Rabbits Baited in 2011

This year POMC came to the party and allocated funds to rabbit baiting at PWR. This was carried out in July, a year since the previous baiting funded by COPP. We'll see how long it is before signs of their presence reappear

Fencing Update

The fencing installed in 2010 is still standing but has had to be repaired a number of times over the summer. Usually a few strands have been worked loose and sagging occuring due to being climbed over, however it was cut right through (top to bottom) in a couple of places and I would guess it has been breached by the beaters who are annoyed at the area being restricted. Most of the sex activity is now concentrated at the western end of the reserve next to the Webb Dock Fence.

Rabbits Return

Around March this year I noticed the signs of rabbits back in PWR. I spoke to Jenny Bygraves, PR for POMC, and was informed that the Port was going ahead with a rabbit control programme in PWR and surrounding lands during May-June this year. Michelle Ritchie at COPP was informed of this and she says that Fulton Hogan in going to be the likely contractor.

Cynadon Couch Grass in Zoysia Bed

The beginning of 2010 saw the Friends group tackle the the Cynadon invasion of the Zoysia Bed. The removal of this highly invasive weed will be our primary focus I hope for the forseeable future as we work to flank and hold back further incursions of this weed which spreads by runners and seeds.

We had noticed the presence of Cynadon a few years back but did little about it. It wasn't until we had a workshop with Biosis research consultant Jeff Yugovic in Nov 2010 that we turned our focus to the weed invasion. One of his main points was that we need to assist the vegetation that is already in situ rather trying to plant new veg of the top of it and around it.

Weed Management Workshop

Anne organised a weed management workshop facilitated by Jeff Yugovic of Biosis. 12 people attended on this wet morning and we went through some weeds and their management.

It was a very informative session and may well shape how we approach our working bees. Will we get new weed management tools? eg a weed burner. And will we cut back on the annual planting so we can address the weeds in a more systematic manner? Jeff recommends facilitating natural regeneration over planting. Will discuss amongst ourselves and with COPP staff.

Working Bee Sunday Nov 7th

Today was Lily's 17th birthday. It's been a while since she joined us at PWR. We weeded on the dune and the weeds were prolific due to the amount of rain. Melbourne's rainfall stands at 680mm for the year, the first above average rainfall for over 10 years I'm guessing. In attendence were Malcolm & Ruth, Carol, Anne, Janet and Annette with Ben arriving a little later. I departed early to check in with the Melbourne chapter of the Surfrider Foundation who were conducting a litter pick up along the foreshore in front of Sandridge SLC. I had lent them some pick up sticks.

Second round of Fencing

This is the North-East corner of the second section of fencing. The notice board has been relocated as has the remnant vegetation sign from their original location about 75m to the west.



The second lot of fencing was installed in late October. It encompasses the grasses beds and forms the northern boundary of the new east-west alligned path which disects the reserve, see middle picture. In the foreground is the exposed plastic matting put down as a weed suppressor, propably in the 80's. It is impossible to remove and must hinder all plant growth.

The second picture above shows the northern side of this new fencing as it runs the length of the car park as far as the western grassed section.