IN
Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/1 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2000 TRIBUTE TO HARRY WHAETE FOX CONTROL IN KOGARAH Hurstville City Council presented Harry VVhaite Following OFF's request for details of Kogarah with an Achievement Award on 24th January in Council's fox control policy, we have been advised recognition of his dedication and work in the of the following : community. " At present, Kogarah has 10 fox traps, purchased Harry has been involved in many environment as part of Coastcare funding program. These traps organisations , back as far as the Bouddi Park Trust are available for the public to use free of charge. If in 1946. He has been a key person in the success a fox is trapped, the person holding the trap is of Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society - a given a contact number at Council to call to have committee member since 1972 to the present, Hon. the fox removed. The fox is taken to a vet, usually Treasurer for 21 years. Membership Officer since St George Veterinary Clinic, where it is put down 1993 and personally delivered OFF News by hand humanely. and foot to members around Oatley until at 86 In addition, when a resident contacts us with a fox years of age his knee got the better of him. problem, we have a "fox trapper" (Possum and As a quiet achiever, OFF is justly proud of Harry Wildlife Services, PAWS) who delivers a trap to and his volunteer work and it is pleasing to see that the resident and shows them how the trap operates. the wider community recognises his lifetime Once a fox is trapped, PAWS will retrieve the trap commitment to the environmental cause. and take the fox to the vet. Mr Bruce Shillingford of PAWS is currently \0 FROM BETTY WEEKES working through a trial fox control program in Ji before Christmas we received a letter from Carss Bush Park where he is mapping all fox dens I- etty Weekes, a former active OFF member and and gassing them with "Dencolume", carbon Newsletter Editor from 1976 to 1983. She is now monoxide gas that asphyxiates the fox in the den." living in Evans Head , continues to read OFF News Further information on this excellent program can with interest and sends greeting to all who be obtained from Sue Nolan, Open Space remember her. Her husband, Leslie, died last year Coordinator. Kogarah Council, tel 9330 9462. after a long illness, but they both loved living in an area surrounded by national parks and where they Unfortunately, the fox control program of could walk on the beach and breathe the fresh salty HurstviSIe City Council does not compare air. favourably to that of Kogarah. HCC does not have "I have planted about 30 native flowering trees and any fox traps and the landowner must pay for a shrubs," she writes," and the birds are very contractor to catch any fox and must also arrange plentiful as a result, and a joy to observe at close for the captured fox's humane disposal. OFF will quarters, going about their own affairs, bossing be working on getting a more enlightened and user each other around, flying into the windows at odd friendly policy from flurstville in the coming times and occasionally getting a few extra goodies months. from the bird tray." Betty is still concerned about the environment and local issues like the Iron RECENT NEWSLETTERS Gates development, logging in the North-East Keep up to date with environmental activities forest and caring for injured koalas. throughout Australia by reading the latest newsletters. Just arrived are Dune Care News THE SOCIETY'S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP highlighting the work of NSW Coastcare groups FEES ARE NOW DUE. $12 PER FAMILY. and The Web with information on the work being done on Threatened Species in New South Wales. O.F.F. NEWS -2- January/February 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pin. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS February 7 (Monday). ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The first get-together for the new- year. Renew friendships after the break, hear reports on the activities of your Society, elect committee members for the year 2000. This is your chance to comment on the activities of the Society - you may even consider joining the committee. As usual, the AGM will be short and will be followed by members' slides, If you have taken any interesting slides lately (especially of OFF activities), bring them along and share them with us. The slides will be followed by a LIGHT SUPPER. Please bring a plate of food to contribute to the success of the evening.
February 26 (Saturday). The first walk for the year. HERMITAGE FORESHORE, SYDNEY HARBOUR. Details in next O.F.F. News. FINANCIAL REPORT OF OATLEY FLORA AND FAUNA CONSERYATION SOCIETY INC. By John Walters, Hon. Treasurer Receipts and Payments - Year ended 31-12-99 Credit balance as at 31 -12-99 6634.21 Add Term Deposit 2234.19 Credit balance as at 3 1 -12-98 $3857.45 8868.40 Receipts Less funds held for Poulton Park 3252.09 TOTAL FUNDS OF SO( ILTY $5616.31 Subscriptions 2927.00 Donations 249.00 Note 1 Donations Functions/Trips 3373.00 Total Envir. Centre $500; Aust Bush Heritage Si00 Sales -Plants/books 164.40 Note 2 Subscriptions T rash/Treas u re/Sta 11 s 835.00 Co long Comm $40; Earthlink Pub'n $8; S-West Envir. Interest 3.10 Centre $100; National Parks Assoc. $53; Nature Term Deposits (Grants) 24386.09 3 i 937.59 Cons. Council $160; W'life Pres. Fund Qld $25. 35795.04 Comments. The Society's funds at 31-12-99 were $5616.31 compared with $4299.45 at 31-12-98. Payments Income was up $510 due mainly to increase in Donations oOO 00 (note 1 ' subscriptions in advance while expenses were down Subscriptions 386.00 (note 2; $698 with lower donations of $600 compared with Functions/trips 3222.00 $1200 in 1998. Newsletter/postage 926.42 The Society's financial position remains sound with Programmes 196.01 funds of approx, $2400 representing one year of Uniting Church 220.00 subscriptions (after discounting subscriptions in Public Risk Insurance 255.11 advance). The Presidents Fund of $1328 is Lions Fairs 55.00 exclusively used for donations - income being entirely from trash and treasure and stall sales. Administration Exps. 259.29 Included in our funds is a bequest from the Estate of Debits Tax 25.00 the late Beatrice Goldstein earmarked for revision and Kogarah Council*(Grants) 22866.00 reprinting of the Oatley Park Plant List. PO Box rental 45.00 In conjunction with Kogarah Council the Society has Annual return 35.00 tern deposits of $186,663.83 for restoration and Oatley West Pub School (Bond) 70.00 rehabilitation projects in Poulton Park and Moore 29160.83 Reserve. As work is completed, reimbursement is made to the Council.
Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairlev, P.O. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 OM if Published by OATLEY M.OEA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY ENC. 2000/2 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents FEBRU ARY/MARCH 2000 THE SOCIETY IN 1999 SOME CURRENT CAMPAIGNS Highlights from Hon. Secretary's Annual Report Save the Snowy River * Involvement in Hurstville City Council local The Snowy River is dying of thirst. The Snowy- issues, including Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands, Salt Hydro Scheme has left it with only 1% of its Pan Creek rezoning, housing density development, original flow. Returning to 28% of the flow will foreshore scenic protection, and building heights in bring back the river to life. The situation has small shopping centres; reached the political stage with the NSW, * Involvement in Kogarah Municipal Council Victorian and Commonwealth Governments issues, including Moore Reserve Plan of negotiating the Snowy's future. A decision will be Management, Poulton Park Plan of Management, made in the next few months. Carss Park boundary, Coastcare Activities and The irrigation lobby is opposed to 28% because ongoing grant projects; they receive water from the Snowy Scheme. * Grant projects obtained by OFF in association Irrigation is very wasteful and improved water with Kogarah Council include $40,990 for Poulton efficiency can easily make up for the 28% Park and $108,600 for Moore Reserve. Poulton environmental flow for the Snowy. Park Boardwalk Coastcare Project is still in How vou can help : Lobby your local MP (Kevin progress and Oatley Embankment Planting was Greene, MP Georges River). An urgent letter or completed during the year; fax will make a difference. Fax 9580 9103. * Informative talks and slides dealing with environmental and related scientific topics, as well Cumberland Woodland Endangered as some "armchair tours" to many parts of the The NSW Government has just released a Regional globe; attendance at meetings averaging over 60 Environmental Plan (REP) for the former per night. The Annual Dinner and Christmas BBQ Australian Defence Industries (ADI) site at St in Oatley Park were also very successful; Marys. This site contains one of the largest * Well-attended monthly field trips, with extras remnants of endangered Cumberland Plain including Smiggin Holes week, the Barrington Woodland in Western Sydney. Despite the rarity week in June and 11 day trip to Innamincka; of the habitat, the Plan proposes to sacrifice * I he urban fox awareness campaign continued significant areas of woodland to a large housing with questionnaires and letters especially to local development. What is intended as a Regional Park councils; will be dissected by roads and drainage works. * Representations made to State, Federal and Local How vou can help ; The land is Commonwealth government members over issues such as Snowy owned. Write to Senator Robert Hill, Parliament River flow, Fitzroy River (WA) dam proposal, House, Canberra, and ask that the Federal South-east Forest policies, national parks Government does not enter into any agreement to protection and tree removal; develop this land unless all endangered woodland * Investigation of accident liability measures to is protected. cover members on trips; Also - Write to Hon Bob Debus, NSW * a speakers' kit prepared for use when OFF Environment Minister and let him know your members are invited to address local groups; objections to the REP. * Information and plant selling stalls at both Lugarno and Oatley Lions Festivals; other public Oceans Under Threat relations exercises at Penshurst Library and School A Greenpeace Fact Sheet on what is happening to Children's Expo; our fish stocks in the Southern Oceans makes * Pre-election policies of Local and State sobering reading. Details can be obtained on their government candidates scrutinised. website : www.greenpeace.org.au O.F.F. NEWS -2- February/March 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pin. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS February 26 (Saturday). FIELD DAY- THE FIRST FOR YEAR 2000. An easy walk along the Hermitage Foreshore of Sydney Harbour National Park from Rose Bay Convent to Vaucluse House via Strickland House, Mount Trefle and Nielsen Park. Catch the 8.36am train from Oatley to Town Mall and walk along Park Street to its intersection with Castlereagh Street, where it is intended that we catch either the 324 or the 325 bus at 9.25am to the Rose Bay Convent. If travelling by car, meet at the Convent at 10.00am. We expect to return by bus to the city from Vaucluse House around 3.30-4.00pm. Leader : John Blake, telephone 9570 47%.
February 28 (Monday). Talk by the Wilderness Society. Hear about the Wilderness 2000 Campaign. Why Wilderness is important. How much wild country is left. What areas need to be protected. What is the Government response to pleas for wilderness protection. What you can do to help. The Wilderness Society is giving its time free of charge for the evening , but you may wish to give a small donation. We will have a donation box at the door lor this purpose.
March 5 (Sunday). CLEAN-UP AUSTRALIA DAY. This year's effort will be concentrated along the Salt Pan Creek shoreline. Meet at the bottom of Murdoch Crescent (off Blackbutt Avenue), Lugarno at 9.00am. Wear sturdy shoes/boots and bring gloves. Depending on the number of volunteers and the time available, we may move on to a second site at Edith Bay.
\\ ILDERMESS NOTES SOUTH COAST FORESTS Protecting native forests under wilderness laws is The campaign to protect the magnificent old- the most effective means to preserve them. It growth forest on the South Coast of NSW has ensures harmful activities, such as clearing, stepped up a gear with the issue of a colour development and pollution, do not interfere with brochure "The South Coast Wonderland" and a the life processes, and continued evolution of map identifying 15 of the most "Fantastic plants and animals. Creating a chain of Forests". wilderness national parks will ensure the The South East Forest Alliance has identified 15 spectacular landscapes and our unique natural; essential pieces to fill in the puzzle of the South heritage are given the legal right to exist in Coast forests national park system. These areas perpetuity. are currently unprotected and most of them are As we approach the new millennium, it is critical threatened by intensive industrial logging and that the last substantial remnants of the natural woodchipping. The forests protect the habitat of environment are protected. Already 95 per cent over 40 threatened species, over 35 thousand of wilderness in NSW has vanished. hectares of old-growth forest, five wilderness Today, wilderness has been reduced to islands of areas, vital water catchments and some of the nature surrounded by an ocean of developed land. best tourism assets in the South Coast. Unless we protect these remaining bushland The NSW Government will make a decision soon expanses, wildlife species will become extinct on whether these forests will be protected forever and catchments protecting critical water supplies or left for logging for the next 20 years. You can more polluted. help by writing a short letter to the Premier, Hon. From "Wilderness 2000", a brochure urging your Bob Carr, urging the protection of these forests. support for the wilderness campaign, available A form letter and additional information is from Colong Foundation , phone 9299 7341. available from the desk at OFF meetings. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P. O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P.O .Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 o, f, f n Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/3 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents
MARCH/APRIL 2000 THE POPULATION DEBATE destructive fishing practices are decimating global It was an encouraging sign to see the debate in the fish stocks, damaging marine ecosystems, print media on Australia's sustainable population threatening food security, economic stability and sparked by Premier Bob Carr's article in the the livelihoods of tens of millions of people. Sydney Morning Herald (January 6). Around the globe about one million industrial scale Conservationists have long advocated the adoption and two million smaller fishing boats compete for of an Australian population policy. What is an what remains of dwindling fish stocks. Wasteful Ecologically Sustainable Population? What should and indiscriminate fishing methods threaten the be the optimum migration intake? Is bigger delicate web of marine life. These include vast necessarily better? What will be the effects on trawler nets large enough to hold several Australia's environment of a population of 30 aeroplanes; mammoth factory ships capable of million or 50 million? catching and processing several hundred tonnes of fish every day; fishing lines up to 130 kilometres According to Gordon Hocking (Australians for an long with thousands of baited hooks. It is Ecologically Sustainable Population) "it would be estimated that 27 million tonnes of dead and dying reckless and dismissive of the needs of future ocean creatures caught as unwanted bycatch are generations to further increase Australia's human thrown back into the oceans every year, (from population, for there is abundant, well-documented Greenpeace Fact Sheet, Oceans Under Threat). evidence of ecological decline caused by human impact on the environment. " The CSIRO has NUMBATS IN NEW SOUTH WALES warned that "Australia can carry its present Some good news recently with the release of the population or a higher one in an economically, first numbats to set foot in NSW for 70 years. This environmentally and socially sustainable way only occurred in the Nova Scotia Sanctuary, 100 km if the nation is prepared to change the way it does north-west of Went worth, a privately owned " fS.M# 12 Jan.) sanctuary of 40 square kilometre surrounded by a feral-proof fence. Eighteen were released and it is BOTANY BAY TRAWLING RUINS BAY hoped that in future numbat populations can be re- George Wilson, Principal Research Scientist at the established in the wild not just in parks and zoos. Australian Museum, has called for the stopping of all trawl fishing in Botany Bay. " Trawling is VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE highly damaging to marine life on the sea floor The Total Environment Centre have set out some and greatly reduces the ability of the bay to of its objectives for the 21st Century. These recover from other impacts. Trawling not only include : end of land clearing by 2005; end of strips all marine life from the sandy bottoms of native forest logging and woodchipping by 2010; Botany Bay, but it also kills many invertebrate Australia to reach its target of 20% renewable animals and juvenile fish that are wastefully energy supply by 2010; massive tree planting to dumped. Why not stop trawling permanently, and reduce salinity on 50% of affected land by 2005. let the bay recover? This solution seems simple, OFF Memberships are now due. The majority but perhaps not so politically. " of members have already renewed their More about fishing membership for the year 2000 but some Quite simply, there are too many people chasing subscriptions are still over-due. Members are too few fish. " (James R. McGoodwin) reminded that the Society's Constitution states Sophisticated technology and a global boom in the that membership ceases if payment is not made industry during the past 50 years have out-stripped by March 31 nature's ability to replenish the seas. Wasteful and O.F.F. NEWS -2- March/April 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS March 25 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. Bird Study Day in Centennial Park with Ern Hoskin. We will be meeting at Centennial Park at 9.15 am on the Grand Drive about 100 metres inside the Robertson Road Gates. The Grand Drive is a one way circuit so we will be around to the left inside the gates. Those coming on public transport will need to catch the 7.59 am train from Mortdale (does not pick up at Oatley) which arrives at Central at 8.21. Then the 339 bus from Eddy Ave, leaving at 8.42 and due to arrive at the intersection of Anzac Pde and Cleveland St at 8.50. From here walk along Lang Rd to enter Centennial Park at Robertson Road Gates. (The 8.06 train from Oatley arriving at Central at 8.36 probably doesn't leave enough time to make the bus). Our leader for the day will be Em Hoskin, well known as the "man who talks to the birds" and a fascinating and informative day can be anticipated. We expect to leave the park about 3.30 pm. Contact : David Crawford on 9533 2187.
Some OFF members have expressed an interest in staying at Centennial Park for a Friends of the Bats Night from 6.00 to 8.30 pm run by the Ku-ring-gai Bat Conservation Society. We will probably have early dinner at a restaurant nearby between the bird outing and the bat night. If you are interested in this, please ring Alan Fairley (9570 8332) as we must confirm numbers
March 27 (Monday). Talk by Linda Gibson from the Australian Museum. Topic : "Why did the Koala Cross the Road?" Linda is one of Australia's experts on our local mammals and has conducted extensive surveys in the Royal National Park post fire and many other areas, so it should be a most informative evening.
April 9 (Sunday). Ilurstville City Council Tree Give-away. This year the Tree Give-away will be held at Mortdale Memorial Park, bordered by Boundary Rd, Oxford St and Martin Place, (the park with the large fig trees), from 9 am to 4 pm. Residents may collecxt two free trees on presentation of a Council rate notice.
Note : Change of regular meeting date. Because of Easter, the next monthly meeting will be early, on Monday 17th April. Peter Hay from the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be speaking on Central Australian Landscapes. SOCIETY NEWS a disappointing turn-up by OFF members. ** Twelve people enjoyed the first OFF walk of Between 9 am and 1 pm, 37 bags of rubbish were the year along Hermitage Reserve. It was a collected from the mangrove foreshores, lovely sunny day and the views of Sydney including a double water bed, car bonnet, parts of Harbour were great. Some even went swimming a door and pieces of timber. at Nielsen Park. ** Members who cannot get to our Monday night ** Another very successful week was spent in meetings but who wish to respond to requests to January at Smiggin Holes. Some thought is being write letters on environmental issues, may obtain given to an alternative site for next year as we copies of form letters by sending a stamped self have explored the Smiggins area pretty addressed envelope to the Hon Secretary with a thoroughly over the last few years. Any request for the relevant sheet. suggestions would be appreciated. ** The revised, up-dated and re-organised Oatley ** Not so successful was the Clean-up Australia Park Plant List has been completed and is ready Day. Only 16 people attended, but 10 of these for printing. There are now 309 species on the were non-members from the Lugamo area. It was list. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fair lev, P. O. Box 148, Oatlev. 2223. 9570.8332 0 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/4 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents
APRIL/MAY 2000
Georges River Upland Swamp Protection Rabbit Reduction The Georges River begins its life in spongy A recent report estimates that Australia's rabbit swamps on the Woronora Plateau between numbers have been cut by 60% - or about 130 Campbell town and Bulli. Stokes and O "Hares million rabbits!! While this is great news for the Creeks flow from these swamps as major flora of the outback, it will mean that foxes, tributaries of the Georges River. For many years dingoes and birds of prey will need to find a new these swamps have been recognised as magnificent food source and are likely to start preying on small areas worthy of protection. native animals such as lizards, birds, mice and In 1996, most of these headwaters which were other marsupials. zoned Water Catchment were handed to NPWS as a Nature Reserve and State Recreation Area. Fox Campaign in Nattai Parks However a large area, approx. 5 km by 2 km , was Late 1999 saw the start of a month-long fox baiting excluded and although it is listed on the Directory operation in Thirlmere Lakes and Nattai National of Important Wetlands, its managing Trust decided Parks. Foxes are cunning and voracious predators to allow the Illawarra Shooters Assn. To lease most of native animals, particularly small ground of the area. In late 1997, the Illawarra Shooters did mammals such as young wallabies so their removal unauthorized work by bull-dozing a large should be a great benefit for the parks. In addition, community of rare plants. The NPWS took no local farmers will benefit as their lambs will be at legal action against the Association. lower risk of being taken. After a court action by Georges River Environmental Alliance in which the Court ABI Site, St Marys determined that the shooters had no legal consent The former Australian Defence Industry (ADI) site to build a firing range, the Minister for the at St Marys contains the largest remnant of Environment intervened giving the shooters better Cumberland Clay Woodland in Western Sydney. access. The entire site was listed in the NSW National The Shooters Association applied late in 1998 for Trust Heritage Register in 1996 for its contribution development approval and despite 50 out of 59 to biodiversity conservation, its rare and submissions opposing the proposal, the Minister endangered species and its contribution to water for Urban Affairs and Planning called the matter in quality. The Australian Heritage Commission for his determination, thus denying interested listed 1110 hectares of the site on the Register of parties the right to object in the Land and the National Estate in 1997. However, this area Environment Court. Since the area has outstanding was reduced subsequently because of an objection natural values, the conservation case would be very made by developers. strong if heard in an open and impartial court The Dept. of Urban Affairs and Planning wants to setting. turn the ADI site into 8000 houses. Local resident The issue is still pending but decisions are action groups fear this development will result in expected to be made soon. Those concerned with the loss of habitat for many emus, kangaroos, this Dharawal area and the unfair decision making reptiles and endangered birds and flora. For more process are urged to write to either Mr Bob Carr, details contact the ADI Residents Action Group on Premier; Dr A. Refshauge, Minister for Urban 9673 4743. Affairs and Planning; or Mr R. debus, Minister for the Environment. Ask for the Illawarra Shooters "77?e ;.s yWwg fo cope Range proposal to be refused and the area to be with urban consolidation" (Neville Gruzman, incorporated into the State Recreation Area. Adj.Prof.in School of Architecture, UNSW). O.F.F. NEWS -2- April/May 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself know n as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS April 17 (Monday). Talk and slides by Peter Hay of National Parks and Wildlife Service and Sub- district Manager of Royal National Park. Topic : Central Australian Landscapes. Note : Because of Easter, this talk is earlier than our regular monthly meetings
April 29 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. Woolwich-Hunters Hill walkabout. An easy walk around Hunters Hill and Woolwich mostly on good footpaths with a couple of steep hills. It is a walk of 4 - 5 hours duration commencing at Hunters Hill Public School in Alexandra Street and is about 5 km in length. We will see historic homes, churches, Morts Dock, Kelly's Bush and fine views of the Harbour, Lane Cove River and Parramatta River. Those coming on public transport will need to catch the 8.38 am train from Mortdale (does not pick up at Oatley), which arrives at Town Hall Station at 9.03 am. We will then catch the 9.09 am train to Circular Quay arriving in time for the 9.25 am ferry to Valentia Street Wharf, Woolwich. A bus meets the ferry to take us to the start of the walk which will commence at 10.00 am or a little after. We expect to return on the 2.53 pm ferry from Valentia Street Wharf. Leader : John Blake, phone 9570 4796.
May 22 (Monday). Talk by Dr Fred Bell on Food from Native Plants.
WALKS REPORT - CENTENNIAL PARK HURSTVILLE'S NEW WASTE SYSTEM Over 20 people attended the bird day at Residents of Hurstville City are soon to get a new Centennial Park on March 23rd, including the waste recycling system to replace the plastic children and grandchildren of some members. recycling crates. You will get not one but three The weather was very pleasant and the park was bins. They will be as follows : abuzz with joggers, strollers, roller-bladers, horse r- the existing bin (240 litres) which will riders, bicycle riders and picnickers. Ern Hoskin become a green waste bin to be collected was at his enthusiastic best, pointing out birds in every two weeks; the lagoons and trees and demonstrating his > another large (240 litres) bin for amazing ability to mimic many of the species. recyclables such as paper, glass and At least 27 species of birds were recorded. Of aluminium. This will be collected special note were the number of nesting Darters fortnightly on the week opposite to green and a roosting Tawny Frogmouth concealed in a waste; paperbark tree. We wandered through some > a smaller (120 litre) bin for domestic interesting habitats including a fenced off garbage, to be collected weekly. swampy area of old Melaleucas and some very The new system is expected to begin on July 17th. old pine trees on a sandy hill below which was a Each residence will receive a video which stand of the rare Banksia aemula. All agreed that explains the new system. The clean-up service it was a most pleasant and informative day. twice a year for larger items will continue. Four members remained after 3.30 pm, had an early Lebanese dinner in Cleveland Street and SOCIETY NEWS returned to Centennial park for a "Bat Night" put * Don't forget to bring your aluminium cans to on by the Ku-nng-gai Bat Society. After a talk the monthly meeting. Val Boyan recycles them and some slides, at dusk we wandered around the and makes money for the OFF Presidents Fund. park with over 50 other people looking at large * We can also recycle corks for Girl Guides. fruit bats feeding on the fruiting figs and listening Bring them to the meeting and give them to for the squeak of micro-bats amplified on a Judith Robertson. special detector. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson. P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P. O. Box 148, Oatlev. 2223. 9570.8332 (1 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/5 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents
WAY/JUNE 2000
Why Value Biological Diversity ? species named and recorded range from 1.7 million One argument for the preservation of biological to 1.8 million. Estimates of total number of diversity is narrowly utilitarian. It correctly species present range from 3 million to 30 million. emphasises the benefits already derived from The total number if species in Linneaus' natural products, such as foods, medicines, and so pioneering work in 1758 was only 9,000. 56% of on. Currently, 25% of the drugs on the shelves in all named species are insects. There is obviously the pharmacy derive from a mere 120 species of still a lot to know. plants. But throughout the world, the traditional medicines of native peoples make use of around New Laws to Stop Over-development 25,000 species of plants (only about 10% of the We were pleased to read that the State Government total plant species); we have much to learn. More had passed new laws to protect small shopping generally, as our understanding of the natural areas from over-development. This involved world advances, the planet's genetic diversity is gazetting amendments to Hurstville's Environment increasingly the raw stuff from which our future Plan and was the result of nearly five years of can be constructed. It seems a pity to be burning campaigning by community groups, including OFF the books before we can read them, and before we (see OFF News Jan. 1998). The changes will can create wealth from the recipes on their pages. limit new development at small shopping centres, such as West Oatley and Lugarno, to no more than Another class of arguments are more diffusely two storeys. utilitarian. The interactions between biological and physical processes created and maintained the Removing Overhead Powerlines earth's biosphere as a place where life can flourish. "Imagine looking down a suburban street on a hot With impending changes in climate caused by the summer's day and, instead of mutilated trees, increasing scale of human activity, we should be powerlines and poles, there are graceful lines of worried about reductions in biological diversity, at naturally shaped trees on each side of the street. least until we understand its role in maintaining the Instead of hot bitumen and pavements shimmering planet's life support systems. The first rule of in the street, there is shade under a canopy of green intelligent tinkering is to keep all the pieces. leaves. Ugly power poles have been replaced by trees sucking in foul air and replacing it with But a third class of argument is the most oxygen. Are we content to live, in the 21bt century, compelling. It is clearly set out in a UK in a city whose streets are cluttered with 19th Government White Paper (This Common century industrial infrastructure? Do we, the Inheritance, 1990) : " the starting point for this citizens of Sydney, have the imagination and Government is the ethical imperative of determination to make the undergrounding of stewardship. We have a moral duty to look after Sydney's cables a reality?" our planet and to hand it on in good order to future (From an article In S.M.H. 27 March by Peter generations". Downey, Chairman of Sydney Cables Downunder, (From a paper by Robert M. May, Dept of Zoology, a community-based group aiming to bury Sydney's Oxford University). overhead cables. Email [email protected]
How many species are there ? The Future of the Snowy River There is much argument about the total number of We have received a Briefing Paper on this plants, animals and micro-organisms with which important issue from NSW Parliamentary Library. we share this planet. Estimates of the number of It is available from the desk at monthly meetings. O.F.F. NEWS -2- May/June 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS May 22 (Monday). Talk by Dr Fred Bell on FOOD FROM NATIVE PLANTS. Many of us know Fred Bell. He is a regular at OFF meetings and has made major contributions to environmental committees such as that working on improving the Snowy River's flow. But did you know that he is also very knowledgable about native food plants ? Another interesting evening assured.
May 27 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. Coastal walk, Avalon to North Narrabeen. Part of the Bicentennial Coastal Walk, this is a very pleasant walk along the Northern Beaches. The whole walk is about 11 km in length, but you can stop at Mona Vale after 71,4 km if you wish. We expect to take at least 4 hours. There are a number of ups and downs as the track drops to beaches and rises over headlands. But for your effort you will be rewarded with magnificent coastal views, the contrast of cliffs, rock platforms and yellow sand, and a glimpse of the lifesty le which makes this area so unique. We will catch the 9.30 am L90 bus from Wynyard to Avalon. You will need to catch the 8.29 am train from Mortdale (it does not stop at Oatley). arriving at Town Hall 8.53 am, then connect to Wynyard. If travelling by car. we will meet at the southern end of Avalon Beach, on the corner of Barren joey Road and Avalon Parade at 10 am (depending on bus arrival). Leader : Alan Fairley , phone 9 570 8332.
June 18th -23"'. Harrington Getaway. See below.
June 26 (Monday). Peter Sage "Outdoors in England".
SOCIETY NEWS Harrington Guest House. Most interested n The Annual Dinner will be held this year members have already booked for this getaway. on 18 August at Mortdale R.S.L.'s Accommodation will be from 4 pm Sunday 18 Regency Restaurant. The cost per person June for 5 nights until 23 June (including Sunday is likely to be $24 (including GST). More night's dinner). A special deal for OFF members details, including menu, later. has been organised : $360 per person with full • Twenty three attended last month's walk facilities or $265 without own facilities. You to Hunters Hill. It was a most interesting should indicate that you are an OFF member and enjoyable outing. when you book. All people going are asked to let D Don't forget to bring your aluminium our Secretary, Robin Dickson, know on cans to the monthly meeting. Val Boyan 95805663 so we have a record of who has recycles them and makes money for the booked. OFF Presidents Fund. n We can also recycle corks for Girl The Plan of Management for Royal National Guides. Bring them to the meeting and Park is now available from Audley Visitor give them to Judith Robertson Centre. Among its recommendations are plans to ° We are trying to get a Bushcare Officer restrict tent camping to North Era and Uloola from Hurstville and Kogarah Councils to Falls, to demolish 28 huts at Bonnie Vale but to come to one of our meetings to update the allow 201 huts at Era and Burning Palms to Grant Projects on local bushland reserves. remain, and to begin a sterilisation program to Q Smiggin Holes. It looks like there is control the 5000 feral deer which are causing sufficient interest among members to go massive erosion problems and damage to the ahead with this trip for another year. park's ecosystems.
Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P.O. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 Q111 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/6 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents JUNE/JULY 2000
Timber Supplies for Lithgow Smelter Thanks to Ted Cooper Our Society was one of the many conservation The Society offers its congratulations to Ted organizations to object to a proposal to use Cooper of the Hurstville Residents Association hardwood from Pilliga and Goonoo Forests to for his persistence and ultimate success in produce charcoal for a Silicon Smelter at obtaining a new Local Environment Plan which Lithgow. In a letter to our Secretary, the Director restricts the height of buildings in small shopping General of the Premier's Department has advised centres in Peakhurst Ward. This Society also that these forests will not be logged. This follows campaigned for change and the stopping of over- a detailed environmental, cultural and economic development in Mulga Road, West Oatley (see assessment. The NSW Government will continue OFF News, Sept 1995), so it is good to see that to talk to the developer of the silicon plant about after 5 years something has been achieved. possible options and alternatives for charcoal production. "One alternative," says the news Hacking River Upper Catchment Problems release, "could include redirecting wood residue The Hacking River flows mainly through the from current sawmill operations." Royal National Park but after a decade of effort, water testing reveals that its water quality is still Murray salt and South Australia declining. Why? Unfortunately, there are major Complaints by South Australia that upstream sources of pollution in the upper catchment States are causing most of the salination problems outside the Park. Some examples are : in the lower reaches of the Murray River have •> A colliery with run-off into Camp Creek been questioned by the CSIRO. Latest research and then into the river. These waterways shows that 30 per cent of all salt loads entering are contaminated by storm water run-off the river come from SA sources - and this could from the mine during periods of wet be nearly 50 per cent by 2050. weather. Spills have rendered Camp Most of the salt load is due to saline groundwater Creek biologically dead for up to a year. caused by clearing in the mallee regions of •> Abandoned sand mines in the catchment Victoria and SA, and (to a lesser extent) NSW. of Kellys Creek and Gills Gully contribute Up to 40 per cent of river red gums and black box significant silt into the Hacking system. trees along SA's,Murray are at risk from this On-site holding ponds are inadequate at salinity. With between 40 and 70 per cent of times of heavy rainfall. Wollongong Adelaide's metropolitan water already sourced Council has not acted on a Soil from the Murray, this is a serious problem. The Conservation Service recommendation to CSIRO states that "it is clear that salinity stabilise these sites. management will require not only change to ••• Helensburgh Tip, which takes waste from agricultural practices, but significant engineering Wollongong's northern suburbs, has intervention to have a short to medium-term discharged storm water and leachate into impact." two small river tributaries. # Storm water pipes around Helensburgh Clean Up Day - Sunday 13 August carry a lot of nutrients. Neither the State A second Clean Up Sydney will be held this year Government nor the Wollongong Council in preparation for the Olympics. Target sites seem willing to spend money on include Foreshores of Sydney Harbour, preventing urban run-off discharging into Kogarah/Georges River and Airport and environs. the upper Hacking. If you are interested in assisting, phone the Co- (Details from The Port Hacking Protection Society, Phone ordinator on 9552 6177. 9523 3680) Meetings arc held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frcdcrick Street (near the corncrofUctitia Street),Oatley. Please mahcyoursclfknown as you comc in. It is intended that meetings commcncc promptly at7.45pm. V isitors and children arc wclcomc to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS June 26 (Monday). Talk by Peter Sage. Outdoors in England, a look at some of the beautiful areas of The Lakes District, Yorkshire and Dartmoor. Peter has spoken at previous OFF meetings and many will remember his wonderful slides.
July 1 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. Blue Mountains. BLACKHEATH. Evans Lookout-Neates Glen - Grand Canyon -Evans Lkt. A medium walk of about 6 km, taking us 4 hours. Track winds along rocky creek where crossings may be slippery. Meet at Evans Lookout car park at 10.15 am, about 2 hours drive from Oatley. Morning tea at nearby picnic area before heading off around 10.30 am. Leaders : Graham and Janet Austin , phone 9579 2375.
July 24 (Monday). A talk by Chris Kerr on conservation of animals and his work on chimpanzee in! Uganda. | i
The Annual Dinner will be held this year on OFF Activities 18th August at Mortdale R.S.L.'s Regency ***It was cool but sunny and beautifully clear for Restaurant. The cost per person is $24 (including our last walk along the Bicentennial Track from GST. Payments may be made to Val Boyan at the Avalon to North Narrabeen. Seventeen people, June or July meetings led by Alan Fairley, enjoyed the walks, the views and the pleasant company. From some high Bush Regeneration - Hurstville. Jason points you could see all the way from Bouddi Cockayne, Hurstville City Council's Bushcare Point in the north to North Head at Manly. Officer, spoke at our last meeting and showed ***Dr Fred Bell's talk on his experiences in slides of bushland areas where invading exotic growing edible native plants proved a great plants have been removed and native vegetation success. Fred and Joan had gone to a lot of encouraged. The contrast between the before and trouble to make biscuits of macadamia and bunya after was remarkable. He also explained the pine nuts, and had samples to taste of a variety of different techniques need for different problem species including finger lime, a North areas and said that seeds from local species were Queensland "cherry" and solanum berries. Fred being collected and grown into seedlings for local has estimated that 48% of native plants are planting. He encouraged members to become edible. involved in the Volunteer Bushcare Programme. There are now 100 registered volunteers working Problems with Tree Preservation Order on 10 sites, ranging from Lime Kiln Bay wetlands Hurstville Residents Gazette reports on the loss of to the Peakhurst Foreshore. This is an enjoyable two mature trees in a development in Woodlands experience where you meet interesting people at Avenue, Lugamo. They were removed for "safety- the same time as doing something very positive to reasons". Actually one was undermined by improve your local environment. excavations for a driveway and the other removed We have at the back desk of OFF meetings a list because it caused some difficulty with driveway of Bushcare sites and their meeting days and turning. Hurstville Council, to its credit, has times, but to find out more ring Jason Cockayne instructed the developer to plant 14 mature on 0411 744 715 or 9330 6228 during office indigenous trees in the place of the two removed- hours. a cost of thousands of dollars to the developer.
Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P.O. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 © I f, 1 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/7 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents JULY/AUGUST 2000
Concerns over GM Foods Choose your Seafood Wisely Following concerns expressed by some members Have you ever thought about the sustainability of over the proposals in Federal Parliament for the fish that you eat? Do you know about the fish legislation regarding Genetically Modified food, you order at the restaurant, how it was caught and the Society has sent letters to John Howard and whether it is endangered from over-harvesting? other politicians urging that "the matter be given A new brochure entitled Fish Forever, published the necessary time and expertise to arrive at safe by the Australian Marine Conservation Society, is decisions." a simple guide to a sustainable choice. It ranks 42 Robin, our Hon Secretary, has written a long and of the most commonly eaten fish species in S-E detailed letter, of which we can only mention the Australia and ranks them according to their most significant points. sustainability. 1 is best choice; 18 is worst choice. " There seems to have been a withdrawal from the Some examples: consultative process extensive public Squid, Calamari 1 Yellow-eye Mullet 5 consultation must precede any legislation. " Garfish 6 Whiting 6 Re the GM labelling process. "People must be Flathead 7 Yellowfin Tuna 7 given the choice as to whether they wish to Rock Lobster 8 John Dory 11 Giant Crab 11 Bluefin Tuna 14 consume these products. Detailed labelling of all Scallop 15 Gemfish 16 GM products is essential. " Redfish 17 Orange Roughy 18 "Pfg are concerned a/ f/# g/ziwoM/Mg/z/w/ effects that may ensue from the growing of GM For further information contact AMCS on 1800 066 299. crops. In the past agricultural and. or biological Frightening Fish Facts methods have been introduced in what was * One quarter of all marine life caught worldwide is thrown thought at the time to be best practice, however back - dead. * As little as 2% of the original Southern Bluefin Tuna population remains. Some new magazines at the meeting desk * At least 44,000 albatross are killed annually on tuna Bush Heritage News (Winter 2000). With news longlines. * Patagoman l'oothfish could be commercially extinct by 2002 of the latest acquisition at Currumbin Valley, if current fishing levels continue. Qld., Containing rare rainforest communities. * The 1997 illegal catch of Patagonian Toot'nfish was around Also how Bush Heritage manages its reserves. 100,000 tonnes, worth $500 million. The Colons Bulletin (May 2000). Articles on * Many small crustaceans and shellfish are killed and their habitats destroyed by repeated trawling over the same area. Kinchega's disappearing wilderness, trading trees for pollution and how to be involved in the Time is Running Out Wilderness 2000 Campaign. "The world's population has now passed 6 billion and the National Parks Journal (June 2000). Featuring majority of these people live in poverty. Meanwhile, the Western woodlands, salinity in NSW rivers and share of the planet's resources being used by the affluent NPA's policy on land rights and national parks. minority is also growing. It is essential to reverse these trends but time is running out. The Bushland Bulletin (Autumn 2000). If we are to make real progress, the environmental agenda of Bankstown Bushland Society's up-date on threats the 2T' century should drive environmental improvement to to Louisa Reserve (Bankstown), Norfolk Reserve accompany economic and social gains. (Greenacre) and freshwater wetlands at Chullora. Water is one of the most crucial international challenges as In addition, we have a number of copies of past scarcities loom for more than 20 per cent of the world's population, while soil degradation has affected two-thirds of Australian Geographic magazines which we the world's agricultural lands in the past 50 years. " would like to go to educational institutions. See (K.Toepfer, U.N. Environment Program, S.M.H.) Alan Fairley if you can help. O.F.F. NEWS -2- July/August 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS July 24 (Monday). Talk by Chris Kerr and Debbie Cox. Chris is a former construction manager at Taronga Zoo and worked to build holding pens for orphaned chimpanzees on a remote African island off Uganda as part of a Wildlife Conservation Trust project. There he had many hair-raising experiences, including a boat sinking, an army interrogation and the arrival of men with machine guns. Hear about some of these experiences as well as the current threats to Ugandan wildlife and the success of conservation efforts.
July 29 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. SPIT to MANLY Walk, Sydney Harbour National Park. Distance : 8 kilometres. Magnificent harbour views with a good variety of native plant communities, ranging from gully rainforest to coastal heath. Also sandy beaches, sandstone cliffs and protected coves. Bring lunch and drinking water. Catch the train from Oatley at 8.35 am or Mortdale at 8.38 am. Arrive Town Hall 9.03 am. Change at Town Hall for Wynyard, then bus No. 178 from Carrington St, Stand C, departing 9.34 am to The Spit. Return from Manly by ferry to Circular Quay. Leader : Heather Mackey, phone 9528 7071 for more information.
August 18 (Friday). ANNUAL DINNER - see details below.
August 28 (Monday). Geoff Ross of NPWS to talk on Whales.
LAST CHANCE TO BE AT O.F.F. Society News *** Following our request, Hurstville City mm mm Council is to review its fox policy. The Manager To be held on 18th August at Mortdale R.S.L.'s Development and Health has been asked to Regency Restaurant. The cost per person is $24 prepare a submission to Council to review current (including GST). Bookings and payment to be policy. (For the inadequacy of HCC fox policy, made to Val Boyan at the July meeting or ring see OFF News, January 2000). Val on 9533 1013. We urgently need to know numbers to make confirmation with the venue. *** As the September meeting falls during the Olympic Games (Monday 25th), no guest speaker Barrington Tops Visit 18th to 23rd August has been organized as we are unsure about Twenty six O.F.F. members recently enjoyed a fun- attendance numbers. The night is to be one of filled visit to Barrington Tops Guest House. The nostalgia, with members encouraged to bring week's activities included bushwalking in the lush slides of past OFF activities or your memorable rainforest of the area and successful evening trips. Val Douglas would like to know if vou are spotlighting walks to view possums, potaroos, gliders, able to supply slides for that night. Please see her wallabies, bandicoots, scrub turkeys and a tawhey frogmouth. We also walked through the majestic at the next meeting or ring on 9580 7783. Antarctic beech forest and visited the historic church of St Mary-on-Allyn. Congratulations to Marie *** Riverkeepers now have an office at 52 Anderson who was our only member to climb Careys Wyong Street, Oatley (up a dirt track). Merridyd Peak. Cairn-Duff, the co-ordinator, wants to build the Members enjoyed the guest house hospitality, the office up as a resource centre and also is asking delicious meals and the organized evening activities so for volunteers to organize information walks and much that it has been decided that the Society will talk/slides shows on aspects of the Georges River. endeavour to book another visit to Barrington in late September 2001. Lesley Winters If you think you can help, ring her on 9586 4288. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P .0. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/8 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 Price 10 cents AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2000
'NATIVE PLANTS Threatened Species Day OF OATLEY PARK' Nationally the 7th September is a special day to highlight the plight of Australia's threatened The long-awaited revision and reprint of the species and ecological communities. September Oatley Park plant list has now been completed. 7th is the date that the last Tasmanian Tiger died 309 species are recorded for what is undoubtedly in captivity in 1936. You can get involved in the most important bushland reserve in the St local projects which will help raise awareness and George area. The booklet is 56 pages and is conserve threatened species, like tree planting, organised under family groups as well as an surveys, displays, weeding, workshops, etc. If alphabetical list of species. Common names, you are interested and want to get involved, appearance, preferred habitat and flowering times contact Threatened Species Network by phone on are all included. The printing of 500 copies of the 9281 5515 or Fax 9281 1060. list was made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of former member Mrs Beatrice FROM THE NEWSPAPERS Goldstein. The booklet sells for $3.00 (excellent Queensland Under Bulldozer value!) and is available from the desk at Farmers in Queensland are panic clearing meetings. Get a copy and explore the park this bushland following the Beattie Government's coming Spring. failure to proclaim legislation it has introduced to protect native vegetation. This includes 56,000 GM Foods - some responses hectares of woodland owned by the insurance The Society has received a number of responses giant AMP; mobile processors are turning the in reply to our letters on genetically modified fallen timber into woodchips. Endangered foods. These include letters from Daryl Melham rainforest is being uprooted. Permits to clear (MP for Banks), Kevin Greene (MP for Georges 644,500 hectares of native vegetation on lease- River), Alan Griffin ( Labor MP) and the NSW hold land were issued last year. Land clearing in Health Department. The most detailed response Queensland accounts for 15 per cent of was from Australia New Zealand Food Authority greenhouse emissions nationwide.(SMH, 21 June) (ANZFA). All these letters will be available for Sewage Chokes Lakes members to read at the desk on meeting nights. Millions of litres of raw sewage secretly buried in the Myall Lakes Nat. Park over the last 20 years Flying-foxes - heading for extinction ? have been blamed for a major outbreak of blue- In the recent issue of Friends of Bats magazine, it green algae, destroying waterways and the local is suggested that the common grey-headed flying- tourist industry. NPWS contractors are reported fox could be vulnerable or even heading for to have dumped the "night Soil" collected from extinction, despite a total population estimated at park toilets into trenches. (SMH, 25 June) 400,000. This frightening theory is based on Japan to Increase Whale Hunting estimates of flying-foxes shot to protect orchards The International Whaling Commission has failed in NSW. There are 1500 stonefruit orchards in to stop Japan increasing its kill of whales for the State. If 20 bats were culled per orchard per "scientific" purposes. Up to 50 Brydes whales night over a six week period, each orchard that and 10 sperm whales, both species depleted by uses shooting as a control could eliminate 800 past whaling, will be taken in North Pacific flying-foxes in a season. Just 50 orchards could waters each year, top of the 100 minkes already kill 40,000 flying-foxes in one bad year. killed in the North Pacific.(SM//, 6 July) Meetings are held at thelnitingChnrchHalkPrederick Street (near the corner ot^Letitia Streets Oatley. Please make yourself known as yon come in. It is intended that meetings commence ^rom^tlyat7.45^m. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and l^eld days.
EVENTS August 28 (Monday). Talk by Geoff Ross, Senior Technical Officer, National Parks and Wildlife Service on Whales. You may remember Geoff from May last year when he spoke on threatened seabirds and had some very interesting details and photographs. Since then, he has been surveying whale migration, so he should have some more fascinating and up-to-date information.
September 2 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. KU-RING-GAI CHASE N.P. Walk from Sphinx at North Turramurra to Bobbin Head, returning by the old road. Distance : 10 kilometres. Scenery and lots of wildflowers. Bring lunch, drinking water and a hat. Meet at the Park Gates on Bobbin Head Road, North Turramurra, at 9.30 am. If coming by car, park inside the Park at the Sphinx or outside along the road by the High School. If coming by public transport, catch the train from Oatley at 7.35 am or Mortdale at 7.38 am. Change at Town Hall for the 8.17 am train to Turramurra and catch the 9.15 am No.577 bus to the Park Gates. We will walk from the Sphinx down to Cowan Creek and along to Bobbin Head, returning by the old road. For those who do not wish to make the ascent (a little strenuous), there is a bus from Bobbin Head to Turramurra. Leader : Janet Aitken, phone 9790 2211 for more information.
September 25 (Monday). Escape from the Olympic Games; there is really life beyond the television. Come along and join your friends at Nostalgia Night, a night of members' slides, recalling past walks and interesting trips. If you can contribute slides for the night, ring Val Douglas on 9580 7783. Society News > By the time you receive this newsletter, OFFs bridgeworks and other construction works is Annual Dinner will be over. Over 40 people have $570,000 to which Hurstville Council will booked so it is sure to be another successful contribute on a dollar for dollar basis. Our event. Society has a copy of the plans and a map of the > Rob and Rob Dickson should also be back proposed walking tracks to be built around the from their expedition to northern Australia. We bay. Ask Alan Fairley at the desk if you are received a post card from Cairns and John interested in seeing these. We have also written Winters met up with them in Cairns for dinner. to Hurstville Council seeking more information They had already travelled over 4300 km, about the proposed bridge between Oatley Park including Fraser Island, Townsville, Undarra and Peakhurst seeking assurance that it will be Lava Tubes and Mossman and were heading for narrow and designed to discourage trail bikes. Cape York. > The boardwalk in the Poulton Park mangroves > Congratulations to OFF committee member has been started. Some disquiet has been Sharyn Cullis on her recent appointment to the expressed about the damage to the wetland during Sydney South Regional Advisory Committee of construction. Committee members who inspected the National Parks and Wildlife Service. We the work agree that there is some damage but that know that Sharyn will bring good sense and a it was unavoidable and the mangroves will strong set of conservation values to this recover. committee. Hurstville Mayor, Phillip Sansom, >28 people attended the last walk from Spit to has also been appointed. Manly. The beautiful weather, the scenery and > Work has started on the Lime Kiln Bay the fine company all contributed to an excellent Wetland Project. The Department of Urban day. Affairs and Planning (DUAP) is funding the > Congratulations to Hurstville Council and its project with a grant of $285,000 as a part of the volunteers who planted 200 tubestocks in Georges River Foreshore Improvement Program. Seaforth Ave Reserve, Oatley as their The estimated cost of proposed paths, contribution to National Tree Day on 30 July Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, .O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P. >. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 o, f, f, n Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. 2000/9 Print Post App.No. PP 255003/03239 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2000 Price 10 cents
South Coast Forests - What we have won More than two decades of campaigning for the News from Royal National Park South Coast forests of NSW has produced one of There are about 250 km of tracks and trails in Royal and Heathcote National Parks and the best outcomes for forest protection in Garawarra SRA. This figure includes 104 km Australia, according to Andrew Wong, Forest of trails which are also used as management Campaigner for the Wilderness Society. The trails. Following a review of the walking track NSW Southern Forest Agreement (signed in April system, ongoing maintenance work on this 2000) added a number of high conservation value system of tracks has been prioritised and as forests to the national park estate, so the South funds become available, work will include Coast can now boast the most comprehensively repairing eroded areas, trimming vegetation, protected forest region in the country. hardening track surfaces and the construction The figures are impressive. The decision saw the of some elevated walkways. The 26 km Coast region's 370,000 hectares of State forests more Track has been earmarked as top priority and than halve in size, with around 200,000 hectares the State Government has announced a being added to national parks. The national park $200,000 funding injection to be spent on estate increased by over 60% and now covers upgrading this very popular track over the next 70% of public land in the South Coast region. 12 months. The South Coast now has around 550,000 ha of More signs. A comprehensive sign inventory national parks compared to 340,000 ha before the is being compiled and signs are being decision. State forests have been reduced to upgraded or replaced on a priority basis. around 170,000 ha, about 20% of South Coast Environmentally friendly toilets. Seven toilets public land. which utilise heat, oxygen and bacteria to National park extensions fill in some gaps in what break down and reduce the volume of waste is now a continuous chain of parks stretching for are being installed at high usage spots in the 320 km along the eastern escarpment from parks, including Little Marley, North Era. Macquarie Pass to Victoria's East Gippsland. Uloola Falls, Bola Creek and Kingfisher Pool. Significant gains include Greater Murramurrang adding 10,000 ha to a small Did you know ? existing coastal park. All of Conjola State Forest When Linneaus started naming and recording will now be in reserves and link west to Morton species in a systematic way in 1758 there were National Park. Monga-Buckenbowra east of the about 9000 species recognised. Today, the total number of living species named and escarpment next to Clyde Mountain will be recorded is around 1.8 million. Bird and protected with the addition of 25,000 ha as mammal species are comparatively well national park. Large areas of wilderness in the documented (about 9,000 birds and 4,000 Greater Oeua will be protected by additions to mammals), although there are 3-5 new bird Deua NP. species and 10 new mammal species found Some areas were lost to clearfell logging for each year. But stuties of invertebrates in new woodchips, including giant old growth trees of areas typically find 20 to 50% of the species pinkwood rainforest in Monga State Forest, but are new to science. The roughly 270,000 overall the outcome was a positive one for recorded species of vascular plants probably conservation and a tribute to those who fought so represent 90% of the true total. hard for over 20 years to bring it about. (Details from National Parks Journal. August 2000) O.F.F. NEWS -2- September/October 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street (near the corner of Letitia Street), Oatley. Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days. COMING EVENTS September 25 (Monday). Escape from the Olympic Games. Come along and join your friends at Nostalgia Night, a night of members' slides, recalling past walks and interesting trips. If you can contribute slides for the night, ring Val Douglas on 9580 7783.
October 7 (Saturday). FIELD DAY. BARREN GROUNDS NATURE RESERVE. Travel south to Wollongong via Illawarra Highway through Albion Park, Jamberoo and up Jamberoo Pass (pass the turn- off to Minnamurra Falls Rainforest). The entrance to the Barren Grounds is on the left hand side right at the top of the Pass, and is easy to miss, although it is sign-posted. It will take about l'A hours from Oatley. Barren Grounds is a wonderful area with a diverse array of wildlife and more than 500 species of native plants; the heathland flowers are in full bloom in spring. Meet at 10 am in the parking area at the end of the access road. Bring water and binoculars. It is an easy 8 km walk. Leader : Val Boy an , phone 9533 1013.
Future dates October 23 (Monday): Olive Baker, Trekking in Exotic Places.
October 28 (Saturday): Bus trip around Lithgow. Bookings now being taken. Phone John Watters on 9534 1096. Report on Spit- Manly W alk, 29th July Cost is usually $195, including hostel-i- •- Twenty-six members and two visitors accommodation and meals. Courses for iate participated in the scenic walk along this September to November include Birding the foreshores track. The weather was perfect. Seven Illawarra, Waders of the Illawarra, Wildflowers members of the group walked out to Grotto point, of the Heath, Slitherers and Croakers, Sketching meeting us again at the lunch stop. All finished and Photographing Birds. The course on the walk delighted with the day. identifying wildflowers of the heath will be Leader :Heather Mackey conducted by Alan Fairley on 17-19 November, and OFF members would be especially welcome. Whale Talk Phone 4236 0195 or Fax 4236 0537 for bookings. Members at last meeting heard Geoff Ross talk about the Whale Watch program conducted in Foreshore Protection Area - Hurstv ille City June and July from Cape Solander, Kurnell. The State Government has approved an Geoff showed slides of Humpback and Southern amendment to the Local Environmental Plan Right Whales and told about their interesting 1994 to create Foreshore Scenic Protection Areas. behaviour. He has invited volunteers to register The amendment covers most of West Oatley, for next year's watching. Just a few hours on the Lime Kiln Bay, Lugamo and the Hurstville shore occasional day will help. Training and binoculars of Salt Pan Creek. The amendment supplied. More information will be in a later * introduces specific controls for waterfront issue of OFF News. development; * creates a Foreshore Scenic Protection Area; Barren Grounds Weekend Courses * introduces controls for development on land in Those who enjoy Val's day at Barren Grounds this area; may wish to spend more time there exploring and * amends density controls for dual occupancies getting to know the environment. The Field and multiple dwellings to 500 square metres per Studies Centre at Barren Grounds runs weekend dwelling within the area. courses from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. A map of the area may be viewed at meetings. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale. 2223. 9580.5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairlev, F O. Box 148, Oatley. 2223. 9570.8332 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. Print Post App. No. PP 255003/03239 Price: 10 cents
October/November 2000
Why Save Endangered Species ? After more than six years of calling for action on At a time when there is so much suffering in the the Snowy River, conservationists seem to have world and so much need to spend on the relief of hadawin over returning flowto the dying Snowy. human misery, spending taxpayers' money on In an announcementby thel^SW and Victorian attempting to save endangered plants and animals governments,a$300 million rescue plan has been may appear a mis-allocation of resources. In an devised which aims to return 28% of the average article in Australian Geographic, Dr Burbidge flow to the river within 10 years For decades, who is a member of the Commonwealth ever since the building of the Snowy Hydro Government's Endangered Species Advisory Dams, 99% ofthefiowofthis great river has been Committee, sets out his four main arguments for sent westward into the Murray system and mainly the preservation of species. used forirrigationdownstream Asaresult, the 1. Simple compassion. Compassion Snowy has become little more than a weed- develops from the view that other species inl^stedcanal The increasein flow will come have a right to exist - the needs and from"more efficient use ofwater in the irrigation desires of humans should not be the only districts"and include the building of covers over basis for ethical decisions. irrigation channels to prevent evaporation 2. Aesthetics. Plants and animals should be preserved because of their beauty, Healthy Rivers Appeal symbolic value or intrinsic interest. Most The ACF (Australian Conservation Foundations people would feel a loss if our beautiful has launchedatimely appeal to help raise funds to birds and wildflowers disappeared. rescue Australia'srivers from imminent death In 3. Money. Australia's unique plants and referring to the "mighty" Murray, the appeal animals attract tourist dollars. They also states : ^y ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ provide food and almost all our medicines and drugs, as well as renewable resources like fuel, building material, paper and leather. As we have used only a minute proportion of nature's storehouse, extinctions reduce our economic options. Upstream you will see some of the reasons why- 4. Tife support systems. Our plant depends o Demands forwaterhave reduced natural on plants and animals for the oxygen we flows to the sea by 80%, degrading the breathe, the quality of the atmosphere, habitats of native fish water birds and climate control, regulating freshwater platypus supplies, maintenance of topsoil, nutrient ^ Targe dams release cold water, upsetting recycling, pollination of crops and control native fish breeding patterns of pests and diseases. ^ 4000 dams and weirs prevent fish "Once the challenge for humans was to migration conquer and subdue the environment. Now The Murray codis one of themany native fish the challenge is to live in harmony with it. " that could be heading ft^r extinction Vou can help the T^^y by Magazines received (available at meeting) sending your donation to: ACF,340 Core Street, Wildlife News : World Wide Fund for Nature. l^it^roy,Victoria 30^5 Bush Heritage News (Spring 2000) O F F. NEWS October/November 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street, Oatley (near the corner of Letitia Street) Please make yourself known as you come in. It is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days.
Commg Events
October 23 (Monday). Clive Baker to speak on "Trekking in exotic places". Clive has walked the Kokoda Track, done the Volcano walk in Java, been to Nepal a number of times and trekked the Trobriand Islands, the famous "Islands of Love". He is also a military historian and publisher, specialising in Australians in the Pacific War and has books on Kokoda, Milne Bay and elsewhere. It promises to be another great evening's entertainment.
October 28 (Saturday). Lithgow Trip. Bus tour of Lithgow. State Mine Heritage park, Community Plant Nursery, Hoskins Church and other places of interest. Catch the 8.02 am Lithgow train from Central; meet in the second carriage. Depart Lithgow at 3.39 pm, ' arriving Central 6.23 pm. Coat $12.00 per person for bus and museum entry at Lithgow. J; Train fares at members' expense - Seniors $2.20 return. Numbers are limited to the seats , on the bus, so bookings are essential. Ring John Watters on 9534 1096.
November 4 and 5 (Weekend). Annual Camping Weekend. This year at Newnes in the beautiful Wolgan Valley. Meet at 9.30 am at the park in the main street of Lithgow. Then proceed to Newnes along the Mudgee Road, turning right at Lidsdale. We will camp in the valley. Inspect the remains of the old shale works and other short walks in this lovely spot. Take all food and drinking water. The camp site has pit toilets but no showers. Leader is Val Boyan. She would like to know who is coming, so see her at the next meeting or give her a ring on 9533 1013.
November 27 (Monday). Georges River's Riverkeeper.
Notice of Motion - 2001 Fees At the Committee Meeting held on 2nd October 2000, it was resolved that a motion be put to the November General Meeting as follows: '"That 2001 fees be set at SI6.00 per membership The proposed increase is due to the fact that expenditure is currently exceeding income by approximately $500.00 per annum. This shortfall is attributed mainly to increases in the cost of postage (method change), public risk insurance and the income reduction caused by some loss of members. John Watters - Hon. Treasurer.
Coastcare Project - Poulton Park The work on building a educational boardwalk through the mangroves at Poulton Park continues. The work is being carried out by Kogarah Council with the financial support of a Coastcare grant obtained by this Society. The aim is to have a series of interpretative signs along the walkway which will educate the public about the mangrove system, its importance for wildlife and the environmental problems associated with these habitats. A flora survey of the site has been carried out and appropriate permits have been obtained from NSW Fisheries . Draft interpretative signs have been made up, with such headings as "What is a Wetland?", "Anatomy of a Mangrove", "The Animal Nursery", "Mangrove Food Chain", "Waders and Waterbirds", "The Noisemakers" (frogs) and "Place of Feasts and Gathering" (a reference to the Aboriginal use of the food resources). The Society welcomes this initiative and is sure that the walkway will be a significant educational facility and help towards removing old concepts about "smelly mangrove swamps".
Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale 2223. Ph : 9580-5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P.O. Box 148, Oatley 2223. Ph : 9570-8332 Published by OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. Issue: 2000/11 Print Post App. No. PP 255003/03239 Price: 10 cents
November December 2000
Report on Lithgow trip introduced shortly to "interrupt the fox breeding 47 members and friends made the trip to Lithgow cycle by eliminating young fox cubs". (It seems a bit on Saturday 28th October - 42 went by train late for this, at least in 2000). The Council is also while 5 met us at Lithgow. we were blessed with talking about using the same control methods as a perfect spring day. We inspected the Kogarah Council under the guidance of the same Community Native Plant Nursery and the State professional. However, no additional funding for the Mine Heritage Site, then went to Hoskins Church fox program has been allocated in the 2000/2001 for lunch in the beautiful grounds. budget and there are no immediate plans to have a After lunch, 9 members inspected the Small Arms joint control program with Kogarah Council. Museum and the others were driven to Lake Lyell It seems that Hurstville Council is still half-hearted - a large dam on Cox's River. A short inspection about its responsibilities to remove foxes from of Bowenfels railway station and the Information public land. If you have seen foxes or are concerned centre followed prior to boarding the train at 3.40 about their effects on our environment, contact pm. A most pleasant and successful day. Council and urge them to do something urgently. John Watters On-going Work in Local reserves Programme for 2001 Have you had a recent look at what's happening in Planning for next year's walks and Monday our reserves ? The work at Lime Kiln Bay adjacent meetings is well under way. If you can lead a to Oatley Park to construct a wetland is well under walk or know of an interesting outing , activity or way. Creek lines have been cleared of exotic plants speaker please let us know by the November and the basin behind the mangroves and reeds has meeting. See David Crawford at the meeting or been reformed into a series of holding and ring him on 9533 2187. sedimentation ponds, planted with native water species. Access has been improved with bridges Do you have email ? built, a raised track and plantings of native shrubs We are exploring the idea of sending some of the made along the perimeters. A gross pollution trap OFF News by email. If you have this facility, has been constructed on the creek which brings street please let John know at flow from Glen Road. [email protected]. au. Major work is also under way in Moore Reserve to No decisions have yet been made- but, in the long replace the flat grassy area with a wetland and other term, this will no doubt be an important method of recreation facilities. You can see the scale of the communicating with our members. work from the bends on Hillcrest Avenue. Meanwhile, in Poulton Park, the Mangrove Foxes in the local area Walkway is beginning to take shape. You can see it A number of residents mentioned the sighting of through the trees on the south-eastern side of the foxes in Oatley when they spoke to us at the Lions park off Morshead Drive. Festival and wanted to know how they could OFF takes some satisfaction in these works, as we eradicate them. A vixen and cub were sighted in not only helped gain some of the grant money for the late October in Oatley Park near Hills Lookout so projects, but after years (40 or more) of fighting foxes are breeding tn-fOur.bushland. Councils and trying to convince them of the value of In response to our enquiries, Hurstville Council such reserves, they have come to realise that such has advised that it has recently ordered 4 new fox reserves are valuable community assets, worth traps to be used in public reserves. "Den-co- protecting. Old attitudes that mangroves are good fume" carbon monoxide gas canisters are to be cheap places to dump rubbish are thankfully gone. 0 F F NEWS November/December 2000 Meetings are held at the Uniting Church Hall, Frederick Street, Oatley (near the corner of Letitia Street) Please make yourself known as you come in. it is intended that meetings commence promptly at 7.45 pm. Visitors and children are welcome to attend all meetings and field days.
Coming Events
November 27 (Monday). Micheie Hopwood, co-ondinator of Riverkeeper, will talk on "Making a healthy Georges River". As this will be the last meeting for the year, there will be a get-together and light supper [ after the talk. Please bring a plate of food to contribute to the success of the evening.
| Val Boyan will have her annual pre-Christmas bargain stall as you enter the hall, with jams [ j; and other odds and ends suitable for gifts. So, bring some money to the meeting. Funds j. ' raised go to OFF Presidents Fund for distribution to worthy causes.
December 4 (Monday). CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK. BARBECUE AND GET-TOGETHER. Join your committee and friends for a drink/talk/barbecue in Oatley Park. Meet between 5.30 and 6.00 pm at the eastern car park around the edge of the picnic area. Bring your own food and drink, and a fold-up seat. i
FIELD DAY. Because of the holiday season, there will be no field trip in late December, i Planning for the year 2001 is well under way and we hope to see you at one of our outings early next year.
1 A.G.M. The first Monday meeting of 2001 will be the AGM, followed by slides and supper. | This will be on 5th February.
TRIPS FOR NEXT YEAR SOCIETY NEWS 1. SMIGGIN HOLES Parts of Oatley Park are becoming very OFF has a block booking with Smiggins Hotel for degraded and weed infested. We have their Chalet Apartments from Saturday 10t h asked Hurstville Council to employ some February to Sat. 17th February. bush regeneration teams in the worst affected areas. A new water pipe line has The seven night package will be $254.10 per been installed but it has not caused person. For those wishing to attend for five nights significant damage to the Park's only, the cost will be $181..50 (5 nights is the vegetation. minimum stay at this price). $50 has been donated to the Bush Heritage This is a very special deal for OFF as the nightly Fund to support their fine work in summer tariff is set at $ 130 per person per night. purchasing environmentally sensitive land Please phone Robin if you are thinking of throughout Australia. attending. Tel 9580 5663. ° The Society had a successful stall at the 2. BARRINGTON GUEST HOUSE. Oatley Lions Festival. We made contact with a number of local people and Plans are underway to book another week at this disseminated the conservation message. delightful retreat beneath Barrington Tops from People were interested in the local parks, 23rd to 28th September 2001. A number of fox eradication and growing native plants. members went this year and have already booked Thanks to ^ iP-V"" ij. Val Boyan, Jan up for next year. If interested, please contact Douglas and Alan Fairley who manned the Robin (Tel. 9580 5663) for more details. stall all day and to other OFF members who helped out at various times. Hon. Secretary : Robin Dickson, P.O. Box 52, Mortdale 2223. Ph : 9580-5663 Hon. Editor: Alan Fairley, P.O. Box 148. Oatley 2223 Ph : 9570-8332