Spotlight on work parties

Eleanor Stodart Grove dedicated

Snow in February NPA BULLETIN Volume 42 number 2 June 2005

COrVTENTS Park to protect local biodiversity 1 5 Syd Comfort From the President 3 Kevin McCue Work parties — members have their say 16 Fiona MacDonald Brand. Martin Chalk, Sugar gliders of Mount Ainslie 4 and Adrienne Nicholson David Pfanner A new vision for Namadgi 17 Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group news 5 David Pfanner Syd Comfort Snow in February! 18 Dedication of Eleanor Stodart Grove 6 Sieve Hill Svd Comfort NPA ACT comments on "Living Parks" W Association news 8 Christine Goonrey Tinderry Twin Peak with Max Lawrence 9 Book review 20 Max Lawrence Judy Kelly Water issue update 10 PARKWATCH 21 Adrian Whitehead Compiled by Len Haskew

Murrumbidgee Walking Track project 11 Environmental news 23 Compiled bv Graeme Wicks Ruins above the tree line 12 Martin Chalk NPA ACT conunittee members' nomination form 24 "Burrawang" — not just a "bush block" 13 Christine Uoonrey Judith Webster Meetings and Calendar of events 24 Colverwell graves need protection 14 Syd Comfort

National Parks Association of the ACT Incorporated Inaugurated I960 The NPA ACT office is in MacLaurin Crescent. Chifley. next to ihe preschool. It is staffed by volunteers but. at present, not on a regular Aims and objectives of the Association basis. Callers may leave phone or email messages at any time and • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in they will be attended to. The post office mail bo\ is cleared daily. the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reserva­ Phone/Fax: (02)6282 5813 tion of specific areas. Email: npaactfu'1 b i gpon d. co m • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. Address: PO Box 1940. Woden ACT 2606 • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, Internet: www.npaact.org.au such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, meetings or any other means. Subscription rates (1 July to JO June) • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar inter­ Household membership $40 Single members $35 ests and objectives. Corporate membership $30 Bulletin only $30 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and die planning Concession $25 of landuse to achieve conservation Advertising Office-bearers The Bulletin accepts advertisements and inserts. The standard cost Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) President of an A4 insert is $310 but some concessional rates may be arranged. Vice-President Vacant Secretary Christine Goonrey 6231 8395 (h) NPA Bulletin Contributions of articles, line drawings and photographs, including Treasurer Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) colour prints, are welcome and should be lodged with the office or Committee members Syd Comfort (02) 6286 2578. Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) Deadline for June 2005 issue: 1 May 2005 Steven Forst 6251 6817(h), 6219 5236 (w) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect associalion opin­ Judy Kelly 6253 1859 (h, after 7.30pm) ion or objectives. David Large 6291 4830 This Bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group. Sonja Lenz 6251 1291 (h) Printed by Copy-Qik. Canberra, ACT. Immediate Past President ISSN 0727-8837 Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h). 040 778 3422 (mob)

Conveners Cover Photo: Rod Griffitlis and his daughter Caitlin planting Outings Sub-committee Steven Forst 6251 6817 (h) a Black Sally seedling at the dedication of the Eleanor Stodart 6219 5236 (w) Grove (pages 6-7). Photo Fiona MacDonald Brand Bulletin Working Group Syd Comfort 6286 2578 (h) Environment Sub-committee Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h) contact 040 778 3422 (mob) From the President For those of us born and raised in culture of employing university and are held responsible through the Canberra, it is inevitable that some of graduates and school leavers on such democratic processes of elections, the values of our founding fathers and projects over the Christmas holiday community consultation and long-term experiences of natural extreme events period was one of those innovative planning, in contrast to private such as bushfires, floods and droughts, features of life in the small bush capital developers. As a result of government would have inculcated our killed off by growth and economic plarining Canberra became the Bush consciousness, if only by osmosis. The rationalism. I didn't realise at the time Capital, a unique city where the native changes to Canberra, the ACT and that these dams on the Cotter River flora and fauna could be seen surrounding areas of NSW up and were a crucial element in the decision everywhere in the suburbs only down the coast in the last 50 years have to establish Namadgi National Park. kilometres from the city centre. been dramatic, not all of them Plarining bodies such as the NCDC Whether the private sector takes a desirable. The old Molonglo River and all its antecedents seemed to get it greater role in the planning function or dividing the town so effectively at about right, mixing the needs of the not, the push for more and more times of flood (remember them?) was a Commonwealth Government and local development and people, for bigger great playground for kids of both sides citizens without a profit motive. The houses and apartments on smaller of town, home for water rats, insects, population growth could have been blocks with no room for trees needs a reptiles and birds, and the garbage stopped there before traffic jams, a counterpoint to protect the wildlife and dump at the bottom of Telopea Park a growing road toll, water restrictions, habitat we seem to be hell bent on useful resource for spare parts, half hospital waiting lists, unemployment, changing. When I attended school in empty paint tins, old bikes etc. Now the air and noise pollution started eroding Canberra we thought nothing of finding tree-lined waterway through the centre our quality of life. If only! blue-tongue and frill necked lizards, of town is gone, covered by an We stand at a new threshold, skinks and geckos in the playground, ornamental carp-filled lake, full even as 300 000+ people, a new water source even an occasional echidna. Not today I trees die throughout Canberra, stressed required if not yet essential, the health fear. for lack of water. care system in crisis, the much longer NPA ACT was ultimately The growing population brought urban perimeter presenting a successful, after its formation in 1960, many changes, at first in a trickle— substantially bigger bushfire target than to promote the establishment of a new town centres, wider roads, more it did in 1952 (as shown in January national park for the ACT; perhaps now facilities like the bowling alley, another 2003). Why push for yet more growth, we need another national park in the picture theatre and swmiming pool, a greater population unsustainable as it ACT to complement Namadgi NP, a fewer trees, smaller parks. When the is already? We are being snowed by the new national park in the north of city reached 100 000 residents it was glitter and gloss of new plans for the Canberra. The ACT Government has, about right for me in terms of services, city centre, more concrete and steel and with the creation of Goorooyarroo and hospital care and quality of life but more bitumen replacing the trees and Mulligans Flat Nature Reserves, created growth didn't stop there. I was involved parks, more apartments for yet more a wonderful basis for another national in a very minor way with construction people with all our social problems. park containing examples of lowland of all the additional dam-building The private sector is motivated almost native grasslands and yellow box-red projects after the raising of the lower exclusively by economic profit for the gum grassy woodlands. Should we do Cotter Dam; first Bendora with its owners and shareholders, not quality of it? Can we do it? gravity water pipeline to Stromlo, then life for the citizens. The NCDC and Corin and lastly Googong Dams. The later government planning bodies were Kevin McCue

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 18 August 2005

The business: Minutes of the 2004 AGM Appointment of auditor President's report Election of office-bearers and committee Financial report Any other business

Please note that all office-bearer and committee positions become vacant at the AGM and that nominations for the ensuing year are welcome. See Bulletin back cover for the nomination form for office-bearer and committee member positions for the coming year.

Following the formal business and guest speaker, members are invited to join in the traditional AGM supper. Sugar gliders of Mount Ainslie

NPA members who attended the the mountain, he first saw one of the nights. Fortunately Matthew could get general meeting on February 17 were sugar gliders. Over the next few nights, quite close to die little creatures without treated to a delightful film and he was able to see more of them, using disturbing them. In some cases, infra­ commentary by local historian and his ears to locate them initially. Being red light was used. naturalist. Matthew Higgins. Matthew's nocturnal marsupials, sugar gliders are The film shows the gliders moving film, 77K* Little Aerialists of Ainslie. rarely seen by walkers on Mount between trees near the den and feeding traces a night in the lives of tiny sugar Ainslie. Matthew eventually located the on tree sap oozing from wounds in the gliders whose colony of eight animals gliders" den in a tree hollow and bark deliberately made by the gliders lives on Mount Ainslie. decided to undertake his first filming and kept open for repeated visits. In Prior to screening the film, Matthew project. The filming with a video addition to the tree sap, food sources recounted how, during a dawn walk on camera took place over several moonlit include pollen and insects. Considering predation by owls, kookaburras, cats, foxes and goannas, it is surprising that these little marsupials are able to subsist so close to the urban environment. Sadly the den has now been taken over by honey bees and the gliders have moved on. This film by Matthew Higgins is a delight. It has been screened across Australia as pan of the 200-4 CSIRO Scinema Film Festival where it has been met with deserved critical acclaim. For those who missed tliis NPA presentation, copies of the film are for sale. Contact Matthew Higgins

David Pfanner

Editor's note: In recent walks in the Ainslie area Matthew has spotted a free near the old glider den with a glider, possum and owl all sharing the same tree So night life on Mount Ainslie continues apace!

Mount Ainslie sugar glider. Photo Matthew Higgins Call to end cattle grazing

NPA ACT has joined with a • threats to the survival of many alpine more important. number of other concerned species; Cultural heritage values associated with organisations in endorsing a call • soil compaction and erosion; grazing traditions can be on the Victorian Government by • deterioration of ancient peat beds accommodated in less sensitive areas in the Victorian NPA to end cattle and bog pools, and damage to the region. It would be irresponsible to grazing in the Alpine National streams and waterways; continue cattle grazing in the park, Park. The following letter, • widespread changes in vegetation compromising both formation of a addressed to the State Minister structure. three-state Australian Alps National responsible for ihe environment, Grazing in the park compromises the Park and possible World Heritage sets out the Victorian NPA s headwaters of many of the major rivers listing for the region. in Victoria, including the Murray, Mitta position. Yours sincerely, Mitta, Kiewa, Mitchell, Macalister, Charlie Sherwio Tambo, Buchan and Snowy. Indeed Dear Mr Thwaites Director, VNPA cattle grazing in sensitive natural areas, We ask you to end licensed cattle particularly wetlands and waterways, is grazing in the Alpine National Park, clearly an outdated, unsustainable one of Victoria's most significant farming practice. protected areas. Global warming now poses a Alpine cattle grazing has been clearly significant and growing threat to natural identified, through 60 years of scientific systems in the alps, making effective research, as a cause of: management of natural values even Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group news The dedication of the Eleanor Stodart Grove on May 7 is covered elsewhere in this issue. However if the grove is to prosper and the current dry conditions continue some additional care will need to be provided. One task is to erect further kangaroo-proof wire screens and this should be done in coming work parties. In April the Parks Service carried out a successful bum of the trash from the felling of the remaining pines last year. This opens the way for reseeding the 80ha cleared. I understand that the Parks Service has made arrangements for this area to be substantially seeded by helicopter using Victorian contractors familiar with the technique. The role of the Regeneration Group will be to seed areas not covered from the air and to spread special seed such as E. stellulata. The April work party was given Above: Kevin McCue and Sonja over to weeding in the area of Frank Lenz "cutting and dabbing" and Jack's Hut. Near the creek there are among good "regenerated" some areas of blackberry that are growth, west of Hospital beyond hand removal and will need Creek. spraying by contractors. However for Right: Syd Comfort among the the first time the group used backpack rocky outcrops and burnt sprays to control smaller areas of pine branches with new blackberry while continuing to control eucalypts and ground cover individual weeds mainly by the "cut doing well. and dab" method. Photos Adrienne Nicholson Responsibility for the cover of members on work parties is now provided by an insurance policy arranged and funded by the ACT Government. Under this arrangement it appears that it is desirable for the group to retain its incorporated status. Work parties on the second Saturday of the month resume in June, details being shown in the outings program. New members are always most welcome. Syd Comfort

Use of generators in the Cotter Reserve

Association Committee Member, Thank you for your inquiry concerning unlikely that we will move to prohibit Chris Emery, has received the the use of generators in the Cotter this type of activity given the type of following reply to a question he Reserve. The Cotter area is part of the facility and planned use for the Cotter. asked about generators in the Murrumbidgee River Corridor and However, given your concerns and Cotter Reserve. Allan Bedell, ACT Parks and Conservation Service Brian's advice that the generator was Acting District Conservation permits group use of recreation areas intrusive we will review our procedures Officer in the Parks and along the Corridor with prior approval. for approval. This may include Conservation Service, answered his Permission to use equipment such as restrictions on times, days or duration query. Members may be aware that jumping castles must be sought as part of the use of noisy equipment and the ACT Government has recently of the approval process. The Cotter is looking at designating certain areas for identified in the Murrumbidgee River such activities. been seeking community views Corridor Plan of Management as being about development in the Cotter suitable for large groups and so it is Reserve area. Dedication of Eleanor Stodart Grove

On Saturday- May 7 a grove in around us. The early European settlers to die conservation of the natural values the Gudgenby Bush moved here in the 1830s with of the ACT was not limited to the Regeneration Area within recognised settlement from 1837. For Gudgenby regeneration project and she Namadgi National Park was over 150 years the pastoral industry brought her considerable energy and planted with tree seedlings and dominated and continued after the area scientific understanding to many other dedicated to the late Eleanor became pari of the Federal Capital aspects of conservation. 1 see today as Stodart who had contributed so Territory with the Bootes family an opportunity to celebrate Eleanor's much to the rehabilitation of this operating Gudgenby until the late contributions and to take inspiration area The following are excerpts 1980s. In the mid 1960s the from her achievements into our own from an address made on the Commonwealth planted the Boboyan lives. occasion. Pine Plantation but after Namadgi Eleanor's brother, John National Park was declared in 1984 the Kingsmill, has written expressing The idea of dedicating a grove to pines were judged to be inappropriate the family s appreciation of the in the national park. Removal of the Eleanor Stodart originated within the dedication. ACT Parks and Conservation Service. pines commenced in 1997 and Syd Comfort It was taken up enthusiastically by the regeneration to native species initiated. Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group Eleanor became and supported by the National Parks involved in this from Association. And so we are here today. the outset and unti On behalf of these organisations I her death was a extend a warm welcome to you all and driving force behind particularly ro members of Eleanor's the project. She was family, most of whom have travelled particularly keen to some distance for the occasion. I would see the regeneration of also like to welcome Brett McNamara, black sallies Manager of Namadgi National Park, (Eucalyptus stellulata Kevin McCue, President of the to Eleanor; in this National Parks Association and Clive Hospital Creek area, Hurlstone. President of the Gudgenby so our planting of this Bush Regeneration Group. grove with black sally This grove is sited in an area long seedlings has special inhabited by local Aborigines and there meaning. Of course are many reminders of their occupation Eleanor's contribution

It was a great day for the photographers. This page, clockwise from above left: Welcoming guests: Hugh Stodart (left) responding on behalf of the familv: Ranger Darren Roso explaining the planting scheme to members of the Stodart family (and Martin Chalk). Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Lunch; Planting seedlings in rip lines; General view of the grove during planting. While Duncan Stodart ponders, the younger generation test themselves on a granite outcrop: Fire- blackened logs add to the challenge. Photos from Martin Chalk, Barbara Comfort. Fiona MacDonald Brand and Adrienne Nicholson

Association news New Committee Member

Association stalwart David Large has been welcomed back to fill a vacancy in the Committee. The photo at right shows David on the Nungar Fire Trail during the Boggy Plains circuit walk he led in February 2005. (Photo Syd Comfort)

GST Change for NPA ACT There's been a change in the NPA ACT's GST status. Previously, the NPA ACT had elected not to register for GST. This meant that it was not required to send to the Tax Office 10 per cent of its membership fees or book sales. Similarly, it wasn't able to claim back from the Tax Office any GST it had paid as pan of its purchases. However, due to some significant costs looming relating to the reprints of the NP \ ACT's tree book and bird book the Executive decided that it would be in the NPA ACT's interests to be able to claim the GST back from these expenses. The downside is that that we members. Particular areas in which now need to take GST out of any book Horse Gully Hut members may care to help include sales and membership but for the next In 2004 the association agreed to be wrapping and posting, and in attending couple of years the amounts we get responsible for monitoring the group meetings at which the future back from the Tax Office will be bigger condition of Demandering Hut in the direction of the publication is agreed. than what we are required to remit. This Naas Valley and since then NPA The association is fortunate in being might also mean some minor groups have visited the hut as part of well supported by a number of authors adjustments to book prices and the task of assessing the hut's condition and photographers but there is always membership levels to make them a bit and noting any work mat should be room for new talent and new ideas. The more GST friendly. undertaken. The association has now contact is Syd Comfort, phone agreed to also monitor the condition of The NPA ACT is able to opt out of 62S6 2578. Horse Gully Hut, located about 2.5km GST registration at any time and so the from Demandering. Horse Gully was Executive will monitor its receipts and built in 1940 by Margaret Roseby's payments to work out if it is in its The 2005 Great Australian father. Margaret will be known to many interest to do so. Bushwalk members as a keen walker with a strong interest in local heritage. The Great Australian Bushwalk, which Computer grant sought was founded by the NSW NPA, was first conducted in the ACT in 2004 and The NPA has lodged an application Support for Bulletin had great support from the Government under the Volunteer Small Equipment and the public. A date, Sunday Grant Scheme to allow it to upgrade the The Bulletin is an important link within October 16, has been set for this year's office computer system including the the NPA and also serves to present the walk so this is a date for the diary. installation of Windows.XP. The association to a wider audience as it is upgrade is required because the current distributed widely within the ACT computer cannot support the programs community. The Bulletin Working needed to maintain the website and is Group, which is responsible for the too slow to efficiently perform other preparation and distribution the Bulletin association tasks. would welcome further support from

Members' notices SNOW TENT FOR SALE Advertisements from members may be Mont 2-3 person snow tent, published in this column beautifully made expedition quality, without charge. vestibules each end, plus snow skirts.

Best offer to Graham Scully, ph 02 6230 3352 Tinderry Twin Peak with Max Lawrence Sunday 1 May 2005

I This is what you're promised in the Outings Program:

! "A solid climb of nearly 800m (on the vertical axis!), mostly | on the steep Mount Allen and West Tinderry fire trails. I Final 2km to the summit is through bush, and involves some | rock scrambling. Great views."

And this is what you get!

Above: Leading the pack up the fire trail (I to r) Paul Lashko, Margaret Power and Eric Pickering

Above right: "through bush ... some rock scrambling"

Right: Tinderry Twin Peak summit

Below: The group on a "slab with a view ", below the summit

Below right: Pat Pickering (left) and Annabel Wheeler keeping theirfooting on the gravelly Mount Allen fire trail.

(Photos by walk leader, Max Lawrence) Water issue update

A good result for the environment This is a great outcome for the "no Unfortunately ACTEW has dam" campaign as it is now very recommended that the building of a ACTEW Corporation released its future unlikely that a dam will be built in the new dam on the Cotter or a large or water options report to Government on near future. This gives Canberra time to small dam at Tennent and Uie supply of April 15. The report has recommended determine whether its population is water from the Tantangara Dam via the utilising currently unallocated flows in likely to grow to the 500 000 level by Murrumbidgee. continue to be the Murrumbidgee and Cotter systems 2032 envisaged by the Canberra Spatial considered as fimire storage/supply to supplement our current water supply Plan which formed the basis of earlier options for the ACT Government. and thus forestall the need to decide on ACTEW water option proposals. There The ACT Government is the building of a new dam for 10 to 15 is also the opportunity to continue to undertaking a whole-of-government years. track the effects of climate change on review of the ACTEW The core recommendation is the our water storages. recommendations and could building of a weir at Angle Crossing to A further benefit of the course of conceivably decide to recommend the enable water to be pumped from the action suggested by ACTEW is that immediate commencement of building Murrumbidgee to the Googong Dam. programs to reduce and reuse water will a new Tennent Darn or Cotter Dam The infrastructure required to achieve have to be continued. The ACTEW both of which are unsuitable solutions. this includes a pumping station and recommendations are based on So the campaign will continue until the pipe into the Googong Dam which are achieving a 12 per cent reduction in Government commits itself to not estimated to cost between $35 million water use by 2013 and a 25 per cent building a new dam. and $40 million. reduction by 2023. This option would be combined Though we would argue that these The Conservation Council will seek with a modification of the current figures could be more ambitious, they to permanently remove the Tennent pumping of water from the are still significant and Murrumbidgee just below the Cotter, will require the spending whereby water is pumped from a weir of $40 million or more to the Stromlo treatment plant prior to during the first phase until use by Canberrans. The modification 2013. Any failure by the would use the existing pipe network ACT Government to with a diversion around the Googong commit to achieving these treatment plant to pump water from the targets would put Murrumbidgee into the Googong Dam Canberra's long term at a cost of about $20 million. water supply in jeopardy. Using both these weirs will enable the use of Googong's storage capacity, which is unused due to a lack of rain and land use issues in the catchment. Dam from future consideration, raise the issue of planting pines in the lower Cotter, defend environmental flows and promote "reduce and reuse" options. Adrian Whitehead Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra

Tlie local "No Dam" campaign Land holders along the Naas and Boboyan Roads have put in a concerted effort to produce entertaining but heartfelt signs showing their perceptions of the effects a proposed dam for the ACT, sited south of Tharwa, would have on their livelihoods and on their picturesque environment. The signs are black and white, most are painted on corrugated iron sheets, with some displaying fine observation and artistic talent for the animals depicted, and others a nice turn of phrase. Entertainment and something to think about on the drive to Namadgi. Photos Adrienne Nicholson

Murrumbidgee Walking Track project

Stephen Alegria, the Parks and One of the most exciting aspects of Parkcare and walking group Conservation project officer for the new and upgraded walking tracks members are invited to participate in the walking track, has forwarded along the Murrumbidgee is the the installation of the track marker the following information. installation of an innovative track system under the guidance of the Parks marker system, which was originally and Conservation walking tracks The reconstruction of the developed in South Australia by the project officer. The work is not too Murrumbidgee River walking track Royal Geographic Society. The system onerous or time-consuming, and the from Point Hut to Casuarina Sands is has been adopted by the National Parks results should be very satisfying. Tasks well on the way to completion. The and Wildlife South Australia with involved in installation range from 25km track also includes several new or extensive support in implementation physically demanding fharnmering in upgraded loop track sections at sites of and installation by the SA Friends of starposts) to less strenuous tasks like interest such as Pine Island and Parks Walking Trails Support Group. placing stickers on the metal posts. Of Kambah Pool. An extensive network of This track marker system has in its ten- course, walking sections of the track is loop tracks is also under construction at plus year history evolved to become an compulsory! Installation is scheduled to the Cotter. The majority of walking easy to install/maintain, vandal resistant commence in late April/early May. tracks have been constructed to allow and relatively inexpensive innovation. Depending on the rate of progress, management access by quad bike. To It provides an effective, detailed and work will continue for several weeks. this end, around ten new high quality versatile system for providing track Exact timing will be negotiated with bridges will be constructed at various users with a variety of navigational, interested people. locations. safety and interpretive information. Ruins above the tree line

readily taken up undoing. Not only did the avalanche and were equally destroy the building but also took the readily aban­ life of one Roslyn Twynam Wesch. doned when their The ruin now comprises the stone implementation foundations, the rusting remains of a was found to be water tank and a couple of car batteries wanting. (It — in addition to a memorial plaque to would certainly Roslyn Wesch. have been The small size of the rain and its cheaper to let isolated location ensure that it is nature gradually difficult to see. Although 1 knew of its reclaim these approximate location. I had never items than have observed it from the Lakes Walking them air-lifted Track, which passes above and to the out!) west of the valley. On this occasion I The only link only observed it in the last 200m of the between the two hour walk from Charlotte Pass. Stillwell site and Accordingly. I find any argument about the Kunama rain the site not fitting into the environment is skiing. Nestled difficult to sustain; particularly as I below the walked past the much more obvious northern face of and equally rained Foreman's Chimney Mount Clark, the on my return to Charlotte Pass. Kunama Ski Given diat the site has historical Lodge would links and is a memorial to a human As I worked my way through the have commanded a spectacular view tragedy, I would like to think that apart Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) 2004 down the valley. Its isolated and from the removal of the water tank and draft Plan of Management, two things protected location also would have the car batteries, the Kunama Ski Lodge caught my attention: the removal of the afforded bom a comfortable living could remain alongside Foreman's remains of the Stillwell lift head and of environment and a sense of Chimney as a reminder of activities on the ruins of Kunama Ski Lodge. As I achievement for those who had access the Main Range that are gone forever. had been to neither of these places. 1 to the structure. Unfortunately, its Martin Chalk resolved to visit both and take builders did not consider avalanche as a photographs before all traces were factor for, on 12 July 1956, its snug gone. location against Mount Clark was its The Stillwell lift head certainly is in a ruinous state. Its construction has been no match for the conditions at the exposed site. Amid strewn besser- blocks and the remaining stone walls, the steel pulley mechanism and the engine block of a six cylinder diesel are the only two items that resemble their original condition. Indeed, exploring the site does require some care and I can see the concerns for public safety that might have prompted park management to wish the removal of the ruin.

Nevertheless, the site does mark an episode in the use of the Ramshead Range and as such, is a part of the history of alpine skiing in Australia. Perhaps the pulley mechanism and the engine block could be left on site, with suitable interpretation material, as a reminder of a time when big ideas were

Photos. Above. Diesel engine block and pulley mechanism. Stillwell site. Right: Kimama Ski Lodge nan. Photos Martin Chalk NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM June 2005 — September 2005

Outings Guide : Walk grading Terrain grading

;.$JA:pistancegrading (per day) A —Road, firetrail track 'I<:—up to 10 km 1}:;; B —Open forest ;J;l2—10 km to 15 km M C—Light scrub 4p3 —15 km to 20 km ; ™ D—Patches of thick scrub, regrowth •ilor4 —above 20 km E —Rock scrambling • .^....-H^O Sz~. K ... -ill •• —Exploratory Day walks Carry lunch, drinks and protective clothing. Pack walks Two or more days. Carry all food and camping requirements. CONTACT LEADER BY PRIOR WEDNESDAY OR AS INDICATED IN THE PROGRAM. Car camps Facilities often limited or non-existent Vehicles taken to site can be used for camping. BOOK EARLY WITH LEADER. Other activities include work parties, nature rambles and environmental and field guide studies.

Points to note Please help keep our outings program alive by volunteering to lead outings. New leaders are welcome. The outings convener is happy to suggest locations suitable for a walk if you do not have something in mind 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.

Passenger transport: The committee suggests a donation, to the nearest dollar, of THIRTY cents per kilometer. This is based on four occupants in the car including the driver. When odd numbers arise, the total contribution is 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.

NPA OUTTNGS PROGRAM — JUNE 2005—SEPTEMBER 2005 4 June Saturday Walk 8:30am. We'll start our walk from 3 July Sunday Walk Red Rocks on the Murrumbidgee Blundells Flat Road, adjacent to the Bungonia Gorge Map: Tuggeranong 1:25 000 site that was the arboretum (now Map: Caoura 1:25 000 Grading: I A/C/E gone). The walk will follow the Pabral Grading: 2 A/E Leader: Steve Hill Road fire trail and then die Coree Leader: Mike Smith Contact: 6231 9186 Summit fire trail to the top of Contact: 6286 2984 or email [email protected] email; [email protected] Mt Coree. We'll have lunch at the top while we enjoy the views. After lunch A relatively easy walk mainly on track, Meet at netball court carpark on we'll return to the cars via the same but involving a little rock scrambling Northboume Ave just past Southwell trails (with just one short deviation along the Murrumbidgee "corridor" Park at 8:00am. A walk on track across from the route used to go up). The from the confluence of Tuggeranong Mt Ayre (great views) and then steeply walk covers 14.5km, with an ascent of Creek to Red Rocks. We might divert down to the junction of the Shoalhaven 650m (including a couple of fairly to the "canyon" on the way (some mild River and Bungonia Creek. Follow the steep bits). Drive: 80km, $25 per car. rock scrambling to do this). This was creek upstream through spectacular one of die most scenic stretches of the Bungonia Gorge which involves some river, but has been badly bumed in 22 June Wednesday Walk rock scrambling. Climb (400m) out via the steep "Efflux" route. 220km drive parts. It is recovering and the variety Leader: Mike Smith ($66 per car). and form of recovery is quite Contact: 6286 2984 or email interesting — especially now that we [email protected] have had some rain. We should see a Details to be advised by the midweek large variety of native birds and Work Party walks email list or contact the leader. kangaroos. Meet at the Urambi Hills 9 July Saturday Work Party Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group car park near the comer of Athllon and Contact: Syd Comfort 6286 2578. Learmonth Drives at 10.00am for a 25-26 June Pack Walk [email protected] pleasant day. No vehicle costs. Corang Circuit or Clive Hurlstone 0407 783 422, Map: Corang 1:25 000 [email protected] 5 June Sunday Walk Grading: 2 A Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, Honeysuckle Ridge Leader: David Large Contact: 6291 4830 or Tharwa at 9:15am or at Yankee Hat Map: ACT 1:100 000 Grading: 2 A/B [email protected] carpark at 10:00am. Work for the rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine Leader: Steven Forst An easy walk (track and footpad) from forest area. Tools will be provided. Contact: 6251 6817(h), 6219 5236(w) the Wog Wog entrance to the Steven, [email protected] Budawangs. Walk via Corang Peak to A walk from the Honeysuckle Creek camp at Canowrie Brook. On Sunday tracking station camping ground out to follow Corang River to the Lagoon 9 July Saturday Walk the ridge overlooking Orroral Valley. then return to Wog Wog along the Beginners Navigation Exercise: Meet at Kambah shops car park at worn track. Drive: 240km, $72 per Boboyan Hill & Grassy Creek 8:30am. Drive: 100 km, $30 per car. car. Maps: Yaouk, Shannons Flat 1:25000 Grading: 2 B/C 29 June Wednesday Walk Leader: Martin Chalk Work Party Contact: 6268 4864 (w), Theodore to South Lanyon 11 June Saturday Work Party 6292 3502 (h) Maps: Tuggeranong and Williamsdale Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group 1:25 000 Meet at Kambah Village shops at Contact: Syd Comfort 6286 2578, Grading: 2 A 9.00am. This walk is in rolling country [email protected] Leader: David Large that is a mixture of forests, clearings, or Clive Hurlstone 0407 783 422, Contact: 6291 4830 or river valleys and low ridges and is [email protected] [email protected] ideal for those who would like to brush Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, up their bush navigation in a variety of Walk from Theodore via Callahan Hill Tharwa at 9:15am or at Yankee Hat terrain and vegetation. It will to Mt Rob Roy and then on to carpark at 10:00am. Work for the commence at Brayshaw's Hut and Mt Rose and drop down to the farm rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine proceed west via the ridge to the north track at GR 917656 and walk through forest area. Tools will be provided. east of Grassy Creek before crossing South Lanyon Station to Tharwa the Creek and climbing the Boboyan Road. Mostly on track and a little Divide. It will return to Brayshaw's via open forest. Car shuffle involved. Westerman's Hut. Each leg has 19 June Sunday Walk Meeting details to be advised by the particular features to aim for and the Mt Coree midweek walks email list or contact task of finding these will be shared Map: Cotter Dam 1:25 000 the leader. around the participants. If you wish to Grading: 2 A participate in the navigation exercise, Leader: Margaret Power please bring your own maps and Contact: 6253 0131 (after hours) or compass — GPS receivers will be [email protected] relieved of their batteries! If this is not Meet at Deeks Forest car park (near the you, come along for the walk any way. comer of Cotter and Uriarra Roads) at Drive: 160km, $48 per car.

NPA OUTIN GS PROGRAM —JUNE 2005-SEPTEMBER 2005 NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY INC. \

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. In this way you can continue to support the ACT's leading community organisation working for the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage in Namadgi National Park and ACT Nature Reserves.

By renewing you will also be able to enjoy the NPA ACT outings program and our stimulating general meetings with interesting guest speakers. You may wish to join one of the committees, help write and produce the Bulletin and email newsletter Burning Issues, contribute to NPA ACT submissions on conservation issues and activities, or help maintain the Association's website.

The coming 12 months will be busy ones for NPA ACT. We will provide comment on the draft plan of management for Namadgi National Park and publish a new edition of the tree book and bird book. We are planning to hold a seminar to publicise scientific work being done that is relevant to Namadgi National Park, the science that should underpin management plans. We must entice new members and that will require an appropriate and attractive advertising campaign. At the same time we must get out as often as possible to enjoy the wonderfully diverse nature parks around us.

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 2005: 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 equipment upgrade, the preparation of reports for the various fire enquiries 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

Kevin McCue

President NPA ACT

31 May 2005

NPA ACT inc PO Box J*W0. Woden ACT 2WD 17 July Sunday Half Day Walk 30-31 July Pack Walk 14 August Sunday daywaik Glenburn Historic Precinct Royal National Park Coast Walk Back Perisher on snowshoes (Including Colverwell Graves) Map: RNP 1:30 000 Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 Grading: 1 A/B Grading: 2 A Grading: 1 B (in snow) Leader: Col McAlister Leader: David Large Leader: Brian Slee Contact: 6288 4171 Contact: 6291 4830 or Contact: 6281 0719 (h) Email: A pleasant half day walk around [email protected] [email protected] several historic sites in the Kowen Experience the heathlands and Participants need to be fit. Depart early Forest including Collier's homestead, magnificent ocean views of the Royal from Kambah Village in order to Glenbum homestead, Glenburn National Park. Depart from Canberra secure parking at Guthega. After shearing shed and the Colverwell early, arriving at Otford mid-moming, skirting south around the village graves. Meet at Kingston Railway then walk down to Burning Palms and crossing Blue Cow Creek via the Station at 8.30am. Drive 50km, $15 per through South Era to Garie Beach bridge we will climb steeply up Back car. where we stay overnight at the YHA Perisher. After a break we will cross hostel. On Sunday we walk through the valley to Mt Perisher (2054 metres) Wattamolla to Bundeena, take the for lunch. Return via long descent of 23 July Saturday Walk ferry to Cronulla and train to Farm Creek. Great views, magnificent The Long Flat Sutherland and back to collect cars at snowgums. Afternoon tea in Maps: Colinton, Bredbo 1:25 000 Otford. The YHA is a Wilderness Jindabyne. Book with leader for Grading: 3 A/B Hostel with basic facilities. Numbers Leader: Martin Chalk departure time and weather check. Contact: 6268 4864(w) limited to 12 as the hostel has two 6- Participants hiring snowshoes (try 6292 3502(h) person dorms, so contact leader early Jurkiewicz at Fyshwick) should be in to ensure a place. Bring sleeping possession of them before scheduled Meet at Kambah Village shops at sheet, an evening meal and breakfast departure. Return drive 420km, cost 8.00am. The walk will start at the as well as lunches for both days. $120 per vehicle, plus $16 park entry Mount Clear camp ground. We will Drive 500kms, $150 per car, plus fee for vehicles without permit travel south along Grassy Creek to the hostel fees (about $12) and train/ferry NSW border, and then follow it to the fares. most southerly point in the ACT. The 21 August - Sunday Walk return will be along the peaceful length Orroral Valley.Circuit of the Long Flat and then either along Work Party Map: Corin Dam 1:25 000 the bush track back to Grassy Creek, or 13 August Saturday Work Party Grading: 2 A/C via Chalker's Chimney to the Horse Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group Leader: Mike Smith Gully Hut road (depending on interest). Contact: Syd Comfort 6286 2578, Contact: 6286 2984 or email This walk guarantees secluded valleys, [email protected] [email protected] open forests, history and a dose of or Clive Hurlstone 0407 783 422, Meet at Kambah Shops at 8.30am. A heavy breathing. Drive: 160km, $48 [email protected] walk initially along Cotter Hut Road per car. Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, starting from the old Orroral tracking Tharwa at 9:15am or a Yankee Hat station site. At saddle near weather station leave road and climb to 27 July Wednesday Walk carpark at 10:00am. Work for the unnamed rocky peak 1339m for lunch Booroomba Rocks Carpark to rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine and views of Orroral Valley. Continue Namadgi Visitors Centre forest area. Tools will be provided. on to Sawpit Creek and return along Maps: Corin Dam and Williamsdale Orroral Valley track via old stockyards 1:25 000 and site of Rowley's Hut Total 400m Grading: 2 A 13-14 August Pack Walk climb. 100km drive ($30 per car). Leader: David Large Round Mountain and Quiltys Contact: 6291 4830 or Mountain [email protected] 24 August Wednesday Walk Map: Endrick 1:25 000 Leader: Mike Smith The Parks and Conservation Service Grading: 3 A/C/E/F Contact: 6286 2984 or email has been rebuilding the Australian Alps Leader: Philip Gatenby [email protected] Walking Track between Booroomba Contact: 6254 3094 or Rocks carpark and the Namadgi [email protected] Details to be advised by the midweek Visitors Centre which was virtually walks email list or contact the leader. Most of this walk is off tracks. It is destroyed during the 2003 fires. This also partly exploratory. The plan is to walk is to look at the new route and climb Round Mountain on the first how far the work has progressed. Car day and, time permitting, the western shuffle involved. Meet at Namadgi edge of Quiltys Mountain, or we may Visitors Centre at 9:00am. leave this to day two. A number of short climbs and creek crossings will be involved. Contact leader for more details by Wednesday before the walk. Drive: 240km, $72 per car.

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE 2005^SEPTEMBER 2005 27-28 August Pack Walk 18 September Sunday Walk Long Point Work Party Mt Anton on snowshoes Map: Caoura 1:25 000 10 September Saturday Work Party Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 Grading: 2 B Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group Grading: 2 B (in snow) Leader: Brian Slee Leader: Steven Forst Contact: Syd Comfort 6286 2578. Contact: 6281 0719 (h) email: Contact: 6251 6817(h), 6219 5236(w) sco mfort@netspeed .com.au or [email protected] [email protected] or Clive Hurlstone 0407 783 422, Ring leader before Thursday. A walk [email protected] Participants need to be fit. Depart early down into the Shoaihaven gorge from Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, from Kambah Village in order to the Long Point lookout near Tallong. A Tharwa at 9:15am or at Yankee Hat secure parking at Guthega. Descend to campsite by the river. A walk to the carpark at 10:00am. Work for the Farm Creek and cross on flying fox. bottom of Bungonia gorge as a side rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine Following Snowy River, we will cross trip. A long haul {600m climb) back up forest area. Tools will be provided. it at lllawong bridge. Climb steep ridge to die Long Point lookout on Sunday. above Twynam Creek to Pounds Creek Drive: 240km, $72 per car and then Mt Anton. After lunch, return same way or if conditions permit, via 17-18 September Pack Walk Tate East Ridge, beautiful area. 31 August Wednesday Walk Mt Burbidge Afternoon tea in Jindabyne. Book with Leader: Steven Forst Map: Yaouk 1:25 000 and leader for departure time and weather Contact: 6251 6817(h), 6219 5236(w) Rendezvous Creek 1:25 000 check. Participants hiring snowshoes or [email protected] Grading: 2 C/D/E (try Jurkiewicz at Fyshwick) should be Details to be advised by the midweek Leader: Philip Gatenby in possession of them before scheduled walks email list or contact the leader. Contact: 6254 3094 or departure. Return drive 420km, cost [email protected] per car $120 per vehicle, plus $16 for

4 September Sunday Walk. The top of Mt Burbidge is about 700 vehicles without park entry permit. Bungonia Tops metres higher than the Yankee Hat Map: Caoura 1:25 000 Car Park where the walk starts. The Grading: 1 A/B first day's walk will involve a climb Leader: Col McAlister with packs to Bogong Gap and from Contact: 6288 4171 here a climb to the summit of Mt Burbidge without packs. The An easy loop walk taking in the three return on the second day will be via main lookouts with breathtaking views Rotten Swamp and Middle Creek. (Bungonia Lookdown, Jerrara Lookout Contact leader for more details by and Adams Lookout). A side trip to Wednesday before the walk. Drive: view Bungonia Gorge and the 140 km $42 per car. Shoaihaven Gorge from Mt Ayre. Meet at the Netbal I Centre carpark, Northbourne Ave Lyneham at 8.00am. Drive 220km, $66 (+ Bungonia entry fee) per car.

NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM — JUNE 2005-SEPTEMBER 2005 "Burrawang" - not just a "bush block"

Once again Den and Geoff Robin had generously offered the grassy paddock that adjoins their charming fenced flower garden, as a campsite for NPA members over the Anzac weekend, 22—25 April. At the NPA meeting of September 2003 Den talked in some detail about their 41ha property and the conservation agreement she and Geoff have entered into with the NSW Minister for the Environment. Basically it means that as owners they will conserve the biodiversity and habitat of their block, and not engage in any further clearing of the natural bushland. By early afternoon Saturday, nine NPA members had arrived, chosen camp sites, eaten lunch and were ready for a guided stroll around the perimeter of "Burrawang", which nestles in the wooded foothills of Gulaga (Mt Dromedary) and shares boundaries with both Gulaga and Kooraban National Parks. We climbed steadily Den Robin explaining to Deidre Shaw (left) and other weekend campers the hows, along a fire trail until Gulaga suddenly wheres and whys of "Burrawang " and its surroundings. Photo Kevin McCue loomed into view; amazingly close and looking entirely different to when seen niche markets. Mai, who has spent his desserts. as a tourist or bushwalker visiting life on land initially cleared by his Gathering for breakfast around the Central Tilba. grandfather, is a conservationist with a barbecue fire next morning provided Our circuit took a little over two special interest in the protection of yet another opportunity for informed hours during which we observed the Wallaga Lake and provided many and lively debate on conservation abundance of burrawangs interesting perspectives on the changing issues. It was then time to pack up (macrozamias) for which the property is land use of the region. camp but there was a final treat in store named, and admired the splendid forest After negotiating various barbed before farewelling our hosts. of eucalypts and remnant rainforest wire and electric fences to wander over We drove north to Handkerchief species. It is this lovely forest which is a number of paddocks, we arrived at the Bay and enjoyed a walk south along the home to a number of threatened species base of Najunuga which rises like a cliff and beaches of Eurobodalla such as the sooty and powerful owls, rock-capped, bushclad island above the National Park to a delightful lake, yellow-bellied glider, several rare frog Surrounding sea of brilliant green Nargal, hidden behind the dunes. The and bat species and possibly long-nosed kikuyu, an introduced African grass lake is small and reed fringed; home to potoroos. which the cows like and which makes little grebes, musk ducks and a flotilla On our return to camp most folk the paddocks around Tilba look lush of swans. John and I swam out towards were ready for a cuppa while others even in times of drought. We huffed the swans and found that, rather than be were keen to try the bush shower. and puffed through thick bush to reach afraid, they were curious about these When John and I arrived earlier in the the rocky surnmit at 200 metres. From unfamiliar water creatures. The swans day, Geoff had been hammering in the this vantage point one could either glided together, communicating with last nails of a hessian screen to provide admire the pastoral views extending to their quiet mewing sounds, but at no modesty for the guests! the sparkling blue sea or let one's gaze time were they threatening to us. On Sunday we climbed Najunuga linger lovingly on the natural bushland Afterwards we relaxed on the small (Little Dromedary) — the small rocky of the hinterland hills, fortunately now strip of sandy lake shore with whistling hill seen on the left of the highway conserved in the two national parks kites and sea eagles soaring overhead. when travelling south from Narooma mentioned earlier. Fruit cake and tea around a picnic table past the Tilba villages. Najunuga can We completed the excursion with a at Handkerchief Bay, rounded off our only be accessed by crossing private swim in somewhat swirly surf and then walk and these happy few days. property so one of Geoff and Den's took a wander around the Tilba district Den and Geoff are enlightened neighbours, Tilba fanner Mai Dibden, cemetery which consists of two small custodians of their "bush block" and it helped arrange permission and joined fenced lots on a grassy hill behind the was a privilege to be invited to visit us as our guide. Before setting off on beach. "Burrawang". our walk, Mai gave us some history of That evening a shared meal was Judith Webster the local dairy industry. He mentioned enjoyed on the deck of Den and Geoff s the changes over the decades from house. Den's daughter, Gabi, had individual small cheese manufacturers slaved over the fuel stove to cook two to the development of large co-ops and delicious lasagnes and the rest of us now the search for new products and contributed either pre-dinner nibbles or Colverwell graves need protection The Glenburn heritage small private graveyard in which precinct which includes four and probably five members of the graves was the pioneering ('olverwell family classified by the are buried. National Trust in the There are four engraved 1980s, listed on the gravestones (two headstones and Register of the National two footstones) in the graveyard. Estate in 1992. and All belong to two young girls, nominated for inclusion Margaret and Elizabeth, who in the ACT Interim tragical! y d r o w n e d i n Heritage Register in December IS3'1. Margaret was 5 1997. This nomination and Elizabeth 6. Their father. Luke is being investigated by C olverwell, erected the ACT authorities. There have also been three gravestones. government-funded The graveyard contains the earliest studies into the area. known marked European grows in Col is very concerned the ACT. They are ten years older about the poor than the oldest marked grave in condition of the Queanbeyan. graveyard and the The gravevard is thus a significant deteriorating state of heritage site. the gravestones due to Unfortunately, the whole site is lichen damage and deteriorating rapidly The fences stone erosion. He wrote surrounding the graveyard are m to the Chief Minister on need of repair. And the grm-estones March 15 seeking Government help: require conservation work to remove and or control lichens and, more importantly, to slow down Dear Mr Stanhope. Margaret Colverwell's headstone in the .small family stone erosion. graveyard. I am writing to I do not believe that large sums of request your money would be required. But Many association members have Government to provide funds for urgent action needs to be taken to enjoyed Coi McAlister's walks into the conservation of (he Colverwell ensure the grm-eyard's survival for areas of heritage and cultural interest, graveyard and gravestones in the future generations of Canberra one of the most fascinating being die Kowen forest. residents. Kowen Forest in the eastern part of the By way of background I enclose I would be happy to show you the ACT. Located within this area are the the March 2005 issue of the site if you would like to see it. Colverwell graves, the oldest Canberra Historical Journal which recognised European graves in the Yours sincerely contains the article Colverwell Territory. In the March 2005 issue of Colin McAlister Graves: The Case for Urgent the Canberra Historical Journal Col Action which I wrote has set out what is known of the (Continued next page) Colverwell family and graves in a The Colverwell graveyard is a thoroughly researched and detailed article. Briefly. Luke and Mary Colverwell, both transported convicts, moved to Dirty Swamp, in what is now Kowen or Glenburn. soon after their marriage in 1831 Elizabeth and Margaret, two of their four daughters, died by accidental drowning on the same day, in December 1837, their burials being the first in what became a small private graveyard in which their parents were also subsequently buried. Luke Colverwell erected head and footstones over the graves of the two girls and these now lie on the ground within the wooden fenced graveyard.

The Colverwell graveyard in the Glenburn heritage precinct. Park to protect local biodiversity

Cathy Robertson, Geoffrey Robertson to the local region. There would be grassland, shrubs and woodland, but and Andrew Russell, who are opportunities for interpretation, also some remnant exotic plants. The committee members of the Southern communication with other botanic plan is based on sustainable design Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP), gardens, assistance in raising plants and principles and envisages the made a presentation to the April provision for the exchange of plants establishment of a number of different meeting of the association ouUming the between collections. A fundamental plantings appropriate to the various objectives, scope and program of their aspect of STEP is cooperation with parts of the garden such as native lawn, organisation. community groups, and already good dry shrubland and permanent wetland. STEP is a relatively new links have been established with a A looping track would link the organisation, the committee being number of other organisations. It is components. Later, such developments formed in 2002 and incorporation through such a link that progress is as school programs and vegetation trials achieved in the following year. In 2004 being made towards the establishment are envisaged. a workshop on reptiles of the Southern of a demonstration garden. The outdoor The presentation gave a Tablelands was conducted in Birrigai. centre, Birrigai, has land available for comprehensive picture of STEP'S The principal objective of STEP is the such a project and although full vision and concluded with an invitation protection and conservation of the agreement has not yet been reached, to members to become involved in its biodiversity of the local region. A STEP has developed plans that would activities. major avenue through which this is to see the development of an ecologically The postal address is: be achieved is through the appropriate landscape on the site. Southern Tablelands Ecosystem establishment of a regional botanic This project aims to: Park Inc garden. It is also planned to work • illustrate the concept of an PO Box 987 through the provision of educational ecological garden; Civic Square ACT 2608. programs and the development of an • acquire the skills needed for such a Syd Comfort ecosystem recovery centre for the garden; Southern Tablelands. • assist Birrigai's educational The organisation aims to conduct its programs; and work on a strong scientific basis. The • build community partnerships. botanic gardens would include a The area selected is a degraded site herbarium concentrating on local of 4.5ha, sloping to the north with a species, and the plantings would relate number of rocky outcrops and remnant

Colverwell graves need protection continued from previous page

In his reply, the Chief Minister requested a review of his request for the Those interested in the graves will advised that a citation for the graves is provision of Government funds to have another opportunity to inspect being prepared to enable them to be enable work to be done to conserve them with Col on July 17 when hewill included in the ACT Heritage Register. these important relics. That's where the lead a walk into the area. Details are in He also advised that the graves are the matter rests at the time of writing the current walks program responsibility of ACT Forests which (May 12). Syd Comfort has been unable to carry out earlier recommendations to preserve the area due to urgent work resulting from the 2003 fires. The Chief Minister recommended that Col or other organisation seek a grant under the ACT Heritage Grants Program to allow the most urgent work to be undertaken. Replying to the Chief Minister on April 15 Col drew attention to the impracticality of the suggested Heritage Grant because grants for heritage conservation and urgent works are only for places on the ACT Heritage Register. Catch 22! Seeking Government leadership and commitment in this matter, Col has

Trudy Taylor, Editor of the Queanbeyan Age, inspects the grave stones with Cot McAlister. Photos Max Lawrence Work parties — members have their say

"Work" and "party" are two concepts that do not seem to go together yet that is what we call an event where volunteers gather, shoulder tools and go forth to clear, eradicate, plant, build or dig to improve the natural environment or restore old buildings in historical areas. The NPA has two ongoing programs of work parties but most of our members are not attracted to them. The Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group has a monthly commitment and the Yerrabi Track Maintenance Group has a quarterly commitment.

Above: Lunchtime relaxation and planning at Gudgenby Bush Regeneration site last February. Photo Adrienne Nicholson Left: Martin Chalk and Adrienne Nicholson working on a fallen log blocking the Yerrabi Track in April. Photo Fiona MacDonald Brand

"On Saturday. 26 February Adrienne sistance) and removing some briars. Nicholson and Philip Gatenby joined Over five rather warm hours, Adrienne. me in an attack on the willows on the Philip and I used the cut-and-dab tech­ Gudgenby. The willows had re­ nique to despatch 21 willow plants, an established themselves in the vicinity of untold number of briars and one large the axe-grinding grooves in the preced­ blackberry. At the end of the day we ing six months and were growing at a rewarded ourselves with a cool dip in remarkable rate {about 1.5m to 2m over one of the many rock pools in this pan the period). The Namadgi ranger re­ of the river. sponsible for the area, Bernard Morris, There will be a need to conduct was grateful for our assistance as he follow-up work in spring and to tackle had already used contractors to spray the remaining willows that we did not the woody weeds in that area but the have time or energy to address. So. if willows around the river had not been you would like to help in the manage­ tackled. ment of Namadgi and see the immedi­ The Yerrabi Track was built in 1987 ate effect of your effort, keep an eye on by NPA members and has been Bernard spent a couple of hours of the spring walks program. maintained by members ever since. his day delivering the Gudgenby Bushies trailer so we could use some of Martin Chalk organises the quarterly Martin Chalk work parties. It is pleasant to be out in the tools (thanks Bushies, for your as­ (continued facing page) Namadgi National Park working on the track, chipping out thistles, watching and hearing the birds, admiring the trees and the views, and just working shoulder-to- shoulder with a party of fellow NPA members. The lunch hour is a time of catching up with the doings of other members and discussing the projects ahead. A work party is a very satisfying activiry, so come and join in and find out for yourself

Fiona MacDonald Brand

Right: Martin Chalk and Phil Gatenby attacking the willow growth on the Gudgenby River in February. Photo Adrienne Nicholson A new vision for Namadgi The National Parks Association guest The chapters presented were: adaptive management. speaker at the general meeting on 1. A New Vision for the Future Environmental Impact Assessment March 17 was Sharon Lane, Senior 2. Introduction: Purpose, Scope and guidelines for assessment Planner for Environment ACT. Legislative Framework Administration Ms Lane presented a detailed overview 3. Park Zoning Fees and charges; park concessions and of the development and content of the 4. Place of Waters (Water Resource commercial activities. Draft Management Plan for Namadgi Management) Operations National Park. The plan, soon to be 5. A Place of Nature (Landscape and Fire Trail Management; Utilities, released, will be available for public Biodiversity Protection) Service Providers and other comment for two months following the 6. A Place of Past and Present Government Organisations; Use of release. Meaning (Protecting and Managing Fire Arms; Domestic Animals; In response to the earlier discussion Cultural Heritage) Resource Use and Extraction. paper by Environment ACT, 7. A Place of Fire (Fire Management) Implementation Plan. 70 submissions were received from the 8. A Place for Community Wellbeing Following the presentation of A public. Not surprisingly, these (Recreation and Visitor Use) New Vision For Namadgi there were a submissions were dominated by the 9. A Place for Learning few questions and clarifications issue of recreational access to the park. (Communication, Education and regarding: The consultation process included Research) 1. the consistency of the plan with meetings with governmental advisory 10. A Place with Community those relating to the Australian Alps, groups and numerous workshops with (Neighbours, Community Groups Tidbinbilla, and the Brindabellas; community organisations such as the and Volunteers) 2 the park boundary and the Conservation Council and affiliated 11. A Protected and Managed Resource biosphere; groups, tourism and rural lessees. There Because of the NPA's particular 3 zoning and the access of horses into is also ongoing liaison with ACTEW, interest in issues of protection and the park. Emergency Services Authority and the management, the issues outlined in Interim Namadgi Advisory Board. Prior to the presentation on Chapter 11 are included below: Namadgi National Park, Adrian Following the 2-month comment Environmental Quality Whitehead, Project Officer for the period for the draft plan, a report on Water Quality, Water and Energy Conservation Council, gave a short public submissions and a final plan will Use, Air Quality, Noise, Waste address on water use in the ACT. An be prepared for Cabinet and Ministerial Management, Contaminated Sites. article by Adrian on this subject is approval. Monitoring and Evaluation included in this issue on pages 10-11. Sharon Lane presented a Power Systematic monitoring program to Point outline of the structure of the gather information about the state of David Pfanner draft plan but without policy details. the environment and to support

Work parties — members have their say (continuedfrom facing page)

Come on folks! to see more participants supporting moment it is hard to imagine the need Work=doing a bit for the these outings. You might just cut wattle there was for past work parties to put a environment which as NPA members, seedlings encroaching on a track; you bridge and cords across the creek and we support might cart a bucket of cement up a hill along seepage areas. Although it was a Party=enjoying yourself with like- and repair rock steps! As a volunteer, magnificent day with the temperature minded others. you only have to do as much as you comfortable for putting in a reasonable A lot of fun can be had on work can, and it's a good day out, effort, there was not a single walker on parties while doing your bit for your particularly if the party numbers can the track while we were there that day. swell beyond three. local national park. NPA has, in the Adrienne Nicholson past, had a good reputation for The work party on providing a willing labour force for Saturday April 23 some of the "thankless" tasks that will involved maintenance of always need doing in "our" national the Yerrabi Track; thistle park (and further afield). General work cutting in the "swamp" parties were resurrected, with Martin area, cutting wattle Chalk and Phil Gatenby as joint regrowth threatening to organisers, to assist with rehabilitation obscure the track in places, after the January 2003 fires. However, making sure the drainage at the work party in February (crack bars could cope if they are willow "cutting-and-dabbing" down­ ever needed again, and stream from the Middle Creek/Bogong cairn and track outlining in Creek junction) the two leaders, Martin the rocky upper levels and Phil, had only one Indian—me!, where the lack of while in April, Martin had only Fiona vegetation can still lead to and me to assist with the maintenance doubt as to where the track of the Yerrabi Track. It would be great really is. Sadly, at the

Right: Martin Chalk and Phil Gatenby "cutting-and-dabbing " blackberry growing among rocks. Photo Adrienne Nicholson Snow in February!

Yes, indeed. And I was told there was a general cover of well over 30cm of snow on the ground in the Snowy Mountains. I thought we were in a global warming thing!! This made me wonder just how the walk I was supposed to lead to Alice Rawson Peak that Sunday was going to go. Throughout Saturday the Thredbo ski cams suggested there remained an extensive cover of snow, one Uiat was not going to melt overnight. Three car loads of potential — umm — likely — victims remained keen to go on Sunday; and while the weather around Canberra was forecast to be magnificent, 1 was wondering both how we would go if the snow hadn't melted enough and whether the fresh, humid sou' westerly winds forecast for the mountains would cause The hardv NPA group who eventually reached the Townsend goal, not quite the main range to be in cloud. We left realising how far they had come -— nor how far thev had to return. Canberra under brilliant blue gold dawn Despite the distance, the time in the car constrained by the chairlift's operating skies. and the fullness of the day, there has hours. I decided to avoid Mount As we started to sight the Snowies developed a solid following of keen Townsend this year, and rather focus on from the road past Cooma, it was clear walkers who have come to enjoy the the quite different, in many ways more there was still heaps of snow down to NPA's summer day walks in the Snowy spectacular, views from Alice Rawson 1800m and the bigger peaks were in Mountains. And why wouldn't there be, Peak and then scramble down into cloud. After a little consultation, I because the multiplicity of colours and Albina cirque to visit a beautiful decided to abandon the scheduled walk contrasts, the views and the abundance moraine-dammed pond high above and instead, drive to Charlotte Pass in wildflowers make this place just as Lake Albina itself. I had really enjoyed and ... suck it and see. Well, we found special in summer as it is in winter. As a trial run of this walk in early January, we were in an environment of a general long as one is careful and well in beautiful clear weather, and I had the cover of snow, melting as the prepared, the magic of this, Australia's timing of the walk worked out nicely. temperatures were now above "highest" alpine wilderness, never freezing — just — and the sou' easterly A week out from the day, the abates. wind was quite fresh. The snow cover weather was looking good and already had drifted towards a metre deep in During last year, the vibes coming there was strong interest in this little some places. Wading or rock hopping my way suggested that another attempt excursion. But. by mid week, a most across the Snowy River to head towards to visit the region around Mount unusual cold snap hit south eastern the Main Range was not a popularly Townsend and Alice Rawson Peak was Australia which brought with it sizeable received suggestion; as it was raging in highly desirable. It is a big walk; one snow dumps throughout — including the spring snow melt. But the whole we usually start from the top of the on our ranges west of Canberra. scene did look beautiful, especially in Thredbo Chairlift; but we are All this in early February ... die light brought through scudding swirling cloud whipping around the peaks. Very photogenic, indeed.

So we sloshed and trudged up the track towards Mount Kosciuszko for about five clicks, admiring the constantly changing scenes — scenes which all of us regulars were very familiar with, but which were so very fascinating and beautiful in the light and cloud show we had before us. We stopped for morning tea near the bridge over the upper Snowy River and watched snow bergs floating down stream. This is February isn't it. and we are in Australia ... aren't we? And we found the most beautiful snow bank against the river nearby. Those who were mildly peeved about me whimping out on the bigger walk were in complete forgiveness by now. Frozen lake water and snow bank just upstream from the bridge over the Snowy (continued on facing page) River on the track to Kosciuszko — in February! Photos Steve Hill NPAACT Comments on "Living Parks" NPA ACT submitted the to compensate the government for the appropriate in parks. They belong in the following comments on a draft high public costs incurred to reduce the village and towns which service the document from the NSW ecological damage. It must also address park area and which often experience Department of Environment and the costs of de-construction and economic hardship. A clear example of Conservation document Living rehabilitation of the site when how private development in parks can Parks which is to be "a draft infrastructure including buildings, adversely affect the surrounding region sustainable visitation strategy for walkways, roads etc are no longer is seen in the alpine area with NSW national parks". viable. fluctuating real estate prices and Far from enabling greater public investment uncertainty because of the We were very concerned that the access to the park, private development increased concentration of non-core document enshrined commercial will lock up scarce resources in private facilities in alpine resorts. activities in all national parks in a way ownership and increase costs to the The Living Parks document should which could lead to unnecessary and average public park user through therefore discourage all private damaging activities. Our policies state increased service charges, higher traffic development and private commercial very firmly that national parks are for flows and commercially dictated activities in national parks. Such the protection and enhancement of the changes to services, ie services would activities should take place in the natural values of the environment as an not be directed at the public good but at surrounding towns and villages rather ecologically viable and sustainable private profit. This is fine for private than in the parks where the risk of system. The following comments on land, not for publicly owned irreversible environmental damage is so Living Parks therefore echo the landholdings. high. comments we made on the proposal to Many private enterprise activities expand the commercial lease at Christine Goonrey Perisher. are not core to national park values, eg retail outlets for clothing and sports All private profit making activities equipment. Such facilities are not in national parks must include measures

SHOW in February! (continuedfrom facingpage)

Anyway they now knew how We were ready for home by uncomfortable that walk then!! Oh, and the TAB at the would be and the risks in the Kambah shops was shut ... cloudy conditions higher up Damn!! were obvious. Hj A measure of the magical After a feed of Tim Tarn attraction of this mountain double coated chocolate paradise was the gentle, often emergency rations, I repeated suggestions in the car suggested we head off- track on the way home, that we downstream for about a should try again to do the kilometre to visit a beautiful scheduled walk later in the gorge where the Snowy River month. My response that the drops about 40m to be joined chairlift soon would be by Rawson Creek flowing — shutting down an hour earlier on this day, roaring — from at the end of the day, merely the slopes of Mount aroused the suggestion that Kosciuszko rising about four Abbots, including Townsend, from Seamans such a walk was entirely kilometres south west. The snow- the map is called Kangaroo Ridge — doable from Charlotte Pass. Oh, and banked gorge and tumbling light green why I don't know, it is much too high let's visit Mount Townsend and Alice melted snow water truly was beautiful. and bleak for roos around here. We Rawson, maybe giving the pond a miss. A great place for lunch, out of the wind, could wander along there back to the So, on the last Saturday in February, yet perched on the rocks overlooking cars instead of the track. two car loads of keen masochists the gorge. Name a restaurant that could After a relatively gentle 130m climb completed quite an epic walk, one match such a scene!! to the southern and highest rocky knoll which is less in total distance than from From there we trekked direct to of Kangaroo Ridge — where much of Thredbo, but being mostly off track and Seaman's Hut. There were quite a few the snow had melted in the scattered including crossing wetter than usual people visiting there and I think we sunlight — we trundled along the ridge lands was more strenuous. It was a might have stirred the interest of a visiting several rocky knolls on the way fabulous day as you can see from the couple of younger people who said they to wonder at the ever changing scene smiles on the summit of Townsend. were keen about what the NPA stood before us. By now we were even Mind you they had not quite thought for. The ever changing, mottled white catching glimpses of our intended about the return trip to Charlotte scenes on the Main Range required destination that day, Alice Rawson Pass — doesn't it look a long way off? more photography. Peak, through the swirling clouds and Nan, the return was going to be all Well, what to do now — it being afternoon sunlight. After visiting down hill... It was, wasn't it? about 2 pm and none of us were ready Stillwell itself at the northern end we Steve Hill to go straight home ... I know, why not followed the ridge back down to pop up to the western ridge of the Charlotte Pass car park to remove our Stillwell plateau, which from looking at wet pants and boots for the trip home. Book review a photograph of Fishman who Monga intacta. A represents the unknown and Celebration of the Monga inexplicable. Forest and its Protection Under Landscape and Ecology. Brendan Mackey. from the Edited by Robyn Steller Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, gives a 130 pages. $55 + $1 postage valuable overview of Monga Monga intacta is a beautifully with the intriguing fact that a designed and presented book sand dune, formed 30.000 years which brings together a diversity ago in the Pleistocene Age. sits of contributors ranging from under the western edge of artists, photographers, writers, Monga. scientists, and those who Monga's geographical position confronted the bulldozers in the exposes it to coastal influences, forest. The book represents the bringing it mists and rain and commitment and dedication of keeping it moist which is many people who worked long particularly significant as the and hard to have Monga forest Southern Tablelands and much protected. of NSW is bitten by drought. Monga lies to the south east of The centre of the book opens to a Mackey refers to Monga as a Braidwood and adjoins the escarpment series of small, exuberant watercolours sponge and as a possible refuge in that faces the coast. The King's by Paris Silvester, vignettes of life in drought for flora and fauna during our Highway crosses one of its principal Monga, ranging from tree fems to "human driven climate change" which rivers, the Mongarlowe, en route to the parrots, a lyrebird, forest, and water makes forests like Monga even more Clyde Mountain. views. Rhubard's part whimsical poems precious and highlights the need for Robyn Steller published the book accompany the paintings: governments both globally and nationally to address climate change and dedicated it to Peter Herbst who I see the spinning drifting leai'es seriously and responsibly. was instrumental in establishing Flutter earthward in the breeze Friends of the Mongarlowe River to And birds canoodle in the trees Mackey describes the pinkwood . campaign for the protection of Monga In an ancient forest glade. Eucryphia moorei. and Monga waratah. forest. The Australian Greens, the Telopea mongaensis. as "remnant Many other fine photographs, National Parks Association of the Gondwanic species" from when mostly coloured, feature in the book ACT Inc., The Wilderness Society and Australia was part of ancient along with poems by local poets. Friends of the Mongarlowe River Inc., Gondwanaland. Both plants have very The earliest inhabitants, the contributed to the costs of the restricted distributions, another Aborigines, lived as several tribes or publication and are acknowledged with indicator of Monga's uniqueness. clans; they travelled inland from the the other contributors. Under Life in the Forest, the reader coast via routes that were adopted by Len Haskew from NPA ACT is introduced to the mammals, birds, the Europeans, the Com Trail beingjust became interested in Monga. and led insects and frogs of Monga. In each one example. Myths and legends arose several NPA walks to the forest in case, but particularly with the insects in conjunction with the land's features conjunction with the Friends of the and frogs, the authors emphasise that and Dave Tout Nadijwoji of the Monga Mongarlowe River. 1 joined one of much is unknown. If you don't know area shows his connection with the these outings to sample the cool, quiet what you have, you won't know when stories he tells of the country. depths of the forest, and to see the it becomes extinct. Obviously more The first European settlers in the spindly Monga waratah, and plumwood money and resources are needed for Braidwood area included timber getters {called after local campaigner and research into our fauna and flora. involved in selective logging which writer, Val Plumwood) or pinkwood, caused far less damage to the forest David McDonald, author of the Eucryphia moorei, which is related to than the present highly intensive and chapter on birds, makes the valid and the Tasmanian leatherwood. Our lunch mechanised industry. One early family important point that bird observers are spot was next to a clear stream bordered was the McRaes who owned a timber recreationalists who are not sufficiently with luxuriant treeferns. mill which was subsequently sold to recognised as such in plans of The book is divided into five parts: Boral in the 1980s. Archival photos management for national parks. History; Inspirations, Landscape and illustrate this part of the book and an Keidi McDougall, in looking at Ecology; Life in the Forest and A interview with Violet McCrae who died "Rare, direatened and interesting plants People's Fight. What emerge are the in 1992 gives a taste of her times. and animals" reveals that many grass wonder of the forest and the fact that trees are threatened with root rot caused Timber from Monga built early much remains unknown. by the pathogen, Phytophthora Braidwood and workers' cottages in Michael Scott-Lees' dramatic cinnamorni. Threatened species include Canberra and Goulburn; it also photograph of treefems provides the the spotted-tailed quoll and yellow- provided the props in goldmines that introductory visual impact to the book bellied glider, and four owls: the dotted the district including Araluen on the cover and the first two pages. It barking, masked, powerful, and sooty. and Majors Creek. sets the scene for further visual treats The stuttering barred frog hasn't been Poets contribute to Inspirations with a delicate fem frond motif on the seen since the 1970s. along with a beadmaker's creation pages facing each section, and Christine Most chapters provide reference which reflects her response to Monga. Payne's botanical drawings of orchids, Photographer John Reid describes his of the Monga waratah and plumwood. (Con tinned on facing page) out-of-body experience in Monga, with lists, and species lists are given for Forest Action Group stood in front of standing in front of bulldozers to stop plants, mammals, birds, frogs and bulldozers, were arrested and charged. logging, faced court charges. insects. Many of the authors in the book They returned to the forest and It takes courage and fortitude to face are well known in their respective persisted with their action whilst arrest in the forests, especially in fields. Some of the chapters overlap a simultaneously holding a protest camp today's increasingly mean political little, as in discussing the Monga in Badja State Forest. They scrubbed climate. waratah and the pinkwood, but usually the forest roads which means they Monga intacta is testimony to different aspects are emphasised. hauled tree trunks and limbs on to the everyone who helped secure Monga The last section, A People's Fight roads and made them impassable. and is a reminder that Monga must recounts the campaign that developed Robyn Steller describes how several continue to be watched and protected in response to the logging of Monga in older men, who would not normally be with a management plan that recognizes the 1990s. associated with arrests as a result of its vulnerability and uniqueness. It's a Andrew Wong who book that should be trained as an ecologist bought not only for its and now works for the content but for the Wilderness Society, principle of writes of his reaction to conservation and Monga, of standing preservation. Congrat­ inside a huge tree and ulations to Robyn seeing hundreds of eyes Steller for bringing it staring down at him, the together. eyes of funnel web Judy Kelly spiders. He remained remarkably calm. Andrew describes At the time of going encountering a giant to press we have mountain grey gum, of just learned of showing an NPWS Robyn Steller's officer the same tree and death. This is a how this experience great loss and we helped influence extend our deepest NPWS's action to have sympathy to Monga gazetted as part Robyn's family and of a national park. friends. Members of the

PARKWATCH

Recovery time for the alps door), then there is even greater reason final zoning for its marine park was to start on the rehabilitation. recently announced. Only a token 27% The VNPA is deterrnined that the The other organisation currently was allocated as sanctuary. A far cry future for Victoria's Alpine National working on alpine rehabilitation, Parks from conservation groups' suggested Park will be a good one, not a bad one. Victoria, has put tens of thousands of 90+%. The alps deserve that. They deserve a dollars into work on peat beds (or moss With outstanding environmental real chance to recover. beds, or peat bogs or what you will ...), values and unusually low human If there is any single unequivocal and enlisted the help of volunteers from pressure, Lord Howe Island offered a indication that cattle damage the alps, it universities in Wodonga and Albury. unique opportunity to protect and must be in the response of the two But because grazing is still permitted in preserve large pristine waters with organisations currently dedicated to many areas, Parks Victoria feels limited disruption to existing fishing rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems compelled to limit this work to areas activities. However, almost three- on the Bogong High Plains. north of Falls Creek, such as Mount quarters of the park will remain open to The Bogong High Plains Nelse Creek, where cattle licences were fishing pressures. Restoration Alliance, an association of ended around ten years ago. The next marine park to be alpine ecologists and trained volunteers, That is, the agency empowered to announced is in the Manning Shelf is currently rehabilitating a few of the manage cattle in the park can enlist the Bioregion, on the midnorth coast It many cattle-damaged peat beds south of help of the public to rehabilitate will probably lie between Newcastle Falls Creek, in currently licensed cattle damage done by cattle in areas from and Forster. It is imperative that we grazing areas. which licences have now ended, but is gain support for significant sanctuary The Alliance is able to do this now unable to fix damage within current areas in this proposed park to ensure for one simple reason; cattle have been grazing licence areas because cattle that we properly protect the future of out of the Bogong High Plains since the would wreck the rehabilitation works. NSW marine life. 2003 fires, and recovery has been so [Vic] Parkwatch, March 2005 National Parks Journal, slow it is clear that, even under the April-May 2005 existing legislation, they should not be Bad news for World Heritage allowed back for years. And given that the Government may end grazing Australia's World Heritage-listed (more PARKWATCH on page 22) permanently (hopefully by the time this Lord Howe Island was dealt a severe edition of Park Watch arrives at your blow by the NSW Government when (more PARKWATCH on page 21)

Too soft on horses universal problem) and environmentally threatened or rare species: the Otways unsustainable extraction (very much a Black Snail, the endangered Spotted- A new National Parks and Wildlife local problem). Think about this local tailed Quoll. Bristly Shield-fern and a Service (NPWS) Horseriding Policy for problem when you see golf courses, rare moss (Trachyloma). national parks is close to finalisation. sports fields and some household Trust for Nature received the land The latest draft seen by NPA still does gardens proudly proclaiming their use through a generous donation from a not set out clear circumstances when of bore water. Think about it when you private individual as part of a bequest in horseriding in national park is not hear that Blue Mountains groundwater 1975. permitted, as the present policy does. is being extracted at little cost and "Trust for Nature is committed to Instead it relies on the discretion of the bottled as high-cost mi neral water. conserving all significant NPWS Regional Manager. Think when you read that local environmental areas in private Given the pattern of NPWS readily coalmines tap certain aquifers to the ownership and in working with local allowing horseriding in response to tune of tens of megalitres (a megalitre communities to achieve real sustainable local pressure, this is of major concern. is the volume of an Olympic swimming solutions," Trust for Nature Director. The Minister for the Environment is pool) per day. Think when you next see Dr Michael Looker said. due to finalise the policy in the coming hanging swamps stressed by The announcement of an additional months. Please send a letter to the groundwater depletion, springs drying land donation coincides with the release Minister asking for a stronger policy up. and greatly reduced flows in creeks of VEAC's recommendation that Melba that prevents horseriding in and rivers. And think once again when Gully be included in a new Otway environmentally sensitive sites, not a water costs increase, your use is Ranges NP. weaker one. restricted, your garden is dying and VNPA Update. Febmaty 2005 National Parks Journal, Sydney's dams are falling! Yes, the use April-Men- 2005 of bore water (i.e. groundwater) lias consequences: the user gets the benefit Grey nurse sharks — in need Darling Basin initiative gets off but we all bear the costs (environmental of intensive care degradation, reduced and costly water Our harmless Grey Nurse Sharks the ground access, falling reservoirs). are dying. Within 10 years they may About 150 people from across the Simplistically they steal water as it have joined the Tasmanian Tiger on the Darling Basin, gathered in Moree in enters the dam; we pay to get it from list of extinct species. For over 20 years northern NSW on February 25th to the dam. the Grey Nurse has been listed as discuss the future management of the protected, yet their numbers are still Basin's rivers. Due in no small part to The Colong Bulletin, March 2005 declining and essential real protection the number of ACF members and of their habitat areas has been ignored. supporters present at die meeting, the Goats herded out of national NPA - Marine has realised it's time need for environmental flows figured parks for a new approach to save this prominently in the discussion. The misunderstood species. Hence the meeting was very positive, focused on Premier Peter Beattie and creation of the "Let Lucy Live" the future and overwhelmingly Environment Minister Desley Boyle Campaign. Lucy is our harmless Grey supported the establishment of a said Queensland Parks and Wildlife Nurse Shark and will form the face of community led initiative to guide the Service contractors had mustered 3900 our new look campaign. integrated management of the rivers of goats in two 10-day musters late last the Darling Basin. year from Cunawinya National Park, The campaign will initially focus on removing another 200 in February. Maroubra. one of the 16 small critical A working group of 13 people from "Without a doubt feral goats are one habitat sites along the NSW coast. Less across the basin and representing of our most damaging pests. They than 500 Grey Nurse Sharks remain di fferent sectoral interests was remove plants and break branches off along the entire east coast of Australia. established to guide the process for the shrubs and their hooves break up the Queensland has already protected their next few months with a view to soil and leave it prone to erosion," habitat sites yet NSW is lagging behind bringing some firm proposals back the Mr Beattie said. while more of the few remaining community. State Ministers from individuals continue to die. Queensland. NSW and South Australia, "The goats taken off were big who were present at the meeting, enough to be sold, and worth about $25 With accidental hooking from offered to support the process and each. QPWS received $5 a head and the recreational fishing being the primary provide access to the Murray Darling rest was income for contractors," he cause of their decline. 1500-metre Basin Ministerial Council. said. sanctuary zones must be created around [Qld] NPA News. April 2005 each critical habitat site. Such ACF welcomes the initiative as a sanctuaries prohibit fishing activity but step forward for the Darling, although allow non-extractive activities such as it's early days as yet, and will keep you Trust for nature donates land swimming, snorkelling, diving and informed of its progress and at IVIelba Gully boating. This improves the diversity opportunities to get involved. The Jewel of the Otways, Melba and abundance of life within the habitat. April 2005 Gully State Park off the Great Ocean sanctuary but also spills out into the Road 3km west of Lavers Hill, grew by surrounding areas therefore improving Blue Mountains groundwater 8 hectares on 2 January 2005 thanks to fishing quality outside the boundaries. quality threatened a land donation from Victoria's Trust National Parks Journal. for Nature. The park now totals 73 ha. April-May 2005 Because groundwater in the Blue This will help ensure the protection Mountains is generally good, the Compiled by Len Haskew of plants and wildlife, including four principal threats are climate change (a Environmental news Orchids protected 1990s and spearheaded a formal listing Mr Stanhope said on April 6 that in on the interim Heritage Register in contrast with some areas of the Murray- Two orchids, one of which is confined 1998. Darling Basin where salt interception to a single Brindabella site, have been systems removed thousands of tonnes declared as endangered species, of salt a day from the rivers, the ACT following a recommendation from the Flow guidelines was licensed to put small amounts of ACT Flora and Fauna Committee. Draft environment flow guidelines for salt into the system — a practice known The only known local habitats of the rivers and streams across the ACT were as "exporting". Canberra spider orchid (Arachnorchis released on May 9 for public comment. The ACT had implemented a water actensis) are a small number of sites on The consultation period began on resource strategy, Think water, act Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie, May 13 and submissions will close on water, which would result in the reuse while the Brindabella midge orchid July 14. of large amounts of water from sewage (Corunastylis ectopa) is found in just The guidelines set out the treatment plants and reduce the amount one area on a steep slope in a tall environmental flows needed to of salt going into the rivers. Eucalyptus radiata forest in the maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems in Brindabella Range. local rivers and streams, and will Only 235 specimens of the Canberra replace those dating from 1999. They Pests prohibited spider orchid were recorded during will form the basis for future water The supply of some pest plants will be surveys in 2003, most of them close to allocations under the Water Resource prohibited in the ACT as a result of the urban development and recreational Management Plan and future licensing new law which also prohibits the trails. The flower of the orchid is for water abstraction. supply of material contaminated with smaller than a five-cent piece and has The Chief Minister and Minister for certain pest plants and animals. It long thin crimson petals with white the Environment, Mr Jon Stanhope, strengthens enforcement provisions for edges that curl at the tips. It flowers in said the draft guidelines were based on the issuing of directions to landholders spring. better scientific data and a better to eradicate or control pest plants or In February 2004 there were only 35 understanding of the environmental pest animals. known specimens of the Brindabella issues, and represent a significant The Chief Minister said the Pest midge orchid, a lone population departure from the old guidelines, Plants and Animals Act 2005, passed by extremely vulnerable to road particularly in relation to flows in the the Legislative Assembly on May 5, maintenance, erosion or natural Cotter catchment. would establish a system for declaring catastrophe. Its green to reddish purple "As a result of monitoring in the pest plants and pest animals based on flowers emerge from late January to wake of the 2003 bushfires and advice their threat to agriculture, the March, after rain. from the Cooperative Research Centre environment or the community. It A monitoring program and for Freshwater Ecology, the would provide for the development of protection measures are to be developed Government has learnt much about the management plans for how the threat for both orchids. flows required to protect the Cotter will be managed. River and has been able to more The new law recognises certain Gums heritage listed precisely define the flows needed to classes of pests that reflect their protect aquatic ecosystems," he said. distribution or abundance and the The role played by the Friends of The guidelines and supporting practicality of controlling or managing Aranda Bushland in the listing of the documents are available from the them. A declaration may state that a Aranda Snow Gums site on the ACT Environment ACT website at pest plant must be suppressed, which Heritage Places Register has been www.environment.act.gov.au or means that its level of infestation must acknowledged by the Chief Minister, from ACT Government shopfronts. be reduced. It is likely that pest plants Mr Jon Stanhope. Written submissions on the Draft such as willows or broom will fall into Announcing the listing in March, Environmental Flow Guidelines should this class. Mr Stanhope said the snow gums, be sent to: Environmental Flow Alternatively, a declaration may which line the edge of the frost hollow Guidelines, Water Resources Unit, state that a pest plant must be at the base of Aranda Bushland and Environment ACT, PO Box 144, contained, which means that its level of Black Mountain, are an excellent Lyneham ACT 2602. Comments can infestation must not be allowed to example of the gums that once formed a also be emailed to increase. This recognises that the pests fringe around the grassy plains upon [email protected] or of concern are so well established and which Canberra has been built. faxed to 6207 6084. widespread that total suppression is not Convenor of the Friends of Aranda a practical proposition. Examples of Bushland, Mary Falconer, said the site this class of weed would be St Johns demonstrated the transition from the Salinity no problem wort and Paterson's curse. treeless natural grasslands, through Salinity is not a significant problem in Mr Stanhope said the Government snow gums into the adjacent yellow the ACT, according to the Chief would ensure that the declaration of box (Eucalyptus melliodora)-red gum Minister. He said about 53 per cent of pests in the ACT was undertaken in a (Eucalyptus blakelyi) grassy woodland, the ACT is national park or nature consultative way so that there is a high then into forest dominated by scribbly reserve, much of the area that has been degree of commonality in a regional gum (Eucalyptus rossii) and red cleared is now covered by urban approach to pest management stringybark (Eucalyptus development, and there is virtually no macrorhyncha). intensive irrigation in the ACT. The Compiled by Graeme Wicks The group initiated the conservation largest man-made source of salinity in and interpretation of the site in the early the ACT is sewage. National Parks Association Calendar General Meetings June July Aug Sept Third Thursday of the mouth Public holidays Mon 13 8:00pm General meetings Thur 16 Thur21 Thur 18 Thur 15 Uniting Church hall Committee meetings Tues 7 Tues 5 Tues 2 Tues 6 56 Scrivener Street O'Connor Gudgenby Bush Regeneration ' Sat 11 Sat 9 Sat 13 Sat 10

Bulletin Working Group ' TuesjK Annual General Meeting

Thursday 18 August 040 778 3422 (mob) Syd Comfort 6286 2578

Thursday 17 March 2005 Thursday 21 July 2005 Thursday 18 August 2005 Camping and skiing in Ihe 1940s. Hidden heritage—European coastal Annual General Meeting Geoff Hall. explorers on Australia's southeast Canoeing the US-Canadian Bound- Geoff Hall recalls some of his corner. ar\! Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. experiences of bushwalking, camping Trevor Lipscombe. NPA member. Esther Gallant, NPA member. and skiing in the Canberra region in the Find out about some little known coastal The Boundry Waters is a land of immediate post-war period. A long bike heritage sites in or near the national waterways encompassing the ride over gravel roads could precede a parks of Australia's southeast comer northeastern part of the State of bushwalk and there was plenty of snow from the author of a new book on the Minnesota and the southwestern pan of at Mt. Franklin but getting there and European coastal exploration of NSW the Province of Ontario. Millions of back could be trickv. and Victoria. Trevor will have copies of acres have been set aside here as his book On Austral Shores for sale on wilderness accessible only by canoe or the night at a special price of $35 kayak including ponds, lakes, streams (RRP $49.95). and rivers. Esther will show images from several trips to this area in her home state and tell about the historic importance of the area to the Indians and die 17th century fur trade.

Nominations for NPA office bearers and committee 2005/6

Nominations are sought for office bearers and committee members to be elected at the AGM on August 18. This form can be photocopied and used for nominations.

We nominate for the position of in the NPA ACT for 2005/6

Proposed by (signature)

Seconded by (signature) I accept the nomination (signature)

(date)

NPA ACT Bulletin

If undelivered please return to: SURFACE POSTAGE National Parks Association of the ACT PAID PO Box 1940 MAIL AUSTRALIA WODEN ACT 2606

Print Post Approved PP 248831/00041