In this summer edition:- Welcome to our newsletter
- Reading and healing Country
- Sorting the weeds from the grass
- Managing planned burns
- Crossings for bandicoots, not zebras
- Creating frog waterworlds
- Buttons, sweat and volunteers
- Species spotlight: Golden sun moth.
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Welcome to our newsletter
Hello and welcome to the second edition of the ‘Nature next door’ Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) Program newsletter. There are some exciting updates to share with you. We are working hard with our partners to secure more than 20,000 hectares of important habitat for some of our most threatened species. These green, open spaces next door to our newest suburbs will have lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.
In this edition, we include stories about our collaboration with Traditional Owners to protect vulnerable and endangered species. We also highlight road ecology projects that support southern brown bandicoots, and watering efforts to create a better habitat for the growling grass frog. You'll find details about on-ground activities aimed at boosting endangered plant species and important information about upcoming planned burns.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who might be interested in learning about the conservation areas and reserves being secured near Melbourne’s growing communities. If you know someone who would like to stay updated, they can sign up at the homepage of the MSA Program website.
The ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program is part of the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
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Reading and healing Country
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation is now managing several conservation areas under the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program. Wurundjeri’s Natural Resource Management team, known as the Narrap team, has begun managing and restoring three sites in northern Melbourne.
These sites, contributing to Conservation Areas 26 (Mickleham), 31 and 32 (Wollert) collectively contain critically endangered grasslands and woodlands hosting vulnerable species including the golden sun moth and matted flax-lily.
Traditional Owners have sustainably cared for Country for thousands of years and they bring a wealth of knowledge to many restorative activities including cultural burning.
The CA 32 site at Wollert is poa-dominated grassland – containing endangered remnant plains grassland, and creekline tussock grassland. These grasses are part of a precious ecosystem, the Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, which is listed as critically endangered under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The site is dominated by these diverse grasslands, rocky crevices on stony knolls and a curly sedge-lined creek. Species that thrive here include tough scurf-pea (listed as endangered in Victoria), western golden-tip (endangered in Victoria), curly sedge (endangered in Victoria), and growling grass frog (recorded at the site between 2000-2010; vulnerable in Victoria and nationally). The large area is also likely to support other threatened species known to be in the vicinity, such as fat-tailed dunnart (vulnerable in Victoria) and golden sun moth (vulnerable in Victoria and nationally).
In October, the Narrap team held a field work session with Dr Steve Sinclair, Senior Scientist, Plant Ecology, at the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI). The collaborative work and discussions covered land management challenges and works priorities, and meant more plants could be added to extensive plant lists supplied by ARI. Site species lists will be extended as more time is spent on-site managing the many threats from invasive weeds and years of farming practices.
Read more about how the program works with partners and stakeholders on the MSA Program website.
Image: Wurundjeri's Narrap team at a field work session (credit: Sandie Czarka, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation).
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Sorting the weeds from the grass
Agriculture Victoria and its partners are using new technology to better monitor and support management of invasive weeds in the Western Grassland Reserve.
The Western Grassland Reserve is a 15,000-hectare reserve, west of Werribee and south-east of Melton, being secured by the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program to permanently protect habitat for rare species. So far, around 26 per cent of the land has been acquired for conservation.
Serrated tussock, a Weed of National Significance, is a highly invasive unpalatable grass that is a major threat to Australia’s native grasslands and pastures and found in the Western Grassland Reserve. It is being researched by Agriculture Victoria as part of a monitoring program in the reserve.
Agriculture Victoria is using the remote sensing detection model for serrated tussock, using satellite imagery to examine serrated tussock response to management techniques (e.g., targeted spraying, drone spraying, grazing). The research outcomes will be used by land managers in the Western Grassland Reserve to improve detection and control of serrated tussock, and to compare site condition over time.
By combining remote sensing technology with ground assessments, management records, and staff knowledge, they hope to improve detection, speed up data access, and reduce costs for monitoring and managing the weed.
Land management authorities working in the Western Grassland Reserve manage records into a database that tracks serrated tussock treatment activities across the reserve.
The use of multiple data sources is key, as it helps understand management effects, tracks the spread of serrated tussock, and assesses risks.
Images: Examples of serrated tussock during autumn in grazed paddocks in grasslands west of Melbourne (credit: Tony Dugdale, DEECA).
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Managing planned burns
The ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program collaborates with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) to carry out planned burns. This aims to boost ecological health and revive native grasslands. Low intensity burns can help weed control by encouraging new growth that can be treated with herbicide without affecting nearby natives. Some burns are cultural. For Traditional Owners, this means connecting with and healing the land, while passing on knowledge.
Grasslands are rich, dynamic habitats. They often accumulate a lot of grass. “Historically, grasslands were burnt quite often, and many species of plants and animals adapted to live in the gaps between the grass tussocks which are maintained by regular fire,” says Dr Steve Sinclair, Senior Scientist, Plant Ecology, at the Arthur Rylah Institute.
“If we stop burning, the build-up of grass can exclude these species. Some of the mobile animals will return next time we burn, but many of the plants and smaller animals won’t be able to come back once they are pushed out, because there are no more nearby grasslands for them to come from,” explains Dr Sinclair.
The MSA Program safeguards one of Victoria's rarest and most endangered ecosystems: the Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain (NTGVVP). It protects the largest remaining area of critically endangered NTGVVP in Victoria. Native grasslands host rare species like the golden sun moth, striped legless lizard, and spiny rice-flower.
FFMVic conducts planned burns across the MSA Program’s conservation areas and reserves. Seven burns are planned for autumn 2025. Four further cultural burns by Traditional Owners are also scheduled for autumn, supported by FFMVic. Burns will depend on weather conditions. Dates and times may change at short notice. To get updates on burns in your area, sign up at plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au/.
FFMVic staff and contractors will prepare these sites for safe burning in the coming months. Before burns, you might see electronic signs on nearby roads. These will notify you of scheduled burns. On burn days, traffic management may include reduced speeds, controlled traffic, or temporary closures. This is to ensure safety for both staff and drivers, especially where smoke might affect visibility.
Smoke from planned ecological burns is much less than that for a bushfire. Efforts are made to reduce the impact on nearby houses. For smoke concerns from planned burns, check emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare/#fire/smoke or call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 for advice.
Image: A planned burn in progress (credit: Amy Blake, DEECA).
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Crossing for bandicoots, not zebras
Victoria has about 150,000 kilometres of roads and more than five million registered vehicles. These roads are vital for business and connections. However, they also impact the environment, including the southern brown bandicoot.
This marsupial is endangered and faces threats like habitat loss, predators, and busy roads. The ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program and the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne are helping to protect it.
To help its plight, the Cranbourne Gardens has installed ‘bandicoot crossings’ to help these little critters adapt to their constructed environment.
Through research, we can understand the effects of noise, pollution, habitat destruction and other things on the environment, to help find solutions.
“Bandicoots are active day and night but especially at dusk, and their extended activity increases opportunities for harm,” said Tricia Stewart, Natural Areas Team Leader at the Cranbourne Gardens.
“Roads are a reality of our world, and a reality of the bandicoots’ world but these crossings help both to exist,” adds Tricia. There are six wildlife underpasses now in operation, supported by fencing to help keep bandicoots and other wildlife off the road.
The Cranbourne Gardens (the Gardens) wildlife infrastructure project has been running for about three years and targets small to medium-sized, terrestrial wildlife (those most represented in site fatality records). The project combines three kilometres of fauna drift fence alongside six custom-built underpasses.
With constant monitoring and research, the Gardens shares its findings to help others. Earlier this year, they showcased their road ecology project during Melbourne Design Week. Around 25 people attended, including landscape architects and land managers. They viewed fencing, underpasses, escape flaps, and wombat gates. Through their work, the Cranbourne Gardens team hopes to inspire others to protect wildlife like bandicoots.
Learn more about the road ecology project in this video produced by the Gardens.
(Sources: Transport Victoria; ABS, 2021).
The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne has reached nearby residents through its events about the southern brown bandicoot with the local community, including schools, kindergartens, and Landcare groups.
‘Gardens for Wildlife and Bandicoots’ guided tours are for people to learn more about the southern brown bandicoot, and how they can turn their backyard into an oasis for native wildlife. Tours involve a paid ticket (adult $15; concession $12; child $8), and run on the following dates:
- Saturday 14 December 2024: 11am
- Thursday 9 January 2025: 10am
- Saturday 18 January 2025: 11am
- Saturday 8 February 2025: 11am
Cranbourne Gardens will also be hosting a free bandicoot-themed nature-play event, ‘Bandicoot Adventures: Nature Play at Cranbourne Gardens’ on 8 and 9 January 2025 from 10am-2pm. Bookings are not required.
Image: Eilish Roberts (left) and Tricia Stewart (right) beside a wildlife crossing sign (credit: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria).
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Creating frog waterworlds
In October, the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program achieved a significant leap for its Growling Grass Frog (GGF) Program (the program). Melbourne Water, the program’s primary delivery partner, filled a dry wetland in Merri Creek Conservation Area in the northern growth corridor, to maintain a breeding spot for the frogs (affectionately known as, ‘growlers’). The site is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People.
Wildlife responded almost immediately to the slowly rising water level. Within two weeks of the project starting, Melbourne Water staff heard several species of frog including growling grass frogs, and spotted a good diversity of waterbirds, insects and reptiles.
According to the MSA Program’s most recent survey, growling grass frog populations in Merri Creek are still declining. The survey showed limited occupation of degraded, in-stream habitats, with growlers relying on a few off-stream wetlands for breeding. This made spring wetland filling in this location a priority.
The program is grateful to Yarra Valley Water for providing the water for this important project and City of Whittlesea for enabling pumping and associated activities to be carried out on their land. It was a successful collaboration and the delivery team is looking forward to further success over the breeding season.
Many frogs can be heard in Melbourne’s wet areas, such as rivers, creeks, parks, and backyards. To help understand and protect them, Melbourne Water collects information through its volunteer citizen science program, Frog Census. You can get involved in the Frog Census by downloading the app and recording frog calls and locations. More information is available on the Frog Census page on the Melbourne Water website.
Image: The newly filled wetland in Merri Creek Conservation Area (credit: Kathy Preece, Melbourne Water/DEECA).
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Buttons, sweat and volunteers
The button wrinklewort is an endangered perennial wildflower with small, yellow, daisy-like flowers. In the 1990s, there were thousands of plants scattered around Melbourne’s west, but now there are fewer than 500.
The flower is one of the fragile species protected under Federal and Victorian environmental laws and through the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program.
As a result of minimal disturbance since it was established in 1865, Truganina Cemetery in the city’s west has remained largely untouched by the impacts that have caused so many species to decline elsewhere. As Melbourne expanded, the cemetery has remained one of just a few locations in the state to harbour button wrinklewort.
“Truganina Cemetery has the most genetically intact population of button wrinklewort anywhere in Victoria — it used to be widespread but is now only in a handful of places in Victoria,” said Dr Steve Sinclair, Senior Scientist, Plant Ecology, at the Arthur Rylah Institute.
As part of an Australian Research Council grant, and work with Monash and La Trobe Universities, a cultivation program has been established for the button wrinklewort, which aims to carefully protect the genetic diversity of the species and produce healthy seedlings. Since 2020, over 1,000 plants have been produced each year.
Working in partnership is what managing and conserving requires, and to support the population at the cemetery, a small group of volunteers planted around 220 seedlings in August. The work was completed with thanks to Arthur Rylah Institute, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and La Trobe University.
“Over the years the wild plants in the cemetery have split into two patches. In our planting, we mixed and matched plants from each group, and from another site in St Albans, to maximise their genetic diversity and help the overall population thrive,” said Dr Sinclair.
“We’ve also put the planting in between the two patches, to encourage the native sweat bees which pollinate the wrinkleworts to move back and forth between all the plants, like a ‘bee bridge’,” adds Dr Sinclair.
It is not just native bees that inhabit the planted area – the rare larapuna matchstick grasshopper feeds off the button wrinklewort too, so conserving the plants also helps its survival. Other plants at the site include the spiny rice-flower (endangered) and the smooth rice-flower.
Truganina Cemetery is one of 36 conservation areas around Melbourne set aside to protect and manage threatened species and ecosystems and provide local residents and all Victorians with more opportunities to connect with nature.
Further information about the button wrinklewort is on the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program website.
Image (left): Planting button wrinklewort at Truganina Cemetery (credit: Morgana Rawlings, DEECA). Image (right): A flowering button wrinklewort (credit: Marcia Riederer, DEECA).
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Species spotlight: Golden sun mothThe golden sun moth is a fragile species that needs our protection to survive. These unusual moths can be found at a range of grassland and woodland ecosystems protected through the ‘Nature next door’ MSA Program. The unique environment of the endangered Grassy Eucalypt Woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland, provides the perfect habitat for the golden sun moth.
Status: Vulnerable in Victoria and nationally.
Appearance: With club-like antennae and a wingspan of three centimetres, the golden sun moth is among Victoria’s rarest insects.
Behaviour: Uniquely, it is active during the day. Males fly in a zig-zag pattern to find mates, while females rarely fly.
Breeding: Females lay 100 to 150 eggs in clumps of wallaby grass. Eggs hatch in about three weeks. Caterpillars live underground for one to three years. Adult moths live only one to four days.
Threats: The moth faces habitat loss due to agriculture, excessive vegetation, predators like birds, and a shortage of food plants.
Location: It inhabits small patches in south-eastern Australia, mainly in grasslands. In Melbourne, it’s found in the Western Grassland Reserve, the western growth corridor, and the northern growth corridor.
Image: A golden sun moth (credit: Dr Steve Sinclair, DEECA).
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