City passes on pristine land parcel endowment

DESPITE appeals from the Bendigo and District Environment Council (BDEC) and the Friends of Joachim Lane Bushland community group to do so, the City of Greater Bendigo has declined a developer’s offer to transfer 10.5 hectares of high-quality bushland on Joachim Lane in Spring Gully into public ownership.

The area, at the foot of One Tree Hill, is a Box Ironbark forest corridor and is said to provide habitat for a number of state and federal listed species threatened by extinction.

These include the Brush-tailed Phascogale (Tuan), the Speckled Warbler and the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren.

The endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly is also likely to be in the area, as it has been confirmed to be present nearby.

The land connects with the Greater Bendigo National Park on One Tree Hill and, upon visiting, appears to be in good condition and largely weed-free, having remained undisturbed and protected by boundary fencing and signage since the early 2000s.

“This is one of Bendigo’s most important sites for biodiversity conservation,” Aldo Penbrook, the convenor of BDEC said.

“The Pink-tailed Worm Lizard population here forms part of a nationally significant stronghold centred on Bendigo.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for council to protect nationally significant species.”

After approaching the City for comment, director presentation and assets Brian Westley replied that the council has no plans to purchase the subject land or accept the parcel in lieu of the Public Open Space contribution.

“This decision has been communicated to the current owners,” he said.

“The western part of the property is protected with existing environmental controls and zoned Rural Conservation, which will limit any future development within these areas.”