Restore Habitat

Habitat Restoration.

(Update 16/11/2019)

Lismore Primary School planting in 2012.

"Aim to restore the original trees and grasses. Encourage the wildlife."

It is uncertain which species were present on Mount Elephant at different times.

From historical texts and old photographs, banksias and sheoaks are definite. Tree violet remains today and bursaria and blackwoods are in very close proximity.

We have no evidence that eucalypts were present and if so which species.

The main grasses seem to be Danthonia, Poa, Stipa. There is no evidence of Themeda on the mount, but it is on the surrounding plains.

By 2015 wallabies, grey kangaroos and many species of birds have returned. There are many insects, striped skink, and 1 sighting of a snake.

eBird counts are ahttps://ebird.org/hotspot/L2548669

Objectives:

Aim to restore the original trees and grasses. Encourage the wildlife.

Involve the community in project planning and application so they have ownership of the outcome.

Actions:

Regularly inform the local and wider community on progress to date, and consult on future plans.

Monitor and record the success of earlier plantings to refine the species and techniques of future plantings.

Study the species and techniques that work in other similar environments.

Ensure there is adequate training and supervision of volunteer work crews so the job is well done.

Provide drinking water points positioned for larger animals and birds, but not for rabbits.

Avoid attracting bees to peopled areas.

Provide nesting boxes where appropriate.

Additional Notes: (These may no longer be applicable)

Since 2000 we have planted 15 ha of trees and shrubs and grasses, and protected the remaining tree violets. We have identified and mapped the main areas of remnant grasses.

See appendix 1 for a map of the vegetation works currently undertaken

Running postman (Konnedia prostrata) on rocky northwest slopes.

Future Actions:

• Plant the species where they are most suited. The conditions range from rocky exposed upper northern slopes, to friable black clay loams of the lower southern slopes.
• Encourage the return of native fauna through re-creation of habitat and co ordination with regional landscape conservation programs.
• Only approve works that preserve the mountain’s distinctive and characteristic shape.
• Continue to revegetate Mount Elephant to reflect the pre-pastoral settlement vegetation through a staged planting program. Concentrate on the western and northern slopes between the access track and the quarry.
• Implement a program to eradicate and/ exclude rabbits and invasive weeds from proposed restoration areas as they are identified in annual works programs and on the Mount generally.
• Exclude stock grazing from restoration areas. Continue stock grazing as deemed appropriate in other areas consistent with maintaining vegetation cover, reducing the incidence of annuals and managing the fire risk.
• Monitor restoration success through measuring plant survival, weed cover, growth rates and percentage of plants that set seed. Replant areas with low survival rates as soon as practical. Concentrate on areas with best chance of success.
• Use relatively dense planting of fast growing indigenous species to screen and stabilise quarry areas consistent with the objectives for geological interpretation.
• In association with neighbouring Landcare and other interest groups, develop vegetation corridors and habitat nodes that will link Mount Elephant to other local and regional habitat areas.
• Encourage and assist the local Landcare groups and local schools to collect seed and propagate plants for the revegetation of the Mount.
• Consult with DELWP, TfN and CMA Flora and Fauna Staff to identify potential targets for flora species recovery programs that may include Mount Elephant in the future.