Sydenham Park rising from the ashes

In autumn 2019 a controlled burn of 16.5 hectares was undertaken at Sydenham Park in partnership with DELWP, Parks Victoria and Brimbank Council.  The objectives of the burn was to reduce the fuel load and risk of wildfire which allowed us to prepare the site for follow up spraying of Serrated Tussock and Artichoke Thistle.  This method of removing the old dead biomass of the plant and allowing it to regrow with fresh foliage so we can selectively target the high threat weeds has worked well.

Separate Serrated Tussock and Artichoke spray runs were undertaken approximately 8 weeks post burn and subsequent follow up spray runs 12 weeks later have resulted in controlling approximately 90% of the target weeds.

Post burn monitoring of the site was undertaken prior to any works to identify existing values, this was so we could plan our control program around sensitive areas and to avoid any off-target damage.

A spring survey was also completed, even though a large area of the site has been disturbed in the past there are still a range of different indigenous species (approximately 38) recorded through monitoring transects with one previously un-recorded on the site.  This is an on-going process where the management program for the site will be adapted to suit the values, current conditions and priority weeds.           

A variety of Indigenous plants have returned postburn: