Print post approved PP665002/00001 @ DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT MAY-JUNE 1996

• Volunteers reach • New Manager for Migrating tortoises significant milestone Marine Conservation protected - page 9 - page 2 - page 4 • Ecovoya~ing with STS • Volunteers target • New species review leeuwin - page 9 typha weed committees - page 6 - page 3 • John Forrest NP gets • Lunchtime seminars • Observatory celebrates 'star' billing - page 12 for staff - page 5 centenary - page 8 -Western Shield: the way to recovery~ A BREAKTHROUGH in the recovery of an endan­ gered native mammal has opened the way for CALM ' to implement the biggest wildlife conservation pro­ gram ever undertaken in Australia. The initiative-Western Shield-will see a five-fold increase to almost 5 million hectares in the area baited to control introduced predators such as the European fox and feral cat. These animals have been largely respon­ sible for the extinction of 10 species of native mam­ mals, and have driven a further 31 species to the brink. Environment Minister Peter Foss said the program would build on a dramati.c recovery of the woylie. CALM's feral predator control in the past 10 years has seen natural and re-established populations of woylies increase so significantly that the Minister accepted a recommendation of the Woylie Recovery Team and the Threatened Fauna Scientific Advisory Committee to take the species off the threatened list under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act. The species is now also listed formally as 'Conserva­ tion Dependent' under World Conservation Union guide­ lines. Biggest weapon At the launch of Western Shield in The Hills Forest, Mundaring, Mr Foss said feral predator control was the single biggest weapon in the armoury to bring native wildlife back from the brink of extinction. "Existing fox-baiting programs, such as Operation Foxglove in the northern jarrah forest between Juli mar and Collie, and target areas such as the Perup Nature Reserve and Kingston forest block near Manjimup, and Dryandra Woodlan-d near Narrogin, are yielding out­ standing results," he said. Western Shield will not only play a vital role in conserving Western Australia's biological diversity, it will be a major key in the development of the State's nature-based tourism industry. Tourism benefits By controlling feral predators and re-establishing colonies of these species in their former natural range, visitors to WA will be able to see wild populations of native animals such as numbats, rufous hare wallabies, banded hare wallabies, boodies and malleefowJ: Western Shield will integrate and co-ordinate existing feral predator operations such as Foxglove, and Project Eden on the Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay. It will also establish other priority areas for fox and feral cat control. These include Cape Arid and Cape Le Grande near Esperance; Ravensthorpe Range, Stirling Range, Two Peoples Bay, Fitzgerald River, Waychinicup and Lake Magenta along the South Coast; D'Entrecasteaux, Walpole-Nornalup and the Valley of the Giants near Children from East Fremantle Primary School and Helena College, Darlington, helped Environment Minister Peter Foss release woylies Walpole; the sunklands between Na~nup and Augusta­ into The Hills Forest at Mundaring to mark the launch of Western Shield. Photo by Ross Swansborough Busselton; the eastern jarrah and wandoo forest be­ tween Collie and Walpole; Kalbarri; and many smaller reserves throughout the wheatbelt. Children•s activities to conserve wildlife Extending target areas Other target areas are_CALM-managed pastoral lands PRIMARY school chil­ tection. Environment Min­ pack was an extension of servation estate using a cies were to be found no­ in the Goldfield.s, Cape Range and the Montebello dren are being encour­ ister Peter Foss said WA the Western Shield wild­ naturally-occurring toxin where else. Islands in the Pilbara. aged to help conserve shared the worsnecord in life recovery initiative be­ that is fatal to foxes and "The Western Shield The aim is to begin expanding the area baited for foxes wildlife through an activi­ the world for mammal ing implemented this year. cats, but to which native Action Pack has been pro­ in the South West now, and to expand into the more arid ties program focusing on extinctions. Western Shield-Austral­ species have developed a duced because, without areas when further research has been carried out into Western Australia's "Already 10 species ia's biggest wildlife con­ high tolerance. doubt, conservation efforts feral cats. threatened species. have become extinct and a servation program-aims Mr Foss said he was con­ can be greatly enhanced if CALM is stepping up its $120,000 commitment to cat The Western Shield Ac­ further 31 are on the brink," to control introduced preda­ cerned that most people in people understand the na­ research by investing a further $240,000 in this work. tion Pack has been pre­ he said. tors such as foxes and feral WA-particularly chil­ ture of our wildlife, includ­ One priority is to find better bait mediums that will result pared by CALM to help "We have an obligation cats which have been key dren-were more aware of ing · the partnerships-or in a higher uptake of baits by cats. stimulate a greater public to our children, and their f~ctors in pushing species African or American wild­ synergies-our flora and As well, the Australian Nature Conservation Agency awareness of the State's children, to ensure that no of small native animals to life than ourown. Yet West­ fauna have developed," Mr is helping fund research and implementing recovery distinctive fauna, and to more species become ex­ the edge of extinction. ern Australia's native wild­ Foss said. plans for many species that will benefit from the new fox encourage positive com­ tinct because of human ac­ The program involves life was not only among the The pack has been and feral cat control initiative. munity attitudes towards tivity." baiting almost five million most biologically diverse designed for upper primary Another aim of Western Shield is to protect fauna that their. conservation and pro- Mr Foss said the action hectares of the State's con- on earth, many of our spe- • continued 011 page 2 • co11ti11ued 011 page 2

nnno 1 FROM MY DESK Staff exchange trial a success

IN 1995, CALM and the South Australian Depart­ by Cliff Gillam ment of Environment and Natural Resources cave guides. ONE of the good things about CALM is its (DENR) agreed to trial a The program is 'cost neu­ diversity-in both functions and geography. one-year staff exchange tral,' with salaries costs But that also causes some management prob­ program. being met, for their respec­ lems. For example, it is hard to keep up with all The trial program has tive employees, by each seen CALM Dwellingup agency. that is going on. ranger John Hanel take up The normal accruals in I get frustrated that I am unable to ensure that a position as a ranger in the respect of annual leave, all groups and individuals are recognised for South Australian Parks sys­ sick leave, and so on con­ their achievements. tem, while Tim Fuhlbohm tinue to apply during the from South Australia, has exchange period. That is why CALM NEWS is so important­ filled the Lane Poole Re­ Removal costs are met Verna Costello and all her regular contributors serve ranger position since by the staff concerned. are doing an excellent job in mal<.ing sure that October. Where accommodation is everybody knows what is going on throughout The respective agencies, not a feature of the job ( as CALM. and the 'exchangees,' are with rangers), staff in­ This bumper issue of CALM NEWS is a good agreed that even at this early volved in exchange will stage of the trial there are snapshot of what people in CALM are achiev­ need to make appropriate real benefits in the program, arrangements. ing throughout the State. and arrangements are al­ Such arrangements may While I don't believe that we should dwell on ready under way for an­ well be made with their our achievements, I think it is important to sit other ranger exchange to counterpart involved in the back occasionally and think about where we be undertaken in 1996- exchange, but will remain were 10 years ago and where we are now. 1997. private arrangements. From the outset, DENR The agencies will try to Despite the continual whingeing and knock­ has been keen to develop 'match' exchange staff in ing by a faction of the conservation movement, the program's potential for ways that take into account we are held up as the model for land manage­ exchange opportunities for these issues, but do not ment in Australia. non-ranger staff. contribute to accommoda­ CALM Mundaring nature conservation officer John Carter (left) and Darling This is illustrated by the stream of requests I They have called for tion expenses. Range MLA John Day take a closer look at a woylie during the launch a/Western expressions of interest in receive from other State agencies and private CALM staff interested Shield. Photo by Ross Swansborough exchange from all staff and in an exchange in 1997 companies to visit CALM to see how it ie being have compiled a list of should write to the depart­ Western Shield: the way to recovery done. some 30 individuals across ment's Human Resources I am very conscious of the fact that the things a wide range of Branch. • co11ti11ued from page 1 Conservation District lishing a beachhead in the we have achieved have been the result of hard occupations who are Matches with interested may be at threat when the Committees, in · feral lead up to the main event­ work and have resulted in a lot of stress on the interested intravelling to counterparts in South Aus­ rabbit calicivirus disease predator programs to extend the introduction of biologi­ spreads--or is released for­ the total area over which cal controls. However, such organisation and individuals. WA on an exchange basis tralia will be sought, and, some time in 1997. subject to approval by the mally-into WA and preda­ these feral predators are controls are unlikely to be Hopefully, we are about to complete-it has The occupations range relevant manager or- di ­ tors turn to native animals controlled. available for at least an­ taken three years-negotiations on enterprise from administrative, rector, they will then be to fill the food gap. "Western Shield is not a otherdecade," Mr Foss said. agreement conditions. clerical, maintenance, put in direct contact with CALM will also begin a complete answer in itself to "Wecan'twait IOyears­ major campaign to involve fox_es and feral cats-rather, too many native species , When I met with the Civil Service Associa­ scientific, cartographic, each other to discuss the technical and informa­ ramifications of an ex­ landowners, through Land it can be likened to estab- on the brink now." tion recently I had no difficulty in saying that tion management jobs to change. the current package that is being offered does not reward the extraordinary efforts that the vast . majority of people in CALM have been making to this organisation and the State. Volunteers check in their 50,000th plant But while I believe that in the next round of CALM WA Herbarium negotiations we will be in a much better position volunteer and amateur to quantify productivity gains, I don't believe botanist, 86 year-old that increasing base salary levels alone will ever Barbara Evans was given give sufficient rewards for people who work in the honour recently of pre­ this organisation. paring the 50,000th speci­ men mounted by volun­ I believe the important reward that we give in teers-a water plant CALM is to have an organisation that provides Nymphoides quadriloba. interesting and secure jobs that have a guaran­ The plant was collected teed career range. by Andrew Mitchell at The increase in take home pay that comes Kalumburu Mission, and has brought the total from moving three or four levels is vastly greater number of specimens at the than the two to three percentage points we argue herbarium to 371, 203, all about when negotiating base pay levels. of which have · been I am very keen to explore ways that we can mounted on cards, labeUed, make CALM the most rewarding organisation data-based and incorpo­ to work for in Australia. rated into the collection. At a celebratory morn­ We are in the process of establishing a 'refer­ ing tea, Herbari_um Direc­ ence group' in the department to act as a funnel tor, Dr Neville Marchant for your ideas on all human resource issues, congratulated the volun­ including reward systems. teers, who had drastically Cutting the celebratory cake is Gwen Abbott, with the encouragement offellow volunteers Hany Bennett, Nora reduced the backlog of Best and Barbara Evans. Behind them (left to right) are visiting volunteer Robin Campbell, WA Herbarium I also hope to be able to visit most parts of the specimens waiting for senior WA Herbarium director Neville Marchant, volunteers Kim Macey, and Kim Spence, visiting volunteer department over the next two months to discuss processing. Ma,y Hancock, CALM technical officer Phil Spencer and volunteer Brian Best. Photo by Verna Costello these issues with you and you can always com­ The herbarium is now al­ municate with me by telephone or fax. most up-to-date with celebrate were visitors from the New South Wales processing material so that Robin Campbell from the National Herbarium, ,who Children's conservation activities Dr Syd Shea, Executive Director information about the flora Corri gin Land Conservation was using the Herbarium to is readily available. District Committee and identify specimens they had • co11ti11ued from page 1 'First Steps' and Helping the volunteers Mary Hancock, a volunteer recently collected. teachers and students, but 'Stepping Out' concepts can be adapted for other had also been used within year levels. It covers four a framework of an I CALM ,,,i41J•€t•• CALM NEWS- MAY-JUNE 1996 or more lessons in the integrated curriculum THIS column is divided into sections dealing with 'for Managing Editor: Ron Kawalilak classroom and includes approachthatencouraged hire', 'for sale', 'surplus equipment', 'swap', or suggestions for extension collaborative group work 'wanted'. If you have any equipment or requirement Editors: Verna Costello, Nigel Higgs activities. by students. that you wish to advertise through this service, please Contributing Editors: David Gough and Penny Walsh Mr Foss said the pack The pack includes send or fax typewritten details to: The Editor, CALM Design and Production: Sandra van Brugge linked with the primary teacher's notes, resource NEWS, Corporate Relations Division Published by CALM Corporate Relations Division, Cygnet Hall, school curriculum subjects, sheets, activity sheets and a (cnr) Mounts Bay Road & Hackett Drive, CRAWLEY, Western Australia 6009 Social Studies, Science, list of references along with FOR SALE Telephone: (09) 389 8644 Facsimile: (09) 389 8296 Mathematics and Language the Western Shield poster Motorola PMR 2000 Pager with battery charger Story deadline for CALM NEWS is the 10th of the month and supports the aims of and articles on threatened Price $100 - For more information contact Kylie preceding the month of issue. the Student Outcome species from LANDSCOPE Dyson at Woodvale on (09) 405 5131 Printed by Lamb Print. Statements. Magazine. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER

page 2 Ed 1s learning curve not entirely one sided

NINE hundred metres The scarp and its sub­ and overseer Tom Nevin, isn't far in the overall urbs-some set in pictur­ Ed said his time with CALM scheme of things-but it esque leafy settings-have was a very positive experi­ is a distance that will long long been regarded as a fire ence that would have ben­ remain in Ed Bartosiak's disaster just waiting to hap­ efits for both organisations. mind. pen. It's not a matter of if, "One of the things that I Ed has just finished a six but when. noticed on reviewing the months stint with CALM's Recently, CALM, the Fire previous six months was that Mundaring District on se­ and Rescue Service, the I picked up a lot more about condment from the WA Fire Bush Fires Board and local CALM's operations than I and Rescue Service (FRS) councils agreed on a 'three expected," Ed said. as part of a partnering char­ agencyresponsezone' along "For example, aspects ter to strengthen relation­ the scarp. This means that in such as water capacities, ships between the two fire the event of a wildfire, there vehicle weight distribution, organisations. is an automatic turnout by and even tyre sizes and pres­ The 900 metres was the units from the three agen­ sures, may not appear im­ length of a hose run the cies. portant, but when it comes Mundaring crew cruried out Consequently, CALM down to your effectiveness during a wildfire in the Avon and the Fire and Rescue at the fire face, they can mean Valley National Park earlier Service will be working the difference between get­ his year. much closer together than in ting the job done or getting "The way the crews the past. bogged. worked that night was in­ Ed' s experiences in "The knowledge gained credible," Ed said. "The Mundaring are now being on fuel hazard reduction country was so steep, you passed back through the burns and prescriptions is couldn't walk it. You liter­ Fire and Rescue Services invaluable in terms of un­ ally had to climb it." and in his new role as a derstanding fire behaviour But teami~g up with training officer at and how fires react in differ­ CALMcrewswhiletheyput Belmont. ent conditions. the 'wet stuff on the red One big aspect of "From a personal point of view, I'm even looking at stuff was only a small part CALM's fire operations he CALM Mundaring staff recently farewelled Ed Bartosiak after a six-months secondment to the district from the the ecology of our plants in of Ed's induction into has taken on board is the use Fire and Rescue Service. Ed presented the district with a memento in appreciation of his time with the a different light." CALM's fire management. of the Incident Command department. CALM staffpictur ed are, standing, Bruce Telfer, Ed, David Atkins, seated, Les Doust, Nibs Morganti The aim of the second­ System at wildfires. Ed's experinece wasn't and James Gallagher. ment was to enhance team­ The FRS only recently all 'one-way' and CALM work between CALM and adopted the system which picked up tips which helped Fire and Rescue crews so has been part of CALM's the crews in several fires. our response to fires in the to a fire on CALM land "As well, Ed passed on Peter commended Ed for that each had a better under­ and the volunteer bush fire Peter, Ross, Bruce and Hills urban areas," Peter even before we are noti- some valuable information his commitment-particu- standing of the other's role. brigades' fire suppression Tom said they now had a said. fied. on tackling structural fires. larly for his willingness to This understanding-part operations for several years. much better understanding "Also, the volunteer bri- "So we have to look at ''This increased the com- make himself available to of a mutual aid agreement­ At a recent 'round the ta­ of the way the FRS worked, gades, which are such a big our rurangements and sys- petence and confidence of fit into a different organisa- is particularly crucial in the ble' debrief with CALM and foresaw several changes help to us, are now on a terns for call outs." our crews, particularly when tion. Mundaring area and other Mundaring staff including they would be implement­ centralised callout system Bruce said a visit to 6AR they were called to the fire in "There's no doubt we parts of the 'urban-rural in­ district manager Peter ing in Mundaring district. through kocal Aboriginal had given him a much Chidlow in February, when now have a much better terface' along the Darling Keppel, fire co-ordinators "We are going to have to radio station 6AR. This greater understanding of the crews managed to save appreciation of each oth- Scarp. Ross Mead and Bruce Telfer become more aggressive in means they could be called theFRS operations system. several houses." er' s activities," Peter said. Volunteers targeting the typha

Friends of Forrestdale beds to restrict further with invaluable help in the ing greater protection of the Lake volunteers were growth across the lake, and management of the reserve, reserve, and seeking Fed­ enlisted recently by to cut firebreaks as required including slashing along eral and other grants to cover CALM to undertake a under the fire management fence lines to protect fences expenses such as those in­ detailed survey and map plan for the reserve. from fire, planning and con­ curred in building the of the weeds at The Friends ofForrestdale ducting revegetation of de­ boardwalk, signage, Forrestdale Lake Nature Lake have provided CALM graded areas, actively seek- brochures. Reserve, so that Perth District staff could carry out a weed-control pro­ gram targeting priority weed species. Reserves officer Rod Martyn said that the Friends of Forrestdale did a great job, mapping species, their numbers and locations. "This was a major, la­ bour-intensive task and one which the district would have had great difficulty in completing without addi­ tional staff," Rod said. "Perth District has now finished the first phase of a Peng Soong prepares for a busy day as new manager of Information Services ·ee-to-five-year weed­ Section. Photo by Verna Costello -0ntrol program, involving removal and treatment of major woody weed spe­ New section manager cies." Further control of other PENG Soong has been decisions that will foster planning, the management species, including bridal appointed manager of the the achievement of organi­ of Information Systems creeper and arum lily, will Information Services sational goals," she said. Service Delivery projects, be undertaken in the com­ Section of the Information "I need to find out what and the implementation of ing winter. Management Branch. services are needed, so I client/server technology. The Friends will continue She is responsible to act­ will be conducting surveys Gru·dening and listening to help CALM, by conduct­ ing branch manager Colin to find out what they are to classical music are ing an annual weed count Pearce for the management and how Information Man­ Peng' s favourite leisure and producing a correspond­ of CALM's information agement Branch can better pursuits. ing distribution map to dis­ technology facilities. deliver them. She is married to David, cover the level of success Peng sees her main chal­ Peng says she has made a _an engineer, and they have achieved to date, and to lenge as providing the ef­ commitment to providing two children-a son, Wei, identifiy species and areas fective and efficient deliv­ quality customer services who is a university student, needing further control. ery of information services and the delivery of top and a daughter, Ming, who CALM will use this in­ to support the corporate quality information. is a high school student. formation as a basis for objectives of CALM by She comes to CALM We wish Peng a happy, future weed control and delivering the right infor­ after eight years with the challenging and satisfying follow-up programs. mation to the right people Department of Land sojourn with CALM, and Forrestdale Lake has President ofthe Friends ofForrestdale Lake Rod Giblett (left) and colleague David at the right time. Administration (DOLA), look forward to learning been dry for several months James with CALM forest worker Andy Lange at Forresdale Lake. Here, Andy is "I believe that ifl do this, where she was extensively about her and her section's this summer, enabling the about to cut a swathe through a thick growth oftypha weed with a slasher attached staff can perform more ef­ involved in strategic successes in future issues ~------'tractor-slashing of typha to the back of the tractor. Photo by Verna Costello . fectively, making informed information technology of CALM NEWS. nnno =l DEP staff join CALM 1s Marine Conservation Branch

WELCOME aboard to Chris The Marine Conservation the University of Canterbury Simpson and Nick Branch will provide technical in New Zealand). D' Adamo, who have been advice to the MPRA and to Past studies include: flush­ transferred from the De­ others within CALM, as well ing of the Yunderup and partment of Environmental as co-ordinating CALM' s ma­ Murray Lakes canal develop­ Protection (DEP), to join rine activities. ments; water quality studies CALM's Marine Conserva­ of the eutrophic Murray River New manager tion Branch. Estuary (Peel Harvey system) They are located in CALM's Chris Simpson is the new to investigate physical and new premises at 47 Henry Branch Manager. His qualifi­ water quality factors relating Street, Freman tie.,:, cations are B.App.Sc.(Biol); to fish deaths in the river; Expansion of the Marine Grad.Dip.Nat.Res. (Marine); field and numerical model­ Branch followed a decision PhD (Marine ecology). He ling of the hydrodynamics of by the State Government to was Manager of the Marine the Venice Lagoon and adja­ establish a system of marine Impacts Branch at DEP. cent rivers, Italy to assist in conservation reserves around He has had 18 years' expe­ decision-making to address Western Australia's I 4,000- rience working throughout water quality problems in the kilometre coastline. WA' s marine environment. lagoon, and the flooding of The.Wilson Report (headed His specialist knowledge the City of Venice; field stud­ by Dr Barry Wilson and in­ includes: coral reef ecology, ies of water circulation and volving many agencies, in­ and extensive experience of mixing of pollutants in Lake cluding CALM) has listed WA, reefs including the Pil­ Geneva, Switzerland; studies nearly seventy areas around bara, Ningaloo Reef and the of mixing in the Adriatic Sea the coast that are worthy of Abrolhos Island areas; strate­ and in several northern Ital­ consideration as marine re­ gic planning in the marine ian lakes; field studies of serves, from the tropical wa­ environment; effects of dredg­ water circulation and mixing ters of the Kimberleys in the ing on coral reefs; effect of in the Albany Harbours and north to the colder waters of natural disturbances on WA adjacent ocean waters, field the south coast. coral reefs; impacts of oil in­ studies of the water circula­ dustry on WA tropical marine tion and mixing in Perth's New statutory authority environments; seagrass ecol­ coastal waters (Yanchep­ The State government is ogy; the effects of nutrient Mandurah-continental slope) about to set up a statutory enrichment in temperate ma­ in the DEP's Southern Metro­ Marine Parks and Reserves rine systems of WA; marine politan Coastal Waters Study Authority (MPRA) under the· habitat mapping; statistics and (1991-1994). CALM Act, as a vesting and experimental design; under­ It is essential to understand advisory body for marine con­ . water photography; design of and predict the movement and servation reserves. monitoring programs; project mixing of water and contained Management responsibility management of multi-disci­ substances, such as larvae, will rest with CALM, through plinary marine studies (study contaminants, and sediments, its regional and district net­ leader for Albany Harbours between areas of interest in work. Environmental Study [1988- marine reserves. Nick, there­ The Marine Branch is part 89] and Southern Metropoli­ fore, will be involved, among Marine Conservation Branch manager Chris Simpson, right, with oceanographer Nick D'Adamo. of the Nature Conservation tan Coastal Waters Study other duties, in the oceano­ Photo by Verna Costello Division, under the direction [1991-94]. graphic aspects of marine re­ of Keiran McNamara. Nick D' Adamo is an ocean­ serve boundary selection, zon­ stint as Rottnest Island Envi­ ferred from DEP to. CALM. ,:, Marine Conservation It will co-ordinate the es­ ographer, with 13 years' ex­ ing, implementation and ronmental Manager), Jeremy They are currently on leave, Branch shares CALM's tablishment of marine re­ perience. He studied Civil En­ monitoring. Colman, Sue Osborne and and will be joining the Branch Henry Street, Fremant! ­ serves, and (with the regions) gineering at the University of The Marine Conservation Stella King, at a later date. premises with the Abori6 . improve the scientific basis Western ·Australia, specialis­ Branch also includes CALM · Two other marine scien­ Profiles of Jennie and Jim nal Tourism Unit and the~ for management of existing ing in oceanography through staff members, Greg Pobar, tists, Jennie Cary and Jim will appear in a later edition Swan Region Marine Opera­ marine reserves. to a Masters and a PhD through (who has returned from his Burt, have also been trans- of CALM NEWS. tions Group. ·A culture-shocked Seamus returns from Solomons

SEAMUS Mulholland and his wife Anthea had to your hand and then doesn't While he was living has returned to CALM get over, however, was cul­ let go of it," he said. among the people of the after almost two years on ture shock. "Things are changi·ng, Solomons, Seamus was secondment to the Minis, "Although not far away however,' because of the dealing with therepresenta­ try of Forests, Environ­ in global terms, the large amounts of foreign ti ves of various foreign log­ ment and Conservation Solomons are a world away logging money coming in." ging companies and inter­ in the Solomon Islands. in facility and infrastruc­ Seamus said there was a national log buyers. Seamus is now Manager ture terms," he said. great deal of social disloca­ "I certainly developed of the Plantations Group tion, and the young people my cross-cultural ·abilities; Few luxuries Business Unit within the were no longer satisfied Going in to bat for the Solo­ Forest Resources Division. "For a start, there were with what they saw as a mon Islands in the cut­ While in the Solomons, none of the usual luxuries primitive existence. throat world of interna­ he worked for a company like TV, safe drinking wa­ "Disputes over land own­ tional log marketing was contracted by the Austral­ ter and reliable power. ership are rife. challenging at times," he ian Government's interna­ "We struggled to learn "In the past, 'tribal' own­ said. tional development agency pidgin English so we could ership required few Unfortunately, his efforts (AusAID). communicate with the lo­ boundaries and it was not were brought to an abrupt Seamus was the Com­ cals, and we often became uncommon for more than halt when the Australian mercial Unit Manager of lost because the streets one group to have 'owner­ Government decided tor the Solomon Islands Tim­ don' t have names. ship' of the same land. out of the islands due to ~ ber Control Unit Project. "The Solomons'4 cli­ "Now, the profit motive lack of commitment from His brief-to develop the mate also took some get­ has entered the equation, the Solomon Islands gov­ commercial and marketing ting used to. and the villagers realise that ernment to sustainable de­ skills of key people in the "The temperatu·re rarely owning land with timber velopment. local forestry division in dips below 25 degrees, and on it is valuable to them." "It was disappointing, order to improve the eco­ there is a lot of rain-any­ He said the islands but completely under­ nomic benefits from log­ thi ng from two to five needed better mechanisms standable," Seamus said. ging. metres per year depending to define exactly who "Some of the people in One important aspect of on where you live. owned what, and some sys­ the industry are genuine this was to exert some con­ "But there was a great tems to help work through about making Solomon Is­ trol on the transfer pricing feeling of safety about the issues as they arose. lands forestry sustainable, of log exports from the place, especially in the vil­ "The current situation is but a lot of others are in it country. lages, and the people were confused and frustratingly for the quick buck." "Log exports represent easy going and friendly . slow. No regrets more than 50 per cent of "About 90 per cent still "You quickly realise that the Solomon Islands' ex­ live a subsistence life­ you need to adjust your pace After almost two years, port," Seamus said. style." and work expectation to that and two bouts of malaria, "They underpin the Seamus found that the of the islands. Seamus says he wouldn' t economy, so the cu_rrent locals were also very affec­ "lfyou can achieve even trade his time in the islands unsustainable management tionate, and it wa~ not un­ the obvious, you've had a for anything. of the industry has serious common to see men walk­ big win. "It really is a beautiful implications for the islands ing down the street hold­ "That is not a criticism place, the ocean is clear and both financially and so­ ing hands or arm in arm. of the people, it is just a flat, the diving is fantastic Manager of Plantations Group Business Unit Seamus Mulholland. cially." "It's pretty strange the fact of life in the and the people are happy Photo by Penny Walsh The first hurdle Seamus first time someone shakes Solomons." and friendly." page 4 Seasoned seasonals farewelled

Eager to return to theirfarewell barbecue are: Top, left to right, Steve Martanovic, Shane Palmer, Mark Norton and Barry Curnuk; middle row, Andrew Hookings and Shaun Attwood; front row, standing, Darren McAullay, Allan Wilson, Alan Jenkins, overseer Sam Greer, job officer-in-charge Brian Inglis; front, Mark Nannup and Chris Sousa. Photo by Verna Costl!llo

j by Brian Inglis

CALM's Perth District These included large­ staff farewelled eleven scale pine pruning, furrow seasonal employees re­ lining and ploughing in the cently, with a barbecue Pinjar Plantation, nature at the department's conservation and mainte­ Wanneroo premises. nance projects on District Certificates were also reserves, and .general rec­ presented to the five mem­ reational facilities and park bers of the team pictured at maintenance at Yanchep left, acknowledging the National Park. valuable contribution The team also bad train­ made by these employees ing in heavy and light ve­ in bolstering fire crew hicle driving, map read­ numbers at Perth District ing, fire suppression ac­ during the 1995-1996 fire tivities, fire-hose laying, season. and fire equipment main­ Three members of the tenance. team had completed an ear­ The team performed to a lier fire season with Perth high standard throughout District, and the remain­ the course of their employ­ der had followed on from a ment. New Work Opportunities Because of this, and the Program run from Yanchep fact that there wasn't a sin­ National Park. gle incident of lost time When not involved in through accident, itis hoped fire control operations, that CALM Wanneroo can Recipients of certificates were, left to right, Shaun Attwood, 'B' class licence; Andrew Hookings, 'B' class licence; Darren McAullay, 'B' other district duties were bring back the same faces class licence; Alan Jenkins, Australian standard - loader operator accreditation; Chris Sousa, 'B' class licence. Photo by Verna Costello carried out. next summer. Great response to Lunchtime Seminar Survey NEARLY 200 staff re- convenient time and loca- projects, feral animal con- logging, the future of for- Conservation", featuring staff in outlying areas." the department, the organ- sponded to a recent sur- tion for the seminars. trol, and so on. estry in WA, plantations, CALM Director of Nature To ensure people have ising committee believes vey about lunchtime semi- "We were pleasantly sur- Topics relating to recrea- tree farms, and old timber Conservation, Keiran enough time to get to them, the lunchtime seminar oars, including possible prised with the response, tion and tourism were also regrowth. McNamara. It will be held metropolitan seminars will series will show just how topics and venues. and really appreciate the of interest, with 67 per cent 'There was a very wide at the Como Training Cen- be scheduled for 12.30pm. much knowledge is stored The survey was prompted time people took to fill out of respondents indicating variety of topics raised- tre from 12.30 to 1.00pm, The key presenter will within CALM staff. by a suggestion that came their forms," said Luisa nature-based tourism, rec- everything from depart- and a speaker's kit with speak for about 20 minutes "It would be a shame not from one of last year's Liddicoat of Park Policy reation projects, commercial mental funding and budg- notes anq visual aids will and there will be ample time to learn from the experts CALM leadership courses - and Tourism Branch. operators, the user-pays con- ets through to fire manage- be produced for CALM for questions afterwards. we have among us." that lunchtime seminars ad- About 72 per cent of re- cept, proposed products and ment, and the implications offices in regional centres. "We realise that people Seminar Two of the dressing importa,;t CALM spondents said they were services, and the Tree Top of native title. I hope this "With a department as won' t want to go without CALM Lunchtime Semi- issues would provide a valu- interested in learning more Walk. level of interest means we big as CALM, it is always lunch for the day, so they are nar series will feature able forum for open and about nature conservation A further 54 per cent will get a big turn out when going to be difficult to have invited to bring it with them, John Bartle speaking constructive discussion. issues such as Project Eden, nominated forest manage- the seminar series kicks off a seminar that is accessible and eat while they listen," about 'Fighting Salinity The recent survey was Lake Toolibin, Western ment issues as possible semi- at Como on May 29," Luisa to all staff. What we hope to Luisa said. in WA'. designed to identify the is- Shield, flora and fauna sur- nar topics. These included said. do is move them around as As well as improving Watch your notice sues that would be of most veys, endangered species the concept of sustainable Seminar One will be on much as possible, and have communication and the boards for details of time interest to staff, and the most programs, wildlife research yield, the science behind "Current Issues in Nature speakers' kits available for flow of information within and location. page 5 Night tinJe participation is up

CALM's series of night Day,' by wearing slogan­ forest and its inhabitants. -time activities run by I by Kate Baxter I bearing caps and t-shirts, There were many op­ The Hills Forest was and placing stickers on portunities for the audi­ once again a great hit struction of a unique visiting children. ence to become involved with nearly 1500 adults rammed-earth amphithea­ Nature walks through in the performances, and children visiting tre, nestled among majes­ John Forrest National which included dancing Mundaring-an in­ tic jarrahs. Park, accompanied by and playing the didgeri­ crease in participation Many of the 'Be Active CALM ranger Dave doo. The experience of 42 per cent. Every Day' presentations, Briggs were especially brought people back "Sights and Sounds of sponsored by Healthway, popular with children, again and again, many the Night" offered a variety are held in this unique who love to discover with their overseas and of outdoor learning location,. and take people some of the mysteries of interstate friends . experiences from around­ on exciting journeys of the bush by torchlight. Western Creations the-campfire storytellers to discovery about the forest, And 'Starry, Starry Aboriginal Dance Group Aboriginal Dreaming Aboriginal culture, and Night,' held at the Perth was founded more than Western Creations Aboriginal Dance Group pe,fonnfor enchanted CALM staff traditions and bush bands, music from traditional Observatory was a must five years ago, and is and visitors to The Hills Forest. Photo by Kevin Wilson all designed to attract bush entertainers. for families wishing to made up 'of six profes-· visitors to the Perth Hills Healthway sponsorship explore the night skies sional dancers from all em Australia. Walley through the Abo­ Forest. Several exciting region before the colder was vital to the project, through powerful tel­ around Australia, includ­ Much of their work has riginal Tourism, Educa­ tours will soon be on offer months dampened helping to keep charges escopes. ing as far away as North­ a central message ·of re­ tion and Training Unit at to tour operators and enthusiasm for the great to visitors to a minimum, Western Creations ern Queensland. spect for oneself, one's Como. guides, giving visitors to outdoors. while expanding the pro­ Aboriginal Dance Group They have performed family, the broader com­ Their aim is to create Perth an opportunity to The Hills Forest staff's gram. stole the show, however, thousands of times in a munity and the environ­ opportunities for visitors experience many facets of creative approach to pro­ Our masters of ceremo­ with entertaining and in­ variety of venues, includ­ ment, all presented in an to experience Aboriginal Aboriginal culture, viding experiences that nies, performers and vol­ formative presentations, ing schools, shopping entertaining way. heritage with Aboriginal including dance, music, raise awareness and un­ unteers had a great time depicting Dreaming sto­ centres, scout jamborees The group is now also guides in bush settings instrument crafting and derstanding of our forests promoting the health mes­ ries, linking Aboriginal and arts centres in New working with Gil Field, such as Walyunga, decorating, bush food and has resulted in the con- sage 'Be Active Every cultural heritage with the South Wales and West- Maxine Chi and Trevor Yanchep and The Hills medicine. Changes to lists hold greater promise of help for wildlife

WESTERN Australia's ule. The species was re­ Quokkas have been firmly established in the latest list of threatened discovered at Two Peo­ listed because although South-West. and specially protected ples Bay in December, they remain abundant on Carnaby's and fauna contains some sig­ 1994. Rottnest Island, CALM Baudin' s cockatoos were nificant changes that The woylie was deleted surveys show the species transferred from the spe­ will help conserve the from the list and has been has reduced in numbers cially protected list be­ State's native wildlife. categorised as 'conserva­ in the Dwellingup and cause of concerns over The new list includes tion dependent' under Manjimup areas. their low numbers and one species-Gilbert's World Conservation Un­ The species as a whole, low breeding potential. potoroo-that had been ion criteria. This recog­ therefore, justifies spe­ An integrated research presumed extinct for 125 nises that ongoing man­ cial protection, particu­ project into these two years, while another-the agement such as predator larly as its new listing cockatoos and the fores woylie-has been re­ control is needed to pre­ will provide more of a red-tailed black cockatoo - moved as it is no longer vent the species again deterrent to people who will be developed as a considered in danger of becoming threatened. harm quokkas on Rot­ priority. extinction. Thirteen other species tnest. Other species deleted The list includes 160 also have been transferred The maximum penalty from the list for various rea­ native animals that are to the threatened list, sev­ for people convicted of sons include the wilkinti now specially protected eral of them from the list harming listed animals (dusky hopping mouse) and under the Wildlife Con­ of 'specially protected' such as guokkas is koontin (Gould' s mouse) servation Act. These in­ species. $10,000 cohi pared with and six bird species includ­ clude 106 considered The additions include $4,000 for species not on ing the crested shrike-tit, . threatened with extinc­ the sei and fin whales, the the specially protected rufous owl and red-tailed tion, 13 presumed extinct northern and southern list. tropic-bird. and 41 listed as specially marsupial moles CALM's much The new list was ap­ protected because of in­ (kakarratul and itjaritjari), expanded feral predator proved by the Minister on ternational agreements or the antina or central rock control program, Western recommendations from because they are at high rat and the quokka. Shield, will be crucial to the Threatened Fauna Sci­ Damien Lulaich nurses a.faked broken arm, while St John's Lesley Hartman tells risk of illegal taking. Baudin' s cockatoo and ensuring populations of entific Advisory Commit­ volunteers how they should render first aid. Photo by Larisa Vanstien The Gilbert' s potoroo Carnaby' s cockatoo have species such as quokkas, tee, which had been en­ has been transferred from also been included along which once ranged as far dorsed by the National the presumed extinct list with the recently discov­ north as Moore River, Parks and Nature Conser­ More new volunteers to the threatened sched- ered 'harlequin frog'. recover and again become vation Authority. for Go Bush! trained Three new committees to

ABORIGINAL music, illustrate communication dancing and Dreaming by Larisa and interpretation tech­ stories comprised the fi­ Vanstien niques, and volunteer co­ review species listings nale to two full Satur­ ordinator Terry Hales, days' training for new Mock accidents that provided information on THE process used to over the current threat­ Scientific Committee. The committee will also Go Bush! volunteers. were not without humour, future courses and oppor­ review the conservation ened species listing sys­ The new advisory com­ carry on the work of the Thirty new volunteers, were contrived for the first tunities within CALM. status of native plants and tem under which members mittee will include six to ranking panel, which ranks as well as many current aid training by St John The training ended animals will be made were appointed to repre­ 10 members selected on the species under criteria ap­ Go Bush! volunteers,jour­ Ambulance staff. with a barbecue and an more independent. sent particular organisa­ basis of their expert knowl­ proved by the World Con­ neyed to The Hills Forest Also included on the Aboriginal Dreaming Three existing threat­ tions rather than for their edge of the conservat\on servation .Union (IUCN). to explore some of its won­ first day was an introduc­ performance in the beau­ ened species committees specialist knowledge," he status of the State's flora Subcommittees com­ ders, learn to do some­ tion to -the programs run tiful rammed-earth am­ will be restructured into said. and fauna and will be prising six to 10 experts thing different and have by The Hills Forest, and phitheatre-with plenty one group whose members It will enable a broad chaired by CALM's Direc­ can be appointed to con­ loads of fun. roles, rights and responsi­ of victims, sorry-volun­ will be appointed for their cross-section of scientific torofN ature Conservation, sider lists and categories The first Saturday's bilities of Go Bush! vol­ teers and staff, dragged scientific expertise rather expertise to be used as the Keiran McNamara. of threat for specific training began with a tour unteers. out to participate in danc­ than as representatives of new advisory group will Its main function will groups of species. of the facilities conducted The second Saturday's ing and playing the did­ organisations. be able to establish sub­ be to carry out annual re­ The existing Threatened by Stev Slavin, manager training involved an in­ geridoo. The move is part of En­ committees to consider views of the lists of threat­ Species and Communities of The Hills Forest Activ­ formative bushwalk with Feedback from the new vironment Minister Peter particular species. ened and specially pro­ Consultative Committee, ity Centre. Mundaring seniorreserves volunteers was that the Foss's aim to ensure ad­ The move involves re­ tected species. The review which is a forum for con­ This was followed by a officer John Carter, and training was 'fun and a vice on threatened spe­ structuring the Threatened will include the priority sultation and information bus tourofthe surroundings 'volunteer experiences' great learning experience.' cies is based on the best Fauna Scientific Advisory lists maintained by exchange between com­ and discussion of CALM performed by current Go Everyone at The Hills available- scientific ex­ Committee, the Endan­ CALM, which include munity-based conserva­ management strategies Bush! volunteers. Forest was impressed by pertise, rather than from gered Flora Consultative species that require fur­ tion groups and CALM, with The Hills Forest Stev Slavin and senior the motivation and initia­ ideological positions. Committee and the Threat­ ther surveys to clarify will remain. It will be ex­ Programs Officer Barry interpretation officer Gil tive shown by our newest "The initiative will ened Flora and Fauna Sci­ conservation status, and panded to include a repre­ Hooper. Field, used roleplaying to recruits. also instil a greater de­ entific Ranking Panel into species that are rare and sentative of the World gree of independence a new Threatened Species require monitoring. Wide Fund for Nature. page 6 No fazing felt when Office staff bone up for . . feeding fire fighters better customer service

ACCURATELY an­ knowledge and enthusi­ Feedbackwaspositiveposi­ swering phone· or per­ by Annie Greig asm for the estate they tive. Clerical officer Debbie sonal inquiries from the manage. Wheeler said that the experi­ general public can often carpet pythons being Our first tour in mid­ ence gave more meaning to pose a problem for dis­ sexed was an experience August 1995, gave an her day-to-day tasks. trict and regional office we're not · likely to for­ early taste of the More convincing staff. get!) wildflower season with Apart from the excel­ a 7 .5-kilometre walk "Being there, has lent information available Some surprises through Yanchep Na­ helped me to talk to cus­ through CALM publica­ The boat trip across to tional Park. tomers with a greater de­ tions, the ability to refer Penguin Island was full Our starting point was gree of conviction and to first-hand knowledge of surprises with sea-li­ Lacey Road on the enthusiasm, which makes adds a personal and pro­ ons cavorting in the shal­ southern boundary of me feel that I'm a vital fessional touch in the pro­ lows, and terns and the park. component in achieving CALM's aims," she said. vision of site-specific in- shearwaters squabbling Heritage trail noisily in their rookeries. These experiences have The route followed the also generated enthusi­ Familiarisation Ranger Terry Goodlich and his staff described the most northerly section asm in the group to take a In Perth District, a new fairy penguin facil­ of the Yaberoo-Budjara walk in springtime to see twice-yearly familiarisa­ ity, and the view from t.he Heritage Trail. the wildflowers of the tion tour has been imple­ walk trail lookout across This is a 28-kilometre northern sandplains at mented as a means of de­ to the mainland was spec­ walk from Lake Joondalup Moore River National veloping office staff tacular. to Loch McNess. We then Park. And maybe after knowledge. continued through the that, the whole State! A recent tour to Garden Underwater world wetland along the Yanjidi So if you have and Penguin Islands and Techni_cal officer Nature Trail. walktrails, recreation ar­ Hillarys helped .us to un­ Kevin Crane showed us Highlights of the tour eas and special projects derstand the management slides of the world un­ included views from up­ that you would like more of marine parks and the der water at Marmion ! and heath vantage people to experience, get coastal environment. Marine Park and ex­ points over the tuart for­ your office staff out there, Garden Island ranger plained some of the est, protective maned on site, so they're able to Jim Maher, and senior management issues of geese with their young, expand on their experi­ research scientist David the area. and seeing the new ences to visitors. Pearson, gave a 'snakey' Our thanks go to these works taking place in the It has great health and perspective (Watching officers for sharing their national park. fitness benefits too!

Linda Gilbert preparesfoodforfamishedfirefighters, while Brian Inglis and Rod Martyn salivate in the background. Photo by Gary Merrin, courtesy Sunday Times

fHE logistics of supply­ obstacles, came up with ing to be able to supply ing food to those work- ' a number of suggestions, the guys with an enjoy­ ing on and around fire many of which were im­ able meal in their break lines has bedevilled fire­ plemented on a trial basis from the fire line, know­ fighting organisations in the 1995-96 fire sea­ ing it would help them for many years. son. get through the rest of Fire fighting is a A mobile catering unit the shift," Taryn said. physically demanding that can transport food at The catering hand­ task, requiring high energy its required temperature book, edited by Taryn and output, therefore fire to the fire line, and a ca­ Linda Gilbert, with input fighters need high energy- tering handbook are two from those who helped . producing food supplied initiatives that have with catering, provides to them regularly around proved highly satisfac­ information on storage the clock. tory. and a collection of reci­ Food is fuel for the The mobile unit stores pes to cater for l 0, 25 or body. It should be palat­ food at its required tem­ 50 people, and are all able and high in carbohy­ perature, losing only a easy to prepare. drates, as this is the most couple of degrees over The handbook is being efficient fuel for meeting four hours. revised and will be high energy needs A recent trial run saw reprinted in time for the It needs to be supplied food prepared in 1996-1997 fire season. with a minimum of dis­ Dwellingup and trans­ Any contributions or ruption to the task at hand. ported to Bunbury. suggestions will be most Large quantities of wa­ Dwelling up storewoman welcome. ter need also to be sup­ Taryn Linning said the Dwellingup has had the plied-in fact, 200 ml Bunbury fire-fighting catering unit in operation every 20 minutes should staff sampling the good­ for six months, and if read­ ...-',e drunk. Fluid should be ies were most impressed ers wish to see it, please Joi and low in sugar. that their baked potatoes contact Dwellingup Dis­ A Swan Region cater­ were still hot enough to trict manager Steve Raper, ing task force, established melt the butter, and the or Taryn Linning by phon­ "Maybe we can do this full time," say Perth District front line staff, Pat Cleary, Debbie Wheeler, Lexa Fau alari, ing (09) 538 1078, or in 1995 to look at the lo­ beef stroganoff was June Talbot, Lee Henderson, and Marilyn Ramsay at the familiarisation tour of Yanchep National Park. Missing faxing (09) 538 1203 to gistics and determine steaming. from photo is Julie Price. Photo by Annie Greig strategies to overcome the ;,It was most satisfy- arrange a visit. Back to back basics for pain-free posture THE way you hold your sure is placed on the joints, joints that is 10 to 15 times It is important for you to A good posture should help increase the strength body determines whatim- I by Linda Gilbert I causing them to become greater than when lying look objectively at how you be aligned without any ex- and flexibility of the key age you present to others, stiff, while the muscles down. Ensure that you have use your body in work and aggerations of the spinal postural muscles, (that is, and how quickly you age. sti:ifness or a sensation of weaken. a supportive chair, but avoid play, and the posture that curves. abdominal, back and leg It is a fact that an unbal- numbness in the muscles. It is for this reason that sitting for long periods of results from your activities. Our lifestyle encourages muscles) enhancing a more anced posture results in The way we sit, drive you should listen to your time. Ask a colleague to give us to keep our joints still balanced posture. pain-usually in the neck and perform common tasks body-and 'comfortable' is Be aware of how long you some feedback as to and move through only a An incorrect posture is a and back. such as carrying and lifting not always the main crite- you are sitting at your desk how you sit, or use a mirror limited range of movement hidden danger, as the dam- We usually take a healthy may cause painful muscles. ria for body wellness. and try to get up a least to look at your standing However, we need a full age to the joints and mus- back for granted-that is This in tum may lead to If you are comfortable every hour to stretch. If posture. range of movement to en- cles accumulates over many until something goes muscle inflexibility and in- you could be in an habitual possible, alternate between Do you have a hunched able us to live the life that years. wrong. activity. slouched posture. sitting and standing, espe- back, rounded shoulders or most of us want, with little So start preventing the Warning signs include When the body is unbal- Slouching when sitting cially if the warning signs forward poking head-do discomfort or restrictions. effects before you start feel- burning, tingling, tightness, anced, a great deal of pres- puts a stress on the back are evident. you look like_a gorilla? Regular exercise will ing them!

nnoP 7 Knowledge recognised STAFF can now receive a application, and the in­ tertiary certificate with­ Iby Tammie Reid I terview was a thorough out completing the for­ grilling-the interview­ mal study. identified rn the staff ing officers really knew Recognition of Prior appraisal process. their stuff," Ralph said. Learning, is the name of a He opted for an intensive Ralph is part of a team, new education practice that four-hour interview with working to set up and moni­ accredits an applicant who an ex-CIB training officer tor the CALM Act and For­ can prove he or she al­ and a T AFE course asses­ est Management Regula­ ready possesses the nec­ sor, and he is now the proud tions in·State forests. essary knowledge, gained holder of a Certificate in His success in attaining from work-related train­ Statutory Investigation and the Certificate in Statutory ing and experience. Law Enforcement Investigation and Enforce­ This accreditation is not During the interview, ment is expected to inspire lightly given, as senior Ralph was required to con­ other members of the training officer Alan vince his examiners that he team, as well as other Byrne explains: had gained, as part of his . CALM officers in similar "Normally, a three-year, CALM training and work situations, to seek formal full time T AFE accredited experience, an extensive recognition and accredi­ course, covering I 3 understanding of law en­ tation for their work-re­ modules and seven forcementand investigation lated training. electives, is required to gain and all the competencies For further information accreditation, Alan said. required to qualify for the on the Recognition of Kelmscott senior certificate. Prior Learning system, operations officer Ralph "It took a quite a while staff should contact Smith needed to fill this to put together the docu­ Megan Somers on (09) 271 training/qualification gap, mentation to back up my 4655

Astronomers Ralph Martin, left, and Andrew Williams, right, are on hand to help amateur star gazers at the Old Observato,y. Photo by Ross Swansborough1 Observatory ma~ks its 100 years with timely BANG!

CENTENARY celebra­ ity was to let people know Perth Observatory is tions for the Perth Ob­ I by Penny Walsh I that the Perth Observatory one of the State's oldest servatory, which became is still alive and kicking," continuously operating sci­ part of CALM earlier this It was the brainchild of Jamie said. entific institutions, and the year, got off to a noisy WA's first Government "We had to get special only totally state-funded start recently when the Astronomer, William E permission from all sorts of observatory left in Aus Government Astronomer Cooke, long before the ad­ people to fire it, but the tralia. Jamie Biggs, fired a sig­ vent of radio and telephone end result was worth­ Jamie said the concerts nal cannon commemorat­ time services. while." and exhibition were a good ing the 'One O'Clock This year, however, the Environment Minister way of introducing as­ Gun'-an institution in BANG that reverberated Peter Foss officially tronomy to a broad cross­ Perth between 1902 and around West Perth sig­ opened the exhibition, section of the Western Aus­ 1955. nalled the beginning of a and congratulated Perth tralian community. The 'One O'Clock Gun' three-week centenary ex­ Observatory staff on their "All of the special activi­ used to be fired from the hibition and series of free continued contribution to ties we have planned dur­ old Perth Observatory on concerts to celebrate 100 WA through education ing our centenary year are Mt Eliza at 1.00 pm each years of astronomy in programs, public infor­ designed to increase aware­ Recognition for Kelmscott senior operations officer Ralph Smith. weekday to help locals keep WA. mation services and sci­ ness of the services we pro­ · Photo by Tammie Reid correct time. "The aim of the activ- entific research. vide," he said. Health and fi-tness leaders ready, willing and able

PEER leaders in health and fitness, I by Linda Gilbert I nominated by their colleagues, attended a tion to implement the two-an d-a-h al f-d a y ideas and methods dis­ training course in cussed was evident on Perth recently. completion of the The course, which course. was partially funded by But the real success a grant from Healthway of the training and net­ (WA Health Promotion working can be meas­ Foundation), was the ured by the actions of first stage in developing these leaders in the fu­ a dynamic network of ture. ambassadors in health Although it is only early and fitness. days, many leaders have The training included introduced new health and theory and practical ses­ fitness initiatives into their sions on various aspects workplaces-including of fitness and promot­ health and fitness infor­ ing health and healthy mation boards, sports lifestyles. competitions, information All health and fitness sessions, warm-up and leaders received re­ stretching times, fitness source files and infor­ testing, to name a few . mation to which they can So, find out who the refer, particularly when peer leaders are in your responding to questions area, and support the on health issues from activities they initiate on colleagues and family or your behalf, and remem­ friends. ber, the benefits of par­ All of the participants ticipation and involve­ expressed their satisfac­ ment towards the im­ Who is your fitness leader? They are standing left to right, Dave Bastiani, Ian Flecker, Rebecca Wookstholme, Edd Turner, Mark Lush, Mike tion with the training provement of health and Innis, Mike Cante/a, Jacki Nichol, Wa,wick Roe, Mel Price, Steve Blyth, Barry Hooper, Rob Turner, Ray Thompson, ·Arthur Pettifor, Brad course and resource. The fitness are for you and Daw, John McKenzie. Seated are Steve Sweetman, Andrew Horan, Janine Rosman, Na_talie Hull, Max Bending, Scott Codley, Len Zamodio enthusiasm and moti va- your family. and, doing a one-handed press up, is Rob Maranta. Photo by Linda Gilbert

page 8 Partnership pr_ovides camping in comfort

ENVIRONMENTAL building game for more than education partnerships I by Tammie Reid I 30 years and he is full of are strong between praise for the work so far. CALM Dwellingup and workers Allan Clark, Ralph "The group is enthusias­ Morley Senior High Staines and Bill Beach share tic and puts in extra effort School.· the carpentry task of direct­ and attention to detail when For more than 10 years, ing the standards, advising it comes to getting the job the development of Icy and working alongside the done quickly and well," Jeff Creek Environmental Bush NWO workers. said. Camp, at Lane Poole Re­ Bill said that there was a The Icy Creek develop­ serve in the Murray Valley, great deal of friendly compe­ ment will not be over when has been shared between tition between work groups. the NWO signs off in July. the two organisations. "Each group has been Tourism and Dwellingup MSHS provides admin­ working on a hut, with fierce recreation program leader istration, booking and pro­ rivalry to do it quicker and Mark Humble said that motion services, and better than the other," Bill there would be some reha­ CALM carries out the on­ said. bilitation required on site: site maintenance and secu­ "For a group of people fencing off tracks, design­ rity. with little previous build­ ing pathways and complet­ Managementcostsarecov­ ing experience, they' ve re­ ing the other two camping ered by camping and ameni­ ally done well, with two huts to cater for a total of 60 ties fees, and the site is avail­ huts completed in a little people. able on a booking basis to any more than three weeks." "A large picnic shelter is group with an environmen­ The school secured most also proposed to complete tal education focus. of the funding for plans, the wet weather facilities­ Under a New Work Op­ materials and equipment a hot water shower block portunities (NWO) employ­ from its Parents and Citi­ and a large, open-sided ment scheme, Icy Creek is zens group, with generous meeting structure already again in a construction sponsorship from ALCOA exist from the last develop­ phase. and support from Bunnings. ment phase," Mark said. Six bush camping huts, But the project really got "Overall, Icy Creek will sleeping IO per hut, are pro­ off the ground when NWO keep its low key, develop­ posed, to increase the ca­ took up the building com­ ment flavour, and the focus pacity of the site to cater for ponent and CALM Dwell­ will remain on education in younger groups in the wet­ i ngup provided on-site the natural environment." ter months, when camping project management. If you are interested in under canvas is a consider­ The program aims to give . using Icy Creek and your ably less attractive prospect. participants, most of whom group qualifies under the The timber structures are come from the Pinjarra or booking guidelines, phone set in groups of three around Dwellingup areas, new build­ Morley Senior High a shared campfire. Four are ing skills, confidence, and School's youth education scheduled for completion full-time job experience. officer Ian Maserai, on (09) by the NWO scheme. Project supervisor, Jeff 276 5766 for booking and Forest workers Bill Beach, left, and Mark Humble plan tasks for the day at Icy Creek. Photo by Tammie Reid Dwellingup CALM forest Wrobel has been in the facility information. Naming ceremony for Perth Observatory's latest 'baby'

I by Penny Walsh I

PERTH Observatory workshop staff Arie Verveer and John Pearse had reason to celebrate recently when their 'baby' was offi­ cially named and launched. Arie and John have spent the past four years hatch­ ing a robotic prototype tele­ Rod Mariyn shows where tortoises can now move safely under the fence. scope in the Observatory Photo by Roger Markham · workshop. The specially designed I 0-inch telescope is fully Tortoises protected computer controNed and will revolutionise aster­ CALM's Perth District the lake as the surface before moving on. - , and comet tracking in staff believe they have dried. Long-necked, oroblong, ,.,,e southern hemisphere. solved a problem at The solution? Two tor­ tortoises ( Chelodina It has an extra wide field Thomson's Lake, where· toise gates were built and oblonga) are common in of view (about two thirds a number of tortoises set under water in ponds freshwater wetlands of the the area of the full Moon), attempting to move built directly under the Swan Coastal Plain. which is ideal for obtaining outside the reserve were vermin-proof fence at lo­ They lay clutches of up accurate sky positions, and impeded by the vermin­ cations where tortoises to 25 eggs which hatch in may assist in the discovery proof fence. Some had were known to gather. August and September, of other phenomena such become dehydrated and Perth District staff Rod many of which are predated as stars with variable light died along the inside of Martyn and Lyndon Mut­ upon or perish before mak­ output. the fence. ter designed the ponds and ing it to the wetlands. The telescope was The movement of tor­ gates, on the advice of The tortoises are carnivo­ named after Mike Candy, toises did not occur con­ University of Western rous, feeding on fish, mol­ former Government As­ Director of Regional Services Chris Haynes and his wife Liz joined Environment sistently, and is believed to Australia research scien­ luscs and crustaceans. tronomer for WA, in rec­ Minister Peter Foss, Technical Manager Arie Verveerand Government Astronomer be associated with females tist Gerald Kuchling. While the vermin-proof ognition of his contribu­ Jamie Biggs at the commissioning of the Mike Candy telescope. moving long distances to Overseer Glen Hughes fence impeded movement tion to the science of As­ Photo by Ernie McLintock lay eggs in spring and early built a concrete prototype of some tortoises, its tronomy both here and Peter Foss congratulated damental design. carried out by gardener summer. Others migrate pond, and the second benefit to the tortoise popu­ internationally. Arie and John on their While at the Observa­ David Tiggerdine. between wetlands, partly pond (an improvement on lation overall has out­ Mike passed away in workmanship on the new tory, Mr Foss also admired As well as enhancing during the past summer the first) was built using weighed the disadvantages. 1994 while employed by instrument. He said that the new Solar System Walk the look of the complex, when Thomsons's Lake fibreglass. Before the fence was the Observatory and en­ if this prototype telescope and landscaping work. garden beds absorb some dried. The concept appears to built, many migrating and gaged in project work. His performed as well as ex­ The Solar System walk of the damaging heat that Only a small percentage be successful. At one stage, nesting tortoises fell vic­ family was well repre­ pected, larger telescopes features a series of plaques can affect the are believed to have mi­ five tortoises were observed tim to foxes, and freshly sented at the official cer­ (with apertures up to a that illustrate the relative performance of the Perth grated from the reserve, using the ponds, where they dead tortoises were often emony (see picture). metre wide) could be distance between planets. Observatory's delicate with most burying them­ appeared to be spending seen with their heads bit­ Environment Minister built using the same fun- The landscaping work was instruments. selves · under the mud in some time rehydrating ten off, possibly by cats.

nnop 0 CALM South Coastal 1s voyage extraordinaire

A 10-day ecovoyage from excellent team of special­ Esperance to Albany by I by John Watson I ists for the 'ecovoyagers' the Sail Training Ship and secondly, a broad range Leeuwin has provided a through the Recherche Ar­ of our own staff gained unique opportunity for chipelago Nature Reserve valuable experience in a CALM South Coast Re­ near Esperance. rather more specialised in­ gion staff to provide spe­ Fitzgerald- River Na­ terpretive situation than is cialist interpretation and tional Park rangers then normally encountered. activities along the way. joined the vessel for two CALM staff played an The Leeuwin recently sectors along the Biosphere integrai part in sailing the began operating a small Reserve coastline, and the vessel and were assigned to number of 'ecovoyages' Two Peoples Bay Reserve 'watches' and went 'aloft' with up to 38 passengers of manager completed the fi­ like the rest of the partici­ all ages, in addition to the nal few days into Albany. pants. They also gave sailing crew. We also arranged three evening video and slide Because of the superb full days on shore, two in shows, and were able to network of coastal reserves the Fitzgerald River Na­ help participants with their between Esperance and tional Park, where biologi­ numerous queries on a more Albany, we suggested that cal survey work was dem­ informal basis. theLeeuwin make a number onstrated and recreation We gained excellent lo­ ofland falls, particularly at management issues ex­ .cal media coverage for both the Fitzgerald River Na­ plained, and one day at Two the STS Leeuwin and for tional Park, one of Austral­ Peoples Bay, learning about CALM with several arti­ ia's model biosphere re­ various threatened species cles in local newspapers serves, and at Two Peo­ recovery programs. and a GWN television ples Bay Nature Reserve, In all, about 10 staff from news crew on board with home to the noisy scrub CALM were involved, cov­ me for the final day into bird, Gilbert's Potoroo and ering a wide range of exper­ Albany. numerous other threatened tise including marine fauna, We can genuinely say species. island ecology, biosphere now that our nature inter­ We also suggested that reserves, national park man­ pretation is occurring from rather than have one CALM agement, biological surveys, land and sea! officer act as specialist for threatened species manage­ The STS Leeuwin is a Two Peoples Bay Reserve manager Alan Danks, Gairdner River farmer and voyage _co-organiser Charlie the whole 10-day voyage, ment and planning. 55-metre three-masted Hick and South Coastal Regional manager John Watson. we could use the land falls We are still assessing the barquentine, built in 1986. as an opportunity to change outcomes of the venture, She is the largest sailing staff. As a result, we ar­ but early indications are ship in the southem hemi­ ranged for a wildlife of­ that it was extremely suc­ sphere and carries more ficerto accompany the voy­ cessful all round. than 800 square metres of age for the first few days First, we provided an sail cloth when fully rigged.

Returning to the Leeuwinfromn Point Ann, Fitzgerald River National Park. CALM Albany office staff Tracy Ferguson and Melissa Ford at Point Ann, Fitzgerald River National Park Photo by John Watson Photo by John Watson. South Coastal Reg ional_ staff in ship shaping-up form

THE ten South Coast Re­ than those of the earlier At Point Ann, park rang­ other group visited search assistant Leigh the STS Leeuwin to re­ gion staff who took part I by John Watson I explorers. ers Nathan McQuoid and Twertup Field Studies Whisson and reserve fine and improve the pro­ at various stages, in the At Hopetoun, Fitzgerald Lindsay Brown led guided Centre, and completed the manager Alan Danks. (I gram for next year. Sail Training Ship Leeu­ dropped anchor, went biosphere ecologist Angela walks of the Point Ann Horrie and Dorrie Walk also joined the voyage for CALM staff found this win 's 10-day 'ecovoyage' ashore and explored the Sanders, park ranger Mark Heritage Trail, the whale­ with Nathan McQuoid the final leg from Two to be a most enjoyable from Esperance to Al­ area. True and wildlife officer watching platform and the and me. Finally, at Two Peoples Bay to Albany.) and challenging experi­ bany gave a dimension There were some differ­ Peter Collins led the new St Mary's campsite. Peoples Bay, the party Feedback from visitors ence and are looking for­ to the trip that was remi­ ences-the 1996 visitors 'ecovoyagers' in fauna trap­ Later, one group walked visited traplines, the Re­ and staff has been enthu­ ward to an ongoing part­ niscent of the days when were expected, and their ping, site surveying and up West Mt Barren with search Station and the siastic and we are now nership with the Leeuwin early discoverers intentions were friendlier guided walk activities. Lindsay Brown, while the Heritage Trail with re- working in liaison with on future 'ecovoyages'. page JO Droving? All in a day's work for Goldfields staff

REGIONAL and district and unshorn sheep were staff whose work takes mixed together. With the them outdoors are prob­ abundance of water, they ably least likely of all staff were able to avoid the mus­ to complain of boredom ter and congregate in the with their work. heavier woodland scrub. This could be because the Some sheep had wool nature of their work presents dragging on the ground and them with a variety of tasks looked as if they had not and chalienges. been shorn for two·or three One such challenge saw years, especially a mob Goldfields staff experience from the western paddock. a sense of great satisfaction This mob was flushed out with a tough job well done, by an aerial muster on the when they became tempo­ second last day, after an rary jackeroos at CALM's earlier attempt using motor Goongarrie pastoral lease. bikes failed due to poor The task was to locate and fences and thick scrub. yard more than a thousand The surly sheep, along ;beep before being trans­ with an unexpected 20 head ported for shearing. of cattle, with horns that Operations officer Phil would make a Texan Spencer tells the story: rancher proud, came charg­ Goongarrie pastoral lease ing over a hill on the fence is located on the transition line where they were inter­ line where eucalypt and cepted by the roundup crew. mulga woodlands con­ Fortunately, the cattle verge, and contains a moved through the fence to number of salt lake flats the west'onto vacant crown and breakaway formations. land. It was in this typeofcoun-­ The sheep, still looking try that the first destocking for any avenue of escape, Goldfields Regional Manager Ian Kealley comes to grips with some difficult sheep, with the help of leading hand Bernie Scanlon. muster took place, and was were driven to the south, Photo by Phil Spencer a two-week stint for CALM where portable yards had tured by Grant and Bernie motor bikes got flat tyres, There was some good The sheep decided to go their hard work was in vain, 'jackeroos,' Grant Pronk, been set up. A further six in a spectacular style, were gear shifters snapped off fortune along the way, over a treacherous lake, and until they saw the trusty Geoff Young, Bernie sheep were sighted from yarded, then transported by in the heavy scrub, grumpy however. the only option for the old station dog holding the Scanlon, Kim Phillips­ the air in heavy scrub. truck to the shearing shed sheep made every attempt While mustering lake musterers was to follow. mob for them. Jones, Ian Kealley, War­ Kim and Bernie brought with an improvised sheep to sneak off and escape at country to the east, the sta- They had a great deal of Further musters have wick Roe and me. them to the yards after some cage constructed from mis- the slightest sign of heavy tion's old sheep dog accom- difficulty crossing the lake removed another 200 Cyclone Bobby had very hard riding. All but cellaneous bits and pieces vegetation, and would-be panied Geoff, Grant and and became bogged. sheep, with more still to be played havoc with an ear­ two sheep, which broke from the homestead. Snowy River men (sorry, Kim, who had a large mob When they reached the rounded up from mainly lier station muster. Shorn away and were later recap- During the fortnight, Banjo) were saddle sore. of sheep. other side, they thought all inaccessible woodland. Jeni is after your marrow ~ ~-----~ th . More welcome news _.ffiRE are 250 people in staff are blood donors, and too many on e registry. Australia, and hundreds by Verna I'd like to see them carry Simply phone the Aus- worldwide, who suffer Costello this a step further and be tralian Red Cross (Western from leukaemia, aplastic placed on the bone marrow Australia) Bone Marrow while Hemigenia exilis anaemia and other bone thon, but no more than I'd registry. Donor Registry on (09) 325 marrow disorders. havefeltafteranormalblood "Who knows, you might 3333 for further informa- They are searching for donation. one day experience the thrill tion. bone marrow donors-and "Two progress reports of saving someone's life. "Then go for it and bleed populations increase 'if a compatible match can sincethebonemarrowtrans- Because Australia is for someone in need!" Jeni be found, a transplant can plant took place have multicultural,theRedCross said. SINCE the Lake Darlot shrivelled or having no take place. showed that the patient is is particularly interested in Another CAIM stajfmem- find last year of the pre­ by Anne endosperm, therefore Since the WA Red Cross doingverywellandhasbeen peopleofethnicoriginother ber who has enrolled in the sumed extinct Cochrane 'bad', and 98 per cent of started its Bone Marrow discharged from hospital. than Anglo Saxon-Celtic- Bone Marrow Match Regis­ Hemigenia exilis, the the sunken seeds having Registry in 1991, about "In ten months' time, if it seems different races can t1y, isherbariumpri01ityflora number of populations a healthy endosperm, 7,500 Western Australians the_parents, the child and I havedifferentbonemarrow surveyor Diana Papenfus. found has now in­ two weeks. therefore 'good'. have enrolled; agree, we all can meet! types-but whatever your She endorses Jeni's plea to creased to 23, compris­ After a busy season More than 33,000 seeds There is, however, only a "I know a lot of CALM background, there can't be other staff to 'be in it'. ing almost 4,000 plants, collecting seed of rare were given to us origi­ slender chance of being and spread over a wide and critically endangered nally, but only about 31 matched to a patient. To area of the State. plants from the South­ per cent were healthy. date, nly twenty WA do­ West, we were 'up to our We've since put down nors have been matched, Anaconda funding eyeballs' in unprocessed a number of seed samples and donated bone marrow. Some of the known material. for germination testing, CALM part-time nature populations are located on So Anaconda Nickel and eagerly await the re­ conservation planning of­ the mining company Ana­ came to the rescue and sults, (particularly Nicky, ficer Jeni Alford is one of conda Nickel' s lease, east provided funding for the considering the time and those who have registered of Leonora, where the employment of a consult­ painstaking effort she has and donated bone marrow. company has provided ant to clean the seed. spent processing them). Jeni, a blood. donor for funding to survey for thi s The consultant, Nicky We're not holding our re than 15 years says purple-flowered mint Robinson, did a sterling breath, however, as the u,at anyone in good health bush. job (a most boring job we plants are known to between the ages of I 8 and Eleanor Bennett, the would have to admit!). sucker when disturbed, 50 years, can register on the botanist conducting the The cleaning and indicating that they may bone marrow registry. surveys, has provided the counting was not quite as not rely heavily on seed "All it takes is a small Threatened Flora Seed simple as first expected for regeneration. sample of blood to deter­ Centre (TFSC) at and a reduced surface ten­ By having seed in a mine bone marrow type, and, CALM's WA Herbarium sion flotation method was 'gene bank' we are ensur­ ifcalled upon to donate, your with more than 50 bags of required to separate the ing that the species is not marrow could be sent to a seed of the hemigenia, for 'good' seed from the lost. patient anywhere in the testing and storage. 'bad'. Management of the world," she said. The theory behind this populations in the wild, Jeni enrolled onto the Labour intensive method is that 'good' seed however, is the most im­ Bone Marrow Registry two The tiny seeds were is heavier, having a portant way to conserve years ago, and six months mixed in with old fruit healthy endosperm, and the plant. · ago she was asked if she casings and dead vegeta­ 'bad' seed is light, often would like to donate mar­ tive material, so initial being empty. Efforts enhanced row to help a young child. attempts to clean and Nicky then did a ran­ Ultimately, with in­ "I was in hospital for a count the seed proved la­ dom cut test on a selected creasing knowledge of the day and a night, and despite borious, with one bag tak­ number of both the sink­ hemigenia's habitat, and not being overly fond of ing approximately one­ ing and floating seed. our experience in the hospitals, nor the prospect and-a-half hours to proc­ The results have shown propagation of the plant, of being anaesthetised, I ess. that these two methods Anaconda Nickel's ef­ found that it wasn't at all We estimated the total work very successfully, forts to protect the spe­ painful," she said. time to process all 50 bags with 94 per cent of the cies will be considerably "It took a few weeks to would involve more than floating seed having enhanced. feel like running a mara- Jenni Alford-keen to see more marrow donors. Photo by Verna Costello

nnr,P: 11 John Forrest NP plays the role of her life as Katta Moornda Park

JOHN FORREST National ers in and near the park to Park has been invaded, the ensure that conservation val­ first casualty being its name ues are protected. which is replaced with Appealing story 'Katta Moornda National Park'-but only for two days The story has a single a week. mother of two, Maggie Dean, The 'friendly invaders' as the senior park ranger of wear identity cards, mostly Katta Moorncla National Park. on Channel Seven shirts, and Her daughter, 13 year-old wave cameras and clapper­ Tracey, and son, 9 year-old boards about, all with the aim Ben, live with her in the park of producing a drama series ranger's residence. about a national park. Assistant ranger Tony Senior ranger George Dux­ Harrison is a close family bury said that the park's old friend, and father figure for tea rooms had become a set Ben. for the ranger's headquarters, Another firm friend of the and one of the worksheds was children is Gully, a local Abo­ the children's clubhouse, riginal kid, of endearingly while the park itself provided cheeky charm. almost all the location re­ Veterinary surgeon Kelly quirements in the form of to­ Davidson, who specialises in pography and vegetation. tending sick and injured na­ Q: Which one is the real ranger? A: There are two-John Forrest National Patk rangers Jean Burchard (left) and Keith Kickett (right). "All indoor scenes are tive animals, features from According to Keith, Rodney Bell, (second from right) is totally convincing as assistant ranger Tony. Harrison. "In fact," says Keith, filmed on sets built in the time to time throughout the "they're all great-/ can't wait to see them on TV." Behind Rodney are fellow actors Kate Whitbread and and Kyle Morrison. Channel Seven studios," series. Photo by Verna Costello George said. Tracey is leader of the Bush "This means that, on aver­ Patrol, which tackles a age, filming in the national number of issues, from con­ park takes place two days each servation in the face of threats week. by commercialism, to the melding of traditional Abo­ Friendly liaison riginal ways with modern life. "Everyone is very co-op­ Maggie Dean is played by erative; producers; .directors, Wendy Strehlow, Tracey actors and Channel 7 staff­ Dean by Lisa Laird, Ben Dean all are most considerate and by Steele Sciberras, Tony do everything they can to Harrison by Rodney Bell, avoid disrupting the daily run­ Gully by Kyle Morrison, and ning of the park. Kelly Davidson by Kate "The series' writers work Whitbread. closely with CALM staff to Filming in the park of the ensure the storylines are ac­ first 26 half-hour-episodes curate, even if a little more started on February 26, with dramatic than the day-to-day the second series now well situations faced by 'proper' under way. The third series is national park rangers." expected to be wrapped up by The program is a children's mid-October. dra ma series-The Adven­ The first screenings of Ad­ tures of the Bush Patrol-and ventures of the Bush Patrol revolves around a gang of kids are expected to hit Perth to­ led by the ranger's children. wards the end of the year. The kids tackle the wrongdo- Don't miss it! Katta-Moornda stunningly portrayed by John Forrest National Park. Photo by George Duxbury Building bridges-for visitors• comfort and plant protection I GONE are the days when move. those 200,000 pairs of visitors to Lane Poole Re­ I by Tammie Reid I "Lane Poole Reserve's tramping feet! serve can be left to their beautiful river setting, its "A Master Plan will ( own devices to cross rock, and finally the con­ close proximity to Perth and vide the vision for what """' Nanga Brook on a slip­ struction itself-all best boasting the largest camp­ want to provide and how pery moss-covered log. done in the height of sum­ ing facility on CALM-man­ we might do this. It wiU set Instead, as part of mer when the brook is gen­ aged land, make it a major our yearly budget priorities CALM's duty of care and tly flowing and the water is attraction for more than so we can target our money responsible recreation site not too cold. 200,000 visitors each year," wisely. design, we must provide The visitor safety review Steve said. "Still in the early stages, safe, well designed foot­ at Nanga Mill Recreation "Most of the camping­ the master plan ideas float­ bridges. site is all part of a bigger recreation development ing around are exciting: a So far, five footbridges plan to review and recom­ was done under the Fed­ bike-based travel route have been designed and mend a Master Recreation eral government's em­ through the valley, entry constructed by the Plan for the Lane Poole Re­ ployment schemes of roads redesigned to more Dwellingup crews. The tim­ serve. 1983-84, before CALM easily gain access to indi­ ber was cut with a Lewis The review will be done was formed. vidualised camp sites saw from logs salvaged to in the context of the LPR "Today we're dealing where materials used in the make room for SEC power Management Plan, and co- · with an annual maintenance buildings blend with the line poles, and trees felled ordinated by landscape ar­ cost of $130,000, which is surrounding environment. to secure wildfire bounda­ chitect Tracy Churchill. A almost 50 per cent of If you want to know ries. small project team will pre­ Dwellingup District's total more or are keen to com­ The on-site work in­ pare strategies and devel­ recreation and tourism ment on the development volved pulling out the old opment options for public budget. Our visitors have options please register your logs, designing the stringer and departmental input. different expectations. We interest with Tracy After waiting for shrinkage of the green wood to occur, forest workers Keith and stumping systems to Dwellingup acting dis­ also have a duty to protect Churchill by phoning her Harris and a camera-shy Kevin Pratt check the stability of one of the lane Poole bridge long spans and ne­ trict manager Steve Raper and conserve the natural on (09) 334 0374, or by fax Reserve bridges. Photo by Tammie Reid gotiate shallow soil over said he welcomed the assets of the reserve from on (09) 334 0465.

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