Please see below our current press release.
YARRA RANGES CONSERVATION ALLIANCE PRESS RELEASE 29/3/2018
As discussed at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting Tuesday 27 March, councillors stated their acceptance of the Final Concept for Haining Farm, as determined by Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
A motion was passed to request that the minister appoint a Don Valley representative on the Haining Farm Implementation Committee. Our attempt to have a YRCA member also appointed was not successful, but we thank the councillors for being given the unexpected opportunity to speak about the motion.
The decisions made about Haining Farm are important beyond the interest of people living in the immediate vicinity of the farm. There are issues of importance to the whole of the Yarra Valley and to the people of Melbourne and Victoria.
The remnant populations of the Helmeted Honeyeater and the Lowland form of Leadbeater’s Possum, found only at Yellingbo (genetically distinct from the form occurring in ash forests and snow gum woodlands), are both threatened with extinction.
This imposes an obligation, not only on the people of Victoria but on the people of the Valley, to protect and expand these remnant populations. The Helmeted Honeyeater population is growing slowly with the aid of a captive-breeding program and habitat restoration, but the population of the Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum is in decline. Whilst they remain confined to a small area of suitable habitat at Yellingbo, both remain at risk of extinction.
Additional populations must be established in suitable swampy riparian habitat, some of which is still present in the Yellingbo Conservation Area, including Haining Farm. We believe this change of use is consistent with the intent of the John T Reid Trust.
The online poll, conducted through the Engage Victoria website was clear and decisive about what the people of Victoria wanted for Haining Farm, which will assist with the recovery of the Helmeted Honeyeater and the Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum.
Whilst we recognise that some residents of the Don Valley, who live in close proximity to Haining Farm, have legitimate concerns about changes to their riparian crown land leases and the perceived increase in bushfire risk from revegetation of the farm, these concerns should not be allowed to over-ride the interests of the wider Victorian community. We accept the findings of the Haining Farm Bushfire Report.
This is an issue for the state, and has also national and international significance. We can’t let significant populations of our state emblems go extinct for want of revegetation on a small parcel of public land, which experts say has no significant measurable increase in fire risk.
Regards,
Karen Garth
Convener, Yarra Ranges Conservation Alliance
The Yarra Ranges Conservation Alliance is comprised of the following organisations:
Friends of Hoddles Creek, Friends of Leadbeater's Possum, Friends of Sassafrass Creek,
Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, Friends of The Warramate, Johns Hill Landcare,
Monbulk Landcare, Montrose Upper Landcare, Mt Toolebewong & District Landcare, Upper Yarra Landcare, Community Weeds Alliance of the Dandenongs, Environment Victoria, Healesville Environment Watch Inc, Southern Ranges Environment Alliance, Victorian National Parks Association, Warburton Environment, YarraRiverkeeper
YARRA RANGES CONSERVATION ALLIANCE PRESS RELEASE 29/3/2018
As discussed at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting Tuesday 27 March, councillors stated their acceptance of the Final Concept for Haining Farm, as determined by Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
A motion was passed to request that the minister appoint a Don Valley representative on the Haining Farm Implementation Committee. Our attempt to have a YRCA member also appointed was not successful, but we thank the councillors for being given the unexpected opportunity to speak about the motion.
The decisions made about Haining Farm are important beyond the interest of people living in the immediate vicinity of the farm. There are issues of importance to the whole of the Yarra Valley and to the people of Melbourne and Victoria.
The remnant populations of the Helmeted Honeyeater and the Lowland form of Leadbeater’s Possum, found only at Yellingbo (genetically distinct from the form occurring in ash forests and snow gum woodlands), are both threatened with extinction.
This imposes an obligation, not only on the people of Victoria but on the people of the Valley, to protect and expand these remnant populations. The Helmeted Honeyeater population is growing slowly with the aid of a captive-breeding program and habitat restoration, but the population of the Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum is in decline. Whilst they remain confined to a small area of suitable habitat at Yellingbo, both remain at risk of extinction.
Additional populations must be established in suitable swampy riparian habitat, some of which is still present in the Yellingbo Conservation Area, including Haining Farm. We believe this change of use is consistent with the intent of the John T Reid Trust.
The online poll, conducted through the Engage Victoria website was clear and decisive about what the people of Victoria wanted for Haining Farm, which will assist with the recovery of the Helmeted Honeyeater and the Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum.
Whilst we recognise that some residents of the Don Valley, who live in close proximity to Haining Farm, have legitimate concerns about changes to their riparian crown land leases and the perceived increase in bushfire risk from revegetation of the farm, these concerns should not be allowed to over-ride the interests of the wider Victorian community. We accept the findings of the Haining Farm Bushfire Report.
This is an issue for the state, and has also national and international significance. We can’t let significant populations of our state emblems go extinct for want of revegetation on a small parcel of public land, which experts say has no significant measurable increase in fire risk.
Regards,
Karen Garth
Convener, Yarra Ranges Conservation Alliance
The Yarra Ranges Conservation Alliance is comprised of the following organisations:
Friends of Hoddles Creek, Friends of Leadbeater's Possum, Friends of Sassafrass Creek,
Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, Friends of The Warramate, Johns Hill Landcare,
Monbulk Landcare, Montrose Upper Landcare, Mt Toolebewong & District Landcare, Upper Yarra Landcare, Community Weeds Alliance of the Dandenongs, Environment Victoria, Healesville Environment Watch Inc, Southern Ranges Environment Alliance, Victorian National Parks Association, Warburton Environment, YarraRiverkeeper