Culingaia Flora Environmental Consultancy in Lake Gardens | Environmental consultant

Culingaia Flora Environmental Consultancy

Locality: Lake Gardens

Phone: +61 417 594 225

Address: Lake Gardens avenue 3355 Lake Gardens, VIC, Australia

Website: http://culingaia.com.au/

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• Commercial and industrial

25.01.2022 The sun dews were just sparkling in the morning frost yesterday- seen while undertaking a Bushfire management assessment.

24.01.2022 Enjoyed seeing some of the wildflowers in the bush around Bendigo between bushfire risk assessments for a couple primary schools.

24.01.2022 A very blowy day at Scarsdale undertaking another Bushfire and BAL Rating assessment. Good to get it completed before the forecast rain. Beautiful block!

24.01.2022 Some of the coastal bird species that I photographed during a Flora and Fauna survey at Point Cook last week. I saw Red-necked Stints (migratory), Australian pied Oystercathers and a variety of Terns. We have some amazing birds within the Port Phillip Bay area.

24.01.2022 Some beautiful wildflowers are still out south of Ballarat. These are some of the ones we have seen today during out native vegetation assessment.

24.01.2022 Always a handy reference to have in relation to understanding exemptions. https://www.environment.vic.gov.au//exemptions-from-requir

23.01.2022 Interesting things we saw today during our fauna survey. Ray checking out a Salt Lawrencia (listed as Rare in Victoria), little snails in the salt Marsh and beautiful butterflies on the coastal saltbush - all before the rain swept in and it got cold quick!

23.01.2022 A little break after a native vegetation assessment at Carapooee.

22.01.2022 Updated information: Vegetation management for bushfire protection: Check the rules about clearing vegetation to protect your property from bushfire https://www.planning.vic.gov.au//vegetation-removal-for-bu

22.01.2022 Ray and I enjoyed a little wildflower wander between two Bushfire assessment jobs at Stawell today. It was lovely to finally visit Deep Lead Flora Reserve -renown for its rare orchids.

21.01.2022 Apologies about previous links - Ive updated Google business, so the link now works and created a better cut short name: Check out Culingaia Flora Environmental Consultancy on Google! https://g.page/culingaiafloraenviroconsultancy?gm

20.01.2022 A pleasant afternoon undertaking a BAL assessment in Macedon with some friendly chooks!

20.01.2022 Working out in the bush today on a new house site - undertaking a native vegetation and offset assessment as well as a land management plan.

20.01.2022 Plant Selection Key reference (CFA website) With Winter approaching, many people will be turning their thoughts to their garden with conditions now favourable for planting and will start to visit their local nurseries. But before you buy up new plants, considering the potential risk from any future bushfires from your garden. The location, type and ongoing maintenance of vegetation within a property can significantly reduce the impact of a bushfire on any house.... Landscaping for bushfire is much the same as any type of gardening. It involves planning, designing, planting and managing the area around your house. Design and plant selection for bushfire can help reduce the effects of direct flame contact and radiant heat on a house. Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection provides information on garden design and plant selection which can be used for new or existing gardens in high-risk bushfire areas (Availabe from CFA website). Although all plants will burn under the right conditions, some plants are less likely to catch fire than others. Choosing plants with low flammability and locating them correctly will help reduce bushfire risk within a garden. Make a list of the plants you want to use in your garden and work through the questions in the Key to find out the flammability rating of each plant. Remember: While a well-planned garden is important, it is only one aspect of preparing for bushfire. A holistic approach to bushfire preparation is critical. Appropriate water supply, access, house construction and general property maintenance are all important. On Severe, Extreme and Code Red days, leaving early is the safest option to protect yourself and your family. ** Remember ** - There are no 'fireproof' plants and all plants will burn in extreme fire-weather conditions - The moisture content of leaves is a major factor affecting how easily a plant will burn - The location and arrangement of plants has a significant effect on reducing bushfire risk in your garden - During summer as soil dries out, the moisture content of plants will decrease and their flammability will increase Here is a link to the Plant Selection Key which will help you choose plants for gardens in a high bushfire risk area. https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/plant-selection-key

19.01.2022 Once the blackberry is controlled, this Bushland will look amazing! Land management plans help to guide you on how to achieve this.

19.01.2022 She’s a hot one out in the bush today doing a bushfire assessment and it’s that time of year when the Marchies (March flies) are biting too.

18.01.2022 As part of our business, we provide a service to local planning consultants such as Central Vic. Planning Consultants in Central Victoria (located in Clunes). Ray and I have been working with Tessa Halliday for several years and we are happy to continue to support her business in assisting her clients with environmental matters in relation to their property development. If you are looking for Environmental assistance for your property, please give us a call on: 0417 594 225 or email: [email protected]. Photo: Ray Draper (Central Highlands Environmental Consultancy) and Tessa Halliday (Central Vic Planning Consultants).

17.01.2022 Planning for bushfire protection Learn how the planning and building systems respond to bushfire https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/bushfire

17.01.2022 Beautiful view from a Mt Egerton assessment this morning.

17.01.2022 Every time I turned around - they were following me! An interesting Bushfire management assessment for a group of large Agriculture sheds at Meredith today.

16.01.2022 Some beautiful wildflowers seen yesterday during a native vegetation assessment.

16.01.2022 Spending today and tomorrow undertaking a flora survey at Point Cook and checking on the population of the Salt Lawrencia (Lawrencia spicata) listed as rare in Victoria.

16.01.2022 Just completed our flora and fauna survey up at Robinvale and time to head home. Loved seeing a whole new range of Mallee plants.

15.01.2022 Fantastic to work with Lily Mason from Central Vic Planning Consultants and Ray Draper from Central Highlands Environmental Consultancy on an absolutely beautiful bush block near Bullengarook which is for sale.

15.01.2022 A chilly morning undertaking a Bushfire assessment in the bush at Nintingbool.

13.01.2022 BPAD-Level 2 Accredited & Habitat Hectare Competent This year, I became a Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD-Level 2) accredited practitioner with the FPA Australia. This was something I wanted to achieve for the last 3 years. It now complements my other competency with DELWP as being Habitat Hectare competent. Of the three practitioners that hold both skill sets, I am the first female Environmental Consultant to obtain both accreditations / competencies - a major milestone i...n my career. What this means for our clients in Victoria is that I can assess and determine the best outcomes for proposed new developments within Bushfire Management Overlays which includes minimising Native vegetation loss (& offsets in certain zones), whilst meeting CFA requirements for a new or retrofitted building. It can often be a complex and challenging job to balance both outcomes, but my colleague Ray Draper and I have achieved the balance of both Bushfire and native vegetation issues within various zones and in often difficult landscapes. We can also factor in ESO5 as part of this assessment by protecting key Koala habitat. Having both accreditations / competencies can mean for our clients that we are a One stop shop when it comes to Bushfire and Native Vegetation (and Koala ESO5) related matters. We can determine where you can clear as part of bushfire exemptions, which trees to keep, which ones may cost you more in offsets and where to position the house to minimise the impact on environment, while reducing bushfire risk. We are all about balancing bushfire risk and minimising impact on the Environment where possible. A good balance of both can also minimise costs to our clients. We always aim for a Win Win outcome where possible. If you need someone like us for a complex or tricky project dealing with BMO, VPO1 and ESO5 within difficult overlays, please inbox me or email me on: [email protected]

13.01.2022 Beautiful old tractor stands watch over a lovely property, where we undertook a native vegetation assessment today.

12.01.2022 An interesting Land Management Assessment today with a wonderful family in Lexton. Lots of history, fauna and wildflowers. A beautiful property.

11.01.2022 Needing assistance with a Land Management Plan, Native Vegetation assessment or Bushfire Management Plan? Come and have a chat to Ray or myself. We are taking on new clients now for 2020.

11.01.2022 Ray found a new friend today in the paddock while we undertook a native vegetation assessment - a shingle back lizard.

11.01.2022 Some wet skippies seen during our Land Management assessment at Darley on Tuesday. Very ususal weather for Bacchus Marsh which is usually very dry!

11.01.2022 Spent the day undertaking an environmental survey in Bacchus Marsh. Nice day for it!

11.01.2022 Always ensure good access is maintained in case of an emergency.

10.01.2022 A windy day at Mt Egerton undertaking a Bushfire assessment for a new dwelling for a gorgeous family.

10.01.2022 Very blowy weather up at Maldon today while we assessed exotic and native vegetation on a property with a farming zone.

09.01.2022 To all our clients and colleagues We are able to still assess projects and comply with the governments recommendations of social distancing to address COVID-19. The safety of ourselves and our clients is absolutely paramount and we have strict field practices in place to ensure work is completed in a safe environment for everyone involved. I have uploaded my COVID-19 Safety Plan to my website as per governments requirements. It can be viewed and downloaded here:... https://www.culingaia.com.au/covid-19

09.01.2022 Being watched - by a couple of highland cattle while undertaking a Bushfire assessment at Gordon North today.

08.01.2022 Community Commissioned Environmental assessments Did you know that we conduct Commissioned Community Environmental assessments? Over the years, community members and groups have approached our consultancy asking for a second opinion or an independent assessment for the possible presence of Vulnerable, Rare or Threatened flora and fauna - this is to check if ecological surveys conducted for environmental impacts by larger consultancies on statewide projects around Victoria (wh...ich impact on local communities) are accurately assessing and reporting what is really there. Sometimes no ecological surveys have been conducted and the community want to ensure that it does take place. Recently, we undertook an Environmental Risk assessment on behalf of Moorabool Environment Group to determine what flora and fauna species may be impacted by the dumping of PFAS spoil. Our report is to assist the community in submitting information in an effort to highlight the potentially serious health risks that PFAS poses to the Bacchus Marsh community and environment. PFAS poses a serious threat to the Growling Grass Frog which is EPBC listed. We have also assessed areas previously declared to have no EPBC listed species, to find that other consultancies have chosen to ignore or not report on available habitat. Such was the case when we found a population of Golden Sun Moth (GSM) near Elaine that was previously not recorded for that area. Not only that, but the paddock we found the GSM in, was almost fully covered by Wallaby grass - One of their key food sources and habitat. Both were overlooked by the other consultancy, but we were able to provide photographic proof as well as Geotagged photos to back up the fact that the GSM would be impacted by vehicles maintaining Wind Turbine powerlines. Although the Landholder was unable to move the powerline location, they were able to negotiate a narrow vehicle maintenance area to reduce the area being impacted. So if your community is dealing with a future Environmental threat and you want an independent assessment by an Environmental Consultant, please contact us. Being a smaller consultancy, we are not as expensive as larger consultancies and we work very closely with the community to provide support through an independent report (which is not biased and is based on our observations as well as information recorded from the Atlas of Living Australia, Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and other Citizen science websites). Our aim is not to discredit other Environmental consultancies, but to ensure nothing has been missed or not reported. We are an ethicial consultancy, so we are committed to ensuring that accurate information is reported. Contact us, if you are in need of one of these assessments. #communityenvironmentalissues #environmentalcommunity #communityconsultants

08.01.2022 Some very Large Old trees seen during our native vegetation assessment this afternoon.

08.01.2022 Some native vegetation observed during a Garden for wildlife assessment in Blackwood.

08.01.2022 A beautiful sunny morning conducting a Bushfire and biodiversity assessment for a new dwelling.

08.01.2022 Now that’s a big Blackwood! Seen during a Land Manangement assessment.

07.01.2022 Got lucky today with a one hour gap, allowing us to complete a Bushfire management assessment at Buninyong.

07.01.2022 Ray found another little mate today during our fauna survey - a Blue tongue lizard - a pregnant female. Still hoping to find some snakes tomorrow.

05.01.2022 Assessing some interesting historical buildings and structures today as part of a Bushfire assessment in Thoona.

04.01.2022 Warm day at Kyneton undertaking a BAL assessment.

04.01.2022 It as wonderful to work up in Goornong yesterday, undertaking a Landscape Risk assessment for Bushfire. Afterwards, we spent some time in the Goornong bush with a close local friend of mine - enjoying the wildflowers of the Wellsford.

04.01.2022 Amends Clause 52.12 (Bushfire Protection: Exemptions) to align the 10/30 and fence line vegetation exemptions with the Bushfire Prone Area map across all Victorian councils, make administrative updates and further clarify the exemptions for dwellings. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/schemes-/browse-amendments

04.01.2022 Undertook a very challenging Bushfire assessment this morning - retrofit of a dwelling and creation of defendable space within a Rural Conservation Zone. Hopefully the outcome will be cost effective for our client.

04.01.2022 It felt and looked more like the alpine area than Darley just outside Bacchus Marsh today - where we were undertaking a Land Management assessment.

04.01.2022 Ray and I will be spending a few days undertaking a flora and fauna survey up at Robinvale. Its not much warmer than Ballarat!

04.01.2022 Getting ready for the bushfire season? Wanting to get your garden prepared? This is a good little article about providing a Bushfire Smart Garden. https://www.abc.net.au//bushfire-smart-garden-exp/12822068

03.01.2022 A beautiful day to undertake an assessment for a Land Management Plan at Greendale.

03.01.2022 Some of the interesting things we saw and found during our Biodiveristy assessment today. A ringtail possum near his tree hollow, a late flowering pea, common Heath and some fungi.

02.01.2022 We spend a nice sunny day undertaking a flora and fauna survey up at Wehla today. The bush is slowly starting to wake up with some early wildflowers spotted such as Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea. I think there may be Tuans living in some of the tree hollows as well.

02.01.2022 Spring has arrived! Wildflowers seen today while undertaking a Bushfire assessment for a subdivision at Scarsdale.

01.01.2022 As of today, I am now Accredited as a BPAD Bushfire Planning & Design Accredited Practitioner Level 2 (BPAD53525) with FPA Australia. Which means that you now have complete peace of mind when it comes to using the services of Culingaia Flora Environmental Consultancy for BAL ratings and Bushfire management assessments. https://connect.fpaa.com.au/Co/Registers/BPAD_register.aspx

01.01.2022 Today got some advertising put on the car. I would like to thank Coppens signs for doing a fantastic job - thanks heaps guys!

01.01.2022 Beautiful but chilly day up at St Arnaud, undertaking a Bushfire Management Assessment. A nice break from the drizzily weather in Ballarat. It was nice to see a Yellow gum in flower in a warm, sheltered spot near a building - being enjoyed by insects.

01.01.2022 Looks like an interesting conference Australian Bushfire Building Conference Following the unprecedented 2019/20 bushfire season, the 2020 Bushfire Building Conference is shaping up to be a crucial event for building industry professionals, planners and researchers.... A partnership between FPA Australia and the Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE), the 6th Australian Bushfire Building Conference will explore the theme of: Stronger and Smarter Lessons Learnt. It will be held as a 1.5-day virtual event on September 17-18, 2020, with a live event to be added if COVID-19 restrictions allow. The program will include presentations from renowned national and international experts who will discuss the latest research, updates and technologies on building in bushfire prone areas. The highlight of this years conference will be a key address from Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM, the inaugural Commissioner for Resilience NSW and former Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. Conference tickets are $200 + GST for the Virtual Conference and $380 + GST for the Live Conference (yet to be confirmed). Optional Pre-Conference Field Trip and a BPAD Round Table will be run if conditions allow. For more information and to register please visit www.bushfireconference.com.au

01.01.2022 A magnificent large old tree. To be part of the future conservation objectives on this property - seen during a Land management and native vegetation assessment.

01.01.2022 The challenges of staking out new house sites - When the cows discover a new stratching post! I think this is how many of our stakes go mysteriously missing from several sites! Lol.