This park has
Cinnamon Fungus – Dieback
Please read copied text below
Cinnamon Fungus – Dieback
What is Cinnamon Fungus – Dieback?
Cinnamon Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) is a microscopic, soil borne pathogen (disease causing organism) that attacks and destroys plant root systems causing plants to die through lack of water and nutrients. Patches of dead or dying vegetation can indicate the presence of this silent killer and grass trees are particularly susceptible. It is spread through infected plants and the movement of contaminated soil and gravel, and there is no known cure.
Cinamon Fungus or Dieback is an exotic disease of our forests affecting over 900 species of native plants including banksias, blackboys, zamia palms, snottygobbles, emu bushes, sheoaks, hakeas, dryandras, heaths and jarrah.
The term ‘dieback’ refers to a suite of soil- and water-borne fungal diseases that is associated with ‘damping-off’ in seedlings, various Phytophthora spp, Pythium (also a ‘chromist’) and Fusarium (a true fungus).
As the fungus thrives in warm, moist conditions the south coast is particularly at risk. Some of the more susceptible plants are rare, endangered or restricted in distribution.
Dieback is not just a problem for native plants; it is also having a detrimental effect on nectar-eating creatures (e.g. honey possums and honeyeaters). It may take from 3 to 10 years before visible signs of the disease (e.g. dead leaves) develop.
Dieback Code of Conduct
By following the following code of conduct you can help to minimise the impact of your activities on the resource that
provides us with so much pleasure.
Please adopt the following practices when venturing into dieback affected areas:
Be clean on entry and exit. Vehicles, tyres, machinery, footwear, tent pegs and camping gear should be free of soil, gravel and mud prior to entering or leaving any park, reserve or campsite (particularly in high risk areas). Don’t bring soil or gravel in – and don’t take any home!
Where available, use boot cleaning stations and vehicle wash down bays – they are there for a reason.
Remain on formed roads, tracks and pathways at all times. Moving from infected to uninfected areas can spread the pathogen – particularly during wet weather when soils are wet and sticky.
Obey all track and road closure signs. Do not enter areas of vegetation that have been quarantined.
Avoid travelling through areas infected with Phytophthora. If in doubt – ask! Call Parks Victoria on 13 1963.
Do not remove plants or plant material from parks and reserves – they are protected by law.
Take heed of signs alerting of the presence of dieback fungi.
Copied this history: History
The origins of the reserve go back to the formation of a committee in 1962, at the instigation of the Geelong Field Naturalists Club and its President, Jack Wheeler. The aim was to launch an appeal for funds to acquire an uncleared block of privately owned bushland to protect it from development, with the funds raised enabling the purchase of an initial 81 ha. The reserve was opened to the public in 1971. In 1973 an adjacent 62 ha of partly cleared land, now the eastern section of the reserve, was purchased.[2]
Since the reserve was established, management actions have included the construction of a central wetland and walking tracks, as well as bird hides, an information centre, carpark and picnic ground. The woodland has become denser. There has been damage both from deliberately lit fires and from the construction of breaks for fire control. A period of drought in 2000–2003 killed many eucalypts, following which flowering has been less prolific and large concentrations of honeyeaters have...
Read more
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AI.
