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Progress on Pat Creek Management Plan
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The original draft of the Remnant Patawalonga Creek Management Plan was compiled by Glen Clarke during his period as Airport Environment Student, with contributions from the various parties involved, including FoPC.
Glen's successor in the position, Sharn Lucas, revised the Draft Plan last year.
Sharn has recently moved on to the position of 'Our Patch' project coordinator with the Torrens and Patawalonga Catchment Boards, who have now expressed an interest in publishing the Plan which represents 'an inspiring example of cooperation between council, catchment boards, industry and the community in restoring an important vegetation site'.
This is indeed excellent news, as it means that the importance of the site will be officially recognised by all parties ahead of the removal of the adjacent silt ponds (which may begin next year), or the upgrading of the stormwater drainage network which flows through the Creek.
Members of the original Steering Committee will reconvene in late November to comment on the final draft of the Management Plan.
the Editor
Despite inclement weather, National Tree Day on Sunday, July 28 saw a total of 62 people braving the intermittent drizzle to plant native grasses and shrubs near the entrance to the site. The plantings took place on the eastern side of the track and on the mound adjacent to the creek. The new plantings complement last year's plantings on the western side of the track, which are coming along nicely.
A highlight of the day was the presentation of a $100 cheque to the Friends group, from Bendigo Bank director and local environmentalist Andrew Farran (aka 'Faz the Plumber').
Bendigo Bank director Andrew Farran (left) presents the cheque
to FoPC chair Andrew Winkler (right) (Photo: Vicki Hagan)
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The preceding Friday was the Schools National Tree Day event. Over a hectic two-hour period, waves of children from West Beach Primary School (some 200 in all) made their way to the site. The presence of FoPC members and Airport environmental staff ensured that each group was able to listen to a short presentation, do some planting and go on a brief tour of the site.
A group of children from West Beach Primary School listen to a presentation
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A number of boxes of seedlings were left over; these have since been planted out on regular FoPC workdays. Due to the dry spring, some hand-watering will be needed over the summer to ensure that these survive, particularly if the dry conditions persist.
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Garry Forrest has resigned as FoPC Secretary due to ill-health; we thank him for his work on our behalf. The position has been filled by the return of Jim and Delma Goodale from their extended overseas cycling holiday.
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Reedbeds Environment Centre
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The second 'Curry & Casserole Evening' held in August was also a success; around 35 people heard Dr Rowley Twidale, speak on 'The Evolution of the Adelaide Landscape: the history of the River Torrens'.
Dr Rowley Twidale speaking at the second Curry Night at Reedbeds
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The environmental local history project has made some progress; some references to 'Jerusalem', the former White family private nature sanctuary at Fulham, have been found in past issues of the Henley & Grange Historical Society's Journal.
The SA Museum has provided a copy of S.A. White's important paper, 'Birds Recorded from the Early Days up to the Present Time for the Reed Beds District', which lists all the bird species recorded for the local area by himself and his father Samuel, who was also an ornithologist.
In this paper, published in 1919, he laments what in modern terms we would call 'habitat loss and species decline'. He lists a total of 169 native bird species, a
number of which had already disappeared by the time he wrote the paper; among the causes he notes the role of introduced cats, foxes and 'the vandal with the gun'.
In contrast, the Pat Creek Management Plan contains a list of around 70 species recorded for Adelaide Airport (including introduced species); we are in the process of collating lists for Apex Park and Glenelg North Golf Course. (Any further information would be welcome.)
The guest speaker for the next Curry Night will be bird expert Dr David Paton from the University of Adelaide, who is a consultant for the Airport on the hazard of bird strikes, as well as a very popular speaker on the subject of habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation.
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Reedbeds Community Centre
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At the Reedbeds AGM on September 25, FoPC chair Andrew Winkler was returned as chairperson of the Reedbeds Community Centre's Management Committee. Shivani Reiter (Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year, 2002) became the new vice-chairperson and will no doubt 'add value'.
(Shivani's mother, who comes from India and does catering, has agreed to help with the next Curry Night!)
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Western Suburbs Friends of Parks
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The last meeting of this group which was to be held on the 6th of August, turned out to be a complete fizzer. Apart from the convenor and the guest speaker, no-one else turned up!
It was a cold night, and there may have been competition from a popular TV show - but still, the lack of interest on the night was a disappointment.
We haven't given up; surely there must be some local people out there who are interested in becoming part of a group doing volunteer work in National Parks around the State.
Maybe we need to explore some new ideas - is there anyone out there who has some suggestions?
In October, FoPC member Nick Crouch was a group leader in one of the Nature Conservation Society's 'Walks with Nature' at the Deep Creek Conservation Park on the south coast, and persuaded fellow FoPC members Mel Rees and Andrew Winkler to come along for an enjoyable outing.
FoPC member Nick Crouch (left) leading a 'Walk with Nature' at
the Deep Creek Conservation Park
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Perhaps FoPC could play a facilitating role, in establishing links with Friends of Parks groups attached to Parks which have similar coastal native vegetation to Pat Creek, eg Innes at the foot of Yorke Peninsula, or similar Parks in the South East.
Please contact Reedbeds if you would like to become involved.
Friday 22 November: Curry & Casserole Night
Fundraiser for FoPC & Western Suburbs Friends of Parks.
6:30pm Meal:Cost: $15 ($10 Friends of Reedbeds, S/P/U)
8:00pm Guest speaker: Dr David Paton
Topic: Birds of the Adelaide Plains
(attendance at talk only is welcome Free)
Thursday, 28 November 2002, 7:30 pm, at:
The Reedbeds Community Centre, cnr. Fitch & Halsey Roads, Fulham (carpark entry off Phelps Court).
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the work program for the coming workday and other on-going projects
Workdays:
Pat Creek:
Sunday 1 December, 10 am.
Meet at the busstop (18B) on West Beach Road (west of Tapleys Hill Road,
and adjacent to the Creek and the silt ponds).
To be followed by a BYO lunch
(details on the day)
Henley & Grange Dunecare have workdays on the second Sunday of each month at the nursery in Atkin Street, Henley Beach, at 10 am.
CREATED BY:
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LINKED TO:
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 Ground Truth:
towards an
environmental history
of South Australia
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