Anglesea Environmental News & Information

Grass Trees - Xanthorrhoea

xanthos = (Greek) yellow;
rhoea = flowing, referring to the resin that flows from the stem, first observed in X. resinosa.

The Anglesea region contains a wealth of biological diversity across the three kingdoms of Plantae, Fungi and Protista (containing seaweeds and algae). This diversity ranges from the delicate orchids of the heathlands, across brilliantly coloured fungi and through to luxuriant off-shore kelp beds and other seaweeds.

Geographically, Anglesea sits close to the edge of the "old Gondwanaland", the ancient super-continent which broke up to become Australia...story>>

 

Pardalotes, flying jewels

7 December 2004

Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus: This tiny flying jewel, weighing only about 10 grams, has not been extensively studied even though it is easily detected with its ever-present call, most often in the treetops. This two-note call of ‘dee-dee’ can sometimes extend into four notes. I learnt this as ‘sleep baby sleep’ and is the one with which I am familiar, both here and in other places...story>>

 

Living with kangaroos in Anglesea

As residents or visitors to Anglesea, we are very fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful bushland with abundant native wildlife. Anglesea is famous for its kangaroos which can be observed grazing peacefully on the Anglesea Golf Course.

Unfortunately however, our kangaroos and joeys are being maimed and killed at an alarming rate due to careless drivers and dog owners particularly in the vicinity of the Golf Course and Great Ocean Road...story>>

 

Tips for the Spring Swooping Season

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003

Spring has arrived and with it the need for extra caution in the great outdoors, as some of Australia's bird species take drastic action. Spring heralds the start of the breeding season for species including magpies, mynas, butcherbirds and masked lapwings.

Some birds take extreme measures to protect their nests, eggs and young during September and October by swooping passers-by when they feel threatened...story>>

 

Fire used to save the New Holland Mouse

29 April 2003

The New Holland Mouse is very small, quite cute and very vunerable. In fact, it is four steps away from extinction. To prevent this from happening, fire is now being used to ensure their survival.

Anglesea is one of only four locations in Victoria were the rare little marsupial is found. The other locations are Wilson Promontory, Loch Sport and Providence Ponds. It is also found in Tasmania...story>>

 

Horsetails - a serious weed threat

11 August 2003

An entire plant group has recently been declared as a high priority noxious weed to be eradicated and excluded from the State of Victoria. The Equisetum genus, or Horsetail as it is more commonly known, is considered to be one of the world's worst weeds.

The plants are incredibly resilient and tend to dominate poorly drained farmland and pastures. They are non-flowering, with a complex, spreading root system that sends up erect, hollow, segmented stems from a few centimetres to several metres in height...story>>

 

Fox Control in Western Victoria

Thursday August 28, 2003

Landholders in Victoria's west are being encouraged to come together to help tackle the fox problem.

After running for 12 months and proving largely ineffective in reducing fox populations, the Fox Bounty trial has ended and communities across the State are being encouraged to get involved in targeted baiting programs.

The best way to get involved is to contact your nearest Fox Control Coordinator...story>>

 

Foxes threaten bandicoots

9th September, 2003

The survival of the threatened Eastern Barred Bandicoot depends on successful control of foxes and coordinated community baiting programs, which are increasing the chances of success.

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot - a small marsupial with pale bars on its hindquarters - is one of three bandicoot species in Victoria. It exists in small, reintroduced populations in western Victoria, inhabiting grassland plains and woodlands, foraging through the night and nesting in grassy vegetation during the day...story>>

 

Fox baiting strategy finds environmental gains

12 September 2003

Finding the best ways to deliver effective and efficient fox baiting controls while protecting and enhancing biodiversity is the aim of an innovative research project being undertaken by Parks Victoria in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARIER)...story>>

 

Remembering Ash Wednesday

In commemoration of the 20 year anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, Anglesea Online has produced a website dedicated to preserving the stories and memories of those who's lives were effected by this natural disaster.

This site was inspired by the booklet 'The Ashes of Memory', printed in 1993, by the Anglesea Creative Writing Group. There are copies available at the Anglesea Newsagent.

Many of the people who contributed to this booklet are no longer with us. It is to them and their memory that this site is dedicated...story>>

 

ANGAIR . . . How It All Began

Mrs Edith Lawn, a teacher from Ballarat, had a holiday house at Anglesea. In 1968, while searching for an appropriate subject for her art students to sketch, Edith noticed some large white spider orchids in bloom. Thinking they would be a good composition with their delicate drooping petals and sepals, and not realizing they were protected, Edith picked a bunch...story>>

 

Help the Legless Lizard - Appeal to landholders

21 April 2004

A major push to save the Striped Legless Lizard, a small endangered creature unique to grasslands of southeastern Australia, is underway in south western Victoria.

A dedicated recovery team consisting of the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), RMIT University Ecology Research Group and Greening Australia is aiming to locate and preserve the remaining populations of the Striped Legless Lizard by working with landholders to protect and improve its habitat...story>>

 

Anglesea Environment Report

31 May 2004

Each month the Anglesea Power Station produces an environmental report called the Anglesea Environment Report. Amongst other things, this report contains information and statistics about water monitoring, updates on monthly rainfall, waste and energy figures, air emissions and environmental improvement - progress towards 2004 targets. Anglesea Online will publish this report on a monthly basis as a pdf file. Visit the Evironment Report page.

 

A Cane Toad on Wings Seen in Anglesea

19 February 2003

What has the European Fox, rabbit, Serrated Tussock and Bone Seed have in common. All are introduced species on the Surf Coast that have become environmental weeds/pest animals. All have taken thier toll on the areas biodiversity and all are costing rate payers a great deal of time, physical effort and money in conrol measures.

Unfortunately the Surf Coast can add one new bird species to this list of environmental disasters. They have finally arrived. Two Common Mynas, previously refered to as Indian Mynas, have taken up residence in Anglesea to the future detriment of other native bird species...story>>

 

A rare coastal bird - Rufous Bristlebird - Dasyornis broadbenti

Some of our visitors to Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Moggs Creek or Eastern View may not be aware that one of Victoria's rare birds, the Rufous Bristlebird, lives on our coast.

'Unspectacular in appearance, it looks rather like the introduced female Blackbird but is more reddish-brown...story>>