Latest media releases and upcoming events associated with the
GB CMA.
Please note: this is an archived news article release.
This article was originally published on 24 September, 2012. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.
Plant Plonk a success
Posted on 24 September, 2012
Fifty-five people attended the Whroo Goldfields Conservation Management Network (CMN) 'Plant Plonk' planting day held at Costerfield, which was initiated to help restore a degraded bush site. Three hundred and forty shrubs and grasses were planted, supplied by A&B Trees in Heathcote. Local mining company Mandalay Resources donated $500 towards the purchase of the plants, guards and stakes.
Attendees included local landholders, CMN committee members, students from Monash University who travelled up to Costerfield from Melbourne, Mandalay Resources staff, and even two visitors from New Zealand!
After a windy, unpleasant week experienced across Victoria, the sunny, calm weather provided the perfect conditions to plant in. The ground had been prepared, as well as having gypsum and fertilizer applied. The plants were guarded with corflute guards and heavy hardwood stakes, so they have had the best start possible.
Local resident and CMN committee member and nest box monitor, Mr Orlando Talamo, gave a talk and demonstration to the group about nest boxes, what species we are targeting, and how the monitoring takes place. Joel North, Kerstin Brauns, Shannon Green and Andrew Mattiske from Mandalay Resources spoke about the mining operations in the district and the history of the site.
Dean Bradley, formerly of Mandalay Resources and now of Monash University (who initiated the idea of restoring the bush block) advertised the day at the University, and as a result 11 students made the trip up from Melbourne to attend.
By around 11 am, all 350 plants were in the ground, and a BBQ catered by the Costerfield Hall Committee was enjoyed by all.
According to feedback provided on the day, expectations of the day were met, people would attend similar events, and word of mouth and flyer were the main ways people heard of the event. Most of those who attended had not attended a CMN event before, which is interesting to note.
A big thank you to the Costerfield Hall Committee, Mandalay Resources staff members, Dean Bradley, Orlando Talamo and Bill Featherstone from A&B Trees for all their help and advice.
For more information on the Whroo Goldfields Conservation Management Network, and upcoming events, contact Janice Mentiplay-Smith on 5761 1644, janicem@gbcma.vic.gov.au or visit whroogoldfieldscmn.com
Orlando Talamo giving a nest box monitoring demonstration
