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SHARING
THE SAMPHIRE COAST
A
regional community forum - Sharing the Samphire Coast - is
planned for Sunday, October 10 2004 to celebrate the secrets and
hidden treasures of the Samphire Coast along the northern Gulf St
Vincent. The forum will be held at the Town Hall in Port Wakefield.
The northern Gulf St Vincent is one of seven priority shorebird sites
selected by a national Shorebird Conservation Project (SCP)
funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and managed by WWF Australia.
The project enables communities to conserve and manage
internationally and nationally important wetlands across Australia.
The Samphire Coast Forum will include specially selected speakers who
will share information on the natural wonders of the coast and
describe the many benefits it provides to regional communities.
The forum will provide an opportunity for the community to discuss
possible future actions to safeguard the values of the Samphire Coast
while allowing continued enjoyment of the treasures and benefits the
coastline has to offer.
The need for a Samphire Coast Forum grew out of community interest
associated with the Shorebird Conservation Project, which is
supporting projects at Middle Beach, Port Gawler and Thompson Beach.
These projects aim to protect migratory shorebirds which fly from
their breeding grounds in Siberia, Alaska and central and
north-eastern Asia to spend their summer feeding on the rich food
sources along the beaches of northern Gulf St Vincent. The forum will
include the story of these amazing birds which can fly up to 12,500
km one way (20,000 km return) along their flyway between the
northern and southern hemispheres (East Asian-Australasian Flyway).
The Samphire Coast Forum will showcase the many values and benefits for
the whole region while lifting the profile of this very rich
ecosystem," forum facilitator Anne Jensen said at a recent meeting
(in Two Wells).
The day will be designed to create new networks and links among community
groups, and to provide them with better tools to promote and manage
the very special resources of the Samphire Coast," Ms Jensen said.
Bookings can be made through the CABRI Centre in Two Wells. Information about
the forum and registration forms will be available through the CABRI
Centre, local government offices, regional media, websites,
newsletters and community groups.
There will be a modest charge for an entertaining and interesting program,
including lunch and an information kit with details of information
sources, technical advice, funding opportunities and community
initiatives.
All interested residents of the Samphire Coast are urged to put Sunday 10
October in their diaries, and watch for further details in the coming
few weeks.
For
further information, contact Anne Jensen on 0407 170 706 or by
email
Participants in Local Reference Group meeting at Mallala Council Chambers in Two Wells
on 6 April 2004.
Back row: Simon Millcock, Tim Collins, Andrew Winkler, Malcolm Frost, Katie Rouse,
Henri Mueller, Jon Emmett
Front row: Stephen Goldsworthy, Bianca Priest, Lionel Miller, Tim Bond, Michaela Birrell
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