The Secretary of the Department of Sustainability & Environment visited Burke Rd. on Friday 3rd to see first hand one of their reserves. Staff of DSE Box Hill spoke of the history and biodiversity values of the Reserve, and then the Committee took the Secretary on a tour of the Reserve.
MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED
DSE has approved our Management Plan. The Committee were officially presented with copies. during the Secretary's visit.
VICROADS LAND TRANSFER
While the Committee has only formally managed the DSE land close to Burke Rd., there has been an understanding with VicRoads that has allowed us to work on VicRoads land. The VicRoads land is effectively the largest part of the Burke Rd. Billabong area. This land is currently being transferred to DSE and will then officially become part of the Reserve.
WE STILL HAVE A MICROBAT!
On checking in mid August, 'our bat' had shifted back to its original tube. He stayed in torpor while being photographed and replaced in the tube.
RMIT STUDENTS
Burke Rd. Billabong will be the site that RMIT Conservation & Land Management Students will use as part of their 'Natural Restoration Programs' unit on Wednesday 8 September and twice in October.
As part of the assignment they will identify its assets and problems, study various weed control techniques, and do some 'hands-on' weed control and planting.
The August workday was well attended and two work parties were formed. One group worked on the inkweed south-west of the billabong and the other group weeded around the picnic area. A load of mulch donated by the City of Boroondara was spread.
Most of the ink weed has been cleared and the planting around the picnic area is now free of weeds and all mulched.
Thank you to Bayer Pharmaceuticals staff, other volunteers, and to City of Boroondara.
THE NEXT COMMUNITY WORKDAY IS
FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 2010
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Plans for the September work day are to plant 250 trees into the woodland south of the billabong and to clear weeds in the 2008 & 2009 planting areas.
Stanley Barker,
Burke Rd. Billabong Committee of Management.
www.vicnet.net.au/~fobrb