Incredable Life

I thought I would start my blog again, so I could share and record things that I like, and things I see.

Straight up an amazing thing.

I looked out the window as I was typing. My border collie was intent on something in the grass. She storks, rabbits but she hadn’t moved for some time, it has been warm and it dawned on me that it could be a snake. I trained her that she is not to go near lizards or snakes.

I crept down the garden and thought she was watching a large tiger snake but something was not quite right.

Hopefully we will have lots more Blue Toungs in our garden soon

It has been two years

I have been away from my blog for two years - where has that time gone.
I still live beside my wetlands and to date nothing has changed.
Actually that is not true.
The knackery, which is situated at the western end of the area that I am concerned with and in the middle of the full stretch of wetland, has put in an application for a Biodiversity plant, this may work in our favour. It has bought more public attention.
There is also a formed walking path along the northern side of the river, even though this is bringing more people into the area, which doesn't please me, again it may help in the long run.

This photo shows the land under subdivision plans. The Wetlands, along the river banks and between the front and far hill. The walking path can be seen to the right of the river. A large sand mine in the sand dunes far left, should also be of environmental concern.

Going to Press

LOWER DENSITY

There is a concern with the density of housing that the developers are proposing.

The increased number of people, pets and general living could have a devastating effect on the surrounding wetlands and wild life.

Peter Butcher from Glenelg Hopkins CMA has highlighted the poor condition of the Merri. Their study needs to be undertaken to show the effects of over development in consideration to the surrounding flood plains and river, along with the effect on the Merri River Sanctuary.

At times of the year you can see up to 40 species of birds in one day, unofficial sightings of 72 species recorded over a period of time, which is quite unique, along with many other creatures that make up a wetland.

This is a section of Warrnambool that has been hidden away and thus survived the increasing demand of cluster living close to the centre of town, because of that good fortune it should be seen for the assets it holds for future generations other than accommodation and revenue.

The wetlands and habitat should be improved by removing the stock and developing it into a possibly world renowned environment with walk ways and viewing areas. The Mahogany trail along the coast and the walkway along the north of the Merri should be extended through this area. There are many examples of such reserves being developed successfully one would be Bool Lagoon south of Naracoorte

The tourism asset for Warrnambool in the growing market of nature/eco tourism could be enormous with the wetlands stretching from west of Younger Street through to Swinton Street

Life goes on

I went walking in the wetlands yesterday and to my surprise there was mother and father swan with 4 signets, are they the ones that were nesting closer to our house some weeks back.

I watched this pair for weeks or more truly one swan who didn’t seem to have a partner, which I started to believe was having a phantom pregnancy, she was there for so long alone.

One day while walking on the golf course I looked across at this seeming lone parent, there at the edge of the shallow stretch of water where they had built their nest was a very fat and healthy fox, my fears where that they would never get their brood away from home especially as the water level was going down by the day.

So not knowing for sure if this is my family I am happy in the thought that they are.

A morning walk

Well I have been slack and not attending to my blog.

Yesterday I walked the wetland and lots of my friends where there.

Four pairs of Black-winged Stilts took flight and attacked a juvenile Swamp harrier who had been sitting on a fence post watching me walking with Jade. The life of a Swamp harrier is harrowing, I watch them flying along the river as they are constantly attacked by protective parents.

On the billabong there were almost hundreds of Pacific Black Duck, defiantly to many to count, along with the usual Mallard and not so prolific pair of Hardhead and a pair of Australasian Shoveler.

I sometimes wonder if we are in a plague crow time, there are so many of them – do they effect the breeding of other birds by taking their babies.

The beauty of where we live is, while I am sitting here I just watched a pelican fly along the river course and over our house – I have just looked down at the river and there is another.

This report first posted 3rd August, start reading from there. Should have posted it in one hit

5. POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

If the land is subdivided into 40 blocks, assuming 3-4 people in one family house on each block would mean upwards of 120 people are likely to be living in this area. The impact of this many people aside, if each household has only one pet the impact on the wildlife could be devastating.

The residential development would see the introduction of poisons, fertilizers and introduced plants in the development of gardens that may be detrimental to the waterways and existing native fauna.

If this land is to be opened to development lower density occupation would lessen the impact to the fragile environment surrounding it.

6. PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE LAND

The possibility of this land being preservation and developed into a world renowned wetland should not be overlooked and should be considered for the future planning and management of this land.

Warrnambool has been applauded for the preservation of its coastal reserve and wetlands such as Lake Pertobe. The promenade is recognised as a great initiative of the City. The inclusion of Merri Wetlands to the extensive walking initiatives already in place should not be overlooked.

This land could be used for education and research into the fragile environments that exist there, with the further benefit that they will be preserved for future generations.

Within the planning process consideration should be taken into account for the effect on the Merri Marine Sanctuary www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=261

7. REPORT FROM THE STANDARD NEWSPAPER

Golf club plan back on books

GREG BEST and SHANE FOWLES June 26, 2007

AN EXPANSION of Warrnambool Golf Club's 18-hole course is again being considered as a bid to allow housing development is reviewed.

A state independent planning panel will consider if farming land on Younger Street can be rezoned to host residential lots.

The city council last night voted to ask Planning Minister Justin Madden to appoint a panel to consider the application.

The move has attracted seven submissions, although only four of those raised any concerns about rezoning.

If successful, it will allow the club to sell blocks in a combined 20.5-hectare area and generate millions of dollars to help bankroll a major extension.
Draft plans forecast that 70-80 new dwellings could be built at the western end of Younger Street.

The club last year said it had shelved expansion plans, despite them being re-worked many times during a 14-year gestation.

However, secretary-manager Gary Parsons now says all options will be considered if the rezoning is given the green light.

He said the club's re-development options couldn't be determined until the land had been rezoned and the amount of dollars a sale would fetch known.

``The rezoning will give us an option as to what things we are likely to proceed with,'' Mr Parsons said.

``The next two years will be really exciting for the club, it has been a long time coming.''

The club bought the land from the council for $320,000 in 2004.

The city paid the same price for it back in 1992 when it agreed to hold the site pending a decision by the club on expansion of its course.

Any redevelopment would have to gain the approval from the council which inserted a clause to protect public interest.

Mr Parsons said the club would assess its options once it knew how much money a residential sell-off could generate.

8. SUBMISSION TO THE WARRNAMBOOL CITY COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT RECREATIONAL PLAN.

A vision for a world standard wetlands reserve

The Merri River Wetland located on the Western coastal fringe of Warrnambool provides a unique opportunity to extend the promenade and consolidate the coastal reserves.

The area incorporates approximately 80 acres of WCC held land between Swinton Street and the proposed O’Brien Street. The southern boundary is coastal sand dunes and the northern boundary the Merri River cutting. These spectacular wetlands have been privately owned for many years and human impact has been limited.

The vision is to develop a world class, eco-friendly tourism attraction incorporated into the Mahogany Trail, and the proposed Rail Trail. Imagine a bird watching trail offering opportunities for education and research into this fragile environment.

An alternate walking path from the Lady Bay, following the north side of the Merri cutting through to Block or Landmann Street and crossing the river to follow a promenade through the wetland and along what was the original road to Port Fairy, this would link up with the Mahogany Trail at Thunder Point or follow the river to the proposed rail trail.

A study of holiday choices shows people are increasingly turning to eco-tourism. Warrnambool already has a reputation as a popular destination for environmental enthusiasts, which includes the whales, Tower Hill, Lady Bay, Thunder Point, Lake Pertobe and the Botanic Gardens.

These wetlands are an invaluable asset and should be preserved and marketed.

Reference: Boondall Wetlands

www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/seeanddo/river/boondall_sandgate.htm

What has happened to Winter

4. LIFE IN THE WETLANDS

INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENT

Over many centuries wetlands have been a source of food for the indigenous people of the time. Numerous shell middens along with stone artefacts can be seen in the undisturbed land fringing the southern boundaries.

ANIMALS THAT HABITAT THIS AREA

Birds

Frogs

Wallabies

Snakes

Rabbits

Fox

Fish

Insects & Microfauna – an important part of maintaining the life cycle.

BIRDS

The list below has been compiled over many years some with accompanied photos. Many birds are seasonal and numbers vary depending on the time of year, and conditions inland.

(Dragon fly)	Photo in report
(Eagle nest)	Photo in report
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisea
Australasian Bittern	Botaurus poiciloptilus
Australasian Shoveler	Anas rhynchotis
Australian Hobby	Falco longipennis
Australian Magpie	Gymnorhina tibicen
Australian Pelican	Pelecanus conspicillatus
Australian Shelduck	Tadorna tadornoides
Australian White Ibis	Threskiornis molucca
Australian Wood Duck	Chenonetta jubata
Azure Kingfisher	Alcedo azurea
Black Swan	Cygnus atratus
Black-Shouldered Kite	Elanus axillaris
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Blue-billed Duck	Oxyura australis
Brown Songlark	Accipiter fasciatus
Brush Bronzewing	Phaps elegans
Cattle Egret	Ardea ibis
Chestnut Teal	Anas castanea
Clamorous Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula
Common Skylark or Pipit	Alauda arvensis
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Crimson Rosella	Platycerus caledonicus
Darter	Anhinga melanogaster
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris
Galah	Cacatua roseicapilla
Golden-headed Citicola	Cisticola exilis
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocoarax carbo
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Grey Fantail	Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Teal	Anas gracilis
Hoary-Headed Grebe	Poliocephalus poliocephalus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Intermediate Egret	Ardea intermedia
Little Bittern ?	Ixobrychus minutus
Little Black Cormorant	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Little Eagle/Pale morph	Hieraaetus morphnoides
Little Pied Cormorant	Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Little Raven	Corvus mellori
Magpie Goose	Anseranas semipalamata
Magpie-Lark	Grallina cyanoleuca
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Masked Lapwing	Vanellus miles
New Holland Honeyeater	Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Pacific Black Duck	Anas superciliosa
Pied Oyster Catcher	Haematopus longirostris
Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio
Red Wattlebird	Anthochaera carunculata
Royal Spoonbill	Platalea regia
Scarlet Robin	Petroica multicolor
Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata
Silver Gull	Larus novaehollandiae
Silvereye	Zosterops lateralis
Singing Honeyeater	Lichenostomus virescens
Spotted Turtle-Dove	Sterptopelia chinensis
Straw-necked Ibis	Threskiornis spinicollis
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo	Cacatua galerita
Swamp Harrier Male	Circus approximans
Wedge-Tailed Eagle	Aquila audax
Welcome Swallow	Hirundo neoxena
White -Faced Heron	Egretta novaehollandiae
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle imm	Haliaeetus leucogaster
White-Fronted Chat	Epthianura albifrons
Yellow-Billed Spoonbill	Platalea flavipes
Yellow-Faced Honeyeater	Lichenostomus chrysops
Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus funereus

Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla

Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans

Grey Shrike-Thrush Calluricincla harmonica

Snakes

There are a large number of Brown and Tiger snakes living this area to the extent that it is dangerous to walk through this area in summer months. Our neighbours moved out in their first year because of the number of snakes that inhabited their house area and bought a terrier dog.

Frogs

I have not studied these in detail but we find two species of frogs around our house and you can hear at least three different calls at night. There are a large number, given the sound they make.

Fish

I have seen Brown Trout, yellow-eye mullet and/or sea mullet, and short-finned eel in the river along with other smaller fish, we choose not to catch them but the area is known for it’s trout and eel fishing

Flora

There are some delicate native grasses surviving in the area especially where land has been fenced to keep the cattle out, there are tussock grasses and a lot of reeds and other grasses along the river and around the wetland ponds areas. There is cooch grass which is largely kept under control by the cattle currently grazing the block.

Orange Bellied Parrot (OBP) – there is a grass that I believe could be a species that the OBP feed on – I believe I saw an OBP in the dunes, but not well enough to report.