   Parks and Reserves “We struggle to retain for the public all land which rightfully belongs to the public, be it beach, bush or other open space. We do what we can, through physical labour, by research and by preparing written material, to protect what remains of our natural areas.” Anne Read 1987
Many thousands of trees, shrubs and grasses planted in our parks and reserves come from local seeds and cuttings grown by MEAFEC members. Most of the natural bush areas of Mount Eliza that make it so special in urban terms, are lasting testimony to the quiet work of Anne Read and Grace Fraser – both ex Presidents and Life members of the Association. Although they won’t admit it, they were the backbone of MEAFEC during the 70s, 80s and 90s. There were other hard workers like Walter Bos, Kevin McGrath and Diane Fuller and in recent years Jill Anderson and Gerand McDonald.
Together with many other MEAFEC members they were the fighters. To protect the Mount Eliza bushland, they have taken up arms against councils and planners. But they agree they first always try to work through government rather than against. MEAFEC has had some victories – the new regional park which takes in the old rubbish tips of Mornington and Frankston, as well as the Moorooduc Quarry Flora & Fauna Reserve, the many small reserves throughout the area, plantings along the beach cliffs and the revegetation of Earimil Beach area. Remnant Protection Plans During the past year the Shire has engaged the services of contract consultants to prepare remnant protection plans for each of the bushland reserves. To date plans have been produced for – The Moorooduc Quarry Flora & Fauna
Reserve
The Remnant Protection Plans are invaluable to MEAFEC and the Friends’ Groups as they provide a calender of works to determine actions that need to occur at various times of the year, maps & works to decide where to work on a particular day and management and vegetation quality maps to see what is where in the reserve. They also indicate work to be undertaken by shire contractors and activities that volunteers could engage in. Priorities are clearly identified: for example
Normally work in a reserve should involve identifying the patches of good indigenous ground flora, carefully controlling any woody weeds or exotic vines from within them, and then controlling exotic species in the areas surrounding these patches. This manner of working greatly increases the 'sustainability' of the weed control work meaning that the available resources (staff time, money) are utilised in the most effective manner possible. The work is usually staged over a number of seasons. A dramatic reduction of all the woody weeds across an area in one season will not assist the indigenous plants to recolonise in a the reserve. The disturbance involved will simply assist the exotics to move in (e. g. currently there are few exotic grasses under the canopy but many around the edge of the reserve). Any removal of woody weeds requires planned, conscientious follow up to remove climbing, creeping and scrambling weeds. "Drill and Fill" or "Frill and Fill" are recommended rather than "Cut, Paint and Remove" for two reasons. One, they cause less disturbance and less chance for erosive processes to occur. Two, removing the exotic woody weeds will cause a dramatic impact on the mid-storey reducing habitat for woodland birds and ringtail possums among others. Although success is not guaranteed, working carefully reduces the amount of resources required to obtain a good result and reduces waste of resources where exotic species simply grow back. This does not mean that a substantial and visible result cannot be achieved within each season of work; simply that workers need to "tune themselves in" to the state of the vegetation, how that varies across a reserve and to vary the work strategy accordingly. Bushland Reserves Mount Eliza contains over 10 Bushland Reserves and there are a number of creek lines that should also be claimed as Bushland Reserves. Mount Eliza’s Bushland Reserves are small and vulnerable. All Mount Eliza residents can play a key role in protecting them by:
If you want to actively get involved with the bush, joining or forming a Friends Group is a fantastic way! There are currently six Friends Groups helping look after some of Mount Eliza’s Bushland Reserves. New ‘bush carers’ are always sought after – you don’t need specific knowledge of bushland, just enthusiasm and love for the environment. Help save a patch of bush for native animals and future generations to enjoy! April 1976 Local residents in the Fulton / Walkers Roads area appealed to MEAFEC for assistance to oppose the Fulton Road Reserve being destroyed to make way for ovals and playing fields. December 1979 MEAFEC notifies Frankston Council that fencing around the Moorooduc Quarry Reserve was not strong enough to keep people out – it was also noted that the Army had made use of the Reserve without knowledge that it was a nature reserve. June 1980 Fulton Road Reserve now being referred to as the Lorikeet Nature Park. MEAFEC offers assistance to City of Frankston with planting of indigenous species. MEAFEC thanks Council for their plans of managing the Park. $ 8,000 referred to the 80/81 estimates – for development plan implementation. September 1980 Numerous working bees held at Moorooduc Quarry Reserve – large pine trees felled, European Heath, Boneseed, blackberries and household gargage removed. City of Frankston makes application to include Moorooduc Quarry Reserve in the Register of National Estate (on MEAFEC suggestion). August 1981 Kevin McGrath & his small group plant along the Kunyung Cliff with trees supplied by the Port Phillip Authority Nursery. Shire of Mornington most co-operative (David Gray, Superintendent of Parks & Gardens). Friends of Lorikeet Reserve formed by Frankston Council and that MEAFEC be represented on it. April 1982 Moorooduc Quarry Reserve Steering Committee (including 4 MEAFEC members) has their recommendations adopted by City of Frankston – future fencing, appropriate signs, access points and funding.
March 1988 The Reserves Group increased its activities,
with Anne Read concentrating her team on the eradication of sallow wattle
and pittosporum at the Moorooduc Quarry Reserves, and Grace Fraser leading
weeding and planting days along the clifftop at Williams Road.
February 1993 A second planting carried out at the Two Bays Road Picnic Ground – Stage 2 site. A track winding uphill in easy loops at the Moorooduc Quarry Reserve completed –this links the main track from the Station Street entry with the one from the top of Canadian Bay Road. Mount Eliza foreshore gained a $50,000 grant from the Open Space 2000 program which would be matched by Frankston Council – for erosion control, revegation, realignment of trackes and pedestrian access, and employment of a consultant to develop a master plan for the foreshore. October 1995 Springtime walks are being enjoyed by many people at the Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve. The birds are busy – there are lots of orchids, our Acacia plantings on the eroded slopes at the entrance to the Quarry have been a mass of colour. |
