Download Ecological burn highlights Council`s best

Media Release
Friday, 22 November 2013
Ecological burn highlights Council’s best-practice
approach to environmental management
Moonee Valley City Council will undertake a controlled ecological management burn at JH
Allan Reserve Grassland, Avondale Heights in early December. Approximately seventy
percent of the site will be burnt to manage and maintain the health of the grassland ecosystem
and to assist with weed control.
The exact time and date of the burn will be confirmed subject to weather conditions at this
time.
Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr Jan Chantry said the burn will be fully contained and pose minimal
disruption to nearby residents.
“Burns of this kind are recommended as best-practice for the management of temperate
grasslands and have been routinely carried out by our neighbouring councils for some time.”
“They will form a central part of our management plan for a number of parks across Moonee
Valley as we improve our management of these areas and move away from the use of only
mowing to manage these reserves,” Cr Chantry said.
Ecological burns encourage increased diversity of flora by returning nutrients to the soil,
controlling weeds, and reducing the dominance of grass species that can accumulate in these
areas over time.
Portfolio holder for Environmental Sustainability, Cr Shirley Cornish said JH Allan Reserve
contains flora which is of national significance and features a number of important plant
species.
“The Reserve is home to critically the endangered spiny rice flower (Pimelea spinescens) and
we are hoping the burn will encourage growth of this and other native species,” Cr Cornish
said.
The burn will be undertaken by skilled contractors with experience performing similar
operations – particularly around the Merri Creek reserves for Moreland, Darebin and Hume
Councils. The Melbourne Fire Brigade will be notified leading up to and on the day of these
works and fuel breaks will be cut around the perimeter of the burn site.
If residents require notification on the morning of the burn, they can forward their contact
details to [email protected] or call the Conservation Officer on 9243 8888.
Council will also use Facebook and Twitter to advise residents when the burn commences.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Letitia Duncan, Media and Communications Team Leader
Mobile: 0408 570 106; Email: [email protected]
mvcc.vic.gov.au | 9243 8888
9 Kellaway Ave – PO Box 126 Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
/mooneevalleycc