Kidman Way

We hear about snow in other parts of New South Wales, in areas that haven't seen snow for decades. Roads are closed because of snow and ice, but not where we are on the Kidman Way. We've travelled in brilliant sunshine all day.

Kidman Way north of  Hillston, NSW.

We're drove south from Bourke through some beautiful country, mostly bush, rather flat with the occasional hill or peak around Mt Hope. There is a tinge of green everywhere because there has been rain in the last month and it contrasts with the red soil and the grey foliage of the trees and shrubs. As we neared Hillston on the Lachlan River we saw signs of the agriculture. Hillston has diversified from cropping and grazing to fruit and vegetable production - cherries, potatoes, olives, cotton, almonds, capers, jojoba, citrus, watermelons and more.

Off course the downside of this is that they need water for all of the above. They use underground water and by using proper management the water entitlements have been reduced by half to 108 000 megalitres. That still sounds like a lot to me.

The largest Cashmere Goat flock in Australia is farmed near Hillston but we saw hundreds of feral goats by the highway as we travelled south. They are a real pest, doing damage to the environment by eating vegetation and trampling the fragile soil with their hooves. We saw dozens of dead kangaroos on the highways in NSW and Queensland but not one dead goat. They graze by the roads but we slowed down to avoid hitting any on the road because we didn't want to damage our vehicle, and I presume everyone else does the same. The kangaroos graze at night and try to cross the roads the heavy vehicles are travelling at speed - they don't slow down for anything.

We've also seen cactus, particularly in Queensland on the St George to Cunnamulla road. Prickly Pear cactus was a huge pest in the past but it is still not completely under control. Weeds and pest animals are a problem all over our beautiful country.

Where there's a will...

The river and its valley would have been beautiful once but at the moment it's showing the damage caused by human habitation over the last 150 years. But there are steps being made to remedy the situation.

The Barham River is a small waterway running out of the Otway range behind Apollo Bay on Victoria's Great Ocean Road and, although there are plants and animals of State and National significance in its catchment, the problems are immense: nutrient runoff, erosion, fish barriers, stock access, weeds (including willow, blackberry and ragwort), intense recreational use, timber plantations, increasing algae due to lack of shade, septic soakage, fire, artificial opening of the sand-blocked estuary, unprotected banks etc etc. But the authorities are aware of all of this and more, and so are individuals in the local community and things are starting to change.

Today we noticed in one section close to Apollo Bay the willows are being removed  (leaving roots in situ in order to reduce erosion) and fences to exclude stock are being erected. Hurrah!

Before: the willow-infested river (courtesy Google Maps)

After: The willows have been removed and stacked ready to burn.

Update: This announcement last week is good news for the Barham River (as well as the Moorabool and the Barwon).

Barwon Water will contribute more than $300,000 to local Landcare groups over the next three years.The corporation has already provided more than $1 million to Landcare over the past decade.In the latest move, partnerships have been renewed with the Southern Otway Landcare Network (Barham River catchment) and Upper Barwon Landcare Network (Upper Barwon River catchments) while the Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group (Moorabool River catchments) will be supported for the first time.
Each group will receive $35,000 a year for three years.Barwon Water Chairman Dr Michael King said the Landcare partnership program had been successful in helping protect and enhance the region’s quality water resources by protecting, stabilising and revegetating riparian areas.

A sad legacy

Thirty years ago a new house was built beside the country road in a lovely spot that is between a river and a state forest, and Ron and Thelma lived there for all of that time. Ron could be seen tending his garden most days. Recently Thelma died and Ron moved, so the property is for sale.
When I called in to have a look the other day I was sad to see another legacy of their occupation. Ron has been dumping his garden rubbish on the roadside opposite their home. It looks very pretty at the moment - but the garden plants shouldn't be there. They are now weeds.

Ethical gardening

Yesterday I attended a workshop designed to gauge the community's response to setting up a team of volunteer weed spotters for the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) here in Victoria.
Participants came from a wide range of plant-associated clubs (Organic, Orchid, Field Naturalists, Landcare, Garden, Australian Plants) and the discussion was about 'new' weeds, the garden plants that might escape over the fence in the future.
The main point to come out of the discussion was that it's all very well to spot and map the weeds, but what will be the response from DPI, DSE and local councils. Spotters will lose enthusiasm for the task if nothing is done to control or eradicate the new weeds before they get out of control.
The question was asked, 'What plants do you already have growing in your garden that is a potential escapee?' I must admit to having a Hakea laurina in my garden and it is on the weed list for our area. But my neighbour is worse. He has lots of Agapanthus (that he doesn't deadhead) and Pittosporum undulatum, a plant that is native to this state but a weed in this district. But all of these are known weeds. I wonder what I have growing that is a potential weed.