Blue Swimmer Newsletter of the Friends of Gulf St Vincent Issue 25, May 2015

Golfe de La Misanthropie (mankind –hating Gulf) , not happy at having been narrowly beaten into the Gulf by Flinders. Freycinet named the President’s Message Gulf Golfe Josephine to curry favour with his Emperor Napoleon. How important are names? We have recently Flinders also sought political favour in naming it incorporated the name of Friends of Gulf St after his friend John Jervis 1st Earl of St Vincent Vincent as it accurately expresses our passion who was the first Lord of the Admiralty and had and locates our organisation. supported Flinders’ journey to chart the South Recently Onkaparinga Council Staff advised of Australian Coast. The title was conferred on the conditions attached for using the name Walt Jervis after notable British naval victories against Disney in sponsoring the Sand Sculptures Event the French, including the Battle of Trafalgar, that to be held at Port Noarlunga in April—basically, took place off of the Cape of St Vincent (Cabo do that there is to be no use of their name or any Sao Vincente) which is a wine growing area in the representations of Disney characters would be south westerly toe of Portugal that juts out into allowed without their permission. the Atlantic Ocean in much the same way as the Fleurieu kicks out into the . Gulf St Vincent, however, could have ended up with other names as its history unfolded. The original Saint Vincent was the patron saint of vintners. So in naming our organisation the Initially the names reflected the features Friends of Gulf St Vincent we have appropriately of their environment. They called the Gulf referenced our caring role of the Gulf and our “Wongayerio” meaning “overwhelming water appreciation of its fine coastal wines! when the sun sinks”. Rob Bosley With the arrival of the Europeans, mapping and naming of places became important; however President Friends of Gulf St Vincent / their final adoption became the subject of high Wongayerio / Golfe de La Misanthropie / Golfe politics at the time. Although is Josephine accredited as the first to map and name the Gulf, he was imprisoned along with his charts by the French on Mauritius from 1803 -1810 and it Contents wasn’t until he was released and returned to England that he was finally able to publish his President’s message………………….………….…....1 charts in 1814 making numerous tributes to Grange Jetty restoration…….………………....………2 British Aristocracy of the time. FoGSV Forum notice………………………… ……..3 Closely following Flinders was the French expedition led by who produced Waterproofing the West—Stage One..……………….4 his own preliminary charts attaching names that International Bird Sanctuary..………………6 were descriptive of his observations and feelings during his voyage. Turmoil with others in his Tennyson Dunes update……………………………….8 expedition and his death before returning to New booklets on SA marine species ………………...9 France meant that his works went unpublished Snippets and it fell to Louis Freycinet to take advantage and assign names reflecting the political and Native oysters in SA………………….….…...10 ethnic situation in France. Renaming of a seal species...……………….10 It would seem that we have lost some of the more romantic names, however it could have been a lot worse. Baudin had named the Gulf St Vincent

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 1 of the jetty from the seaward end to the land end during the restoration. Four legs (two on each side of the jetty) were attached to two of Arachna’s decks and the other four legs were attached to the other two decks. Close inspection of the images shows that two of the four legs on one side of the jetty support two decks set close to the side of the jetty, and the other two legs on that side of the jetty support two other decks offset about 1 metre from the jetty. On the other side of the jetty, the legs and decks were positioned in a similar (but opposite) manner. Restoration of Grange Jetty The Grange jetty was refurbished in the latter half of 2014 by Davey Hydraulics from Port Victoria on . The refurbishment included installation of new steel piles alongside the old wooden piles, and replacement of the jetty decking and timber structural elements (girders, crossheads, fishplates, bracings, kerbing and handrails). The lighting system was also replaced, as well as the shelter near the seaward end of the jetty. According to the SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, cost of the restoration was $1.8 million. Work began on the 300-metre long jetty in June and it re-opened in early December After a section of the jetty had been refurbished, 2014. Arachna moved shoreward. The length of each step in the shoreward ‘walk’ was the distance between successive jetty pylons. The process of moving involved raising four legs off the seafloor (two legs on each side of the jetty). Then the two decks to which those legs were attached moved shoreward and the legs were lowered back to the seafloor. The other pair of legs from each side of the jetty were then raised and the two decks to which they were attached moved shoreward to be above the decks that had already been moved, and then those four legs were lowered. When Arachna had been repositioned, a work platform was swung out on either side of the jetty, and the shoreward For the restoration, Davey Hydraulics utilised a section of jetty between the next two pylons was green machine on the jetty. It had four decks cut away and removed. The old timbers were attached to eight legs that extended to the sea lifted by crane across Arachna to its seaward floor. The name ‘Arachna’ was emblazoned on side and transported to the jetty’s seaward end the surface of a deck that faced the shore. The with a forklift. name is apt, because spiders (arachnids) have After a large pile of old timbers had accumulated eight legs, although they only have two body on the end of the jetty, a work vessel with barge sections rather than the four of the green attached tied up there, lowered its black legs to machine. the seafloor and loaded the old timbers. It also The legs enabled it (Arachna) to ‘walk’ the length delivered new timbers for the restoration and

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 2 presumably pumped fuel along the jetty for the The original jetty was constructed in 1879, the diesel engine that could be heard humming from year after the Grange Land and Investment somewhere on Arachna. Thus the materials for Company began development of Grange as a the restoration and the old timbers were moved seaside resort. The jetty was constructed before by sea. The men who worked on the jetty arrived the other notable landmarks of Grange were and departed daily via the landward end of the built: the Grange Hotel, The Marines terrace jetty. houses and the railway. The jetty was restored in 1968. According to Transport Minister Beach users were warned that the vicinity of the Stephen Mullighan, following its recent jetty would be cordoned off during the restoration, Grange jetty should be good for restoration, but that only happened when work another 50 years. was in progress above the beach. The jetty itself was closed for the entire period of the http://video.news.com.au/v/259959/The-new- restoration. Grange-Jetty-Courtesy-DPTI

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 3 Water Proofing the West - Stage One Project is an integrated Water Sensitive Urban Design strategy to manage the challenges of stormwater quality improvement, flood management and water supply management in a fully developed urban environment. The Project involved developing infrastructure capable of capturing and treating up to 2400 megalitres of water and supply of recycled water to replace current and future potable water demands, as well as demonstrating sustainable groundwater resource use in the City of Charles Sturt area. Waterproofing the west – Stage One Water assets were created across five linked sites and two stormwater catchments and One of the contentious outcomes of the last containing approximately 11 hectares of major drought to affect South was the wetlands. Water harvesting is supplemented building of the Adelaide Desalination Plant, but it with the capture of excess water also put a new concept - water security – into which would otherwise be discharged to the our vocabulary and on the agenda for gulf. The water is captured, treated and stored governments and researchers. This has led to a in underground aquifers and subsequently focus of interest in new and better ways of distributed through around 36 kilometres of managing traditional and new sources of water – mains to reserves, schools and as 3rd pipe water particularly stormwater and wastewater. system in new residential developments at St Clair and Woodville West development sites.

The Adelaide engineering company Wallbridge & Gilbert led the design development of a region wide system to harvest, treat and store stormwater – and then distribute it as non-potable water throughout western Adelaide W&G, in partnership with DesignFlow and Australian Groundwater Technology (AGT), was engaged by the Council to design and deliver system components, including:  Review of a wetland and capture basin design at Old Port Road  Development of a wetland at Cooke The vision for Water Proofing the West was to Reserve create a system that harvests, treats and stores water and distributes the recycled water through  Development of an Aquifer Storage and sections of western Adelaide. The Project has Recovery (ASR) scheme at Cooke Reserve multiple benefits of water reuse, water quality designed to service flows from the Cookes improvement, flood mitigation and bio-diversity, Reserve, Old Port Road and West Lakes supporting many principles of water sensitive schemes cities . This Project was a major initiative by the City of  Development of a wetland at West Lakes Golf Charles Sturt with a final project cost of around Course $71.5 Million. It was a collaborative effort – with  Development of an ASR scheme and nine funding sources, using water reuse and disinfection system design for Cheltenham flood mitigation funds, with contributions from Local, State, and the Commonwealth  Development of a reticulation network linking governments, a private land developer and the schemes to distribute treated stormwater to West Lakes Golf Club. parks, ovals and reserves within the Council area for reuse

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 4  Development of a control philosophy for the source for irrigation. operation of the region wide ASR and Enables continued watering of reserves during distribution schemes a drought with water restrictions.  Development of a disinfection system to treat Undergrounding of power lines and improving the water to required standards for reuse streetscape to Old Port Road a major arterial road in Adelaide.  Design of a diversion system to divert River

Torrens water, which will supply up to 50% of total yield The City of Charles Sturt, together with the State and Federal Governments, officially opened the Water Proofing the West – Stage One Project on Tuesday 16 December 2014.

W&G has also been responsible for the design of lateral drains along Old Port Road, Tapleys Hills Road, Clovelly Avenue and Broad Street, forming part of Council’s flood mitigation measures. W&G are also working with Guideria O’Connor to deliver mechanical and electrical/ control systems services associated with pump design. Water Proofing the West - Stage One Project is a multi-objective project that: Harvests up to 2400 Megalitres of stormwater treats, stores and distributes recycled water through parts of the City of Charles Sturt as an alternative water source. Reduces flooding (improve flood mitigation) in the suburbs of Queenstown, Royal Park and Hendon. Harvests excess River Torrens water that would otherwise discharge to the sea. Reduces potable water usage for irrigation and other non-potable consumption. Recharges aquifers, reducing the consumption of a natural resource which is being impacted and is becoming progressively more saline with usage. Improves public amenity of the area.

Reduces the discharge of nutrients to marine environment in Gulf St Vincent. Delivers economic benefit of cheaper water

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 5 If the site is not managed in an integrated way, the drying of ponds and potential emergence of acid sulphate soils could carry high remediation costs. Conservation values would be severely jeopardised by fragmenting land and degrading habitat, which is likely to lead to contravention of our conservation obligations under legislation and international agreements. The conservation significance of this area has been elevated by the destruction and disturbance of similar habitat elsewhere along the gulf — and worldwide decline in migratory shorebird habitat. Water quality issues in Gulf St Vincent also need Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary to be addressed. Pollution from stormwater, wastewater and industrial discharges is a major Since the 1930s, the saltfields that stretch 35 cause of poor water quality along Adelaide’s kilometres along the Gulf St Vincent coastline, metropolitan beaches and is contributing to from Dry Creek north to Middle Beach, have coastal habitat loss. supplied brine for the commercial production of A plan was needed to capitalise on the change in soda ash. land use at the saltfields and to improve the All salt production at Dry Creek ceased in June environmental quality and amenity of the area, 2013, with the closure of the Penrice soda ash and maintain the commercial and recreational factory. This change in land use presents both values of the gulf including some of the state’s challenges and opportunities. most significant fisheries. Over 80 years the saltfields have developed into With this in mind, in mid-2014, the South a patchwork of artificial and natural wetlands, Australian Government purchased 2,300 hectares providing a diverse range of habitat for migratory of coastal and estuarine land along this coastline birds that travel annually to Australia from the to add to existing conservation parks over the northern hemisphere. next two years. These parks will form the core areas of the Adelaide International Bird The flyway passes through 22 countries with Sanctuary. about 55 migratory species, a total of five million birds travelling along it. Campaigners and bird lovers across the state were delighted to hear the announcement on 7th The migratory shorebird habitat has been March that the Ridley Saltfields and adjoining protected by security associated with the salt areas are to become a migratory bird sanctuary. fields. It is vital that migratory shorebirds can eat More than 200 species, including around 50 enough to put on sufficient fat for the energy to shorebirds, have been recorded at the Dry Creek complete the lengthy journey back to their salt field, including Sooty Oystercatchers, Bar- northern hemisphere breeding grounds tailed Godwits, Red-necked Stints and Banded Stilts. Their primary feeding grounds are the intertidal flats along the coast. When the tide is high the At the peak of each migration season, the birds retreat to the adjacent coast and salt fields. mudflats, mangroves and salt marsh support an estimated 27,000 shorebirds, with 12 species The saltfields are particularly useful as they occurring in internationally significant numbers. provide energy-rich food sources such as brine shrimp for the birds as well as a secure haven to The Penrice Soda Osborne plant had used allow them to feed uninterrupted and put on the harvested local salt for its Solvay process but weight they need for the long flight north. now imports soda ash for its requirements. This secure haven probably predates the With the cessation of commercial salt production, saltfields when mud flats, saltmarshes and salt some ponds will dry out if water is no longer lakes extended from Adelaide right up the Gulf. pumped through them, with the possible risk of acid sulphate soil formation, while others might Rehabilitation of the saltfields will be a challenge, be reopened to the sea and become tidal. but it is encouraging to know that a start has been made. These changes are likely to affect important roosting and feeding areas of migratory bird The Adelaide and Mt Lofty Natural Resources species and could result in disturbing odours Management Board has a web page for the affecting the amenity of the area and local Sanctuary, and has appointed a Community residents. Involvement and Planning Coordinator.

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 6 The green area in the map above shows the proposed stage 1 of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. Pink areas are the saltfields—future uses to be determined. The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is bounded by the yellow line, and the blue line is the boundary of the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park.

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May2015 page 7 trail would bring many visitors to the dunes to learn about their unique features.

As part of this process, the Minister said that he had instructed the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board to develop a vegetation management and on- ground works plan for the proposed reserve. The plan would guide further conservation works at the site.

We are happy to say that this Biodiversity Action plan has now been completed and we feel that the authors have done an excellent job—and in the process have confirmed what we Update on Tennyson Dunes already knew, that Tennyson Dunes is a very special place. In a previous edition of Blue Swimmer we wrote about our work in the Dunes, the native plants The native plant diversity is extremely high in and seeds, the fauna such as Painted Dragons most areas of the Tennyson Dunes and weed and the various types of birds that rely on the counts are very low. The major problems vegetation, for food and shelter. We also wrote identified were rabbits, we have far too many, about our efforts to preserve this precious area 2.5 to the hectare which impacts on natural for future generations, because it is the last regeneration of plants. Undesirable human example of a three- tiered dune system on the activity in the dunes is also causing metropolitan coast. considerable damage to the vegetation and great concern to us. What has happened since? What next? As part of our bid to preserve this jewel in the coastal crown we wrote to the Minister for This is our 20th year of operation and we want to Environment Ian Hunter requesting that he celebrate it in the following way: declare the Tennyson Dunes a Reserve under the Crown Lands Management Act 2009. We will be having our Open Day on Sunday 13th September and instead of one or two special In June 2014 we received the good news that visitors we intend to have at least four people the Minister had begun the process of taking walks through the dunes. They will each dedicating the Tennyson dunes as a Coastal be talking about their own special areas of Conservation Reserve under the Crown Lands interest, ie Victor Gostin about the geology, Management Act 2009. In a letter to us he said: Chris Daniels about the fauna, Neville Bonney about the plants and Peter Matejcic, “The conditions of this dedication will ensure that herpetologist about the Painted Dragons. inappropriate development does not occur in the We are also looking at having a Seminar on the reserve. In addition, the management plan to be Saturday before the Open Day which will deal prepared for this reserve will provide that any with various aspects of the Coast. continuation of the Coast Park Project will not be through the dunes.” We are at present also having talks with the Environment Protection Agency and local We had been very concerned that the proposed Kaurna representative Karl Telfer, regarding the Coast Park Project would cause irreparable establishment of an Aboriginal seed and bush damage to the rare plants—some as old as 400 tucker garden. We have also developed a years—during its construction. A cycleway proposal for an interpretive centre to educate means wide paths, long sight lines and shallow people, including school groups and tourists, gradients. A cycle path would require widening about the dunes. and straightening of the existing paths and significant earthworks to remove the rise and fall So lots of exciting things are happening at the of the land. A cycle way would also bisect the dunes and we do hope that you will join us in our largest of only two Painted Dragon populations celebrations later in the year. left on the Adelaide coastline.

Managed well, the dunes could become a thriving coastal botanic park. A sensitively constructed walking and disability accessible

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 8 New booklets on SA Marine species

Two new free, peer-reviewed educational (Photo of seadragon © C Hall) booklets about marine species in have been produced in the past year. Seadragons and their Friends is a guide to the Syngnathidae fishes in South Australia: the The first is a full colour booklet about the Sharks seadragons, seahorses, pipehorses and and Rays of South Eastern Australia, by marine pipefishes. South Australia supports a rich ecologist Janine Baker, with the support of variety of syngnathids, including at least 25 small grants from the Norman Wettenhall species of pipefishes. Many of these fascinating Foundation, Gippsland Coastal Board, Save fishes occur in the waters of Gulf St Vincent. All Our Seas Foundation and the South East syngnathid fishes in SA are fully protected Natural Resources Management Board. under the Fisheries Management Act.

Shark and ray photographs are by marine The freely available educational booklet was photographers from South Australia and other written and compiled by J. Baker, and published locations. The booklet discusses 45 of the by Conservation Council of South Australia sharks, rays, skates, and stingarees found in (CCSA), with support from a State NRM Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and community grant. A5-size printed copies of the Commonwealth waters off those States. Many 70-page booklet are available from Janine at of these species occur in our gulf. [email protected], or from the CCSA office. The electronic copy is available for download as a PDF on the CCSA web site.

Natural History of

Last August saw the publication and launch of this excellent book—the companion to the earlier volume on Gulf St Vincent.

“An authoritative publication on the unique The Sharks and Rays of South Eastern Spencer Gulf Australia is based on literature reviews written ecosystem by Janine over a 10 year period, and each from its chapter was peer reviewed by shark and ray discovery, specialists from around Australia. For each exploitation and species, the booklet includes a description, and use over the notes on distribution, habitat, diet, reproduction, past 200 years, fisheries and vulnerable population and its future in characteristics. the face of climate change If you would like an A5-size printed copy of the and human booklet, please contact Janine at impacts.” [email protected]. Copies are also available from the Natural Resources - South It is selling for $60 from the Royal Society of East office in Mount Gambier. South Australia, and this is truly a bargain!

(Picture: Editor Scoresby Shepherd and chapter author Pat Harbison at the launch)

Blue Swimmer Issue 25 May 2015 page 9 A new seal of approval?

Following the President’s Message on the importance of names, we report a proposal from two local researchers (Peter Shaughnessy of the SA Museum and Simon Goldsworthy of SARDI Aquatic Sciences) to change the name of the local fur seal from ‘New Zealand fur seal’ to ‘Long -nosed fur seal’. They have recently published (on-line) a letter in the journal Marine Mammal Science entitled ‘Long-nosed fur seal: a new vernacular name for the fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri in Australia.’ SNIPPETS The name change has gained traction with the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. It is hoped that the new common name will help reduce false claims and We welcome contributions from misunderstandings about the fur seal’s origin; it’s members and others who have an Australia native species not a feral from New something to say about the Gulf! Zealand.

Native oyster farming in SA - remember? South Australians are proud of the oysters grown in many of our coastal areas, but the species we love to eat and export now is the Pacific oyster, farming of which began in the 1970s.

But did you know that South Australia once had extensive reefs of native oysters?

A fascinating new paper by Adelaide researchers Heidi Alleway and Sean O’Connell published recently in the journal Conservation Biology explores the history of what was a thriving fishery (This seal was scrounging fish from boats at until the 1940s, and the subsequent ‘generational a couple of years ago. Of course the amnesia’ which has led to the complete public is advised NOT to feed wild animals!) unawareness that it ever existed!

PIRSA is looking into options to trial shellfish reef restoration - more information will be coming Contact details for Friends’ Committee: soon about a community forum on this topic on 6 May. President: Rob Bosley 08 7329 9456 [email protected] (Dr Heidi Alleway is one of the speakers at our forum at Pine Point on Yorke Peninsula next Secretary: Pam Wales 0424 659 261 month. More details on page 3) [email protected]

Treasurer: Val Wales 08 8242 2522 [email protected]

Contributions to the Blue Swimmer newsletter are Newsletter: Angela Gackle 0410 585 038 welcome. Please send articles to: angela.gackle@outlookcom [email protected] or leave a message on our website blog! Address: 71 Esplanade Port Noarlunga SA 5167.

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