Gippsland Water manages its land to ensure protection of native flora and fauna species. The Dutson Downs property is an area where Gippsland Water is working in conjunction with DSE and the Threatened Flora Network to protect the Wellington Mint-bush which listed as vulnerable in Victoria. The New Holland Mouse, listed as threatened in Victoria, is also located on the Dutson Downs property.

New Holland Mouse

The New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae is a small, terrestrial burrowing native rodent found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania (NRE, 1996). 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 plant material, 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 wildfire), reaching highest density approximately 2-6 years after the event (Wilson & Laidlaw, 2003).

Above right: New Holland Mouse  Pseudomys novaehollandiae

Left: New Holland Mouse habitat

Photos sourced from:Wildlife Unlimited

Wellington Mint-bush

Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae is an erect, spreading sub shrub, to two metres high, often growing through, and supported by, other vegetation (Walsh & Entwisle, 1994). They are deep mauve-purple with maroon dots at the base of the lobes (Conn, 1998). Flowering occurs in spring. 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.