Septemberl990 Bimberi wilderness declared Valuing the environment NPA BULLETIN Volume 27 number 3 September 1990 CONTENTS Visitor centre opened 5 Bimberi wilderness 5 Forestry inquiry 7 Birds in the ACT 8 Pines pruned 9 Valuing the environment 12 Tracking stations 14 „ Cotter catchment 16 ^OV©r the Bi ben Canoeing Morton National Park 18 £^KSin newly declared m Field guide reprinted 20 wilderness zone of Namadgi National Park. National Parks Association (ACT) Subscription rates (1 July - 30 June) Household members $20 Single members $15 Incorporated Corporate members $10 Bulletin only $10 Inaugurated 1960 Concession: half above rates For new subscriptions joining between: Aims and objects of the Association 1 January and 31 March - half specified rate • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the 1 April and 30 June - annual subscription protection of fauna and flora, scenery and natural features in the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the Membership enquiries welcome reservation of specific areas. Please phone Laraine Frawley at the NPA office. • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. The NPA (ACT) office is located in Kingsley Street, • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment Acton. Office hours are: of, such natural phenomena by organised field outings, 10am to 2pm Mondays meetings or any other means. 9am to 2pm Tuesdays and Thursdays • Co-operation with organisations and persons having Telephone: (06) 257 1063 similar interests and objectives. Address: GPO Box 457 Canberra 2601. • Promotion of, and education for, nature conservation, and the planning of land-use to achieve conservation. Contribute to your Bulletin Contributions of articles (news, description or fiction), Office-bearers and Committee black-and-white photographs and line drawings are President keenly sought for the Bulletin. Please label photo­ Les Pyke 281 2982 (h) graphs with the name of the subject, the name of the Vice President photographer and the date. Leave contributions at the Beverley Hammond 288 6577 (h) 258 1877 (w) office or phone the editor, Roger Green, on Immediate Past President (06) 247 0059. The editorial fax is (06) 249 7373. Syd Comfort 286 2578(h) Secretary Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Judith Webster 241 4646 (h) 248 4141 (w) Association opinion or objectives. Treasurer Mike Smith 286 2984 (h) 281 9565 (w) Deadline for December issue: 1 November, 1990. is produced by Words for the Committee members NPA Bulletin Green National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated. It is Phil Bubb 281 4929 (h) 246 6128 (w) produced with the assistance ACT Community Len Crosfield 241 2897 (h) 263 2267 (w) of an Development Fund grant. Len Haskew 281 4268 (h) Dugald Monro 231 8776 (h) Printed on recycled paper by Union Offset Co Pty Ltd, Jill Roberts 249 1390 (h) 272 4192 (w) Fyshwick, ACT. Tim Walsh 285 1112 (h) 274 1465 (w) Doreen Wilson 288 5215 (h) 248 5211 (w) ISSN 0727-8837 Red spot A red spot on the mailing label indicates that this will be the last Bulletin for those who do not renew membership. REPORTS President's report 1989-90 was a busy year, general­ park, world heritage listing for the contributed $500 to assist the ly following the established pat­ alpine national parks, the Australian Conservation Found­ tern but also introducing some Molonglo River fish farm, the pro­ ation in publishing a booklet on innovations. posed Ulladulla transmission facil­ the Jervis Bay Marine Park ity and the report of the ACT proposal. Membership, finance, Priorities Review Board. administration General meetings Membership at 30 June 1990 Namadgi National Park and The Association is very apprecia­ stood at 697, little changed from the Murrumbidgee tive of the general meeting speak­ last year, and subscription rates The Parks and Conservation ers who have all given were unchanged. The Association Consultation Committee was re­ presentations of a very high order. is in a satisfactory financial posi­ established in November 1989 and Attendances at meetings were, tion with donations for the year the Association's nominee, Anne however, disappointingly low to­ being somewhat higher than in Taylor, was appointed to the com­ wards the end of the year. Mike 1989 and grants from the mittee. During the year the ACT and Annette Smith have operated Community Development Fund Government gazetted the Bimberi an inviting bookstall and Adrienne also at a higher level. The finan­ wilderness area and announced its Nicholson and helpers have looked cial result is in no small measure a intention to gazette extensions to after supper. reflection of the continued dedica­ Namadgi, both of these having tion of Treasurer Les Pyke. been advocated by the Association Displays and education The Association has continued to for some years. The Namadgi The Association provided dis­ employ a part time office secre­ Visitors Centre opened in June plays at the Monaro Environment tary, and an administrative assist­ and includes a display on the his­ Fair, ACT Alive, Canberra ant as required, and to engage a tory of the park based on material Environment Fair and the bulletin editor on contract. The prepared by Association members. University of Canberra committee has met. monthly and Grazing on Gudgenby has been Environment Day which, with the the four subcommittees regularly. terminated but other recommenda­ exception of the last, were well pa­ Control of our office building has tions made in a consultant's report tronised. Yerrabi Track guides now passed to the ACT on management of the area are were sent to all ACT schools and Administration and we have been still under consideration. The distributed through the Parks and active with other associations in management plan for the Conservation Service. Invest­ Childers Street to press for the Murrumbidgee River corridor has igation continued into conducting continuing availability of the area been finalised and a decision a nature appreciation course in for use by community groups. taken to gazette four reserves conjunction with the Centre for along the river. The importance of dealing sys­ Continuing Education. tematically with the Association records and files has been -recog­ Bulletin Outings nised. Sheila Kruse has accepted The quarterly Bulletin provides The Outings Subcommittee coor­ the position of Association a wide coverage of conservation dinated an imaginative program of Archivist and is already bringing issues including Namadgi day and weekend activities her enthusiasm and knowledge to National Park and ACT reserves, throughout the year comprising bear on the task. other matters of particular inter­ just over 100 events. The program est to the Association, discussion included outings of many types at­ Environmental matters of important environmental con­ tracting members over a wide Submissions followed by appear­ cerns, and news of Association ac­ spectrum of interests and ages. To ances before investigating bodies tivities. With assistance from the maintain this interesting program were made on the National Community Development Fund the Association is seeking new Capital Plan and the Resource the Bulletin has a wide distribu­ ideas and additional leaders. Assessment Commission inquiry tion. It continues to be well re­ into forest resources. Submissions ceived. Roger Green has been Working parties were also made on the Canberra reappointed as editor for 1990. Working parties were organised Nature Park, the draft ACT leas­ During the year recycled paper for track work in the Budawangs ing legislation, the Alliance was introduced and a higher stan­ and pine removal in the Boboyan Government environment policy, dard of printing achieved. pine plantation, both involving the Very Fast Train, the future of close cooperation with park the tracking station buildings, and Publications authorities. Work has resumed on NSW coastal development. Other Sales of the Guide to Native the Orroral Homestead but representations concerned devel­ Trees of the ACT continued at last progress is slower than hoped. The opment in Jervis Bay and the es­ year's level and a reprint is about Association was responsible for tablishment of a marine national to be released. The Association continued on page 4 REPORTS World Environment Day 1990 World Environment Day 1984 was • gazettal of Jerrabomberra Tidbinbilla is currently gazetted made particularly significant for Wetlands under the Nature as a public park but the intended the ACT by the then Minister for Conservation Act gazettal under the Nature territories, Mr Tom Uren, declar­ • gazettal of four reserves along Conservation Act will give greater ing the Namadgi National Park. th e Murrumbidgee River protection to the area and ensure The ACT Government has also Corridor. that the natural resources of the made 1990 World Environment The lower Cotter area contains a area be given a higher standing. Day one to be remembered by an­ number of plant and animal com­ In the long term, the change could nouncing a number of important munities of particular value which have considerable significance for decisions which, however, were Ian Fraser identified in the study the reserve. not accorded the prominence they of the area he undertook for the Gazettal of reserves along the deserved by sections of the local Association in 1988. To mark the Murrumbidgee corridor will give media. inclusion of this area into cover to areas which at present The Chief Minister, Mr Kaine, Namadgi, Ian has agreed to lead a have no specific legislative stand­ ing. The area could also be given announced the following measures: guided walk for the NPA in some protection in the National • extending the boundaries of November. Details are included in the outings program. Capital Plan when that is final­ Namadgi National Park to in­ ised. While pleased to see these clude the lower Cotter catch­ Inclusion of Mount Tennent into protective measures being intro­ ment (Northern Brindabella) Namadgi takes on particular sig­ duced, the Association is not yet area, Mount Tennent and Blue nificance with the opening of the satisfied that this important area Gum Creek, parts of the new Namadgi Visitors Centre, as is fully safeguarded.