The
Mallee Farmer
PHOTOS New sections of protection fencing along Dunmunkle Creek
Dunmunkle Creek biolink project A co-operative effort to build a fenced exclusion zone along a Mallee creek has allowed a spectacular recovery of remnant vegetation under the Dunmunkle Creek Biolink project. By
Kevin Chaplin, Mallee CMA. Sea Lake Landcare Group members originally conceived and developed the first stage of the project to preserve a stretch of the Dunmunkle Creek. The intention was to provide protection for critical habitat along the northern section of the creek which runs from the Sea Lake township (and the Tyrrell Creek) to Green Lake. The stretch of creek was previously un-fenced and had been degraded by grazing. Landholders were consulted and engaged by the Landcare group to plan and construct the fencing of the creek frontage on their individual properties. The project was co-ordinated
by the Landcare Group and supported by all landholders along the creek corridor. The result was eight kilometres of fencing and the protection of 40 hectares of remnant vegetation. The fencing excluded stock from the creek corridor and is now allowing the re-establishment of depleted and threatened flora. The success of the initial project inspired a second group of farmers south of Green Lake to become involved. This section of the creek previously had some existing fences, but the fences were not continuously joined along the creek corridor. The Landcare group was also able to facilitate strong support from farmers bordering this section of creek, and almost-continuous exclusion fencing is now in place. A total of 38.5 kilometres of fencing has been erected through the two projects, with 371 hectares of habitat protected. Funding has now been secured to fill the few remaining gaps and complete a continuous exclusion zone from Green Lake to Blysthman’s Swamp. Participating farmers recognise that keeping rabbit and weed numbers
down will be critical to the regeneration of vegetation, and are committed to eradication efforts on their individual properties. The Sea Lake Landcare Group initiated the project as a result of concern about the impact of grazing and pest animals on the creek. The project has ensured there is now a critical biolink for fauna between the two significant waterways in the Sea Lake area – Victoria’s largest salt lake (Lake Tyrrell) and the freshwater Green Lake. The completion of the project coincided with the breaking of the prolonged drought, and the result has been dramatic vegetative growth in the creek corridor. The exclusion of stock from grazing along the creek corridor and the ongoing vermin and weed control by landholders is allowing for the re-establishment of depleted and threatened fauna.
The Dunmunkle Creek project was supported by the Mallee CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country.
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