88 addison ave athelstone 5076 number 138 apr-may-jun 2013 ... · ambers gully is a long term...

Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Inc. Number 138 Apr-May-Jun 2013

88 Addison Ave Athelstone 5076 Number 138 Apr-May-Jun 2013

In this Edition: Correction Ambers Gully Project site

Friends of Parks AGM Winners and Losers Diary Dates

Correction In the president’s report in the last newsletter, I made reference to Stradbroke Scouts, this should have read

Pembroke Scouts. Please accept my apology for this error.

Erica in Ambers Gully project site Ambers Gully is a long term project of the Friends, and encompasses an extensive area on the northern side

of Black Hill Conservation Park. There are grasses and herbaceous perennials of conservation significance

in the project area, and a region of Banksia and Hakea vegetative associations which are very important.

Unfortunately the project site has an infestation of

the woody weed Erica. This plant originated from

Europe, Africa and Macronesia regions, and does

not belong in our Conservation Parks, it competes

with native species, and does not appear to be used

as food by native animals.

A search of the Atlas of Living Australia indicates

the one we have in the area is Erica arborea, the

tree heath. It can grow to 5m tall, and will re-sprout

after fire. There is an extensive infestation to the

East of the project site, resulting in a steady stream

of seeds to re-infest the project site. The plants in

the project site are mature, and have been setting

seed over a number of years, resulting in the infestation extending beyond the Ambers Gully / Yurebilla

Trail. Each mature plant produces millions of seeds each year, which germinate readily in favourable

conditions.

The friends have been working for many years removing the Erica from the Banksia and Hakea vegetation

associations.

Last year, the Department conducted a controlled burn through a major part of the project site, including

the area the Erica grows in. This has thinned out the vegetation cover temporarily, and makes the extent of

the infestation much more readily visible.

Volunteers from Holcim worked near the Banksia and Hakea vegetation associations to stop the mature

plants re-sprouting from their woody lignotubers.

Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Inc. Number 137 Jan-Feb-Mar 2013

When the Department conducts controlled burns, they do have funding to ensure weed species do not

outcompete native species in post-fire regeneration, but the funding is insufficient to eradicate the weed

species. The department’s task is to prevent any decline in native vegetation communities and to control

weeds that contribute significantly to fuel loads.

To this end, the department has a Prescribed Burn

Weeds Management Plan for the 2012 burn area,

which includes management of Olive, Erica and

Boneseed. The goal of this plan is to reduce the

extent of fire response weeds.

The department has mapped out the extent of the

Erica infestation, and it is noted that there is one

outlying area from the main infestation. This is the

outbreak on the Western side of the Ambers Gully

/ Yurebilla Trail. This area is outside the burnt

area, so is unlikely to get any attention in the post-

fire weed control works the Department is

undertaking.

In consultation with Coral Marsden, our liaison Ranger, I am proposing the Friends work on this section of

Erica during the June working bee.

Erica can be controlled in a number of ways:

• Spraying the actively growing plants with a suitable herbicide;

• Drilling holes in the wooding lignotuber and filling the holes with herbicide;

• Cutting the plant off near the ground level and applying herbicide to the cut surface;

• Frilling around the trunk with an axe and applying herbicide;

• Hand removing removing small plants roots and all;

• Breaking the base of mature plants below the lignotuber. (the plant will not regrow from roots

below the lignotuber).

Although plants will be actively growing in June, our method of control will be mechanical rather than

chemical, as the chemical we are able to use as volunteers in the park, has limited efficacy on Erica.

It would be great if you could join us on the June working bee to tackle the Erica.

John Fleming

Committee Contacts President John Fleming Ph: 8336 5275 [email protected] Deputy President Graham Churchett Ph: 8336 5070 Secretary Treasurer

Russell Dahms Russell Dahms

Ph: 8336 5275 [email protected]

Minute Secretary Records Officer

Ann Taylor

Newsletter editor Website

John Fleming John Fleming

Ph. 8336 5275 [email protected]


Friends of Parks Inc

V o l u n t e e r s w o r k i n g f o r c o n s e r v a t i o n

President: David Mitchell AM

21 Orange Avenue, Golden Grove 5125 E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (08) 8251 1088

www.communitywebs.org/FriendsofParks

ABN 32 457 858 155

Patrons: Dr. Barbara Hardy, A.O.; Mrs. Jean M cLaren; Hon. David Wotton; Mr Dene Cordes, PSM

President’s Chat No 39

8 March 2013

Dear Friends of Parks Members

Friends of Parks Inc, Annual General Meeting

Our AGM is fixed for Monday 13th May in the Volunteer Centre at Belair National Park. Further details

are provided on the documentation accompanying this letter. For those who can, please consider

attending and, perhaps more importantly, think about nominating for a board position. Last year,

despite losing a couple of very experienced members, we recruited well, increased our numbers and

now have the makings of a good and engaged team. As advised in January it is my intention to

nominate again for President with a view to tackling a number of outstanding issues. Improving the

condition of our parks and a better deal for Friends of Parks and all conservation volunteers remain

my key personal performance indicators. A strong and active Board is necessary to ensure the future

of the organisation, negotiate forcefully and fairly with DEWNR and the government and improve the

quality and appeal of the organisation.

The Board meets on a two monthly basis (June, August, October, December, February, April), usually

on a Thursday evening and mostly at Keswick. These arrangements are not set in stone, however,

and could be varied to suit members’ circumstances. There are various roles and ways in which you

can assist the board; we have not had a Secretary for a number of years and, with assistance from

the invaluable Pam Smith, I’ve ghosted in the role but an appointment would help spread the load.

We need to be more reflective of member group aspirations and concerns. Regional representation is

always difficult given the tyranny of distance and we remain open to ideas on how to remedy the

deficiency. Technology is one possibility and/or the concept of regional representation participating on

a project by project basis. Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome; a little help will go a

long way in this important cause.

We continue to chip away at the challenge of how better to promote the association and interact with

our key stakeholders; every bit of help is welcome. We have a wonderful story to tell with an

outstanding record of achievement over the past three decades. Let’s make sure we continue to

survive and flourish. In the meantime keep up the good work and please maintain your contributions

to your park, the local community and our environment. Increasingly Friends of Parks are shouldering

responsibility for the protected reserve system; we need more assistance at the strategic and broader

governance level and to that end I ask you for your support for the coming year and beyond.

Kind regards

President





21 Orange Avenue, Golden Grove 5125

E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (08) 8251 1088 www.communitywebs.org/FriendsofParks

ABN 32 457 858 155

Patrons: Dr Barbara Hardy, AO.; Mrs Jean M cLaren; Hon. David Wotton, AM; Dene Cordes PSM.

FRIENDS OF PARKS INC - NOTICE OF 20TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

DAY/DATE: Monday, 13 May, 2013 (beginning of National Volunteer Week)

VENUE: Volunteer Centre, Belair National Park, near Long Gully Oval

TRAVEL: Own transport

MORNING TEA: 10.00 am - courtesy of Friends of Parks Inc, via Volunteer Support Grant -

prepared by the Friends of Belair National Park

MEETING: 10.30 am - Annual General Meeting to commence - to finish around 12.00

noon

COST: no charge this year as no lunch or tour included. Free entry on the day to

Belair National Park for Friends of Parks Inc members.

GROUP REPORTS: To be sent in advance and tabled (see below).

Group Reports - the concise written reports of Friends Groups continue to be well received. The idea is to

provide a mini outline of your group’s main activities. There is a maximum of half a page per group. This is to

be provided in writing (email is preferred), to the Secretariat (see reply page for address), in advance,

to facilitate inclusion in the minutes and files. There will be no verbal report session. You are invited to

forward a mini report to the Secretariat (Volunteers and Partnerships Unit) on your group and its activities

for the past year, with your reply form, by 15 April 2013.

Agenda items for the AGM are to be forwarded to the President for consideration by 15 April 2013.

Please forward the reply slip from the package, for seating, name tag, voting, and morning tea.

David Mitchell AM

PRESIDENT

FRIENDS OF PARKS INC





21 Orange Avenue, Golden Grove 5125 E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (08) 8251 1088

www.communitywebs.org/FriendsofParks

ABN 32 457 858 155

Patrons: Dr Barbara Hardy, AO.; Mrs Jean M cLaren; Hon. David Wotton, AM; Dene Cordes PSM.

20TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF FRIENDS OF PARKS INC,

TO BE HELD AT THE VOLUNTEER CENTRE, BELAIR NATIONAL PARK ON MONDAY, 13TH MAY,

2013, AT 10.00 AM FOR 10.30 AM START

A G E N D A

10.00 am MORNING TEA ON ARRIVAL – courtesy of Friends of Parks Inc via Volunteer Support Grant

10.30 am COMMENCE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. WELCOME - by President, David Mitchell, to all Friends Groups; any Guests.

Explain Annual General Meeting procedures.

2. APOLOGIES

3. INTRODUCTIONS - Each person attending to be invited to stand and state their name and group.

4. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF 19TH A.G.M., 14/05/2012 (previously circulated)

6. BUSINESS ARISING FROM 19TH A.G.M., 14/05/2012

6.1 STATISTICS FOR 2012 - report by Ian Radbone, Senior Project Officer, Volunteers and

Partnerships Unit

7. REPORTS

7.1 BOARD REPORT - by President, David Mitchell

7.2 TREASURER’S AUDITED REPORT - Kevin Osborn

Including report from the Hon Auditor

7.3 GIFT FUND AUDITED REPORT - Bill Heaven

7.4 PUBLIC OFFICER REPORT - Mandy Carter

8. ANNUAL ELECTIONS

The following nominations have been received to serve on the Board as detailed in the constitution.

ELECTIONS:

POSITION CURRENT INCUMBENT IN

2012/13

NOMINATIONS FOR

2013/14


President David Mitchell

Vice President Charles Connelly

Public Officer Mandy Carter

Secretary No nomination received

Treasurer Kevin Osborn

Committee: general members

Bill Heaven

Graham Henley

Patsy Johnson

Kosette Lambert

Duncan Mackenzie

Don Ransom

Gill Ross

Andrew Winkler

Andy Young

Board = Office Bearers (5) plus general members (no more than 10)

Hon. Auditor: Nomination to be put forward and seconded.

To note:

Web Master: Hugh Lambert

Secretariat : Volunteers and Partnerships Unit Ian Radbone

(ex-officio) Volunteers and Partnerships Unit Pam Smith

9. FRIENDS OF PARKS INC GIFT FUND

Report by Treasurer and call for new Committee members.

10. GENERAL BUSINESS

10.1 Set annual subscription fee for 2014 (due 1/1/2014) – Currently:

Full Member - $10.00 per Friends Group per year.

Affiliate Member - $15.00 per group per year.

10.2 2014 Annual General Meeting - Location to be chosen by Board.

10.3 29th Friends of Parks Forum: - 10-12 May, 2014 - to be hosted by the three Friends

Groups on Kangaroo Island - KI Western Districts, Dudley Peninsula Parks, and Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park - Connecting People, Parks and Places

10.4 Future Forums - to be hosted by:

Call for nominations for a Forum Standing Committee to source potential hosts for future bi-

ennial forums.

11. GROUP REPORTS

Each group has been asked for a brief written report on their major activities during the last twelve

months. To be tabled. No verbal reports.

12. THANKS

• All delegates for attending.

• Bruce Evans for auditing.

• Volunteers and Partnerships Unit for organisation and support.

• Friends of Belair National Park for hosting the Annual General Meeting, and providing morning

tea.

14. CLOSE


Plant Survival – The Winners and the Losers…. After almost seven months from October 2012 to March 2013 with no substantial rain the signs of plant stress in the conservation parks, street reserves and linear park are becoming more and more obvious. The lack of moisture was not only affecting recent plantings – but many planting up to seven years old…. To me this indicated that the current moisture profile in the soil was the lowest it had been in seven years and the effects were not limited to native but also introduced plants. In these situations the manicured lawns and ovals of some of the local properties and schools look out of place and one wonders the amount of water being used either from the mains or bore water systems. With this in mind I decided to do a check through the Athelstone Wildflower garden to see what was coping with the dry conditions and what was struggling. Some of the plants I looked at would not be there now if it wasn’t for the supplementary watering and the use of a wetting agent to help the applied water to overcome the moisture repellent effect that can occur on certain soils after prolonged dry periods. The majority of the plants in the wildflower garden were looking very stressed and many had – or were about to die. I have included some pictures of some of the survivors and colour I did find in the wildflower garden.

Russell Dahms


Committee Meetings Tuesday 7:30pm Black Hill Conservation Park 88 Addison Ave, Athelstone.

• 16 April 2013

• 21 May 2013

• 18 June 2013

Diary Dates! Please note: Working bee dates may change due to weather conditions and other factors. Please wear suitable clothing, all tools provided. Remember to check our website for changes to the schedule!

ARPA project Monday 1 April 2013, 8:30 am Montacute Valley Black Hill Conservation Park Collaborative project with Australian Retired Persons Association.

4th Creek Project Tuesday 2 April 2013, 9:30 am Morialta Conservation Park Meet in the car park closest to first falls.

Wildflower Garden Sunday 7 April 2013 9:00 am Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

Horsnell Gully Saturday 20 April 2013, 2:00pm Horsnell Gully Conservation Park Meet in the main car park at Horsnell Gully.

Focus on broom, periwinkle. Working bee will be cancelled if it is raining.

Wildflower Garden Sunday 21 April 2013, 9:00 am Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

Pylon Track Sunday 28 April 2013, 9:00 am Morialta Conservation Park Meet at gate 10 off Moores Road.

Wildflower Garden Sunday 5 May 2013, 9:00pm Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

ARPA project Monday 6 May 2013, 8:30 am Montacute Valley Black Hill Conservation Park Collaborative project with Australian Retired Persons Association.

4th Creek Project Tuesday 7 May 2013, 9:30 am Morialta Conservation Park Meet in the car park closest to first falls.

Horsnell Gully Saturday 18 May 2013, 2:00pm Horsnell Gully Conservation Park Planting and/or weed control Meet in the main car park at Horsnell Gully. Working bee will be cancelled if it is raining.

Wildflower Garden Sunday 19 May 2013, 9:00pm Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

4th Creek Project Sunday 26 May 2013, 9:00 am Morialta Conservation Park Meet the Resource Centre car park

Wildflower Garden Sunday 2 June 2013, 9.00 am Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

ARPA project Monday 3 June 2013, 8:30 am Montacute Valley Black Hill Conservation Park Collaborative project with Australian Retired Persons Association

Wildflower Garden Sunday 16 June 2013, 9.00 am Black Hill Conservation Park Meet at the building at 88 Addison Avenue Athelstone.

Horsnell Gully Saturday 22 June 2013, 2:00pm Horsnell Gully Conservation Park Focus on broom, chinckerinche, watsonia and 3 cnr garlic Meet in the main car park at Horsnell Gully. Working bee may be cancelled if it is raining.

Ambers Gully Sunday 30 June 2013, 9:00 am Black Hill Conservation Park Meet the Ambers Gully car park, we will proceed via vehicle to the water tank to work on Erica.

Next time you are on the web, remember to drop in for a look at our website, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fobhm.org where you will find the most up to date information about our working bees.

88 addison ave athelstone 5076 number 138 apr-may-jun 2013 ... · ambers gully is a long term...

Documents