bushland news - library.dbca.wa.gov.au · coordinator koodah cornwall said. “if waterways are...

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Historically, Nyoongar groupstravelled around their territory tofind food according to weatherpatterns and food distributionwithin the six Nyoongar seasons.Fire was used for hunting anddriving game and to manage plantgrowth. The land not only providedthem with their needs and wantsbut connected them spiritually totheir inheritance and obligations to the land.

Aboriginal Heritage UnitThe Aboriginal Heritage Unit (AHU)at the Department of Environmentand Conservation (DEC) provides anAboriginal perspective onenvironmental management andthe protection of Aboriginal culture.The AHU provides talks andworkshops to schools, Tertiary andFurther Education (TAFE) colleges,universities, prisons, governmentagencies, Aboriginal people and thewider community. The AHU linkswith other groups, Aboriginalcommunities and agencies tomanage lands and provide advice.The AHU also liaises with eldersand the Aboriginal community oncultural issues. Learning programson men’s and women’s issues keepculture ‘alive’ and increaseknowledge. Cross-culturalworkshops and training sessionsalso provide other DEC staff withan insight into, and understandingof, Aboriginal culture.

Four Aboriginal staff currently workat the AHU; Terry ‘Koodah’Cornwall from Wilmen country(Wagin), Delvene Cornwall fromBibbulmun country (Manjimup),Thomas Dimer from Minangcountry (Albany) and Eddie Wilkesfrom Balardong country(Wheatbelt).

Respect – building thefoundations“We need to share knowledge andunderstanding so lands can bemanaged with respect….managedfor our children, otherwise it [theenvironment] won’t survive,” AHUcoordinator Koodah Cornwall said.

“If waterways are polluted andplants and animals die, we dietoo. Before we do any work weneed to dat-nyin wankinying (sitdown and talk). We need to lookat who we are, what we aredoing and why. We can thenwork out our responsibilities tothe land and water.

“There is no point in teachingstories of the land and Aboriginalculture to people if we don’t firstlook at our responsibilities to theenvironment and respect theenvironment. Once we understandrespect we can then learn ochrework, dance and stories, take awalk in the bush, talk to elders andmanage the land.”

Community programsCommunity groups can book atwo-hour program with the AHU.The content of the workshop is

Issue 63

Spring 2007Time of Kambarang andBirak in the Nyoongarcalendar.

Urban Nature updatePage 2

Bushland Weedwatch:Brooms Page 3

Econote: Native beesPage 4

WA boneseed blitzand BCI update

Page 5

What’s on Page 6

Funding and learningopportunities

Page 7

Regional reports Page 8

Local Nature Spotproject 0

Group profile: Friendsof Blue Wren Reserve

Page 11

Resources Page 12

NYOONGAR is the collective name given to 14 Aboriginal groups inhabiting the south-west of WesternAustralia for at least the last 50,000 years, in the country west of a line between Geraldton andEsperance. Today, Nyoongar knowledge and culture is recognised as an important part of managingour south-west environment.

Bushland News is a quarterlynewsletter of Urban Nature, a

Department of Environment andConservation (DEC) program to

support community involvementin bushland conservation.

dependent on needs – walk andtalk, bush tucker, six seasons,men’s issues (ochre work, tool-making, bush string making),women’s issues (stories, food andchildren) and the plants, animalsand stories particular to yourbushland area. There is a chargefor the service.

More information andresourcesFor bookings and moreinformation contact AHU projectofficer Denise Griffith on phone (9334 0564) or email([email protected]).

Kadjininy Nyoongar (Learning Nyoongar way)

Delvene Cornwall from DEC’s Aboriginal Heritage Unit teaches Nyoongar culture toBaldivis Primary School students at the Baldivis Children’s Forest. Photo – Judith Hill

bushlandnewsBy Jo Tregonning

Bush tucker plants of the south-west. (2001) Daw, B., Walley, T. and Keighery, G.(Eds). Departmentof Conservation and LandManagement. ‘Bush Books’ series.

Exploring Woodlands withNyoongars. (1998) Wallace, K. and Huston, J. (Eds). Departmentof Conservation and LandManagement.

Visit www.naturebase.net andfollow the links to ‘Community’then ‘Aboriginal Heritage Unit’.


bushlandnews Spring 2007

On 2 September, Urban Nature took part in theKings Park Festival’s Wildflower September through a coordinated DEC display at the Synergy Father’sDay event. Our display of ‘Where do you live?’versus ‘We live here, here and here’ (for nativeanimals, plants and fungi in urban areas) generatedlots of interest. Eye-catching photos combined with a map of Perth’s bushland areas andcommunity groups allowed us to show people how close they are to biodiversity in the suburbsand generate support for community groups.

In July we farewelled Jo Gomersall who did afantastic job keeping the Skills for NatureConservation (SFNC) program running over the

Geraldton carnation weed SFNC workshop and field day

Urban Nature office

Karen Clarke 9423 2907Kate Brown 9423 2905Grazyna Paczkowska 9423 2914Karen Bettink 9423 2904Project Officer 9423 2924

Department of Environment andConservation, Swan Region office7 Turner Avenue, Bentley WA 6102

PO Box 1167Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983

Fax 9423 2901Email [email protected]

Previous newsletter issues available atwww.naturebase.net/urbannature

Contacts

Summer Bushland News

Spring Bushland News contributionsshould be sent to Urban Nature byFriday 30 November 2007.

Compiled and edited by Jo Tregonning.

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Field visit to a site in Rockingham to look at the management of Geraldton carnation weed.Photo – Kate Brown

last year. We wish Jo well in her pursuitof a career in environmental pollutionand waste control. Other staff aretaking on Jo’s role until we can recruit anew project officer.

In August, Kate Brown and KarenClarke helped Dr Pieter Poot from TheUniversity of Western Australia (UWA)teach his Global Biodiversity Hotspotscourse as part of UWA’s ConservationBiology program. Kate organised ahalf-day field trip to Brixton Streetwetlands showing students the values,threats and best-practice managementfor this biodiversity hotspot on theSwan Coastal Plain.

Gaining an understanding and sharingknowledge of the biology, ecology,distribution and management of Geraldtoncarnation weed (Euphorbia terracina) wasthe aim of a recent SFNC workshoporganised by Urban Nature. There isincreasing recognition that this speciesposes a major threat to biodiversity,particulary on the Swan Coastal Plain, andconsequently the day was well attended byland managers, researchers and concernedcommunity members.

The program covered case studies, currentresearch into chemical and biologicalcontrol and community and governmentexperiences in managing invasions. Itfeatured a series of field visits to sites in theRockingham area, including Point Becher inPort Kennedy Scientific Park. Staff fromUrban Nature have been working with

Regional Parks staff to set up field trialsand develop a strategy for themangement of Euphorbia where it isinvading threatened ecologicalcommunities occurring in the holocenedune swales at Point Becher. The resultsof this work have been promising andpart of the aim of the workshop was toshare that information with DEC, Stateand local government and community-based land mangers.

Other topics covered included biocontrolof Euphorbia (John Scott, CSIRO),biology and weed risk (Greg Keighery,DEC), strategic planning (Karen Bettink,Swan Region DEC) and case studies inmanagement (Renee Miles, RegionalParks Unit DEC). If you would like a copyof the proceedings from the workshopemail [email protected].

Urban Nature UPDATE

Urban Nature display at the Kings ParkFestival in September. Photo – Karen Clarke

Donkey orchid (Diuris corymbosa). Photo –Barry Goldspink

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BUSHLAND WEEDWATCH:

Originating mostly from theMediterranean, brooms are closelyrelated and share similar characteristicssuch as adaptations to dry growingconditions. They are all shrubs growingto a height of four metres with slendergreen sparsely-leafed or leafless stemsand reduced small leaves. Prolific pea-shaped flowers produced in late winterto early summer are typically yellow butseveral brooms flower in other colourssuch as white, pink or purple.

Brooms are categorised into eight generabut most fall within Cytisus, Genista orChamaecytisus. The relationship betweenthe genera is complex, often weaklydifferentiated and confusing. Differentbrooms may have multiple commonnames, different names betweencountries or if two genera are similar inappearance, may be given the samescientific and common names. Forexample, species within Cytisus andGenista are frequently given the samecommon name.

Brooms now make up five of the 54shrub species recognised as significantweeds known to occur, or with thepotential to occur, in Australia.

Why brooms are a problemBrooms can have a significant impact onbiodiversity. Thriving in nutrient-poor tofertile well-drained soils, they can formdense stands that out-compete anddisplace native vegetation and wildlife aswell as increase fire intensity andfrequency. Cut plants re-sproutvigorously and deep extensive rootsystems make many drought and fire-tolerant. Some infest grazing land andmay be poisonous and unpalatable.Prolific hard-coated, long-lived seedrequires long-term management effortto eradicate.

THE TERM ‘broom’ refers to a group of shrubsin the pea or Fabaceae family which gainedits common name because the long, tough,slender branches made them useful forbroom-making. They were introduced toAustralia because of their value asornamentals but several have becomeserious environmental weeds.

Brooms invading WAFrench broom (G.monspessulana), also knownas cape broom, Montpellierbroom or shrubby teline, isperhaps the most widespreadand aggressive of the brooms. It is a yellow-floweringevergreen, one to three metres inheight, with stipules and abundanttrifoliate obovate-shaped leaveswhich are generally flat and petiolate(attached with stalks). Abundant in south-west WA from Denmark to Armadale, it isable to survive on a range of soil typesand invade a range of habitats.

Flaxleaf broom or teline (G. linifolia) isalso yellow-flowering and grows to aheight of two-and-a-half metres, but hasmore linear-oblanceolate shaped leaveswhich are directly attached to the stem. Ithas no stipules and its leaves are revolute(rolled margins) and uniformly covered insilky hairs. It prefers disturbed lateriticsoils throughout the jarrah forest, on theDarling Scarp and Plateau and extendsinto the Avon Wheatbelt region.

The deciduous white-flowering or whiteSpanish broom (Retama raetam) is amember of the smaller genus Retama,which is often included in the genusGenista. It is a desert and coastal shrubwith reduced small leaves, capable ofcarrying out photosynthesis by its greenstems. Appearing on the national weed

By Karen Bettink

alert list, a strategic program has begunto determine the best control methodsand eradicate this species from the SwanNRM region.

Three other species of broom occur inAustralia, including common Scotchbroom (Cytisus scoparius), Spanish broom(Sparteum junceum) and Genista tinctoria.All have the potential to establish insouthern coastal and inland WA.

References and more informationControl and management of brooms willbe featured in future editions. For moreinformation contact Karen Bettink on 9423 2904 or visit the following webpages:www.florabase.calm.wa.gov.auwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broom_(shrub) www.weeds.org.auwww.flora.sa.gov.au

The clean sweep on brooms

Genista linifolia (a), G. monspessulana (b) and Retama raetam (c) arecurrently the three species ofbrooms recorded in WA.Photos – Karen Bettink

(b)

(a)

(c)

ECONOTES:


Bees are related to sawflies, wasps and antswhich belong to the order Hymenoptera,from the Greek hymen, ‘membrane’, andopterus, ‘wing’. All members of this order(including ants in their winged stage) havetwo pairs of membranous wings.

We can become aware of native bees andenjoy observing them in our home gardens.They vary greatly in size and colouring, withmany being dark and quite tiny. Mostappear in summer and visit native flowers.Growing plants such as snakebush(Hemiandra pungens), Jacksonia calcicola or

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and five centimetres or more thick. Drillholes two to three centimetres deep withvarying diameters of four to sevenmillimetres, to allow for bee species ofdifferent sizes. Bolt the wood to a starpicket and drive this into the ground.This prevents the wood coming intocontact with the ground and thus beingeaten by termites.

For bee species that nest in the ground,such as the common blue-banded bee,make holes in clay moulds. Follow theinstructions in article eight of theAustralian Native Bee Research Centrewebsite atwww.zeta.org.au/~anbrc/abol.html.

The warm months of late spring andsummer are the time to expect to seebees coming and going from the holes.This is also the time when hole entrancesare sealed over and the completedbrood-cells constructed within.

Further informationTo identify native bees visitwww.zeta.org.au/~anbrc/beesinyourarea.html (Australian Native BeeResearch Centre) orwww.groups.yahoo.com/group/ANBees(Australian native bee e-mail study group).

You may also wish to join the groupANBees or the Western Australian InsectStudy Society. The website iswww.insectsocietywa.org.au.

J. sericea will encourage native bees tovisit your garden or bushland. To observethem, stand one to two metres from theplants and look for small insects that dartin and out of the flowers. Many of thesewill be native bees but some may behoverflies. Hoverflies have only two wingsand belong to the order Diptera, from theGreek di, ‘two’, and ptera, ‘wing’.

Unlike honeybees, which nest in a largecolony, nearly all native bees nest singly.Some nest in the ground. Others nest inwood. Some make their own holes whileothers use holes already made by thelarvae of wood-boring moths or beetles.

We can easily provide places where nativebees can nest. Grow local shrub speciesthat used to occur naturally in your areaand let them develop old wood, in whichsome of their associated insects will makeholes. A particularly good plant used bymany wood-boring insects is coojong(Acacia saligna), which will begin todevelop holes after just a few years.Although coojong dies after 10 to 15years, if you leave it in place it willcontinue to be a good provider of holesfor native bees and other invertebrateanimals.

Making artificial nesting sitesWe can also provide artificial places fornative bees to nest. For species that nestin wood, make a ‘bee-pole’ from a pieceof untreated wood about one metre long

Nest-sites for native bees By naturalist Robert Powell

MOST of us have had experience withthe introduced honeybee but areunaware that there are 2000 to 3000species of Australian native bee. Manynative bees are specialists at collectingpollen and nectar from particular plantfamilies. They play an important role aspollinators within bushland ecosystemsand in bushland conservation. Creatingnatural or artificial nest-sites willencourage them into your garden orbushland.

At dusk these blue-banded bees are settling down to roost for the night on a slender,horizontal stem of native pellitory. These are males and although they fight one anotherover females during the day they roost peacefully together at night. Note that they areattaching themselves not by their legs but by their jaws. Female blue-banded bees nest inthe ground and roost in their burrows.

Some of the holes drilled in this bee-pole in theauthor’s garden have been used and theirentrances sealed; others are presently in use bynative bees. Towards the bottom of this picture,a male bee resting on the pole is seeking tomate with a female emerging from a hole.Towards the top, a bird-dropping spider (whichresembles a bird-dropping for its protection) sitsjust above a hole, probably to ambush a beeentering or leaving it. Photo – Robert Powell

Spring 2007bushlandnews


Green Corps is an Australian Governmentprogram for young people and theenvironment. Community organisationswith an interest in youth development ornatural resource management and heritageare encouraged to become a partnerorganisation with Green Corps. Projects arecommunity-based with 75 per cent locatedin regional and remote areas of Australia.

Project activities include land, water andwildlife survey and data collection;landcare and coastcare activities; accesscontrol; bush regeneration; habitatprotection and restoration; weed control;walking track construction; restorationactivities for environmental and culturalheritage; community education; help withschool programs and community events;and preservation of traditional indigenousculture, skills and stories.

You need to provide a structured programto keep 10 young people from the localarea working full time for 26 weeks;opportunities for team members to builda range of skills and a sense ofachievement once the project is complete;project materials and resources; technicalsupport; and mentors and support fromthe community. We provide a teamsupervisor; transport for participants,materials and insurance.

For more details contact Jacqui D’Vine byphone (9335 7322 or 0448 909 128) orby email (d’[email protected]).

Need help withenvironmental projects?

BCI update: continued partnerships to controltwo major weed species

One biodiversity conservation initiative project aims to eradicate the highly invasive bulbous yellowsoldier (Lachenalia reflexa) from local bushland areas. Photo – Karen Bettink

The DEC’s Saving our Species biodiversityconservation initiative has been fundedinto its second year, with major projects tocontrol two invasive weed speciesreceiving $30,000 and $40,000.

Both originating in South Africa, thebulbous weed yellow soldiers (Lachenaliareflexa) and ‘haas’ or ‘hare’ grass(Tribolium uniolae) are highly invasiveweeds and serious threats to highconservation value bushland areas in andaround Perth. These projects aim toeradicate or severely reduce populations

at key sites on the Swan Coastal Plain andDarling Scarp, as well as prevent bothspecies spreading to the south-west of theState. A control and monitoring programby land manager partners such as localgovernment and community groups willhelp reduce the weeds’ impacts. Amanagement plan for each species isbeing prepared through DEC’sNHT–funded Invasive Species project, duefor completion in June 2008. For moreinformation contact Karen Bettink atUrban Nature on 9423 2904.

Eminent biologists, psychologists and healthprofessionals are showing that contact withnature – whether through parks, naturalbush, pets or farm animals – helps us recoverfrom stress and mental fatigue, helps us relaxand puts us in a good frame of mind. Sobecome a ‘civic environmentalist’ – planttrees with a group, volunteer to keep yourlocal parks and gardens clean or learn moreabout your natural environment. Beingactive, having a sense of belonging andhaving a purpose in life all contribute tohappiness and good mental health. Visitwww.mentallyhealthywa.org.au orwww.naturebase.net and click on HealthyParks, Healthy People.

Feeling blue? Act green!WA boneseed blitzCommunity groups andland managers cametogether to seek out anderadicate new infestationsof boneseed during the‘WA Boneseed Blitz’between 3 and 14September. Boneseed is aweed of national significance thatinvades vast areas of native bushland inSouth Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.It is a fast-growing, aggressive plantthat threatens the survival of nativeplants, degrades native bushland anddisplaces food plants of native animals.The south-west of WA is susceptible to

boneseed invasion. Fortunatelyit is still in the early stages ofinvasion and the weed is onlyknown from around 30 sites inWA. All known infestations areunder eradication.

Everyone is advised to be onthe lookout for the bright

yellow ‘daisy’ flowers of boneseed thatappear on plants between August andOctober. Please report potential sightingson 1800 084 881. Photos anddescriptions of boneseed are available at www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bitoubushand in the flyer enclosed in this issue ofBushland News.

Sundays 8am–10amBushland regeneration withFriends of Shenton Park Bushland.Held every Sunday. Contact Dani9381 3470 or [email protected].

1 September–16 OctoberNational marsupial census withTiwest night stalk. Various locationsor organise your own. ContactLyndsay 9474 0497 orwww.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/nightstalk.

October1 Monday–5 FridayFauna survey and fencing atParuna Wildlife Sanctuary, AvonValley. $30 per night (includestransport, accommodation and food).Contact CVA.

7 Sunday 8.30am–12 noonWalk the Kalamunda Zig Zag.Entertainment, children’s activities,wildflower talks. Free park and ridefrom Stirk Park, Kalamunda or MaidaVale Reserve. First bus departs8.30am. Call Karen 9257 9999.

7 Sunday 11am–12 noonGuided wildflower walk withpark ranger at Mundaring NationalPark. Call Michael 9295 9107.

7 Sunday 11am–2.30pmGuided bush walk for seniorsalong 8km of trails in MundaringNational Park. $5 per person. ContactN2N.

7 Sunday 1pm–3pmBush botanicals – a brief walk inthe Perth Hills after which you createa wildflower watercolour or pencilartwork.$25 per person.Contact N2N.

9 Tuesday 8pmA new family tree for waxes,featherflowers, bells and theirrelatives. Guest speaker Dr MattBarrett. Contact WSWA.

13 Saturday 9am–4pmDune building – how to rehabilitatecoastal vegetation. Practical workshopon project planning, plant selection,fencing, weed control and monitoring.Afternoon field trip. Darius building,Kwinana. Contact SFNC.

14 Sunday 11am–12 noonNyoongar history walk with parkranger at Avon Valley National Park.Call Michael 9295 9107.

14 Sunday 8.30am–9.30amWildflower walk in CottonwoodCrescent Bushland Reserve, Dianella.Contact FDB.

14 Sunday 10am–2pmGuided bush walk along 8km ofPatens Brook Trail. $15 per person.Contact N2N.

19 Friday 7.30pm–8.30pmNight walk in Cottonwood CrescentBushland Reserve, Dianella. ContactFDB.

20 Saturday 7.30amGuided bird walk with BirdsAustralia and Friends of LightningSwamp Bushland. Advice and tips onbird identification. Limited numbers.Call John 9275 7338.

20 Saturday 5.30pm–7.30pmGuided walk with John Dell atPiesse Brook. BYO torch. Bookingsessential. Call Karen 9257 9999.

21 Sunday 10.30am–12.30pm‘Busy bee’ at Piesse Brook,Kalamunda National Park. Meet atentry gate on Schipp Rd. Call Linda9293 3102.

21 Sunday 9am–12 noonBush regeneration with Friends ofWarwick Bushland. Meet atbowling/tennis club car park, Lloyd Dr,Warwick. Call Janina 9447 9494.

22 Monday–26 FridayTrack construction andmaintenance, Yaberoo Budjara Trail,City of Wanneroo. BYO lunch. ContactCVA.

26 Friday 7.30pmNocturnal walk at Star SwampBushland. Bring a torch. Contact FSS.

27 Saturday 2pm–8pmFrogs of Perth workshop onspecies identification, frog life-cycle,monitoring and creating habitats.Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre.Contact SFNC.

27 Saturday 9am–12 noonHow to conduct a flora surveyworkshop on why and how to carryout a quadrat survey. Lesmurdie Hall.Contact BSFH.

28 Sunday 9am–12 noonLupin pull at Star Swamp Bushland.Volunteers needed. Contact FSS.

what’s onOpportunities for you to take part! Visitors always welcome but please confirm activities with contact person.

Most activities are FREE!

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BSFH Bush Skills for the Hills offersfree hills-focused workshops.Contact Robbie 9424 2216 [email protected].

CVA Conservation VolunteersAustralia. Contact Sandra 93548711 or 0428 533 010.

FDB Friends of Dianella Bushland.Meet at Cottonwood CrescentBushland Reserve carpark,Channel 7 Private Road.Contact Jan on 9344 2872.

REGISTRATION/CONTACT DETAILS – Organisations providing a series of activities:

FLG Friends of Lake Gwelup. Meet at scout hall carpark Huntriss Rd,Gwelup. Call Betty 9444 5640.

FSS Friends of Star SwampBushland. Meet at HendersonEnvironment Centre, Groat St,North Beach. Call David 9448 9192.

N2N Nearer to Nature, DEC. Affordableprices for all activities. Bookings:Perth Hills National Parks Centre on 9295 2244 or visitwww.naturebase.net/nearertonature.

SNC Skills for NatureConservation. Free trainingcourses by DEC’s Urban Natureand Greening Australia WA.Bookings 9423 2924 [email protected].

WSWA Wildflower Society of WA,Perth Branch. SubiacoCommunity Centre,203 Bagot Rd. Contact Nina 9448 5419 [email protected].

November

4 Sunday 7:30am–8:30amBush Breakfast of cereals, fruit andcooked goodies followed by optionalbushwalk in Bungendore Park. $8 perperson. Bookings essential forcatering. Call Caralyn 9498 1555 orDon 9399 1893.

5 Monday 7.30pmMarsupial tales: from wallabiesto honey possums. The WesternAustralian Naturalist Club 2007Serventy Memorial Lecture byProfessor Marilyn Renfree. Adults $10,students $5. University of WesternAustralia. Call 9228 2495.

10 Saturday 9am–12 noonCreekline habitat creation. Theoryand practical workshop. Parkerville.Contact BSFH.

10 Saturday 9.30am–11.30amNative grass walk with Una Bell atLesmurdie Falls Reserve. Bookingsessential. Call Karen 9257 9999.

11 Sunday 8.30am–9.30amPhotography walk in CottonwoodCrescent Bushland Reserve, Dianella.Contact FDB.

13 Tuesday 8pmRescuing rare plants. Guestspeaker Dr Eric Bunn. Contact WSWA.

17 Saturday 9am–12 noonActivity morning with Friends ofBrixton Street Wetlands. Morning teaprovided. Call Regina 9459 2964.

17 Saturday 8.45am–1pmReptilian wonders of the SwanCoastal Plain. Workshop on Perth’sreptile diversity, monitoring, habitatand handling. Walk in Bold Park.Wollaston College, Mount Claremont.Contact SFNC.

17 Saturday 8amGuided nature walk at LakeGwelup. Contact FLG.

Please send us your January, February and March events by 30 November 2007.

Activities keyHands on – bushland andwetland management activities.

Walks and tours – look, listenand enjoy guided walks andexcursions.

Skills developmentactivities – talks,presentations, training coursesand workshops.

Meetings and events –group meetings, expos, festivalsand conferences.

19 Friday 9am–12 noonNative tree recovery workshopon pests, disease, drought,equipment, seedlings and phosphite.Green Skills, Serpentine-Jarrahdale.Call Michelle 9360 6667.


20 Saturday 1pm–5pmBushland regenerationworkshop on revegetation, weedmanagement, basic plantidentification and project planning.Ledger Road Scout Hall, GooseberryHill. Contact BSFH.


Spring 2007

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bushlandnews

18 Sunday 10.30am–1.30pmBush walk and Christmas partywith the Friends of WarwickBushland. Meet at bowling/tennisclub car park, Lloyd Dr, Warwick. CallJanina 9447 9494.

26 Monday–30 FridayRiverbank rehabilitation on theSwan River, City of Melville. BYOlunch. Contact CVA.

December

20 Monday–14 FridayPlanting and nursery activities,Capel Wetlands Centre. $30 per night(includes transport, accommodationand food). Contact CVA.



Highlights25–30 NovemberEcological Society of Australia conference, Perth.Visit www.ecolsoc.org.au/ESA2007Conference.htm.

3–7 DecemberFourth Biennial AustralasianOrnithological Conference,University of Western Australia.Avian research, conservation, post-conference field excursions. Visitwww.birdswa.com.au or contactSuzanne Mather on 9389 6416 [email protected].

4–7 DecemberThe 2007 Australian Society ofHerpetologists Conference,Camp Quaranup in Albany.Visit www.museum.wa.gov.au/collections/natscience/vertebrates/ash2007.asp.

Kambarang (October-November)Decreasing rain and rising temperatures hail the timefor inland communities to trek back towards thecoast. Shallow coastal wetland areas provide a wealthof food including fresh water crayfish. It is also the lastopportunity to dig for the native potato (Platysacecirrosa) and red beak orchid (Pyrorchis nigricans).

Dry and hot, Birak is characterised byarid easterly or north-easterly winds inthe morning and coastal sea breezes inthe afternoon. This is the time when thecountry dries, water becomes scarceand controlled local fires were lit in the

scrublands. Traditional Nyoongar‘men’s business’ at this time includedfishing and hunting in estuaries andalong the coast. Nectar and gum arebeing produced by many plantswhich were collected by the women.

Birak (December-January)

Seed collecting courseLearn best-practice harvesting methods, carry outcollecting in a seed orchard and in local bush, findout about the latest regulations and learn how toclean, package and store your seeds ready for yourrevegetation project next year. Course at Swan TAFE,Midland in November/December 2007. Someweekend work is required. For registrations ofinterest contact Anne Taylor or Ted Johnson93746314 or email [email protected].

Sustainable living workshopsThese workshops will help you make compost; DIYfertilisers, herbicides and insecticides; recycle paper;attract birds, butterflies and frogs to your garden; havehappy hens; and create a stunning native garden.

Thanks to the Zero Waste initiative the first 15participants registered get free entry into eachworkshop, held on Saturdays or Sundays from 1pm.Contact Naragebup Rockingham RegionalEnvironment Centre on 9591 3077, [email protected] or visitwww.naragebup.org.au.

Learning opportunities

Funding for lantana eradication in WAThe ‘Defeating the Weeds Menace’ programfunded by the Australian Government, is calling forapplications to manage lantana in WA. Eligibleapplicants include local government, Stateagencies, natural resource management (NRM)bodies, landcare groups, community groups andAboriginal communities. Applicants must use best-practice on-ground control of lantana. All projectsshould consider a site-based approach to themanagement of weeds to ensure invasion by otherweed species does not result as a consequence ofundertaking this project. The lantana controlmanual, support and advice are freely available for each project. Contact Michele Rogers on (07) 3896 3386 or [email protected] Kym Johnson [email protected] forfurther information.

NRM Education Small Grants SchemeEducational institutions providing NRMeducation in the South West CatchmentCouncil (SWCC) region can now apply forgrants up to $10,000 to support existingNRM education projects or programs.Funding could be used for monitoring ofnatural resources to fund additional trainingor field trips or to purchase materials toassist with on-ground activities. The fundingis part of the Commonwealth and StateGovernment’s regional component of theNatural Heritage Trust (NHT), administeredby the SWCC. Applications close 31 March2008. Contact Rachael Reed on 9780 6268or email [email protected] or visitwww.swcatchmentscouncil.com.

Funding opportunities

2008 State NRM Conference 31March – 3 April 2008

The Blackwood Basin Group will be hostingthe ‘Regional NRM – Bridging the Barriersto Better NRM’ conference in 2008. Theconference will review the progress innatural resource management (NRM) andinvestigate how to better integratedifferent facets of the industry to ensurethe best environmental outcome. It willalso explore how local communities workwith regional and sub-regional groups andgovernment to find solutions to landcareproblems and put them into action. Theconference will include the State LandcareAwards and gala dinner, field trips,interactive workshops and several socialevents to maximise networkingopportunities. For more information visitwww.nrmconferencewa2008.com.au.

regionalreportsbushlandnews

Please send us your regional report (150–200 words) and a photo by 30 November 2007.Text may be edited in response to volume of submitted reports.

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Planting seedlings at Brixton Street Wetlands in June. Photo – Kate Brown

Kalamunda’s Bush RevegetationTeam help Friends groups By Nicole O’Neill, Shire of Kalamunda

The Shire of Kalamunda’s CommunityGroup Revegetation Program for 2007has been a huge success with 8000 localnative seedlings planted in 34 Shirereserves.

This year, 25 Friends groups registered inthe Shire of Kalamunda received plants,with the Bush Regeneration Team (BRT)planting more than 3000 plants onanother nine reserves. This program useslocal provenance seed collected by TranenRevegetation Systems from a number ofhigh quality Shire reserves, which arethen grown to order by the Men of theTrees at their nursery in Hazelmere.

Chief executive officer David Vaughansaid the Shire of Kalamunda would like tothank all groups who took part in theannual revegetation program.

“The community’s efforts are invaluablein ensuring that we continue to improvethe condition of our bushland reserveswithin the Shire of Kalamunda,” he said.

Friends groups involved included anumber of established groupssuch as Friends of Ledger RoadReserve, who have beencarrying out weed control in

the old tip site since 2001; Friends ofPoison Gully, who work to improve thecondition of the creekline vegetation ofPoison Gully; and the Friends of RayOwen Reserve, who took part in theirfirst planting season since the groups’establishment. The program also involvesschool children from Gooseberry HillPrimary School, who work at HuntleyStreet Reserve, and from Dawson ParkPrimary School, who work at YongarReserve in Forrestfield.

This year the BRT provided assistance to anumber of groups by digging holes,planting with group members, spreadingmulch and spraying weeds to prepareareas for planting. They were assisted bythe Eastern Hills Green Corps team, whoplanted in five Kalamunda reserves,including Toornaart Creek, Nestle BraeReserve and the Woodlupine LivingStream Project.

The BRT is available to all Friends groupsin the Shire of Kalamunda to assistin their bushcare efforts. If youwould like to book a day to work

alongside this hard-working teamplease contact Karen Britza on9257 9806.

Planting at Brixton Street Wetlands By DEC Urban Nature program

In 2004, the Friends of Brixton StreetWetlands and DEC received an Envirofundgrant to restore native vegetation along theedges of the bushland adjoining AltonStreet. The first part of the project involvedweed control and removal of dumped soilmounds. In 2006, the area was planted witha range of local species grown from seedcollected in the wetlands.

This year we aimed to increase the densityand diversity of the original plantings. Theplanting day on 16 June was organised bythe Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands, DECUrban Nature program and Swan CoastalDistrict staff. More than 30 communitymembers supported by eight DEC staffplanted 2000 seedlings including wattles,swishbush and Kunzea micrantha.

Workers were rewarded with a deliciousbarbeque lunch provided by DEC SwanCoastal District and greatly enjoyed by all.

For more information on activities with theFriends of Brixton Street Wetlands callRegina 9459 2964.

New edition of Flora ofBungendore Park

By Kim Sarti

After our ‘Fungi Foray’ held in the park on 1July, a revised edition of Flora of BungendorePark (2007) was released. This edition, whichupdates the 1999 version, includes changesto scientific names, additional informationand new records. Copies of the report areavailable for $10.00 plus $2.50 postage byphoning our treasurer Irene (9399 3386) orposting a cheque to the Bungendore ParkManagement Committee at PO Box 538,Armadale, WA 6992.

The management committee, communitymembers and students of ArmadaleChristian College planted 1200 seedlingsduring July in degraded areas and disusedgravel pits at Bungendore Park. The diebacktreatment program is continuing alongmapped dieback fronts using foliar sprayingand stem injection by our contractor,Dieback Treatment Services. Funding by theSwan Alcoa Landcare Program andCommunity Conservation grants haveassisted in both rehabilitation activities.

A spring bushwalk organised by the City ofArmadale was held on 23 September andour ever-popular ‘Bungendore BushBreakfast’ will be held on 4 November(details in What’s On section).

For more information contact Kim on 9470 2297 or [email protected].

regionalreports

9

Spring 2007


Learning to propagate By Jasmine Watts, Glen Forrest Primary School

Glen Forrest Primary School students planted300 native shrubs and trees on National TreeDay on 27 July in an effort to revegetate theSuper Block in Glen Forrest. The Shire ofMundaring ripped the soil and donated treeguards, bamboo sticks and mulch.

The Super Block is an old orchard, verydegraded and much of the ground iscompletely bare. This block is significantenvironmentally because Nyaania Creekruns through it. This creek is a tributary tothe Helena River which joins the Swan Riverdownstream.

We researched plant species that occurnaturally. Seed was collected from privateproperty, donated by Seeds West orpurchased. It took countless phone calls andletters to find out how to propagate nativeseedlings. Eventually I found that I neededsmoke water. The internet had a smokecontraption to make but eventually I was ableto get the chemical (which everyone seemedto be out of) from the Wildflower Society.

Students spread the seeds in makeshiftseed trays, drenched them with smokewater then planted them when the smokewater dried off. We made sure we labelledeverything carefully for later identification.Native seedlings can take anywhere from aweek to more than 100 days to germinate.Our germination was good, resulting in1000 plants of different species. The

success of wandoo was particularly highwith more than 600 germinating.

We pricked out the seedlings. Most of them Ihad to do in my own time with tweezersbecause the seedlings were so tiny with along tap root and thin stem. Also one trayhad many seedlings. We even propagatedsome Pimelea spectabilis, which I had heardthe Wildflower Society has had no luck with!

Restorationopportunities in the hillsA number of Friends and Catchmentgroups in the Perth Hills work on bushand river restoration. Members of thesegroups contribute to improving their localenvironment while working in a fun socialatmosphere. They always welcome newmembers. Contact Stephen Lloyd (Eastern Hills) on 9424 222; Toni Burbidge(Mundaring) on 9290 6685, LindaKirchner (Kalamunda) on 9257 9936 orKaren Britza (Kalamunda) on 9257 9806.

Neve Holroyd-Jones (left) and Sophie Whitefrom Glen Forrest Primary School plantseedlings at the Super Block which theypropagated from seed. Photo – Jasmine Watts

Tenure of Talbot Road Bushland changed By DEC Urban Nature program

A planting day was held on 30 June atTalbot Road Bushland. A barbecue lunchwas provided by DEC Hills District staff andwas followed by an informal meeting ofcommunity volunteers interested in joiningthe Friends of Talbot Road Bushland. As aresult of the planting day, Urban Natureorganised a guided wildflower walk in earlySeptember and facilitated a meeting toregenerate interest in the Friends group.

The bushland is one of the most significantareas remaining on the Swan Coastal Plain.Until recently it was vested in the City ofSwan. The City managed the bushlandjointly with DEC and the Friends group. Last month, in recognition of itsconservation significance and as part ofimplementing the management plan, the

bushland became vested in DEC as an A-Class nature reserve.

The reserve is one of few places on theSwan Coastal Plain where the woodlandsand heathlands that once occurred alongthe base of the Darling Scarp remainundisturbed and largely intact. Theseecosystems are now classified as threatenedecological communities and are home to adiversity of wildflowers. At Talbot RoadBushland this includes 15 species ofsignificant flora. The site also supports anabundance of native fauna including sevendifferent types of frog, bandicoots, honeypossums and western grey kangaroos.

The management group is looking for newmembers to join the Friends of Talbot RoadBushland. Contact Urban Nature on 9423 2914.

Eddy raises money for Paganoni SwampBy Leonie Stubbs

The Perth-BunburyHighway will beconstructed onPaganoni Swamp’seastern boundary. Inlight of this, theFriends of PaganoniSwamp were thefortunate recipientsof Eddy Wajon’sendeavours to painthimself as a ‘greenie’.As part of World Environment Day, Eddydyed his hair and beard green with ablack strip down the centre representingthe highway!

Eddy is the Sustainability Liaison Officerwith the Conservation Council, a memberof the Southern Gateway Alliance (SGA)consortium which is constructing thehighway. He was sponsored $351 by staffmembers and their contribution wasmatched by the SGA. In total Eddy raised$702 for the Friends group and thedonation included a GPS unit.

Using the GPS unit in the mannerdesigned by the Perth Urban BushlandFungi project, the Friends of Paganonihave mapped infestations of cape tulip(Moraea miniata) within the reserve. Themoney raised by Eddy will partly fund aneradication program. What a fantasticoutcome for our environment, thanks toEddy, the SGA and its staff.

For more information on activities atPaganoni Swamp call Leonie on 0439 921 298.

Eddy Wajon. Photo – SGA

10 www.naturebase.net/urbannature

bushlandnews

Local bushland is highly valued by local communities

Spiny tailed gecko at Roscommon Reserve in Floreat. Photo – Renata Zelinova

The Local Nature Spot project is lookingat how people relate to their localnatural environment in the metropolitanarea. The project is run by the WesternAustralian Local GovernmentAssociation’s Perth Biodiversity Projectwith funding from the Natural HeritageTrust through the Swan CatchmentCouncil in partnership with the Town ofCambridge, Cities of Armadale, Canning,Swan and Wanneroo and the NorthMetro Conservation Group.

Ninety-one per cent of respondents in acommunity survey conducted earlier this yearagreed that it is important to have an areaof natural bushland in their suburb. This is amajor endorsement for land managers toprotect and manage natural areas.

The community survey was conducted as partof the ‘Local Nature Spot’ or ‘BehaviourChange for Natural Diversity’ project. The aimof the survey was to gain an understandingof community attitudes towards their localbushland and perceptions of threats toconservation values.

About 4500 self-completion questionnaireswere distributed to randomly selectedresidents living within a 500-metre radiusof 15 selected natural areas. These naturalareas included regionally significant sites(e.g. Bush Forever sites) as well as locallysignificant natural areas. The responseexceeded expectations, with more than1250 residents returning the questionnaire.The views expressed in the responses canbe considered representative of the localcommunities, as all age, gender andhousehold groups were well represented.

The report on the community surveyprovides a wealth of information and aninteresting comparison between localities.Forty-five per cent of respondents statedthat they use their local nature reserve dailyor at least once a week, mostly for walking(84 per cent), nature watching (67 percent), exercising pets (42 per cent) andrelaxing (29 per cent). The most visitedreserve was Moulton Wetland Reserve inthe new housing estate in Ellenbrook (68 per cent use daily or weekly).

Areas of local natural bushland weregenerally regarded as a good place forwildlife (87 per cent of respondentsagreed), and many consider these areas

relaxing (73 per cent) and attractive (67per cent). There are also aconsiderable number ofrespondents who thinknatural bushland increasesthe value of local property(65 per cent), but therewere differences amonglocalities ranging from 33per cent in Westfield to 82per cent in City Beach.

Generally, this survey supports thefindings of similar studies elsewhere, as itseems that the more frequently peopleuse their local bushland, the more positiveare their associations with the area.

Residents had an opportunity to describewhat they value about their local naturalarea but also to list any reasons fordissatisfaction. The things that peoplevalued most were the opportunity to walkthrough natural bushland where plantsand animals can be observed and theproximity of the bushland to their home.Satisfaction was highest among thoseliving close to Lloyd Hughes Reserve inKelmscott, Marangaroo Reserve inMarangaroo and Roscommon Reserve in Floreat.

The main concern residents had is thatthe bushland looked untidy andneglected. Residents are dissatisfied withthe amount of rubbish being dumped inthese areas. Other issues specific toreserves included motorbike riding,antisocial behaviour and vandalism. Themain perceived threats to conservationwere dumping of building material,

rubbish and garden waste; loss of nativeplants and animals; vandalism; and

unauthorised vehicle access.Seventy-one per cent ofrespondents agreed that cats,dieback (61 per cent),trampling (54 per cent) andfrequent fires (53 per cent)

were threatening theconservation values of their

local reserve.

When asked how to encourage people tolook after local bushland, the mostpopular responses were enforcing stricterpenalties for anti-social behaviour,preventing access to unauthorisedvehicles, promoting a phone number toreport problems and providing moreinformation about how to care for naturalareas. Overall, 70 per cent of respondentsagreed it is important for localcommunities to look after local bushlandwith local government seen as having themost responsibility for management (96per cent).

The results of the survey provide usefulinformation for developing strategies toaddress selected management issues thatare the result of human behaviour at eachsite. Local Nature Spot officers wereemployed to help the five participatinglocal governments to implementrecommendations.

For more information contact RenataZelinova, Monday – Wednesday on 9213 2050 or visithttp://www.councils.wa.gov.au/directory/walga/index.html/pbp/local_nature_spot_project/.

By Renata Zelinova

Spring 2007


MUNDARING Shire Council recognised a growing need for community involvement to maintain green corridors and reserves within the Shire. In response, volunteers formed the Friends of Blue Wren Reserve in late 2000.

GROUPPROFILE:

Friends of Blue Wren Reserve By Sandy Stone

Sandy (left), Sylvia, Suzie, Kathy and Tony share a cuppa before plantingseedlings at Blue Wren Reserve in early August. Photo – Roger Stone.

Bushland in Blue Wren Reserve. Photo – Toni Burbidge

appreciated. This city-country link is yetanother way to reach motivated volunteersto assist in revegetation of the reserve.

The Friends were invited to participate inthe ‘Community Dieback Resistant JarrahProject’ launched at Alcoa MarrinupNursery in July. Fifty dieback-resistant jarrahseedlings were planted by the Friends inareas of suspected Phytophthora diebackactivity. Dr Ian Colquhoun and his teamfrom Murdoch University will monitor theprogress of these seedlings.

A small group with a big visionThis is a community project with a verysmall group of local volunteers. Their goalsare to restore biodiversity, to maintain andcontinue weed control and slow down theimpacts of Phytophthora dieback. Byimplementing these initiatives they hope toeducate, encourage and motivate thewider community to restore degradedbushland and enjoy the results.

This piece of bush has become a welcomehabitat for many different birds and animalsand an enjoyable recreation area. Bulbousweeds are slowly disappearing and a prolificfragrant bushland and healthy brook withfrogs and macro-invertebrates is returning.

ContactsContact Sandy Stone (Friends GroupCoordinator) on 9295 1468 or 0412 608 968or email [email protected] Gemma French (Shire of MundaringBushcare Coordinator) Monday –Wednesday on 9290 6685.

$12,000 of support annually and this figureincreases each year.

Initiatives this yearIn March the Shire provided funds for a‘Giving it back to the volunteers’ barbecueto thank all the volunteers who haveworked on this project and to showcase thework carried out by the group. Manysupporters enjoyed a pleasant evening inBlue Wren Reserve.

In May the Friends group used equipmentfrom the Dieback Working Group to sprayand inject susceptible shrubs and trees witha solution of phosphite to help stop thespread of Phytophthora dieback. The daywas quite successful and we thanked thevolunteers with a barbecue. There are stillmore areas to be treated and we’re hopingto have these dieback areas mapped by theSwan Catchment Council.

In June, Year three and Year seven studentsfrom Gidgegannup Primary School, twoteachers and parent volunteers plantedseedlings and mulched last year’s planting.The Friends strongly support this kind ofpartnership as it instills a respect for natureand fosters a sense of pride andstewardship from a young age.

Also at the end of June a group of cityvolunteers came up to the hills to help plantseedlings in the reserve. The City ofBayswater generously made this possiblethrough advertising the event and recruitinglocal schools from the city. This support forthe Friends of Blue Wren Reserve, a verysmall group of local volunteers, was greatly

Susannah Brook runs through the 13 hectareBlue Wren Reserve which has been loggedand grazed by livestock for many years. Thereserve forms an important part of localecological linkage in the Shire of Mundaring.Initial work by the Friends group focused onclearing rubbish, planting local nativeseedlings and weed control. The group hascontinued with revegetation and weedcontrol and, during the last three years, hasalso focused on community education andthe ongoing threat of Phytophthora dieback.

SupportThe Friends have been supportedextensively by the Shire with funding andguidance from bushcare officers and theEastern Metropolitan Regional Councilenvironmental staff. In recent years theSwan Alcoa Landcare Project has providedfunding for seedlings, weed control anddieback control. The project has beengenerously supported by Wooroloo Prisonwhich has provided materials, a picnic tableand labour to plant native seedlings.

The Susannah Brook Catchment Group hasprovided information, equipment andadministrative support because the Friendsare not an incorporated group. Swan TAFEhas provided planting volunteers andexpertise. Free mulch and 200 extraseedlings to rehabilitate a difficult weedysite have been supplied by Men of theTrees. The Eastern Hills Branch of theWildflower Society has supplied local nativeseed. The Friends have achievedrevegetation success by broadcasting thisseed in the reserve. The project attracts

2007

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ResourcesPublicationsWestern Weeds - A guide to the weedsof Western Australia. B.M.J. Hussey, G.J.Keighery, J. Dodd, S.G.Lloyd and R.D. Cousens.(2007) Second Edition.

This guide features morethan 1000 weedsaffecting natural andagricultural areas ofWA. This new 312-page second editionincludes an additional200 weeds and updated information. Morethan 600 illustrations and diagrams help youidentify weed species. An excellent andessential reference and field guide. RRP: $35.To order phone Jo Brown on 9368 3710.

Hakeas of WesternAustralia – A Fieldand IdentificationGuide. J.A. Young(2007).

An identificationguide to all WAhakeas thatcombines andupdates previouspublications by Jennifer Young. Each plant isdescribed with drawings, colour photographs,locality map, flowering times and uses. RRP:$20 plus $8 postage within WA. To orderemail [email protected].

State of the Environment Report:Western Australia 2007.Environmental Protection Authority.

This is the first comprehensive report onthe state of WA’s environment since1998. It summarises the condition ofWA’s environment, assesses the majorenvironmental issues and makesrecommendations for addressing these.Its findings indicate that although someof our environmental problems haveimproved since 1998, many havebecome worse. While initiatives are inplace to address most of the issuesidentified in the report, more actionneeds to be taken to make significantprogress in many of these problems. The report can be viewed atwww.soe.wa.gov.au and copies areavailable from DEC by calling 6364 6510.

Website watchScribbly gum: animals, plants, weather and‘weird stuff’. A fascinating website full ofinteresting articles, national and State issues andwith a ‘what is happening now’ section. Visitwww.abc.net.au/ science/scribblygum/july2007/.

Aussie bee online is a website on everythingyou want to know about native bees. Visitwww.zeta.org.au/ ~anbrc/abol-current.html.

Rivers of Western Australia is an interactivewebsite for children (and adults) who like some fun. Discusses catchments, water cycle,biodiversity and the Murray and Hutt Rivers.Visit www.rowa.org.au/.

Florabank website was launched on 28August 2007 to provide resources for thoseinterested in Australian native seeds. Guidelines for seed collection, storage,germination and professional training. Visit www.florabank.org.au/.

Lantana Lowdown newsletter now available.The first edition introduces the national lantanacoordinator, outlines the 2006 landholdersurvey on lantana, developments in bio-controlagents, use of herbicides and contact details. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for future editions of Lantana Lowdownemail [email protected].

The Bridal Creeper newsletter (Vol. 3 No. 2)of the National Asparagus Weeds ManagementCommittee is available to download atwww.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bridalcreeper/.

Please check your mailing detailsand let us know if we need tochange anything by phoning uson 9423 2914. If you’d prefer toreceive this newsletterelectronically, send an email titled ‘email me’ [email protected].

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Spring 2007

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