A native grasslands workshop was run by the Lismore Land Protection Group on October 27th to showcase the Victorian Volcanic Plains and grassland species which are local to the area. In the past Victoria had a heavy coverage of grassy vegetation communities, however today only 1% of these grasslands still persist. These remnants are important habitat for many threatened animal and plant species, and the native grasslands workshop aimed to provide information on plant identification and grasslands management.
Lismore and surrounding areas are a part of the Victorian Volcanic Plains, which stretch from Western Melbourne to Portland. These plains have been formed by numerous volcanic eruptions in the past, where the flowing lava has created the basis of the fertile basalt soils found on the plains today.
Special guest speakers included Cathy Powers (President of Australian Plant Society Victoria) presenting a talk about native grassland species found in the Lismore area, Chelsey Langley (Implementation Manager, Plains Tender from Corangamite Catchment Management Authority) speaking about grassland management and the Plains Tender and Jessie McMaster (Threatened Species Officer, DSE) providing a brief outline of information and habitat requirements of the Corangamite water skink.
Field trips were made to both Chatsworth Road and the Railway Reserve in Vite Vite, where the sunny day provided a fantastic opportunity to find threatened grassland species such as leek and sun orchids, rice flowers, goodenias, everlastings and clover glycine.
A visit was then made to Max Kerrs property in Wallinduc to see the fantastic and productive management practices he has been implementing to the grasslands on his rural property. Many different species of grassland plants were found on his property, which he manages through the Plains Tender.
A big thank you to all the guest speakers, as well as the Lismore Golf House for providing a venue and lunch for everyone, to Ballarat Wild Plants for supplying plants for the displays and to all the guests who came and made the day a success!
If you would like any more information about our Victorian Volcanic Grasslands, please contact our Landcare office on 03 55962384 or llpg@westnet.com.au or DSE on 136 186, or if you would like to find out more about how the Plains Tender might work for you, please contact the Corangamite CMA on 03 5232 9100. If you would like to learn more about the Corangamite water skink and the skink recovery program, please contact Garry Peterson on gary.peterson@dse.vic.gov.au . To learn more about native orchid species, please contact Lismore Landcare Office on the above number, or visit Cathys webpage: www.banjorah.com