To orienteers Kooyoora, Wehla Hill, Mt Korong, Mt Egbert and Mt Tarrengower reserves have a special place in the sport and their hearts. 
But for two orienteers, Julie Flynn and Neil Barr, errant cacti plants continue to appear on these reserves, threatening to overtake the landscape.
Preparations for the National Easter Orienteering Carnival to be held in the Loddon Shire are underway with a significant focus on controlling the invasive Wheel Cactus infestation to preserve the landscape. 
Organisers Julie Flynn and Neil Barr said that in the lead up to the carnival, members of the organising committee have been attending monthly cactus killing sessions at Mount Egbert with staff of Parks Victoria. 
:Previously the Bendigo Orienteering Club held some working bees with the Loddon Plains Landcare Network after discovering a significant infestation on Mt Kooyoora, to try to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 lockdowns put a stop to the activity,” they said. 
“However, the club was able to discover that the orienteers had the physical capacity to get to locations beyond the reach of many other volunteers, making them an invaluable resource. 
“The mapper for the Easter event mapped each cactus plant he found, to a total of 1000.  “Many would only have been found because of this mapping, as the reserve appeared cactus- free to the passing view from a vehicle.” 
They say that in 2017 some members of Bendigo Orienteers were checking control sites on the north side of Mount Kooyoora. 
“When these orienteers looked up to the northern slopes of the mountain, the colours were wrong. The alien grey- green was a large infestation of Opuntia robusta – Wheel Cactus. Opuntia is a native of central and northern Mexico where it grows on rocky slopes between 1500 and 3000 metres in altitude. It is valued for its fruits.
“Unfortunately, Opuntia is very well adapted to the lower altitude granite slopes of northern Victoria.
 “An important landscape feature in the Loddon Shire is the series of modest peaks of scattered large granite boulders rising out of the flat riverine plains. Mt Kooyoora is a southern outcrop. Running in a line further north are Mt Korong, Little Mount, Mt Egbert, Mt Buckrabunyule, the Terricks, Pyramid Hill, and Mt Hope.” 
The orienteering club believes the problems with Opuntia first became apparent on Mt Buckrabunyule. The initial infestation there was brought under control by group of local residents who worked on this every week for years.
“By 2005 the mountain appeared free of cactus, however this was deceptive. The mature plants produce fruit which contain very hard seeds. Some birds love the fruit and are effective seed spreaders, resulting in a bank of seeds in the cactus-free landscape. Fifteen years later the cactus had again taken over the landscape,” say Julie and Neil.
Cactus control across the region has been a hit and miss affair. Some private landholders control their infestations, some don’t. 
“For some decades a community group has been working to protect Mt Tarrengower near Maldon, but the cactus is still appearing on the mountain,” they say. 
The Mt Korong Eco-Watch Group has been working to protect Mt Korong, but age is gradually impacting the group. 
“The Djarra Corporation has greater access to funds and is recovering Buckrabunyule, using drone mapping to locate plants and contractors to spray.
“The Loddon Shire has been funding some cactus control along roadsides, while further to the east the Bendigo Field Naturalists have been working on an infestation in the Kamarooka forest. 
“At the most recent orienteering event on Mt Kooyoora, more cactus plants that will need attention were found. Plants are also being mapped on Mt Korong and these locations are being passed on to the Mt Korong Eco-Watch group.
“The lesson from Mt Buckrabunyule is clear. If future generations of orienteers want to enjoy their sport in this region, then someone will need to control the cactus that is spreading south.” 
Julie and Neil say It will take all the efforts of Parks Victoria, Loddon Shire, traditional owners, landcare groups, local farmers and land-owners as well as orienteers and others.