By ANEEKA SIMONIS
ENDANGERED natives in the Emerald bushland have been put in the care of Cardinia Shire Council.
On Saturday 25 October, a conservation group handed over 2.1 hectares of land containing the endangered Emerald Star Bush which can only be found in two places across the globe.
Cardinia Shire mayor Graeme Moore said he was grateful for the land donation which will now form part of the larger Emerald Quarry Reserve.
“The conservation of the Emerald Star Bush is extremely important and dependent on the support of the local community. The plant is found only in Emerald and Monbulk with only 3500 plants currently in this area,” Cr Moore said.
“To ensure the plant’s long-term survival, it is vital that we all keep up the good fight to save it.”
Trust for Nature gifted the land to council who will contribute $7000 for the development of the new reserve, in addition to a $5000 grant from TFN and a $9000 contribution by a John Hills Landcare grant for weed control.
Trust for Nature’s Regional manager for Port Phillip and Westernport Ben Cullen said the bush would remain protected under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
“Given our reserve is next door to council-owned bushland, we thought it would be best for them to take care of it,” Mr Cullen said.
The community joined with council and the protection group to celebrate the hand-over and took part in a tree planting ceremony.
“It was a great community planting day … . People got together to plant a few trees in the new reserve. It’s a good sign that people are interested in conservation,” Mr Cullen said.
