banksia bulletin spring 2009
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banksiaissue number 035 - spring 2009
bulletin
Friends of Bayside 2009 contact list
Bayside Environment Friends NetworkCoordinator: Barbara JakobMobile: 0408 032 963Email: [email protected]
Friends of Balcombe Park Coordinator: Joan Couzoff26 Balcombe Park Lane, Beaumaris 3193Phone: (03) 9589 1060
Friends of Bay Road ReserveCoordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor)5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188Phone: (03) 9521 0804Email: [email protected]
BRASCACoordinator: Janet Ablitt4A Fairleigh Avenue, Beaumaris 3193Phone: (03) 9589 6646
Friends of Brighton DunesCoordinators: Elizabeth McQuire34 Normanby Street, Brighton 3186Phone: (03) 9592 6474and Jenny Talbot71 Champion Street, Brighton 3186Phone: (03) 9592 2109
Friends of Cheltenham ParkCoordinator: Valerie TyersPhone: (03) 9588 0107Email: [email protected]
Cheltenham Primary School SanctuaryPO Box 289, Cheltenham 3192Phone: (03) 9583 1614
Friends of Donald MacDonald ReserveCoordinators: Alison and Bill Johnston4 Wellington Avenue, Beaumaris 3193Phone: (03) 9589 5459
Friends of George Street ReserveCoordinators: Val Tarrant47 Bayview Crescent, Black Rock 3193Phone: (03) 9598 0554Email: [email protected] Pauline Reynolds9 Reno Road, Sandringham 3191Phone: (03) 9598 6368
Friends of Long Hollow Heathland/Friends of Table RockCoordinator: Ken Rendell33 Clonmore Street, Beaumaris 3193Phone: (03) 9589 4452
Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland SanctuaryCoordinator: Ken Rendell
Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban ForestCoordinator: David Cockburn72 Spring Street, Sandringham 3191Phone: (03) 9598 6148
Friends of Native WildlifeCoordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor)5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188Phone: (03) 9521 0804Email: [email protected]
Friends of Ricketts Point LandsideCoordinator: Sue Raverty5 Rosemary Road, Beaumaris 3193Phone: (03) 9589 2103Email: [email protected]
Friends of Watkins BayCoordinator: Moira Longden73 Dalgetty Road, Beaumaris 3195Phone: (03) 9589 2725
Marine Care Ricketts Point IncPresident: Ray [email protected]: 0408 308 768
NED (New Environment Directions) at Elsternwick ParkCoordinator: Neil BlakePort Phillip EcoCentre, cnr Herbert and Blessington St, St Kilda 3182Phone: (03) 9534 0413Email: [email protected]
St. Leonards College Conservation GroupContact: Tim Barlow163 South Road, Brighton East 3187Phone: (03) 9909 9300Email: [email protected]
AcknowledgementsThank you to all the people who have contributed to this issue of Banksia Bulletin. The editors encourage people to submit articles, however Bayside City Council reserves the right to edit or omit articles. Artwork, illustrations and photographs can also be submitted to feature in the publication.
DisclaimerThe views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council or its representatives.
EditorsFiona Dodge, Nicole Teys, Katie Croft
Copy deadlines 2009Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release:Summer 2009 Friday 4 December for release end DecemberAutumn 2010 Friday 5 March for release end March
Banksia Bulletin is published quarterly by Bayside City Council to service people interested in enjoying and protecting the local environment.
If you would like to be added to the Banksia Bulletin mailing list, please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444 or email: [email protected]. Please indicate whether you would prefer to receive your Banksia Bulletin by post or via email.
Corporate CentrePO Box 27 Royal AvenueSANDRINGHAM VIC 3191Telephone: 9599 [email protected] of business 8.30am – 5pmMonday – Friday (except public holidays)
Cover photograph: Donkey Orchid (Diuris orienti) by Pauline Reynolds Printed on 100% recycled paper.
banksia bulletin - spring 20092
Spring has seen Bayside receive
some much needed rain for
our street trees, parks and
bushland reserves, that it is
hard to believe the extreme
summer weather experienced
earlier this year could return
in only a couple of months.
During the period 11–18 October
2009, Bayside City Council
participated in Fire Action Week,
which encouraged residents
to prepare their homes for the
coming fire season and to make
them fire safe – particularly
those with properties near
parks, foreshore reserves or
native bushland areas.
Bayside shares Victoria’s
concerns for the upcoming
fire season and while we
do not have the same risks
as rural areas, there are
still important prevention
actions we need to take.
The devastating events of the
Victorian bushfires in February
this year made us all realise
how important it is to be aware
about the risks of fires. We live
in one of the most fire-prone
states in the world, with 13 years
of drought, climate change
and dry conditions. Although
weather conditions on Black
Saturday were unprecedented,
it is likely we could see
similar extreme conditions
this coming fire season.
Bayside is home to 17kms of
foreshore and seven natural
bushland reserves so fire
prevention is still very important.
As a community we all need to
be aware of local fire restrictions
and Total Fire Ban days and know
what to do in the event of a fire.
Once again, congratulations are
in order as Bayside City Council
has been recognised as an
Australian leader in stormwater
management for its ground-
breaking new plan to clean and
reduce the stormwater run-off
from residential properties to
Port Phillip Bay. Bayside won a
national Stormwater Industry
Association Award for its Clean
Stormwater Amendment (C44)
to the Bayside Planning Scheme.
We are the first council to
regulate to ensure that effective
water-sensitive urban designs
are integrated into our planning
scheme and I believe other
councils in the Port Phillip and
Western Port regions will shortly
follow suit. It is a wonderful
achievement and a significant,
long-term commitment by
Bayside and the Association
of Bayside Municipalities to
protect our precious waterways.
It will have lasting, positive
effects for our environment
and is an example of how local
governments, under their own
initiatives, can work together to
achieve outstanding results.
Cr James LongMayor
In this ISSUENew Environment Directions 4 Neil Blake
Buckets for Bayside 5 Sarah Priestley
New to the Crew 5 Daniel Noonan
Friends of Brighton Dunes - Dr Jim Willis Reserve 6 Jenny Talbot
A coastal walk 8 Janet Ablitt
Friends of George Street Reserve 9 Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds
Sticky Longhead 9
Friends of Balcombe Park 10 Joan Couzoff
Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve 11 Alison Johnston
Healthy Parks Healthy People 12 Sally Cockburn
Merindah Park and the Urban Forest 14 David Cockburn
Indigenous Resource Garden 15 Jim Richardson
Friends of Native Wildlife - Education Project 16 Elizabeth Walsh
Porcupine Fish 17 Ray Lewis
Watch where you put your hands 18 Peter Dedrick
Friends of Watkins Bay – Adverse Weather Events 20 Moira Longden
National Tree Day 22
Friends of Bayside Working Bee times 23
From the Mayor
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 3
More recently, we have also
been measuring the water
turbidity and the life within the
water itself. Thanks to Jo Hurse,
Bushland Team Leader and the
bushland crew, we planted
another 300 seedlings at an area
adjacent to the lake adding to
those we had planted last year.
Firstly, everyone helped to mulch
the area and then the hard
work began.
We now walk past feeling
very proud of what we see
and know we are contributing
towards improving this valuable
local resource. This community
involvement and the meaningful
participation of people with
disabilities is thanks to the Port
Phillip EcoCentre and its working
partnership with Bayside City
Council and Central Bayside
Adult Community Options
(CBACO).
CBACO encourages each
individual to be a part of his
or her community. This project
is a wonderful opportunity to
enable our clients to feel a
part of the local community
and to make a real difference
towards its improvement. People
are learning to identify bird
species, skilfully use a camera,
take measurements and the all
important task of recording data
(which includes dog poo!).
Our records show the bird
population changes with the
seasons, with interesting birds
such as Darters and White-faced
Herons visiting. Swans bred on
the lake last year. The Purple
Swamp-hens are usually present
in numbers varying from two
to seven, with the least seen
between April and July this year.
Perhaps the lake is an important
drought refuge when inland
waterways dry up in summer.
There is always a surprise waiting
for us… such as the mother
Wood Duck and her brood of
nine ducklings discovered in
August this year. We hope our
surveys will inform future planting
to improve water quality and
habitat in, and around the lake.
Comments from the team:
“I have learnt to measure water - how clear it is.” James
“I like to help with planting and it’s interesting seeing the birds and ducks.” Tabetha
“I enjoy going to Elsternwick Lake - it’s lots of fun.” Phoebe
“I enjoy seeing the ducks, birds and ducklings.” Robert
“It’s good to watch the birds and I enjoy the planting days.” Andrew
Neil Blake
Coordinator
NED
New Environment DirectionsSince February 2008, the New Environment Directions team from Central Bayside Adult Community Options has regularly monitored the bird life at Elsternwick Park lake area.
The New Environment Directions team at Elsternwick Park.
banksia bulletin - spring 20094
Buckets for Bayside
However, if planting numbers
continue to decline, Bayside will
experience a loss of amenity
within our streets. From 2010,
Council will return to planting a
minimum of 1,400 trees annually.
Young trees will be watered by
Council, however, to give these
new trees the best chance
possible we need your help!
Buckets for Bayside is a program
that will help you help your street
tree.
When a new tree is planted in
front of your home, you will be
provided with a bucket and
the Caring For Your Street Tree
information pamphlet.
We need your help to support the
tree in its early growth by giving it a
bucket of grey water once a week
in the cooler months and twice a
week in the warmer months.
With your help, we hope to
provide a healthy urban forest for
everyone to enjoy.
Sarah Priestley
Arboriculture Officer
Bayside City Council
Over the past few years Bayside City Council has reduced the number of trees planted in response to the severe drought conditions.
New to the Crew Hi, my name is Daniel Noonan
and I am the newest member
of the Bushland team here
at Citywide.*
While I was completing my four
year apprenticeship in Horticulture
(parks and gardens) at Citywide,
I grew to understand more about
the diverse bushlands throughout
Bayside and felt the need to
know and understand more
about them.
Growing up in the dense
bushlands of Beaconsfield, my
interests have grown substantially,
from landscaping my backyard to
now looking after Bayside’s flora
and fauna.
After working in Bayside’s
bushlands as an apprentice,
my first goal was to complete
my apprenticeship. Now that I
have reached that goal, my next
goal was to become a part of
Citywide’s Bushland Team and
now that I have fulfilled that goal I
couldn’t be happier.
After successfully completing Year
12 at St. Francis Xavier College
in 2005, I commenced work with
Citywide as an apprentice on
3 January 2006.
My previous work experience was
working in a paper factory using
large machinery where I needed
to be on the ball at all times and
precise in my work.
I then worked at Beaconsfield
Boarding Kennels & Cattery as
a kennel attendant. My jobs
included cleaning the enclosures,
preparing food and medication,
feeding the animals and of course
playing with them, making sure
their stay was as good as possible.
Now that I am with Citywide,
I am looking forward to meeting
all the Friends of Bayside and
working together to improve
Bayside’s Bushlands.
Daniel Noonan
Citywide Bushland Team
*Editor’s note - Citywide Open
Space is Bayside City Council’s
Open Space & Trees contract
service provider.
Dennis, Citywide’s tree planting specialist planting a new Kanooka (Tristaniopsis laurina) street tree.
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 5
banksia bulletin - spring 20096
It is also the 150th anniversary of
Darwin’s The Origin of Species,
the book that changed the
world. It affected the arts and
sciences and its repercussions
continue to be felt today.
Darwin’s great discoveries and
intuitions were in South America.
As for Australia, Darwin thought
very little of our out-of-the-way
continent, which he believed was
at the tail end of everywhere. He
writes in his Journal of Researches,
“Farewell Australia! You are
a rising child, and doubtless
some day will reign a great
princess in the South: but you
are too great and ambitious for
affection, yet not great enough
for respect. I leave your shores
without sorrow or regret”.
Darwin wrote, in the last few
pages of The Origin of Species,
“Analogy would lead me one
step further, namely, to the belief
that all animals and plants have
descended from some one
prototype”. So it looks as if the
religions had a point – under
the variation, all life is one.
The science of Ecology, which
has come into its own over
the last four decades, takes a
Darwinian view – animals and
plants are not isolated events,
they are manifestations of
life within a context and they
evolve and change. So if one
harms an animal’s habitat or
home (oikos), one harms the
animals and the other plants
and animals around it.
Throughout July and August there have been particularly high tides in Port Phillip Bay. This is due to the fact that more water is coming into the Bay as a result of channel deepening at the Heads. A number of rare cool water coral reefs were blown up. The Port of Melbourne
concedes a one-centimetre sea
level rise (which translates into
one metre of water coverage of
flat beaches). Will this affect the
beds of seagrass? The seagrass
beds off the reef at the South
end of Dendy Street beach
have shrunk in size over the last
year. Seagrass is a sure indicator of
environmental wellbeing. The
seagrass is an important source
of food dor fish, crabs
and visitors. Last summer, up to
14 Black Swans at a time were
eating there. Seagrass stabilises
sediment and it reacts very
badly to disturbance. What
about the effect of pollution
of accelerating introduction of
marine pests, what about oil
spills? What about the dolphins?
On 7 July, on a beautiful still
day, we were enchanted to
see four dolphins frisking and
fishing just off Green Point.
All of us who care about the
environment and labour in our
little tropic niches are anxious.
We worry about the health of
Friends of Brighton Dunes - Dr Jim Willis ReserveThis year celebrates the birth of the great naturalist Charles Darwin 200 years ago.
our wonderful bay. Will increased
water flow interfere with the
unique microorganisms which
have kept the bay much cleaner
and healthier than it should
be with all the pollution?
We are in the 13th year of
‘drought’ in and around
Melbourne. I think, given the
scientific facts, we should say we
are in a period of human-induced
climate change. Victoria is hotter
(by at least one degree), drier,
and even more prone to bushfires.
What a pleasure it has been
this winter to see the trees
and grasses that survived
last summer look green and
flourishing. And now it is early
spring again. The Boobialla
(Myoporum insulare) are
flowering, as are the Coast
Tea Tree (Leptospermum
laevigatum), the Coast Wattle
(Acacia sophorae) and the
Small-leaf Clematis (Clematis
mircophylla) (with its small
lovely pale yellow flowers and
its fuzzy frothy white seed heads
known as ‘Old Man’s Beard’).
As in all urban reserves, we
volunteers spend time at
virtually every working bee
picking up dumped rubbish.
It is astounding what people
drop – lolly wrappers, pens,
condoms, nappies, syringes
and plastic, plastic, plastic.
Every manufacturer should be
made to make biodegradable
plastic bags before we all sink
under the morass. Most of the
plastic bags will never properly
biodegrade and fish and
marine mammals will ingest the
carcinogenic bits. The larger bits
will strangle and choke them.
In our area, we work by the
modified Bradley Method of
Natural Bush Regeneration. We
hand weed so that we disturb the
soil as little as possible. We weed
from the good areas out, so that
the indigenous plants can expand
instead of being smothered
by exotic weeds. These weeds
mostly from South Africa and South America have no natural predators in our environment and so run amok. Most of the weeds can be used as mulch. We seed collect so that when we plant we use stock from our own genetic pool. The Bayside Community Nursery does a wonderful job in propagating plants for us and the other Friends groups in Bayside. Thanks to Carmen and Erika.
As we are conserving a natural area, we only re-plant where there is no hope of natural regeneration, at the edges of the reserve, in particular. We do not use poisons for many reasons, including that we believe the damage done to the microorganisms in the soil, and the existing flora and fauna is too great. Whatever the soil you are working with, it is the basis of everything. Our dedicated, incredibly hard working and knowledgeable staff from Citywide, Mark Rasmussen, is adamant about the importance of soil and brings his expertise and enthusiasm to bear on any problem we encounter.
This year we planted our seedlings from May until mid June, as soon as the weather became cooler, to give the plants a few months of coolness and a bit of rain to establish themselves before the heat.
For the last few weeks we have been weeding Kikuyu Grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), and cutting back and taking out Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) wherever we can.
Jenny Talbot
Coordinator Friends of Brighton Dunes
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 7
Illustrations by Jenny Talbot
Last year, at the end of summer,
I was dismayed to see so many
old Tea Trees (Leptospermum
laevigatum) lying dead, the
ground beneath was almost bare.
As Australia now produces
more carbon emissions every
year, I see no reason to expect
that we shall escape from further
escalating drought. We are
always overwhelmed by the size
of our area of care, so we work
selectively at smaller parts to plant,
weed and water.
It was a sunny day – from our
winter planting, which was around
the Love St car park and below
I know the soil to be moist from
the top 34cms but no more. It
is bone dry beneath that, but
surprisingly, the carpet of New
Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia
tetragonioides) was flowing
onwards, covering the ground with
shining green. The drought resistant
Sea-berry Saltbush (Rhagodia
candolleana) has increased
and is actually suppressing the
weeds. I used to think that exotics
having no predators would win
the battle. Now I see Rhagodia
and Tetragonia pushing weeds
back and chocking the area.The
Casuarinas (Allocasuarina verticila)
persist, dropping their cinnamon
coloured carpet around which
also discourages weeds.
The Boobiallas, neglected and little
appreciated, prosper and nurture
and shade their neighbours.
Boobiallas are fire resistant as
well as drought resistant. Hop
Goodenias (Goodenia ovata)
spring up where ever we
release them from Boneseed
(Chrysanthemoides monilifera).
Many Coastal Wattles (Acacia
saphorae) have sprung up and
other smaller plants we have
planted from our community
nursery are surviving – so far.
I come to the newly placed wide,
white sandy beach near Southey
St that BRASCA campaigned for
three years ago. This will protect
the fragile cliffs above them
and the groynes will prevent the
lateral drift from taking the sand
to the north.
We have broken this long stretch
of coast into smaller pieces to
plant, weed and water. We weed
mainly African Box Thorn (Lycium ferocissimum), Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata) and Boneseed.
Box Thorn has been removed in great quantities, Cape Ivy we weed in compact areas, removing all its roots. The happy part of this is that it does not return. I can revisit a place such as Royal Steps, where we weeded it and find it is no longer there. Boneseed was once covering all the cliffs. We did this section by section, the whole area. Now we enjoy our spring ‘Boneseed Sweep’ and check it for regrowth. Few stragglers remain. We never sprayed, preferring the most specific cut, scrape and spray, leaving the dying roots to hold the steep slopes until the new growth, usually Hop Goodenia, takes over.
With ominous future, I am continually awed and amazed at the courage and tenacity of these beautiful and adaptable flowers
and trees.
Janet Ablitt
Coordinator
BRASCA
A coastal walkI walked the coastline between Half Moon Bay and Jetty Rd with mixed feelings. This is the stretch that the Black Rock and Sandringham Conservations Associations Inc (BRASCA) has been caring for, for the past 40 years.
Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
banksia bulletin - spring 20098
A coastal walkThe photographer showed
interest in the Showy Bossiaea
(Bosseaiea cinaria), the Correas
(Correa reflexa and Correa alba)
and the delicate Common Beard
Heath (Leucapogon virgatus)
flourishing in the heathland.
She also commented on the
skeletal blackened Coast Tea
Tree (Leptospermum laevigatum)
which remains as a reminder
of the history of fire in the area,
and for some people has added
to its fascination.
Friends looked forward to
the Spring Open day on
27 September. Visitors were
able to enjoy the wildflowers,
especially the Wedding Bush
(Ricinocarpus pinifolius) on this
fine afternoon. Many people
have shown interest, and on a
Sunday in late August Pauline
showed 12 visitors around
the reserve.
On 17 August, a Bayview
Crescent resident driving past
George Street unexpectedly
spotted a Yellow Tailed Black
Cockatoo. At 9:32am pictures
were taken that showed the bird
in flight, which later settled on
a branch. At 9:33am, the bird
looked up as it sat among a
mass of branchlets. I, Val,
am most grateful to our next
door neighbour who took the
photos and presented copies
for our collection.
The August working bee was
particularly enjoyable as Erika
Anderson from Citywide brought
tea, coffee and biscuits, reviving
an old custom, and making a
good opportunity for talk and
relaxation. As usual, we welcome
newcomers who would like to
join us.
Valerie Tarrant and
Pauline Reynolds
Joint Coordinators
Friends of George Street Reserve
Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
Despite the long drought, this year’s springtime flowering has been splendid and we were happy the Melbourne Weekly Bayside featured the George Street Reserve, along with Balcombe Park, in a recent article.
Friends of George Street Reserve
The Sticky Longhead was
one of the fascinating plants
featured in a segment on the
Bayside Community Nursery on
the ABC’s television program,
Gardening Australia (8 August
2009). A member of the
Asteraceae family, the Sticky
Longhead has not been seen in
the greater Melbourne area for
over 100 years until it recently
appeared at George Street Reserve after the 2006 wildfire.
The Bayside Community Nursery
has since collected the seed
and planted out a small seed
orchard.
For more information about the
Bayside Community Nursery,
or how you can become a
nursery volunteer, please visit
Bayside City Council’s website
www.bayside.vic.gov.au/
environment_nursery or
phone 9583 8408.
Sticky Longhead (Podotheca angustifolia)
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 9
Spring is fast approaching
and quite a few species of
heath are already flowering,
including Showy Bossiaea
(Bossiaea cinerea), the Erect
Guinea Flower and the red and
green form of the Native Fuchsia
(Correa reflexa).
The regeneration in the
2001 controlled burn area
has improved significantly
with many Wedding Bush
(Ricinocarpus pinifolius) linking
up with the wildfire site near
the mobile phone tower which
becomes a mass of delicately
scented ivory white flowers.
Although there has been a lack
of rainfall, the burn site of 2008
is gradually regenerating with
Kangaroo Apple (Solamum
laciniatum) being the most
dominant plant, however it
also helps to protect the more
delicate understorey, such as
Running Postman (Kennedia
prostrata) and Common
Appleberry (Billardiera scandens).
Recently an echidna was sighted
on the nature strip on Balcombe
Road between Balcombe Park
and Royal Melbourne Golf
Course. A pacific black duck was
also seen with eight ducklings
wandering up Balcombe
Park lane towards the Royal
Melbourne Golf Course.
Joan Couzoff
Coordinator
Friends of Balcombe Park
Friends of Balcombe Park
Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius).
Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
banksia bulletin - spring 200910
Our main task at our August
working bee was to plant tube
stock of two species of trees,
Acacia implexa (Lightwood),
and Allocasuarina verticillata
(Drooping She-oak). The
excellent book by Rob Scott et al,
Indigenous Plants of the Sandbelt,
includes the following notes:
“Lightwood is a graceful, reliable,
long-lived wattle with attractive
bark…Drooping She-oak, this is
a beautiful and easily-cultivated
tree…the golden effect of the
dense male flowers is an attractive
feature, as is the sound of the
wind through the fine branchlets.”
Earlier in the winter, we were
particularly pleased to be able
to plant out eight well-grown
seedlings of Wedding Bush
(Ricinocarpus pinifolius). For
several years now, Bill has been
authorised by the Bayside
Community Nursery to collect the
seed from what is perhaps the only
Wedding Bush plant in Donald
MacDonald Reserve. He sorts the
seeds very carefully, and then
passes them on to the nursery. Last
year this bush was in very poor
condition, and it produced fewer
seeds, but this year it appears to
be much healthier.
Wedding Bush seeds are known
to be very difficult to germinate.
However the nursery staff were
particularly pleased with their
success rate this season. The seeds
were scattered in trays on top of
seed-raising mix, then treated in
the smoke tent. Green material
from local plants, including tea-
tree and bracken was used to
build up the smoke, then the
trays were placed in the tent for
exactly one hour. I was intrigued
to learn that the selection of plant
material, the build-up of smoke,
and the timing seem to be crucial
in the germination process. In
previous years, periods of just
under, or over, 60 minutes were
unsuccessful. After smoking, the
seeds were lightly covered with
sand and transferred to the
roofed shade house. To retain
the chemicals in the smoke they
were not watered for two weeks.
About 24 plants survived and
developed to the stage when
they could be planted out, and
some were returned to the Donald
MacDonald Reserve Friends group.
We planted three of them near
their ‘mother’ plant in the 1997
controlled burn site, and several
others in the area of the 2006
wildfire. Wedding Bush is much
more plentiful in some of the
other Bayside bushland reserves.
They are looking beautiful in
nearby Gramatan Avenue
Heathland Sanctuary.
Alison Johnston
Coordinator
Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
Friends of Balcombe Park
Bill and Daniel planting tube stock at the Reserve.
Bill Johnston, dedicated coordinator of Donald MacDonald Reserve.
Photographs by Kim Croker
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 11
Healthy ParksHealthy People
There is irrefutable evidence
that being exposed to nature is
good for your health. For readers
of Banksia Bulletin this is a no
brainer, but we still have a way to
go to get the message across to
some members of the community
who could most benefit for
interaction with nature. I have
grown up loving our Bayside
parks and George Street Reserve
was my childhood playground!
I have been involved with Parks
Victoria’s Healthy Parks Healthy
People project for over a
decade and I am now a proud
Ambassador for the International
Healthy Parks Healthy People
Congress to be hosted by Parks
Victoria in Melbourne next year.
The whole idea of the Congress
is to build bridges between parks
managers and the broader
community to work on how
nature is good for the health
of communities. This involves
engaging a range of sectors
including education, tourism,
community development and in
particular, the health sector. But
it is a two way street: if we can
foster people’s awareness of how
beneficial parks can be for their
health, in turn, they should be
more willing to help us care for
our parks and the environment in
general. Education and access
are the key.
In Bayside there has, for a long
time, been a practice of fencing
off and locking people out of
some parks deemed too sensitive
for public access. While sensitive
areas do need to be protected
from harm, locking people out
does nothing to build good
relationships. Instead it is likely
to foster resentment from those
who interpret this as them being
considered not trustworthy.
At the June session of Bayside
City Council’s meeting, the
Councillors expressed their
majority support to restore public
access to the currently locked-off
part of the George Street Reserve
*(see Editors Note). So long as it
is properly managed, allowing
public access to this area will not
result in the destruction of the
flora. With improved perimeter
fencing, chicane gates and
appropriate paths, along with
good interpretive signage and
an education program, the flora
should flourish and more people
will be able to enjoy the health
giving beauty that is currently
only accessible to a few. The
banksia bulletin - spring 200912
Grange in Kingston is a great
example of how a sensitive area
can be managed so that all
parties are happy. The Grange
allows 24/7 public access and the
flora remains well protected.
I hope that the George Street
project might be expanded to
include local school children in
helping to care for the park. After
all what we want is sustainability
and nurturing the next generation
of park “friends” is as important as
looking after the seedlings!
Well done Bayside for your
contribution to a healthier
community by making parks
more accessible.
For more info on the Parks Victoria
Congress visit
www.healthyparkshealthy peoplecongress.org
Dr Sally Cockburn
Bayside resident
*Editor’s Note:
At the ordinary meeting of
Council held on 23 June 2009 it
was resolved that Council:
1. Consult with the Department of
Sustainability and Environment,
the local community and
other interested parties on the
construction of a new path,
as part of the Planning
Application process.
2. Following consultation,
construct a pedestrian path
In the 2006 burn area at
George Street Reserve.
The path will have Net
Gain Accounting principles
applied and establish an
offset if indigenous vegetation
elsewhere on the site. The path
alignment will be subject to
advice from the Department of
Sustainability and Environment
and the Planning Permit.
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 13
Merindah Park and the Urban
Forest owe their existence to
the foresight of the early City of
Sandringham, which created
an urban forest reserve to act
as a barrier between residential
and industrial land under the first
local town planning schemes
in the early 1950s as the area
experience it post war housing
boom. For many years thereafter
it remained as neglected,
unfenced, vacant land, parts of
which were used as rubbish tips
and part as car park and access
for the adjacent battery factory.
In the mid twentieth century and
well before the formal “Friends
Groups” were thought of, local
residents took the initiative of
planting trees, shrubs and grasses
in an attempt to soften the
visual impact of the sites. They
tended them through several
drought years with bucket
brigades and were rewarded by
the development of a mature
sample of Australian bushland
with a log lined walking track.
The current Friends Group
evolved from the initiative
of those early residents.
Today the park and forest
looks bare and unsightly, as
environmental works remove
toxic pollution caused by illegal
waste dumping, domestic
garbage land fill and in particular
the high levels of extremely
dangerous heavy metal toxins.
Unfortunately these works
have necessitated removal of significant proportions of this vegetation, including mature 50-year-old trees in the urban forest. The works of necessity have also required severely limited access by visitors to both park and urban forest. The near one million dollar clean up is now near completion.
The Friends Group is looking forward to involvement in the planning and making a substantial contribution to the replanting of the urban forest and the rejoining of the wildlife green corridor. This forest corridor is a vital link between green wedges to the north and south, allowing bird and other wildlife space to feed, breed and maintain genetic diversity. The group represents a range of different interests and users of the area, but with the principle objective of re-creating the forest vista of trees, shrubs and grasses selected for diversity and function from the wide range of available and suitable Australian flora, and to return the park open space to its former multipurpose passive recreation role. The Friends Group has been enlarged and strengthened in preparation for the work ahead. The overriding objective is to allow the community to fully and freely
utilise both the forest and reserve.
David Cockburn
Coordinator
Friends of Merindah Park and
the Urban Forest
Urban Forest showing a range of Eucalypts and Wattles before commencement of clean-up works.
Loss of vegetation due to removal of soil necessary to eliminate toxic compounds.
Merindah Park and the Urban Forest
banksia bulletin - spring 200914
After considerable replanting
and improved signage it was
re-opened in 2007. However,
as a consequence of the hot
and dry conditions, which
prevailed earlier this year, many
plants did not survive and the
garden deteriorated.
Nevertheless, in recent times
Bayside City Council has
replanted extensively with plant
types considered more able to
resist extreme conditions and
avoiding those plants which
had failed to survive.
The following varieties of plants
were selected:
In addition, a new watering system with underground pipes for low pressure irrigation (drip feed) and controlled by a solar panel has replaced the original system of overhead sprayers which are more wasteful. Recycled water will be taken from the Elsternwick Canal and trucked to the garden so that the small wetland area will be better maintained during the hot summer months.
It is intended that the restored garden will be in much better condition by April next year. Then children from primary and secondary schools will be invited to learn more about indigenous
plants at the actual site.
The original inhabitants of
Bayside, the Boonwering/
Bunurong tribe, used indigenous
plants for food, medicine
and artefacts. The Garden
will be featured as part of a
Reconciliation Week in 2010
(27 May to 3 June).
Jim Richardson
BRASCA
Indigenous Resource GardenThe Indigenous Resource Garden was originally opened in 1988 as a Bicentenary project and is located near the rounded corner of Bluff Road and Royal Avenue, Sandringham.
Common Name Latin Name
Sweet Wattle Acacia suaveolens
Chocolate Lily Arthropodium strictum
Cranberry Heath Astroloma humifusum
Coast or Prickly Spear Grass Austrostipa stipoides
Common Apple-berry Billardiera scandens
Australian Binweed Convolvulus erubescens (not indigenous)
White Correa Correa alba
Black Anther or Spreading Flax-lily Dianella revoluta var revoluta
Austral Indigo Indigofera australis
Rush Juncus species.
Common Beard-heath Leucopogon virgatus
Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia
Fragrant Salt Bush Podolepis jaceoides (not indigenous)
Blue Tussock Grass Poa poiformis
Kangaroo Apple Solanum laciniatum
Hairy Spinifex Spinifex sericeus
Golden Spray Viminaria juncea
Small Grass-tree Xanthorrhoea minor
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 15
One of main roles of Friends
of Native Wildlife (FoNW) is
educating the community about
the value of the Bayside natural
environment and especially
local wildlife. To help achieve
this, we applied for a Melbourne
Water grant. The focal point of
FoNW’s grant submission has
been achieved. After 18 months
and many hours of work, phone
calls and emails, the group now
has a logo and a website that is
about 90 per cent complete. We
also have a formal email address:
hope that the website and email
address will help all our (Friends)
groups share local knowledge
with the next generation.
Three VCE students included the
FoNW website as part of their
International Baccalaureate
studies. They made good progress
and our group has had some
outside assistance to complete
difficult areas in order to finalise
the website page.
We wanted to use a loose-leaf
folder as education equipment
when sharing local knowledge
at community events (when
PowerPoint presentations are not
appropriate). Each core member
of the group wrote information
which was printed below
beautiful photos from a
number of our Friends and
later laminated. We are most
grateful to the photographers
who have been acknowledged
under the photos. Suggestions
from a local teacher are helping
us with student style sheets
for education purposes. The
symbiotic relationships between
insects, mammals, birds and
plants are our next endeavour.
We are aware that the general
public is interested in identifying
our local fauna and flora. FoNW
is hoping to use our website and
loose-leaf material to promote
wildlife information at local public
events. We hope to interest
student groups in particular.
Citywide does excellent work
with school groups. We hope
to fill in the gap with other
groups such as scouts/girl
guides. Our first visit to a
scout group encouraged
Michael Norris (Coordinator)
to gather photos and content
for a good PowerPoint
presentation which our group
intends to develop further.
We are planning ongoing
interaction with this particular
group for their nature badges.
Thanks must go to Val especially,
but also Michael, Ian and Pat. We
also acknowledge Kim Croker,
Bernhard Jakob, Anne Sherlock
and the three IB students from
St Leonards.
Elizabeth Walsh
Friends of Native Wildlife
Friends of Native Wildlife - Education Project
banksia bulletin - spring 200916
Porcupine Fish
Porcupine Fish are very docile in cold weather; you can pick them up easily (and gently). They will puff up when feeling threatened, so much in fact that they will float near the surface for a while.
They have exquisitely dulcet eyes when relaxed.
But do not be fooled!
The Porcupine Fish carries a highly lethal toxin called tetradotoxin in its skin, flesh and internal organs, so should be handled with great care, if at all.
Ray Lewis
President
Marine Care Ricketts Point
The Porcupine or Globe Fish (Diodon nithemerus) is common in Ricketts Point Sanctuary. I found this one (on a Saturday morning), just off Tea House reef in two metres of water.
Friends of Native Wildlife - Education Project
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 17
Our aim is to identify as many
of the plants and animals as we
can and to record any changes
in numbers or diversity. When
conducting our surveys, we follow
some basic rules:
• Wearproperclothing–ahat,
shoes, sunscreen for protection
from the elements.
• Treadcarefully-forourown
safety and to avoid damaging
the reef platform.
• Neverputyourhandswhere
you can not see them.
A reason for the last rule is the
presence of the Southern Blue
Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena
maculosa). This species is found
along the coastline from southern
Western Australia to eastern
Victoria. A second related species
inhabits northern waters.
Despite being fairly common
in the Sanctuary, the Blue
Ringed Octopus is normally well
camouflaged so you have to
look hard to find one. I looked
for several years without success
until one drifted past my feet as I
was wading out to the Tea House
Reef. That evening we saw three.
The name octopus comes from
the word Octopoda, which
means ‘eight-footed’. They are
molluscs and, along with their
close relatives the squid and
cuttlefish, are the most highly
developed invertebrates
(animals without backbones),
with a well developed brain
and eye structure.
The Blue Ringed Octopus is, in
general, solitary and territorial. It
is not usually aggressive but will
defend its turf when challenged.
Both sexes grow to similar sizes but
the male has a modified tentacle
with a groove running along the
edge with a grasping structure
called the ‘hectocotylus’ at the
tip. When mating begins, the
male caresses her mantle with
this tentacle. He then places his
tentacle into the females’ mantle
cavity and inserts the sperm packet
Watch where you put your handsMarine Care Ricketts Point conducts quarterly surveys (in Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring) of the intertidal platforms in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
banksia bulletin - spring 200918
releasing the spermatophores. The
male dies (presumably contented)
after mating.
The female lays between 50
to100 eggs, each enclosed in a
clear, transparent covering. She
carries them around under the
‘skirt’ between her tentacles and
guards them closely. She only has
one clutch of eggs because she
is unable to eat while protecting
her eggs and dies soon after the
eggs hatch.
The infant blue ringed octopus
is pea sized when it hatches. It
matures quickly and soon grows
to the size of a golf ball (adult
sized) within the year. They are
ready to mate the following
year and then die. Life span is
therefore about two years.
The Blue Ringed Octopus is one of
our most spectacular creatures,
but it is also potentially deadly.
If the blue rings are visible,
this is a sign the animal is
becoming aggressive.
The blue ringed octopus has
two poison glands that secrete
different types of poison through
the saliva. One type is quite mild
and is used to paralyse crabs and
other prey when hunting. The
other type is very toxic and is used
as a defense against predators,
including people.
While the bite is not much more
than a scratch, the poison is
very strong and can kill an adult
human within minutes.
At first the victim feels nauseous,
and then there is a loss of sight,
touch, speech and the ability
to swallow. In three minutes, the
nervous system stops working,
paralysis sets in and respiratory
failure commences. Without
immediate help, the victim will
die. Mouth to mouth resuscitation
and heart massage must be
started straight away and
continued until professional
medical help is reached.
There, artificial respiration and
heart massage will continue
until the poison can work its way
out of the victim’s system. This
usually takes about 24 hours and
leaves the victim with no obvious
side effects.
Victims are aware of their
surroundings throughout their
ordeal but are unable to respond
in any way. They may appear
dead but if aid comes quickly
enough, they will survive.
Because the poison is in the saliva,
it can be ingested through the
skin. Some people are reported
to have experienced a tingling in
their hands after touching rocks
or water recently occupied by a
blue ringed octopus.
Bites generally have occurred
when an octopus has been
picked up out of its pool or
stepped on.
So, to avoid an unpleasant
encounter, watch your step and
if you see one, leave it alone.
If this article has not put
you off and you would like
further information about the
Ricketts point Marine Sanctuary
or how to join Marine Care
Ricketts Point, visit our website
www.marinecare.org.au
Peter Dedrick
Marine Care Rickets Point
Blue Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa).
Photograph by Ray Lewis
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 19
Some of it used to be part of the
car park, so occasionally we dig
up pieces of road metal. In other
places it is heavily compacted.
We started planting in the 1990s
then commenced again last
year we finished it this year and
have been delighted with the
success of the plants. It is much
more formal than we usually do
in that it has a border of Cushion
Bush (Leucophyta brownii).
In other places such as the bank,
which runs from the Beaumaris
Life Saving Club to the exercise
equipment, we have had
considerable plant losses during
the disastrous February high
temperatures, especially the
Coast Beard Heath (Leucopogon
parviflorus) which had been doing
well. Despite weekly watering
and being one and two years old,
all of them died quite suddenly,
except one.
On the other hand, beach plants
such as Coast Saltbushes (Atriplex
cinera), Karkalla (Carpobrotis
rossii), Cushion Bush and Coast
Daisy-bush (Olearia axillaris),
seemed to be unaffected.
Mulching with wet seaweed
seems to have played a big part
in their survival as well. I have
wondered if we could plant these
beach species all year.
If you walk near the Life Saving
Club, have a look at the Sticky
Daisy-bush (Olearia glutinosa)
which is growing beneath the
old Coast Banksia (Banksia
integrifolia). This old tree is very
fragile so we planted beneath
it to stop people from sitting
under it. On the other side of
the Life Saving Club between it
and the red brick toilet block,
there is a lot of Sticky Daisy-bush
growing in front of the cliff. We
have been delighted with this
plant and its success. A big thank
you to Carmen and Erika for
propagating Sticky Daisy-bush at
the Bayside Community Nursery
and making it available to the
community along with all the
other plants.
On 26 April, there was a
tremendous storm with a wild
wind pushing the tide fiercely over
Friends of Watkins Bay – Adverse Weather EventsMost of our work this year has been completing our beach bed beside the path near the Reserve Road drain.
Friends of Watkins Bay
banksia bulletin - spring 200920
the rock platforms almost up to
the Tea House. It tore out cubic
metres of sand and with it beach
vegetation. The worst damage
was beside the disabled persons
ramp where Coast Banksia has
been regenerating naturally for
some years. At least 10 Banksias,
some two and three metres tall,
were torn out along with the
sand. The ramp itself was pulled
apart and washed up further
along the beach. One could cry
but you cannot argue with the
sea.
Some of the Banksias, which we
have planted during the past five
years, drought/climate change,
have been struggling. Many of
the imposing old giants have
given up their struggle altogether.
Perhaps they had reached the
end of their life anyhow. Coast
Banksia are such an iconic
species in Bayside that it is hard to
see them dying.
On 25 August, another windstorm
was raging. Later inspection
revealed that the large old
Banksia beside Beach Rd, near
the end of Tramway Pde has had
large limbs torn off in the wind.
More sand, and with it another
three Banksias have been lost
beside the disable persons ramp.
However our beach bed near the
life saving club looks very healthy
and seems unaffected by storms
and spray. Foot traffic in the
summer is its main problem.
Most of our group are keen
gardeners and we applaud the
Council’s care of our remnant
bushland areas, Beach Park and
the Community Plant Nursery.
Moira Longden
Coordinator
Friends of Watkins Bay
Friends of Watkins Bay – Adverse Weather Events
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Club.
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Cub (South) looking towards Table Rock.
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Club (looking inland).
Beach planting near Reserve Rd drain (beside the path).
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 21
National Tree Day Volunteers at Half Moon Bay.
This year, Bayside’s National Tree
Day site was held at Half Moon
Bay, Black Rock on Sunday 2
August from 10am to 12noon.
One hundred volunteers planted
more than 2,000 indigenous
plants with help from Citywide
Bushland and Nursery staff.
Schools Tree Day took place on
Friday 31 July.
Students planted 2,000
indigenous plants at various
foreshore locations.
Schools included:
Koskta Hall Xavier
Cheltenham Primary School
Gardenvale Primary School,
Hampton Primary School
Brighton Secondary College
Bentleigh West Primary School
Moorabbin Primary School
Brighton Beach Primary School
Brighton Primary School
What a fantastic effort!
Thank you to all the volunteers.
For more information about
National Tree Day visit
planetark.com
Citywide Bushland & Nursery Staff
National Tree DayNational Tree Day is Australia’s biggest community tree-planting event. It is day for all Australians to help out by planting native trees and shrubs at a Tree Day site in their local area.
banksia bulletin - spring 200922
Friends of BaysideWorking Bee times for October to January 2010
Time/Day OCT NOV DEC JAN
Balcombe Park Last Sunday 10am - noon
25 29 20 31
Bay Rd 2nd Saturday 10am - noon
10 14 12 9
BRASCA 2nd Monday 10am - 12pm
12 9 14 11
Brighton Dunes Tuesdays 8am - 10am
6, 13, 20, 27
3, 10, 17, 24
1, 8, 15, 22
5, 12, 19, 26
Cheltenham Park 1st Sunday 10am - noon
4 1 6 3
Cheltenham Primary Contact school 9583 1614
24 22
Donald MacDonald 1st Sunday 10am - noon
4 1 6 3
George St 3rd Sunday 10am - noon
18 15 20 17
Gramatan 1st Sunday 1 - 3pm
4 1 6 3
Long Hollow Last Sunday 1pm - 3pm
25 29 20 31
Friends of Native Wildlife 1st Saturday
9.30am
Ricketts Point Landside
3rd Tuesday 1pm - 3pm
20 17 15 19
Table Rock Last Tuesday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
27 24 29 26
Urban Forest & Merindah Park
2nd Sunday 10am - 12pm
11 8 13 10
Watkins Bay Last Wednesday 1pm - 3pm
28 25 30 27
Gardenvale Primary School Contact Brigitta Suendermann ph. 9530 0328
Sandringham East Primary School Contact Katrine Lee ph. 9555 5250
Contact Michael Norris ph. 9521 0804
banksia bulletin - spring 2009 23
www.bayside.vic.gov.au