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Contents
Click here for the PDF version (1.2 meg). |
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Welcome
Welcome to the June 2006 edition of "The Eco", the newsletter
for Friends of the Port Phillip EcoCentre.
Our aim is to provide
an informative and entertaining snapshot of the activities, achievements
and interests of all the wonderful people who contribute towards
the goals of the EcoCentre, inspiring us to take
'local
action for a global future'.
Do you have some news for The Eco? Contributions are always welcome.
Email info@ecocentre.com
with your contribution and contact details. |
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Frog Bog @ Middle Park Primary School |
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Julia Martin
Middle Park Primary School’s Frog Bog has been revitalised through the School’s partnership with the EcoCentre. The Bog provides an opportunity for students to interact with, and create a habitat for local critters, with the area divided into 3 sections: play; plant and play; and, habitat conservation.
The Bog has been constructed using a butyl liner to retain the water; and a layer of soil for plants. Water flows across the pebble stream, through two pond areas, and is pumped back to the headwaters under the bridge. The wetland is replenished in the drier months from a tank that stores rainwater harvested from the nearby classroom.
The 5/6 students took a lead role in understanding frog habitats. In mid 2005 they spent a day with the EcoCentre team at Westgate Park, learning about water quality, local native plants, birds and frogs. This was followed by a habitat design workshop, with assistance from Rosey, Karen and Richard from SKINC, and George from Friends of Westgate Park.
The 5/6 students and other Wetland Ambassadors in the school helped plant the bog and are contributing ideas for ongoing management. For example:
‘We’re trying our best to keep out the leaves and rubbish.’
‘It is hard for the plants because many people play ball on the oval, and it is constantly being kicked into the wetland.’
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‘It is great to learn about local habitat, and how to create it in our school.’
‘I think the frogs will come over time, once the habitat has established.’
The EcoCentre's Julia Martin building the frog bog with help from the 5th and 6th graders at Middle Park Primary School
The EcoCentre is also assisting the grade 5/6 with their Innovations and Excellence garden design project, encouraging use of local native plants and sustainable timber, and providing expertise for the Community Water Grant application.
Many people have helped, including the school’s landscape contractors, EcoCentre integrated environmental projects (IEP) team and volunteers, a team Conservation Volunteers Australia team, and the students! Not to mention the school’s wonderful Vice Principal and wetland champion, Sue Gollings. The myriad tasks involved in planning and coordinating all these contributors is made possible by generous support from GM Holden.
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Leading Scientists Discuss Climate Change Impacts on Our Bay |
7.30 PM, Thursday 15 th June.
Brighton Town Hall,
Cnr. Wilson and Carpenter Sts. Brighton Mel. 67 F10
World renowned climate and water experts, Dr. Kathleen McInnes and Dr. Graham Harris will present on the local impacts of climate change; and local legend Zoe Hogg who will provide an update on the St Kilda Penguins. A gold coin donation will cover venue costs.
Dr Kathleen McInnes
Dr McInnes (CSIRO Senior Research Scientist) will speak on the hot topics of global warming and sea level rise. Kathleen has extensive experience in studying sea level rise, tides, storm surges and the physical processes leading to coastal flooding and has assessed storm surge risk under present and enhanced greenhouse climate modelling.
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Preliminary data suggests that by 2070 Victoria’s southern and eastern coasts may be hit by storm surges with wind speeds 10% greater than at present.
Dr Grayham Harris
Dr. Harris, an eminent freshwater and marine biologist, with an international reputation for work in aquatic and terrestrial ecology, freshwater biology, pollution monitoring and biological oceanography. He is the co-author of the CSIRO Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study (1996). Dr. Harris, will present his current research data on the ecology of Port Phillip Bay.
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Non Crime Hotline Heats Up
Did you know that crime rates in the Port Phillip area are falling? Did you also know that Port Phillip residents keep reporting high “fear of crime” rates ?
Introducing the Non Crime Hotline, celebrating our falling crime rate and collecting stories of Non Criminal, socially beneficial acts in the Port Phillip community. These are the little things that help make our community safer.
This SCPI initiative asks residents to call the Non Crime Hotline and leave their reports of the great everyday things that make our neighborhoods better. It might be someone returning a wallet or keys, it might be someone driving slowly where children are playing or someone sitting in their front yard greeting passers by. It all contributes to a safer, happier place to live.
Look out for the number on the Non Crime Hotline posters and postcards around the City of Port Phillip and call in with your reports, the best reports each month will receive a reward.
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Seasonal Greetings
Powerful Owl
David Eades found a PowerfuI Owl roosting in Cypress trees near the St Kilda Botanical Gardens playground. The Owl was seen regularly for a week. On the first day it was seen clutching a pigeon and on another occasion had a brushtail possum. I did take a couple of early evening walks while the owl was here but heard no calls.
The Powerfull Owl
in St Kilda Botanic Gardens
Picture: Andrew McCutheon
A dead Gould's Wattled Bat was found in the EcoCentre back yard in mid May. It had been tagged at Organ Pipes National Park in 2003. Apparently the males disperse at this time of year, commonly 12-15 km, occasionally 20km, but this one's 30km trip was quite exceptional.
A small wound on the bats shoulder was the only sign of injury, but the actual cause of death remains unknown. Cats are commonly seen in the Gardens. But our Powerful feathered friend was also in the area at the time. Was it the Owl… or the Pussycat?
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Other mid year eco-tourists include Australasian Gannets. Although they breed in Port Phillip Bay and are present throughout the year, their numbers increase during autumn-winter, possibly due to visitors from Tasmanian and New Zealand waters. Gannets are much larger than most other seabirds occurring in Port Phillip and are notable for their wide wingspan. Even more obvious to the naked eye are there spectacular dives from heights of up to 40m above the water to catch fish. Adults are predominantly white with black extending from the wingtips along the trailing edge of the wing. Immature Gannets have white plumage flecked with brown.
A juvenile Gannet with adults diving in
Port Phillip Bay
Picture: Andrew McCutcheon
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Make a Tax Deductable Investment in Your Local Environment! |
Founded in 1999 , the Port Phillip EcoCentre Inc. is a community-managed, not-for-profit organisation that demonstrates and promotes sustainable living. The EcoCentre plans and delivers educational and practical environment improvement projects; and provides meeting space, office facilities and a small reference library.
With generous support from a range of sources including local, state and federal government, the business sector, charitable trusts and foundations, and individuals, the EcoCentre’s home in St. Kilda Botanical Gardens has been retrofitted as an ‘EcoHouse’.
The EcoHouse provides a model of sustainability including renewable energy, passive solar design, energy efficiency, rainwater harvesting, sustainable construction materials, wastewater recycling, low-water use landscaping and chemical-free vegetable gardening.
EcoCentre staff and volunteers share knowledge of these practices with the wider community through organised tours and with visitors who may call in. The EcoCentre’s Integrated Environment Program works with schools to install water and energy efficient technology, indigenous gardens; and related curriculum activities. Some other projects supported by the EcoCentre, which protect regional habitats include:
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- Earthcare’s St Kilda penguin study and protection;
- Friends of Westgate Park’s frog habitat project;
- Park Community Association’s ‘Corroboree Tree Grasslands’ project; and
- Blue Wedges marine education activities.
The Port Phillip EcoCentre Public Fund has been established to enable tax-deductible donations to be dedicated to projects that protect and improve our environment. Your donation will directly support the EcoCentre’s goal Local Action for a Global Future . .................................................................
Yes, I’d like to contribute:
[ ] $500 [ ] $250 [ ] $50 [ ] Other $...............
Please find my cheque for $............
enclosed, made out to:
“Port Phillip EcoCentre Public Fund”.
Please send my tax receipt to:
Name:.....................................................
Address:..................................................
Suburb:....................................................
State: …………………… Postcode: ……....
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Indigenous Plants of the Sandbelt - a Gardening Guide for South-Eastern Melbourne.. |
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...can be bought at the EcoCentre for $25 per copy. The book provides a full coverage of the natural history of the Sandbelt and the plant communities that colonized the region over the past 6,000 years. The book features full colour photos of each species and many wildlife species. Plant descriptions include horticultural notes. Flowering season, and koori use. The book also has sections on local geology, habitat creation and contact details of indigenous plant nurseries in the Sandbelt
This book has become my gardening bible! Now I'm gardening with nature... not against it! Tony of Brighton
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Growing Local Knowledge
A short DVD documentary about local identity, Dr Beth Gott and her work on Koori food plants is now available for purchase at the EcoCentre for $15.
The video focuses on her research into Koori plants, their culinary and medicinal uses in Victoria and how fire was used to manage them. It portrays an inspiring environmentalist, encouraging us to recognise the uniqueness and reality of our environment.
According to Dr Gott, Europeans came into Australia and looked at it as if it were Europe.
“We’re only beginning to come to terms with the Australian environment as it really is – the driest, least fertile, and flattest continent in the world. Until we do, I don’t think we will be able to live in this continent for 40,000 years like the Aborigines have.”
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Calender
Green Mothers Group
A group for parents of predominantly pre-school aged children who care about the environment, sustainability and solving parenting issues in an caring ‘eco- friendly’ manner.
Where: The Port Phillip EcoCentre Corner of Blessington and Herbert Sts, St Kilda.
When: Wednesday 7th & 14th June, 3pm - 5 pm (Green Mothers Group meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 3 pm(ish))
Contact: Alison 9557 9089, aliart1@bigpond.net.au
Friends of Port Melbourne’s Foreshore
The monthly working mornings are an opportunity to demonstrate care for this fragment of biodiversity in our immediate environment. The Friends meet to weed, plant or prune in response to the needs of the site.
Where: Perce White Reserve. Port Melbourne. (Melway 56 G3)
When: Sunday July 2, 9.30am - 12 noon
Contact: Anne Callaghan 9646 1736
Earthcare Penguin Research
Monitoring the wildlife on the St Kilda Breakwater, particularly penguins to evaluate any threats to the colony . Bookings and exact time, contact Zoe 0402 164 482 $5 for non-members (to cover insurance) Dress Warmly and bring a torch 9pm ish
Where: Start of St Kilda Pier (in the Rotunda), Pier Road St Kilda
When: Sunday 4th & 18th June, 8pm ish
Contact: 0500 832 784
www. earthcarestkilda.org.au
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Friends of Westgate Park
Third Sunday of the month. Good idea to ring beforehand - Naomie on 0415 941 629 or George and Tony on 9428 4820. The main noticeboard near the carpark always has details as to where we are, bring your own lunch, tea, coffee and a beer provided at the end of the day.
Where: Westgate Park, Todd Rd Entry (Melway 56 F1)
When: Sunday June 18th, 10am - 4pm and every Monday and Tuesday volunteers can come any time between 8:30am to 4:00pm (call to confirm public holidays).
Contact: Tony (03) 9428 4820
Veg Out St Kilda Farmers Market
Buy food direct from the people who make it. No re-sellers, no craft, no gimmick. This market is plastic bag free so BYO trolley, basket or reuse your plastic bags.
Where: Peanut Farm Oval, Chaucer Street, St Kilda
(near Shakespeare Grove, behind Acland Street and Veg Out Melway 2 B9)
When: Saturday July 1st, 8am - 12noon
Contact: Veg Out 0429 146 627 vfm@vtown.com.au
Earthcare Penguin Symposium
A symposium with a wide range of speakers covering Origins of the St Kilda Penguin Study, Satellite tracking of breeding penguins in Victoria, Diet of St Kilda penguins, penguins at the zoo, DNA sampling of penguins in SE Australia, penguin vocalisation, St Kilda Colony update. St Kida breakwater viewing at 6pm.
Bookings essential: Cost $5
Where: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, Pier Rd St Kilda
When: Sunday June 11th, 11am—5pm
Contact: 0500 832 784
www.earthcarestkilda.org.au
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Tell someone who’s interested!
Vicki Jaeger - News co-ordinator
The newsletter is distributed to EcoCentre members and is on the web. This makes it a great voice for your group.
To submit articles on issues and action, events or projects
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Send items to: info@ecocentre.com
Ph: (03) 9534 0670
Fax: (03) 9525 3312
www.ecocentre.com
Deadline for contributions is the 15th of each month
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