Description of work preformed by Geelong Field and Game

The Victorian Field and Game Association was formed
in Sale Victoria in 1958. Six years later in 1964, Geelong Field and Game
Association was formed by waterfowl hunters concerned about the loss of habitat
for game species.

Reedy Lake and Hospital swamps are supplied
through water, from the near by Barwon River, via a system of regulators
constructed by Geelong Field And Game, with on going works since the clubs
foundation.

These lakes now have an intergrated water
management plan. Formed between Government Agencies assisted by Field and
Game.

Geelong Field and Game have expended over $30.000
in club funds over this period, and expended hundreds of hours of volunteer
labour

Through these voluntary efforts, this ecosystem
now thrives, hosting native and migratory birds that would not otherwise existed
today.

 Reedy
Lake

1960’s

• Fisheries and Field
  and Game Partnership
• A low Bank and
  adjacent spillway to improve water holding of the Lake
• Bird counts start and
  rubbish removed

1970’s

• Fisheries put
  in two flap gates that open and shut to provide water from Barwon River
• First of Tree
  planting which is ongoing to this day
• Bird counts and
  rubbish removal
• Nesting boxes
  installed on Reedy
  Lake
• Fencing improved to
  keep out stock

1980’s

§         Annual Bird
counts

§         Annual Rubbish
removal

§         More nest boxes installed – 3
weekly monitoring

§         On going Tree
planting

§         Fencing

1990’s

§        Ballarat University was brought in with Geelong
Field and Game to test water for salinity and nutrients. Findings were Carp and
water too high and that was killing the lake

§         Field and Game designed
helped finance and resource the saving of Reedy Lake

§         Inlet channel plugged and a
new 1500 meter outlet channel made to drain lake

§         Lake Dry – clean up of thousands of dead
carp

§         Make and install drop board
outlet regulator

§         New stainless steel carp
screen

§         Cut new boat access channel
for local eel farmer and for local farmer to access water
supply

§         On going planting of
trees

§        Annual bird counts

§         Nest box
monitoring

§         Rubbish
removal

Hospital Swamps

1980’s

• Infrastructure for the filling of hospital swamps from
  Barwon
  River
• In conjunction with fisheries and wildlife division a new inlet
  weir with penstock doors was constructed on the river
• Volunteers from Geelong Field and Game were given permission
  from a private land owner to channel inlet and outlet bridges and were able to
  put in place culverts to supply water to a mostly dry 3 swamp system.
• In the late 80’s 200 acres of land on Baenschs Lane was
  purchased and again with Geelong Field and Game volunteers, a levee bank was
  constructed, a new swamp land with islands and construction of a spillway and
  outlet regulator was also in place.
• Trees planted
• Nest boxes installed

1990’s

• Bird counts
• Rubbish removal
• Nest box monitoring
• Tree’s planted
• Make and install 14 Parrot Boxes

2000’s

§         In conjunction with Parks Victoria, Geelong Field and Game
cleaned out the channel inlet and outlet and a new punt channel was put in place
for access to lake for eel fisheries.

§         Penstock door was replaced and penstock wheels were
refurbished

§         City of Greater
Geelong was contacted and Baenschs Lane was
resurfaced

§         Geelong Field and Game project managed the works with
assistance from Parks Victoria for funding of plant hire and consumables

§         Plant Equipment was offered at cost by Geelong Field and
Game members.

§         4 ground water bores put in place by Ballarat University and
Geelong Field and Game

§         Fox drives conducted annually

§         Bird counts

§         Rubbish removal

§         Nest box monitoring

§         Erection of deep water signs and barriers

Salt
Lake

1990’s

• Bird counts
• Rubbish removal
• Nest boxes installed
• Nest box monitoring

 2000’s

§         Fox drives

§         Bird counts

§         Rubbish removal

§         Nest box monitoring

Lake
Murtnagurt

1990’s

• Bird counts
• Rubbish removal
• Nest boxes installed
• Nest box monitoring
• Feasibility study to get water into swamp

 2000’s

§         Bird counts

§         Rubbish removal

§         Nest box monitoring

Lake
Connewarre

 2000’s

§         Planted out old tip site with Parks

§         Approximate 3000 Trees planted

§         Bird counts