Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Volunteers transform foreshore reserve near Rosebud
Members of McCrae Homestead Coastal Group removing weeds
Len Evans removing weeds
Native vegetation thrives after weed clean-up
A part of the Rosebud Foreshore Reserve in McCrae is being steadily stripped of weeds thanks to nearly a decade of effort by a group of devoted volunteers.
The 55 hectare Rosebud Foreshore Reserve is located along eight kilometres of the Port Phillip coastline between Anthony's Nose at McCrae and Chinaman's Creek in West Rosebud.
Funding
The McCrae Homestead Coastal Group received more than $40,000 from the Australian Government over five years to control weeds at the site near Rosebud on the northern rim of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
The State Government, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and the Rye and District Community Bank have also provided cash and in-kind contributions.
Activities and achievements
The project has involved replanting the area near the rotunda opposite Coburn Avenue with some 5000 native plants and spreading mulch to prevent weed regrowth and loss of water from the soil.
Today many parts of the site are dominated by native plants such as Coast Banksia, boobialla and tetragonia, attracting birds including the tiny Spotted Pardalote. Weeds such as the dense kikuyu grass, ivy and nasturtium now struggle to survive in large areas.
Foxes however are still a pest and continue to threaten native animals such as the Swamp Rat.
Secretary Len Evans said about 10 members of the group regularly attended fortnightly working bees and had learnt a lot since starting out in 1997 with a small grant from Parks Victoria.
"Back then we were very hands-on, removing the weeds ourselves once a month. Unfortunately this achieved limited success because the weeds grew back so fast," Len said.
"Now we're more efficient and employ a local bushland regeneration specialist who understands the different weed species and the best time to attack them. She also knows about the most appropriate control methods.
"We still get our hands dirty twice a month with follow-up weeding, but our role has expanded to cover applying for grants, managing contracts, and planning for the two planting festivals in autumn and spring."
Seawinds Nursery supplies the group with native plants, which are propagated from native seeds and cuttings collected from the foreshore. Inside the rotunda the group has mounted photographs of the variety of natives and weeds found in the area to raise awareness amongst locals, including school groups.
The public is regularly invited to attend annual planting festivals to learn more about the environment and afterwards to enjoy a BBQ and chat.
Other Grow West supporters include the Department of Primary Industries; local Landcare groups; the municipalities of Moorabool, Melton and Wyndham; Melbourne Water and Southern Rural Water.
More information
- Len Evans, McRae Homestead Coastal Group Secretary: (03) 5982 0424 or lennan@tadaust.org.au McRae Homestead Coastal Group website: www.volunteergreen.org
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