Newmarket Stationeers
Friday 28 July 2023
Saturday 29 April 2023
We hold regular working bees once a fortnight on Friday mornings. This autumn we have been mulching the site section by section. John, one of our members has been collecting mulch from the Council depot in his ute. We have been barrowing and bucketing it on one small area at a time starting at the station end. It takes only 20- 30 minutes for the group to off-load and distribute each load of mulch but John says loading it onto the ute at the depot is a much slower process.
The main reason for mulching is to suppress annual weeds like stinging nettles and cleavers. Mulch also conserves moisture in the soil and looks good, too. To suppress weeds completely, mulch needs to be 7.5 to10 cm. deep but we spread it thinner to allow water penetration when it rains and spread the mulch further.This poor little ringtail possum was encountered during our working bee. it is unusual to find a possum out in the open during daylight. It may have been displaced and taking shelter in our island of native vegetation. The next day a dead ringtail was seen in the middle of busy Racecourse Road near Woolworths. We think it was the same possum.
Blue Flower Wasps
At our working bee in January a large number of Blue Flower wasps were buzzing around close to the ground near the wooden seating area. With their metalic blue wings, they are quite beautiful. The adults feed on nectar from native plants and their larvae parasitize Christmas Beetle larvae. They are not aggressive like European wasps, but individuals can sting if provoked.
Wednesday 30 March 2022
The Mysterious Hole
After heavy rain a deep hole appeared behind the seating area . We informed Keep Victoria Beautiful, who in turn informed Metro Trains. The hole was filled in but a few of dry weather, the hole reappeared but bigger this time. It was obviously an old brick drain from a previous century when such things were skillfully constructed of bricks. It was about 80 cm below the surface and was probably part of an open drain at one time. Once again Metro Trains were informed and a metal plate was put over the hole. The Stationeers members continue to weed, water and pick up rubbish although we have not had a formal working bee for some time. The hole has not reopened.
Friday 31 January 2020
River Red Gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis at Newmarket Station under threat
The River Red Gum is a landmark and contributes more than any other feature to the character of the area, linking us not only with the history of Flemington but with the pre-industrial landscape. It provides a habitat and resting place for countless indigenous birds and a point of reflection and consolation to commuters. As leader of Newmarket Stationeers Group, I was one of the four community representatives whom Metro Trains and Ministry of Public Transport met on Wednesday, January 22nd. The purpose of the meeting was to tell us that after exploring options, Metro Trains had decided to remove ten trees, including the heritage listed River Red Gum from the station embankment prior to work to renew the platform retaining walls. The Ministry of Public Transport engineers explained that they plan to leave the old platform walls in place and construct new walls behind the old walls. While excavating the foundations, the roots of the trees would be sufficiently damaged to render the trees unsafe, hence their removal. An offer of compensating with replacement plants and a suggestion that we could create a sculpture from the tree’s timber are worth nothing compared with the tree’s loss to our locality; the tree itself is a living sculpture of inestimable value.
The discussion centered around the River Red Gum which has a heritage listing. At the present moment the tree is healthy; it’s base well below the station platform, its trunk leaning away from the platform with no branches above the platform. I remain unconvinced by the Metro Trains decision that the River Red Gum has to go primarily because of their refusal to release their arborist’s and engineers reports and documentation that informed their decision not to use an alternative method of refurbishing the retaining wall adjacent to the tree.
Metro Trains intention was to commence work on tree removal at 9.00 pm on Friday, January 24th, the eve of the Australia Day Weekend; breathtakingly soon after they notified MVCC on Tuesday, January 21st. On Thursday January 23rd, at 7.00 am a sizeable group (I estimate around 40) concerned local residents met below the River Red Gum to demonstrate support for retaining the tree. Some Stationeers were there, including long-term volunteer, Roger, who is recovering from throat surgery.