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NEWSLETTER NO 13 AUGUST 2011

From the President

I would like to thank all council members for their important contributions. The energy of the enthusiastic Biolink Team especially needs commendation and support. The connection made with Anthony Hooper of the Natural Resource Conservation League and the Cardinia Environment Coalition’s Biolink Strategy appears to be very beneficial, together with the connection with Daniel Brindley of the Habitat Restoration Fund.

To achieve the highly commendable aims of the Devilbend Foundation Biolink Project will need all of this enthusiasm to continue into the distant future and will require support from all levels of government. At times the priorities of these governments and their agencies are at odds with these conservation aims. The “silo” mentality and structure of many agencies in the past has worked against getting good conservation outcomes. The lack of funding results in government inaction especially when opposing votes and opposing influential lobby groups smother the vision of communities.

We can see the effect of the influence of the fishing lobby at Devilbend and the Mountain Cattlemen in the Alpine National Parks where the research by competent scientists is ignored and enormous efforts of many hardworking volunteers is thwarted.

If we are to preserve biodiversity by establishing a high quality core habitat at Devilbend followed by significant corridors of indigenous vegetation on private as well as public lands, we need to build stronger partnerships with Landcare groups, the Mornington Peninsula Shire, and Parks Victoria. We also need a government which is not aiming to destroy the Green Wedges. Lady Hamer recently reminded us in her very significant letter to The Age that the Green Wedges were established by her late husband, former Premier Sir Rupert Hamer, for the benefit of all future generations, and it is the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge we are trying to save and resurrect through the potential magic of Devilbend.

Parks Victoria released the draft “Master Plan” for Devilbend Reserve for public comment earlier this month (see the article on this elsewhere in the newsletter). This is not a replacement for the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve Management Plan, but a set of detailed designs for initial visitor facilities, including walking tracks, a perimeter equestrian trail, fishing platforms,

Contents President’s Report 1 Foundation News 2 Friends of Daangean Update 3 Devilbend Infrastructure Planning 4 Bat Roost Program 5 Biolink Project 5 Bird Monitoring 6 Parks Vic News 6 Opinion Corner 9

Devilbend Foundation Inc: PO Box 453, Mornington 3931 Phone 03 5977 0131 Email President Roger Richards: ornithology3@yahoo.com.au

2010-11 DFI Council: Roger Richards President; Jamie Edgerton Vice President, Co-ordinator FOD; Graeme Thompson Treasurer; Liz Barraclough Minutes Secretary; and Council members: Steven Compton, Kris Aitcheson, Brian Cuming, Quinn McCormack, Patrick-Jean Guay Acting Secretary, Adrienne Smith, Kevin Street, Maryland Wilson, Neil Biggins, Marnie Fitzsimons & Phil Palmer. The following member groups are now represented on Council: Aust. Wildlife Protection Council, B.E.R.G, Birds Australia, WPPC., Rosebud Foreshore, Tyabb Ratepayers, Peninsula Ratepayers, Thin Green Line, Peninsula Field Naturalists, Trust for Nature, National Trust Australia, Vic (Mornington Peninsula branch), Bunurong Land Council and Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association. To join the “Friends of Daangean”, contact Jamie Edgerton at jedgerton2003@yahoo.com SPIFFA meets at the Parks Vic office, Hinton St Rosebud, on the first Monday of the month with a speaker, and oft times plant identification.

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and picnic grounds. The Plan is available for public viewing and comment until 9th September. Parks Victoria has consulted with local groups (including our Friends of Daangean and the Devilbend Landcare Group) in drafting the detailed plans, and has been responsive to comments received.

One can only hope that the conservation outcomes of the proposed visitor facilities are positive. Our Foundation is in active dialogue with Parks Victoria on developing strategies for monitoring the natural values of the reserve.

Visitors are likely to be allowed to use the reserve sometime next year. The continued vigilance and dedication of our member groups is important to help the relevant agencies monitor the ecological impact of visitors, and to ensure the ‘adaptive management’ of the reserve to protect these natural values.

I wish all groups and the supporting community the best of luck for a great conservation outcome for the future. Roger Richards President Devilbend Foundation Inc. August 2011

EDITORS NOTE Saturday August 20th saw the Biolinks Team out and about with Mal Legg who took us to potential and existing corridor sites on the Western Port side of the peninsula. Buckley Nature Conservation Reserve in Balnarring is an example of what can be done. This photo depicts the remains of roadside vegetation clearing in Bungower Rd Somerville; one section of corridor decimated. Marnie Fitzsimons

SOUTHERN PENINSULA INDIGENOUS FLORA & FAUNA ASSOCIATION

The Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora & Fauna Association was convened in 1990 and incorporated in 1991 to act as an advocate for the Mornington Peninsula’s remaining natural habitat and to organise a volunteer base for various bushland restoration projects Since that time, with the proliferation of friends, landcare and other community groups, SPIFFA has changed its focus and activities and now concentrates on the following areas:

A peak body for Peninsula volunteer environmental groups with around 140 individuals, families and organizational memberships, with a much larger group subscribing to email newsletters and educational and resource mail-outs

A natural systems restoration education provider An advocate and broker for local environmentally focused groups negotiating issues with local and

state government An auspice organisation, sponsoring grant applications from unincorporated bodies Monitoring planning applications, management plan drafts and legislation and making submissions

where warranted A community resource centre for natural systems information and networks An educational equipment lending library An increasingly content-rich website at www.spiffa.org with educational and practical resource

material for downloading and environmental links (the website now attracting over 150 individual visitors per day)

A regular hard copy and electronic newsletter with a strong educational and community activity focus Public monthly meetings at Parks Victoria Rosebud with an expert guest speaker

We consider that the education provider role is the most valuable and the most productive, in terms of our original aims. The preservation and restoration of our remaining ecosystems can only be carried out by large

FOUNDATION NEWS

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numbers of trained community members. Governments have not and do not allot sufficient resources to address the enormous task before us of healing and reconnecting these fragmented ecosystems. Philip Jensen SPIFFA Secretary

HYBRIDISATION BETWEEN PACIFIC BLACK DUCKS & MALLARDS IN AUSTRALIA

Over the last three hundred years numerous species of birds throughout the world have been introduced into new habitat either deliberately or by mistake. These introductions have had terrible consequences in many cases. Waterfowl (ducks, swans and geese), because of their use in recreational hunting, have been a prime target for introductions. For example, wild and domestic Mallards have been introduced in many areas including Australia and New Zealand. In many cases, self- or human-assisted introductions of Mallards have resulted in inter-breeding with local dabbling duck species leading to hybrids. In fact, Mallards are known to hybridise with some 40 species in the wild. Unlike in other bird groups, waterfowl hybrids are often fertile and can breed with either of their parent’s species. In extreme cases, hybridisation can lead to introgression, which is the mixing of the gene pool of the two species that hybridise to such a degree that the individual gene pool of the two parents does not exist anymore, in other words, extinction of the original species. Hybridisation with Mallards has now been recognised as a threatening process for various species of ducks including the Hawaiian Duck and Meller’s Duck. Wild Mallards were introduced in New Zealand for recreational hunting and hybridise with Pacific Black Ducks. In Australia, Mallards were also introduced for recreational hunting from the 1860’s, but unlike New Zealand, they did not colonise the whole country and are restricted to areas around urban centres. Most of the Mallards in Australia today are of domestic origin. The feral domestic Mallards are thought to rely on urban habitat as they are not often observed away from settlements. However, recent anecdotal information from birdwatchers suggests hybrids are occurring more frequently in rural areas throughout Australia. Mallards and Pacific Black Ducks hybridise extensively and their offspring have been reported in various parts of the country. On the Mornington Peninsula, domestic Mallards have been observed on numerous urban ponds and a hybrid duck was recently observed in Civic Reserve in Mornington. Because it is closed to public access, no Mallards have been released and no hybrid has been observed on Devilbend Reservoir, but this may change when the reserve is opened to the public. Plumage, bill and feet characteristics of hybrids have been studied and various classification schemes relying on those characteristics have been established. Hybrids generally have very orange legs and a fuzzy black eye stripe. They also may have a yellowish (male) or orange beak (female) and a white stripe above the iridescent speculum on the wing. These hybrid classification schemes have been used to evaluate the extent of hybridisation in various populations. Hybridisation can also be monitored genetically. The extent of hybridisation between Mallards and Pacific Black Ducks in Australia is still poorly understood. Whilst it is often ignored or dismissed, a major threat to Pacific Black Duck exists. Mallards and their hybrids are known to have caused the extinction of Pacific Black Duck populations in New Zealand and they are increasingly being recorded in rural Australia. To assess the associated risks to Pacific Black Duck, the distribution and abundance of Mallards and the extent of hybridisation needs to be determined as a priority. Appropriate management techniques can then be employed to control Mallards and their hybrids both in urban and rural settings. Continued control efforts may also be necessary. Wild Mallards are known to travel from New Zealand to Australia. Further self-introduction of wild Mallards from New Zealand to Australia is thus an additional on-going threat to the Pacific Black Duck. All of these steps will be required if future generations are to enjoy this iconic duck. Patrick-Jean Guay School of Engineering and Science, and Institute for Sustainability and Innovation Victoria University

PARTICIPATORY INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FOR DEVILBEND NATURAL FEATURES RESERVE

On Thursday 21 July, Liz Barraclough, Jamie Edgerton, Roger Richards and I accepted an invitation from Parks Victoria to meet with Libby Jude (Chief Ranger for Mornington Peninsula), Georgina Kerr and Michelle Willis to review the infrastructure plans for Devilbend Natural Features Reserve prior to these plans being released to the public for comment.

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Libby displayed 2 large poster sized maps of Devilbend Reserve showing the proposed picnic ground and facilities, the proposed changed fencing lines, walking tracks and fishing platforms. Georgia explained that for traffic safety reasons there will be a new entrance to the Reserve. She discussed the design and placement of the barbeques and other facilities in the picnic area and the new fencing. The new entrance will be a little to the east of the existing entrance on Graydens Road and the circular road within the picnic area will be extended. A number of small barbeque rotundas will be constructed and there will be toilet facilities. Libby and Georgia explained the rationale for the proposed new paths and fishing platforms, which is based on a consensus reached at previous PV meetings with relevant community stakeholders. At these meetings it was agreed that it was desirable to protect the special features of the reserve, namely: Aboriginal cultural heritage the retention of unspoilt natural bushland and aquatic views and the rare and vulnerable waterbirds. There was consensus that the placement of any new infrastructure should respect these values. Decisions about the placement of paths and fishing platforms were made on the basis of this consensus. The proposed new paths, some of which are suitable for people with disabilities, will lead from the picnic area to the reservoir shoreline, to Daangean Point and to the two fishing platforms that will both be located in the narrow northerly part of the reservoir, north of Daangean Point. This will enable fishermen to access the deeper water near the dam wall where the fish are more likely to be found. There are no proposed paths in the areas where the Aboriginal sites have been located. There will be no fishing platform on the eastern side of Daangean Point. This will offer a level of protection for the water birds that prefer the deeper water. While people are fishing near the dam wall, the birds can move to the deeper water, south of Daangean Point where hopefully they will be less impacted upon by the presence of the public. In past years the Blue-billed Duck has been found in the deeper waters of Devilbend Reservoir. At times, especially during drought years, there have been up to 2,000 of these birds living on the reservoir. It is estimated that the total population of these birds Australia wide is about 16,000, so Devilbend Reservoir represents a significant refuge for more than 12% of the Australian population. These vulnerable birds are known to be extremely wary of humans, so if we want to protect and retain them at Devilbend, it is important that their habitat is protected. This means trying to provide an area of deep water with limited nearby human activity and access. Hopefully any new infrastructure at Devilbend will respect the community’s aspirations to protect and preserve the natural and Aboriginal values of the reserve so these values will be retained for generations to come. Adrienne Smith

FRIENDS OF DAANGEAN (DEVILBEND) UPDATE

Our Friends of Daangean (FOD) group has recently worked with Parks Victoria staff to develop a “Support Plan” for FOD activities in 2011/12. An application for a Healthy Parks Healthy People grant to fund the program has been submitted. The scope of works proposed is broader and more ambitious than in past years. It includes:

A proposed guided tour of Devilbend Reserve for the CEO of Conservation Volunteers Australia around spring time to explore future prospects for projects in Devilbend NFR.

Continued monthly working bees on the last Sunday of each month, mostly to conduct weed sweeps Another Christmas Tree hunt around Bittern Reservoir on 18th December Seed collection on 22nd January 2012 for Acacia spp., grasses etc for future revegetation areas and the

Seawinds seed bank. A Planting Day jointly with the Devilbend Landcare Group and Seawinds volunteers Tree planting areas maintenance on 17th June 2012, removing or reinstating tree guards Continued bird counts on every 2nd Tuesday of the month Water quality monitoring (monthly “Water Watch’) – proposed start-up in the spring.

Parks Ranger Sam Pollard took the lead in securing a Commonwealth Government “Caring for our Country Grant” to DFI of $8,100 for “The Devilbend Remnant Vegetation Restoration Project”. Most of this grant has already been used to engage a contractor to remove large woody weeds in three designated areas of remnant vegetation in the western portion of Devilbend Reserve. The balance is being used to support FOD’s

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complementary efforts in conducting weed sweeps to clean up the remaining smaller woody weeds in those areas.

We still to need to appoint a replacement Friends of Daangean Coordinator – if you are interested to be “trained on the job” for this significant role or wish to be placed on the distribution list for details of our monthly activities, please contact me on 5978 8021 or jedgertonoz@gmail.com Jamie Edgerton

BAT ROOST BOX PROGRAM

The Foundation had hoped to start a bat roost box program in the Devilbend Reserve. Unfortunately there are problems in observing Parks health and safety guidelines which require persons to be fitted with a safety harness when ascending more than 2 metres from the ground on a ladder. For obvious reasons this is not practical when fixing a bat box to a tree some 3 to 4 metres above ground. In addition when inspecting a top opening on a bat box you would need to be able to climb above the box. A roost and nest box program would be an exciting project for Devilbend not only for bats but also for hollow nesting birds and arboreal marsupials such as Sugar and Feather-tail gliders. It takes many generations for trees to develop hollows which provide nesting and roosting sites. A nest box program could partly address this problem especially in areas of new growth forest. Kevin Street

DEVILBEND FOUNDATION BIOLINK PROJECT

Mornington Peninsula Biolinks Update

The Mornington Peninsula is blessed with more vegetated roadsides and creek-lines than many parts of Victoria. Reserves and bushy private land add to the wonderful resource of vegetation corridors or “biolinks “that provide habitat and beauty to the region. However, many of these vegetation corridors are discontinuous, having been cut by land clearing on private properties and various other uses. The ongoing building of Peninsula Link has made an open-cut mine of many valued areas, greatly restricting the movement of wildlife which is vital to maintain genetic diversity.

The Devilbend Foundation’s “Biolink Team” has recently started with the following aim: To establish significant corridors of indigenous vegetation on public and private lands across the Mornington Peninsula to provide links with existing protected areas of native wildlife habitat in order to preserve biodiversity and native wildlife.

The team consists of a group of experienced and committed people, including representatives from many of Devilbend Foundation’s supporting groups. It functions as a committee of the Devilbend Foundation Council. Our first field excursion was to a property revegetated by the Habitat Restoration Fund (HRF). Danny Brindley addressed those who attended. He told the story of setting up the HRF as a deductible gift recipient some years ago. Its purposes are to reconnect fragmented habitats via the creation of vegetation corridors; encourage permanent legal protection for Australia’s habitats; and educate the community about how to retain and restore Australia’s natural environment, to ensure the survival of our native wildlife into the future. HRF has a great website at http://hrfund.org/Mission.aspx. Other moves to develop biolinks are happening to the north. The Natural Resources Conservation League (NRCL Victoria) has a long history, and is in the process of reinventing itself. It has recruited Dr Anthony Hooper as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the NRCL is in the early stages of developing a biolinks strategy incorporating land it owns in Cranbourne West. A range of agencies including local councils, DSE and the Royal Botanical Gardens at Cranbourne are working on this with NRCL. The plan is concentrating on the central Westernport catchment (see http://www.cecinc.net.au/biolinks-action-plan.html). Key features of the strategy include:

establishing an overall vision of protection and enhancement of biolinks setting up appropriate policy-level and operational structures, and giving priority to engaging community groups (such as landcare and friends groups).

The Southern Brown Bandicoot Regional Recovery Day passed a motion: “That the community attendees respectfully request The Minister for Planning and the Minister for the Environment for the State of Victoria to act immediately to protect areas for wildlife corridors inside and outside the Urban Growth boundary in line

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with ecological reports and studies for the southeast Growth Area and as advocated by the City of Casey; and the Minister for Planning instruct the Growth Area Authority to implement this decision immediately. Karri Giles

BIRD MONITORING IN THE RESERVE

Devilbend Bird Monitoring Report Liz Serrailhe and I continue to do the early morning count at the Hodgins Road end of the Reserve. In August, our unusual sighting was a pair of Great Egrets. Whether it is due to high fox numbers or to another cause, this species is now rarely seen at Devilbend. This month we also had the assistance of Paul Bertuch and 9 enthusiastic Chisholm TAFE Rosebud Campus students and lecturers to count the northern end and the main Reservoir. This is the 4th year of Chisholm’s involvement. The students are studying Data Collection and Management and will have 4 training sessions at the Reserve. They gain valuable monitoring experience using binoculars and spotting scope as well as learning to record and analyse data. The latest smart phone app has come to our assistance with sight and call recognition. It is the excellent Michael Morcombe eGuide to the Birds of Australia. It costs only about $25 to download. After 18 months of virtual absence from the Devilbend Reservoir, Hoary-headed Grebes have returned in reasonable numbers (40) together with 11 Great Crested Grebes. When not diving for prey they sunbake in unsheltered open waters such as Devilbend Reservoir. The heat absorbed in this way supplements metabolic heat and is important for these highly nomadic waterbirds. But now they will have to compete with the introduced trout as well as Redfin for their prey of zooplankton, various aquatic insects and small freshwater mussels. By comparison with the Hoary-headed Grebe, the Australasian Grebe prefers the smaller sheltered wetlands such as the converted farm dams at Woods Reserve and the small wetland dam north of Hodgins Road. You may recall this wetland was fenced from cattle a couple of years ago enabling the reeds to re-establish themselves. Now we consistently count Purple Swamphens there as well as dabbling ducks, such as Pacific Black Duck and Chestnut Teal. Of the stiff-tailed diving ducks, the Musk Duck is now into its breeding season. Just a few pairs of them were recorded in the deeper reservoirs. Again, no Blue-billed Ducks were recorded in August. Woods Reserve remains an integral part of our count. Jacqui and Rob Sheppard have coordinated this for 7 years with great participation by Dawn Neylan and David Thomas. Woods Reserve and the western strip of Devilbend Reserve are a haven for honeyeaters and the amazing Mistletoe Bird. The importance of Mistletoe as a haven for insects, spiders, small mammals and many birds has been little appreciated by most Australians. This bird single-handedly spreads mistletoe throughout mainland Australia. Once again, a special thanks to all those who have helped over the past 7 years. Roger Richards On behalf of the Devilbend and Woods Reserves Monitoring Team. August 2011

DEVILBEND RESERVE �– RANGER�’S UPDATE

Six heaps made up of pines and other exotic plants within the reserve were burnt as a part of the 2010-2011 Fire Operations Plan.

At the monthly May working bee with Friends of Daangean, Devilbend Landcare & Seawinds a fantastic job was done in planting approximately 500 mixed indigenous plants around the Devilbend picnic ground. Approximately 2000 more plants were planted in the following weeks by Parks staff and Greencorp.

Parks were successful in receiving a Melbourne Water Grant for $6000 in treating blackberries along the Devilbend Creek.

PARKS VIC NEWS

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The on-set of winter has slowed works in the field: tracks within the park have limited access to all vehicles due to the mud and the risk of spreading Phytophthora cinnamomi.

The second year of weed density monitoring and mapping for the Bushbroker Program has been completed. The results show a huge decrease in weed percentage, mainly of pines and blackberry infestations.

We were successful in receiving a DSE Good Neighbour Program Grant to treat Gorse along the reserve’s boundaries west of Derril Rd. This will help fund chemical follow-up treatment works following the mechanical removal of the mature infestation.

The first group of 10 Conservation Volunteer of Australia volunteers spent the day on 23rd August doing a weed sweep in the block bounded by Derril Rd. and Woodlands Rd. The group worked well to extend the area already swept recently by the Friends of Daangean (mostly removing Pittosporum seedlings that have regrown after earlier weeding).

Sam Pollard, Parks Victoria

Draft Master Plan for Devilbend Reserve now on Public Exhibition

Parks Victoria released its draft Master Plan for infrastructure development on Devilbend Reserve for public comment in early August. Key proposed visitor facilities include: new picnic infrastructure and facilities on Graydens Rd, a network of trails in and around Daangean Point; two fishing platforms on the north-western shore of Daangean Point; and a perimeter horse trail/fire break around the southern section of the reserve.

The Plan can be viewed at http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/3devilbend-mp.cfm, and at PV’s Rosebud Office – 44 Hinton St., between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Submissions should be directed to Michelle Willis, District Project Coordinator at devilbendmasterplan@parks.vic.gov.au, or at P.O. Box 400, Rosebud, Vic 3939.

With the assistance of Parks Vic staff, some extracts of key features of the plan are shown below.

Jamie Edgerton

1. Main Picnic Area on Graydens Rd.

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2. Daangean Point Trails (note the two fishing platforms north of the quarry)

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3. Horse Trail / Fuel Break

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in Opinion Corner do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or DFI

Biolinks �– Seeking Land Owner Support

The term Biolink will generate many responses from many people, primarily due to the varying levels of understanding both the requirement and objectives. The soon-to-be-released study of the status of the Mornington Peninsula’s Biolinks commissioned by the MPS authored by Mal Legg will greatly enhance community knowledge in this area if implemented successfully. Land owners on the Mornington Peninsula have over the years been introduced to this issue in many guises, all primarily with a similar aims to: -

- Assist in recognition of what the Land Owner currently has in the way of Flora and Fauna - Assist in maintaining the environmental assets - Assist in developing these assets

(Essentially the three R’s: - Retain/Restore/Revegetate) One such scheme was communicated by the MPS by way of the Land Protection Kit (Prepared by Kate Mackie), which was issued in 1997 as a community guide to Total Land Management. The publication was a concerted effort to gain Land Owner support for this very important issue, also supported financially with incentive schemes in the form of General Rate Subsidy under the heading of a Land Sustainability Rebate and based on the degree of demonstrated and sustained action toward creation of Biolinks. The effectiveness of such publications is ultimately measured by the take-up rate by the respective Land Owners and with ongoing support. Such schemes on face value are generally well received in principle, however the actual implementation is somewhat varied. Without pre-empting the Biolink Status Report, the degree of re-establishment of former Biolinks may be seen as more difficult to implement than perhaps anticipated, given initial figures in the vicinity of 100m wide vegetation bands required to provide effective corridors necessary for effective native fauna migration. Predominantly Mornington Peninsula rural holdings are relatively small in comparison to traditional working farms throughout the state. This results in a greater impact when allocating land for conservation or any form of vegetation protection. However, part of the education and consultation process I see is to encourage the benefits of providing acceptable degrees of such areas as part of general land management for ecological purposes. Depending on the respective MPS Planning Scheme Overlay, the Planning Schemes may require a permit for the removal of native vegetation if a land owner requires a portion of land for another purpose. Ref Overlay ES04 Schedule 4 section of the scheme as the Overlay that makes up a significant portion of the Mornington Peninsula rural areas. The impact of this will inevitably influence the level of commitment that any such land owner may be prepared to take in agreeing to create reserve or maintain vegetation as part of a Biolink. The Objective of the ES04 Scheme as follows: -

To protect and conserve the environmental systems, bio diversity, native vegetation, habitat areas, land and soil stability, drainage patterns, and stream quality of this area.

To promote the sustainable development of rural land and integrated land and catchment management, including the retention and enhancement of habitat corridors and wetlands.

To ensure that subdivision and development density is compatible with maintaining the long term natural, agricultural and landscape values of this area.

To promote siting and design of buildings and works that is responsive to the undulating rural landscape character and vista of this area, and that maintains the scenic value of roads and recreation routes

The issue becomes apparent when the Land Owner wishes to alter the vegetation as part of any particular development. This issue will be at the forefront prior to committing, and I believe will need addressing, as part of any information package/campaign.

OPINION CORNER

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The level of available information and its dissemination will directly impact the landowner’s motivation, which is generally driven by incentive. Incentive may be fostered in various ways, generally by financial reward (as previously implemented in the Land Sustainability Rebate), or simple “satisfaction” in the act of providing a Biolink on one’s property, directly assisting the preservation of the Mornington Peninsula’s fragile ecosystem. This incentive I see as the challenge that will require the ongoing commitment of both the Mornington Peninsula Shire and associated Interest groups. Phil Palmer

Don’t forget to use your Ritchie’s Card at Ritchie’s supermarkets, liquor stores and petrol stations – earn funds for Devilbend Foundation. Even if you haven’t have got a card, you can ask for one at the checkout, or merely give Devilbend Foundation’s name. Help us earn from your purchases!

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DONATION TO DEVILBEND FOUNDATION Inc.

WE ARE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ORGANISATION! HELP US TO RAISE FUNDS TO MAKE DEVILBEND A WORLD CLASS CONSERVATION RESERVE!

All donations over $2 can be claimed by donors as tax-deductible, so do help us raise funds and benefit yourself as this financial year comes to a close through our Devilbend Conservation Reserve Trust Fund as we are listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations under Section 6.1.1 sub-section 30-55 (1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

Yes I would like to donate $................ to the Devilbend Conservation Reserve Trust Fund

[ ] I attach a cheque, or postal order addressed to PO Box 453, Mornington 3931, or

[ ] I will use the Foundation’s Bendigo Bank, Mornington: BSB 633 000, ‘Devilbend Conservation Reserve Trust Fund Account’ number 130522204 & let you know that I donated to this account direct (Ring DFI Treasurer Graeme Thomson on 5978 8190).

Name………………………………………………………….Signed…………………………

Address………………………………………………………………………………..Date……

“STRATEGIC PLANNING APPROACH” BOOKLET

Please send me a copy of the Foundation’s 20-page coloured publication ‘Devilbend Reserve – A Strategic Planning Approach’. Post form to PO Box 453 Mornington 3931 (or request copies from Brian Cuming 5983 9649, email brian.cuming@westnet.com.au

Name…………………………………………………………..…..Phone……………………

Email……………………………………………………………….

Address…………………………………………………………………………………………

FRIENDS OF DAANGEAN VOLUNTEERS

I’m interested in being a Devilbend Foundation supporter as a volunteer in the Friends of Daangean. Please keep me in touch and note my name and contact details here.

Please contact Jamie Edgerton on 5978 8021 or Jedgerton2003@yahoo.com, or post this to PO Box 453 Mornington 3931.

Name………………………………………………………………… (Please print)

Phone……………………………………Mobile………………………

Email…………………………………………………………………………………………….

My special interest in Devilbend Reserve is……………………………………………………

Signed…………………………………………………..Date…………