In the north of our service area, at the foothills of the southern highlands.
This unique site consists of 48ha of vulnerable box ironbark forest. This type of forest typically occurs in low rainfall areas with low fertility soil - it is more common in the central-west Victorian goldfields.
Box ironbark forest was commonly harvested during European settlement and has placed significant stress on remaining populations within Gippsland. An area of around 60 square kilometres, between Glenmaggie and Heyfield, is the only box ironbark forest in Gippsland.
In addition to this important forest-type, the Glenmaggie biodiversity site hosts the endangered shiny daisy-bush (olearia tenuifolia), downy zieria (zieria cytisoides) and bushy hedgehog grass (Echinopogon caespitosus).
Over the next 10 years, we're planning to conserve and improve the site as part of a formal agreement. This commitment includes:
Maintaining fencing to exclude threats to the site.
Eradicating of woody weeds such as Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum).
Controlling pest animals including deer, foxes and rabbits.
