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latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M
A Living Laboratory: La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary
Jennifer Chaput, Environmental Sustainability ManagerVern Steele, Wildlife Sanctuary Operations Manager
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability Conference21 October 2015
2La Trobe University
What is the La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary?
• Bundoora campus master plan (1967) –established to restore and manage indigenous flora and fauna
• Open River Red Gum Woodland
• Regional open space network: Darebin Creek corridor, Gresswell Grange and Bundoora Park
• On-campus, living facility for teaching and research
• Operation depends on partnerships and community engagement
3La Trobe University
Location & Features
Sanctuary:• 30ha in size• Stocked kangaroo population• Range of local wildlife
(possums, bats) and birds• 250 species of indigenous
flora propagated and planted• 10 varieties of nesting boxes
produced and installed
Buildings:• Office building with visitor
centre and potting area• 2 teaching buildings• 80 seat amphitheatre• 100 seat Yellow Box Hut• 100 seat Ironbark Hut• Glasshouse, three
polyhouses• Undercover retail nursery
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Wildlife Sanctuary Original Condition (1967)
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Wildlife Sanctuary Restoration (Today)
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Governance
• Within the Infrastructure & Operations Division -Environmental Sustainability Unit
o 5 full-time staffo 3 part-time staffo Casuals and volunteers
• Operations influenced by teaching, learning and research relationships
• Future Committee to oversee biodiversity within the ‘eco-corridor’
7La Trobe University
Sector Innovation
• Trust for Nature conservation covenant - Wildlife Sanctuary and north bushland reserve
• Conserves native plants and wildlife, natural interest and beauty, ecological significance, historical interest, bushland, trees, rock formations and water bodies
• Unique to tertiary education facilities in Australia
8La Trobe University
Partnerships & Engagement
The Wildlife Sanctuary relies on partnerships and community engagement to operate all aspects of the Sanctuary:
• External Partnerships• Conservation Volunteers Australia• Greening Australia• Community Volunteer Support
• Internal Partnerships• Teaching & Learning• Research• Current and Future Students• Campus Operations
• Community Engagement
9La Trobe University
Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA)
• Non-profit, partnering with individuals, businesses and Government to provide volunteers for environmental and wildlife conservation projects
• Annual CVA partnership provides guarantees volunteer hours and projects
• Provides teams of supervised volunteers, 2-3 days/week, to support land management operations (i.e. weeding, planting, etc.)
10La Trobe University
Greening Australia
• Non-profit, dedicated to restoring and conserving indigenous landscapes
• Partnership allows for joint delivery of education programs
o Habitat Conservation and Management Course (expertise in plant identification and growing wildlife habitat)
• La Trobe MOU with Greening Australia for research and seed storage
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Community Volunteer Support (Friends of the Wildlife Reserve and Others)
• Local volunteers dedicated to the re-establishment of flora and fauna in the Lower Yarra Valley (including the Wildlife Sanctuary)
• Weekly support in seed sorting and producing local indigenous plants
• Regular working bees within the Wildlife Sanctuary
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Teaching & Learning
• Unique, on-campus outdoor facility for teaching and learning
• Partners with La Trobe University Schools to deliver curriculum:
o Biological Scienceso Agricultural and Environmental
Scienceso Education and Teachingo Historical and Cultural Studieso Information Technology &
Computer Scienceo Marketing and Management
13La Trobe University
Research
• Partnerships with La Trobe students and academics to conduct research
• Strong alignment with La Trobe University’s Research Focus Area (RFA) Securing Food, Water and the Environment
• Current research includes tree-roosting insectivorous bats, tactile deterrents for brushtail possums, etc.
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Future Students
• Engage with local schools to provide education experiences for all ages
• Year 10 work experience and community service placements available throughout the year
• Partner with La Trobe Marketing & Engagement to provide education experiences for year 10-12 students
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Developing ‘Work Ready’ Students
• Internships, volunteer and casual work opportunities available to current La Trobe students
• Real experiences aligning with studies:
o Education students – delivering education experiences and tours to all age groups
o Botany students – indigenous seed collection and plant propagation ; running the retail store
o Zoology students – monitoring predators; kangaroo counts
o Archaeology students – identifying and recording historic locations and artefacts
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Campus Operations
• Manage flora, fauna and water bodies on covenanted land
• Propagate and sell indigenous plants and nesting boxes internally to La Trobe operating areas for landscaping and for use in construction projects
• Offer expert advice on plant and wildlife management internally and to the wider community
17La Trobe University
Community Engagement
• Wildlife Sanctuary and retail indigenous plant store, open to the public six days/week, 10am-3pm
• Citizen science opportunities for public participation (stag watch, bat night, frog calls, etc.)
• Public twilight tours, facility hire
• Markets, local Council festivals
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Foundations for the Future
• Updated Facilitieso Visitor centre & staff officeso Learning centre & amphitheatreo Thermal-controlled potting area / seed storageo Accessible retail spaceo Pedestrian bridge
• Predator-Proof Fence Completiono Biodiversity enhancemento Reintroduction biology
Thank you
latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M
Thank you!
Jennifer ChaputEnvironmental Sustainability [email protected]
Vern SteeleWildlife Sanctuary Operations [email protected]
website: latrobe.edu.au/wildlife facebook: www.facebook.com/La-Trobe-Wildlife-Sanctuary
