Aim for this Working Bee:
Birdlife Australia gained a federal government grant to help control spurge at various points on Bass Coast, but particularly between Harmers Haven and Inverloch which also includes the areas that CPRRA had removed spurge. They were fortunate in getting a Parks Vic approval just before their programme for August and September this year. The purpose of this grant was to provide better habitat particularly for hooded plovers who rely on spinifex grass beach habitat to survive. In this they have also had support from the South Gippsland Conservation Society, Bass Coast Shire, Landcare and the Cape Paterson residents.
Report by
Pete Muskens
Contractors have carried out spraying of spurge at the worst infested spots west of harmers Haven, Inverloch and the bays along the Cape Paterson Inverloch Road. Follow up weeding has been done by the various groups involved. As expected, around Cape Paterson, we were mostly involved in removing and bagging immature seedlings from seed load from the foreshore. On the last day, we weeded a badly infested dune slope (see photos) well inland from Hooded Plover habitat but figured that this would remain a source of wind blown seed load for the main Hooded Plover nesting site in the big blow out west of the cape so this was tackled with gusto. There was too much spoil to take out so we mounded the spoil and will return to remove seedlings as they emerge.
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