From the Friends of the Koalas newsletter no. 70, Autumn 2008

Coming Events

• Habitat Days: 1st Saturday of the month - 10.00 am: 5^th April 2008 at the BushBank For more details phone 03 59 522 407. Other dates 3^rd May 2008 and 7^th June 2008. See following for 2008 Habitat Day timetable.
• Koala Counts: 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Koala Conservation Centre - 10.00 am. 8^th April, 13^th May and 10^th June 2008.. Meet in the car park.
• Other Dates for Your Diary General Meeting 8pm Heritage Centre Cowes Saturday 29^th March. Working Bee: Five Ways 10am Sunday 30^th March – bring weeding tools and gloves. Seasonal Walk, Saturday 17^th May 2pm at Rhyll Transfer Station. Saturday & Sunday, 24^th & 25^th May: PICS 40^th Birthday celebrations and launch of PICS History, ‘An Island Worth Saving’ 2pm Saturday. Displays all weekend.  
• Westernport Bird Observers For any bird lovers wishing to join ph. 03 59 569 401. Next Outing Friday 28^th March, 4 pm Kilcunda Rail Trail – meet at Anderson Roundabout car park. 
• Barb Martin Bush Bank Open 1st Saturday of the month 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, and each Wednesday morning. Volunteers and purchasers always welcome. For details, phone 0407 348 807
• Phillip Island Nature Park Quarterly Hooded Plover and Gull Count: Friday 18^th April 2008 9.30 am. Meet at  PINP research department. Contact Jon Fallaw  ( PINP Ranger) 59 512813 or  jfallaw@penguins.org.au .

President's Report

The first quarter of 2008 has been taken up with preparing submissions on various Council planning amendments and the draft scoping requirements for the proposed desalination project Environmental Effects Statement.

As far as koalas are concerned it is interesting to read the rangers report showing koalas are still out there trying to survive. The report also shows the continuing problem caused by the loss of isolated Eucalypts, which provide vital food as the koalas travel around their territory.

On the subject of vegetation loss we will be writing to the Bass Coast Shire Council in support of their plan to erect boards along the foreshore where illegal removal of vegetation has occurred, usually to ensure better sea views. This continued loss of vegetation bit by bit is a major cause of hardship for our wildlife, and a great loss for people too.

Plans for the proposed Sustainability Centre continue to be discussed. There seems to be general consensus that the buildings footprint needs to be reduced. FOK remains deeply concerned about many aspects of the proposal.

A welcome to new members, some of who have already assisted with koala counts, displays and Habitat Days.

Please continue to inform us if you see koalas in your area.

President

Ranger's Report – News from the Koala Conservation Centre -

When the summer influx of visitors increases, so do the wildlife calls for Phillip Island Nature Park rangers. Many visitors call rangers about koalas on and around their properties or to let us know they have escaped from our Park!!! It is interesting to note that some visitors do not realise that koalas, have and continue to, roam freely yet cautiously around the island.

Of course, we like to go out to see the koalas, to check their wellbeing and their origin. Nothing is more certain to draw a crowd than a koala up a tree in someone’s front yard; there is always a sense of drama and concern amongst the observers, and the interpretational side of the job is just as big a part of any action that needs to be taken.

Of particular interest in the last summer season has been the number of koalas around Smiths Beach. We do get occasional koalas down there but they seem to have slowed in the last few years. A mature male, a juvenile of approximately 12 months and a female koala have all been sighted in the past 2 months. The young koala was located in a Pittosporum, a non-preferred koala food tree, as pointed out by the resident. Unfortunately, 2 mature gums had been lopped down for fear of limbs falling on the house, an issue affecting this koala’s food availability in that immediate area. It seemed healthy and non-fussed by us. Hence we left it to its own devices.

It is pleasing to know and see that Phillip Island’s wild koalas are still breeding and able to get around in urban areas. I feel most people appreciate the chance to aid a passing local. Hopefully if new visitors’ understand that koalas still get around on the island, they may experience them “close to home” and enjoy their nature!

Pete Cleary
Ranger, KCC 

Habitat Day Timetable 2008

Date                                 Activity                            Meeting Place

April 5th                      Bushbank                      Bushbank
May 3rd                      Pre planting                   Con Hill/ Rowell Swamp

June 7th                     Plant a Tree at the          KCC
                                KCC/ Bushbank for
                                World Environment Day
July 5th                      Working Bee                   Bushbank
August 2nd                 Planting                         Con Hill/ Rowell Swamp
September 6th            Spring Planting Festival     KCC
October 4th                Working Bee                   Bushbank
November 1st             Seeds and Weeds            Oswin Roberts CP
December 6th             Bushbank propagation      Bushbank
                               and barbecue
January 3rd                Ragwort Pull                   Oswin Roberts North           

* Commencement times are 10:00 am for all events.                                               

Habitat Days

In January – on an oppressive day – we pulled up several large areas of Ragwort previously identified in the Oswin Roberts Reserve by Nature Park rangers. By our efforts this weed species is virtually under control.

February Habitat Day was spent propagating Hop Goodenia and Correa at the Bush Bank.

March found us back at the BB collecting seeds from the vegetation nearby, and we also did more propagating.

We would love to see more people at our habitat days. See table of events above.

Koala Counts

Monthly Counts at the KCC

The FOK monthly koala counts continue to be a great way to spend a couple of hours. The counts are held on the 2^nd Tuesday of the month at 10am. We have been doing pretty well locating the koalas lately – 16 out of 22 found in January, 19 in February and 18 in March. Identifying ear tags is more difficult. In February we were joined by student volunteers Ashleigh and Lindsay from Scotland, Joe Fox from the UK and Sheree and Kearston. They soon became good koala spotters and the appearance of a blue tongue lizard proved to be a real hit with our volunteers and tourists.

Did You Know?

Koalas have been known to travel more than one kilometre in 24 hours and can cover 50 kilometres or more over a period of months or years. (F. Carraick, unpublished data)

Large scale koala relocation operations have been shown to have little influence in reducing mortality due to traffic and dogs. Even more importantly, it seems that relocating healthy koalas may in fact be a contributing factor to premature fatalitiy rather than to reduction of it. (A.E.O. Nattrass and K.B. Fiedler)

Translocation of koalas can have a significant impact on the individuals being translocated to a new area of habitat as well as on the other wildlife occupying that habitat. (Nature Conservation Koala Plan 2006)

Koalas generally have their own territories called "home ranges" which can vary greatly in size depending on food availability and soil type.

(Source: Koala Action Newsletter, Feb - Mar 2008)

Fishing  Village Festival

This event was deferred from November when it poured with rain – a rare event these days! The weather on March 9^th was clear, sunny and hot! We had a display and gave out information. Thanks to Jan B, Jan F, Ann, Malcolm, Sue and Bruno and their dog Sally for helping on the day.

Clean Up Australia Day

We participated in the 20^th Clean Up Australia Day on 2^nd March. The usual roadsides were cleaned – Harbison Road, the Fiveways area, and Coghlan Road. The amount of rubbish was down on last year with 8 bags collected (15 last year). As usual bottles, cans, confectionery and fast food wrappers and cigarette butts were the commonest items collected. In Harbison Road a really considerate person had dumped the spent flower heads of agapanthus plants, which filled a whole rubbish bag. Easy to see how weeds spread into bushland. Thank you to Jan, Terry and Maurice for their help, and to Donna Anketell who joined us from Melbourne.

Barb Martin Bush Bank Report

Now in its tenth year the Bush Bank continues to thrive under the new coordinator Jenny Toy who succeeded Bec Jack in July last year. A total of 1933 volunteer hours were tallied for 2007. FOK contributed 99.5 hours, which is lower than previous years, so it would be good to see more attend our habitat days at the BB or go independently on Wednesday or Thursday volunteer mornings. The projected production was set at 55,500 to 60,000 tubes from mid July to July 2008. The BB now produces a total of 65 indigenous species.

We received a postcard from Francoise from France who spent Christmas in Finland – very different from the 2005 Christmas she spent in Australia.

Eddie Cook from the UK sent seasons greetings and a calendar.

We thank our overseas members for their continued concern for the welfare of koalas.

 
New Members

Welcome to the following who recently joined:-
Pamela le Couteur, Malcolm Brodie, Nicole Baker, Sue and Bruno Saliba and Anna, Douglas, Felix and Maribel Cousins. We look forward to seeing them at Habitat Days and/or Koala counts.

Committee for 2007:

President - Patsy Hunt
Vice President & FOCIS Rep. - Irene McKrell
Vice President - Jane Jobe
Secretary - Jan Beales
Treasurer - Max McConchie
Membership Secretary - Pauline Taylor
Committee Members - Jan Fleming, Margaret Hancock, Ann Stocker, Maurice Schinkel, Ros Taylor
Nature Park Representative - Ashley Reed

Amend. C46 - Part 2 to the Bass Coast Planning Scheme - Panel Report

Less than 15^o/_o of Phillip Island retains a natural cover of vegetation and the island's character and wildlife depend on retaining and enhancing indigenous and other native species.
Hard copies of the Panel Report are availabale for viewing at Council offices in Cowes, Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Grantville or at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au (Building and Planning - Planning Scheme Amendments - C46).

The Panel acknowledges that this is a vexed issue but considers the following principles important:

    - Vegetation protection on Phillip Island is essential for conservation, habitat and landscape reasons. Mechanisms to protect vegetation should  be appropriate, clear, easy to understand and not duplicative;

    - The degree and nature of control over vegetation should not just be restricted for administrataive convenience;

    - Native vegetation in rural areas can be adequately protected by the requirements of Clause 52.17;

    - Native vegetation on public reserves and roadside reserves strongly contributes to the character of the island, the maintenance of habitat corridors and therefore requires planning scheme protection via the VPO;

    - Important introduced species in the rural areas, public reserves and roadside reserves should be identified by survey and be subject of a separate VPO scheme;

    - In urban areas, people should be afforded maximum flexibility to landscape their gardens. However, the removal, destruction and lopping of existing trees (both native and introduced) above minimum prescribed dimensions should require a permit;

    - Pruning and maintenance of trees should not require a permit;

    - Council should take a lead in educating the community on the importance of tree preservation as well as on desirable species to plant. Its pamphlets on indigenous plants and weed identification should be annually distributed with rate notices, and;

    - Infrigement penalties sould be reviewed and enforcement of illegal removal or destruction of vegetation heavily policed.

From: Bass Coast Planning Scheme Amendment C46 Parts 2 & 4. Panel Report: August 2007

Submissions and Letters

Municipal Strategic Statement Review

Friends of the Koalas has made a submission to this review pertaining to Clauses 21 & 22 of the Bass Coast Planning Scheme.

Proposed Desalination Plant EES

Submissions regarding the scope of the EES closed 13^th March.
The FOK submission stated the following:

-          The alternatives to desalination should be considered in the EES

-          The pilot plant should be included in the scope of the EES

-          The source of power for the plant has not been established, neither has the easement for the supply

-          The easement for the pipeline to Melbourne will be destructive of bush

-          The use of terms such as, ‘to avoid or minimize to the extent practicable’ was excessive

-          The make up of the Tribunal should be independent, and local.

Code of Practice for Roadside Vegetation Removal Background Paper FOK has made a submission to this paper but to date has not received the draft document. We have written to determine the progress of the Code.

Rhyll Caravan Park

 The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has made the determination that no permit is to issue for the proposed resort complex.

 Some quotes of significance from the written determination are:

‘We consider the documentation presented to support the application was deficient in a number of areas’

‘We consider the extent of unresolved matter in this case is substantial and we find it difficult to nominate the quantum of changes that could be addressed through permit conditions. We consider the inconsistencies and omissions demonstrates a design on the run approach’

‘…without giving adequate weight to… important issues such as neighbourhood character, built form, amenity and vegetation clearance’

‘…the development eliminates a substantial amount of canopy vegetation that contributes to the character of this site…’

‘…we do not find any justification for the removal of street trees in this coastal resort township’

‘…there will be a substantial number of trees removed and any replacement vegetation on this sensitive interface will take a substantial amount of time to mature’

‘We were disappointed with the efforts to rationalize vegetation removal…’

‘We consider that the permit applicant should start again with a clean sheet of paper…’

In response to the following in the determination, ‘The ongoing loss of low cost beachside caravan/camping facilities is a national phenomena and one that needs to be addressed at the State and national levels…’, FOK has written to The Hon. Tim Holding, Victorian Minister for Tourism and the Hon. Martin Ferguson, Federal Minister for Tourism. We have received replies from both Ministers with Tim Holding confirming, ‘The Victorian Government will continue to support this sector and promote the extensive touring and caravanning options available in regional Victoria’.

 ‘Shearwater’, 83 & 84 Coghlan Road Cowes

FOK has lodged an objection to the proposed removal of vegetation on
the pictured land. An on-site meeting was held on 29^th February when we
discussed the ability to preserve the vegetation on the land – with
particular attention to the significant Eucalyptus trees shown in the
picture. The objection of FOK stands and we await a Council decision.

Proposed Desalination Plant:

There are no koalas on the intended site of the extremely large plant. However, FOK has raised concerns over vegetation loss through the possible creation of an easement across the Strzelecki ranges for a power supply. In addition, the need for a pipeline to Melbourne and associated pump stations, would result in more vegetation loss.
The current State Government was not given a mandate for the proposal on what is a very inappropriate site. There was no community consultation prior to the announcement and so far no consideration of an Environment Effects Statement.

New Roadside Code:

VicRoads is soon to develop a roadside native vegetation code of practice. The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) will be working with other environmental groups to emphasize safety measures that avoid and minimize clearing. At present many groups are concerned that some current projects are removing large numbers of trees unnecessarily. FOK has sent the details of our dealings with VicRoads to the VNPA and has asked to be kept informed.

Food Discount:

It would appear that the 10% reduction on food for FOK members no longer applies at Churchill Island and the Nobbies. Other discounts remain the same.

Site last updated Autumn 2008. © Friends of the Koalas