link.

Successful Planting Day at Ocean Grange

In conjunction with Ocean Grange Environmental Action Group, FOGL members planted approx. 800 indigenous understorey plants on Saturday 9 September.

14 members were originally keen to go across the waters to help out but the forecast of strong winds exceeding 30 knots meant that the passage was unsuitable for some vessels.

Nevertheless OGEAG members residing at Ocean Grange were keen to push ahead so Joe Stephens, James McDonald, Nancy McMurray and Maurice Burns went across in the Parks Vic boat where they were joined by John and Anne Schmidli.

The plants got planted and a convivial time was had. Thank you Trevor Brodribb for your hospitality. Trevor and Rossy are to be congratulated for all the preparatory work they put into fencing, getting the plants across from the mainland etc..