Mini-Expo

This month, Ellenbrook Bushland Group, along with other local community groups, will be taking part in Mini-Expo at the Ellenbrook Community Library.  

This is your chance to come and chat with resident experts, and find out more about our local plants and animals.  Ask questions about wildlife, bushwalking and ecosystems.  Feel free to bring photos you'd like to share with us, or have identified.  We will have a touch table and lots of interesting bits and pieces to look at.

DATE: Saturday 27th March
TIME: 10.00am – 2.00pm
LOCATION: Ellenbrook Community Library, 90 Main St, Ellenbrook
COST: Free

For more information about Mini-Expo, please contact the Ellenbrook Community Library by phoning 9297 9600.  This event is supported by City of Swan.

Industrial Land Strategy - please make your voice heard!

Interested in the future of Perth?  Want to know where the next industrial development might be? 

The WA Government has released a document called "Industrial Land Strategy 2009 - Perth and Peel", and this is now open for you to make comments.  All submissions are completely confidential.  The closing date for comments is 31 March 2010.

The document shows the plans for future development of industrial sites around Perth.  It lists priority and possible future industrial sites, which may become places for general and light industry.  The possible industrial sites include areas close to Ellenbrook, such as Bullsbrook townsite, North Ellenbrook, Gnangara, Whiteman, Pinjar South and Jandabup.  It includes maps, and discusses why each site might, or might not, be good as an industrial area.

If you want to take a look at this document, please go to the Department of Planning website, where you can download a PDF -

http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Plans+and+policies/Public+comment/2044.aspx

There are also comment forms and the provision to make online comments on the above link. 

Please consider adding your voice to those of people who feel strongly about this planning strategy.

Encounter with a legless lizard

While helping out at "Clean Up Australia" in Moulton Wetland today, I saw a beautiful pygopod - Burton's Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis).  These lovely creatures look a bit like long sleek skinks without legs, and are usually colourful and have stripes and spots.  Their heads are very elongated with a pointed snout, often with white stripes along the jaws.  I have seen light rust-orange animals, and grey animals with longitudinal black stripes, and plain grey, and light brown. 

If you've never seen one before, please check out these website links to see pictures - 

http://www.kingsnake.com/oz/lizards/legless/lburton.htm

http://cms.jcu.edu.au/discovernature/herpscommon/JCUDEV_006360

The little animal I saw was sunning itself on a patch of sand amongst Melaleucas.  Most times when I see a pygopod, they are quick to move under a shrub to hide.  This one didn't, it just lay there!  I stooped down to have a closer look at it, wondering if it was sick or asleep, but no, it was alive and alert, looking at me.  It even let me gently stroke its tail.  I wish I'd had a camera with me.  

It makes me sad to think that sometimes these animals are mistaken for snakes, and needlessly killed.

Getting excited about rubbish...

It's almost that time of year again - Clean Up Australia Day!  It's a pleasure to walk around in a patch of bush with people picking up rubbish, knowing that we are doing a service to the community.  

This year is Clean Up Australia Day's 20th year. So far, three Clean Up events have been organised for Ellenbrook and The Vines.  Click on the links for info about times and contact details, or to add yourself to the list of volunteers.

Charlotte's Vineyard - Sunday 28th February at Moulton Wetland Park - link
The Vines - Sunday 7th March at Ailsa Park - link
Coolamon - Sunday 7th March at Mornington Park aka "The Billabong" - link

If you want to organise your own event, please go to the Clean Up Australia Day home page for more info - http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/