Biosecurity measures this coming spring and summer

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is currently promoting the need to adopt biosecurity measures this coming spring and summer, to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases. This message has never been more important due to the expected surge of people travelling throughout WA, and experiencing outdoor activities such as bushwalking and cycling.

Specifically, there are two issues the department is keen on highlighting:

  • The disease myrtle rust, which is a very serious disease of Myrtaceae plants, including eucalypts, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and peppermint trees. This disease is not present in WA, but poses a high risk of moving from the eastern states into WA via wind-borne spores, and the movement of spores/contaminated material on equipment, vehicles, clothing, camping gear, bicycles etc that have been in contact with infected plants in the eastern states. While this risk is currently low with the border being closed, there will be a high risk of incursion once we start to see cross-border movement again.
  • Other biosecurity threat priorities for WA in 2020 that are known ‘hitchhikers’. These pests pose a high risk as they can be easily spread throughout the state on and in vehicles, clothing, pet dog fur, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

For more information please read the following articles: Travel bugs, Myrtle rust fact sheet, Myrtle rust talking points.

Petition to Save Perth Airport’s Banksia Woodlands, wetlands and Aboriginal Heritage sites

Perth Airport’s last remaining threatened Banksia Woodlands, wetlands and Aboriginal cultural and heritage sites are under imminent threat of clearing for commercial development. These sites were intended to be preserved in early Master Plans of the airport to the end of the Lease in 2096, but many have already been cleared for non-aviation developments since then.

However, you can help save these valuable and irreplaceable treasures by signing the Petition to the Parliament of Australia HERE, by 30 September 2020.

Please take a moment now to have your say to preserve this for our collective future, and feel free to pass this on.

VISIT WA Senators to stop EPBC Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020

The Bill amends the EPBC Act to ’facilitate the legally robust devolution of environmental approvals to the States and Territories.’

And even more information can be found here

This Bill was rushed through and agreed to by the House of Representatives on 3rd September 2020.  Next it has to be introduced to and passed by the Senate.  The Senate next meets on 6th October.

It should be stopped and rejected by the Senate – but this will need cross bench and independent Senators awareness and action.  WA Liberals could also intervene.

What can we do?

We can provide a voice for biodiversity conservation in WA and nationally if each of us visits in person our WA Senators electoral offices and states our objections.  It is best to walk in without notice.  Policy officers and staff are there for us during office hours and they brief their Senators.  It is important to talk with Liberal Senators and their staff too.
See the list of WA Senators below.

Some points to make:

  • Currently the 10 year independent review of the EPBC Act by Professor Graeme Samuel is taking place, and his final report has not yet been presented to the Government.  His Interim Report described the major failures and shortcomings of the EPBC Act.  Enforcement of the EPBC Act is already inadequate.  Its strengthening and improved enforcement are needed in the national interest.   It is therefore essential that no changes and weakening of the EPBC Act takes place before the final report and recommendations of the EPBC Act Review is presented and considered.
  • The title of the Bill with the words ‘Streamlining Environmental Approvals’  included is contrary to the purpose of the Act which is for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.  Streamlining environmental approvals means fast tracking approvals and ignoring impacts which destroy biodiversity.  It will legalise destruction of the environment.
  • Here in south west WA is a biodiversity hotspot of global and national significance which deserves much increased national protection by our national government, not less. It is a biodiversity hotspot because actions like those proposed in the Bill have been ongoing since the end of World War 2 and this has resulted in the loss and extinction of much of the unique vegetation in the south-west and agricultural regions of Western Australia. The Federal Government must strengthen the management of our biodiversity the sound regulation and guidelines to meet its international commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity as the Staes to which it proposes to pass this responsibility under the Bill have not shown any capacity to do so.
  • The WA State environmental protection laws are weak and inadequate.  Our biodiverse flora and fauna and vegetation communities are suffering the classic death of a thousand cuts from patch by patch clearing and threatening processes.  This is despite most of our south west being TECs and habitat of endangered species.  The WA Government is not properly protecting and managing our biodiversity and has shown no inclination to do so in its pursuit of “jobs and growth” in all the guises in which that mantra takes..
  • We love our unique biodiversity here in WA and want clearing and its loss stopped.  Describe some of your favourites eg our Banksia Woodlands TEC, Tuart Woodlands CE TEC, endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoo, orchids, Wheatbelt Eucalypt Woodlands, Threatened flora.
  • Developers and infrastructure agencies should be required by law to confine their developments to suitable lands already cleared and demonstrate the need for infrastructure upgrades with supporting evidence of need and the likely success rate of their proposals.   Give your local examples.

 

WA SENATORS

  • Senator Sue Lines   (Labor)   51 Ord St  West Perth 6005.   Tel. 9481 4844
  • Senator Dean Smith   (Liberal)    48 Ventnor Ave  West Perth.    Tel. 9481 0349
  • Senator Slade Brockman   (Liberal)  Units 4 & 5 1 Harper Terrace  South Perth.    Tel.  6245 3305
  • Senator Jordan Steele-John   (Greens)   140 William St  Perth.   Tel. 6245 3310
  • Senator Mathias Corman   (Liberal)   Exchange Plaza,  38/2 The Esplanade  Perth.  Tel.  9325 4227
  • Senator Rachel Siewert   (Greens)   Unit 11, Level 2,  440 William St  Perth.   Tel.  9228 3277
  • Senator Michaela Cash  (Liberal)   44 Outram St West Perth 6005.   Tel.  9226 2000.
  • Senator Louise Pratt  (Labor)    183 Great Eastern Highway  Belmont.   Tel. 9277 1502
  • Senator Glen Sterle   (Labor)  Units G2 & G3, 150-152 Riseley St  Booragoon.   Tel. 9455 1420

Fighting for roadside vegetation: an update

Photo: Walpole North Road. Credit: E.Wajon

The Roadside Vegetation Sub-committee have been busy over the past two years and this report details their activities funded by a Mary Bremner Bequest grant.

GRANT

Wildflower Society of Western Australia’s (WSWA) Roadside Vegetation sub-committee was awarded $12,000 on 30 November 2017 for a project entitled “Strategic Response to Clearing Applications”. This funding was to be used to employ a suitable person for up to one day per week to prepare submissions and appeals under the guidance of the Sub-Committee. This was to allow more effective responses to Clearing Permit proposals as well as freeing Sub-Committee members to undertake other strategic actions to conserve roadside vegetation, such as arranging and attending meetings with Government Ministers and Departments, Local Governments and proponents.

The period of the Grant was from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019, but because of delays in establishing the administration arrangements, was not formally commenced till March 2018, and a Project Officer was not appointed till July 2018, following interviews with 3 candidates.

PROJECT OFFICER

Two Project Officers were employed during the term of the grant, the first Project officer resigning when the scope of the position proved to be much more demanding and time –consuming than the incumbent realised.  The Project Officers and their official (paid) terms of service were as follows:

  • Ms Heather Waugh: 27 July 2018 – 29 January 2019
  • Dr Graham Zemunik: 5 March 2019 – 23 January 2020

PROGRESS AND SUCCESSES

During the 18 month period of operation of the Grant, the WSWA prepared 42 submissions and 21 appeals on proposals to clear roadside vegetation for the purposes of upgrading or widening roads.  Because of the time lag between preparing submissions and appeals, it is not possible to say how many of these did not proceed, but over the last 3 years of operation of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee, only 8 proposals have either been refused or withdrawn.  However, in a large number of cases, there have been changes to the proposal as made initially by the applicant, or there have been additional or strengthened conditions placed on the proposal by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).

Whether this has been due, solely or partly, through the efforts of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and Roadside Vegetation Project Officer is not clear.  However, informally, the Director General and senior executive staff at DWER have acknowledged and commented that the WSWA has made a significant difference and impact on the way DWER undertakes Clearing Permit assessments.  Some of these changes have been as follows:

  •  proponents now need to provide evidence of options to avoid and minimise native vegetation clearing that they have considered, though many still do not.  This has resulted in both DWER and some proponents re-considering the area requiring to be cleared, either up-front, or subsequent to DWER questions or WSWA submission.
  • many Clearing Permit applications have reduced the size of the area proposed to be cleared subsequent to our submission
  • several Clearing Permit applications have been withdrawn or allowed to lapse, probably at least in part because of environmental requirements.
  • one instance of unlawful clearing which Roadside Vegetation sub-committee reported has been penalised with a Vegetation Conservation Notice requiring no further clearing and establishment of 10 Carnaby’s Cockatoo nest boxes.
  • to mitigate potential impacts to Black Cockatoo breeding habitat, conditions have been placed on some Clearing Permits preventing the removal of tree species that have a diameter of 200 millimetres or more at breast height, and/or any vegetation within 10m of such habitat trees, subsequent to our submission.
  • proponents are increasing the steepness of the batters from 4:1 to 3:1.
  • proponents are installing safety barriers to minimise clearing.
  • proponents are considering pruning instead of clearing.
  • one proponent withdrew an application to clear an area along a road because of WSWA request that trees containing hollows should be retained, require hollows to be relocated to an area of native vegetation or be replaced by artificial hollows.

The Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer now meet the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) twice per year, at the Director General of the DWER’s request.  At these meetings, WSWA has raised the following issues:

  •  improvement to the Clearing Regulations
  • EP Act amendments
  • Native Vegetation Policy
  • alleged unlawful clearing
  • Compliance and Enforcement Policy
  • representation on the DWER/WALGA Working Group
  • System Stewardship and associated proposals
  • Wildflower Friendliness Rating Scheme
  • Strategic clearing assessment
  •  scientific evidence base for determination of “insignificant environmental impact’
  • Clearing Permit exemptions
  • clearing in the Wheatbelt and Swan Coastal Plain
  • Wheatbelt Strategic Freight Network and Revitalising Agricultural Freight Strategy strategic assessment and clearing approval
  •  revegetation and offsets, including along roadsides, and status of offsets fund
  • surveys done by applicants for clearing permits
  • annual review of vegetation coverage in wheatbelt and south-west
  • health impacts of clearing

This is what the Director General has said about these meetings:

“I would like to thank you and the members of the Roadside Vegetation Sub-committee of the Wildflower Society for taking the time to meet with me and other Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) staff on 19 February 2019.”

The Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer have an excellent relationship with the Appeals Convenor.  The Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer have met personally with the Appeals Convenor to discuss at least 20 appeals.  These meetings have resulted in significant transfer of knowledge from the WSWA to the Appeals Convenor, some of which has reached the notice of the Minister for Environment.  For the first time to our knowledge and certainly in our experience, the Appeals Convenor has met appellants either at their remote location (eg Walpole) or on-site to discuss their appeal.  Further, for the first time, the Appeals Convenor has met with the appellant and the applicant together on site to discus the appeal.

One of these occasions was a meeting between the WSWA, the Appeals Convenor and the proponent/applicant, the Shire of Gingin, who proposed to upgrade Orange Springs Road as part of the Agricultural Freight Network Strategy.  The WSWA made a submission and submitted an appeal on this project because it was proposing to clear areas of a TEC and containing Priority plants. However, after meeting the proponent and the Appeals Convenor on site, having detailed discussions with the proponent about their design, and inspecting the proposed clearing line, the WSWA withdrew its appeal.  Further, the WSWA and the Shire of Gingin jointly released a Media Release announcing this decision, and complimenting the Shire on its efforts to minimise environmental impacts.  In this example, the Shire of Gingin’s approach was to avoid or minimise the amount of clearing as much as possible, while providing the required safety, by widening the seal and sealing the shoulders, lowering the road profile, and dispensing with table drains.  This was a result of using engineering experience and judgement to achieve a win-win.  This outcome was not without issues, including pressure from Councillors and others to comply entirely with AustRoads guidelines in the interest of safety and liability, and the cost of the engineering design, but demonstrates that clearing can be avoided and minimised while still meeting purported safety requirements.

The Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer have met with a large number of senior Government and Agency personnel to discuss roadside vegetation issues.  In addition, the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer have prepared, or assisted the whole of the WSWA to prepare, submissions on a number of major government enquires and consultations.  This includes the following:

  • Clearing Permit fees
  • Compliance and enforcement policy
  • Native vegetation policy
  • Wheatbelt Strategic Freight Network
  • Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight Strategy
  • Road Safety Strategy

The Roadside Vegetation sub-committee has had very useful meetings with the Road Safety Commission in which, rather than fearing we would have to lobby very strongly and un-successfully for the retention of roadside trees, it felt like the Commissioner was singing from our song sheet.  In other words, the Road Safety Commission does not believe that trees along roadsides are the be-all and end-all of safety considerations along roads.  Rather, they believe that Main Roads WA (the only agency with whom they are involved) should be looking outside the box and considering other avenues to make roads safer e.g. road safety barriers, wider medians (without necessarily widening road pavements and clearing vegetation).  The Road Safety Commission also believes other agencies need to become involved to address the major developing reasons for increased road accidents – fatigue and distraction.  The Road Safety Commission also believe there are grounds for reducing, rather than increasing, speed limits, particularly on non-major thoroughfares.  Indeed, at the meeting, they did express an interest in getting the Wildflower Society to help them lobby for reduced speed limits, though this has not progressed further since.  As a consequence of this, the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee was well-informed when preparing its submission on the WA Road Safety Strategy.

The most successful engagement was perhaps with the Minister for Tourism who requested WSWA prepare a Wildflower Friendliness Rating Scheme for country Local Government Authorities (LGAs).  In my opinion, this is the best initiative, and the most government support we have had, for roadside vegetation protection in the last 20 or more years.

Six entries from 101 LGAs were received in 2019, with 1 (Shire of Merredin), qualifying for a 3 star rating.  Although this was disappointing, it did flush out some entrenched views which confirmed long-held suspicions about the opposition to roadside vegetation protection in favour of road safety, which are likely to be useful in preparing strategies to addressing these attitudes.

The Minister and the Minister’s Office supported this Scheme very strongly, despite disparaging comments and criticisms from some LGAs, sending out a Media Release promoting the Scheme.  This Scheme was launched at the time of the ANPSA National Conference in Albany in September 2019, and as fortune would have it, a reporter in the audience heard about it and interviewed the Chair of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee twice to talk about different aspects of roadside vegetation clearing and protection.

CONCLUSION

The employment of the paid Roadside Vegetation Project Officers has made a tremendous contribution to the outputs and success of the efforts of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee.  Without their contribution, the number of submissions and appeals on Clearing Permit applications, on proposals to upgrade roads and on government position papers, as well as meetings with proponents and government agencies, would have been much fewer and of a lower standard with a reduced diversity of issues and recommendations raised with respect to preserving roadside native vegetation.

In summary, the activities of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee and the Roadside Vegetation Project Officer do not appear to have stopped many projects that have reached the stage of becoming public, and in most cases do not appear to have substantially reduced the amount of clearing that might otherwise have occurred.  However, it is impossible to be aware of those proposals that might not have proceeded because of the advocacy of the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee.

Overall, it does appear that the Roadside Vegetation sub-committee has been successful in reducing native vegetation clearing in at least some cases, and has changed the attitudes and approaches of some government agencies and proponents with respect to valuing and conserving native vegetation.  This would not have been possible without the hard work and efforts of the Roadside Vegetation Project Officers.

JE Wajon

Chair, Roadside Vegetation sub-committee

23 March 2020

Roadside Vegetation Committee site meeting at Orange Springs Road. Credit: E.Wajon

Happy New Year !

It’s a new year and a new decade, and the Wildflower Society office at Perry House is now open after the holiday break.  Our library is also open.  Our hours are:  Tues & Thurs – 10 -2.30pm (Office and Library);  first Saturday of the month 1-3pm.  More information on the WSWA Perry House Office and the Honor Venning Library

Photo:  Christmas 2018 at Perry House

Mary Bremner Bequest Grant Program – NOW OPEN

Do you have a project idea to Know, Grow, Enjoy or Conserve WA wildflowers?

Funding is available to volunteer community groups, Society sub-committees and Branches across WA.

The two types of grants available are:

Small grants: up to $2,000

Large grants: from $2,001 to max $20,000

For grant guidelines and application form, see www.wildflowersocietywa.org.au/about-us/mary-bremner-bequest-grant-program/

Any enquiries?

Call head office (08) 9383 7979 on Tuesdays or Thursdays

Email:  enquiry@wildflowersocietywa.org.au

Applications close 4.30pm 1st October 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Hello from Murdoch Branch Committee

2024 Committee

2024 Branch Committee L-R Christine Athanassiou, Diana Corbyn (Vice President), Lesleigh Curnow (Book sales), Felicity Bairstow, Christine Polmear (President), Kim Dravnieks (Secretary), Danielle Mathews, Mat Woods, Angela Hine and Michael Davies (inset – Treasurer)

President – Christine Polmear moved to WA 20 years ago and currently works in administration at Notre Dame University. Her interest in our beautiful native plants grew through exploring Western Australia and falling in love with our wildflowers.

Vice President – Diana Corbyn has been with the Murdoch Branch since year dot. Her interests are botany, ecology and bushland restoration. She currently represents the WSWA on the Rehabilitating Roe 8 Advisory Committee. Most of the committee were taught by Diana at some stage.

Secretary – Kim Dravnieks has been a branch member since returning from Europe over 30 years ago. With a background in IT, horticulture and community campaigning she has a passion for protecting our natural environment.

Treasurer – Michael Davies has a keen interest in native plants and works in a local government bushcare team.

Committee Members:

Media Coordinator: Danielle Matthews has taken on the role with our social media and newsletter production and introduced live streaming our guest speakers each month.

Felicity Bairstow is a key member of many environmental organisations and committees, including the Wetlands Conservation Society and SERCUL. Felicity played a pivotal role in the Save Beeliar Wetlands campaign over many years and continues to work towards their protection. Felicity is a past Treasurer of our branch.

Mathew Woods works as a senior Conservation officer at the company Landcare Weed control. Outside of Mat’s work, he has various hobbies like playing video games and gardening. Mat also really likes plants and is a past President of our branch.

Angela Hine – Angela has a background in teaching Conservation and Ecosystem Management, guiding walkers along the Bibbulmun Track, conducting remote terrestrial fauna surveys and bushland restoration.
She enjoys bushwalking and introducing others to the delights of our amazing native plants and has been a Murdoch Branch member since 2010.

Guest Speaker Coordinator: Christine Athanassiou – Christine is an Environmental Officer with a passion for conserving our natural ecosystems from microscopic fungi and native bees all the way to large Eucalyptus trees and native fauna. She enjoys learning about plants, their ecological function, and connections. Sharing this knowledge with others and adding value to our bushland.

We are a friendly bunch, always keen to see new people at our monthly talks and hear about new activities we could run at the Branch. Please tell us of any specialist subject or guest speaker you would like to hear from: murdoch.secretary@wildflowersocietywa.org.au

Newsletters from ANPSA – Members Only

We regularly receive hard copies of newsletters from related ANPSA organisations in other parts of Australia, which are distributed to each branch for members to read.  We are now receiving digital copies of some of these newsletters which may be downloaded – MEMBERS ONLY.  Only the current copy will be available for download due to size restrictions.  On our website now – Members Only – are newsletters from Canberra – Dec 2018 as well as Tasmania – Dec 2018.  Go to the newsletters page here.

 

We’re on Gardening Australia

Josh Byrne visits the Helen and Aurora Range with WA Wildflower Society member Brian Moyle, who has spent many years working to protect this rare banded-ironstone landscape and its Gimlet gum (Eucalyptus salubris) woodland.  It is currently within a conservation park, but the Society is hoping to have it changed to a National Park due to its National Heritage values.  The view from the summit is breathtaking.

The hard, hot rock formations result in temperature extremes, ranging from 50 degrees to freezing.  The area has produced many species that occur nowhere else in the world, such as the Bungalbin tetratheca (Tetratheca aphylla), which produces masses of purple flowers in spring and grows in tiny cracks in the rock.  We also see the ironstone beard-heath (Leucopogon spectabilis), which has white flowers and seemingly grows straight out of the rock!

Link to video here:  http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/remote-ranges/10343146

Mary Bremner Bequest Grant Program – 2017 round

Large Grants

There were six applications which well exceeded the available funds of $36,000. Three applications were successful, and each received only part of the amount requested.

1. Wildflower Society of WA – Roadside Vegetation Sub-committee

Project title: Strategic Response to Clearing Applications

$12,000.

 

2. WSWA – Educational Sub-committee

Project title: Wildflowers Educational Outreach for Young People

$20,000

 

3. WSWA – Plant Survey Programme

Project title: Plant Survey Data to NatureMap

$4,000

 

Small Grants

There were four applications, again exceeding the available funds.

1. Wildflower Society of WA – Armadale Branch

Project title: Botanical Art Exhibition

To promote the WA native flora by exhibiting and selling artworks depicting WA wildflowers. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the WSWA State Conference and to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Society.

$2,000

2. Wildflower Society of WA – Eastern Hills Branch

Project title: Blue Sky Festival.

Branch stall at the festival with displays, activities and plant sales.

$500

 

3. Chittering Landcare Group

Project title: Enhancing the Wildflower experience in Chittering.

Project title: To prepare and print a Self-guided tour of Blackboy Ridge Reserve in the Chittering Valley and the making of, or purchase of, a perspex box to store them in at the site. (Project part funded).

$500