PARK WATCH Article March 2025 |

Dr Sera Blair, NatureWatch Coordinator and Jordan Crook, Parks and Nature Campaigner, report on survey work in a vitally important part of the Western Port Woodlands

The historic value of the ex-Holden Proving Ground to car lovers is easily understandable, but the natural values have remained largely unobserved. Scientists and land managers have wondered about the 877 hectare site from afar, curious about what secrets it holds.

Which plants, animals and fungi live there? How disturbed is it? Would it be a suitable fenced refuge for threatened animal and plant translocations?

So it was an incredibly exciting opportunity when VNPA was invited to investigate the mammal population of the area. The program is part of a biodiversity survey run by the Bass Coast Shire Council and the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group.

On every visit to the site we encountered new areas as the property continued to reveal itself. The more we explored, the more we realised what a beautiful and rare gem this property is and the importance of keeping it protected.

Say cheese!

Between February and October 2024, we deployed 68 wildlife cameras. We recorded for a total of 1504 days, taking 32,835 photos and 322 videos. We also conducted six spotlighting surveys and installed audio recorders at multiple sites.

In total, we recorded 42 different animals via camera or spotlighting. Swamp Wallabies were the most common across all camera sites, followed by foxes and Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

The large grassy areas on the property are extremely popular with macropods and we often thought it would be a beautiful place for tour buses to visit as one could guarantee seeing a lot of kangaroos and wallabies in a short drive. No chance of disappointed overseas visitors!

While we recorded one Long-nosed Bandicoot, we were disappointed not to find any Southern Brown Bandicoots. We made educated guesses on potential habitat areas and focused our cameras there, but no luck. This is despite recent records of them just north in Adam’s Creek Nature Conservation Reserve.

Our audio data was checked for the presence of eight threatened birds, two amphibians and two mammals. None were present, but the cameras did capture a threatened Lewin’s Rail.

Strzelecki success

Following desktop surveys of the Holden Proving Ground’s vegetation communities and surrounding records, we did a targeted survey for Strzelecki Gums (Eucalyptus strzeleckii). This Critically Endangered tree has beautiful pink to red mottled bark on its white smooth trunks and wavy sweet-smelling leaves.

After a full day’s survey – with a botanist on hand to verify our findings – it soon dawned on the team that the Strzelecki Gums at the site are likely the largest known population left in Victoria. There are probably over 1000 Strzelecki Gums in this incredible area!

This further enhances the importance of the ex-Holden Proving Ground to Victoria’s natural heritage.

Elusive Tea-tree Fingers

In surveying for Tea-tree Fingers (Hypocreopsis amplectens), we teamed up with a consultant and a volunteer with expertise in this unusual and Critically Endangered fungus.

For many years, it was the only fungi listed under Victorian legislation as threatened with extinction. It relies on occupying dead, standing and partly elevated fallen branches of a handful of heathy woodland plants such as Banksia, Melaleuca and Kunzea.

Although past survey work within the site has found Tea-tree Fingers, we were unable to locate any during our surveys. However, the host fungi on which the target fungus relies for suitable habitat was discovered outside previously known sites, indicating Tea-tree Fingers may very well occur there.

Helping hands

On the survey, we were joined by enthusiastic plant and bird experts from the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, a highly educational experience. Bass Coast Shire Council did a great job supporting the biodiversity survey report and continues to search for ways to protect the integrity of this property. We hope we get to work with them again!   

Members of the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group recorded 89 birds, including threatened Powerful Owls and Blue-winged Parrots, across their year of on-ground bird surveys.

A big thank you to the amazing VinFast staff who manage the site. They not only allowed us to visit, but escorted us around, helped with fieldwork, told us about the history of the property and shared personal insights into its intrinsic values.

One staff member, who has worked there for over 40 years, said ‘I never knew why it was special, I just always knew it was.’ We feel privileged to be part of a team that has helped them to understand the significant natural values behind this property’s charm. It’s also inspiring VinFast staff to find the right buyer to continue the protection and legacy of care they have given over the years.