Volume 53 Number 3 September 2016

National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc.

Gudgenby up Vale Black Mountain close Peter Ormay treasures NPA Bulletin Volume 53 number 3 September 2016 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives.

CONTENTS Media releases Effective, humane feral horse control essential Editor’s comment...... 2 for Kosciuszko, scientists say ...... 12 Judy Kelly ACT looking after the ...... 12 From the Committee ...... 3 Rod Griffiths NPA outings program, September – December 2016 ...... 13–16 Annual General Meeting, 18 August 2016 Outings and activities for children of all ages ...... 17 Meeting report...... 3 Graham Scully Sonja Lenz Core values, buffer zones and sightlines – world Annual Report 2015–16 ...... 4 best practice for the Ginninderra Rod Griffiths Falls Conservation Park...... 18 Doug Finlayson Treasurer’s annual report 2015–16...... 4 Chris Emery Riverview: mechanisms and principles to protect environment and heritage values ...... 19 Vale Peter Ormay...... 5 Clare Henderson Judy Kelly All about recycling: a trip to the tip...... 20 Black Mountain: living treasures on our doorstep...... 6 Esther Gallant Rosemary Purdie ‘Horseworks’ at Orroral and Cattai National Park ...... 21 Following the path ...... 7 Di Thompson Gerry Jacobson Kurrajong on Big Monks Hill, Conder Ridge ...... 21 NPA volunteers work for habitat rehabilitation at Dananbilla..8 Brian Slee Andrew Moore Hiking in the Zillertal Alps...... 22 Rescue program begins for ’s dying Ribbon Gums ....9 Philip Gatenby Allan Sharp PARKWATCH ...... 24 Gudgenby Valley snapshots...... 10 Compiled by Hazel Rath Ailsa Brown NPA notices...... 26 Community groups mobilise against corridor development proposal...... 11 Meetings and speaker information...... 27 Allan Sharp NPA information and contacts ...... 27 Editor’s comment The September Bulletin greets you with a system while a day walk reflects an major parties. Increasingly it is referred series of articles reflecting our interesting experience close to home. A to in terms of ‘climate change’, conservation concerns in the ACT, this summary of a trip to the recycling centre ‘ecological footprint’ or ‘sustainability’, time along the Murrumbidgee corridor in gives food for thought. Other offerings or This reduces it to a technicality in many and . The tributes, each valuable in its own way, can ways and doesn’t emphasise endangered Belconnen development is close to be found in this edition, thanks to the species or the complexity of ecosystems. Ginninderra Falls on , contributors and the production team. And If you are concerned about protecting which flows into the Murrumbidgee and of course there are always colour our natural environment please tell your straddles the NSW–ACT border. Also, photographs. ACT candidates either by phone, letter the Falls are on private land, giving rise NPA ACT’s principal focus is on or email, or in person if they come door- to further complexities. Other articles national parks and reserves, not on urban knocking or are at shopping centres. cover the surprising biodiversity in Black development per se, although increas- As a guide, the Conservation Council Mountain so close to ingly it is encroaching on open spaces and is presenting its policies on key focus Civic, and research into the death of potential reserves. The Conservation points pre-election. You can find them Ribbon Gums along the Monaro Council ACT Region, of which NPA ACT on www.conservationcouncil.org. Highway to Jindabyne. We have two is a member, focuses on urban au/biodiversity-conservation-protecting- poems for a meditative touch and are development and relies on NPA to keep a our-unique-ecological-communities-and brought up to date with NPA’s industrious watching brief on Namadgi National Park. -the-bush-capital/ The policies so far work parties with NPWS rangers over the Fire management in Namadgi is raising relate to the protection and management border in the Dananbilla–Illunie protected concerns but isn’t dealt with in this of biodiversity. area. You will always learn something edition. Maybe it can be covered soon. You can use information in from a work party about the surroundings Namadgi has been and always will be conjunction with your own knowledge, you’re working in and get to know fellow one of NPA ACT members’ primary observations and experience to make a members better. concerns. case to candidates standing for the An overseas walking trip in Austria’s Lastly, on 15 October 2016, the ACT election. elections will be held. The natural alpine national parks exposes us to a Judy Kelly different landscape and management environment is a very low priority for the

2 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 From the committee In the debate on environmental issues, focus. Discussions have been held with edition of our opponents of conservation often state the ACT’s Commissioner for tree guide is that there is no scientific evidence that Sustainability and the Environment on very close to damage is occurring. Climate-change the need for a ‘State of the Parks’ report release. These deniers regularly use this line of for the ACT and on the NPA’s concept for publications are argument. Likewise, opponents of the a new national park that would important means control of feral horses in Kosciuszko consolidate the management of lowland of raising awareness National Park (KNP) have been quoted grassy woodlands in the ACT. of the values of the ACT’s ecosystems, as saying there is no evidence of horses The committee has also convened a and are a credit to the publications damaging that park’s fragile ecosystems, working group to facilitate a public committee. and that feral horses can contribute to forum on bushfire fuel management in Finally, the NPA has been working maintaining ecological values, a position the ACT. This forum would be a platform to engage young people’s interest in the completely contrary to scientific and for general consideration of the various natural environment. One project has empirical evidence. scientific views on the most appropriate seen the NPA working with the ACT The feral horse lobby has used many fuel management practices in the ACT. Directorate of Education for the emotive images to support its case that This is an exciting project that could be a distribution of the Bilby Ring Trilogy to horses should remain in KNP. In the face key driver of public opinion. Contact ACT public primary schools. These of this misleading campaign, it is Christine Goonrey if you would like to be books provide an opportunity to engage pleasing that so many NPA ACT involved. schoolchildren in the issues facing members have raised their objections The NPA had an excellent ’s natural environment, with a and argued that control of feral horses presentation by the Environmental particular focus on the effects of feral must be based on scientific evidence. Defenders’ Office on the West animals. The NPA has continued its Well done, all. Belconnen/ work in getting young people out into A copy of the NPA ACT’s development being managed by the the natural environment by being submission on the KNP wild horse draft Riverview Group. We have been a long- involved in the ACT’s Nature Play management plan can be found on the term supporter of the campaign to protect activities. This is where our future association’s website. the Ginninderra Falls region, which will generations of conservationists will While feral horse issues have been a be affected by this development. come from. considerable concern for the NPA since As many of you would know, a new Rod Griffiths the publication of the last Bulletin, they edition of our Field Guide to the Birds of have not been the committee’s sole the ACT has been reprinted and a new Annual General Meeting, 18 August 2016 Meeting report Treasurer Chris Emery distributed Immediate Past President Rod Griffiths There was no nomination copies of the audited annual financial welcomed about 25 members to the for the President’s position, statements and displayed pie charts on AGM on 18 August 2016. and the committee will again manage the screen illustrating the components of Rod presented the committee’s this issue in the year ahead. Chris NPA’s income and expenses as well as annual report and noted that NPA ACT Emery is now Public Officer of the the assets of the organisation and continues to be an incredibly active association. explained their various components. organisation due to the efforts of its Rod then entertained the audience These pie charts are published on page 5. members. Committee, subcommittees with a travelogue about his walks to The election of the new committee and working groups, as well as Frenchmans Cap and the Walls of was again ably chaired by Returning individual members had contributed to a Jerusalem, showing some magnificent Officer Bruce Boreham. whole list of NPA achievements, and he slides of the Tasmanian high country, thanked everyone involved. The management committee for and musing on the huts and tracks Some major activities were: keeping 2016–17 is: encountered. The delicious supper provided by up the campaign for a new national park Vice-President Christine Goonrey and an ongoing campaign to ensure the the committee and other members as Secretary Sonja Lenz well as Adrienne’s traditional AGM eradication of the threats to Kosciuszko Treasurer Chris Emery National Park from feral horses. One gluhwein topped off the 2016 Annual Immediate Past General Meeting. highlight of the year was celebrating an President Rod Griffiths Sonja Lenz. integrated ACT government conserv- Committee members ation agency after years of campaigning; Isobel Crawford another highlight was having two NPA Esther Gallant Art Weeks at Gudgenby Cottage last George Heinsohn year. See the committee’s full report on Kevin McCue page 4. Quentin Moran

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 3 Annual General Meeting, 18 August 2016 (continued) Annual Report 2015–16 The NPA ACT continues to be an The NPA ACT continues to be an Cameron, Kathy Saw, David Large and incredibly active organisation due to the active participant in the wider Julie May. efforts of its members. conservation movement in the ACT, Able conveners of our various Since our last AGM, activities that NSW and nationally, through subcommittees during the year were the NPA has been involved in include: representation on the boards of the Mike Smith and Steven Forst (Outings), • an ongoing campaign to ameliorate the Conservation Council, Kosciuszko to Kevin McCue (Publications), Graham threat to Kosciuszko National Park Coast, and the National Parks Australia Scully (Promotion and Engagement), from feral horses Council. Locally, it has supported the Martin Chalk (Work Parties), David • celebrating the creation of an work of the Environmental Defenders’ Large (Cultural) and Rod Griffiths integrated conservation agency for the Office, the Ginninderra Falls Association, (Environment). Our thanks go to them ACT, a long-standing aim of the NPA the Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group and to all members who contribute to ACT and the Red Hill Regenerators. And it the work of the subcommittees. • continuing to campaign for a new regularly meets with representatives, at The NPA’s outings program is national park in the ACT through all levels, in Parks, Conservation and particularly popular with members and engagement with politicians and public Land. During 2015–16, it also met with the records of last year’s NPA walks and officials the ACT Minister for the Environment, other events have been analysed by • dealing with matters affecting the ACT Planning Minister and the Brian Slee. From Brian’s statistics we Namadgi, from the creation of new Commissioner for Sustainability and the can see that over the past 3 years there walking trails to the potential Environment. has been slow but constant growth in the commercial use of tourist helicopters in The NPA ACT has always stressed the numbers of scheduled and completed the park and the Google Street-viewing need for science to underpin decisions activities and in the overall number of of walks made about park management. It has participants. • presenting at the House of therefore continued to support scientific The NPA is not all about hard work. Representatives Standing Committee research through its Honours scholarship During the year we basked in the on the Environment’s Inquiry into the with the Fenner School of Environment sunshine at Orroral Tracking Station for Register of Environmental and Society at the ANU and is looking for our Christmas party, were creative at Organisations opportunities to engage with the two NPA Art Weeks at Gudgenby • undertaking work parties across the University of . The third Cottage, and enjoyed the various ACT and in NSW recipient of the scholarship, April Suen, speakers and topics at our general • actively championing activities to get a was one of the NPA’s general meeting meetings, as well as the suppers that new generation of people interested in speakers during the year. followed (thanks to Quentin for the natural environment Our Bulletin continues to be a truly organising the rosters). • being involved in the Environment wonderful publication and thanks must At the 2016 AGM, Mike Smith and Centre’s Harvest Festival go to the various editors over the past David Large will be standing down from year, Phil Gatenby, Kevin McCue and the committee. Both have been very • continuing to encourage the use of the Sonja Lenz, and Judy Kelly. As always, active with the NPA and their TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair the editors have received strong support contributions to the committee will be • putting together proposals for a State of from Ed Highley (subeditor), Adrienne missed. the Parks report and a seminar on Nicholson (layout) and Hazel Rath Thanks must go to: all the committee bushfire management in the ACT (‘Parkwatch’). Members continue to members of the past year who have • donating to the ACT’s primary schools show their support for the Bulletin continued to take responsibility for a copies of the Bilby Ring Trilogy, to through the breadth of articles, poems wide range of tasks and projects; the engage students and teachers in a range and photos submitted and published. NPA ACT’s speakers and all those of environmental matters An organisation like the NPA needs members who volunteered during the • reprinting the second edition of our good administrative support and thanks year to set up the general meetings and very popular Field Guide to the Birds must go to the Secretary, Sonja Lenz, for to organise the catering for those of the ACT and continuing to develop a the great work she does in this area. Also, meetings. Finally, recognition must go new edition of the Field Guide to the Annette Smith has coordinated our to the NPA ACT’s office bearers, Vice- Native Trees of the ACT. Work is also enthusiastic team of office volunteers, President Christine Goonrey, Treasurer underway on a guide to our butterflies which does invaluable work that can Chris Emery, Immediate Past President • continuing important work at Glenburn often be overlooked: thanks and Rod Griffiths and Secretary Sonja Lenz through The Friends of Glenburn. congratulations to Annette, Debbie for their leadership throughout the year. Treasurer’s annual report 2015–16 The audit of NPA ACT’s financial Our expenses exceeded our income contribution to our association over all statements for the financial year 2015–16 (not counting the bequest) by $6,185, due that time. was unqualified. mainly to the ANU Scholarship being Chris Emery Our total equity decreased by 3.9 per paid from our reserves. cent compared with the previous year. Unfortunately, our auditor of more See diagrams opposite Membership subscriptions fell by 4.0 per than 10 years, Malcolm Prentice FCPA, is Assets cent, but donations increased by 38.8 per unable to continue in the role. We thank Income cent, following a substantial bequest. him sincerely for his pro-bono Expenditure.

4 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Vale Peter Ormay, 1938–2016 Peter Ormay first joined NPA in 1979 plants. The interior was reminiscent of a and rejoined in 2004. He made many mountain cabin with polished timbers. It contributions to the understanding and had a cosy, unique feeling to it, reflecting protection of our native plants and Peter’s individualism. On the side of one animals. His photograph in ACT Parks wall stood a bees’ honeycomb behind a and Conservation uniform is an sheet of glass, allowing spectators to see appropriate reflection of his dedication to the bees going about their business. his work as a ranger and to his love of Peter was one of the original authors nature, which he transferred to his of the NPA’s highly successful Field children, Lowie and Danny. When Lowie Guide to the Trees of the ACT, first was in Year 1, he was a ‘bushranger’. published in 1983. This publication has Peter was quiet and unassuming, with remained so popular it is now undergoing many of his achievements not widely its third revision. Peter Ormay. Photo by Hedda Morrison, known. He was born in Hungary before He also brought his expertise to the from the NPA archives. his family migrated to Australia in 1949. Black Mountain Spring Wildflower walk Peter’s knowledge of eucalypts was The Ormays lived at for many years. consolidated in A Guide to Eucalypts in where Peter enjoyed the outdoors as a As an active member of Friends of the ACT, a useful field guide pamphlet child. After leaving school at 15, he Aranda Bushland, Peter contributed with diagnostic diagrams published by trained as a carpenter, earning two of the significantly with his knowledge and ACT Parks and Conservation. top state awards on completion of his photographs of the bushland plants for Frank Ingwersen, Peter’s work training. His skills earned him a place at the organisation’s booklet, Our Patch. He colleague, says that as a ranger Peter the Wilkes Base in Antarctica in 1963, helped with weeding parties, served on took part ‘in wildlife management, where he was held in high regard. FoAB’s committee and was instrumental surveys, trapping, public education, John Hyslop, who worked with the in pushing for the permanent protection interpretation, weed control, feral Australian National Antarctic Research of the frost hollow with its Snow Gums animal control ...’ He also undertook Expedition, tells us that Peter was near Glenloch Interchange, now a ‘the first survey for the locally extinct awarded an Antarctic Medal in 1969 and reserve. Peter also led walks through the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, in the that Mount Ormay in the Prince Charles Black Mountain and Aranda Bushland to remote and rocky places of the ACT Mountains is named after him. share his knowledge of the eucalypts and mountains’. In 1965 and 1967, Peter worked on other plants. Peter was a dedicated father who Macquarie Island, where Danny feels the His friend David Dedenczuk says: took Lowie and Danny camping, scientists ‘cemented his love for ecology ‘From Peter I learnt how to recognise a imbuing them with a love of the bush and the environment’, leading to his Blakely’s Red Gum, a Yellow Box and an with its plants, animals and birds. starting a Bachelor of Applied Science as Apple Box. Peter taught me to pay NPA ACT extends its deep a mature-age student at the Canberra attention to the juvenile eucalypts ... He sympathy to Peter’s family, especially College of Advanced Education. helped folks to raise their awareness of Lowie and Danny, and to Peter’s friends Peter settled in Canberra in Aranda, the natural world and in so doing has and work colleagues. where he built a house out of wood and helped to preserve it.’ Judy Kelly clinker bricks, surrounded by native

Treasurer’s Report 2015–16 (continued) Income Donations Assets of NPA ACT as at 30 June 2016 Book sales Memberships Term deposits Interest Inventory Grants Cash Receivables Prepayments Liabilities

Expenditure Scholarships Cost of Books Sold Glenburn/Burbong project Bulletins Office costs Donations of books Notes EDO work 1. Expenditure on Glenburn is from a Heritage Grant and specific Memberships donations. Other 2. Liabilities include a $10,000 bequest, enabling us to make a NPAC Policy Officer work specific purpose research grant in FY17. PL Insurance 3. The excess of expenditure over income is mainly because we paid for Book storage the ANU Scholarship from reserves this year. Meetings Chris Emery Bank Fees

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 5 Black Mountain: living treasures on our doorstep Dr Rosemary Purdie, plant ecologist 1969 the CSIRO published a list of plants and Honorary Associate at the in the Black Mountain area. The authors Australian National Herbarium, gave Max Gray and Hugh McKee wrote that this opening address at the launch of Black Mountain’s vegetation was the Black Mountain Exhibition at the ‘floristically the richest in the Australian Australian National Botanic Gardens, Capital Territory’ and that ‘The aesthetic, Black Mountain, on 19 February 2016. cultural, and recreational value of the Goodenia pinnatifida. Photo Rosemary Purdie. natural forest area … is so obvious that it Black Mountain is probably taken for should not need stressing’. They also opportunity to relax and enjoy granted by many Canberrans today just commented that Black Mountain’s pleasant bushland so close to the as the place with the tower on its ‘scientific and educational value … make living, working heart of the city. summit. Visitors often appreciate it most it imperative that as much as possible of They also have a more intimate (again for the tower) for its superb views what remains of the area should be appeal: the diversity and or to navigate their way around preserved as a Permanent Native Flora abundance of plants and animals in Canberra’s road system. But Black and Fauna Reserve’. That wish was their natural habitats create an Mountain is far more than just a viewing achieved the following year, 1970, when intriguing and pleasant environ- platform or a navigation guide. Black Mountain was declared a Nature ment for the nature enthusiast. There is plenty of archaeological Reserve. While the ‘nature enthusiasts’ evidence that Aboriginal people The biological importance of Black continue to derive that pleasure from occupied the Black Mountain area, Mountain is far better known today. Gray Black Mountain today, the area is also a especially the surrounding plains, for and McKee recorded 470 plant species prominent focus for other recreational thousands of years prior to white settlers growing on the mountain in 1969. That activities like jogging, rogaining and arriving in 1820. Corroborees were figure has increased by over 200 species mountain-bike riding. These multiple reported in the area as late as 1849. to around 680 species today, which only uses are not without some tensions that Animals and plants on the mountain reinforces the area’s extraordinary plant mostly relate to perceived threats to the would have been an important resource, richness. Two-thirds of the plant species area. the plants for things like food, fibre, occur there naturally, and include about In 1969 Gray and McKee noted that medicine, tools and weapons. Early 66 species of ground orchid. ACT the Black Mountain vegetation was settlers also used Black Mountain’s government botanists report that 57 plant ‘especially vulnerable to clearing for resources: they cut down the trees for species on Black Mountain are rare in the softwood plantations, firewood firewood, building construction and ACT. The mountain has more rare plant purposes, rock quarries, and marginal fencing; quarried sandstone to build species than any other part of Canberra pastoral development’. They predicted more substantial buildings (like St John’s Nature Park, and is the only location in that the destruction of the remaining Church in Reid); and grazed their stock the Territory where eight of these rare stands of its vegetation would on native herbage on the slopes of the plant species have been recorded. ‘accelerate rapidly as increasing areas of mountain. Photos from the late 1800s For me, what epitomises the pastoral country [were] taken up by the and early 1900s show the impact of biological value of Black Mountain is the almost explosive rate of urban settler activities – many slopes were fact that, in addition to all the plants, development’ in the ACT. We see the grassland or open woodland, very within a 1-kilometre radius of the Telstra outcome of that urban development in different from today’s forest vegetation. Tower, the Atlas of Living Australia today’s threats to the area, which TAMS The conservation value of Black records show that you can also see describes like this: Mountain has long been recognised. In 11 reptile species, 180 bird species and • predation of the native wildlife from over 600 insect species! There’s no foxes and domestic pets that escape shortage of things to look for, or look at. into the reserve There are other ways of appreciating • wildlife being killed by passing cars or Black Mountain. A description of how the disturbed by dogs off leads area was perceived in 1976 can be found • fires burning too frequently or at the in a Department of the Capital Territory wrong time of the year publication Nature Guide: Black Mount- • illegal removal of rocks and plant ain Reserve, Ainslie– Reserve: material Although Canberra’s hilltops may • spread of environmental weeds from seem to rise aloof from the backyards, from illegal dumping of residential and business zones, they garden waste and through recreational form a functional part of the city. use and maintenance work. Their scenic beauty adds character Data from the Friends of Black and atmosphere to the city and gives Mountain [ParkCare Group]* woody a visual dimension to Canberra’s weed removal program highlight the urban expansion … The Reserves extent of this last threat. In just also offer mental and physical relief 13 weeding sessions, the Friends have by providing people with the removed almost 4,000 plants of 32 woody weed species from around the Veronica perfoliata. Photo by Rosemary Purdie. (continued next page)

6 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Black Mountain: living treasures on our doorstep (continued) periphery of the reserve. Half of the Sources species removed are exotic, the ACT Government and Ngunnawal Elders remainder are native Australian ones that and families (2014) Ngunnawal Plant have also naturalised in the reserve. Use: a Traditional Aboriginal Plant ’s plans for Use Guide for the ACT. ACT Canberra envisaged Black Mountain as Government, Canberra. ‘incidentally perpetuating … the only Atlas of Living Australia, list of faunal remnant of primeval luxuriance on the records using search criteria ‘Black city site’. We owe a debt to him and to Mountain’, ‘1 km radius’, at http:// the early scientists and government biocache.ala.org.au/explore/your-area, departments responsible for Canberra, downloaded January 2015. for that ‘remnant of primeval luxuriance’ Black Mountain Reserve interpretation still being present today. Its biological panels (2015) Link Track, Territories Solanum linearifolium. values are now more fully understood and Municipal Services, Canberra. Photo by Rosemary Purdie. and recognised, and the need to manage Friends of Black Mountain (2016) the area to protect its values just as Unpublished reports to TAMS of Commissioner for Sustainability and relevant. woody weed removal in Black the Environment, accessed This exhibition gives you a wonder- Mountain Nature Reserve, October November 2015, http://www.environ ful overview of the range of natural and 2014 to February 2016. mentcommissioner.act.gov.au/__data/ cultural values of Black Mountain. Many John Williams (1976) Nature Guide: assets/pdf_file/0007/590812/ people were involved in putting the Black Mountain Reserve, ocse_history_cnp_april_2011.pdf display together, and I would particularly Ainslie–Majura Reserve. Department like to acknowledge Linda Beveridge * You can contact the group at of the Capital Territory, AGPS, and Morgyn Phillips for their key roles [email protected] Canberra. in making it happen. for more information about this and I hope that each one of you will learn M. Gray and H.S. McKee (1969) A list of its other activities. Linda Beveridge is something new from the exhibition, and vascular plants occurring on Black the group’s convener. continue to treasure, enjoy, and help look Mountain and environs, Canberra, after the Black Mountain area. It’s with ACT. Division of Plant Industry great pleasure then that I declare the Technical Paper No. 26, CSIRO, exhibition open. Melbourne. Michael Mulvaney (2014) Rare plant Rosemary Purdie survey of . Research Report 2, Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, Canberra. R.W. Purdie (2016) Unpublished data to February 2016 on (a) Black Mountain plant occurrence records and (b) woody weeds removed by the Friends of Black Mountain. Sarah Ryan (2011) History of Canberra Nature Park. Report to the ACT

Left. Tricoryne elatior. Right. Isotoma fluviatalis. Photos by Rosemary Purdie. Following the path

dry country heat shimmers mesmerised wind whispers … following the path afternoon faint croak of ravens that winds deepens … trees stand faint smell of smoke inwards ... outwards in strength left foot ... right foot and clarity surrender the path goes onwards to the magic pilgrims of stringybark slow travellers finishing and box-dappled shade bonded the journey spiralling inwards by silence looking backwards wind song … bird song at the path … standing on the threshold

Gerry Jacobson

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 7 NPA volunteers work for habitat rehabilitation at Dananbilla Andrew Moore and Susan project that has seen immediate Jackson, NPWS benefits to a number of rangers, have worked with threatened bird species that ‘imagination and foresight’ occupy the reserves. Robins, (Max Lawrence, NPA Bulletin, flycatchers and warblers have Vol. 50, No. 3, p.7, September been observed to use them to 2013) to establish the extend their foraging zone into Dananbilla–Illunie Protected the grassy areas. Area Network (PAN), midway Kangaroo exclosures have between Young, Cowra and increased habitat opportunities Boorowa. NPA ACT’s work for the other fauna of the reserve. party program, organised by Martin Chalk, has included Another innovative project the the Dananbilla–Illunie project volunteers have been involved in for some years. Ed. is the construction of small kangaroo exclosures using Since 2012 NPA ACT volunteers recycled fencing material to have had active involvement in create small areas where shrub ongoing habitat rehabilitation in Wattle planting, future seed trees for Dananbilla NR. groves can be established and the Dananbilla–Illunie Protected native grasses can go to seed. Area Network reserves situated This adds diversity of structure on the South-west Slopes of NSW. This when re-used for other works, some to the ground layer, so increasing habitat has been a highly successful undertaken by the volunteers. opportunities for the other fauna of the collaboration, with funding from the Since 2012 approximately 6,000 reserves. Kangaroo numbers in the Office of Environment and Heritage eucalypts and 2,000 wattles have been reserves have increased since reservation (OEH) Volunteer Grants Program planted in the reserves with the and at current high densities are a threat enabling implementation of a number of volunteers’ contribution being highly to the rehabilitation of the ground layer restoration activities. The focus of the significant. of the woodland. works has been in the 1,500 or so Creation of ‘leaky weirs’ has benefited The volunteers currently stay in hectares of White Box – Yellow threatened bird species. accommodation units in a fairly natural Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy setting close to the reserves. They have Woodlands Endangered Ecological Other restoration works undertaken by the volunteers in the reserves include the access to kitchen facilities and a large Community within Dananbilla Nature open fire in the golf clubhouse at the Reserve. This reserve contains the largest removal of guards from previous plantings, the spreading of mulch hay on base of the Illunie Range. There are area of that community conserved within interesting walks and good birdwatching the NSW reserve system. Eighteen erosion areas that have later been seeded to stabilise them, hand-weeding of on site. species of threatened fauna have been In spring, the program incorporates a recorded in the reserve, many associated introduced grasses in areas with sensitive forbs that require protection from field day focusing on the values of the with the woodland communities. reserve, with plant identification and Restoration of box–gum and herbicide and the thinning of dense cypress, using the cut trees as sediment birdwatching walks supported by an box–ironbark communities previously OEH Threatened Species Officer. The modified for agricultural purposes has catchers or, as they are known, ‘leaky weirs’, on eroded areas. The construction reserve managers also cover the many challenges and requires challenges and opportunities involved in considerable resources to undertake. The of these leaky weirs on the edges of timbered country has been a recent the management of the reserves, volunteers have been particularly the grassy instrumental in implementing a woodlands – box systems. number of projects that may Andrew Moore otherwise not have happened and certainly would not have NPWS Ranger happened to the extent or as rapidly as has been the case. Initially the project involved the removal of fences from a newly acquired addition to Dananbilla NR. To date more than 15 kilometres of fence have been removed, with many additional kilometres having been ‘de-barbwired’. The materials recovered, including posts used for tree planting and Cut weed trash piled to form ‘leaky kangaroo exclosure fencing, weirs’. have been of considerable value Photos from Andrew Moore.

8 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Rescue program begins for Monaro’s dying Ribbon Gums A long-term project involving scientists, landcare organisations, landowners and Indigenous communities is underway to try to halt and reverse the massive dieback of Eucalyptus viminalis in the Cooma–Monaro region. Funded by a grant of nearly $500,000 from the NSW Environmental Trust’s Bush Connect program, the project is being managed by Greening Australia in collaboration with the Upper Snowy Landcare Committee, CSIRO, South East Local Land Services, Kosciuszko to Coast (K2C) and local landholders and Indigenous groups. The extent of the ecological disaster on the Monaro would be evident to anyone who has driven down the to the in recent years. Once the dominant tree of the Monaro, E. viminalis – commonly known as Ribbon Gum or Manna Gum – is in danger of disappearing from the landscape. In a recently published survey, Australian National University researchers Cris Brack and Catherine Ross found the dieback affected an area covering almost 2,000 square km (see map). Within this area, almost every Ribbon Gum was either dead or showing signs of severe stress and dieback. The their practices have been equally in quite a wide range of climatic explanation for the dieback is still ineffective, as has the absence or environments. unclear. In their paper, published in late presence of recent fire or pasture ‘We’ll collect seed from a selection 2015, Brack and Ross suggested several improvement. of provenances, ranging from within the possible contributors, from an infestation Although Ross says she has not dieback zone – the Cooma–Berridale of the (native) Eucalyptus Weevil directly observed dieback in Ribbon region – to other distant parts of the (Gonipterus sp.), which has been Gums outside the area she surveyed, species’ distribution, including South observed in large numbers on the few many people have told her they have, Australia and other parts of New South surviving trees, to the Millennium and in different species. Wales. drought weakening the trees’ resistance Until Brack and Ross’s survey, little ‘The rationale is that from across the to insect attack. attention had been paid to dieback in range of the species there will be some But they also suggest the E. viminalis on the Monaro. genotypes better-adapted to the warmer, underpinning reasons for the dieback on ‘This was the first record of the drier climate predicted for the tablelands the Monaro are much more complex. dieback in the literature’, Ross said ‘and region’, she said. Previous outbreaks of dieback, such as since then there has been a lot of interest, The second prong will be to work in the New England area of New South particularly after I wrote a blog about it. with the Upper Snowy Landcare Wales during the 1970s and 1980s, were But the grant is the really important part, Committee to establish biodiversity attributed to agricultural practices and because it shows that government has plantings across eight properties in the understorey clearing that upset the recognised the problem.’ dieback-affected area to replace some of balance of insects and their predators. Greening Australia project manager the woodland habitat which has been lost This resulted in repeated defoliation that Nicki Taws outlined a three-pronged to the dieback. The plantings will include eventually exhausted the trees’ ability to approach to the crisis that has been made a range of local tree and shrub species. recover. possible by the NSW Government grant. The third prong will involve local In the case of the Monaro, while the ‘We’re still in the first stages of Indigenous groups in trials of cultural ultimate cause of death seems to be an engaging stakeholders and the burning techniques in woodland areas infestation of the Eucalyptus Weevil, community, identifying sites and and monitoring the response of the dieback has occurred regardless of the collecting seed’, she said. vegetation. trees’ local environment. Measures such ‘We’ll be working with CSIRO to ‘Many landholders are very keen to as fencing-off areas, fencing-out establish E. viminalis provenance trials be involved in the project, particularly reserves and asking graziers to change in the region. E. viminalis has a broad those who have been directly impacted distribution across Australia and occurs (continued next page)

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 9 Rescue program begins for Monaro’s dying Ribbon Gums (continued) ‘The government the underlying causes are not well agencies Office of understood. Even if we do come to Environment and Heritage understand the primary causes it’s and Local Land Services are unlikely that there will be just one also involved either directly solution. or indirectly. ‘Our project is just a small start in ‘Part of our project trying to understand and address this involves raising community landscape-scale problem. There will awareness, which should not need to be ongoing action for decades be too hard to do as the main to even begin to reverse or replace the highway to the Snowy loss of trees.’ Mountains cuts through the For further information about this heart of the dieback. project or to get involved please contact However, many travellers Nicki Taws at Greening Australia in aren’t aware of why the trees Canberra: 02 6253 3035 or email ANU Honours student and Greening Australia staffer, have died or that we’re now [email protected] Catherine Ross. Photo by Tim the Yowie Man. starting to do something about Allan Sharp by the loss of the trees and the shade, it’, she said. shelter, habitat and amenity that they ‘We’re using a range of approaches provide’, said Taws. because dieback is a complex issue and Gudgenby Valley snapshots Morning. Low cloud captures near hills, cocooning them in grey. Light rain crosses the valley, dews grasses, trees, damps down dirt on the road in. Kangaroos head down to the grassy flat nibble amongst autumn dry growth and lick moist pelts of their young. Boulder mosses expand, brightening in colour then seep slow drops down, onto peeling granite layers.

Three eagles appear above the near valley, then a fourth seemingly oblivious to the force of the gale, their wing tip feathers curve like sails. They cruise low across this valley and examine us carefully. One eagle leaves its mate, circling higher and higher and higher. It has morphed from bird to dot, apparently revelling in its ability to freely soar, as only we can in dreams. It pauses, then, suddenly drops in free fall, and disappears, away over the crest into the next valley. * Ailsa Brown Wind arrives, slanting hard rain, NPA Gudgenby Art Week pushing the gums about, bringing out wet bark colours. Autumn 2016 A break in the clouds. We walk among trees and aged rocks following kangaroo tracks, and shelter from cold gusts on the lee of a hill, with ’roos who look askance at our intrusion. Birds catch their breath in amongst tree clumps observing us as we go. Dark skies and early evenings hint at winter, only days away. * A new day brings patchy sunshine and wind, cloud shadows run, painting hills and valley in darks and lights. Air blasts over the saddle, roars up the valley, pushes through trees, bows branches, wet, waxy leaves glint and glitter as they bounce about. Magpies keep to low flight paths and forage on grass, their calls carried off on the wind. Photos by Ailsa Brown *

10 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Community groups mobilise against river corridor development proposal Local community and environmental groups have mobilised against the ACT Government’s proposal to build a new residential subdivision along the Corridor in west Tuggeranong. The groups are concerned the development could threaten the environmental and heritage values of the river corridor, including the habitat of the endangered Scarlet Robin. In March, the government announced plans to build a new suburb – likely to be named Thompson after an early soldier settler in the area – on a 190 hectare parcel of land, including nearly 90 hectares of river corridor and nature reserve. ACT Planning Minister Mick Gentleman said the proposal was in response to strong demand for new Map showing the proposed subdivision. Photo supplied. property in Tuggeranong, and described the land as some of the best in Canberra, system, and its functionality and habitat affected needs to be determined’, said ‘along the green swathes of the river for birds and other biodiversity. COG FOG’s advocacy coordinator, Naarilla corridor with views to the Brindabellas’. says around 130 species of birds have Hirsch. The minister said any development been recorded in the area, including in The Tuggeranong Archery Club is would protect the area’s high the adjacent river corridor reserve and also campaigning strongly against the environmental and heritage values, and on the edges of the town centre – but proposal, concerned both for the risk it the government would consult with this could be an underestimate. poses to the activities of various stakeholders and local residents. An Two species – the Regent community groups, including aged and initial round of consultations has already Honeyeater and Swift Parrot – use feed disabled citizens, that use an indoor been held and a second is planned. trees on the edge of the proposed facility located within the subdivision Local environmental activists, led by development area and are listed under area and for the ecology of the river long-term Tuggeranong resident the Commonwealth Environment corridor. Matthew Frawley, have responded by Protection and Biodiversity ‘The facility exists through the setting up the Save the Murrumbidgee Conservation Act. generous support of the ACT River Corridor group and organising a COG is also concerned about the Government and was opened 3 years social media campaign on Facebook to loss of habitat for the Scarlet Robin, ago’, said the archery club’s raise awareness of the proposal. which is regularly recorded in the area, representative, Steve Caldicott. The group consists of various and the group points to an apparent The club has organised guided tours community and environmental inconsistency in the ACT Government’s of the area for politicians and ACT Land organisations and residents, including plans to develop the subdivision while Development Agency executives to the Conservation Council, Friends of developing an action plan to save the discuss its concerns and mounted its Grasslands, the Canberra Ornithologists Scarlet Robin from extinction. own media awareness campaign. It has Group, local ParkCare groups and the In April, the ACT Conservator for also engaged with a variety of local Tuggeranong Archery Club. Flora and Fauna, Dr Annie Lane, sought groups and organised public petitions on ‘While the government cites urban community help in developing an action social media. renewal as one of its core priorities and plan, warning that the Scarlet Robin ‘The response combined with the describes development here as urban risked extinction in the region in the Save the Murrumbidgee River corridor renewal, the term has been next 25–50 years unless action was campaign from Matthew Frawley has misappropriated for what is really just taken now. been overwhelming against any urban sprawl’, Matthew Frawley said. Another local community group, development impacting the area’, Mr ‘True urban renewal would involve Friends of Grasslands (FOG), said part Caldicott said. undertaking the key findings of the of the area is native woodland and The club has been doing a monthly existing grassy woodland. While much of the survey of flora and fauna, and a weed Master Plan, which allows for up to understorey is exotic species, some survey, and has established a register of 7,800 new dwellings or 14,000 new remnant native patches are of unknown feral pests and activities in the area such residents, all within the existing town quality. as orienteering, bike riding and bird centre footprint.’ ‘However, given the Scarlet Robin’s watching. The Canberra Ornithological Group recent endangered listing and concerns ‘Separately, we’re working with the (COG) says its concerns include the about other woodland species, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, impacts on a major river corridor importance of the woodland areas (continued next page)

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 11 Community groups mobilise against river corridor development proposal (continued) planning to replace the blackberries with ‘We plan to present an online local Australian Blackthorn (Bursaria petition with over 500 signatures to the spinosa) and Burgan Teatree (Kunzea ACT Legislative Assembly soon. We’ve ericoides) as well as formalising a weed already held a community “discovery management plan and drainage and walk” to look at the Scarlet Robin and fencing improvements. plan to conduct more such walks. ‘The site already has extensive ‘This issue resonates strongly with signage and a safety and risk the people of Canberra. It’s a threat to management plan registered with the the ideal of the “bush capital”’, ACT Registrar-General. Greening Mr Frawley said. Australia is also on board and keen to ‘If the river corridor isn’t protected source seedlings from the area for here, it will open up the path for greater regeneration.’ destruction when the push to release used by over 10 community groups, more land for development on the With the ACT Legislative Assembly from Archery Club. election due in October, the Save the western side of the Murrumbidgee happens.’ Murrumbidgee River Corridor group and ‘We’ll continue speaking out using the Tuggeranong Archery Club plan to all forms of media, including on-the- Allan Sharp continue their campaign. ground campaigning’, said Mr Frawley.

Media releases Effective, humane feral horse control essential for Kosciuszko, scientists say 19 August 2016 essential for Kosciuszko National Park 18 per cent of 3,183 horses removed to perform its primary function of since 2002 were rehomed’, Professor A team of 41 Australian scientists biodiversity conservation.’ Driscoll said. ‘The remaining 82 per headed by Deakin University ecologist ‘Horses are not compatible with the cent of horses went to abattoirs after a Professor Don Driscoll has written to primary goal of nature conservation in a long journey and such prolonged New South Wales Premier Mike Baird to national park … [they] are stock animals transport was ranked as the worst animal urge his government to protect the recently introduced and are not ethics outcome of all the control options Kosciuszko National Park through characteristic of this area, but threaten considered. Rapidly reducing the humane and effective feral horse control. ecosystem processes, ecosystems and population will … be more cost The scientists, from 16 universities species that are characteristic’, Professor effective, result in fewer horses being in Queensland, NSW, Australian Capital Driscoll said, adding that there are now killed over time, minimise horse Territory, and Tasmania, were an estimated half a million feral horses suffering and prevent further joint signatories to a submission across Australia, degrading much of the degradation of Australia’s unique alpine supporting the NSW Government’s nation’s national park ecosystems, ecosystems.’ Kosciuszko National Park draft Wild including 48 per cent of Kosciuszko The only caveat raised by the Horse Management Plan. National Park. scientists supporting the removal plan Professor Driscoll said that The scientists noted that current was that the 20-year time frame to collectively the signatories to the methods of feral horse control, which do reduce horse numbers to the target 600 submission represented the greatest pool not involve culling, have been was too long. of knowledge about alpine ecosystems ineffective in reducing numbers. On For the full media release: in Australia. average, just 450 horses have been https://www.theguardian.com/envir ‘Most of us have direct research removed each year over the past five onment/2016/aug/19/culling-5000- experience in the Australian Alps and in years, while during the same period brumbies-41-scientists-back-contro versial-kosciuszko-proposal practical land management decision- horse numbers increased from 4,200 in making’, he said. ‘It is this deep For Professor Driscoll’s letter: 2009 to 6,000 today. https://dondriscoll.files.wordpress. knowledge of ecology and management ‘Further, rehoming and domestication .com/2016/08.aug-19-science-state which allows us to draw our conclusions of captured horses under the 2008 Plan is ment-on-horses-in-kosciuszko.pdf that rapid, humane horse control is not a solution for humane control as only ACT looking after the Australian Alps The next 3 years will allow ACT wild horse management plan which has ACT Parks and Conservation Services Parks and Conservation Services to direct relevance to our management of has taken stewardship of the Australian actively participate in various Alps ref- the Cotter catchment’, Mr Gentleman Alps for 3 years from July 2016, the erence groups, workshops, and various said. Minister for Planning and Land Manage- scientific and operational projects, which ‘I am sure that leading the Alps ment, Mick Gentleman, has announced. continue to assist Alps park agencies in program for the next three years will The arrangement is part of the managing this bioregion. offer ACT Parks and Conservation Australian Alps National Parks ‘An example of the Alps Program is Services staff greater opportunities for Cooperative Management Program, now highlighted by recent assistance to NSW collaboration and learning that will help in its 30th year, and covers over Parks colleagues to undertake a detailed protect the beautiful and amazing 1.6 million hectares of public land across analysis of wild horse populations within Australian Alps and in turn benefit eleven national parks and nature reserves the Kosciuszko National Park. This work Canberra.’ in the ACT, NSW and Victoria. informed the development of the park’s

12 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 NPA outings program September–December 2016 Bushwalk Grading Guide Distance grading (per day) Terrain grading 1 up to 10 km A Road, fire-trail or track E Rock scrambling 2 10 km to 15 km B Open forest F Exploratory 3 15 km to 20 km C Light scrub 4 above 20 km D Patches of thick scrub, regrowth Day walks Carry lunch and snacks, drinks, protective clothing, a first aid kit and any required medication. Pack walks Two or more days. Carry all food and camping requirements. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Car camps Facilities often limited. Vehicles taken to site can be used for camping. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Work parties Carry items as for day walks plus work gloves and any tools required. Work party details and location sometimes change, check NPA website, www.npaact.org.au, for any last minute changes. Other activities include ski trips, canoe trips, nature rambles and environment or field guide studies. Wednesday walks (WW). Medium or somewhat harder walks arranged on a joint NPA, BBC (Brindabella Bushwalking Club) and CBC (Canberra Bushwalking Club) basis for fit and experienced club walkers. Notification and details are only emailed to members registered for WW. Only NPA-hosted WW are shown in this program. For WW email registration, contact the Outings Convener. Transport The NPA suggests a passenger contribution to transport costs of 40 cents per kilometre for the distance driven divided by the number of occupants of the car including the driver, rounded to the nearest dollar. The amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader. Drive and walk distances shown in the program are approximate for return journeys. NPA ACT members undertaking walks or other activities in this program are advised they should have PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE or, at least, AMBULANCE COVER in case of an accident requiring evacuation by ambulance or helicopter. Points to note Please help keep our outings program alive by volunteering to lead outings. New leaders are welcome. The Outings Convener is happy to suggest locations suitable for a walk if you do not have something in mind. Feel free to send in suggestions for outings with a suggested date to the Outings Convener by email to [email protected] All persons joining an outing of the National Parks Association of the ACT do so as volunteers in all respects and as such accept responsibility for any injury howsoever incurred and the National Parks Association of the ACT, its office bearers and appointed leaders, are absolved from any liability in respect of injury or damage suffered whilst engaged in any such outing. In voluntarily participating in these activities conducted by the NPA ACT, participants should be aware that they could be exposed to risks that could lead to injury, illness or death or to loss of or damage to property. These risks could include but are not limited to slippery and/or uneven surfaces, rocks being dislodged, falling at edges of cliffs or drops or elsewhere, risks associated with crossing creeks, hypothermia, heat exhaustion and the risks associated with any of the Special Hazards listed on the Atten- dance Record and Risk Waiver Form provided by the leader at the activity. To minimise these risks participants should endeavour to ensure that the activity is within their capabilities and that they are carrying food, water, equipment, clothing and footwear appropriate to the activity. Participants should advise the leader if they are taking any medication or have any physical or other limitation that might affect their participation in the activity. Participants should make every effort to remain with the rest of the party during the activity and accept the instructions of the leader. By sign- ing the Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Form participants agree that they understand these requirements and have considered the risks before choosing to sign the form and waiver any claim for damages arising from the activity that they might have against the association, the leader or any other participants in tort or contract. Children under 18 years of age are welcome to come on NPA ACT activities provided they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or close relative. Parents or Guardians will be required to sign a specific Risk Waiver for a Child form. Leaders to note: please send copies of completed Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Forms to Brian Slee, contact 6281 0719 or [email protected]

4 September Sunday Walk mostly off-track in grasslands but with a Walking Track from Old Boboyan Road RENDEZVOUS CREEK VALLEY bit of light scrub. to Hospital Creek. Tools provided. Meet at Kambah Village shops at 8.00 am. Map Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 11 September Sunday Walk Drive 100 km, $40 per car. Grading 2 A/B/C SHEPHERDS LOOKOUT TO URIARRA Leader Mike S 10 September Saturday Work Party CROSSING Contact 0412 179 907 GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP Map Canberra Nature Reserves – A walk from the car park at Rendezvous Leader Michael Goonrey Uriarra Loop Walk Creek to visit historic sites including old Contact 6231 8395 or Grading 2 A/B/C hut sites and the remains of Rowleys [email protected] Leader Esther Hut, stockyards, an air-strip, a grave, a Meet at the Namadgi Visitor Centre at Contact 0429 356 212 or significant rock shelter and the cascades 9.15 am. Spraying of weeds and [email protected] on Middle Creek for lunch. Walking maintenance work on the Gudgenby Walk down from the lookout to cross the

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 13 NPA outings program September–December 2016 (page 2 of 4) Map Yaouk 1:25,000 Grading 2 A/B/C and on to Uriarra 24 September Saturday Work Party Leader Barrie R Crossing for lunch in the picnic area. RENDEZVOUS CREEK, WILLOW CONTROL Contact 0437 023 140 Return by similar route finishing with Leader Martin Chalk Departing Kambah Village Shops at steep climb back to Shepherds Lookout Contact 0411 161 056 8.00 am. Mostly on trails, about 14 km, for impressive views of the This work party will be a revisit of work 950 m climb. A lovely walk through Murrumbidgee River. we conducted in 2013. The main location beautiful tall forest, then granite boulders Meet at Shepherds Lookout car park off is approximately 500 m upstream from the and snow gums, and finally heaths and Stockdill Drive in Holt at 9.00 am. Boboyan Road with isolated trees further granite rock slabs. Wonderful wide views 17–18 September Weekend Walk upstream. We will chop and poison the from the summit. A great walk. For fit larger trees – small ones may be cut-and- LONG POINT AND BUNGONIA walkers only, please. Map Caoura 1:25,000 dabbed. Tools will be provided but a small Drive about 170 km, $68 per car. Grading 2 A/B folding saw and/or a short-handle axe 2 October Sunday Ramble would be handy. Be prepared for wet feet! Leader Steven Forst CENTRAL MOLONGLO AND KAMA Meet at the Namadgi Visitor Centre at Contact 0428 195 236 WOODLAND A walk down into the Shoalhaven Gorge 8.30 am. Map Canberra, Umburra and Cotter from Long Point near Marulan. A long Drive 60 km, $24 per car from Namadgi Dam 1:25,000 steady descent on a narrow path down to Visitor Centre. Grading 2 A/B the river. Dropping our packs at a camp- 25 September Sunday Walk Leader Esther site by the river we will walk into the NURSERY SWAMP Contact 0429 356 212 or bottom of Bungonia Gorge. Next day Map Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 [email protected] climb out slowly by the same route to Grading 2 A/B/C The walk starts high and morning tea Long Point. Book with leader by Leader Esther will feature expansive views over the Thursday 15 September. Contact 0429 356 212 or . Descend to follow the Drive 260 km, $104 per car. [email protected] river through a rocky gorge looking for Wedgies (eagles) overhead. After lunch 18 September Sunday Walk From Nursery Swamp car park off Ororral on the river bank, walk through the LITTLE TWYNAM (snowshoe) Road hike up to the end of the forest track Kama Nature Reserve. Meet at Kama Map Perisher Valley 1:25,000 and explore further into the swamp. Lunch NR car park on the north side of William Grading 2 B (on snow) spot and amount of exploration will Hovell Drive (approx. 5 km from Leader Brian Slee depend on water levels. Meet at Kambah Glenloch Interchange) at 9.00 am. A Contact 6281 0719 (h) or Village shops at 9.00 am. short car shuffle may be involved. [email protected] Drive 85 km, $34 per car. 3 October Monday Walk Depart 6.15 am and drive to Guthega. 26–30 September Car Camp with KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK Proceed via Illawong and follow Twynam accommodation (snowshoe) Creek on its north and west sides to Little YATHONG NATURE RESERVE Map Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 Twynam. Return on opposite side of Map Mount Allen 1:100,000 Leader Brian Slee Twynam Creek. Magnificent views. Some Grading 1 B/C/E/F Contact 6281 0719 or hard climbs. Afternoon tea at Jindabyne. Leader John Brickhill [email protected] Participants hiring snowshoes should Contact 0427 668 112 or Destination will depend on snow depth have them prior to departure. Book with [email protected] and conditions. Contact leader leader by Saturday morning for weather Yathong is about 500 km to the north-west beforehand. Book by Sunday morning check, departure point and car of Canberra, in central NSW. for weather check, departure point and arrangements (chains may be required). Accommodation in shearers quarters, with time, and car arrangements (chains may Alternative destination Mount Twynam twin beds in each room, kitchen and be required). (if conditions excellent). ablutions block. Cost about $15 per person Drive 420 km, $168 per car. Drive 420 km, $168 per car plus Park per night. This reserve has semi-arid entry fee. woodlands, and rocky hills. We 8 October Saturday Work Party will try to find a small cave art site, walk GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP 18 September Sunday Walk Leader Michael Goonrey THE PIMPLE to the top of the range, assist NPWS staff to search for rare orchids, see results of Contact 6231 8395 or 0419 494 142 or JOINT NPA / BBC ACTIVITY [email protected] Map Tidbinbilla 1:25,000 fire management practices, see goat Meet at the Namadgi Visitor Centre, Grading 3 A/D/F management works, look for rare mallee Tharwa, at 9.15 am. Car pool to Leader David Dedenczuk birds and visit a few other reserves while Gudgenby Valley. Barbed wire fence Contact 0417 222 154 or travelling between Canberra and Yathong. removal in the Peppermint Hill area. Cut [email protected] Numbers limited. Contact leader early. and dab weeds. Tools provided. In Tidbinbilla, walk up the Camels Hump 28 September Wednesday Walk Fire Trail to the skyline ridge near the JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY 8 October Saturday Walk Camels Hump. Then it’s off track up the Leader Mike S 45TH BLACK MOUNTAIN SPRING ridge over Johns Peak and Tidbinbilla Contact 0412 179 907 WILDFLOWER RAMBLE Peak. Thence to a scrubby spur leading Details are emailed to those on the 9.30 am to 12.00 noon (approximately) out to the Pimple. We might find there the Wednesday Walks email list. Otherwise Bookings essential. Contact Tingiringi Gum (Eucalyptus contact the leader. [email protected], glaucescens), which is rare in the ACT. Jean Geue on 6251 1601 or Return via same route. 1 October Saturday Walk Linda on 037 298 711. Meet at Kambah Village Shops at 7.00 am. YAOUK PEAK Following the tradition of Nancy Drive 60 km return, $24 per car. JOINT NPA / BBC ACTIVITY Burbidge, botanist, and George

14 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 NPA outings program September–December 2016 (page 3 of 4) Rendezvous Creek to camp for 2 nights on a grassy knoll where orchids may be Chippendale, eucalypt specialist, come Ginninderra, mostly following pedestrian/ in bloom. On day 2 enjoy the bush and celebrate the spring flowering on cycling tracks. Finish by walking around surrounding camp at your leisure (bring beautiful Black Mountain with a social the western side of the lake back to the your sketch pad, camera or Kindle) or ramble. Friends of Black Mountain cars. Optional afternoon tea at Black walk to cascades further up the valley welcome all comers whether experts or Olive café, near the cars. About 18 km. for lunch. Return by same route on those who never slowed down to see the Meet in the car park in Beissell Street, day 3. Contact leader at least 7 days in surprising diversity of tiny orchids, bush Belconnen at 9.00 am. No car fee. advance for further details and travel peas, wattles and billy buttons. We plan 22 October Saturday Work Party arrangements. four guides with helpers and will take Drive 95 km, $38 per car. different directions. BYO morning tea, BRAYSHAWS TO WESTERMANS water, hat, sunblock and stout shoes. Leader Martin Chalk 30 October Sunday Walk Contact 0411 161 056 DEMANDERING HUT 9 October Sunday Walk This work party will involve the removal Map Colinton 1:25,000 SERENITY ROCKS, TALLAGANDA FOREST of broom in the area between Brayshaws Grading 1 A/B Maps Bombay and Bendoura and Westermans huts. The location of the Leader Steven Forst 1:25,000 broom plants is known to NNP rangers Contact 0428 195 236 Grading 2 A/B/C/D and the duty ranger will assist the group This walk takes us from the Mount Clear Leader Barrie R to locate them. All tools and equipment camp ground through to Demandering Contact 0437 023 140 will be provided, just bring an appetite to Hut. Mostly open grassland tracks and Contact leader for meeting place and sweep the area and a GPS. fire trail. Meet at Kambah Village Shops departure time. A walk through beautiful Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre at 8.30 am. car park at 8.30 am. forest including a few crossings of lovely Drive 90 km, $36 per car. Drive 90 km, $36 per car. ferny creeks. Varied vegetation. Lunch at 22–23 October Easy Pack Walk Serenity Rocks with great views. About 1 November Tuesday Work Party UPPER NAAS VALLEY 10–12 km and about 600 m total climb. FRIENDS OF GLENBURN Map Colinton 1:25,000 Leader Col McAlister Mostly on fire trails and foot pads. Some Grading 1 A/B off track at beginning. For fit walkers Contact 6288 4171 Leader Steven Forst Protection and conservation tasks at only, please. Contact 0428 195 236 Glenburn and Collier’s homesteads and Drive 100 km, $40 per car (preferably This walk starts at the Mount Clear four-wheel drive). Coppins chimney to be negotiated with campground. Mostly open grassland the Parks Service. Meet at Canberra 15–23 October Car Camp tracks and fire trail as we wander down railway station, Kingston at 9.00 am. WEDDIN MOUNTAINS AND NANGAR NPS the valley and climb a hill should we feel Drive 50km, $20 per vehicle. JOINT NPA/BBC ACTIVITY like it. Contact leader before Wednesday. Leader Mike S Drive 90 km, $36 per car. 5 November Saturday Walk SUGAR LOAF CREEK TRIBUTARIES Contact 0412 179 907 24–28 October Pack Walk It’s wildflower time out west and Weddin MONGA NATIONAL PARK BUDAWANGS: A 5-DAY CIRCUIT Mountains National Park, in particular, is JOINT NPA / BBC ACTIVITY Map Endrick 1:25,000 renowned for them. Time for a car camp. Map Monga 1:25,000 Grading 2 A/D Grading 2 B/C/D/E and ?F Nine days of car-camping and day Leaders Dave and Judy Kelly Leader Barrie R walking in these two central NSW Contact 6253 1859 or Contact 04 3702 3140 national parks out near Forbes (3 full [email protected] A beautiful rainforest walk up one creek, days in each park plus 3 days for travel- A walk from the Nerriga entrance to the over a ridge and down another. A steep ling to, from and between). Participants Budawangs, via The Vines, Styles Creek, descent from Misty Mountain Road to may come for either or both parks. Grassy Creek, and return to Nerriga. With the , and at the end, a steep ascent Leader may also go on to Goobang time available will explore Sturgiss back to the fire trail. Mostly walking up National Park and you are welcome to Mountain, Hidden Valley and other sites the creeks. Only walkers who are fit and join him. For day-to-day details of and see wildflowers. Mainly on happy with off-track walking and rock- activities or to express interest contact overgrown track with some scrub. hopping please. May get wet feet. About the leader. Numbers limited. Contact leaders early. 8 km and 650 m climb. Drive about 300 km, $120 per car. 16 October Sunday Walk We may have to leave the creek beds GINNINDERRA CREEK AND 26 October Wednesday Walk to go around pools, small falls or blow MOUNT ROGERS JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY downs, hence the possible exploratory Map Any Canberra street directory Leader Philip Gatenby category in the grading. Meet at Grading 3 A/B Contact 0401 415 446 Spotlight car park, 6 Bungendore Road, Leader Margaret Details are emailed to those on the (aka Kings Highway) Queanbeyan, Contact 0418 645 303 or Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise 7.45 am, departing 8.00 am. [email protected] contact the leader. Drive about 250 km, $100 per car. Walk part of the way around then follow Ginninderra 29–31 October Easy Pack Walk 6 November Sunday Walk Creek north to Giralang. After a wander RENDEZVOUS CREEK VALLEY SUNSET MOUNTAIN, NADGIGOMAR through Palmerville Heritage Park, head Map Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 NATURE RESERVE west, following Owen Dixon Drive and Grading 2 A/B Map Oallen 1:25,000 proceed to Mount Rogers, ascending Leader Esther Grading 2 A/B/C from the north. After enjoying the views Contact 0429 356 212 or Leader Rupert Barnett from the top, descend to the south-east of [email protected] Contact 6242 5241 or Mount Rogers. Return to Lake From the Boboyan Road, an easy walk up [email protected]

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 15 NPA outings program September–December 2016 (page 4 of 4) Leader Barrie R Would you like to see some bauxite, the 22–25 November Pack Walk Contact 0437 023 140 stuff aluminium is extracted from? There : A 4-DAY RETURN TRIP A relaxed trip in the iconic Ettrema are scattered occurrences of it over Map Rendezvous Creek and Gorge. Read, swim, paint, photograph. A southeast NSW and this walk will take us Yaouk 1:25,000 walk in of about 4 km and a descent of to one that is happily in an existing nature Grading 2 C/D about 300 m. Two days exploring up- reserve, where we can see the process that Leaders Dave and Judy Kelly and downstream from a base camp, then forms it. The walk will take us on easy Contact 6253 1859 or retracing our inwards track back to the trails through undulating eucalypt and [email protected] cars. A truly beautiful place to be. casuarina forest to the gentle top of A walk from Yankee Hat carpark across Gaiters, gloves for the walks in and out, Sunset Mountain, and off track through Gudgenby saddle to Naas Creek and possibly wear volleys for the walks up open forest to the other main hill, Sams Creek base camp. Visit Mount and down the river which may also Mayfield, and to the bauxite. Contact the Scabby and Mount Kelly, then return. involve some compulsory swims. Day leader a few days ahead to arrange Scrubby and partly rocky. Contact leaders packs with waterproof liners also transport. Maximum 8 people. by Wednesday. advisable. We will need four-wheel drive Approximately 180 km, $70 per car. Drive 95 km, $38 per car. vehicles. Limited numbers, deadline for bookings by 25 November. Drive about 12 November Saturday Work Party 23 November Wednesday Walk 330 km, $132 per car. GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY Leader Michael Goonrey Leader Barrie R 4 December Sunday Walk Contact 6231 8395 or 0419 494 142 or Contact 0437 023 140 MOUNT LEE AND ALPINE WILDFLOWERS [email protected] Details are emailed to those on the Map Perisher Valley 1:25,000 Meet at the Namadgi Visitor Centre, Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise Grading 2 A/B Tharwa, at 9.15 am. Car pool to contact the leader. Leaders Brian Slee Gudgenby Valley. Spraying of weeds and Contact 6281 0719 (h) or maintenance work on Gudgenby walking 25 November Deadline to book for [email protected] track from Old Boboyan Road to Hospital 2–5 December Ettrema Pack Walk, Depart 6.30 am and drive to Charlotte Creek. Tools provided. details below. Pass. Take trail to then 26 November Saturday Work Party follow Club Lake Creek to the lake, 13 November Sunday Walk looking for anemones. After break, FENCE REMOVAL – GUDGENBY VALLEY GININI FALLS climb ridge to Main Range Track. Divert Leader Martin Chalk JOINT NPA / BBC ACTIVITY to Mount Lee and descend to Kunama Contact 0411 161 056 Map Tidbinbilla 1:25,000 Hutte ruins for lunch. Return via slope Grading 2 D/F This will be the second fence removal of Mount Clarke. Some steep climbs and Leader David Dedenczuk work party at Gudgenby this year. In May descents. 12 km. Afternoon tea at Contact 0417 222 154 or we removed about 600 m but left more Jindabyne. Book with leader by [email protected] for later. All tools will be provided. Saturday morning for weather check and Meet at Kambah Village Shops at departure point. Twice cancelled – third Starting at Mount Franklin car park go 8.00 am. Drive 80 km, $32 per car. down a scrubby spur towards Stockyard time lucky? Drive 420 km, $168 per car Creek. Then it’s along the scrubby Ginini 27 November Sunday Walk plus Park entry fee. Creek to the base of the falls. Return via COMPO CANYON, GOOGONG 10 December Saturday Work Party same route. Meet at Cooleman Court Map Captains Flat 1:25,000 and Christmas Party shopping centre car park at 7.00 am. Grading 2 A/C/E GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP Drive 144 km return. $58 per car. Leader Mike S Leader Michael Goonrey Contact 0412 179 907 20 November Sunday Walk Contact 6231 8395 or 0419 494 142 or Meet at Kingston Railway Station NUNGAR PLAIN AND MONARO RANGE [email protected] carpark for departure at 8.30 am. A walk Map Denison 1:25,000 Meet at the Namadgi Visitor Centre, from the carpark at the southern end of Grading 2 A/B/C/D/F Tharwa at 9.15 am. Car pool to Googong past London Bridge Leader Brian Slee Gudgenby Valley. Planting at track limestone arch, cross Queanbeyan River Contact 6281 0719 (h) or rehabilitation site above Frank and Jacks at Curley Falls to Compo Canyon. Return [email protected] Hut. Spraying of weeds around the Hut. to cars along fire trails crossing river at Tools provided. Depart Kambah Village 7.00 am. Drive Gelignite Crossing. Footwear for crossing via Adaminaby and park north of Snowy Stay for Christmas lunch at the hut. rivers would be advisable. Bring a plate to share, drinks provided. Mountains Highway just before the park Drive 50 km, $20 per car. entrance. Proceed north on Gavels Hut 11 December NPA Christmas Party 30 November Wednesday Walk Trail to Gavels Hut. After a break, Leader Rod Griffiths continue north on track, watching for JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY golden moth orchids, before turning west Leader Mike S Contact 0410 875 731 or and climbing 200 m onto Monaro Range Contact 0412 179 907 [email protected] for lunch. Caladenia orchids in area. Turn Details are emailed to those on the The annual NPA Christmas party – south, descending either to the hut or Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise check Burning Issues or contact Rod continuing south and descending at contact the leader. Griffiths for details. Goorudee Rivulet. Outward track back to vehicles. Steep climbs, some scrubby 2–5 December Pack Walk Please see page 21 or the website for sections. About 13 km. Afternoon tea ETTREMA GORGE advance notices of pack walks in Adaminaby. Twice cancelled, but let’s go! JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY January and February. Drive 230 km, $92 per car. Map Nerriga 25,000 Grading 4 C/D/E/F

16 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Outings and activities for children of all ages

Mulligans Flat Spring wildflowers Catch a yabby Our dam has lots of yabbies that are On Saturday 17 September, come and On Sunday 9 October from 9.30 to great fun to catch, especially in summer explore Mulligans Flat Woodland 11.30 am, walk through the woodlands when the water is warmer. If your family Sanctuary for an hour on an outing of Nature Reserve with would like to join in the fun for a couple jointly organised by NPA ACT and the botanist Isobel Crawford to find, look of hours email us at Woodlands and Wetlands Trust, and led closely at, and learn about some of the [email protected] by a Mulligans Flat ecologist. amazing plants and flowers there. with contact details, and towards the end Meet at the Mulligans Flat woolshed This event is designed for families of the year a day will be organised and at 10 am. The nearest car parking is on with children, but adults without you will be then notified of date, time, Eric Wright Street. A gate into the children are also most welcome. directions and what to bring. Sanctuary is visible and a sign directing Enquiries to Graham Scully Graham and Helen Scully live at walkers to the Sanctuary entrance is just [email protected] 857 Macs Reef Road, Bywong, about inside the gate. Allow 15 minutes for Meet at the small parking area on 15 minutes drive from the ACT border. walk from car to woolshed. McKenzie Street, Hackett. Have you ever heard of a bettong? Canberra’s bushland used to be a Discover nesting birds very different place. Without foxes and this spring cats we had animals like the Eastern Bettong – mini digging kangaroos that Last spring we discovered an old tree helped mix plant nutrients through the with a perfect nesting hollow used by a soil. Sadly, they were all gobbled up and pair of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos over a disappeared completely from the 2–3 week period. As well as this landscape 100 years ago. particular tree, children and acc- Thanks to a cat- and fox-proof fence ompanying adults will wander around we now have Eastern Bettongs at other old mother trees and learn how to Mulligans Flat! search for possible nesting hollows in On this nature play excursion we Family day on Brooks them. Bring a packed lunch. will learn about these important ‘eco- Let us know if you are interested in engineers’ and observe the way they Creek, Gundaroo visiting our property on 857 Macs Reef Road, Bywong, when the nesting begins have positively changed the grassy This tour and picnic on Saturday by emailing your contact details to woodland environment. 15 October from 10 am – 2 pm on the [email protected] While the bettongs are snuggled up family property on Brooks Creek is for asleep we will look for their diggings accompanied children and adults. Graham Scully and watch daytime wildlife like Last year we found two Long-necked wallabies and parrots forage through the Turtles in the pools and a pair of nesting woodlands. Peregrine Falcons in the cliffs above our Cost $6.00 per person. lunch spot. There will be free play such as skipping stones on pools, exploring a Photographs. treehouse with climbing nets and Wallaby image from Woodlands and discovering a gnome home. Bring a Wetlands Trust. packed lunch and around a small fire Millions of Hoary Sunrays carpet parts of we’ll make billy tea and toast Mount Majura in Spring. Photo by marshmallows. Bring swimmers for the Graham Scully. kids for a splash in one of the pools. The Waterplay in Brooks Creek. Photo by leaders will be 10-year-old Tulley and 9- Graham Scully. year-old Freya, with guidance from their mother Bronwen Scully. For bookings Catching Yabbies. Photo by Graham Scully. and directions contact Bronwen on 6236 9600. Nesting sulphur crested cockatoos. Photo by Graham Scully.

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 17 Core values, buffer zones and sightlines – world best practice for the Ginninderra Falls Conservation Park The Riverview Group development of such as conservation parks (Protected wildlife monitoring over the past year the West Belconnen township is Area Governance and Management, that clearly make the case for much gathering momentum and final approvals ANU EPress, 2015). wider conservation core corridors and have been given for work to start on the The GFA and its supporters contend buffer zones. Native wildlife corridors ACT part of the urban development. The that these guidelines should be used in are currently plainly inadequate. approvals for the NSW part of the the design of the conservation park Riverview should be persuaded to development still have to be approved by around the of Ginninderra consider corridor boundaries at least Yass Valley Council and signed off by Creek and the Murrumbidgee River that 500 metres from the waterways. To this the NSW Minister. The timetable for this is associated with the spillover of West we should add the doubts GFA and process is expected to take until February Belconnen urban development into support groups have for the process of 2017 – not far away. The urban devel- neighbouring New South Wales private Aboriginal heritage site definition in the opment ACT approval has been land. The waterfalls and cascades in this region. Pre-European heritage education highlighted recently on the front page of area are spectacular and should be is an essential element in any the Canberra Times (CT) of 23 July and incorporated into a world-class conservation park. in the CT editorial of 25 July. The final conservation park. The current urban Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s West Belconnen population envisaged is footprint proposed for housing apply world-class guidelines to redefine about 30,000 people (11,500 homes), development clearly jeopardises the the core areas, buffer zones and about the size of the whole integrity of such a park before it even sightlines for the Ginninderra Falls district in the ACT. gets started. Conservation Park and create an Associated with the development is a The current proposals by the outstanding tourist and educational conservation park proposal along the Riverview Group for park boundaries are destination just to the north of Canberra. Murrumbidgee River and Lower untenable. Riverview reserves expensive The Ginninderra Falls Association Ginninderra Creek corridors. The blocks of land for private housing with AGM, at 4.30 pm on Tuesday Ginninderra Falls Association (GFA), the sightlines that should be made freely 6 September, at Cook Community Hub Ginninderra Catchment Group (GCG), available to the public and future (the old primary school), 41 Templeton the National Trust ACT (NT ACT) and generations of Australians. The current Street, will be followed at 5.30 pm by a the National Parks Association (NPA) zig-zag boundaries create isolated panel discussion on Ginninderra Falls ACT and NPA NSW have serious ecological pockets unsustainable for issues with candidates for forthcoming reservations about the design and limited native wildlife and flora. The currently elections. extent of the current Riverview allocated buffer zones are not wide The West Belconnen development conservation park proposals. enough to protect for posterity the core proposal has attracted local media In 2015, to coincide with a world values of river and creek corridor attention. The editorial ‘Ginninderra congress meeting held in , ecology that will provide the ‘wow’ Falls must be protected’ in the Canberra Graeme Worboys of the ANU Fenner factor for future visitors and tourists. Times of 12 July can be read at: http:// School of Environment and Society, and The development proposals by the www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/ numerous co-authors from around the Riverview Group are a rather transparent ct-editorial/ginninderra-falls-must-be- world compiled guidelines for the design ploy to maximise the financial gain to protected-from-urban-development-201 and management of ‘protected areas’ the Riverview Group and Yass Valley 60722-gqbkzg.html Council from land that is Letters to the Editor of the Canberra currently designated as Times have expressed concern about rural and protected as E3 urban development near the falls. For within NSW legislation example, David Kelly wrote (27 July) for environmental pro- that ‘Insufficient regard has been given tection zones; i.e. ‘for to siltation ponds for urban runoff, the land where there are need for a fire management zone special ecological, between corridor and houses and the scientific, cultural or continuity of a wildlife corridor’, aesthetic attributes’. Yass For further information, see Valley Council will be http://www.ginninderra.org.au/ asked to approve Doug Finlayson rezoning of land from Ginninderra Falls Association, rural E3 to urban in the next 6 months. NPA ACT The GCG have documented their ecological fieldwork and

Upper Ginninderra Falls. Photo by Doug Finlayson.

18 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Riverview: mechanisms and principles to protect environment and heritage values The Riverview urban development undertaken and we supported the minimal impacts on the river corridor, on proposal is a large, complex project Ginninderra Catchment Group, one of matters of national environment straddling the boundary of the ACT and our member groups, being funded by significance and threatened local species, NSW. The Conservation Council has Riverview to conduct some of these our second interest was good ‘urban been involved in various informal and studies. Various other studies are still in edge’ management principles, our third formal processes over some years. We process. was in sustainable built form, and finally have always considered it important that On the NSW side we are yet to form in balancing ‘access’ to the Ginninderra any urban development here be an opinion until these studies have been Falls while ensuring low-impact carefully considered due to the concluded and appropriately reviewed. ‘tourism’ and safety. proximity of significant woodlands, the We do not support ‘blanket’ buffer lines; Other interests include: river corridor and habitat for a range of 500 metres, for example. While that • those whose primary focus is in threatened species. might get more space into conservation tourism and opening up some The Riverview proposal has two in some parts, in other places we would spectacular spots to the community land components – ACT land and NSW lose valuable areas. The lines and buffers • the developer with an economic/ land. The ACT side has development need to be scientifically based and there business imperative approval from the ACT Government. is no formula that fits all. • the existing rural leaseholders with an The NSW land will go through further There might also be value in not attachment to the land. planning approvals over the next year being too definite about some of the So there are various balancing acts in via Yass Shire Council and the NSW boundaries in NSW – allowing a grey this process. In regard to Ginninderra Planning Minister. The current NSW area – in order for long-term monitoring, Falls, it seems all parties support development area map is indicative particularly of the Rosenberg’s Goanna, creating community access, yet there are only. It was prepared in order for to determine the final line. Such an significant questions about safe access, relevant authorities to have a approach should adopt the precautionary ensuring minimal impacts on the river conversation about ‘infrastructure’ and principle – no urban development in the corridor, the type of ‘tourist’ facilities, to pass a gateway for further planning areas under scrutiny unless such the exact size/location of the buffers, work. The final map will be the subject monitoring demonstrates there will not type of land tenure (should it be called a of formal public consultation. Both be adverse impacts on ecological values. national park?), and how it will be ACT approval and any future NSW Another key issue is adequate managed, with some discussion still approvals will also be subject to ongoing management of land of occurring on the proposed ‘Trust’ model. Commonwealth approval and potential ecological or cultural value after it is While there is much about the conditions via a strategic assessment declared as protected. Riverview has Riverview proposal that is of ‘better currently in process under the developed an innovative ‘Trust’ proposal practice’ we also highlighted concerns in Commonwealth Environment Protection and is already well advanced on a draft regard to the ACT development – see and Biodiversity Conservation Act. In management plan for the proposed West Belconnen urban development short, the boundaries are yet to be reserve and river corridor and this also under http://conservationcouncil.org.au finalised. will be subject to public consultation. Clare Henderson A key feature of planning for the Again contrast this with Molonglo Conservation Council ACT Region ACT side was that the proposed urban where, with at least three suburbs well boundary was based on extensive developed, we are still waiting to see the Further information: Larry ecological studies then followed up with draft Plan of Management for the O’Loughlin, Conservation Council ground-truthing. This stands in contrast Molonglo River Corridor. Executive Director (02) 6229 3202 with other ACT urban developments We need to acknowledge some of the such as Molonglo where the lines were competing visions. The Conservation drawn on maps before full consideration Council's first interest was to ensure of environmental values. In addition, ecological studies for the ACT area were peer reviewed by independent consultants. Also, impacts on ‘matters of national environmental significance’ have been minimised so very few ‘biodiversity offsets’ are required. The Conservation Council wants the same principles applied in the NSW section. To this end we have recognised the need for further studies into both environmental and Aboriginal cultural heritage values. We also support these studies being peer reviewed. In 2015 we were part of a process recommending additional ecological studies be Murrumbidgee River waterhole near the confluence with Ginninderra Creek. Photo by Doug Finlayson.

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 19 All about recycling: a trip to the tip At the end of the New ways to recycle waste are being process, the recyc- investigated. Mattresses will soon be lables have been 90 per cent recycled and provide jobs for sorted into paper, the disadvantaged. Tours will be offered glass, aluminium, at the mattress operation soon. (Watch steel and three types the outings listings.) Industry-funded of plastics – PET education campaigns have been (clear), HDPE launched to encourage recycling and (cloudy) and mixed clarify what and how to recycle. coloured. These are Recycling guides are now published in all baled separately six languages and given to estate agents. and sent to be Recycling workshops are held for recycled. Note that migrants and international students. Lee the symbols and also encouraged us to ‘close the loop’ by numbers on plastic patronising charity shops, the Green items indicate chem- Shed and Gum Tree online listings. Mugga Lane speaker, Lee, with the CCTV displaying part of the ical content but are During the presentation our eyes sorting machinery. Photo by Rupert Barnett. not relevant to how wandered to the large white area on the Nineteen eager recyclers assembled at they are recycled. hillside above and a discussion of this the Mugga Lane Recycling Facility on Problematic items: empty aerosol was part of our Q&A session. The white 28 April to learn how things are sorted cans and firm plastic (biscuit trays) is a tough layer of HDPE plastic which and what to put in the bin. Our instructor go in the recycling. Soft plastic lines each section of the land fill. Lee led us up to the classroom with a (carry bags, biscuit wrappers and Household rubbish (fluffy waste) is put big window overlooking the sorting plastic wrap) can be packaged up in the bottom of the pit and then covered equipment in the big shed. There was and taken to bins at most grocery with heavier, harder industrial waste. also a large screen monitor which could stores. If you don’t see a bin, ask, as The leachate from the waste is toxic and be switched to view various parts of the it may be somewhat hidden to avoid the plastic liner keeps it out of the equipment as she explained the process. rubbish dumping. Take the tops off groundwater. Once the pit is covered Each day about 600 household- all bottles as those with tops may over, the conditions inside are anaerobic recycling yellow-top bins are collected appear full to the laser sorter and be (no oxygen) and methane is produced. in the ACT, Yass and Queanbeyan by sent to landfill. Also, the metal and This gas is captured to run an onsite 20 trucks. Of the approximately hard plastic tops go into a different power plant producing electricity 140 tonnes of waste dumped daily on recycling category from the bottles. equivalent to the needs of 3,000 homes. the conveyor sorting system, about Small items can be enclosed in a Our 45-minute session was stretched 90 per cent is recycled and 10 per cent container of similar material – plastic to nearly 2 hours by the enthusiasm of goes to landfill. Items are sorted into caps in a coloured plastic container, both the audience and the presenter. paper, glass, steel, aluminium and plastic pieces of metal in a metal container. Afterwards we collected our camp chairs by means of shaking/sifting, air currents, Broken glass is OK – but not of the and thermoses and retired to the shade of laser beams and magnets. Humans prohibited types listed below. the only tree in the carpark for a rather intervene at first to remove things that Cannot go in recycling: Styrofoam, late morning tea and further discussion. should not have been there in the first drinking glasses, crockery, window Esther Gallant place and large items which cannot go glass, mirrors, CDs, plastic-coated through the conveyor process. Large coffee cups, appliances, sharp items. Waste metal will be picked up by some cardboard and plastic items are pulled Below left. The information session; the metal merchants. Batteries should be out to go directly to their category. top of the 2 storey high pile of rubbish recycled at the tip hazardous waste Things tied in plastic bags, and non- is on show through the windows. spot or battery shops. E-waste, light recyclable items are sent to the landfill. Photo by Kevin McCue. globes, empty gas cylinders and fuel Very long items that will jam the Below. Morning tea with the landfill cans can be dropped off at tip transfer equipment (hoses, ropes etc.) are also mountain in the background. stations. removed. Photo by Kevin McCue.

20 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 ‘Horseworks’ at Orroral and at Cattai National Park

The cogged, metal relic at Orroral woolshed is well known to me, so it was with great interest that I read the explanatory article ‘Orroral Valley mystery object’ by Philip Gatenby and John Brickhill in the June Bulletin. I had often pondered on its use. Within days I undertook a field trip to Cattai National Park on the Cumberland Plains with fellow NPWS Advisory Council members, and a little distance from the historic Cattai Homestead was a familiar- looking metal object. Even better, it was complete. Robin Heath (pictured at right), the Aboriginal representative on Council, explained how it worked. A large piece of wood, attached to the top and acting as a lever, is pulled around by a horse; there is gearing down to a shaft at the bottom which turned for operating purposes. The horseworks at Cattai has a brand name ‘The Samson’. Great strength eh? Thanks to our NPA researchers. Di Thompson

Kurrajong on Big Monks Hill, Conder Ridge

In early 2011 someone took an axe up Big Monks Hill (916 m) on Conder Ridge above Banks and chopped down the huge old Kurrajong (girth over half a metre) which dominated the summit, leaving a grotesque stump more than a metre high. It was a mighty effort for a miserable purpose. When visited in 2013 a circle of shoots was projecting from the rim of the stump. The accompanying photo, taken on Mike Smith’s walk of 26 June 2016, shows the developing growth. Although not visible, most of the vegetation is now emerging from two main trunks on opposite sides of the stump. The remains of the lopped tree can be seen lying to the left of the stump. Brian Slee Advance notice of two pack walks early next year Early January Pack Walk hopping, wading, and possibly Mountain, followed (after a break) by swimming. 2. a traverse of the Traveller Range from ETTREMA GORGE: A 3–4 DAY CIRCUIT Early February Pack Walk Du Cane Gap to Derwent Bridge, with Grading 2 D variable scrub and some scrambling, CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TASMANIA Leader Dave Kelly visiting the wildest and least damaged TWO 6 DAY WALKS Contact 6253 1859 or parts on the western edge of the central Grading 2 C/D/E [email protected] plateau, with glacial lakes and alpine A walk from the creek 1 km north of Leaders Dave and Judy Kelly Contact 6253 1859 or heathland. Bullfrog Creek, down along Ettrema 1 partly on tracks; 2 mainly off-track. Gorge to Transportation Spur (visiting [email protected] Jones Creek), then return to Tolwong 1. A circuit from Mersey Valley to Walls Road via Pardon Point. Scrub, rock- of Jerusalem, Junction Lake, Cathedral

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 21 Hiking in the Zillertal Alps In September 2015 Jan and Philip a national park. Environmental policy in Gatenby hiked for 9 days in the Austria is fragmented (sounds familiar!), Austrian Alps. They were joined for with the protection of natural areas part of the trip by Trevor Carr from primarily the responsibility of the the Coast and Mountain Walkers. country’s nine federal provinces. This means there are nine different sets of The main ridge of the European Alps laws governing nature protection. The loosely aligns west to east and is the federal government does have a role, border between Italy to the south and however, in relation to the establishment France, Switzerland and Austria to the and management of national parks and north. Austria is mountainous (over with issues relevant to international 60 per cent of its area apparently) and environmental agreements. Austria has rivers flowing northwards from the 9 national and 48 nature parks. alpine ridge have carved deep valleys into the landscape. Between these Zillertal Rucksack Route valleys are sharply defined mountain Our hike of 9 days was on a route ridges. One of these valleys is the known as the Zillertal Rucksack Route On the Lapenscharte Zillertal which lies to the south of the (aka the Berliner Höhenweg in German in alpine areas should be preceded by village of Mayrhofen. Where this valley and the Zillertaler Runde to the locals). joining an alpine club. It doesn’t really splits into a number of secondary valleys The route was almost all above the matter which country’s club is joined as the mountains are known as the Zillertal valleys but avoided the main alpine they have reciprocal rights. Apart from a Alps. ridge and the subsequent need to cross discount at mountain huts, membership Zillertaler Alpen – nature park glaciers. It did involve a number of mountain passes, some covered in snow, also covers emergencies such as the need This part of the Alps is exclusively in cable-assisted sections (via ferrata style) to be evacuated by helicopter. the Tirol Province and much of it is and, as to be expected in this part of the A 90-km hike protected in a nature park called world, steep climbs and descents. Each With side trips we covered about Zillertaler Alpen, which covers an area night we stayed in mountain refuges 90 kilometres in a clockwise direction of 379 sq km. In Austria, nature parks which provided a bed with a doona or from Mayrhofen and climbed about are areas of cultural and natural blankets (you supply the inner sheet), 8,000 metres. According to our significance, set aside for conservation, dinner and breakfast. The mountain huts guidebook (Hartley 2012), the route, recreation and education. They are not particularly cheap but offered which started and finished in Mayrhofen, encapsulate the interaction of people discounts to members of the Austrian could be completed in either direction with the natural landscape, a relationship alpine club for accommodation as well although clockwise is considered to be which may have taken many centuries to as a cheap meal option. The latter was easier. This may be so. Interestingly, we evolve and, partly for this reason, is seen known as a bergsteigeressen (mountain met far more people doing the circuit in as worth preserving. Their educational climbers’ meal) and was usually an anticlockwise direction and people on aspect is aimed especially at urban spaghetti bolognaise or egg, ham and the track were, overwhelmingly, dwellers who are the majority of the potato. Bergsteigeressen is guaranteed to Austrians or Germans. To begin with this population. The level of protection of be above a certain calorific value and surprised us but eventually we found out the environment in these nature parks is was available at a discount price to club that the German guidebook suggests an not as comprehensive as that afforded to members. In fact most hiking in Europe anticlockwise direction. The first day’s walk started with a cable car ride from Mayrhofen to Hahnpfalz, 1,300 metres above the village. We reached the first hut about midday, where we left our packs and climbed a nearby peak called Ahorn Spitze (2,973 m), 700 m above the hut. The hut was very crowded when we first arrived but quite empty when we returned mid-afternoon. Towards nightfall it re-filled. Lunchtime crowds were a feature of the huts along the way that were a few hours walk from a road or cable car. Seven Ridges Way and ‘emperor’s mess’ The route to the next hut the next day, which the guidebook suggested would take 10 hours, started with a steep climb over a very sharp ridge called Popbergschneide. We then had six more ridges to cross (the route was called the (continued next page)

22 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 Hiking in the Zillertal Alps (continued) Siebenschneidenweg – Seven Ridges Way) interspersed with grassy slopes and boulder fields. The scene was dominated by soaring peaks to the east and south. There were cables and metal hand holds at times. At one point we saw a herd of 17 chamois. Three and a half hours into the walk a group coming the other way told us we were about three hours from our destination, Kasseler Hütte. This hut, they also said, had the best kaiserschmarrn in Austria. Fortunately, their English was better than our German and they were able to explain that kaiserschmarrn (‘emperor’s mess’) is a dessert of thick shredded pancake and berries, served with an apple sauce – very filling! Snow fell as we ate our kaiserschmarrn and settled down for the night. Fellow NPA hikers, Dave and Judy Kelly, had stayed at this hut a few days before us. The Hapsburgs were here There was a similarity to the following On Nofertenschneide, day 2 of the walk,on the way to Kasseler Hutte. three days – steep climb in the morning, Photo by Philip Gatenby. mountain pass around lunchtime and steep descent in the afternoon. So it was the pass quite unpleasant. A short detour blowing a gale and freezing. Lingering that we progressed to Greizer Hütte, took us to the summit of Schönbichler wasn’t an option. Berliner Hütte and Furtschagelhaus. Horn, very windy and with zero Next day, with no significant passes Leaving Kasseler Hütte, and before visibility. The descent required care to climb and mostly downhill, turned out climbing to Lapenscharte (2,701 m), our because there was still quite a lot of to be one of our hardest. The weather mountain pass for the day, we snow around. was grey and windy with a few spots of encountered a doorway in the middle of Mist and sleet turned to rain rain which disappeared once we’d nowhere, perched on the side of a cirque overnight. We were thankful that donned goretexes. The track traversed and secured with cables. It was the work yesterday’s pass was behind us. If we mostly around the 2,000 m level, passing of German artist Gruenher Raunch. had to strike rain, today was a good day the picturesque Wésendlekarsee, over There was no sign of the door. The to do so because a lot of the walk was boulder fields, grassy hillsides, through historic Berliner Hütte, our destination along a valley beside an artificial lake rock gardens and, later, giving good on day four and named as such because called Schlegeisspeicher. The final views over Dornaubergertal. In places it’s owned by the Berlin Section of the kilometre or so involved a steady climb ripe red currants were abundant. The day German Alpine Club, boasts five storeys to Olpererhütte through forest then alpine finished with a descent to Gamshütte and splendid internal wood panelling. It shrub. Olpererhütte is perched 500 m (literally chamois hut). was more like an old hotel than a hut above the lake. It’s a new hut, most of Mayrhofen is 1,300 m below and, apparently, was the summer the previous one having been blown Gamshütte. The walk there in the mountain lodge of the Hapsburgs in the away a few years ago. morning was a pleasant stroll down days of the Austro-Hungarian empire. through forest to the village of Hoher Riffler Crossing the highest pass Finkenberg then more downhill passing Our route after Olpererhütte swung in the a mixture of forest and farmland, The route from Berliner Hütte to direction of Mayrhofen and it felt like we capping off a remarkable hike through Furtschagelhaus involved crossing the were on the home stretch. The next hut, stunning scenery. mountain pass, Schönbichler Scharte Friesenberghaus, was a pleasant 5 km Philip Gatenby (3,081 m), squeezed between traverse at about 2,500 m above the References Schönbichler Horn (3,133 m) and Zammergrund Valley. We arrived before Hartley, A., 2012, Trekking in the Furtschagelspitze (3,190 m), and the lunch. Near the hut is a peak called Zillertal Alps: trekking and peaks in highest point on the Berliner Höhenweg. Hoher Riffler (3,234 m) which our the Austrian Tyrol, Cicerone, Snow had closed the pass a few days guidebook suggests makes a good side Milnthorpe. before but we’d heard it was now open. trip and can be climbed without the need http://www.naturparke.at/en/Home Getting there involved a bit of a of alpine equipment. Off we went in http://www.austria.info/us/activities/ scramble on a sharp ridge with a threatening weather, over a couple of walking-hiking/national-parks-in- snowfield on one side and contorted rock ‘humps’ and up a ridge with a few austria formations on the other. A wire cable exposed sections. There was snow cover helped as the track approaching the pass from about 3,000 m. The going got became progressively steeper. Cloud had progressively colder and windier, and we now rolled in and the wind was howling crawled the last few metres through from the other side of the ridge making snow to the summit where it was

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 23 PARKWATCH Edited extracts from recent issues of plausible to think that an ecological horse policy review, condemning our journals and newsletters, and community that is in the ‘wrong’ place largest park to further degradation. online sources. on a farm can just be moved to the side Management reviews underway for of a paddock? Kosciuszko advance a ‘vision’ for the Biodiversity legislation in NSW Nothing is off limits in this new national park not only as a horse ranch, legislation: the huge expansion of self- but also cheap real estate for resort The government has just released its assessable clearing codes includes the development. draft Bills aimed at making sweeping ability to clear threatened ecological The Colong Foundation is concerned changes to environment legislation, communities. These codes are a disaster that Kosciuszko resorts are now large including repealing the Native Vegetation waiting to happen: land holders are enough to dictate changes to park Act. It started in 2014 when Minister for allowed to clear under a code before they management that ensure four-season the Environment, the Hon. Rob Stokes, have identified a suitable offset which is operation for greater profit. The global initiated a review of four pieces of unlikely to replace the lost vegetation in trend to four-season development in ski legislation related to biodiversity in any case. And the environment minister resorts is a twisted form of climate NSW. The review produced has no say in any of this; it’s all overseen change adaptation. In Kosciuszko this 43 recommendations, all of which were by the minister for primary industries. trend is being expressed in greater accepted by the government just days This balance of power tells you all you numbers of bike and horse riding before the last NSW election. need to know about the reforms! So our adventures, as well as events unrelated to The most dramatic and contentious Stand Up For Nature (www.standupforna park values, such as using resorts for change is the repeal of the Native ture.org.au) will continue our campaign concerts and conferences. Vegetation Act 2003 (NVA). The to drive Premier Baird to step in to stop In responding to these pressures the introduction of the NVA was the first this madness. NPWS must take a strong stand to time that NSW had successfully Nature NSW, Vol. 60, No. 2 maximise the protection of our unique managed to reduce broad-scale land (Winter 2016) alpine and subalpine ecosystems. The clearing. A report by WWF calculated review of resort carrying capacity must that approved clearing fell quickly from Kosciuszko National Park – the retain existing bed numbers in the plan of 88,000 ha per year on average to just management and limit carpark space 911 ha. The implementation of the NVA heat’s on numbers to curb the growth in day was heavily influenced by the Climate scientists estimate that by 2050 visitors to resorts. These limits would Wentworth Group and, crucially, had the rainfall in SE Australia will reduce by a push development of public transport and support of the NSW Farmers Association quarter and bushfires will dramatically off-park resorts, benefitting local and the broader community. increase in frequency and intensity. communities. The draft cycling strategy The government has been at great Associated increases in night time also places an emphasis on track pains to highlight the ‘unprecedented’ temperatures will also mean a decline in construction while consideration of investment in private land conservation snow cover and contraction of the alpine nature-based family cycling on existing in the new Bill. They may have slightly region to above 1850m for Kosciuszko. management roads outside wilderness, increased the money, but it’s false to Climate adaptation programs require that say around , has been suggest that private land conservation is pest species management must be largely ignored. There is also a push for something new; Humane Society intensified to relieve pressure on more commercial bike tours in the International, the Foundation for threatened species, such as the Mountain Jagungal and Pilot wilderness. National Parks and Wildlife and the Pygmy Possum, which are being Instead of spending money on Nature Conservation Trust have been challenged by climate change. building mountain bike trails or horse doing great work on that front for many The feral horse policy of trapping and riding in wilderness, the NPWS should years! The problem is, like the NVA domestication is an expensive failure. promote park values and appropriate, before it, the money will run out when Despite 2,000 feral horses being low-impact visitor use. The NPWS must budget conditions change and farmers removed from the park in the last build political strength for its mission of will become disillusioned that the 5 years, horse numbers increased from reducing environmental damage and promised system has failed. The defence 4,200 in 2009 to 6,000 in 2014 restoring heritage values through this time is that there will be no (Australian Alps Liaison Committee, effective management. Kosciuszko NP is regulation preventing clearing when the 2014). The NPWS re-released large now suffering because the NPWS has cash dries up. We have said all along that numbers of captured horses into the park appeased those who do not care about the private land payments are welcome, because the animals, including pregnant park values. The future of our alpine but the regulatory element should remain mares, were unfit for transport. As a regions is grim. Kosciuszko NP is crucial too. result, only 135 horses were removed for the survival of many native plant and The key message in the reforms is from the park in 2015. Catchment animal species which are now grappling that ‘clearing is fine because we will monitoring is reporting that many alpine with climate change. Rather than offset it’. But unfortunately for the catchments are in a poor or moderate exacerbating these threats by increasing citizens of NSW, offsetting does not condition due to feral horses and over a development and high impact visitor use, work. The reason plants and animals are third of wetlands in the Australian Alps support for no more development must where they are, is because of the are degraded by these pests. Aerial be strengthened through encouraging complex relationships between abiotic culling is the most effective and humane friends of national parks. (such as soil pH, moisture levels, method of removing large numbers of Colong Bulletin, No. 263 (May 2016) nutrient levels, light levels) and biotic horses. The ban on aerial culling was factors (such as presence of fungi and recently confirmed by the NSW certain plant species). Is it really Government as part of the current feral (concluded on page 25)

24 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 P ARKWATCH (continued) Eucalypt woodlands WA ensuring sawlog supply for the Bega habitat for threatened wildlife such as region is maintained. This arrangement Brush-tailed Phascogales, Diamond December 4, 2015: Federal Environment means more logging trucks on the Firetails, Grey-crowned Babblers, Minister Greg Hunt signed off on the Princes Highway, at least till the grant Speckled Warblers and the nationally final – and arguably most significant – money runs out. A better use of endangered Swift Parrot. The original Threatened Ecological Community Environmental Trust funds would be a firewood permit system was introduced (TEC) to be listed under the Environment partial buyout of the Bega sawlog quota, by the Liberal Bolte Government in 1958 Protection and Biodiversity rather than a forest industry subsidy. to ensure Victoria’s forests were used [Conservation] Act in 2015. The Colong Bulletin, No. 263 (May 2016) and managed responsibly. For nearly Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western 60 years these regulations have been Australian Wheatbelt became the 7th NPA NSW has moved home respected by successive Victorian EPBC Act Threatened Ecological After many fruitful years in Newtown, governments, until the former Baillieu Community listing or uplisting made in Government decided to scrap them in the year, with HSI playing a key role as NPA NSW has relocated to Woolloomooloo. As we are still in the favour of a firewood free-for-all. the nominator of all but one. The The negative impacts of unregulated Woodlands’ Critically Endangered midst of unpacking and setting up, we may take a little longer to respond than firewood collection have been well listing, proposed by HSI in 2011, saw known for decades. our successful legislative habitat usual. Please bear with us whilst we get back online. We look forward to Dead timber provides habitat for a protection campaign become responsible range of native fauna, some threatened. for more than a third of the TECs listed welcoming you to our new address at Suite 302, Level 3, 52–58 William Research shows that 37% of Victorian under the EPBC act – a figure set to mammals use tree hollows as nest or increase with 8 of 13 communities Street, Woolloomooloo. E-newsletter, NPA NSW, July 2016 roost sites. Hollow-nesting birds alone currently under assessment by the account for 39% of woodland and forest Threatened Species Scientific Committee Creature feature bird species. The Victorian National triggered by HSI nominations. Parks Association is now calling for a Humane Society International Technical The critically endangered Lord Howe new permit system for firewood Bulletin, Issue No. 27 (2016) Island Phasmid Dryococelus australis is collection from public land in Victoria, endemic to . The with greater support for farmers to help New flora reserves for the Far population was decimated by introduced them develop small-scale wood lots for South Coast black rats, and the species disappeared in firewood. the 1920s, later presumed extinct. An In March, the NSW Government created Governments should support a expedition in 2001 rediscovered the four Flora Reserves totalling 12,000 sustainable firewood future by giving species on Balls Pyramid, a rat-free, rock hectares between Bermagui and Bega. dryland farmers and others considering stack 20km off Lord Howe Island. The reserve additions unite Mimosa land use change an opportunity to Further investigation revealed the Rocks, Biamanga and Bermagui national diversify and develop new business Phasmid feeds primarily on one species parks creating a much larger connected opportunities. Regional development, of shrub (Melaleuca howeana). conservation area protecting the habitat landholder opportunities and biodiversity Melbourne Zoo has a captive of the last koala colony on the NSW are all important components in breeding colony of Lord Howe Island South Coast. In addition to koalas, the supporting a sustainable firewood future Stick Insects which they hope to be able habitat of 25 threatened species, for Victoria. to reintroduce to Lord Howe Island, once including the long-nosed potoroo, the the feral rats and mice have been At vnpa.org.au, accessed 26 July 2016 yellow-bellied glider and the powerful eradicated. The Phasmids start life small will benefit from these new Flora and green, but become black as they Compiled by Hazel Rath Reserves. mature. Adults are wingless, about 15cm Conservationists welcomed these long and weigh 25 grams. reserves as another step towards a Great Southern Forest Park stretching from Nature NSW, Vol. 60, No. 2 Nowra to the Victorian border, which (Winter 2016) will benefit tourism and permit the reintroduction of threatened koalas into Firewood for the future suitable forests in the Batemans Bay area Most firewood burnt in Victoria comes to the north. Some are concerned that from poorly regulated native forests. these new Flora Reserves were the only Some is even collected illegally. In 2012 option Minister Speakman could the Victorian Government announced the negotiate through Cabinet. Others fear end of a firewood collection system that that these reserves herald a step towards had helped protect threatened species in ‘tenure-blind land management’. At the state forests for more than half a century. same time logging has been mooted for The decision to open up state forests to the new Flora Reserves by the Member unregulated firewood collection quickly for Bega, Andrew Constance in the not led to a firewood ‘free-for-all’ that too distant future (ABC South East cleared out important ground litter 16 March, 2016). habitat (the small logs animals call In another development, log haulage home) and deprived locals in Central is to be subsidised by a $2.5 million Victoria of winter firewood supplies. grant from the Environmental Trust, State forest areas open to unregulated permitting logging further north and firewood collection provide important

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 25 NPA notices New members of the association National Parks Association Calendar The NPA ACT welcomes September October November December Graham Wilson Sun 25– as a new member. Public holidays Mon 26 Mon 3 — Tues 27 We look forward to seeing you at NPA activities. General meetings Thurs 15 Thurs 20 Thurs 17 — Committee meetings Tues 6 Tues 4 Tues 1 Tues 6 Call for volunteers Gudgengy Bush Regeneration 1 Sat 10 Sat 8 Sat 12 Sat 10 2 At every NPA general meeting volunteers from the membership 3 Glenburn work party — — Tues 1 — set up the hall and the supper. We need more volunteers for 2016 as NPA Christmas Party Sun 11 the roster is by no means full. Further details: 1. GBRG. Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre 9.15 am. Please contact Quentin Moran if 2. Includes GBRG Christmas Party. you would like to help on 3. Friends of Glenburn meet at , Kingston at 9.00 am, or at [email protected] the locked gate off the Kings Highway at 9.20 am. Thank you

This Bulletin was prepared by: NPA Sunday 11 December Editor, Judy kelly Subeditor, Ed Highley Venue to be advised in Presentation, Adrienne Nicholson Christmas December Bulletin Party Check Burning Issues or The NPA’s contact Rod Griffiths ‘Butterfly Book’ is coming. Contributions for the NPA Bulletin

Contributions of articles, letters, poems, drawings and photographs are always welcome. If possible keep contributions to no more than 1,000 words. Items accepted for publication will be subject to editing and may also be published on the NPA website. Send all items to the Bulletin Team, email [email protected], or to the NPA ACT postal address (see page 27). Deadline for the December 2016 issue: 31 October 2016. Photo by Adrienne Nicholson.

Red spot Cover photographs Front cover

Subscriptions for 2016–17 Main photo. Scarlet Robin with chicks (article page 11). are now overdue. Photo by William Stephinson. If there is a red spot on your Bulletin Insets. Left. The cosy Gudgenby Cottage on a bleak day (article page 10). address sheet and in your Bulletin or you . Photo by Ailsa Brown. have received a reminder notice and not yet Centre. Peter Ormay (article page 5). paid, the association’s records show your Right. A beard orchid, Calochilus sp. on Black Mountain (article page 6). current membership subscription has not Photo by Adrienne Nicholson. been received. Please take the time to make amendments Back cover to the renewal form if the information NPA Top. Popbergschneide from Ahorn Spitze (article page 22). holds confidentially in its database needs Photo by Jan Gatenby. correcting. Please send the whole form back Bottom. NPA members at a Dananbilla work party with Rainer with your payment details. Thank you! Rehwinkel (article page 8). Photo from Andrew Moore. Sonja Lenz, Secretary

26 NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 General Meetings Third Thursday of the month, (not December or January) 8.00 pm, Uniting Church hall, 56 Scrivener Street, O’Connor Thursday 15 September Thursday 20 October Thursday 17 November Ainslie to Kossie: window on a Old Fella Trees Butterflies here and there wonder wander Brandon Galpin Dr Suzi Bond Matthew Higgins Ranger with ACT Parks and Conser- Ecologist at the ABS Centre for Canberra historian vation Service Environment Statistics Visiting Fellow at the ANU Fenner School An illustrated presentation by Brandon will talk about Old Fella Matthew Higgins, mainly on the Trees, taking a look at the dynamics of Suzi Bond was awarded a PhD for her natural values of the straight–line the largely missing contingent of old- study of bird utilisation of revegetation route between Canberra and Mount growth trees in the landscape and how and woodland remnants in an agricultural Kosciuszko, looking at animals, Australia’s national parks system can landscape in south-eastern Australia. birds, plants, geology, water, snow, offer long-term restoration of forest Dr Bond is currently working on a paper fire, climate and some underlying ecology. about the butterflies of the ACT and is human stories of our High Country. Join us for tea/coffee and a chat after lead author on NPA’s new field guide on Q&A with Brandon. the same topic.

Conveners National Parks Association of the ACT Incorporated Outings Subcommittee Vacant [email protected] Inaugurated 1960 Environment Subcommittee Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) Aims and objectives of the Association [email protected] Cultural Subcommittee David Large 0428 914 837 • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the protection of [email protected] fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in the Publications Subcommittee Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reservation of [email protected] specific areas. Promotion and Engagement Vacant • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. Subcommittee • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, such Bulletin Working Group Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, [email protected] meetings or any other means. NPA Work Party Co-ordinator Martin Chalk 6292 3502 (h) • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar interests [email protected] and objectives. Glenburn/Burbong Work Col McAlister 6288 4171 (h) Parties [email protected] • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the planning of landuse to achieve conservation. The NPA ACT office is in Unit 14 / 26 Lena Karmel Lodge, Barry Office bearers Drive, Acton, together with the Conservation Council. It is staffed by volunteers on an irregular basis. Callers may leave phone or email President vacant messages at any time. Vice-President Christine Goonrey 6231 8395 (h) Phone: (02) 6229 3201 or 0410 875 731 (if urgent) [email protected] Website: www.npaact.org.au Secretary Sonja Lenz 6251 1291 (h) Email: [email protected] [email protected] Address: GPO Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601 Treasurer Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) Facebook: [email protected] www.facebook.com/NationalParksAssociationOfTheAct Committee members Membership subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Isobel Crawford 6257 1660 (h) The subscription rate is $22, which includes a digital copy only of our [email protected] Bulletin. Esther Gallant (Minutes Secretary) 6161 4514 (h) If you want to receive a printed copy of the Bulletin, the subscription [email protected] rates are: Household membership $44 Single members $38.50 Rod Griffiths (Immediate Past President) 6288 6988 (h) Corporate membership $33 Full-time student/Pensioner $22 [email protected] Note: All the above subscription categories reduce to $11 if a George Heinsohn 6278 6655 (h) donation of $100 or more is made. [email protected] Advertising Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) [email protected] The NPA Bulletin accepts advertisements and inserts. Contact the NPA office for information and rates. Quentin Moran 6288 9840 (h) [email protected] Printed by Instant Colour Press, Belconnen, ACT. ISSN 0727-8837

NPA BULLETIN − SEPTEMBER 2016 27 For information on NPA ACT activities, please visit our website http://www.npaact.org.au and follow us at www.facebook.com/NationalParksAssociationOfTheAct