May 9th, 2025In a verdant grove it’s Vern v Parks Vic
As branches and leaves crackle underfoot it is hard to imagine a less likely site for a tussle between bureaucracy and those with a passion for the bush.
Yet a couple of dozen locals – said to be half of those concerned – turn out on a recent Sunday to hear defenders of this serene reserve.
The respect and affection for this oasis rings clearly from speakers with expertise as they acknowledge what is possible with land that has been burnt.
Thirty years ago Vern Howell, speaking, cleared blackberries from this land in Eganstown after its perimeter had been bulldozed and blackberries burnt.
Not only did he work to clear the blackberry curse, but he also planted now maturing Californian redwood trees whose leaves form a soft carpet, and he put in a waterway.
Over the three decades this has been a labour of love for 76-year-old Vern, whose background is in forestry, both working and teaching.
Imagine, then, his shock when he was told by Parks Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) that, in their words, they want to “contemporise” the Streamside Reserve and scrap his 29-year-old licence to the land because he is not running stock.
Of course, he never wanted to run stock, but a grazier’s licence was the only one available. An $80-a-year grazier’s licence, renewable every five years, is typically issued to graze cattle on Crown land owned by the State government.
Vern’s aim is to save the reserve, not graze it, keeping clear patches for kangaroos and wallabies. Black cockatoos drop by, while shitake mushrooms sprout.
A gigantic pine tree still carries an ancient cubby. At its foot lies a big, rusting miner’s bucket, while a pile of stones tell of the remnants of the Menadue homestead.
“It would be a shame,” says Vern with fervour, “to have this turned back into a ‘bushfire farm’. I’d like to see Parks Victoria stop and let a local committee get involved. We want to talk to Parks Victoria about plans for the next 10 to 20 years.”
His understanding is that Parks Victoria may come through again to burn blackberries and so destroy the reserve. When asked by The Local about these worries, Parks Victoria says that it is “supporting local and wider community access” to the reserve, which is up a track off Basalt Road, near the Midland Highway.
It adds: “We’ve had positive discussions with Eganstown residents about the future of the reserve, including weed control efforts.
“If previous licence holders would like to continue their work protecting values in the reserve, we welcome the opportunity.”
Yet Vern’s question hangs in the air, just how would this work?
Words & Image: Kevin Childs
