Members of the Kowmung Committee DAMIT or Conserve It? Holly at Pope’s Glen have already poisoned willows on some In an expensive and highly organised Pope’s Glen Bushcare’s Alan Lane sections of the river. With the co-operation campaign, Hawkesbury Council backed believes that last month’s “Weed of the of the NPWS, further sections of the group DAMIT predicts a disaster on a Month” should be the weed of the month Kowmung will be tackled. A short but scale far eclipsing the combined tragedies every month. This point of view is steep day’s walk of Cyclone Tracy, Ash Wednesday bush- understandable—the holly in Pope’s Glen from Kanangra fires and Newcastle earthquake if the dam is amazing. It suckers under the ground Walls offers access wall is not raised: “Save us all—Raise the like bamboo and forms clumps of spiky to the river. Wall”. (No mention of possible side- bushes which are a bush regenerator’s For details on benefits of a flood-free Hawkesbury nightmare —and there are lots of holly joining a team plain—enormous real estate profits!) bushes in the surrounding gardens to contact Pip Walsh Raising the wall of Warragamba Dam provide a ever-renewable seed source for on 02.517.1121. will flood the valleys of two large wilder- more holly bushes to spring up in The Great Grose Gorse Walk ness areas in the Southern Blue Mountains, bushland. The Great Grose Gorse Walk, organised including the pristine . Maybe one day we can convince the by the Friends of the , Downstream there will be major impacts Department of Agriculture to declare the on the Hawkesbury-Nepean environment. BMCC bushland staff, and NPWS, will be plant a noxious weed—perhaps we could held between August 24 and September 1. The Kowmung Committee needs our persuade one of their staff to spend a day support. Gorse and broom each produce weeding in Pope’s Glen! thousands of seeds and the seeds remain “The Kowmung Committee’s There are, however, (unfortunately), campaign to prevent the raising of viable in the soil for years. The trick is to other gardens plants which invade find them before they can set seed. Each Warragamba Dam is only halfway bushland in the Blue Mountains...... complete. The first part, to convince the noxious plant that is removed or killed represents a large number of potential Government to abandon the dam raising Weed of the Month plants that would otherwise flourish and plan, was successful. HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera japonica) multiply. “The next stage is to ensure A scrambling vine which is grown for its Catchment areas needing volunteers for Government implements this position. half day and day activities include Hawkesbury Council sponsored DAMIT is sweet-smelling spring flowers. It has thin Minnahaha Reserve, Pope’s Glen, Braeside placing increasing pressure to revive the Walk and Govett’s Leap. Valley areas stalky stems which dam raising plans. The lobby group is involve two and four day overnight walks. become woody and scaring local floodplain residents and There will also be a day activity in the thickened with age; politicians into believing that they need a lower area. 23 metre higher dam. leaves are usually lobed Enquiries to Eric Mahoney (BMCC) “Until the EIS for the non-dam raising or toothed and the 82.0787, or Kath Ireland (NPWS) 87.8877. option—a second spillway—is approved, strongly scented and construction begins, the Kowmung flowers are yellow/white with a pink- August Guest Speakers . Committee cannot breathe easy. tinged tube. This vine forms roots at the Guest speakers at the August general “The EIS for the second spillway is due leaf joints or nodes, and scrambles to meeting on Friday 30 August will be Ian for release in August and community entwine with other plants, thus making it Brown and Dave Noble of NPWS who will education and support is vital to see the difficult to remove. talk about recreational management in the proposal adopted.” Honeysuckle invades bushland from Wentworth Falls and Katoomba regions of Members are urged to write letters to adjoining gardens, or is introduced through the Blue Mountains National Park. the Penrith Press(513 High Street, Penrith), garden dumpings. Representatives of the University of the Hawkesbury Gazette (PO Box 999, Remove by pulling firmly at each stem Western will address the meeting North Richmond 2754) and other news- until a node is reached, then cutting each about their Jamison Creek restoration papers (e.g. Sydney Morning Herald, cluster of small roots with a small knife. project. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm at Letters Ed, GPO Box 3771, Sydney 2001). Once you reach the main root system dig it The Conservation Hut end of Fletcher Kowmung Fact Sheets that you could use out. Parts of the vine which are thoroughly Street, Wentworth Falls. Visitors are to help present your argument, prepared to tangled in other plants and off the ground welcome. brief politicians last year, can be obtained should be cut and left in place. from either Pip Walsh 02.517.1121 or Do the National Park a favour and Keith Muir on 02.241.2702. don’t grow this plant in your garden. Cut Kowmung Committee urgently needs it down...put it in the big bin...take it to the “Hut News” , the newsletter of the funds to help with the campaign. Send tip. Who needs to grow a weed!! Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc. P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782. donations to The Kowmung Committee Kowmung Walk. President: Colin Williams 84-1899 Inc., GPO Box 2090, Sydney 2001. Walk the banks of the middle Kowmung Secretary: Les Coyne 57-3327 Donations are tax deductible. Editor: Christine Davies 87-7246 River over the October long weekend (5-7 Deadline for September issue is Aug.27 Oct) and hunt out feral willows. Hut News , No. 109, August 1996—Page 1. Land Use Report Visit to Vietnam —Graham Alcorn. SUMMIT GEAR Sydney’s Second Airport: Bunyip’s article about China in the NSW’s Leading Manufacturers 19 August 1996 is the deadline for May Hut News prompts me to write about and Distributors of submissions on the Federal Environment RUCKSACKS Vietnam, which I visited for six weeks BICYCLE ACCESSORIES & Protection Authority’s enquiry into the site from the beginning of March 1996. CLIMBING HARNESSES of Sydney’s second airport (address to The problems seem much the same — REAR OF 88 KATOOMBA STREET Second Sydney Airport Draft EIS basically, millions of people.....very nice Guidelines, Environment Assessment KATOOMBA 2780 (PHONE 047.823467) people, I might add, friendly, handsome, OPEN 99----55 MONMON----FRI,FRI, 99----1212 SAT. Branch, Environment Protection Agency, healthy, cheerful. 40 Blackall Street, Barton, ACT, 2600). I can speak only of the North—Hanoi, gibbons in large enclosures. These were Blue Mountains Council is now the capital, and various trips into the young animals confiscated from markets. opposed to a new major airport in the country, where every inch of cultivatable The Hill Tribes people would have shot the . The Federal EPA’s land is planted in rice and, in some places, guidelines are still ambivalent about how vegetables. mothers to obtain the babies. much attention the new enquiry will pay to I didn’t see evidence of smoke pollution The answer, of course, is to provide the option: Neither Badgery’s Creek Nor in Hanoi, nor an emerging wealthy class. these people with an alternative and easier Holsworthy. Few cars, thousands of bicycles and two- way of making a living. One of our Both sites could seriously increase air stroke motor bikes and scooters. Also, I splendid Blue Mountains residents, and noise pollution in Lower Mountains/ read somewhere that the motor bikes here Rosemary Morrow, is doing just that, Penrith, and the Badgery’s Creek site only appeared in the last five years. teaching the Hill Peoples of Vietnam, Laos would create massive development Goodness knows what will happen in the and Cambodia, permaculture. pressures through the entire Mountains. next five years. At present there is an I guess I was just unlucky. The Both Council and individual residents attractive air or innocence and equality. Worldwide Fund for Wildlife has an office should write to the EPA, urging more What for me was amazing and in Hanoi. But they had gone to another attention to the Neither/Nor option. disappointing was the absence of birds. building and I couldn’t trace them. A BMCS secretary is holding a copy of Vietnam has more bird species than world bird study organisation also has an the draft guidelines for the study. official there, but he was away in Laos. I New BMCS Sub-Committees —over 800. It is said to be the best bird country in South-East Asia. I rang and rang in vain a professor who had • To look at issues concerning planning, compiled a bird list. subdivision and the new Environment saw 19 of them. They must be up in the dense jungles of the inland mountains. A magazine article gave glowing Management Plan accounts of Vietnam’s wildlife—a new (EMP2) within Blue Through thousands of acres of soggy rice fields I saw three egrets and one species of pheasant just discovered, a new Mountains Council area. mammal as big as a cow, the Saola, was • To look at landcare cormorant. A magazine article describing a hill where nine species of egret roost and discovered only three or four years ago, funding throughout the and since then a new species of deer. greater Blue Mountains. nest, advanced this as a desirable ecological area to attract tourists. “Egret There are over 400 wild elephants still Both committees will there, and a rare rhinocerous. liaise with the Blue eggs and meat, served as a delicacy, would I met three Australian botanists in Ba Mountains and Cox’s River be an added attraction” , the article Catchment Committees. concluded. Vi National Park, working with a Members who are not on the Manage- In Harlong Bay a boy offered for sale Vietnamese pharmacologist, collecting and ment Committee are WELCOME on these six or seven swallows in a plastic bag. His cataloging medicinal plants. sub-committees, even if you have only companion was shooting them with an So things are being done and it is the just joined. Please leave your name and airgun when they settled. government’s policy, like that of China, to phone number with the Secretary. Not one seagull anywhere! In a four- achieve population zero by encouraging Mount Airley/Mount Genowlan hour cruise around this very scenic bay of the limitation of family size. BMCS is assembling a file on this very 3,000 islands we saw one fork-tailed kite. My visit was primarily a social one. I important conservation area near Capertee It was quite eerie. At Tra Co, in the would recommend that anyone planning to north of Lithgow. Regardless of when extreme North, on the very extensive tidal study nature there should go on a guided proposed underground coal mining flats, we saw three doterels. tour oriented to that purpose. commences, management of the area is Vietnam is a long, narrow country of —Graham Alcorn, June 1996. going to require input from the coastal plains backed by jungle clad Welcome to New Members Conservation movement. mountains, covering 14 degrees of latitude Subdivision Site Inspections Jess Gleeson, Katoomba; Ms. Hannay, and many different environments. There Blackheath; Bronwyn Barnard, Mt. A BMCS representative joined Council are several national parks. and Catchment Committee officers for site Victoria; Lyn and Merle Thompson, We visited the first of Vietnam’s Woodford; Malcolm Gainsford, inspections at Springwood and Valley national parks, Cuc Phuong, of 22,200 hec- Heights on 16 July. Some very useful Katoomba; tares, created in 1962. It has a bird list of Margit Kent, Wentworth Falls; Millie ideas emerged about how environment over 300, 60 mammals, 2,000 plant species. Rogers, Katoomba; Gail Abbott, Balmain; protection could be further improved But rain on the clay roads prevented us Marie Cherry, Lithgow; Max Krumbeck, during construction of future subdivisions. getting to the centre of the park, as pillion Blackheath. Martin’s Lookout Access off Farm passengers on hired motor bikes. Here Road, Springwood there is a walking track through dense This unsealed access track, currently jungle, huge 1,000 year old trees. Membership Enquiries: The Society is keen open to motor traffic, is deteriorating. Any We stayed in splendid lodgings at the to have new members who are concerned suggestions? beginning of the Park. I saw eight bird about the welfare of the Blue Mountains Written submissions to P.O. Box 29, species in all. Two German scientists, natural environment. Contact the Wentworth Falls 2782, or FAX 87.6912 membership secretary, Ross Coster, financed from Germany, were raising telephone (047) 59.1247, FAX 59.1095, or —Don Morison endangered species of monkeys and write to P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls 2782. Hut News , No. 109, August 1996—Page 2. Intelife EVENT, the unveiling of the solar ULLADULLA system. This latter was a “fun” On a headland at Ulladulla On Wednesday, June 5, a group of thing in which we all took part by Society members attended the “special holding the ropes which held the Margaret and I, day” at the Intelife Project on the old canvas covering the panels and, on Below us the blue sea booming, quarry site in Wentworth Falls. The staff, the word “go” pulled on the ropes The coastal heath knee high. in their very well presented programme, and revealed the panels in all their The sea breeze drops for some reason. hoped that we would have “a stimulating, shining glory. It being a sunny, In the air hang Hover flies. interesting and rewarding day” with them. windless day, the panels gleamed Of a sudden Swifts come zooming Those words barely convey the feelings and performed their function on Out of the sky. we all experienced—I for one wanted to the north-facing roof of the Sweeping, soaring, circling, rush home, trash my rockery and begin woodwork building. Wooshing stridently by. immediately to grow vegetables in just the I urge members of our Society Swooping across the headland way they are being grown there. And oh! to contact Kerri Ann Sutherland at To feast on the Hover Flies. to have a water garden and spiral pump! the Intelife office at Wentworth The coastal heath around us. This latter was very exciting indeed, a Falls on (047) 57-2451 to arrange marvel of engineering and a pleasure to the The booming sea below— a visit, following which I feel sure Do you remember, Margaret, eye. you will agree that this project is The young trainees, who had obviously That afternoon, years ago? thoroughly deserving of the Graham Alcorn, September 1995 contributed much to their World Environ- Society’s support.—Judy ment Day celebrations by way of Ferfoglia, Leura. innovative signs and general preparations for the day, gave us a fresh insight into the Leisure Walks hearts and minds of the so-called “X On a recent leisure walk to Fairy generation”. With the guidance of trained Bower, Mount Victoria, we were staff, they are making great strides in impressed at the age differences of the preparing for future employment in a range participants, with nearly 90 years between of ecologically sound activities, the youngest (9-month old Dylan) and the demonstrating many of these activities in a oldest (unnamed). It was a pleasant walk, charming way. and some of us discovered for the first time It was heart-warming to witness the “The White Lady” which had been hidden presentation to their leader, Paul Curtis, of under moss and lichens and was uncovered a framed print of the Intelife logo; and to by the drought.—John Gibbs. hear Paul’s moving speech before the BIG

As for the local scene, already odd In the Bush solitude and space sent a tingle up one’s spine. Many a day could be spent there. specimens of Boronia ledifolia (Sydney The last instalment covered our journey Boronia) may be seen and by the time this is to as far as Oodnadatta. As for that hamlet, Space does not permit me dwelling on observations and thoughts published there should be a grand showing. few words are needed Waratah buds are filling out nicely so we to describe it. The seen and felt on the long run south through Woomera and should enjoy a good showing in late main street, as in September. Port Augusta—suffice to say many other outback —The Bunyip towns, is of vast Vale Maree that those who can hammer out happiness in such width. The local dogs Friends will be saddened to learn of can sleep soundly in featureless and arid areas the sudden death of memberenjoy Maree my deepest respect. the centre of it without Turner on 25 June. fear of traffic. I was Our next pleasant Originally from New experience Zealand, was a two day told that such width Maree was a long-time resident of the was deliberately stay at the old mining site of Blue Mountains—aSilverton. keen A bushwalker rustic pub and a few art planned to allow the camelwho and knew bullock and loved its special places teams to do a U-turn with ease. studios and plenty of ruins and plaques are and plants and animals, especially our We headed west for Marla on the Stuart all that remain of this town, long by-passed The Bunyip has itchy feet and is keen to take beautiful birds. Highway and paused to paint among the by Broken Hill, 24 kilometres to the east. I off again, this time to the Flinders Ranges. He Arkaringa Hills. Our most florid Maree results will recommendbe missed by its all 10k who nature trail winding said he was very impressed with the tour could not outdo what those mesa-likeknew her. hills through a section of the Barrier Range and operator, Bert Bolton’s Outback Track Tours, giving vast views out over the unhabitated and that prices are very reasonable. can produce. Specialist tours coming up are: surrounding plains. 17 August, (for artists and photo- And so it was on graphers) Flinders Ranges over a Darling Bushwalking Tour, a series of running a banker at day-walks. (16 days) Wilcannia and on to 28 September, a Birdwatchers’ Nyngan. Once there, expedition to Lake Mungo. cropping and grazing September? (for botanists and commenced and no native plant enthusiasts), longer could one Roaming the Ranges and Rainforests (Qld). Enquiries to: Marla, then Coober Pedy. A half hour claim to be “in the run out from our underground hostel Freecall 1800.624700, bush”. Fax 043.41.5041. brought us into the Breakaway country. The strength of the earth colours and the Hut News , No. 109, August 1996—Page 3. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Walks have been graded: 1-3 easy, 4-7 medium, 8-10 harder. If in doubt contact the leader. Walkers must carry 1 litre of water. AUGUST 04 (Sun) Bushwalk—Valley of the Waters (upper section). Meet Leura Railway Station commuter carpark at 9 am. Duration 5-6 hours. Grade 5-6. Contact Imre Gahl 84.3286. 05 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Dargan’s Creek. Meet Mount Victoria Station at 9.30. Contact Gillian Janus 87.6181. 12 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Pope’s Glen. Meet Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre at 9.30. Contact Tessa Knight 87.6543. 17 (Sat) Bushwalk—Greaves Creek Special. Meet end of Road, Blackheath at 9 am. Duration 6 hours. Grade 7. Contact Chris Woods 82.3419. 19 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Jack Evans Track. A beautiful wildflower walk to Erskine Creek in the National Park at Glenbrook. Meet at 9.30 at Glenbrook Station. Contact Christine Davies 87-7246. 21 (Wed) Bushwalk—Woodford Dam Ramble. Meet at Water Board gate, end of Winbourne Road, Hazelbrook at 10 am. Duration 4 hours. Grade 4-5. Contact Allan Macauley 39.2767. 26 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Twin Falls and Pulpit Rock. Meet Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre at 9.30. Contact Daphne Rawling 87.8567. 27 (Tues) Committee Meeting at The Hut at 7 pm. 30 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut at 7.30 pm. Guest speakers Ian Brown and Dave Noble of NPWS will talk about recreational management in the Wentworth Falls and Katoomba regions of the Blue Mountains National Park.

SEPTEMBER 01 (Sun) Bushwalk—Pope’s Glen to Evans Lookout. Put a Spring in your step! Meet at the War Memorial, opposite Blackheath Railway Station, at 9 am. Duration 5 hours. Grade 5. Contact Chris Woods 82.3419. 02 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Red Gum Forest. Meet at the end of DeQuincy Road, Bullaburra, at 9.30. Contact Lee Tredinnick 57.4030. (Phone Lee if you need transport from the station.) 09 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Wall’s Ledge. Meet at Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre, Gardner’s Crescent, at 9.30. Contact Norah Gaynor 87.6071. 16 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Towards Blue Mountain. Meet Cnr. GWH and Queens Road, Lawson at 9.30. Contact Christine Davies 87.7246. 18 (Wed) Bushwalk—The Grand Canyon. Spring into action! Meet at the War Memorial, opposite Blackheath Railway Station, at 10 am. Duration about 5 hours. Grade 7. Contact Christine Davies 87.7246. 21 (Sat) Bushwalk—Rocket Point. Spring along the cliff-tops! Meet at the Conservation Hut at 9.45 a.m. Duration 2-3 hours. Grade 4. Contact Les Coyne 57.3327. 23 (Mon) Leisure Walk—Braeside Walk. Meet at Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre at 9.30. Contact Daphne Rawling 87.8567. 24 (Tues) Committee Meeting at The Hut at 7 pm. 27 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut at 7.30 pm. UP FROM THE EGG The Confessions of a Nuthatch Avoider WHO ARE THE BLUE MOUNTAINS What is required: Bird watchers top my honours list. CONSERVATION SOCIETY WALK • Try not to get lost. If you are not I aimed to be one, but I missed. LEADERS? absolutely sure of the way, get Since I’m both myopic and astigmatic, They’re a mixed lot. Some are real someone who knows the way to help My aim turned out to be erratic, experts, and know a lot about plants and you lead the walk. And I, bespectacled and binocular, birds and geology and history and fungi • Even if you do know the way, if it is Exposed myself to comment jocular. and leeches. Some are only expert at some your first time as a leader ask We don’t need too much bird lore, do we, of the above. Some know a little about a somebody who is experienced to To tell a flamingo from a towhee; lot of things. Some know nothing about help you. Yet I cannot, and never will, anything. • Appoint a “Tail-end Charlie” who Unless the silly birds stand still. What they do have in common is a love will stay at the back and make sure And there’s no enlightenment in a tour of the Blue Mountains environment and a nobody is left behind. Of ornithological literature. desire to share their special places with • Ensure that the group stays together. Is yon strange creature a common chickadee, like-minded people. • Walk at the pace of the slowest Or a migrant alouette from Picardy? If you fit into any of the above member. You rush to consult your Nature guide categories and you enjoy going on the And a special rule for the Mountains: And inspect the gallery inside, bushwalks, please consider leading a walk. • Nobody should stand closer than a But a bird in the open never looks Walks can be very easy to moderately body length to the edge of a cliff Like its picture in the birdie books— hard. They can be short or long (though (children much, much further). Or if it once did, it has changed its plumage, most people like to get home before dark). More walk leaders are urgently And plunges you back into ignorant gloomage. They are always conducted at a pace needed. If you have been on some of the slow enough to be able to look and see . walks and would like to lead a walk, That is why I sit here growing old by inches (Other groups “tiger-walk”; Conservation contact Chris Woods on 82.3419. Watching the clock instead of finches, Society walkers appreciate and want to WITHOUT WALK LEADERS But I sometimes visualize in my gin learn more about the beautiful bushland THERE WILL BE NO WALKS. The Audubon that I audubin. around them.) Ogden Nash (US)

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Hut News , No. 109, August 1996—Page 4.