Round-up call

By Kath Gannaway
NEXT year could see a turning point for a Toolangi VIP threatened with extinction.
The Very Important Pomaderris (round-leaf variety) was already under grave threat when the February fires wiped out almost all the specimens at Castella and Chum Creek.
Toolangi resident and president of Healesville Environment Watch (HEWI) Steve Meacher said Toolangi is now the only remaining place with a significant population of the plant which includes the oldest known living specimen.
A meeting in Toolangi on Saturday 4 November aims to recruit volunteers to ensure the plant’s future.
The round-leaf Pomaderris is found only in Victoria and historical records show in the past it was found from Warrandyte and Eltham areas through to Kinglake, Castella and Toolangi to Chum Creek.
Over time numbers have dropped and by 2006 a survey revealed there might be as few as 140 mature plants at Chum Creek.
The north-south pipeline works revealed plants at Castella and the plant was listed under the State’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
The flowering season of 2008 was looking more positive with good numbers recorded around Castella, Toolangi and Chum Creek.
Standing by the Toolangi veteran, named ‘Walter’, Mr Meacher said there was encouraging evidence of regeneration at several of the burned sites. The information session to be held at the Forest Discovery Centre is an effort to recruit volunteers to help locate existing plants, collect seeds and grow seeds so that the species can be planted back into the bush.
A number of organisations are involved including Healesville Environment Watch Inc, Swinburne, DSE, local business and the community.
Karwarra Garden, Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and Southern Dandenongs Community Nursery will provide assistance.
The session will run for two hours from 10am and anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Yarra Ranges Environment Department on 9294 6184 or email d.young@yarraranges.vic .gov.au.