Month: January 2009

This is a walk organised by Project Platypus. It will involve landcare members and other interested people walking approximately 80km along a predetermined track adjacent to the creek from Kalymna Falls to Dadswell’s Bridge. The walk is expected to be a 6 day event starting at the head of the Mt William Creek and following the waterway through public and private land until it meets the Wimmera River. A core group of walkers will walk the entire length of the creek, whilst other walkers will join in at certain lengths along the creek. There will be sporadic evening events for walkers and local communities.

At this stage the steering group is made up of members from the three Landcare Groups along the creek, DPI, Wimmera CMA, Parks Vic and Project Platypus. It was identified that this project would be an important activity to assist in bringing the community together providing … Read the rest

In view of the results of Mike Stevens research into the survival of small mammals in the fire affected part of the Park, it is good to hear that Project Platypus (a federation of several local Landcare groups) has received a grant under the Threatened Species programme to work to preserve Southern Brown Bandicoot habitat in the Black Ranges near Stawell, on private and public land. A survey by the Field Naturalist Mammal Survey Group in 2002 managed to trap three bandicoots.

This project will undertake further surveys, initiate long term feral animal control plan, and work to link, protect and revegetate habitats. … Read the rest

The WCMA is conducting a Wimmera wide Finding Frogs Census.

Initial results from October suggest that rare Growling Grass Frogs continue to survive in the region as are several other species. Researchers are still busy analysing the information from the November survey but have been pleased with preliminary results.

The next census will be in March and will target frog species which normally call in autumn. People seeking information, or wanting to take part in the census can call Bronwyn on 5382 1544.

(From the WCMA newsletter.)… Read the rest

The Wimmera Catchment Management Authority conducts regular surveys of the platypus population in McKenzie creek just outside the Park. There has been a sharp decline in numbers, so there is to be an environmental water release from Lake Wartook to an 18km stretch of the river. “The authority has identified this stretch of the river as relatively healthy but fragile and crucial for maintaining a struggling ecosystem …The release strategy is designed to mimic a summer-autumn flow pattern and involves a 490 megalitre release from November until May.”

(From the WCMA newsletter.)… Read the rest

The Park staff are working hard on foxes, goats and rabbits. But cats are much harder to deal with.

Kathy found 4 kittens in a shed at the back of her place at Halls Gap. I have seen the mother but we haven’t managed to catch her yet. The shopkeepers in Halls Gap are constantly catching cats around the shop, despite it being a “cat free zone”.

Please, if you live near the Park and have a cat, make sure it is secured at night. The Catnip cat park was invented locally as a way of humanely confining cats to protect local wildlife. My daughter has had hers now for eight years in Alice Springs, Denver USA and Canberra and her two cats are very content. The Catnip factory is in Stawell.

Our small mammals are struggling. Don’t help breed feral cats to kill them off. Also you can report … Read the rest

The children of Halls Gap Primary School have started a campaign to change the name of Mackey’s Peak back to the previous name of Cherub Peak.

For many years the children have taken responsibility for maintenance of the child’s grave which sits below the peak as one leaves the camping area. The child, Agnes Folkes, died aged three months in 1870 when her sawmilling parents were unable to get her to a doctor in Stawell because of flooding in the valley. Soon the cliff top was named Cherub Peak by the small community in the valley. However some 50 years later the name was officially changed following a visit to the Grampians by the then Minister for Lands, Mr Mackey.

Now the children are agitating for a return to the early settlers’ name, with a petition and letter to the minister.… Read the rest