15 September – Discovering Hidden Roadside Treasures

Posted on 11 September, 2013 by Connecting Country

Muckleford and Newstead Landcare groups are combining to host a morning tea and field trip on Sunday, 15 September 2013 with a focus on local roadsides.

Roadside vegetation is an extremely important resource for native biodiversity, with some of the best patches of bush surviving alongside our thoroughfares. This field day will help you discover what makes a bit of roadside great, how to look after it and the very important questions of what can and can’t be done on roadsides, and by whom.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council has recently published its Roadside Conservation Management Plan 2012-17 (click here to see plan). A representative from Council will explain the aims of the plan and how they will implement it. They will also explain the rationale behind the changes to some of the Significant Roadside declarations you may have noticed recently.

The second speaker will be Ben Goonan from the North Central CMA who undertook a major biodiversity survey of roadsides in our region in 2009-11. Ben will talk about the results of his research and the criteria that he used to define high-value roadsides.

Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives will also join us. Frances and Ben will help us identify the surprising range and variety of both native and invasive species resident along our roads.

The day will begin at the Muckleford Community Centre (Muckleford-Walmer Road – former Methodist Church between Pyrenees Highway and Castlemaine-Walmer Roads) at 10 am for morning tea and two brief introductory talks before embarking on a 2 hour bus tour to several interesting local roadside sites.

The groups would appreciate a RSVP. Email mucklefordlandcare@gmail.com or text Paul Hampton at 0408-566-909.