Friends of Edgars Creek

Hello Friends,

We are planting again this Sunday! I'm really excited about this event as I was absent for most of the last planting; a two month break just doesn't feel right in the winter planting season. I'm looking forward to some dirt on my hands.

The forecast is looking great (relatively) - 16 degrees, only slight chance of a morning shower (30% chance of zero to .4mm - so even if it does shower it will be dry by the time of the planting). As usual any early starters are welcome. We are usually on site well before the start time (it is usually a late morning start for Rob and Stephen; and me if I can).

Details are as follows (see attachment for site mud map): See you on the Creek!

Regards,

David.

Sunday 16 August 2015, 1-3pm

Planting: Escarpment site extension at the Gooseneck Meander, west side of the creek.

Hosted by the FoEC, Funded by Satterley

Meet at the Gooseneck Meander – near Kodak bridge, access via Ronald St North Coburg (Melways Map 18 A9). It is probably easiest to cross the Ronald Street footbridge and turn right (if you come from Ronald Street).

The Project:

. Gooseneck Meander Area (Job No. 20)

Site Context: 

Since September 2007, the Friends of Edgars Creek have undertaken works to restore and maintain stream-bank shrubland and Creekline tussock grassland along a regionally significant ‘gooseneck’ meander of the Creek (Source: Victorian resources online: Port Phillip and Westernport: Site 14 Coburg - Edgars Creek Terrace and Meanders). These works have been funded by Melbourne Water Community Grants program, with matching funding and complimentary work from the Moreland City Council’s maintenance allocation and a Commonwealth Caring For Our Country grant administered by the Merri Creek Management Committee. Project works have remnant stands of Melicytus dentatus and removed invasive weeds such as African Boxthorn, Phalaris, Chilean Needle Grass, Artichoke Thistle, and Fennel.

Habitat Objectives:

(a) EVC 654 Creekline Tussock Grassland: Considerable area of treeless grassland on the inner bend of the meander (west side) dominated by dense swards of Common Tussock-grass Poa labillardieri, with herbs and other grasses in the inter-tussock spaces, including Milky Beauty-heads Calocephalus lacteus and other Rush species such as Juncus spp. 

(b) EVC 851 Stream-bank Shrubland: Open shrubland along the rocky banks and beds of the Creek. This is typical habitat where a creek has cut deeply into the surrounding plain. Vegetation comprise generally sparse overstorey of Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Manna Gum Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. Viminalis, with a dominant shrub layer consisting of Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerumand River Bottlebrush Callistemon sieberi amongst the rocks on the stream bed and Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa, Tree Violet Melicytus dentatus and Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata occupying the stream banks. Common species among the rocks and gravel on the stream bed are Bidgee-widgee Acaena novae-zelandiae and Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia.

(c) EVC 895 Escarpment Shrubland: Open shrubland generally associated with steep embankments beside watercourses in low rainfall areas. Where watercourses cut deeply into basalt, the upper banks (beyond the reach of floodwaters) often support Escarpment Shrubland. This is true along the west side of the Creek that rises steeply from the floodplain. Apart from the occasional Drooping SheoakAllocasuarina verticillata along the escarpment rim, the tallest stratum is the shrub layer. Common shrub species include Tree VioletMelicytus dentatus, Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii, Lightwood Acacia implexa, Hedge Wattle Acacia paradoxa, Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa and Wedgeleaf Hop-bush Dodonea viscosa subsp. cuneata. Other species recorded include Rock Correa Correa glabra and Rosemary Grevillea Grevillea rosmarinifolia. The ground layer consists of a few grasses and herbs such as Stiped Wallaby-grassAustrodanthonia racemosa var. racemosa, Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides, Kidney-weed Dichondra repens, Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and Nodding Saltbush Einadia nutans subsp. nutans. In sheltered rocky sites the ferns Necklace Fern Asplenium flabellatum, Annual Fern Anogramma leptophylla and Sickle Fern Pellaea falcata may be found.

(a)          Job No 20: Extension and infill planting west side of Creek up the hill towards Conga Foods

Planting Date: August 2015

Objectives:

·                Link current planting areas with remnant woodland on hill side

·                In fill planting within remnant woodland to increase biodiversity consistent with EVC895 Escarpment Shrubland

·                Removal of scattered woody weeds

·                Increase visual screening of Conga Foods factory

·                Selectively infill adjacent existing  gooseneck meander revegetation areas where required reduce potential for weed infestation

The Plant list:

Scientific name	Common name
		Aug-15
Acacia acinacae	Gold dust wattle	14
Acacia implexa	Lightwood	6
Acacia mearnsii	Blackwattle	6
Acacia melanoxylon	Blackwood	6
Acacia paradoxa	Hedge wattle	21
Acacia pycantha	Golden wattle	6
Allocasuarina verticillata	Drooping sheoak	108
Austrodanthonia caespitosa	Common wallaby-grass	54
Astrodanthonia racemosa	Stiped wallaby-grass	54
Bursaria spinosa	Sweet bursaria	18
Clematis microphylla	Small-leaved clematis	6
Correa glabra	Rock correa	18
Dianella longifolia	Pale-anther flax-lily	24
Dodonea viscosa	Wedge-leaf hop bush	36
Einadia nutans	Nodding saltbush	18
Enchylaena tomentosa	Ruby saltbush	18
Eucalyptus leucoxlyn	Yellow gum	12
Eucalyptus microcarpa	Grey box	12
Grevillia rasmarinifolia	Rosemary grevillia	12
Kennedia prostrata	Running postman	16
Melicytus dentatus	Tree violet	12
Rhagodia parabolica	Fragrant saltbush	18
Rubus parvifolius	Small-leaf Bramble	9
Wahlenbergia communis	Tufted bluebell	18
Wahlenbergia gracilis	Sprawling bluebell	18
	TOTAL PLANTS	540
	TOTAL BOXES (@ 54 per box)	10