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| One of the major concerns of the Chalmers family is protection and preservation of the native flora and fauna on their property and minimal impact on the environment from their viticultural pursuits.
Perhaps the most wonderful attribute of the 4100 hectare “Paiko” property is that the Chalmers family has declared 80% of the land a private flora and fauna reserve. They never remove a tree to plant a vine, utilising only areas of arable land which had been carefully cleared in the 60’s by Chalmers’ environmentally conscious father and uncle.
Every paddock has been cleared sensitively and wisely so as to retain habitat for native fauna, every hill top has a stand of ancient remnant vegetation acting as a wind break, ensuring no erosion of topsoil, and every tree or shrub which is even marginally rare has been saved and nurtured within the scheme of the broad acre farming and subsequent vineyard developments.
No stock are run on the balance of the property, it is for the exclusive use of the thousands of native animals and birds found there.
Paiko has 14km of frontage to the Murray River and encompasses about 1000 hectares Ancient Red Gum forest, home to individual trees which have stood for up to 1000 years. There are flood flats with an abundance of black and the rare yellow box flanking these red gum forests. In the northern corner of the property is the bed of an ancient extinct lake, a part of the Willandra lakes chain which includes the World Heritage Lake Mungo area.
All over the property, from the lake to the Paiko creek to the Mallee country and river banks can be found evidence of the traditional owners of the land. Middens, canoe trees and skinning knives are all reminders of a time past, reminders of the importance of the family’s duty of care for the cultural history and physical health of the land.
Native fauna is in abundance and with the self imposed ban on hunting native animals and the active control of feral animals being implemented as a part of the care regime of Paiko, the predators are being kept at bay.
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With all interior fences removed, Kangaroos, Emus, Echidnas even native water rats roam freely on Paiko and that’s not to mention the hundreds of species of birds, some considered highly endangered, that inhabit the many and varied woodlands.
One highly colourful parrot species in particular,
the Regent Parrot, has been on the endangered species list in Australia for some years and in the late nineties scientist believed there to be only 200 breeding pairs left.
The ancient Red Gum forests along the river on Paiko provide one of the last breeding grounds for these stunning creatures. Due to the protection of their territory they are making a great recovery with current numbers the greatest in decades.
Paiko is also rich in rare flora and steps are continually taken to protect these plants and encourage their re-establishment.
Chalmers also acknowledge that climate change is a reality and are constantly taking positive steps to reduce their carbon emissions while implementing high-tech systems to ensure highly economical water consumption.
Chalmers have implemented another plan in response to the problem of climate change.
Through their nursery’s varietal selection and importation program they have identified and cultivated grape varieties which are naturally more resistant to drought. This means quality fruit in warmer growing regions with less water requirement and usually also higher resistance to disease.
These attributes mean that as our wine regions get warmer and drier we have the opportunity to continue to create wines of great quality while putting less stress on natural resources and using less chemicals.
Kim Chalmers’ commitment to mitigating climate change goes even further than the vineyard.
In 2006 she was selected as one of the first 85 Australian volunteers to train with Al Gore, as a part of The Climate Project, to help educate and inform regional Victorians about the dangers of climate change and to encourage positive action. |
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