NPA to oppose new Namadgi fire trails Climate change - a hot issue for parks NPA moves in with Conservation Council The basalt boundary beckons NPA BULLETIN Volume 44 number 2 June 2007 CONTENTS From the President 3 NPA ACT news 9 Christine Goonrey Changes at Burnt Hill 10 Thanks to Neville 3 Martin Chalk Christine Goonrey Up the mountain without a paddle 11 Fire trail report 4 Mike Bremers Christine Goonrey Nancy Burbidge: botanist and visionary—Part 2 12 Report on four new fire trails in Namadgi 4 Judy Kelly Christine Goonrey Call for new thinking on conservation 13 More fires bum into parks than out 5 Syd Comfort Graeme Wicks We have moved office 14 Many bushfires but no disasters 5 Sonja Lenz Graeme Wicks Senate inquiry into national reserves 6 PARKWATCH - 16 Christine Goonrey Compiled by ten Haskew Luxury resort approved for national park 6 Rogaining—the facts 18 Graeme Wicks Pat Miethke Climate change—will our parks survive? 7 Book reviews 19 Neville Esau Meetings and Calendar of events 20 A geological excursion into southern Namadgi 8 Kevin McCue

Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives.

National Parks Association of the ACT Incorporated Conveners Inaugurated 1960 Outings Sub-committee Mike Smith 6286 2984 Aims and objectives of the Association [email protected] • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the protection of Publications Sub-committee Sabine Friedrich 6249 7604 fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in Bulletin Working Group Max Lawrence 6288 1370 (h) the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the [email protected] reservation of specific areas. Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. [email protected] • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field The NPA ACT office is in the Conservation Council building, outings, meetings or any other means. Childers Street, City. It is staffed by volunteers but not on a regular • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar basis. Callers may leave phone or email messages at any time and interests and objectives. they will be attended to. The post office mail box is cleared daily. • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the planning Phone: (02)62293201 0412071 382 of landuse to achieve conservation. Website: www.npaact.org.au Office-bearers Email: admin@n p aa ct. o rg. a u President Christine Goonrey 6231 8395 (h) Address: GPO Box 554, Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected] Vice-President Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) The NPA ACT website is hosted by our generous chris. emery @optusnet.com .au sponsor, Encode. Secretary Sonja Lenz 62511291 (h) Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) [email protected] Household membership $40 Single members $35 Treasurer Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) Corporate membership $30 Bulletin only $30 [email protected] Concession $25 Rod .G riffiths@actewagl .com .au Advertising Committee members The Bulletin accepts advertisements and Inserts. Contact the Editor Steven Forst 6251 6817 (h), 6219 5236 (w) for information and rates. [email protected] NPA Bulletin Sabine Friedrich 6249 7604 Contributions of articles, letters, drawings and photographs are [email protected] always welcome. Items accepted for publication may also be Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h), 040 778 3422 (mob) published on the NPA website. Send ail items to The Bulletin Team, [email protected] [email protected], or postal address above. Judy Kelly 6253 1859 (h, after 7.30pm) Deadline for September 2007 issue: 31 July 2007 [email protected] This Bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group. David Large 6291 4830(h) Printed by Copy-Qik, Canberra, ACT [email protected] Kevin McCue (Immediate Past President) 6251 1291 (h) ISSN 0727-8837 [email protected] From the President The new year began with the rather camping trip in March. The Ian Currie disturbing news that we had to vacate Memorial Camping Trip to Wapengo the NPA office in Chifley by Easter. celebrated the memory of our much However, rather than being a disaster, loved life member and past president, the move opened up an exciting Ian Currie, who led some memorable opportunity to co-locate with the new car camps to this spot (photo page 18). offices of the Conservation Council As dusk fell and the incoming tide South Eastern Region and Canberra. A silently filled the Wapengo lagoon we very able team led by Sonja Lenz sorted sat around sharing food and wine, old files, cleared out rubbish and moved telling stories about old friends and all our equipment so that by mid April, remembering the good times. It was we were comfortably established in the especially moving that Jean Currie and new premises. Our special thanks go to her family were sitting at our campfire our intrepid office workers for all their as we recalled Ian's legendary love of hard work over the past years: Diana chocolate and sweets, his organising birthday cakes and canapes were Heins, Jenny McLeod and Kathryn abilities when it came time to strike carried all the way in to Brandy Flat Wingett have worked quietly and camp and his infectious enthusiasm for Hut and Frank blew out the candle with solidly in the old office, but Jenny and the bush which drew so many new more breath than most of us would have Kathryn are not making the move to members in all those years ago. Special after a climb up that steep hill. It is Civic. The more accessible location thanks to the Clark family, especially events like this that make me realise should make it easier for members to Sebastian, for letting us stay and to what stalwart souls NPA members are pop in and maybe volunteer for a few Adrienne for organising the trip. and what makes NPA so vigorous an hours* work to help keep the office Another highlight of our outings organisation. administration under control. program was the special walk to Christine Goonrey In the middle of all this, many of us celebrate Frank Clements' 80th took advantage of a very special NPA birthday (see photo page 18). The Thanks to Neville

The Executive Committee would like to extend the September edition. This gives the its thanks to Neville Esau for his work as Committee a few more months to find a Bulletin Editor over the past year. Neville took permanent replacement for Neville. over on Syd Comfort's retirement and worked We hope Neville's contributions to the hard to ensure the Bulletin kept up its high Bulletin will continue, especially his reports standard. Our thanks also go to Maxine Esau from the far flung places he will be visiting and who assisted Neville and kept the wheels of that he will be available for advice and support editing turning smoothly. to the new Editor when he/she is found. Neville has arranged for Max Lawrence to Christine Goonrey edit this edition, and Kevin McCue will then do President

Notice of Annual General Meeting National Parks Association of the ACT Inc. All members of the Association are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Uniting Church Hall, O'Connor at 8:00 pm on Thursday 16 August 2007 Business: Minutes of the 2006 AGM Appointment of auditor President's report Election: office-bearers and committee Financial report Any other business Note All office-bearer and committee positions become vacant at the AGM. Nominations for the ensuing year are welcome. Use copies of the form on page 7 of this Bulletin to nominate members for office-bearer and committee member positions for the coming year. Following the formal business and guest speakers, members are invited to the traditional AGM supper.

Cover Photo: NPA member Graeme Barrow ponders the effects of fire on Orroral Ridge and Valley, December 2005. Photo by Max Lawrence Fire trail report With $9 million in the kitty for fire and anxiety which some elements of scenery and create erosion problems for trails from the current ACT Budget, the our community continue to ferment. decades to come. ACT Government has been busy Further work has also been carried Yet Parks, Conservation and Lands ploughing up the park over summer. out on the Two Sticks Road in the have no option but to push ahead Parks, Conservation and Lands (now northern part of the park, without a DA because these roads are mandated in the part of the Territory and Municipal because it is already an existing fire draft Strategic Bushfire Management Services portfolio) have worked hard to trail. Here we see the need for heavy Plan. NPA ACT will be fighting make sure the proper flora and fauna vehicle access under the current fire fiercely to prevent these two trails, not surveys and cultural heritage fighting regime and because of just on ecological grounds but also assessments have been carried out for implications for the cross-border because these trails will open up new newly affected areas. We understand fighting of fires. areas of the bush to illegal 4WD and that the park managers and staff have It is the continued emphasis on trail biking and enhance the incidence also tried to keep the tree felling, rock access for heavy fire fighting of fire through arson and accident. removal and grading within acceptable equipment which continues to worry us. Meanwhile, some local landowners limits but it is an impossible job trying There seems little capacity in the continue to stir alarm in the media to build roads in a national park which ACT's current rural fire fighting about mismanagement of the national do not impact on the landscape. strategising to adapt to less destructive, park causing a fire crisis. They want The latest Development Approval more long-term fire mitigation more trails, more burning. You have to (DA) open for public comment was for strategies which are being adopted in feel sorry for park staff caught between alterations to the Grassy Creek Fire trail other jurisdictions and overseas. these constant media alarms, the fire to remove it from the creek area, allow Environmental Impact Statements management regulators out measuring tankers to access the area and to allow are being prepared for the proposed the park for its flammability and angry greater use of prescribed burning in the Orroral Ridge and Stockyard Spur Fire conservationists getting very disturbed area. NPA ACT has made a submission Trails. These trails would push roads by the loss of natural values — not to but we hold little hope of influencing into pristine bushland, disturb fragile mention the bulldust now floating over the work in the current climate of fear ecologies, destroy stunning natural the park in large quantities. Christine Goonrey NPA to oppose new fire trails in Namadgi On 19 April 2007 NPA ACT was not to be made available electronically, Spencers Border fire trail, on the contacted by Brown Consulting about NPA negotiated to have the maps and NSW/ACT border at the southern end four new fire trails proposed for the community response forms up on of the park, is separated from an Namadgi National Park. The four trails our own website. We also got good existing fire trail on Spencer's property are known as Bullen Range, Spencers coverage on the ABC's Stateline by a three-strand wire fence. Building Border, Orroral Tors and Stockyard program. this trail would be a complete waste of Link. The consultation process The Bullen Range fire trail is public money and a caution that fire consisted of an exhibition of maps at surrounded by private property and fighting relations between jurisdictions Namadgi Visitors Centre from April 28 although erosion would drain straight are not working as well as we might to May 6 with an opportunity to talk into the Murrumbidgee, it would not be hope. with the consultants from 3:00-7:00 pm a core concern for us. Stockyard Link fire trail starts by on May 2. Because the information was running through a wetland, carries on across an exposed ridge, then plunges down a steep spur, which has defied all road building attempts to date, then ends up at Corin Dam. Our main objections to this fire trail are that it will create erosion directly into the Cotter River; it will always require extensive and costly maintenance simply to ensure it could be used by vehicles; and it will be used to introduce inappropriate prescribed burning to a key area of the catchment. We oppose this trail vigorously. Orroral Tors. The fourth fire trail starts at the collimation tower on Orroral Ridge and extends right along the ridge to join Smokers fire trail about (Continued on page 5)

NPA ACT President, Christine Goonrey being interviewedfor ABC Stateline, Orroral Ridge, 2 May 2007 Photo by Max Lawrence More fires burn into parks than out

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife between 10 and lOOha. the continual sniping from the sidelines Service (NPWS) has described claims "During this time only 3 per cent of by people who are not held to account by NSW Farmers that it does not fight fires grew larger than 1 OOOha and these for their claims which are generally fires vigorously enough as "offensive" were managed by the NPWS in close made without a shred of evidence," and said -they fail to recognise the cooperation with the NSW Rural Fire Dr Fleming said. dedication of NPWS staff who work Service and other agencies," The NPWS had pioneered the extremely hard on the fire fighting Dr Fleming said. approach of using helicopters to get front-line to protect the community. NSW Farmers had issued a public specially-trained crews into remote NPWS Chief, DrTony Fleming, statement claiming the NPWS did not areas so they can avert disasters by said twice as many bushfires entered maintain fire trails, but the NPWS putting the fires out before they have a national parks than leave them and this maintained a 10 000km fire trail chance to make a run, and its success in had been the case for at least the last network, conducted regular hazard quickly containing the vast majority of 20 years. In 2005-06, 5 per cent of reduction burning', worked closely with fires was largely due to the skills of the NSW fires were in national parks. local fire authorities and had an active service's 550-strong remote area fire- In this past bushfire season 70 per and dedicated fire management team. fighting team. cent of national park fixes were kept to "I am very disappointed by the Graeme Wicks below lOha. Another 20 per cent were claim and am frankly getting tired of Many bushfires but no disasters A total of 113 bushfires were recorded until December," he said. "This plus the burning program, with plans, weather on the south-east of NSW in the 2006- lack of rain throughout spring meant conditions permitting, to carry out 07 bushfire season, burning a total of that in many cases conditions were nearly 40 burns covering an area of 32 OOOha of the national park estate. drier than in the 2002-03 season. In the around 15 OOOha in the south-east. Only three of these fires escaped from end we were lucky that while it was When this was completed, the park boundaries and affected only extremely dry, in most cases we did not combined effect of hazard reduction I70ha of private land, while 11 fires experience the same howling hot north­ and wildfire since the 2001-02 season entered parks from outside burning westerly winds we saw in 2003. would mean that half of the south-east's 1130ha of national park. "Many people will recall in January 1.6 million hectare national park The largest fire was the Long Plain 2003 Kosciuszko National Park network will have been effectively fuel complex, which burnt about 20 OOOha received almost 60 lightning strikes in reduced, Mr Henchman said. in the northern end of the Kosciuszko an afternoon which started 45 bushfires. "We'll also get back to our routine National Park. The vast majority of the We didn't get that this time. We got maintenance schedule and the work of fires were contained to a very small fires in groups of half a dozen at a time. maintaining the 7000km fire trail area of a few hectares. "This meant NPWS resources were network in the South East In 2005-6 These facts and figures were given able to cope using remote area fire the NPWS maintained around 2000km by the NPWS Southern Branch fighters in rapid response teams to of firetrails and we expect to do more Director, Alistair Henchman, who said extinguish fires when they were still this financial year to maintain a three there had been "considerable angst" small. This was a major factor in our year maintenance cycle for every when the season started early with high success at being able to contain the firetrail in the region's national park temperatures and severe drought right majority of fires to small areas." network," he added. across the south-east. Mr Henchman said. Graeme Wicks "Across the Monaro and in the In March, the NPWS was preparing mountains we experienced severe frosts to start the routine hazard reduction

NPA to oppose new fire trails in Namadgi continued a kilometre from the locked gate off the area to illegal 4WD and motor bikes cultural heritage information, nor Corin road. Its purpose is to enable a and increase the incidence of arson. The spoken to the consultants. program of frequent intense burning prescribed burning would reduce We have been assured that our every 2-3 years from the proposed road vegetation and leaf litter on the steep comments on the social history and the down into Orroral Valley to establish a scree slopes of Orroral Valley with social values of the areas will all be low fuel zone on these slopes. An resulting erosion into Orroral River and incorporated as a separate appendix to undefined prescribed burning program possibly destabilise significant tors their report, but there is some doubt as would also be carried out into Blue such as Cathedral Rocks. to the weight put on our comments on Gum Creek. Many members attended the the ecological values of the areas or our Our reasons for objecting to this fire consultation on May 2 and made their assessments of the proposed fire trail are numerous. It would destroy the points of view very clear. Numerous regimes. By the time this Bulletin goes highly valued experience of following a technical points were raised and not to press it will be too late to contribute footpad trail through some of the successfully answered. The flora and your views but we do get another loveliest and most unusual scenery in fauna survey is limited and not likely to chance if the.process goes on to the Namadgi. It would require the blasting show the richness of the area in non- next stage. of rocky tors and the destruction of drought times. We have not seen any We will keep you informed. Aboriginal sites. It would open up the Christine Goonrey Senate inquiry into national reserves The Senate Environment, Commun­ and seek refuge from climate change. Where fires start ications, Information Technology and Only a large, well-buffered, well- Martin has also been tracking the the Arts Committee handed down its connected and well-managed protected claims that terrestrial protected areas report on the inquiry into national area system can carry our threatened are badly managed for bushfires, weeds reserves on 12 April 2007. Copies of wildlife and ecosystems safely through and pests compared to areas exploited the report and submissions made to the the coming upheavals of climate for timber and livestock. He has inquiry can be obtained from the change. compared these claims with evidence website: Cause for concern presented by the land management http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/ agencies themselves. For example, the committee/ecita_ctte/national parks/ One recommendation which causes claim is repeatedly made that bushfires report/index, htm some concern for national parks is come from national parks onto private The report acknowledges the role of Recommendation 11 which suggests land and forestry reserves but no hard the national reserve system in providing that states and territories should pursue data was submitted in support of this habitat for endangered species and increased access for vehicles, horses, claim. On the other hand, NPA NSW ecosystems. Less than 11 per cent of bikes, shooters etc to national parks and submitted evidence that: "looking at the Australia's land area is presently within reserves. This seems to fly in the face 2003-04 fire season, of the 5 600 fires the National Reserve System, including of the report's overall recognition that during that period, 186 started on park both government and non-government the reserve system is already fragile and and stayed on park (3.3%) and only 13 protected areas. Protected areas are fragmented. Increased pressure from started on park and moved off park generally isolated and unevenly recreational vehicles would seem to be (0.2%). Sixty four fires started off park distributed over the landscape. Regions the last thing states and territories and moved onto national park (1.1%). of high conservation importance may should be pursuing. The remaining 95.3% burned entirely have few or no protected areas. • Martin Taylor of WWF has been off-park." tracking the work of the Senate World Wildlife Fund reports that As one of only two developed Committee and considers that the report 105 native plants or animal species are countries that are considered gives some hope that there may be considered extinct, and 1590 are at risk megadiverse, the international spotlight increased funding for the reserve of extinction, with little sign of is on Australia to do a model job of system from the next round of National widespread recovery. The main protecting our irreplaceable natural Heritage Trust funding and that this is extinction driver is habitat loss due to heritage. Australia must make major the best outcome we can expect from lack of adequate protection. strategic investments and work fast to the report. Right at the end of the A major expansion of protected build its protected area system and recommendations the committee does areas is urgently needed for Australia's complementary conservation networks suggest that more federal funds from natural ecosystems and high-value or we face an unprecedented wave of the National Heritage Trust 3 fund wildlife habitats. We need a major extinctions as climate change gets (from the sale of Telstra) should be shift toward conservation-based underway. management across the landscape. spent on managing the nation's reserve Protected areas must be buffered and system. Christine Goonrey connected to allow wildlife to move Luxury resort approved for national park The approval of a luxury resort to be Commonwealth Department of The head of the National Parks and built partly in a World Heritage-listed Environment and Water Resources. Wildlife Service of NSW, DrTony site in the Wolgan Valley, near Emirates says the resort will give Fleming, said he was comfortable with Lithgow, may have set a dangerous guests "unbeatable views of the the development proceeding as long as precedent for commercial developments mystical Blue Mountains" and "a once- public access to the park was in national parks. in-a-lifetime journey into the maintained. The $60 million resort to be built by wilderness". However, the executive officer of Emirates Hotels (Australia) and "Spread out at the foot of towering the NPA NSW, Andrew Cox, said the comprising 40 individual luxury suites sandstone cliffs, this luxurious project's approval created a dangerous is due to open in 2008. homestead is set amongst 3600 acres of precedent, and a spokesman for the Part of the development will occur protected area," it says. "The only Colong Foundation said the foundation in the Wollemi National Park, which resort in this World Heritage Site, the did not want it setting a precedent for will be offset by Emirates handing over Wolgan Valley is the living resorts in the Blue Mountains. 114.5ha of forested land to National embodiment of Emirates' dedication to Other sites reported to be under Parks and leasing 39.5ha of cattle- conservation, aimed to ensure the consideration by Emirates Hotels for degraded National Parks land. protection of endangered Australian resort development include the The NSW Planning Minister, Frank wildlife. Daintree rainforest region in Sartor, approved the application in "The resort takes up a mere 2 per Queensland, the Margaret River region April, subject to strict environmental cent of the surrounding area. As a to Western Australia, the Great Ocean and heritage conditions and the result, the number of visitors to this Road in Victoria, and the Byron Bay finalising of agreements with the exclusive resort are strictly monitored hinterland in NSW. Department of Environment and to limit the impact on the fragile Graeme Wicks Climate Change and the surrounding environment." Climate change—will our parks survive? The climate change debate continues to Despite large year-to-year climatic adapt to climate change by expanding make headlines in our federal election variability, many Australian terrestrial the range through which our local year and there is sure to be much more species have quite limited ranges of plants and animals can migrate in noise to add to the confusion with both long-term average climate, of about 1 to response to the predicted changes. sceptics and believers digging in to 2°C in temperature and 20 per cent in defend their versions of our future. So rainfall. Thus, many Australian species Plans needed for ACT far most of the comment has been on have evolved to cope with large year- On another level we must also water issues but we also need to to-year variability, but not to long-term ensure that management plans take the consider how our biodiversity might be change in the average climate. conclusions of the climate change affected and what that might mean for Australian ecosystems are therefore report into account. Few of our plans the management of our national parks. vulnerable to climatic change, as well for ACT parks and reserves have A few years ago the Australian as to other threats including invasion by specific management prescriptions that Greenhouse Office produced a report, exotic animals and plants. address the implications of climate Climate Change: An Australian Guide Rapid land clearance and land-use change. They may address some of the to Science and Potential Impacts, change have been occurring as a result likely consequences such as increased edited by Barry Pittock. While the of human activity in Australia, and risks from fires, feral animals, and science of climate change is advancing especially since European settlers exotic weeds. All of these pressures on rapidly this report remains relevant and arrived a little over 200 years ago. This natural biodiversity are likely to contains some sobering predictions for has led to loss of biodiversity in many increase, however, and plans need to the impact of global warning on our ecosystems, including an increase in bring together current management biodiversity and natural areas. weedy species and animal pests. Land- strategies and climate science to better The conclusions of the report on • use change also has led to manage our natural areas into the biodiversity include: fragmentation of ecosystems. future. • Changes in climate exert additional A final thought on the biodiversity pressure and have already begun to Conservation corridors front. It was very disappointing to read affect biodiversity. What can we do to help mitigate recently that the National Audit Office • Climate change is projected to affect these problems? Obviously we need to found the federal government was all aspects of biodiversity, and this promote an adequate response to failing to meet its obligations to protect will occur in the context of other greenhouse gas emissions both in our biodiversity, including threatened human activities and stresses, Australia and at a global level and do plants and animals. It also reported that including increasing concentrations everything at a personal level to there was insufficient capacity to of carbon dioxide and land-use achieve a low emission lifestyle. But properly administer federal biodiversity change. that alone will not save our biodiversity protection laws. • In general, human-induced climate from increased risks. The audit also raised concerns about change will cause many species to Our colleagues at NPA NSW are the administration of the Natural move polewards or to higher advocating the creation of an Eastern Heritage Trust program, the elevations, where that is possible. Highlands conservation corridor as part government's main financial assistance • Globally, by the year 2080, about of a tri-state network of reserves program. It found that NHT funding 20 per cent of coastal wetlands could between Melbourne and Brisbane. was poorly targeted with only 7 per be lost due to sea level rise. Other linkages they have identified to cent spent directly on conservation. • For many species that are already help mitigate the effects of climate I guess as part of the NPA vulnerable, the risk of extinctions will change include altitudinal links from community across Australia, we need to increase. the mountains and escarpment to the ramp up our lobbying efforts to refocus The report points out that Australia coast and east-west links. Other priority the government's priorities on was isolated for millions of years, and linkages are along inland river systems conserving biodiversity, surely the heart its ecosystems have evolved to cope including along the Murray from of any natural heritage program. Kosciuszko to the Coorong. with unique climate and biological Neville Esau circumstances. Australia has a very We should strongly support these limited altitude range and is bounded to initiatives and others at a state-wide and the south by ocean, which limits the Australia-wide level to ensure our own potential for migration of species. ACT reserves have the best chance to

Nominations for NPA office bearers and committee 2007/8 Nominations are sought for office bearers and committee members to be elected at the AGM on August 16 This form can be photocopied and used for nominations. We nominate for the position of in the NPA ACT for 2007/8 Proposed by (signature) Seconded by .„.„..(signature) I accept the nomination (signature) (date) A geological excursion into southern Namadgi

As we were about to set out on an side of the ridge indicative of at least investigative bushwalk into southern two separate lava flows about 15m Namadgi, I realised nearly a year had thick. But where had they originated? elapsed since the NPA ACT Where was the remnant pipe through Symposium; part of the delay was which the lava had oozed 18 million biding time for cooler weather, partly years ago? Was the lack of vesicles time for cogitation and planning. The evidence of a very close source? walk was spawned from the The "young" age of the basalt was symposium, part of a project NPA ACT the main reason for our visit. Apart and the Geological Society of Australia from these few acres of basalt are undertaking to produce a map of the straddling the ACT border the next geology of the ACT. Most of the youngest rocks in the ACT are a bit compilation of the new map has been more than 400 million years old dating done using existing maps and Robert back to the Silurian period. This huge Abell's encyclopedic knowledge of the gap does not mean that there was no regional geology, but one rock unit rock formed in the ACT in the interim, needed to be re-examined on the just that those that were here have all ground. been eroded away — some 5km of rock Bob had planned a relatively short and soil removed from the current land walk, perhaps 14km in all, starting at surface between 400 million and the ACT/NSW border near the new 18 million years ago. Then the basalt Grassy Creek firetrail and following the was inexplicably extruded from deep in the Earth's crust or upper mantle, now border west until we found the unique Robert Abell weighing up a chunk of approximately 40km below the ground geological formation that was our goal. 18 million year old basalt, young surface in southern Namadgi. From there we looped around to the relative to other ACT rocks. north and then generally followed the It was somehow satisfying to hold a firetrail back via Westermans Hut to the walk to Mt Kelly led by Steven Forst lump of basalt (see photo) that was parked cars and home. and on another occasion near young by comparison with the Six curious members and guests set MtGingera led by Dave Kelly. Judy underlying and surrounding rock on out with Bob on a beautiful late Kelly has written up these walks in the which dinosaurs once romped but so summer Sunday, March 11, one of the Bulletin (Dec 2005, pl2 and Sept 2006, much older than modem humans. few coolish days since November. For pl2). Satisfying but somewhat awesome to the first 45 minutes we climbed through The volcanic rocks were starkly imagine the huge changes in the vigorous regrowth to the Wrights Hill exposed along a ridge, heavy and dark, landscape that have taken place since Trig (1345m asl) which afforded but solid without the tell-tale vesicles the dinosaurs roamed these parts. Even splendid views in all directions, thanks (bubbles of gas trapped in the molten over the last 2 million years the basalt partly to the drastic de-forestation rock mass as it cooled) that are typical has been subject to some 20 ice ages around the trig by a few generations of of the central Victorian basalts for which no doubt wrought significant European farmers. Miles Franklin wrote example and widely used in Victorian topographic alteration. of this area (albeit from the north near buildings. A bench can be seen on each We noticed that the basalt would Lake George): have been easy to find had we / reined in on the crest from known how much Patterson's which far to the south can be Curse loves the veneer of rich seen the dreaming peaks of the basaltic soils. Much weeding to mountains beyond the be done here. Murrumbidgee. Their beauty is A fresh norwesterly wind a banner of spiritual strength to came up about noon so we me headed off north in search of a ... Indeed! shady, sheltered spot for lunch. Bob challenged us to shout Interest in the excursion wasn't when we had identified the basalt over as we searched out special outcrop which we did, earning plants, rocks, flora and fauna to valuable brownie points, but it was show our overseas guest partly by accident when we Clarence, newly arrived from stumbled on a low basalt "rock Holland: including; a pink spit" built by surveyor Harry Caladenia orchid, an echidna Mouat and his team in -1912 to which after a short hike decided mark the boundary etching out the to make a subterranean escape ACT from NSW (see photo). We despite Adrienne's best efforts had seen these "rock spits" on a to show us how best to hold them, a pair of wedge-tailed eagles spiralling off on a giant Walkers from left to right; Judy, wind vortex, a gnarled old Adrienne, Sonja (standing at the flowering E. stellulata, a far end of the "rock spit" border lyrebird display mound and marker), Clarence and Chris. (Continued on page 9) NPA ACT news Sheila Kruse OAM Conservation Council's appeal letter members enjoying the bush — the and to support it as generously as you event does not have to be a formal NPA An honorary life member of NPA since support the NPA ACT. outing. 1979, Sheila died in Melbourne on Donations to the NPA ACT and the The NPA website is our showcase. Thursday May 3. Sheila's story will be Conservation Council (through its So please support it and show the world told in the" next NPA Bulletin. Bogong Fund) are tax deductible. that we can still enjoy the wide brown Rod Griffiths land, even if it is getting browner by the Support good causes day. Martin Chalk Yes, it's that time of year again when Website Gallery the NPA ACT asks its members to support its good works by digging deep The NPA website Gallery now has Plans for 2008 Symposium some new directories that contain into their pockets to make a donation. NPA ACT has started planning the May images from regions of Australia other However this year, members will find 2008 Symposium. Anyone who would than the southeast. At the moment, the another appeal letter with the Bulletin. like to contribute some time and ideas photos in these new directories are by The NPA ACT has agreed to allow the or join the small organising committee yours truly, but they need company! Conservation Council to appeal directly please contact the convenor Kevin to our members through an insert to the McCue ([email protected] or Bulletin. ph:6251 1291). For those of you who don't know, THE GALLERY We still have a large number of the Conservation Council is the ACT's Proceedings from the 2006 peak environment organisation Symposium, having reckoned on most representing around 30 member groups members buying a copy or two as gifts of which the NPA ACT is one. The for their friends when they were Conservation Council and the published. NPA ACT have worked closely Please support NPA ACT by together on environmental issues for purchasing a copy, only $22 for many years and continue to do so. members, from Sonja Lenz The support the Conservation ([email protected] Council provides to the NPA ACT is or ph: 6251 1291). invaluable. In recognition of this and Please send me your CDs, negatives the other environmental work Kevin McCue or transparencies (negs and trannies performed by the Conservation will be returned automatically, CDs on Council, the NPA ACT's executive request), particularly if they show NPA urges its members to read the

A geological excursion into southern Namadgi continued teetering tors. Clarence unknowingly rock in an topped our efforts by finding a sun- ancient, ever- bleached lower jaw, obviously a changing carnivore, that we thought might have landscape. been a quoll but Andrew Claridge When you (NSW National Parks and Wildlife purchase your Service) kindly had it examined and copy of the assured us it was, even better, that of a new map of feral cat! Clarence's other finds the geology of included both upper and lower jaws of a the ACT you kangaroo, the upper jaw of a wombat, too will want and the skull of a possum. to make an Westerman's Hut was the last stop excursion to of interest. Restored and maintained by southern KHA, it is a stark reminder of the huge Namadgi, to difference in comfort and lifestyle stand on the enjoyed by us and the hut residents. No ridge and broadband in those days, nor electricity, wonder at the piped water or refrigeration but plenty rocks below your feet and the majestic A venerable old E. stellulata in of newspapers and probably even time new/old view of a remarkable flower with Grassy Creek flowing to read them before recycling them into landscape stretching out seemingly gently past far below. the wall cladding. Europeans are new forever in space and time before your Photos by Kevin McCue arrivals compared with the Aborigines eyes. whose artefacts we observed widely Thanks Bob! scattered about the area — the Kevin McCue Aborigines themselves newcomers compared with the basalt, itself a young Changes at Burnt Hill This obvious reserve of fuel should be dispersed into the surrounding bush prior to the next fire season. The area through which this trail passes was hitherto difficult to access due to the irregular terrain and the close bush. Furthermore, the area was not a part of any recognised bushwalking routes. Accordingly, it was rarely visited. This has changed with the advent of the fire trail. Access is now easy and the trail affords a round trip for walkers and cyclists from the Mt Clear camp ground by linking fire trails and the Boboyan Road. In short, the area can be expected to be frequented and will now need to be incorporated into the park's weed and rubbish control program. About three-quarters of the way up Looking east along the southern Namadgi ACT/NSW border, two side-by-side Burnt Hill is a survey reference tree that was blazed by Freddy Johnston's roads to the summit of Burnt Hill. Photo by Adrienne Nicholson border survey team in 1915. AH such trees are listed on the ACT Heritage Some 12 months ago the then The fires that burnt into southern Register and this one is all the more Environment ACT released a Namadgi in October 2006 saw the fire significant, as it is still alive! The tree is preliminary assessment on a proposed trail constructed. There is now an 8m located 8m from the border fence and fire trail from the Boboyan Road at the wide trail easement on the ACT side of the 8m fire trail easement has been NSW border, across Burnt Hill to the the border and also one for better than sandwiched between it and the fence. east, and subsequently down to Grassy half the total distance across Burnt Hill Furthermore, the trail itself has been Creek to join the existing fire trail to on the NSW side of the border. biased toward the tree such that there is The Long Flat. The NPA ACT In ascending Burnt Hill, the new 1m of cleared ground separating the expressed concerns at the proposal and trail negotiates some steep slopes and tree from the edge of the fire trail. also expressed dismay that a new track also crosses a number of gullies. The The tree has thankfully been on the ACT side of the border across slopes have anti-erosion roll-overs in avoided during the construction of the Burnt Hill had to be developed in place but the gullies do not have trail. However, this action has resulted preference to developing cooperative culverts. In a visit to the site in late in a kink in the trail which leaves the arrangements with the adjacent NSW February, I observed that the rain had tree vulnerable and exposed to drivers land holder who also had a track for started to erode the trail in the area of who are unaware of its significance (or much of the proposed route on his side the gullies and subsequent work had who have other priorities to consider). of the fence. simply graded over the erosion sites. Furthermore, road maintenance (this Clearly, these section of the trail is steep) will likely areas are going to compromise the roots of the tree. Given require a running that access to the adjacent NSW track program of main­ (located 9m from the tree) has been tenance unless determined, or deemed, to not be an more substantial option, the Burnt Hill trail should be works are put in relocated further to the north so that this place. tree's odds of survival are returned to As observed on a those that pre-existed the fire trail. visit in early The NPA will keep the area under March, the timber review and in particular will monitor removed from the the ongoing condition of the survey trail easement had reference tree. simply been Martin Chalk heaped at the edge of the roadway, forming a row of slash up to 2m high in places.

Viewedfrom the border fence, the new road passes very closely by this historic survey reference tree. Photo by Adrienne Nicholson NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM June 2007 — September 2007

Outings Guide Distance grading (per day) Terrain grading 1 — up to 10 km A — Road, firetrail 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, drinks and protective clothing. 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. Other activities include ski trips, canoe trips, nature rambles and environmental & field guide studies. Wednesday Walks are arranged on a joint NPA / CBC / FBI basis. Notification and detail is by email to registered members. Only NPA-run walks are shown in this program. For email registration contact the Outings Convener. Passenger transport. The committee suggests a donation per person to the nearest dollar, of THIRTY SLX cents per kilometer per car divided by the number of occupants in the car including the driver. When odd numbers arise, a total contribution may be divided by the number of cars. The amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader. Drive and walk distances quoted in the program are approximate distances for return journeys.

Points to note Please help keep our outings program alive by volunteering to lead outings. New leaders are most welcome. The outings convener is happy to suggest locations suitable for a walk if you do not have something in mind yourself. Feel free to send in suggestions for outings to the association's office as soon as you think of them, with a suggested date. 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, 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 their 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 Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Form provided by the leader at the start of the activity.

To minimize 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 signing 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 club, the leader or any other participants in tort or contract.

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE - SEPT 2007 24 June; Sunday easy Walk 15 July; Sunday Walk ; 9 June; Saturday Work Party LITTLE YANKEE HAT GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP DEVILS GAP & Contact: Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, GIBRALTAR ROCKS Map: rendezvous Creek 1:25 000 [email protected], or ^ Map: Tidbinbilla 1:25 000 Grading: 2 B/C/D ' Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, Grading: 1 A/B Leader: Mike Smith c!i [email protected] ^ Leader: Adrienne Nicholson Contact: 6286 2984 or Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, . Contact: 6281 6381 [email protected] Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car ^ Meet at 8.30am at "forest" carpark Meet at Kambah Village shops at y park at 10:00am. Work for the • on Uriarra Rd near the turnoff from 8:30am for this walk from the Yankee rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine ,^ Cotter Rd. Walking in Tidbinbilla hat carpark. Climb of about 500m to ' forest area. Tools will be provided. N Nature Reserve mostly on tracks. Start top of peak through bush with some / / / / \ \ \ \ \ i. \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ • with uphill on the Devils Gap fire trail regrowth, fallen timber and rock before cutting across to the edge of scrambling. Great views to west. 9-11 June; pine forest A mid-morning side Return down north face (steep) to Long Weekend Pack Walk adventure to the Devils Pyramid for Middle Creek and then back to cars. HIDDEN VALLEY, BUDAWANGS those who want to expend a little extra A medium/hard walk. Map: Budawang Sketch Map energy. Follow the ridge along to the Drive 120-km, $44 per car Grading: 3 A/B/C Gibraltar Rocks fire trail. Lunch Leader: Steven Forst among the rocks with a selection of 17 July: Contact: 62516817(h), 62195236(w) extensive views, before following the WALKS COMMITTEE MEETING or [email protected] fire trail down to the road. Short car Convener: Mike Smith Contact leader by Wednesday. A shuffle saves a road slog back up to winter walk into the Budawangs Contact: 6286 2984 or the start point. [email protected] visiting Hidden Valley with views of Drive 80 km, $30 per car Quiltys Mountain, Pagoda Rocks and Meeting to set Outings/Activities possibly into the Holland Gorge. Walk program for Oct to Dec 2007. Contact in to a base camp near Styles Creek 27 June; WEDNESDAY WALK convener for details and then walk with day gear only to [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] Hidden Valley and the views. Leader: Phil Gatenby 21 July; Saturday Work Party Contact: 6254 3094(h) or Drive 340 km, $122 per car HONEYSUCKLE TO B00R00MBA [email protected] Details to be advised through the TRACK, OR SQUARE ROCK 17 June; Sunday Walk midweek walks email list otherwise TRACK REPAIR WITS MAJURA AND AlNSLIE contact the leader. Leader: Mike Smith Map: Canberra, Hall 1:25000 Contact: 6286 2984 Canberra Street Directory 8 July; Sunday Walk This work party involves track Grading: 1 A/B SCULPTURES - OLD AND NEW - repair work and restoration of pig Leader: Brian Slee COFFEE AND CAKES damage. The actual location will be Contact: 6281 0719 or Leader: Col Mc A lister selected closer to the day. Meet at [email protected] Contact: 6288 4171 Kambah Village shops at 9:00am. Meet at 9.00 am at McKenzie St A gentle stroll around some of Drive: (Honeysuckle to Booroomba carpark (north of Grayson St Canberra's wonderful old and new Track), 87km, $32 per car. (Square intersection), Hackett. We will follow sculptures in Civic, the ANU and the A°^.Ti^l.§5j™L.^9.P.ej.car steep track to summit of Mt Majura Parliamentary Triangle. We will (Canberra's highest mountain). After a probably have morning tea at the 22 July; Sunday Walk break, head south on ridge to Mt National Sound and Screen Archive, SOUTHERN NAMADGI FIRE TRAILS Ainslie for lunch there or on the way. drive to the National Library and have Map: Shannons Flat & Bred bo Descend north on track through afternoon tea at the National Gallery. 1:25,000 Canberra Nature Park and return to Meet in the car park off London Grading: 3 A/B Hackett. Great views of Canberra and Circuit near the Reserve Bank at Leader: Martin Chalk airport. Walk of approx. 10 km. 9.00am. Contact: 6292 3502 (h) The aim of this walk is to travel the 23 June; Saturday Work Party \ \ \ \ \ \ ~, \ \ \ v \. \ \ \ \ \ \ v \ \ \ two new fire trails that have been .. 14 July; Saturday Work Party > HONEYSUCKLE CAMPGROUND constructed in the southern part of ' GuDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP - Leader: Martin Chalk Namadgi in the last 12 months. The ; Contact: Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, ' Contact: 6292 3502 walk will start at the ACT/NSW ' [email protected], or This work party involves fence border on the Boboyan Rd and then ' Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, proceed along the Burnt Hill fire trail removal and site works around the ^ [email protected] ^ to the point where it divides. We will campground. While not as exotic or Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, • glamorous as some, this work party than follow it down hill to the north ^ Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car ^ east across the Grassy Creek valley to allows us to assist in the management ^ park at 10:00am. Work for the ^ of the Park. Meet at Kambah Village the point where it joins the existing ^ rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine ^ fire trail to the Long Flat. At the Long shops at 9:00am. s v forest area. Tools will be provided. Flat we will follow the new trail that Drive 87km, $32 per car V v \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ -. \ v \ \ \ \ \ \ \' runs up the ridge to the west of

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE-SEPT 2007 NPA ACT Membership Renewal and Donation Appeal

Dear Member

It is again time to renew your membership of the National Parks Association of the ACT. By doing this, you will be continuing your support of the ACT's leading community organisation, working for the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage in Namadgi National Park and ACT Nature Reserves.

Of course you will also be able to enjoy the NPA ACT outings program and our stimulating general meetings with interesting guest speakers. Other activities over the coming 12 months include preparing for the next symposium in May 2008 on the effect of global warming on our national parks and preparing exciting new publications to celebrate our 50lh anniversary in 2010. Our campaign activities include opposing fire trails along Orroral Ridge and Stockyard Spur and lobbying for more funding for park management and conservation. Check out our website for more information

If you are able to do a little bit more, please consider joining one of the committees or working groups; or help to write and produce the Bulletin and email newsletter Burning Issues; maybe contribute to NPA ACT submissions on conservation issues and activities; or help to maintain the Association's website. Fill in the special interest part of the membership form or contact myself or a committee member to discuss how you might like to get more involved (contact details in each Bulletin).

Renewal This year's form is very similar to last year's with various payment alternatives and optional age group box. A reminder for those members who joined after 01 April 2007: you have already paid a subscription for the forthcoming year and do not need to renew.

Donations Your generous donations in the past have supported the funding of NPA ACT's office new premises, the preparation of submissions on government development proposals for parks and reserves and printing of guide books on the birds and trees of the ACT region. The level of donations has also meant that NPAACT has not had to raise membership fees to maintain the Association.

When making a donation at this time please use the space on the renewal form to indicate the amount and remember that donations over $2 are tax deductible. A receipt will be provided.

Thanking you in advance

Christine Goonrey President NPA ACT 1 June 2007

GPO Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601 Fax: 02 6248 5343 Phone: 02 6229 3201 Mobile: 0412 071 382 ABN: 74 830 219 723 • http://www.npaact.org.au the Long Flat to the ACT/NSW Rock scrambling and a climb of about | 25 August; Saturday Work Party border. From here we will return to 500 m involved. Contact leader by the j LOWER COTTER CATCHMENT Burnt Hill along the border track. If Wednesday before the walk. I Leader: Martin Chalk you have been following the debate Drive 260-km, $95 per car j Contact: 6292 3502 (h) about new fire trails within Namadgi, j This work party ventures into new come along and see the results of /. \ \\ \\ \\ \\ \.\\\\\\\\\v\\^ 11 August; Saturday Work Party ^ j territory as far as NPA work parties recent work. Meet at Kambah Village 7 , GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP , j are concerned. The lower Cotter shops at 8.00am. ; Contact: Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, y j catchment is undergoing significant Drive 160-km, $48 per car y / [email protected], or j rehabilitation following the removal of ^ Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, ^ i the pine plantation. Activities include 25 July; WEDNESDAY WALK ^ [email protected] ' | seeding, planting and weeding. The [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] / Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, ' | actual site for this work party will be Leader: Mike Smith / Tharwa at 9:I5am or Yankee Hat car / | advised closer to the day. Tools Contact: 6286 2984(h) or y park at 10:00am. Work for the •' i provided. Contact leader for details. [email protected] rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine , |_ Drive 40-km, $ 15jper car Details to be advised through the ' forest area. Tools will be provided. 7 midweek walks email list otherwise 26 August; Sunday Walk contact the leader. 12 August; Sunday Walk GOOGONG DAM - HELLS HOLE Map: Hoskintown 1:25 000 29-July; Sunday Ski Trip RAMSHEAD Grading: 2 A/E KIANDRA TO FOUR MILE HUT Maps: Chimneys Ridge, Perisher Leader: Mike Smith Map: Mt Selwyn Ski Touring Map Valley 1:25 000 Contact: 6286 2984 or Grading: 2 A Grading: 1 B (on snow) msmith@nets peed.com.au Leader: Steven Forst Leader: Brian Slee Meet at Canberra Railway Station at Contact: 62516817(h), 62195236(w) Contact: 6281 0719 or 8.30am. A walk from Googong Dam or [email protected] [email protected] picnic area to Bradley's Creek via Contact leader before Thursday to Depart 6.15am. Drive to Thredbo Gorman's Trig along fire trails with discuss transport and the weather and park at Dead Horse Gap. Climb around 250-m climb. Then down forecast. A day of cross-country skiing ridge just east of Bogong Ck then Bradley's Creek to suitable lunch spot to Four Mile Hut and back a distance north-west to Ramshead. Return in Hells Hole area. Return along edge of up to 16 km. Not for absolute similar route. Afternoon tea of reservoir to fire trail in borrow pit beginners but suited to those who may Jindabyne. Steep at first but suitable area. have missed the snow in the last for beginners. Spectacular scenery. couple of years. Route depends on Participants hiring snowshoes should Drive 40-km, $15 per car weather and snow conditions. Will be in possession of them prior to proceed from Kiandra if sufficient departure. Book with leader for 29 August; WEDNESDAY WALK snow otherwise vehicle park entry fees weather check, departure location and [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] will need to be allowed for. vehicle arrangements (chains may be Leader: Steven Forst Drive 300-km, $ 108 per car req'd). Drive 420-km, $150 per car Contact: 62516817(h), 62195236(w) plus Park entry fee or [email protected] Details to be advised through the Mid-August for about 2 weeks midweek walks email list otherwise 19-Aug; Sunday Stroll & Pancakes GAMMON/FLINDERS RANGES contact the leader. CAR CAMP CAPTAINS FLAT Map: Captains Flat 1:25 000 Leader: Di Thompson 2 September; Sunday Walk Grading: 1 A Contact: 6288 6084 MT ORRORAL Leader: Steven Forst Join Di for a car camping trip with Map: Rendezous Creek 1:25000 Contact: 62516817(h), 62195236(w) various activities such as sightseeing, Grading: 2 C/D/E/F or [email protected] photography, birdwatching & walking. Leader: Martin Chalk An easy half day trip to Captains Contact Di by end of July for details Contact: 6292 3502 (h) Flat with a climb up to the historic mine site above the town to work off Mt Orroral is a peak that seems to 4-5 August; Weekend Pack Walk the pancakes or other goodies be frequently observed but rarely ETTREMA GORGE consumed for brunch or morning tea. visited. This walk promises excellent Joint NPA / FBI Activity Meet at Canberra Railway Station at views across Namadgi after a Map: Touga 1:25,000 9:00 am. Drive 160-km, $58 per car demanding climb from the saddle Grading: 2 D/E/F between Nursery and Rendezvous Leader: Philip Gatenby Creeks. We will return to the Orroral Contact: 6254 3094 or 22 August; WEDNESDAY WALK Rd via the eastern slope of the [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] [email protected] .au mountain. There will be a short car A walk to the spectacular Ettrema Leader: Phil Gatenby shuffle between the Nursery Creek Gorge in Morton National Park. The Contact: 6254 3094(h) or track car park and the Orroral picnic plan is to start from Quiera Clearing [email protected] ground. Meet at Kambah Village Details to be advised through the and reach the gorge via Transportation shops at 8:30am midweek walks email list otherwise Spur. The next day we'll leave the Drive 85-km, $30 per car gorge via Myall Creek or Jingles Pass. contact the leader.

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE-SEPT 2007 8 Sept; Saturday Work Party I have tentatively booked 4 cabins. viewpoint from just below the GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP ^ Each has 2 beds + 1 mattress upstairs Northern summit (1847), before we Contact: Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, and a double bed downstairs. Charge drop down to Pryors Hut. The walk is [email protected], or per cabin for one night = $85.00; partly off track but no serious bush Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, charge per cabin for two nights (eg. bashing is involved. Meet around the [email protected] Fri and Sat nights) = $130.00 entrance of the car park at the Cotter Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, Please contact leader by Friday road-Uriarra Road (Deek's Park) Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car August 31 for further details. intersection pine forest at 830 for a park at 10:00am. Work for the - fabulous day. rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine . 15 Sept; Saturday Work Party Drive 1504cm, $55 per car forest area. Tools will be provided. HONEYSUCKLE TO BOOROOMBA / / .• / /\ \ -> \ • ^ v \ \ \ s '•. N % \ TRACK, OR SQUARE ROCK 26 September; WEDNESDAY WALK TRACK REPAIR 9 September; Sunday Walks [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] Leader: Henry Hatch GREAT AUSTRALIAN BUSHWALK Leader: Philip Gatenby Contact: 62901138 or Local Coordinator: Mike Smith Contact: 6254 3094 [email protected] Contact: 6286 2984 or This work party involves track Details to be advised through the [email protected] repair work and restoration of pig midweek walks email list otherwise The NPA will be hosting a number damage. The actual location will be contact the leader. of walks for the GAB this year. selected closer to the day. Meet at Current proposals are walks to Yerrabi Kambah Village shops at 9:00am. 29 Sept to -1 Oct; Pack Walk Trig, Brandy Flat Hut, Glenbura Drive: (Honeysuckle to Booroomba Historic Precinct and Southern ACT Track), 87km, $32 per car. (Square MT SCABBY Huts. See the NPA website Rock Track) 65km, $20jpercar Leader: David Kelly www.npaactorg.au for details or visit Contact: 6253 1859 or the national GAB website, 16 September; Sunday Walk [email protected] www.greataustralianbushwalk.org.au PARALYSER, PERISH ER We will start walking at 9am Saturday from Boboyan car park, via Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 either Middle Ck or upper Naas Ck, 11-12 Sept; Midweek Pack Walk Grading: 2 B (on snow) camping two nights near the head of FOSTERS MOUNTAIN Leader: Brian Slee Sam's Ck. On Sunday, we will do a Joint NPA / FBI Activity Contact: 6281 0719 or day trip to Mt. Scabby, with extensive Map: Endrick 1:25,000 [email protected] views of the granite peaks of the Grading: 2 A/D/E Depart 6.15am. Drive to Guthega Brindabella Range. On Monday, we Leader: Philip Gatenby carpark. Proceed via bridges over Blue will return via Naas Ck to Boboyan Contact: 6254 3094 or Cow and Farm Cks before climbing to car park, arriving about 4pm. Please [email protected] The Paralyser trig. Continue to Mt contact Dave by Wednesday 27th Fosters Mountain is on the western Perisher before returning via Farm Ck. September for details- edge of the Budawangs. The walk Afternoon tea Jindabyne. Some steep Drive 120-km, $44 per car starts at the Nerriga entrance to climbs but suitable for beginners with Morton National Park and is partly on. good fitness. Classic walk. Those tracks. Some rock scrambling across hiring snowshoes should be in creek gullies and through cliff lines possession of them prior to departure. will also be involved, as will a climb Book with Leader for weather check, of about 350 metres. Contact leader departure location and vehicle by the Wednesday before the walk. arrangements (chains may be Drive 240-km, $86 per car required). Drive 420-km, $ 150 per car plus Park 15-16 September; entry fee. BURRAWANG COASTAL WEEKEND Leader: Judy Kelly 23-Sept; Sunday Walk Contact: 6253 1859 or MT GINGERA AND BRUMBY FLAT [email protected] Map: Corin Dam 1:25 000 Burrawang is a piece of coastal Grading: 3 AJE bushJand of 100 hectares near Mogo Leader: Steve Hill with self-contained cabins. The Contact: 6231 9186 or weekend options are for short walks [email protected] around the property, along the A chance to visit Mt Gingera. We adjoining beaches and/or following start with the usual walk from Ginini the cliffline to Malua Bay. Another car park to the southern summit possibility is climbing Mt (1857) for fabulous views. Then we Murramurrang, near Pebbly Beach. Or drop down a short way to a beautiful, you might want to just relax, read, secluded alpine frosty hollow to the sleep, swim or watch the feathered west called Brumby Flat We lunch at Outings Convenor-Mike Smith birds. Suitable for young families. another view with a difference. Then 6286 2984 or msmitk@netspeed. com. au we find our way to a quite spectacular

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE-SEPT 2007 p the mountain without a padd

During last year's successful canoe trip and found some relatively flat ground 90 minutes for the three of us to climb on Talbingo Dam (see Max Lawrence's suitable for camping. The reservoir was hill 1061m. The final part of the climb description in the NPA Bulletin June about one metre below full level so was up a scree slope but we were 2006), Max and I discussed the there was a beach about four metres rewarded with superb views down the possibility of doing a combined canoe wide. Apparently Talbingo Reservoir is Tumut and Yarrangobilly arms of the trip and walk up Pinbeyan Peak kept close to full, even in drought, so reservoir. (1203m) which was visible in the that hydroelectricity can be generated at Along the way Ian, uncharact­ distance from our campsite. The trip the Tumut 3 Power Station. eristically, started swearing. One of was set for the Canberra Day long After setting up our tents, it was not those large bull ants didn't appreciate weekend March 17-19. Unfortunately long before Sandy was bitten on her being squashed as Ian grabbed hold of Max was not able to attend but I was foot by a large bull ant. Minutes later the tree trunk it was on. We headed joined by long-time paddling friends Ros was bitten on the leg and stomach. north west for another kilometre Ros Webb, Ian Smith and Sandy Berry. She considered moving her tent onto through patches of regrowth, open With signs of being near the end of the beach to get away from the ants but forest and over rocky ridges including one of our worst droughts, we left decided that wine was the first priority some rock scrambling and then Canberra in the rain on the Saturday in order to help deaden the pain. followed Razorback Ridge for about morning and reached our launching Thoughts of moving her tent were soon another 2km around to Pinbeyan. The place at O'Hares Rest Area on the forgotten as we settled down to a view was partly restricted by the trees Elliott Way shortly after lunch. Along pleasant evening on the beach by the and was not quite as good as that from the way we saw that Adaminaby had water's edge. hill 1061, but nevertheless we enjoyed a received some reasonable rain in recent The next morning was clear and well deserved lunch. The descent, via times since pastures were the greenest calm with mist coming off the water. I the same route, takes two hours any of us had seen for that area. We was first up and soon realised that there compared to the three hours for the launched our kayaks and paddled to the were only three kayaks instead of four ascent. campsite 4km away. By now it was a on the bank. The water had risen about On return to the kayaks, Ros tells us warm sunny day and the water skiers 30-40 cm during the night causing my about a nice beach that she found on the were out and about. In fact we found kayak to drift off. It was floating opposite shore about 500m to the south. several boats at our intended campsite peacefully about 400 metres away. I After shooing off some bees that had — which I suppose was not surprising borrowed Ros' kayak to retrieve it. taken a liking to Sandy and lan's since the sign says that it is maintained Fortunately Ros had not moved her tent yellow kayaks we paddle over for a by the Tumbarumba Ski Club. onto the beach the previous evening. lovely swim, find that there is some fiat After a rest we realised that the After breakfast we paddled about 3- ground suitable for tents and make a water skiers were likely to stay till the 4km to a point (Grid Ref. 214425 on mental note that this would be a good evening so we paddled across the lake the 1:25 000 1st Edition Ravine map) campsite away from the water skiers. on the right bank where a Again we have a pleasant evening ridge rises steadily to a hill back at the campsite. There was a marked 1061m on the map. thunderstorm with some heavy rain in Ros soon decided that a the early hours of Monday morning but better way to spend a warm by sunrise the rain had eased. The water sunny day would be to rose another 30-40cm during the night. swim and sleep rather than We packed up and had a pleasant spend it walking 8km paddle past mist-shrouded mountains through trackless back to the cars. countryside including a Mike Brenters 700m climb. It took

Top. Paddling home on Talbingo Reservoir among the misty mountains. Left. Ian climbs Mt Pinbeyan, with views back to Talbingo Reservoir Photos by Mike Bremers Nancy Burbidge: botanist and visionary — Part 2 This article concludes Judy Kelly's Nancy was direct and forthright and two part story of the life and could hold lively discussions with achievements of Nancy Burbidge, colleagues. Not all agreed with her who was recently given recognition approach in providing full descriptions in the ACT Honour Walk. Part one of species in the keys to the Flora of the was in the March 2007 edition of ACT, but her approach held sway. the NPA Bulletin. In 1973 Nancy relinquished her role as Curator of the Herbarium to work on Nancy's early career after her the Flora of Australia project which the graduation from the University of Australian Academy of Science University Women and the Australian Western Australia with a BSc in 1937 sponsored. Systematic Botany Society. started with the prize of a free passage Her broad botanical interest is Ail these organisations, along with to England awarded by a group of reflected by her efforts to photograph NPA ACT, contributed to the Nancy T. shipping companies. She spent the handwriting of botanical authors Burbidge Memorial, a small, peaceful 18 months at the Herbarium at the relevant to Australia as a historical amphitheatre at the eucalypt lawn in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where record or archive while she was the National Botanic Gardens, which was she revised the Australian species of the Australian Botanical Liaison officer at opened in 1980. genus Enneapogon. Kew in 1953. She returned to Perth to study the Nancy's interests outside botany Honours ecology and taxonomy of Western were varied and philanthropic. She Australian plants before becoming In 1976 she was made a Member of supported several causes, including assistant agronomist at the Waite the Order of Australia for her services Agricultural Research to science and the community. Nancy's other enduring legacies Institute in Adelaide where are Mount Burbidge, named in she worked on the ;FJ i«£ HUNlflLK WALK'2006 '.•'''< 1992, which lies east of Mount regeneration of native : Kelly in Namadgi National Park, pastures in South Australia's |VJ' BURBIDGE ]F: NANCY AM;;;I>:[ and 10 plants which bear her arid and semi-arid regions/ ^ 't:;;KK:Y B'ljrbiG^e was. a well 'fcnawti .bins :M.! • name. These include the wattle Nancy's list of M.I^ervrtMonist. Between 193G 'and; «h\?- '.' 'l-JI . ])iif.'li:^^cl numerous, scien cffic anci ,p i>PLSLJJ-' <|i;;n:s u.; i Acacia burbidgeae Pedley, and publications indicates her i , 1 ' Cfif: Ajisiralian floraJ co-auilvonnt: ;JLID'Jljiiu'--'II':R:: .. . !;; the grass Triodia burbidgeana breadth of knowledge and V ., NTI'ra ;of the Australian Capital' ten IU>RY in 'i • S.W.L.Jacobs. As reported in the experience. She wrote and ; v/as the tirst Curator of-'the.Hertiarinit) .Ats>;!T;;:.';;'!'P^ ' March Bulletin, a plaque illustrated Australian Grasses • Y.iio'w'-Liio' Australian .National: HerbaTiium) ..Dr;(.i • u: i-. - F :•" ! J first. Director of.thejFIora of-Austnallia PROJ^.i'- • : , honouring Nancy's contributions 1, 111, : (1968) Vols II and and to the ACT has been added to the worked on what was formerly 1 1 i . Ao live-in many cultural and sckmific; swivel k :;, .• „ •; ACT Honour Walk. Helichrysum in Australia but JNlanuy' workedhard .to achieve ihcflyismii iY^,r! FCIR- •.; '• Nancy Tyson Burbidge was born is now recognised as IJP FI;iliio«al'park.wuhin the.ACT. culminoliri^i hi thi; •! Y on 5 August 1912 in England at occurring only in South JJJJJ; .dciiJar-iuibri in .l:979'I6F Gutigenhy.NaLiTn:J^t:i;^',-:\\, M: ,IH!\Y Nanra'dji National Park; " ^ • I Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. Her Africa. The Australian father, William Burbidge, was a Helichrysum-lhat'Was has clergyman who was appointed to been split into four or five ;\- ;;V*^5V\- •'. •• ,' the Anglican parish of Katanning, genera. , P '.'.•[!=MI>YV • : :• ;.' :'•:';" ;• • • ••' Y Western Australia, in 1913. With Max Gray, Nancy Nancy appears to have inherited wrote Flora of the ACT some of her forward thinking (1969) and illustrated it with improving educational opportunities for from her mother, Mary Eleanor her fine line drawings. She produced Aboriginal women via scholarships, Burbidge, who opened a primary school The Wattles of the ACT (196\) and The and working towards the establishment at the Katanning rectory and in 1922 Gum Trees of the ACT(\963\ complete of a women's hall of residence at the founded the Katanning (Kobeelya) with her line drawings and photographs University of Papua and New Guinea. Church of England Girls's School by Colin Totterdell. Colin's black and Jean Currie remembers Nancy's where Nancy received her early white photos are a historical record of support for Aborigines who were trying education. some of Canberra's healthy gum trees, to establish a base in Redfem and her lining the streets, in surrounding When Nancy was diagnosed with feeling that they should have been bush land and in the Brindabellas. terminal cancer, she was a frequent allocated a building. visitor to the house of Jean and Ian They provide a sobering contrast The introduction to the Flora of the Currie. Jean recalls that Nancy told her with the trees of today which are ACT states that in the case of common GP "that it was his responsibility to see suffering from neglect and drought or names for plants that she was as comfortable as possible post-fire damage. "// is a matter for continued regret for as long as possible, bearing in mind Nancy's paper, The Pliytogeography that we have lost almost all the that she still had some publishing to of the Australian Region (1959) was the aboriginal names from the past." complete and therefore a remission basis of her Doctorate of Science which Nancy was a member of the Pan- would be highly desirable". she received from the University of Pacific and South-East Asia Women's Western Australia in 1961, the first Association ACT, the Royal Society of woman at the university to do so. Canberra, the Australian Federation of Call for new thinking on conservation

In his address to the March meeting of thinking that created the dump-heap in support to be found for present the NPA, author and conservationist the first place. immigration policies in some William Lines recalled a meeting of the Two goals conservation groups. association that he attended in April When Wright addressed this forum The speaker identified the two 1969 when Judith Wright spoke to an Australia's population was not quite things he considers conservationists are audience of some 200 about 12.5 million. Today it is over trying to do. One is immediate and conservation. 20.5 million. By any measure that is an urgent: save this reef or that bit of Conservation was difficult, she said, extraordinary increase, a good half of bushland, wetland, river, coast or reef. because the idea ran "counter to all which came from immigration. The second is long-term but also precedent and to our acquisitive habits; Enormous destruction and loss has urgent: to change attitudes and politics and also, of course, to powerful accompanied this population increase. so that the idea of conservation is more interests vested on exploitive Much of what Wright valued and loved, favourably received in the future. Only enterprises". Therefore conservationists for example, has been destroyed: her then can we ensure a longer term had '^o fight not only for the wilderness mountain home, the Gold Coast success for conservation. but against the whole historical trend of hinterland and the coast itself. The first goal—securing immediate which the dump-heap is a result. Lines calls for an approach that is conservation and protection—requires Otherwise the dump-heap will keep based in facts: we should apply science campaigners who are pragmatic, growing". In opposition to that and empiricism when fantasy and dogged, and political. Fortunately, we historical trend Wright advocated a new wishful flunking are so much more in Australia have a good number of kind of thinking that opposed the whole attractive and comforting. A coherent those. Indeed, we have some of the best force and current of existing thinking conservation philosophy has to be in the world. In pursuing this path, Lines asserted realistic. It has to connect with the real, The second goal—changing that most conservation groups have tangible, physical world. It has to be attitudes—requires a politics and a failed to adopt a new approach. For cognizant of numbers and take account philosophy that are clear, coherent, example, in dealing with climate of our physical presence and impact on persuasive and attractive. change it is proposed that "we have the the planet. Unfortunately, Lines claims, such a technology now to dramatically reduce Unfortunately the record shows true politics and philosophy are nowhere to our carbon emissions through energy originality rarely prevails. The biases of be found. They are as distant from efficiency and renewable energy". He temperament, position and feeling articulation and realisation as they were challenged this thinking: if you believe incline people to one or other side of in Wright's time. As a consequence we technology caused the problem and old debates and old divisions. But we are winning battles but losing the war. advocate a solution based on better must begin the task of developing a technology, how can that represent new Facts needed new kind of thinking. thinking? The idea that we can engineer The speaker claims many policies Syd Comfort the world through science and proffered by conservation groups are William Lines's latest book is: technology for the greater benefit of unanchored by evidence and disrespect Patriots: Defending Australia's humans, and not suffer any science in favour of the religion of Natural Heritage, University of consequences, is central to the kind of humanism. As an example he cites the Queensland Press 2006.

Nancy Burbidge: botanist and visionary — Part 2 continued Hovea in bloom Nature Reserve was finally gazetted as Bibliography Namadgi National Park on October 3 Jean writes that before Nancy went Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1984. The NPA president at the time into hospital she "came to our house Online Edition: Burbidge, Nancy Tyson was Ian Currie, and the Minister for full of anticipatory excitement and (1912-1977). Author: George M. Territories and Local Government, Tom asked Ian if he would take us into the Chippendale; Uren, who was sympathetic to the Brindabellas because the Hovea would Australian Women, Biographical cause. be in bloom. Only Nancy could have entry - Online: Burbidge, Nancy Tyson Nancy's publications, lobbying, and located it for us—the roads in that area (1912-1977) mentoring were an indication of her are designed to confuse. We rejoiced in Centre for Plant Biodiversity dedication to botany, conservation and what we saw—cascades of purple Research: Nancy Tyson Burbidge to people. Her legacies are enduring Hovea covering the slopes—an image which includes biographical derail from ones: NPA ACT continues to observe, to stay with you for ever." an obituary of Dr Burbidge written by research, lobby and to provide social "When Nancy entered hospital on Mr W. Hartley, published in Brunonia, walks outings to ensure their continued Vol. l,No.I. the last part of her journey she spent protection. most of her time writing a paper NPA ACT Bulletin, 40th anniversary Thank you, Nancy. redesigning the ward she was in — she supplement March 2000, Vol. 37 No. 1. felt it was an architectural disaster. Acknowledgements Judy Kelly During this time Bill Watson (later Thank you to Laurie Adams, NPA President) and his wife Edna, George Chippendale, Jean Currie, visited Nancy each day and fed her with Muriel Edwards and Fiona MacDonald delicious home-made custards." Brand for their memories of Nancy and Nancy died on 4 March 1977 at the information about her. age of 64, seven years before Gudgenby We have moved office

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NPA ACT has a fully functioning new office! And what a great team effort it was. 1 would like to thank everyone who volunteered then- help before, during and after the actual move to the Conservation Council building in Childers Street, Civic, near the comer of Allsop Street (See other contact details, p 2.) Thanks to Max Lawrence, Mike Smith, Tim Walsh and Kevin McCue who supplied trailers and muscle power to move heavy furniture and boxes full of files and books — Mike also disassembled our long cupboard and re­ assembled it in the meeting room of the new premises, where it will come in handy as siorage space. Annette Smith and Clive Hurlstone spent many hours going through our vast holdings of Bulletins, journals and brochures to sort out duplicates and old copies we no longer need. In addition, Clive thinned out our library holdings as we were moving into a smaller office space. Rod Griffiths took the opportunity to weed out unnecessary and out-of-date financial documents. After arranging the redirection of our mail and telephone, Chris Emery set up the office computer and communications in the new premises on Friday, April 13. Thank you, Paul Mlakar, for supplying a brand new NPA sign and fixing it to the front of Photos from the official opening of the new NPA ACT office, May 3 the building. Now everyone can find our office Clockwise from above: more easily. • Honorary life members Fiona MacDonald Brand and Syd Comfort with NPA Secretary Sonja Lenz (centre) • The new office in Childers Street which NPA shares with the Conservation Council • Christine prepares the ribbon, to be cut by Fiona and Syd • Fiona and Syd complete the formalities. Photo by Michael Goonrey • Trish Harrup (Director, Conservation Council) with Sonja • Chris Emery and Sabine Friedrich • Michael Goonrey and Kevin McCue • Syd, Fiona, Marie Lawrence (behind), Barbara Comfort, Annette Smith, Martin Chalk (behind), Mike Smith, Sabine Friedrich (behind), Chris Emery, Clive Hurlstone. Frank Clements, Christine. Photo by Michael Goonrey • Martin Chalk and Mike Smith. Photos by Max Lawrence unless otherwise acknowledged We are all indebted to the ongoing efforts of Diana Hems who is working steadily on our new library database. She is checking methodically that all of NPA's library holdings are entered into the new software that Chris Emery put up on our office computer recently. Once that task is completed and all our books have been catalogued, they will receive a place in the office bookshelves to make them more readily available to members. We will be able to search the database to take full advantage of the library which has accumulated since the early days of the NPA ACT and has been up to now a much under-utilised resource. Another important aspect of our move was setting up a working group convened by Syd Comfort to sort through our archival material with a view to making important documents available to the ACT Heritage Library for safekeeping. Judy Kelly is continuing to assemble old files currently still in our filing cabinets which are worth keeping as a record of the work of NPA as an important community group in the ACT. She continues the work initiated by the late Sheila Kruse, Thea Exley and David Pfanner, and together with Syd Comfort, Fiona MacDonald Brand and Beverley Hammond will make sure that records of NPA's work will survive into the future. A big thank you to all of you! Sonja Lenz Secretary PARKWATCH Bellbirds culled to save forest climate is the main driver of Australia's mapping requirements and will be recent large fire activity, especially if released shortly. For Rob High the tinkling of the vegetation has been altered through • Framework for describing the bellbirds is the noise of his forest being actions associated with land clearing ecological character of Ramsar sites: killed. and logging. The Framework, to be published as a The far South Coast resort operator So are ecosystems destroyed by module of the National Guidelines, is midway through the state's first large fires? shows how to describe the ecological large-scale bellbird culling program, No, they are burnt and they character of a Ramsar wetland. An having gained approval to remove regenerate. They do not bum with ecological character description is between 2000 and 3000 of the small uniform high intensity; some patches vital for the preparation of site birds which have invaded his are roasted, others are lightly scorched. management plans and to guide on- 300 hectare property Mandeni, near However, the regeneration capacity of site monitoring. It also helps in Merimbula. ... nearly 2000 have been local ecosystems is enormous. assessing potential impacts of actions captured from 40 hectares of gully. Australian plants have mechanisms that under the Environment Protection Bellbirds have been implicated in allow them to cope with, and even and Biodiversity Conservation Act the death of swathes of forest between prosper, after large fires, provided these 1999. Victoria and Queensland. Some fires are not too frequent. • Reviewing the status of Australia's estimates put the area under threat at up Plants re-sprout and re-seed, and in Ramsar estate: While we understand to 2.5 million hectares of native forest healthy, intact ecosystems animals are the condition of many of Australia's in NSW alone. able to migrate, switch diet, and Ramsar sites and the management At Mandeni, healthy trees estimated continue reproducing. Forests challenges they face, there is no to be several centuries old are now regenerate and re-absorb the carbon regular or systematic mechanism for skeletons, and in a number of Mi- released, even if the fires are intense. assessing this across all 64 Ramsar High's wet gullies virtually the entire To prove this, here are some sites. Work is under way to address eucalypt canopy is gone. numbers. Scientists from the Ecological this, starting with a rapid "snapshot" Bellbirds are in plague numbers, Society of Australia have estimated that of the status of Australia's Ramsar having gone from almost none a few approximately 12 million tonnes of estate, followed by development of an decades ago to as many as 20,000 in the carbon dioxide were released by the ongoing "rolling review" process. local area, with a population of at least recent fires in south-eastern Australia. This work will help identify future 3000 on Mr High's property. A typical value from published studies management and investment No one knows exactly why such shows that native forest ecosystems in priorities, and provide greater large areas of forest are dying or how Victoria and New South Wales absorb understanding of the health of our the birds may be involved — it is about 44 tonnes of carbon dioxide per Ramsar wetlands. primarily a case of guilt by association. hectare. Other work-in-progress includes But it seems clear the birds displace So, when we consider that 21.4 developing an Australian Wetland other species and then disturb the million hectares of forest are in reserves Inventory and national indicators for delicate balance of the insects that live across Victoria alone, these reserves are wetland extent, distribution, and on eucalypts, said Mr High and his taking 900 million tonnes of carbon condition. consultant ecologist, Dr Jim Shields. dioxide out of the atmosphere each Wetlands Australia, Update 2007 "In the area that's been culled there year. has already been a dramatic increase in 1 The Wilderness Society, bird diversity' Mr High said. Plans of management could be (www.wilderness.org.au) March 2007 The birds are caught in mist nets sidelined and then killed, with the approval of the National park plans of management RSPCA, using carbon dioxide gas. Improving Ramsar are recognised by all who use them as Mr High said based on the wages of implementation being satisfactory to very good. The trappers and bird banders as well as Australia has 64 Ramsar sites Department of Environment and equipment, each bird has cost him covering around 7.3 million hectares. Conservation, however, has about $10 to catch. Bird banding and Governments are working together to commissioned the University of forest monitoring are part of a provide better nationally agreed Queensland to review the management management plan to determine the systems that will improve Australia's planning process following criticisms effectiveness of the ecosystem implementation of the Ramsar from the NSW Audit Office in 2004. restoration program at Mandeni. Convention. This work is being If the recommendations of the The Sydney Morning Herald coordinated through the Wetlands and review are adopted, then national park 4 December 2006 Waterbirds Taskforce, comprising planning could become more complex. Australian and state and territory Imagine values-based land use zones in Bushfires, climate change and government officials who work on plans of management, with regional forests wetland issues. Some of the work under plans operating above these plans, and a way and the expected benefits include: greater number of subsidiary plans Large fires occur in south-eastern • National guidelines for Ramsar below them, so that several grey layers Australia because forests are wetlands: The Guidelines will be a are added to the planning process. flammable, the terrain is rugged, and series of modules providing clear, Meanwhile, state budget reviews would most importantly because ignition, nationally agreed guidance on key reset the planning agenda each year by severe fire weather and intense drought processes relating to listing and funding identified priority actions. On conditions occasionally coincide. management planning for Ramsar top of this, the "level of service" would Importantly, recent published sites. The first module covers research is showing that the changing PARKWATCH continued be defined for each park to ensure that • The values-based/zoning methodology lead to an increase in Australian drying some parks got more money, while ensures that the entire park will not be trends. other parks got less. Yet while considered or managed as an Ecos, December-January 2007 recommending all this, the paper integrated whole; paradoxically says that park plans of •An "adjunct document" that would Fallen tree reveals owl secrets management will remain the "cherry pick" park management cornerstone of reserve management. actions would allow budget-based Forests NSW ecologists have first­ Well I don't think so. Ministerial intervention to reset hand confirmation of their assumptions about the inhabitants of a large spotted In any event, the usual two drivers management priorities for the State gum habitat tree in Bermagui State appear to be behind these changes: the every year; Forest: the tree fell across an desire to formalise political intervention • Identification of levels of service for interpretive sign erected in its honour. in park planning; and provision for each park that would ensure parks more intensive use and development of with the identified chosen values or "The sign indicated it was a likely reserves. more visitors received more funding. roost for a large forest owl," said Forests NSW Southern Region No doubt the Department is trying The Co long Foundation for ecologist, Chris Slade. to regulate processes that have evolved Wilderness does not support these "This has turned out to be the case under its nose to cope with political initiatives. Management planning with the pellets, bones and skulls pressures, such as commercial use, high should instead ensure that national collected from within the tree's cavity impact user group demands, and parks and nature reserves generally indicating it was most likely being used international thinking on park remain unmodified natural areas, with by a sooty owl, which thankfully wasn't management that is influenced by the specific prescriptions in the plans of at home at the time." lowest common denominator needed to management allowing for appropriate accommodate park management in poor vehicle access on defined routes, and The owl had a varied diet of native countries. small, low impact camping areas and and introduced species including: Agile antechinus, Long-nosed bandicoot, The consultants have reaffirmed the other facilities, generally restricted to Common ring-tailed possum, Greater Departmental intention of keeping the the edges of parks. No zones that would glider, Sugar glider, Bush rat, Rabbit, plan of management as the cornerstone legitimise resorts, or recreational and Dusky antechinus. of the process but the methods of horseriding or 4WD vehicle use across "We will incorporate this new dealing with the above political broad areas of national parks are information into a revised sign and we developments require the erosion of the necessary or appropriate. now know that there are long-nosed central position held by these plans (i.e. The Colong Bulletin, January 2007 bandicoots, and all the other species say one thing, and do the opposite). taken by the owL inhabiting this The factors in the review report that "Asian haze" impact on forest," Chris said. could undermine plans of management are: Australian rainfall bush telegraph, Autumn 2007 • Limiting to eight the number of park Elevated particle emissions values be managed in each park so resulting from increased economic NCC goes to courts to save shark that the subsequent values-based activity in Asia may have increased Tired of government inaction on planning process could allow parts of Australia's tropical rainfall, according increased protection for the Grey Nurse national parks without the identified to new research into the way pollution Shark, NCC has lodged a legal appeal values to fall through the regulatory influences our climate. to try to force the government to create cracks; "Until now, there has been ample marine sanctuaries in key Grey Nurse •Values-based management makes it evidence that these particles have Shark habitat areas. NCC is appealing easier to justify major development important effects on climate in the against the Australian Government's within park boundaries, by claiming Northern Hemisphere but little such environmental approval for the Ocean that the identified "values" themselves evidence in the Southern Hemisphere," Trap and Line Fishery — a commercial are not harmed by the proposal; says CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric fishery that is known to significantly • Setting management prescriptions by Research scientist, DrLeon Rotstayn. impact on the Grey Nurse Shark. NCC values may mean that areas without "What we have seen in our latest will ask the Administrative Appeals "identified" values could receive less climate simulations is that the 'Asian Tribunal to mandate marine sanctuaries than the current national park level of haze' is having an effect on the and fishing gear changes to protection — and so the definition of Australian hydrological cycle and significantly reduce the impact of hook park values, and standards for their generated increasing rainfall and and line fishing on grey nurse sharks. management, would become more cloudiness since 1950, especially over 2006 may well be remembered as difficult and political; north-west and central Australia. the year of lost opportunities for the •The proposed park zones offer less "The effect occurs because the haze Grey Nurse Shark. During that time we certainty of outcome and park security cools the Asian continent and nearby saw the announcement of zoning plans when compared with proposals that oceans, and thereby alters die delicate for two marine parks, neither of which locate specific developments in balance of temperature and winds fully protected the Grey Nurse Shark specific places under the current plan between Asia and Australia, It has key habitat areas within their bounds. of management process; nothing to do with Asian pollution We also saw the environmental •Under economic imperatives, park being transported directly over approval of the Ocean Trap and Line zones would inexorably ratchet park Australia." Fishery — a fishery that is known to areas up the use categories toward Dr Rotstayn says this implies that have significant impacts on the grey increasing development (just like decreasing pollution in Asia later this nurse shark. zoning of private land responds to century could reverse this effect and economic pressures); Rogaining - the facts Following an article on rogaining 2005—Three events were held in manpower to run a reasonable size in the December 2006 NPA Namadgi. The six-hour Paddy event like the Paddy Pallin rogaine. Bulletin, Adrienne Nicholson did Pallin attracted 94 teams, The average number of events held some calculations based on the comprising 216 people; the 12- in Namadgi per year = six in five years figures it contained and came to hour spring rogaine attracted = 1.2 events per year. The average some alarming conclusions. When 96 teams, 218 people; the eight- number of competitors and officials is these calculations were put hour nightgaine (no camping) was 1309 + 6 x 20 persons in five years = together with the article's attended by only 19 teams, 285 persons per year. references to port-a-loos and a 42 people. Now 285 persons per year is a fair catering tent at the start/finish 2004—One event in Namadgi, the 12- way short of the 1000 competitors area, Adrienne was concerned hour Spring rogaine with 75 teams, tramping around in formation implied about whether rogaining was an comprising 174 people. in Adrienne's article. How does it appropriate activity for a national 2003—None of the events was in compare with NPA person-days per park and outlined those concerns in Namadgi. year? Probably fairly well, given the the last issue of the Bulletin, Here 2002—This was the year the Australian number of walks on weekends, the Pat Miethke supplies further facts Rogaining Champs were held in numbers going on Wednesday walks, and figures to clarify the situation the Naas Valley and gave rise to and the Great Australian Bushwalk. with particular reference to the figures which are always In addition, rogainers do not build Namadgi National Park. quoted. The 24-hour event tracks and structures in the park, and do attracted 197 teams, or 449 people, not light fires in the park, and do not Adrienne's article about the 1000 from all over Australia. I'm sure camp anywhere but in approved rogainers and all their trappings was they enjoyed seeing our lovely campgrounds. In fact, even when just amazing, but really, it's time to national park so close to Canberra. ACTRA offers a camping option in one inject a few facts into the argument. The 12-hour spring rogaine was of the Namadgi campgrounds after an The following figures are all taken also held in Namadgi, 84 teams, or event, the majority of competitors from the results lists on the ACT 210 people. prefer to drive back to Canberra. The Rogaining Association (ACTRA) So only six events of the 30 held in Australian Championships in 2002 was website (http://act.rogaine.asn.au). I the last five years were in Namadgi. the only event with significant have only taken the five-year period Twenty-four were held in a range of camping. In addition, we bring in port- 2002-2006. other areas, including other national a-loos to the assembly area, we do not ACTRA runs six rogaines each parks, state forests, private leave litter, and we disperse widely, year, with the Australian landholdings, and urban areas. usually travelling in pairs. Championships being held in rotation Allow 10 person-days per event for Why do we like to use national with other states. Only one event per setting and vetting the controls, and five parks for some of our events? For much year is a 24-hour rogaine, the others are admin persons on the day, though these the same reasons that the NPA likes five- to 12-hour events and usually do generally stay in the carpark, and five walking there. not involve camping. person-days for collecting the controls. 2006—None of the events was held in Pat Miethke I'll ignore the catering as it is all done Namadgi. in the carpark. This is sufficient

Left. Frank Clements enjoys his special day at Brandy Flat. Photo by Max Lawrence Right. NPA members enjoying the Ian Currie Memorial Camping Trip to Wapengo: Judy Kelly, Margaret Aston, Jenny Morrison, Tim Walsh (mostly hidden) and Janet Thompson at Picnic Point, Mimosa Rocks National Park Photo by Adrienne Nicholson

PARKWATCH contin ued from page I 7

NCC is trying to make sure 2007 is the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, is Grey Nurse Shark. Foremost amongst a more positive one for the sharks. With responsible for up to half of all Grey these conditions would be the fewer than 500 Grey Nurse Sharks Nurse Shark deaths each year, requirement for marine sanctuaries, or surviving off the east coast of Australia, environmental approval was still no-take zones, in places where the it is vital that we take all action we can granted for this fishery. shark is known to breed and live. to increase protection for the sharks. NCC is asking the Administrative Nature Conservation Council of NSW Despite acknowledgement in the Appeals Tribunal to place stronger (www.nccnsw.org.au) environmental assessment that hook conditions on the Ocean Trap and Line and line fishing, a key component of Fishery to reduce their impact on the Compiled by Len Haskew Book reviews Walking Canberra's Hills and provides a lengthy description of the Rivers (3rd edition, 2006) road route to the start of each walk. This is an unnecessary distraction. Graeme Barrow, Dagraja Press, Consideration might be given in any 96 pp, $19.95 future edition to stating the starting Walking the hills and rivers of point of each walk, so that the point can Canberra is a different experience now be readily found in a street directory. from what it was in 1997 when the A majority of the walks are graded second edition of this title was easy and of two hours or less duration. published. The respective covers They are likely to most immediately illustrate the change: a desiccated attract someone strolling in from an landscape showing the distant city from adjacent suburb. However, a walk Burnt Stump Hill has replaced a replete, leader with NPA would need to stitch well-vegetated pond at Mulligans Flat. several together to attract a crowd for a We know the dark clouds on the day's outing. The book provides clues horizon of the new cover carry no on how this can be achieved. guarantee of rain. The first edition of this title was In his introduction to the new published in 1989; a similar book edition, now approaching 100 pages, preceded it by 12 years. So Canberra is the author has not emphasised the fortunate indeed to have a man of effects of climate change; however, the one deleted. Cooleman Ridge walk has Graeme Barrow's interests and thoroughly revised descriptions of the been split into Cooleman Trig and Mt dedication in preparing the books he walks necessarily reflect the drying of Arawang. Shepherds Lookout has been does. He notices everything and has the land and the damaging effects of renamed Molonglo Footbridge and East good instincts. He loves the quiet and bushfires. Uriarra has become Murrumbidgee rejoices in the seasons, despises Despite the foregoing, this is not a Circuit. Most photographs are new and vandals, mourns damage caused by pessimistic book. The magnificent all are in colour. over-grazing, poor forestry practices orange-yellow of the cover photograph The "Walks Location Map" at the and insensitive installations. has been adopted as a positive theme beginning of the volume provides a Occasionally he relents: for example, through the book in the form of headers good overall guide. In line with his his view of Anzac Parade from Mt to each of the 40 walks, simplifying and other publications, the individual walk Ainslie as "suffocatingly bland in its unifying the presentation. Some walks maps have been simplified. Contour flower-boxed, red-gravelled primness" have been deleted, eg Oakey Hill and lines have been deleted; the author cites has disappeared from the text! Cotter Dam, perhaps because of their the relevant 1:25 000 map and suggests Before I finish, has anyone a currently damaged condition. The total it be relied upon. This is a sensible "before" photograph of the once- number of walks is up from 30, change as maps produced by the majestic tree on Burnt Stump Hill particularly with new walks near Central Mapping Authority of NSW which adorns the cover? Gungahlin since the establishment of (CMA) are now widely available. Brian Slee Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, and Because the book is aimed at visitors additional Cotter walks to replace the to, as well as residents of, the city, he

Supplement to Native Trees widespread use of computer hyperlinks. and Shrubs of South-Eastern SUPPLEMENT These start with the Index to names, allowing the user to rapidly find a Australia — changes and ' NATHtifTREES AND SHRUBS OF ^ pathway through the updates and then additional species.' On CD SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA ., to the relevant taxon page number of the volume itself. Leon Coster mans >. changes and additional species • All in all, I feel this first supplement Costermans's original book was clearly will be a worthwhile investment, and never intended to be much more than an make the author's anticipated later -lEOHCOSTEHMflNS": .•" Sjp amateur's coffee-table "illustrated supplements that much easier to deal working manual", while avoiding the with. possible tedium, not to mention much Laurie Adams extra pagination, for keys to the taxa of Orders for the CD may be placed the area. on-line by going to VNPA's I'm certainly happy with the CD's publications secure order form at supplementary worth to people who enhance the original's value from the www. vnpa.org.au (select point of the "modernisation" of the already have the hard-copy original. 'Resources>View our catalogue'). Amongst many other aspects, it affects area's flora. Apart from the very The cost is $25, including postage. (taxonomically and nomenclaturally) readable and exhaustive coverage by approximately 250 of the area's taxa, the Introduction, plus many more of the including an additional 100 species. author's excellent colour photos, what For such people, although it still has impressed me about the CD, as no keys, the CD will considerably particularly "user-friendly", is the National Parks Association Calendar

General Meetings June July Aug Sept Public holidays MonU Third Thursday of the month {not December or January) General meetings Thur21 Thur 19 Thur16* Thur 20

Committee meetings Tues5 Tues3 Tues7 Tues4 8:00pm Gudgenby Bush Regeneration 1 Sat 9 Sat 14 Sat 11 Sat 8 Uniting Church hall 56 Scrivener Street Further details * Annual General Meeting 1 O'Connor Yankee Hat carpark 10:00am, Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h) 040 778 3422 (mob)

General Meeting General Meeting Annual General Meeting Thursday 21 June Thursday 19 July Thursday 16 August Two flats in the Uriarra Valley South Australia's Heysen Trail .To be followed by Mark Butz: Environmental scientist Ted Fleming: NPA member Kahurangi: New Zealand's Mark will speak on the natural and What a pity that this long distance trail biodiversity "cold" spot. cultural heritage values of the Blundells seems to be an Australian path less trod. Dave and Judy Kelly: NPA Flat/Shannons Flat area, Uriarra Forest, The Heysen Trail is the country's members and intrepid walkers Lower Cotter. longest walking trail and its 1200kms A walk through beech-forest filled offer intriguing diversity and many valleys to rugged alpine ridges and bushwalking challenges. These are the plateaux in Kahurangi National Park. recollections of its seventy-first This less well-known part of New end-to-ender. The association welcomes the Zealand has similarities to South-West following new members: Tasmania. Peter and Jeanette Johnson Allan Sharp Miroslaw Pilat and Gail Baker We look forward to seeing you at association activities.

NPA ACT Bulletin

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