Environmental Management

We own a lot of land in the central Gippsland region, and work to ensure the protection of native flora and fauna.

Our largest parcel of land, Dutson Downs has a diverse landscape. Four threatened species have been found there and we work with agencies and interested groups to study and protect them. The species are the New Holland Mouse, Wellington Mint-bush, Trailing Hop-bush and Dwarf Kerrawang.

New Holland Mouse

The New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae is a small, terrestrial burrowing native rodent found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It has been found in a wide range of structural vegetation communities, such as heathland, woodland, dry sclerophyll forest and vegetated dunes (Wilson & Laidlaw, 2003). Soil characteristics have been found to be important and they typically occur in areas with a soft substrate, as the animals shelter in burrows during the day (Wilson & Laidlaw, 2003).

The New Holland Mouse consumes a variety of foods including plants, fungi, seeds and invertebrates and has a diet that changes seasonally and with locality (Wilson & Bradtke, 1999; Kemper, 1995). The species has shown an increase in areas actively regenerating after disturbance (such as bushfire), reaching highest density approximately 2-6 years afterwards (Wilson & Laidlaw, 2003).

Wellington Mint-bush

The Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae is an erect, spreading sub-shrub, growing to two metres high. It often grows through, and supported by, other vegetation (Walsh & Entwisle, 1994). Flowers are deep mauve-purple with maroon dots at the base of the lobes (Conn, 1998). Flowering occurs in spring. The Wellington Mint-bush appears to be strongly fire-dependent for germination, and appears to decline in vigour after approximately 10 years. Appropriate fire interval is expected to be about 15 years.

Dwarf Kerrawang

The Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata is a tap-rooted, prostrate shrub with trailing branches of up to two metres long. The alternately arranged leaves are oval shaped, up to 5cm long and 3cm wide, with toothed margins. Flowers are white or pink and appear in spring clustered at the end of stalks. It typically grows on peaty soils on the margins of wetlands dominated by Lepidosperma longitudinale in open locations (Walsh & Entwisle 1996; James 2002).

The Dwarf Kerrawang is listed as endangered nationally and in Victoria. The species was first recorded at Dutson Downs in 2007 during a flora survey conducted by Wildlife Unlimited and the Latrobe Valley and Bairnsdale Field Naturalists Clubs (Douglas et al. 2008). The Dwarf Kerrawang has been observed in at least 17 wetlands at Dutson Downs. The number of plants observed per wetland ranges between 2 and 225 (Douglas, Nieuwland and Reside 2009).

Management plans for the Dwarf Kerrawang within Dutson Downs are currently being drafted.

Trailing Hop-bush

The Trailing Hop–bush Dodonaea procumbens is a prostrate shrub endemic to south-eastern Australia (Carter 2010). It is commonly dioecious (separate male and female plants), can grow up to 1.5m in diameter and 20cm in height. It has angular or flattened, sometimes weakly ribbed stems, often rooting at the nodes. The leaves are simple, 8–30mm long and 4–9mm wide, usually with two angular teeth at the distal end. Flowers are solitary or paired and distally placed (Walsh and Entlwisle 1999).

The Trailing Hop–bush is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999. Up until 2009 the Trailing Hop-bush was thought to be extinct in the wild in the eastern half of Victoria. In October 2009 it was discovered at Dutson Downs during field investigations for the Dutson Downs Bushfire Management Plan (GHD 2009). A further study has confirmed that there are populations at a minimum of five wetlands within Dutson Downs, with populations estimated to range between 7 and 680 individuals (GHD 2010).

Management plans for the Trailing Hop-bush within Dutson Downs are currently being drafted.