LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Members and Friends
Greetings to all and welcome to the latest NRPG news.
This my first newsletter as editor and my first thanks must go to Alison McGilvray for her dedicated efforts over the past years in putting together many previous newsletters. Alison has moved to the Pilbara as the Northern Rangelands NRM Biodiversity Facilitator.
There has been a considerable time lapse since we have been able to get any work done on the NRPG Web site, but now we are in a position to make updates. Log on via the web address shown above and review details of your reserve and Friends group. Please forward any changes to the editor and they will be made as time permits (see email below).
It’s that busy time of year again with many weeds surfacing from recent rains. Now is a good time to spray young weeds while they are small, before they compete with your new plantings. So far there are plenty of dry days between rain events to have the maximum benefit.
If there are articles you’d like included in the next newsletter, or have changes for the web site, please contact me at murray@greenbase.com.au.
Happy reading!
Murray Ryall
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NYOONGAR SEASON
MAKURU
The two-month Nyoongar season Makuru extends from June to July. This is the time Nyoongars travelled inland to various hunting places, using fire as they went for cooking, tool making, hunting and warmth. Stems from the balga grasstree (Xanthorrhoea preissii) were used to make fires.
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WHAT HAPPENED AT THE AGM??
The 2007 NRPG AGM was held on 22 March. Approximately 25 people attended: a diverse group of committee members, co-optees, current members and some new faces.
Also a surprise visit by Loretta Bean, on holiday from the UK.
The following members were elected to the 2007 committee:
President: Steve Gates
Vice-president: Tony Fowler
Treasurer: Margaret Fowler
Secretary: Darrell McCarthy
Committee: Elaine Sargent,
Murray Ryall
Co-optees: Alan Evans,
Alan Hill
Steve Gates presented a summary of the wide range of activities undertaken by the NRPG committee over the past year.
The first guest speaker was Kalamunda Shire Environmental Reserves officer Karen Britza. Karen gave a Power Point presentation covering the extensive work of the Bush Regeneration Team (BRT).
The second guest speaker was Shire Environmental Services Officer, Linda Kirchner. Linda gave a colourful and informative presentation covering the extensive projects being undertaken by the Shire environmental team.
The delightful photos of activities, wildflowers and people made these very professional presentations a delight to watch and were appreciated by the audience.
Recognition was given to recently deceased Athol Farrant for his long term interest in conservation in the Shire and support of the NRPG.
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SPOTLIGHT ON FREINDS OF PIESSE BROOK
Friends of Piesse Brook Inc began work in the Kalamunda National Park in 2000. The goal was to reach the confluence of the Helena River and the Piesse brook by 2009.
By 2007 we are now up to the pylon area and within one kilometer of our goal. In order to protect the areas that we have already achieved control, we have turned our attention upstream as well as downstream.
In order to the prevent the wash down of weed seeds from upstream the group decided it was necessary to make contact with the private landholders upstream to inform them of the work the group is doing and seek their assistance in removing the weed seed sources from the upstream area of the Piesse brook.
We have, through a letter box drop, been successful in getting the first eleven landholders upstream on board with our weed eradication project. We obtained almost $47,850 including gst in funding from SALP for the upstream and downstream projects this year. All of the landholders are very keen to work with the Friends group to forward the goals of keeping the National Park clean of weed re-infestation.
Apart from on ground monthly work, the group plans to organize two community events. One will be a War on Watsonia and the other will be a Bamboozle day where as a community we will have a stack and burn day for Bamboo (Arundo grass). The events will continue in the theme that the Friends of Piesse brook have started turning community functions into fun events for the families to enjoy together.
We still need to conduct several years of maintenance spraying of the entire area that we have been working, but we have Watsonia, Arundo grass, blackberry and pampas under control in the past work areas. However, we have still not got on top of Cotton Bush, and Cape Tulip and Patterson Curse.
BJ Martin from Squidink Website Design spent several months in 2006 working on a website for the FPB and it was launched in January 2007. Our URL is www.friendsofpiessebrook.org.au. It will be linked to the Shire of Kalamunda website promoting restoration and revegetation work in the region. The website also has our working days listed on it for 2007, so if you are interested in coming along to help out, please visit the website.
We need to continue to spread the knowledge that the weeds along the Brook are not only a problem for the biodiversity of the National Park, but that they also devalue the private properties that they infect. By getting more and more private landholders on board each year we will gradually show others what can be achieved.
The groups achievements will be featured in an upcoming edition of Landscope. This will give the group prime publicity aimed at a target market and can be used as a marketing tool to encourage more people to start up friends groups to work on more areas in need of rehabilitation in the state.
One area greatly in need of some loving care from new Friends is the Helena River upstream of the pipehead dam. The area where the Piesse B rook flows into the Helena River is very badly degraded with every imaginable weed. If anyone is looking for an area to take care, the Helena River is a mess. I am afraid the damage has been done by the weed seeds flowing down the Piesse brook. Now that we are getting the Piesse brook cleaned up, it would be an ideal time for work to commence on the Helena River .
The War on Watsonia
Article and Photo: Linda Stanley,
Friends of Piesse Brook
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RECENT GRANTS
In Feb. 2007, NRPG received a SALP (Swan Alcoa Landcare Program) grant of $4950 for the second stage of rehabilitation work (control of Watsonia) in the Rocky Pool area on the Bibbulman Track. A further grant application has been made for 2008.
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FIRE SAFETY AND NATURAL VEGETATION.
Those who have lived in the hills for many years have become aware of the need to strike a balance between the requirements of the Bush Fires Act of 1954 and the wish to retain natural vegetation on their residential block.
For those new to the hills environment, however, this balance is difficult to achieve. Faced with their newly-purchased property which includes areas of natural vegetation, newcomers should make themselves familiar with three documents, produced by and available from the Shire. These are:
· Protect your home from bushfires
· Is your property fire safe?
· Caring for the Shire of Kalamunda’s Natural Environment
Unfortunately, this can confuse the new resident. The ‘Fire safe checklist’ requirements for Category 1 in ‘Is your property fire safe?’ are frequently misinterpreted. The result is a house surrounded by a belt of ground totally devoid of vegetation, totally devoid of all “dead flammable matter, leaves, twigs, bark etc. to a height of no greater than 5cm.” Similarly, when the instruction to “Clear all flammable material from around house” etc. (in ‘Protect your home from bushfires’) is followed, the situation is repeated.
The last and most recent publication, however, suggests ways to protect and to reduce threats to our natural environment. ‘Caring for the Shire of Kalamunda’s Natural Environment’ urges the retention of “local native trees, vegetation and hollow logs” and stresses the need to “limit the infestation of weeds.”
If I decide on a burning regime to control the fuel loading on my bush block, how frequently should it be burnt? Few authorities or specialists will agree. It seems each has their own optimum burning interval. Ornithologists, herpetologists, botanists and fire managers may each prefer different frequencies. Just remember that frequent short-interval burning may prevent regeneration of certain species of plant and animal life whilst increasing weed proliferation.
Even if you live on an average residential block (area 4000m2 or less) you do not need to live in a desert. The build-up of leaf litter should be controlled, not totally eliminated, since it will slowly break down, will provide habitat for smaller creatures and will act as natural mulch. Natural vegetation should be sensibly managed, to provide habitat for native birds and animals without posing a threat to the structures on the block, and weed infestations should be suppressed.
Should the resident have any questions, the Shire’s Ranger Service will give advice on requirements. If however, the resident feels that the requirements are unreasonable, s/he should feel free to discuss such concerns. Their concerns are your safety, the safety of your property and the preservation of the natural environment. Between you, you should be able to sort something out.
Tony Fowler.
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IF YOU NEED HELP…..
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Karen Britza
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Environmental Reserves Officer
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Tue, Wed & Thur
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9257 9806
Mobile 0409 102 993
karen.britza@kalamunda.wa.gov.au
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Linda Kirchner
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Ecologist/Bush Care Officer
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Kalamunda Shire
Mon & Tues
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9257 9936
EMRC 9424 2247
Mob 0438 041 005
linda.kirchner@kalamunda.wa.gov.au
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Stephen Lloyd
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Eastern Hills NRM Coordinator
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EMRC
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9424 2222
Mob 0428 101 223
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Craig Wansborough
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E.Hills Water Management Officer
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EMRC/Kalamunda
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9424 2222
Mob 0408 924 989
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Sonya Stewart
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E.Hills Natural Diversity Officer
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EMRC
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9424 2222
Mob 0439 095 263
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PEST OF THE SEASON:
ARUM LILY
Introduced from South Africa as a horticultural crop, arum lily has created havoc in natural bushland in the south-west of WA. It invades wet swampy areas and can impede water flow. It also forms dense stands in pastures under trees.
Arum lily, or Zantedeschia aethiopica, spreads both vegetatively and by seeds, which are widely dispersed by birds and water movement. It flowers from late winter to early summer, with the conspicuous white flowers up to 15cm across. It stands about 60 – 90cm, and has dark green, spade-shaped leaves.
This invasive plant is a declared weed in WA, under the Agricultural and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. It is listed as P1 and P4. P1 states that movement of plants or their seeds is prohibited throughout the state. P4 relates to control requirements – infested areas must be managed in such a way that prevents spread of seed or plant parts within or from the property; infestations must be treated to destroy or prevent seed set of all plants:
- within 100 metres of the boundaries of the infested properties;
- within 50m of roads and high water mark on waterways, and
- within 50m of sheds, stockyards and houses.
Properties with less than two hectares of infestation must treat the entire population.
Control is possible through mechanical or chemical methods. If plants are removed mechanically or physically, care must be taken to remove the entire plant and all root fragments. Rotary hoeing over a few years provides reasonable control. The flowers can be cut to prevent birds spreading seeds. Glyphosate is relatively ineffective, but metsulfuron and chlorosulfuron can be used, and should be sprayed in late winter before the flowers start to wither. Plants can be wiped near sensitive or natural vegetation.
The good news is that as of 31 August last year, arum lily can no longer be sold or traded in WA.
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