Spikey News July 2025 Issue Number 122

1. 1400 trees, shrubs and grasses planted over 2 days

FoCC volunteers planted 1400 trees on two sites over the past two weeks as part of the “Urban Ripple” Creekside restoration project.
The Urban Ripple revegetation project is funded from the Victoria Government’s, Green Link fund. A total grant of $701000 has been awarded to the Bunanyung Landscape Alliance, and in partnership with the Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group to revegetate waterways in Ballarat. As part of the project the FoCC will plant 6500 trees, shrubs and grasses on four sites in the Corridor.
Canadian Creek (Site1) July 13^th FoCC images.

Dozed Track (Site2), Woowookarung RP July 27^th. FoCC images.
Rotary support and sausage sizzle.
The Rotary Club of Ballarat South catered for the Canadian Creek planting and the Rotary Club of Alfredton catered for the Dozed Tk planting. The image above says it all. Many thanks to the wonderful Rotary volunteers who helped make the planting go exceptionally well.
A big thanks to the volunteers.
86 fantastic volunteers were at Canadian Creek and 66 more at Dozed Track. That is an amazing turnout. Thank you so much!

2. ore to come – August Plantings
   Lal Lal Drain (Site 3) Sunday August 3^rd 2025
   500 trees shrubs and grasses to be planted at Lal Lal Drain, Canadian on Sunday August 3^rd 10am to 12noon. The wonderful Rotary Club of Ballarat are providing support and the sausage sizzle. Signs from Lal Lal St and Elsworth St.  Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DDVMC

   

Canadian Creek (Site 4) – Sunday August 10^th 2025
750 trees shrubs and grasses to be planted at Canadian Creek, Mt Clear, 10am to 12noon, Sunday August 10^th 2025. The wonderful Rotary Club of Ballarat West are providing support and the sausage sizzle. Signs from Geelong Rd.
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DEFGQ

Lavery Avenue (Site 5) – Sunday August 17^th 2025
300 trees shrubs and grasses to be planted in Sailors Gully Reserve, Lavery Avenue Mount Clear on Sunday August 17^th 10am to 12noon. 

Lal Lal Drain  (Site 6) – Sunday August 24^th 2025
500 more trees shrubs and grasses to be planted at Lal Lal Drain, Canadian on Sunday August 24^th 10am to 12noon. The wonderful Rotary Club of Ballarat East are providing support and the sausage sizzle. 

Soapys Dam (Site 7) – Sunday August 31^st 2025
400 plants to be planted on the north side of the Soapys dam Beside Elsworth St Mt Clear. The wonderful Rotary Club of Wendouree are providing support and the sausage sizzle. 

3. School plantings
   The FOCC is hosting 13 school plantings planting on the 4,
   5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 and 27th August, mostly on Soapys
   Dam. Participating schools are Damascus College, Mt Clear College, Mount Rowan College and Woodmans Hill College. The students are briefed and supported in the tree planting by school staff and FoCC volunteers.

Wanted: FoCC members and friends who are interested in assisting with the schools, are requested to contact the FoCC at foccinfo@gmail.com or Jeff 0408509591 for more details (dates, duties and Working with Children Check requirements.)

4. Dozed Track Site – What could have been!

Many of the planters at Dozed Track (site2) July 27^th asked about the story of the land being planted. In 2012 the failing blue gum plantation in the Canadian Forest was removed by the lessee, the ground cleared and handed back to the Government absolutely bare as shown below.

At the same time, a City of Ballarat Panel identified a new suburb for the cleared land each side of Dozed Track as illustrated below.

The plans propelled the Friends of Canadian Corridor “imagine” a “Multi-Use Forest Park” which became the “Woowookarung Regional Park” in 2017.
The Victorian Government honoured their 2014 election commitment to establish a park, by holding a series of information sessions in 2015, consultations and meetings with Canadian Forest stakeholders such as the Council, Government agencies, community organisations and adjacent land holders to determine the boundaries of the Park and to identify the myriad of interests in and around the future Park which needed to be addressed.
The journey is now history and the 2025 plantings form part of the ongoing landscape restoration post plantation era.

5. Landscape Restoration principles
   Two publications underpin the plantings on FoCC sites. The publications were created by the Bunanyung Landscape Alliance specifically for the Ballarat Region to address a paucity of local landscape restoration knowledge.

Goldfields Little Creeks Climate Adaptation Strategy and Restoration Guide:
The Little Creeks strategy focuses on climate adapting little creeks by planting riparian zone vegetation to shade and shelter water course thus keeping the creek cooler and promoting biodiversity along a creek. https://bunanyunglandscapealliance.org/goldfields-little-creeks-1

Bunanyung Native Habitat Restoration Guide
Provides assistance to:

• Understand why it is so important for us to protect and create more native habitat.
• Discover what plants and weeds you have on your land.
• Choose a method to improve your native habitat
  https://bunanyunglandscapealliance.org/habitat-restoration-guide

7. Kangaroo sightings
   Kangaroo sightings are quite common along the Canadian Creek, Corridor and in the Woowookarung RP.

   

8. Bird of the Month XLIII (July 2025)
   Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
   Please let us never take for granted the beauty of the common species.  Forget “A dime a dozen”!  No matter how abundant, widespread, and regularly encountered they may be, the Crimson Rosella is of plumage so splendid and disposition so sweet, that we just ought to afford ourselves a moment to admire its beauty.  Besides, given we’re in the depths of winter, sometimes we’ve just got to enjoy the birds that come to us, and can be enjoyed from the toasty vantage point of indoors or in transit.

   

   

   

   At 32-37cm, the Crimson Rosella is a relatively large rosella, only outsized by the Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus), which occurs exclusively in Tasmania, where it replaces the absent Crimson Rosella as the resident blue-cheeked rosella species.  The Crimson Rosella is a diverse species complex, comprising six races/subspecies, namely the red variants (nominate race Platycercus elegans elegans of southeast Australia, P. e. nigrescens of northeast QLD, and P. e. melanopterus of Kangaroo Island); Yellow Rosella (P. e. flaveolus) of the Murray Riverina region; and the orange races (Adelaide Rosella P. e. fleurieuensis, and P. e. subadelaidea of the Flinders Ranges) – all races of which are characterised by blue cheeks, and the two-toned blues of tail and wings.  Beyond the blue-cheek rosellas, we have the local congener Eastern Rosella a.k.a White-cheeked Rosella (Playcercus eximius) of southeast Australia (and the only other rosella species present in Ballarat and Victoria); the Western Rosella (P. icterotis), the smallest and standalone rosella of southwest WA; Northern Rosella (P. venustus); and Pale-headed Rosella (P. adscitus).

   Focusing on our local subspecies, we have the familiar, red (i.e. nominal race) Crimson Rosella.  Individuals of both sexes are indistinguishable (apart from the females’ suffused green central uppertail), and all ages are characterised by the blue cheek, scalloped upperparts, pale blue shoulder, peacock blue tail, black primaries (‘finger’ feathers), and ivory bill.  Adults are rich crimson red on the underparts, head, and rump, while scalloped upperparts are black with red edges.  In juveniles, olive-green replaces the red, but red is present on the forehead and vent (bottom).  As juveniles become immature, patchy smatterings of red progressively replace the green.  In flight, Crimson Rosellas are strong, swift fliers, with shallow or deep exaggerated wingbeats, interspersed with undulating glides.  They may also be vociferous in flight, and if/when the tail is fanned the graduation of tail feathers (central feathers longer than the outer feathers) is noticeable.

   Vocalisations have been described as ‘clear, ringing “k-tee-tip, k-tee-tip”, the central “tee” loud, high and clear; variations include “k-tee-it-tip”, “kteeeit-tip”, and “tip-tee”.’  Also, ‘ringing “trip-klee”; slow, bell-like “klee-kleeklee”; in flight, raucous clanging “klee klee klee”.’  Alternatively, flight contact call may be loud “cussik cussik”.  When perched, emits ‘loud, piping call “kwik kweek-kwik”.’  Alarm call is a harsh screech.  If contending with possible confusion with Eastern Rosella, note that the Crimson Rosella’s ‘pitch is noticeably deeper than the equivalent calls of Eastern Rosella.’
   

   

   Crimson Rosellas inhabit eucalypt forests, rainforests, alpine and other woodlands, fern gullies, timbered watercourses, farmlands, roadsides, parks, gardens, and coastal scrubs.  The species forages both in trees and on ground, favouring a natural diet of grains and seeds (e.g. eucalypt seeds), blossoms and nectar of eucalypts and bottlebrushes, fruits and berries, insects (e.g. lerp), and wasp galls.  Crimson Rosellas naturally nest in tree hollows, but have adapted to nesting in building cavities.
   Breeding season is September through January, with the female incubating a clutch of 4-8 eggs.  Nest hollows may be in live or dead trees, situated at widely varying heights.  The nest may be lined by wood shavings and dust.  After 20 days of incubation, the eggs hatch, and the young are cared for by both parents.  The young emerge from the nest at 5 weeks of age, and remain dependent of the parents for a further 3-5 weeks.
   Crimson Rosellas occur in pairs and small flocks, with juveniles often out-numbering the adults.  Our local race is seasonally dispersive, undergoing wide autumn-winter dispersal to lowlands, including urban areas.  Individuals may be tame in parks, gardens, and resorts.  All races are common.  The nominate race has been introduced to Norfolk Island and New Zealand.
   Next time you wander through Woowookarung RP, other forests in the Corridor, or even just looking out your back window or driving about town, may any sighting of Crimson Rosella be a reminder to not lapse in gratitude for the common beauties – absolutely splendid!
   Author note: FoCC Committee member and co-admin of FoCC’s Facebook and webpage, Joel Ellis is the resident bird nerd, amateur Powerful Owl researcher, and editor of FoCC’s (co-funded) ‘Indigenous [Species] of Southern Ballarat’ brochure series.  Joel has studied birds up to Honours degree level, is a professional ecological consultant (ornithologist), and member of BirdLife Australia (Ballarat branch).

8. Soapys Dam access fixed
   Trail access to Soapys Dam Reserve off Davies Rd has been made possible again by quick and efficient action from the City of Ballarat Parks and Gardens Crew. Up until mid-July access was via a track across an adjacent private property. In an attempt to stop rubbish dumping on the property the owner quite properly, fenced off the track. A Council gate was adjacent to the old track, however it was blocked by a large cypress tree and fallen timber. The FoCC made a request to the Council for a clean-up of the access gate on Monday 7^th July 2025 and by Wednesday the fallen timber was removed, the trees trimmed and a new gate with pedestrian and cyclist access installed.
   

   

   

9. Forest Fire Management Planned Burn

A planned burn is to be held in the York St Boundary Rd Wilson St Long St block, possibly as early as July 29th. More information at: www.ffm.vic.gov.au

10. Koala Sightings
    

    

    

     

October to March is Koala breeding season and peak sightings time. If you see, hear or find scat from a Koala, please send the information containing the when, where, and how to: foccinfo@gmail.com.  Images are gold (even if a little blurry). All Koala sightings are entered into the iNaturalist online data base.
The complete list of sightings can be viewed at https://www.focc.asn.au/koalas/

11. Rubbish dumpers, thieves and vandals
    The FoCC urges Park friends to report vandals as well as rubbish dumpers, wood thieves and other suspicious activity to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

In emergency situations please call 000. If an offender is spotted, please note vehicle registration details as vehicle identification is most helpful, plus location and details. All information is treated by Parks Victoria Rangers professionally and confidentially.

12. Useful information

• Parks Victoria Woowookarung email address: woowookarung@parks.vic.gov.au

• City of Ballarat wildlife information: https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/me/pets-and-animals/wildlife
  Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300  

DEECA wildlife issues reporting information
Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000. Report any wildlife at immediate risk of deliberate harm or neglect to 136 186. Other matters relating to wildlife and wildlife management should use the 136 186 too. The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

13. Membership

Membership runs from 1^st January to 31^st December each year, Membership fee is $20 per year. New members and renewals after July 1 are credited to the next year. Membership is available online or email foccinfo@gmail.com

 

14. FoCC Facebook and webpage
    www.facebook.com/friendsofcanadiancorridor/

Rob is overseeing the webpage and Facebook  webmaster@focc.asn.au The FoCC has over 1300+ friends following us on Facebook and growing. Welcome to all new friends. Feel free to pass on to other friends and press the Like button.

15. 2025 Proposed Calendar

The calendar is prepared by the FoCC committee.

Spikey News is published monthly for the Friends of Canadian Corridor Incorporated. Registered No A0097535B. The FoCC is a Landcare group registered with Landcare Victoria Inc and a member of the Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group.

The purpose of “Spikey News” is to link the community to Woowookarung Regional Park and the Canadian Corridor

Circulation this issue is to 1243 1278 subscribers. Welcome to all new friends.
Any opinions expressed in Spikey News are made by the editors in good faith and do not officially represent Parks Victoria or the FoCC.

Previous issues of Spikey news can be found at our web site, here.
We are proud to walk this land with the Wadawurrung people and all other First Nations people.