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Social media: We are improving our social media skills: Rod Brooks manages our Facebook page and committee members will make regular posts on Angair activities.

If members have photos which they would like posted, please forward to admin@angair.org.au, together with suitable titles. Follow us on Facebook and help us spread the message about Angair’s activities.

Onshore gas exploration in Western Victoria

Committee members are taking part in the State Government’s consultation process in respect of the moratorium on development of onshore gas prospects. The main issues for Angair are the protection of indigenous flora and fauna, and the impact on local waterways and wetlands. We are also contributing to the broader issue of  the use of fossil fuels.

National Tree Planting Day 2014

The Surf Coast Shire is supporting National Tree Planting Day, Friday, 25 July, with further planting at the Award Winning Moonah Park, commonly known as Shark Park, at the beach end of the Anglesea Riverbank. Anyone who would like to join other members of the Anglesea Community to plant some trees, would be more than welcome. Planting will be between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided. If you are able to come, even for a short time, please let Angair know so that we may cater adequately.

Biodiversity Mapping project 2014

The Surf Coast Shire is remapping all of the Biodiversity Assets across the municipality. This work has been undertaken in partnership with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and is intended to supersede the mapping undertaken by Ecology Australia in 1995.

Of the 21,900 properties within the Surf Coast Shire, 5,858 properties contain a biodiversity asset.  These assets have been categorised as waterways and wetlands, significant native vegetation and habitat, native grasslands and scattered trees. At present, Barbara Noelker (the project officer) is seeking feedback from landowners and community groups on the map’s accuracy, and making adjustments to the mapping as required. Following completion of the mapping in late July or early August, Council support will be sought to obtain authorisation from the Minister for Planning to initiate two planning scheme amendments. One amendment will streamline the current overlays applying to the coastal townships, and the other will apply the mapping more broadly across the hinterland areas of the Shire.

The maps can be seen on the Council’s website at www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au under ‘latest news’, and the project officer can be contacted on 5261 0697 for further information, after her return from leave in mid July.

Angair Natural History Centre Garden

Anyone visiting the Angair Natural History Centre recently, may have noticed the newly installed bird bath and the new plantings in our indigenous garden, where we aim to create a small, heathy grassland under the Acacia pycnantha at the front of the garden.

The garden already has Everlastings, Grass-trees, Showy Podelepis and the Velvet Daisy-bush growing. We have now added to these, planting Creamy Candles, Yam Daisies, Blue Pincushions and Clustered Everlastings. As well as these, a cluster of Dillwynias, including Grey Parrot-pea and Smooth Parrot-pea, were planted near rocks on the western side of the front garden. It is hoped that these plants will help enhance the garden’s colour palette.

The Angair Propagation Group provided 11 different species for the planting, including Hibbertia, Dillwynia, Pelagonium and Brunonia australis Blue Pincushion.

A big thank you to the Propagation Group, Garden Coordinator Phillippa Hesterman, Chris Morrissey and Trevor Hawksworth for creating, maintaining and developing our garden, and to Ros Gibson and Neil Tucker for the bird bath.

Conservation Ecology Centre Cape Otway Planting Weekend

Thanks to all those hardy souls that ventured to the Otways on 13 June. It was very sad to see the state of the bush, with most of the Eucalypts dead. The only survivors had large, plastic or tin, sleeves around their trunks. The biodiversity was very damaged as a result of humans meddling. Some of you may remember how the government ignored opposition to transporting the French Island koalas to the Otways.

We were a cohesive group of 20, and planted 4,300 plants, with guards around the larger plants. They were a mixture of species, not just Eucalypts, and we hope this helps the future environment. The organization of the event, which was based around the Conservation Ecology Centre Cape Otway, was excellent.

Angair Attends Volunteer Forums

Committee Representatives have recently attended the Coastcare Victoria, Corangamite CMA Coastcare and Coastal Volunteers Forum, and the Otway Biodiversity Forum hosted by the Otway Community Conservation Network. Both events provided valuable insights into ways to progress future projects; as well we met with like minded groups across the region.

Helen Tutt