Draft Community Recovery Plan – Chapter Nine Summary

Written By MADRA Admin

This week, draft Recovery Plan Chapter Nine – Environment and Biodiversity – will be available for your thoughts and comments. This chapter will be disseminated by email link to our website (madrecovery.com) and hard copies will be available at the Recovery Hub and the Genoa Pub for those not connected to the internet.

What’s in Chapter Nine?

In Chapter Nine, we look at repairing and sustaining our diverse bioregion while also protecting our communities from disasters and natural hazards. Community Ideas for how we might reach this balance are incorporated. 

The first part of the chapter lists describes our natural resources, flora and fauna. The second part of the chapter outlines priorities for remedial work and ongoing protection of natural and built assets.  There is already much productive work underway. In the third section, we look at environmental education initiatives.

Ideas and Initiatives

Natural Environment Priorities

  • Partnerships for preserving, promoting and protecting our natural environment (including Parks Victoria, DELWP, universities, environmental organisations and agencies).

  • Supporting and promoting sustainable tourism in keeping with our natural and community values.

  • Encouraging sustainable and renewable energy projects.

  • Encouraging scientifically backed, viable and well-resourced fuel management programs.

  • Establishing a pre-bushfires baseline to inform conservation, regeneration and repopulation goals and initiatives.

On Ground Works

  • Building on the work of existing volunteer groups and agencies, ongoing remedial works including weed removal, coast care, pest control, erosion control and revegetation projects.

  • The joint Rotary Balwyn/Friends of Mallacoota seed propagation project.

  • A nursery for growing endangered plants and plants for regeneration and sale.

    Fuel Management

  • Developing and implementing a plan to protect the Western Front of Mallacoota in conjunction with delivery partners.

  • The webinar series on fuel management which is available on madrecovery.com.  The aim of this series is to give more knowledge to our community, so we feel represented, safer and armed to make informed decisions about fuel management.

  • Developing a three-year rolling action plan which will roll over annually and contain information about which fuel management initiatives will be implemented in the current year. 

  • Overseeing the implementation of the fuel management action plan.

  • An annual review of the fuel management action plan both within our townships and surrounding areas.  

  • Revisiting and evaluating fuel management plan initiatives every five years and adjusting the fuel management plan as necessary.

  • Exploring possibilities for using firebreaks for recreational opportunities.

  • Seeking plans and context from EGSC on plans to deal burned trees and the build-up of debris within our townships.

    Lake and Estuary Health

  • East Gippsland Catchment Management authority initiatives including Mouth article on lake health (18th February) and community events including boat trips and walk and talks.

    Land Management Industry

  • Seeking additional human resources for protection and management of our wilderness environment including volunteer and training opportunities.

Environmental Education

    • Establishing an environmental studies program to raise community and visitor awareness of our unique values/assets.
      Activities might include:

      • Information sessions and new articles about environmental protection, weed management, restricted activities, etc.

      • Interpretative signing such as map of local attractions, walking trails.

      • Guided bushwalks.

      • Mini field days (with weed/native plants, etc).

    • A local repository of environmental studies and reports of our district.

(See also Environmental Education and Training in Chapter Eight – Business and Economy – for a proposal for a Mallacoota Environmental Education and Research Centre).

Fun Facts

In 2016, two Bush Blitz expeditions hosted by Musuems Victoria were conducted in Croajingolong National Park.   

Approximately 1,776 species were recorded. At least 702 species had not been recorded previously in the areas studied and 25 of those may be completely new to science (one echinoderm, 13 true bugs, five snails, one flowering plant, one fern and four marine algae). 

Ten threatened animal species were recorded and 72 state-listed plant species, including 18 that are listed as Threatened. A sea cucumber (Pesudocnus sentus) was also discovered – a new record for Australia.   

Croajingolong National Park is also home to 286 species of moth!   

For more information, visit museumsvictoria.com.au

Is it too late to send in our ideas?

Our recovery will always be a moving feast as ideas are implemented and as we learn more about what works and doesn’t for our recovery. Recovery is neither a static nor linear process so keep those thoughts coming! 

Any suggestions can be submitted via the MADRA suggestion boxes outside the Post Office and Genoa Pub, by email to mallacoota.district.assoc.2020@gmail.com, or by letter to Locked Bag 1005, Mallacoota VIC 3892. Comments on Chapter Nine can also be sent via these avenues.   

Thank you to those who provided feedback on earlier chapters of the draft Recovery Plan. Revised versions will be available on our website shortly.

Thanks,
MADRA

MADRA Admin
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