Hattah Bush Block is a privately owned block of 676 hectares south east of Hattah in the Victorian Mallee.
It is protected by Trust For Nature covenants which will conserve its natural environment forever.
The property provides habitat for the nationally vulnerable Mallee Fowl, Mallee Emu Wren, Regent Parrot and many other species of birds, animals and reptiles that inhabit this floristically diverse landscape.
Six ecological vegetation classes (EVCs) exist here, most of them classed as vulnerable, depleted or endangered and the property is an important link between nature reserves.
We purchased the property in 2011 and moved here permanently in 2014. Since taking over the covenant we have worked to maintain and improve the conservation values of the property despite the ongoing threats that exist in the broader landscape.
We have carried out extensive and ongoing control of foxes, rabbits, goats, feral cats and weeds which will contribute to improving conditions for the numerous threatened species present on the property.
Sixteen active Malleefowl mounds have identified and we are undertaking ongoing monitoring to evaluate the outcome of ongoing pest animal control works. There also numerous inactive mounds.
We have collaborated with environmental organisations (Mallee Catchment Management Authority, Arthur Rylah Institute, Birdlife Australia, Malleefowl Recovery Group) in projects to evaluate and improve the property.
The flora habitat is healthy. There is native pine regeneration, spinifex is thriving throughout the property and there is significant regeneration of weeping pittosporum.
Our goal is to protect, preserve and enhance the property for the future.
CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
This property, which is predominantly mallee bush, contains six Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) in areas of remnant vegetation totalling 574.23 hectares. This includes a significant area of semi-arid woodland EVC which is a non-eucalypt woodland listed as a threatened vegetation community under Victorian and national legislation.
The remainder of the protected land on the covenant is regenerating following agricultural disturbances in the past.
The covenant is located in a high priority zone south of the Murray River and forms part of a corridor between Hattah Kulkyne National Park and Annuello Flora and Fauna Reserve. Numerous fauna species inhabit this diverse landscape. The large area of the covenant provides important habitat and feeding grounds for the nationally endangered Mallee Emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee) and nationally vulnerable Mallee Fowl (Leipoa ocellata) and Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus). They are members of the threatened Victorian mallee bird community.
Other rare and threatened fauna species seen on the covenant are the near-threatened Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata), the vulnerable Common Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina murina) and the near threatened Yellow-faced Whip Snake (Demansia psammophis).
The property contains a number of rare and threatened flora species including the rare Wait-a-While (Acacia colletioides) and the vulnerable Umbrella Wattle (Acacia oswaldii).
The surrounding landscape is generally characterized by agricultural use such as an almond farm, dry land grazing and cropping areas. The property also adjoins the Hattah Kulkyne National Park. The area has a good network of roadside vegetation which connects many of the otherwise isolated patches of remnant mallee vegetation on private and public land.