QuarterlyFriends Group

Spring 2014

Welcome, spring is well and truly here. Perth again has received less than average rainfall.

Unfortunately the more below average rainfall the region receives, the long term average will also fall. Gone are the wet winters Perth used to experience in the 70’s and 80’. The rainfall received this winter started quite early in the season, this in turn means that grassy weeds, such as veldt grass also appeared earlier in the year

On the topic of veldt grass, it appears that the City’s 20 year battle with this particular weed (fusillade spraying was first trialled in Warwick Bushland in the early 1990’s) is having a result. Both annual and perennial veldt grass has decreased in the City’s larger reserves that have been treated over a number of years. As it’s known with nature, abhors a vacuum, other weeds quickly take their place. A weed that is fast becoming public enemy number one for friend’s group volunteers is fumaria spp.

Fumaria is difficult to control with herbicides because of its habit of trailing over non target species. Being a very long trailing plant, it often has different plant development stages on the one plant, at the growing tip it may have flowers in the early stages of development, in older sections of the plant there may be seeds with various stages of maturity.

Friends groups have been very busy this season. They have planted over 8,000 local native species in the City’s bushland reserves. The friend’s volunteers have also hand pulled hundreds of bags of weeds. The control of weeds appears to be a never ending task. Given this, the City receives many comments about the improved condition of bushland reserves. This is testament to the cooperation between volunteers and the City’s staff and contractors.

The City sincerely thanks the bushland volunteers for the thousands of hours they dedicate to retain the rich biodiversity found in the City’s natural spaces.

Fumaria officinalis (common fumitory or earth smoke)

Scarlet Bracket Fungi (Pycnoporus Coccineus)Scarlet Bracket Fungi is one of the most common and colourful of bracket Fungi. The flesh is a bright orange colour that becomes paler with age, although the pores usually remain bright and visible.

Scarlet Bracket Fungi are decomposers and attach onto dead and rotted wood. They are commonly found in large groups on a single log.

The fungus was used by Indigenous people to suck on and cure sore mouths; they were also used as a teething ring for infants.

Photographed at Craigie Open Space on a fallen Banksia.Scarlet Bracket Fungi (Pycnoporus coccineus).

Safety in the Bushland (Excerpt from the Bushland Friends Group Manual)It is recommended that volunteers wear protective clothing whilst carrying out bushcare tasks. It is recommended that when working in bushland areas Friends Group Members wear:

• Long pants

• Long-sleeved shirts

• Sturdy, closed-in footwear

• Gloves

• Hats and sunscreen

• Sunglasses

Appropriate gloves must be worn when necessary, and sharps, such as broken glass and syringes must only be handled by adults in accordance with advice provided by the Manager, Operation Services. Sharps containers will be supplied to Friends Groups for use in bushland activities. To ensure the safety of all concerned whilst undertaking Friends Group activities, it is essential that children accompanying volunteers be supervised and accompanied by an adult at all times. It is also recommended that volunteers avoid working alone in bushland areas and that members work in at least pairs whilst undertaking Friends Groups activities.

It should be noted that children under the age of 12 are not covered by the City’s insurance policies (unless they are part of a school group and covered by Education Department Policies). Friends Groups are therefore responsible for children under 12 years of age.

Strategic Planning for the EnvironmentThe City of Joondalup has recently endorsed a new Environment Plan 2014 – 2019 and Climate Change Strategy 2014 – 2019. These strategic documents form part of the City’s environmental framework ensuring the City takes a coordinated and strategic approach to its environmental activities to obtain the best on-ground outcomes for the environment.

The Environment Plan guides the City’s strategic response to local environmental pressures. The purpose of the Plan is to ensure that the City’s operations are delivered in an environmentally sustainable manner and that the City takes measures to effectively influence positive behaviours within the community.

The Environment Plan addresses the key environmental pressures for the City under five themes: biodiversity management, water management, climate change, waste management and community involvement.

One of the key pressures on the environment is climate change. In 2070, it is expected that the City of Joondalup will have hotter, drier and windier summers with the number

of days over 35°C nearly doubling. Winters will be drier, warmer and less windy as a result of fewer low pressure systems. Key impacts from climate change for the natural environment include:

• Reduced water availability and a drying climate, particularly on the Yellagonga wetlands;

• Impacts on local biodiversity, flora and fauna species;

• Increased risk of bushfires; and

• Coastal erosion and inundation.

The Climate Change Strategy sets a new direction for the City’s climate change management activities over the next five years. The Strategy has a dual purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the scale of climate change (mitigation) and ensuring the City is ready to adapt to climate change impacts as they occur (adaptation).

For more information on the City’s Climate Change Strategy 2014 – 2019 or Environment Plan 2014 – 2019 visit joondalup.wa.gov.au

The Lookout at Lake Goollelal

Friends of Periwinkle ParkThe following article was kindly provided by Dot Lullfitz from the Friends of Periwinkle Park Mullaloo and was written for the group’s newsletter. It clearly shows, the wealth of botanical knowledge shared by the City’s friends group community.

“The bushland is looking colourful as the seasonal flowers are thriving since the winter rains.

It is always a thrill to see the donkey orchids in flower and on closer inspection, a white spider orchid was found and a few pink fairies.

Blue flowering plants include native wisteria, Hardenbergia comptoniana, blue fanflowers, Scaevola crassifolia and Scaevola nitens, fringed lilies, Thysanotus dichotomus and wild violet Hybanthus calycinus.

Creamy-white flowers include two- leaf hakea, Hakea trifurcata, Hakea prostrata, Rottnest prickle lily, Acanthocarpus preissii, parrot bush, Banksia dryandra sessilis, false boronia, Phyllanthus calycinus, old man’s beard, Clematis microphylla, and Grevillea crithmifolia.

Yellow flowers are represented by Acacia saligna, cotton tops, Conostylis aculeata and Lechenaultia linearoides.

Other interesting plants are one-sided bottlebrush, Calothamnus quadrifidus, pixie mops, Petrophile sp, Banksia dryandra nivea, orange dodder, Cassytha sp., sedges, male Macrozamia cones and long yellowish “flowers” on the male sheoaks, Allocasuarina fraseriana while the grass trees, Xanthorrhoea preissii are sending up green spikes.

Grass Trees and Tuart at Periwinkle Park

Many small birds like honeyeaters and willy wagtails are feasting on the plentiful supply of insects, while the White tailed (Carnaby) cockatoos visit the parrot bushes looking for insects and seeds.

Please respect the beautiful bushland by picking up after your dogs and keeping on the limestone tracks.”

New volunteers interested in helping with the weeding can contact Lyn on 9307 7267.

Friends of Periwinkle Bushland Coordinators:

Dot - 9401 3724

Barry - 0407 989 287