The Wedderburn CMN At Work

A worker/volunteer planting trees at the Australian Bush Heritage Reserve in the Nardoo Hills. The plants are being guarded against attack by rabbits and/or kangaroos.

The eradication of wheel cactus is an ongoing battle which is being waged by the Wedderburn CMN in conjunction with Parks Victoria and Wychitella and District Landcare Group.

The Wedderburn CMN has undertaken a number of revegetation projects such as the one shown and there have been favourable reports of success such as below: Malleefowl sighting in Wedderburn CMN revegetation. “Recently I received a phone call from a resident in the Wychitella area informing me that they had apparently observed a malleefowl using vegetation planted by the Wedderburn CMN 4 years ago. The resident reported seeing the malleefowl in the early mornings on their driveway and then moving back into the vegetation during the day. Also using the same vegetation on this property are a breeding pair of goannas and a plethora of reptiles and bird species”.

The Wedderburn CMN has been involved with the monitoring of kangaroos in part of the Wychitella NCR and nearby private land for a number of years. The information thus gathered is informative in framing policy for the management of the animals. It has recently been agreed that the monitoring area be extended to the whole Wedderburn area.

The Wedderburn Conservation Management Network is working on a campaign to ensure the long-term survival of the Malleefowl at Wychitella. With the combined resources of the Wedderburn Conservation Management Network, Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Department of Primary Industries, and the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group we expect to commence a number of activities aimed at helping the Malleefowl and other flora and fauna species. Control of the red fox and other pest species is part of this plan. This statement was made in 2004/2005. The work started then is ongoing at present.