Annual Report Lower Molonglo River Corridor the Great Swamp Robbery NPA BULLETIN Volume37number3 September2000
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Annual report Lower Molonglo River Corridor The great swamp robbery NPA BULLETIN volume37number3 September2000 CONTENTS Prom the President: annual report - August 2000.... 3 Vale Glyn Lewis 11 Clive Hurlstone Syd Comfort Annual general meeting 3 Congratulations to two members 11 Lower Mologlo River Corridor 4 An iron bar no match for Premier Carr 12 David Pfanner Len Haskew Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group The great swamp robbery 5 Olympic Landcare Project 13 Len Haskew Budawangs rescue 14 Frog declines in the Australian High Country 6 Len Haskew Will Osborne Perth parks revisited 15 Gudgenby House, which way? 7 Eleanor Stodart Fiona MacDonald Brand A Snowy Hume and Hovell 16 Judith Wright was an early guest speaker 8 Graeme Wicks Parkwatch 17 Edna Walling as a conservationist 9 Len Haskew Reg Alder Calendar 19 Weeds 10 General meetings 19 Muriel Edwards Book Review 19 Eleanor Stodart National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, Chifley, Inaugurated 1960 next to the preschool and is staffed by volunteers. Office hours Aims and objectives of the Association are: 9am to 1pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the Telephone/Fax: (02) 6282 5813 protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and Email: [email protected] cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Internet: http://www.spirit.net.au/--npaact • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation Membership areas. New members are welcome and should enquire through the • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, NPA office. such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, meetings or any other means. Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar Household members $40 Single members $35 interests and objectives. Corporate members $30 Bulletin only $30 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the Concession $25 planning of landuse to achieve conservation. For new subscriptions joining between: 1 January and 31 March - half specified rate Office-bearers, committee and convenors 1 April and 30 June - annual subscription President Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592(h); NPA Bulletin 040 788 3422(w) Contributions of articles, line drawings and photographs Vice President David Large 6291 4830Ch) including colour prints are welcome and should be lodged with Immediate the office or Syd Comfort (02) 62862578. Past President Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004Ch) Deadline for December issue: 1 November 2000. Secretary Len Haskew 6281 4268fh) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Treasurer Mike Smith 6286 2984(h) association opinion or objectives. Committee members This bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group Max Lawrence 6288 1370 fh) with assistance from Green Words & Images. Steven Forst 6251 6817(h) 6279 1326(w) Printed by Ausdoc On Demand, Canberra, ACT. Judy Kelly 6253 1859(h) ISSN 0727-8837 Timothy Walsh 6285 1112(h) Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004(h) Convenors Cover photo: Ranger Steve Welch, Gudgenby Bush Regeneration member Simon Buckpitt and Olympian Environment Sub-committee David Large 6291 4830fh) Monique Allen at the Olympic Landcare site. See also Outings Sub-committee Max Lawrence 6288 1370fh) the article on page 13. Photo Eleanor Stodart. Bulletin Working Group Syd Comfort 6286 2578fh) From the President: annual report The past 12 months has seen the General meetings • Environmental Flow Guidelines National Parks Association of the Eight general meetings were held and the Water Resources ACT continue a high level of activity during the year, including the Management Plan; in pursuit of its conservation memorable 40th anniversary • the Draft ACT Budget for 2000- objectives and the provision of well- celebration. Guest speakers, 2001; organised outings and talks arranged by Len Haskew and myself, • comments on Territory Plan programs for members. gave great talks on the Southern Variation 89; The membership of the association Forests, the Ngunnawal people, • Lower Molonglo River Corridor remains steady. Greening Australia, Wingecarrib.bee Final Draft Plan of Management. Swamp, Alpine frogs, and weeds in At the last AGM it was pleasing to The last two were produced in the Southeast Region. At the July welcome Neville Esau, Steven Forst conjunction with the Conservation general meeting a forum was held on and David Large to the Committee. Council and, together with the Gudgenby Homestead. submission on the Draft Budget, While many Committee members involved giving presentations before were absent from Canberra at Outings the ACT House of Assembly Urban various times during the year, only The Outings Sub-committee again Services Committee. one meeting had to be rescheduled offered NPA members a wonderful and I thank Committee members for My thanks to Research Officer Ray range of activities in which to take their cooperation. Our office Polglaze, to Committee members, part, including a really special walk manager, Dianne Hastie, resigned in Past President Eleanor Stodart, in Monga State Forest and a car March and it was decided to run the Secretary Max Lawrence, Treasurer camp to Coolah Tops. Thanks go to office using volunteers. The Mike Smith, Jacqui Cole, Neville the outings leaders and convener Esau, Steven Forst and David Treasurer has introduced a new Max Lawrence. Large. comprehensive accounting system, Hands-on conservation activity in whilst insurance for those members In conclusion I wish to thank all the last 12 months focused on carrying out activities on behalf of members for their continuing participation in the Gudgenby Bush the NPA is being investigated. support of the National Parks Regeneration Group, with activities Association of the ACT. including fence building, woody Financial support weed removal and tree planting. Clive Hurlstone The NPA has received substantial financial support from Environment Environment Sub-committee Annual general ACT: in June 1999 we received a The Environment Sub-committee meeting grant for $26 250 for projects on was convened by Neville Esau until At the annual general meeting held conservation management of ACT April and then by David Large. on 17thAugust, the following office parks and other public lands. Following Government development bearers were elected: This June we were awarded a proposals for Gudgenby Homestead President: Clive Hurlstone, Vice grant for $28 000, for similar in 1999, a paper on the ecological President: David Large, Secretary: projects. restoration of the Gudgenby Valley Len Haskew, Treasurer: Mike Smith was developed and this led to the Steven Forst, Judy Kelly, Eleanor Promotional activities debate on the use of Gudgenby Stodart, Max Lawrence and Timothy The 40th anniversary of NPA Homestead. In conjunction with our Walsh were elected as Committee received media coverage and environment grant projects there members. Clive Hurlstone's stimulated community interest in was continuing discussion on project President's Report is printed in this the NPA. Other major promotional developments, and a number of field Bulletin. In the absence of Treasurer activities were a staffed display at trips were undertaken: four to ACT Mike Smith, David Large moved that ACT Alive and the World pine forests, one to Namadgi the audited financial reports be Environment Day Fair. National Park and one to the Lower accepted and this motion was carried. The NPA Bulletin working group Molonglo River Corridor. A motion of appreciation of the work produced three Bulletins and a slim, The association prepared of the 1999 President and Committee special wrapped around the 40th submissions on the draft Gudgenby was also passed. anniversary Supplement, and Valley Recreation Study, and on Judy Kelly and Phil Bubb gave a achieved some reductions in cost. draft amendments to the 1998 The Supplement team gave us a very interesting presentation on an Bushfire Fuel Management Plan. wonderful overview of the last 40 NPA car camp at Coolah Tops, The NPA's Research Officer, Ray years and refreshed many illustrated by a series of slides Polglaze, assisted by members of the memories. My thanks to all those shown by David Kelly. Members Environment Sub-committee, involved with the Bulletin this year. then enjoyed a gluhwein supper in completed the following what has become established as an submissions: NPA tradition. Lower Molonglo River Corridor Public hearing on draft consideration. Drafted by Ray management plan Polglaze, NPA's Research Officer, On July 14, representatives of the and reviewed by senior personnel of National Parks Association (NPA) the NPA and CCSERAC, the paper and the Conservation Council of the is too long to review here in detail, South East Region and Canberra but a few of its significant points can (CCSERAC) appeared before the be summarised. Standing Committee on Planning The principal issue in the NPA- and Urban Services to present, CCSERAC submission is that Lower Molonglo Corridor. explain and defend their written important environmental values of Photo Eleanor Stodart submission on the Final Draft the LMRC are not adequately Management Plan for the Lower identified or provided for in the Final conservation zones. Finally the Molonglo River Corridor. They Draft Management Plan. An absence of plans for monitoring and included Clive Hurlstone, Rod Integrated Management Strategy is research was a matter of concern. Griffiths, Nicola Davies and Ray called for, based on the principle that The process in the development of Polglaze. conservation of the natural the Final Draft Management Plan Also appearing at this public environment should take precedence was said to be too narrow, hence a hearing were representatives of over public use of the area, such as Specific Consultation Group is Environment ACT (including the recreation. A well-defined nature recommended to provide a forum for Director, Dr Colin Adrian) and the reserve should be established discussion among stakeholders with ACT Sustainable Rural Land Group immediately under the Territory differing points of view.