Namadgi views Caring for the Lower Molonglo NPA BULLETIN Volume 32 number 4 December 1995 CONTENTS Please note User pays and benefits 5 The office manager will be away from Len Haskew 1-23 February The office will be attended intermittently during that period. Glaciation in the Snowy Mountains 8 Bob Galloway Namadgi views 10 NPA Christmas Party Reg Alder Sunday 10 December Caring for the Lower Molonglo 14 3.00pm Orroral Valley Picnic Ground Clive Hurlstone Development and tourism 18 A botanical experience in Yunnan 19 Cover photo by Reg Alder Doreen Wilson Sunday briar cutters at Orroral National Parks Association (ACT) Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Household members $25 Single members $20 Incorporated Corporate members $15 Bulletin only $15 Inaugurated 1960 Concession $10 For new subscriptions joining between:" Aims and objectives of the Association 1 January and 31 March—half specified rate • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the pro­ 1 April and 30 June—annual subscription tection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and Membership inquiries welcome cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Please phone the NPA office. • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment Chifley. Office hours are: of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by or­ 10am to 2pm Mondays ganised field outings, meetings or any other means. 9am to 2pra Tuesdays and Thursdays • Cooperation with organisations and persons having simi­ Telephone/Fax: (06) 282 5813 lar interests and objectives. Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the plan­ ning of landuse to achieve conservation. Contribute to your Bulletin Contributions of articles (news, descriptions or fiction), Office-bearers and committee black-and-white photographs and line drawings are President Eleanor Stodart 281 5004(h) keenly sought for the Bulletin. Please label photographs Vice-president Clive Hurlstone 288 7592(h); with the name of the subject, the name of the 246 5516(w) photographer and the date. Leave contributions at the Immediate office or phone the editor, Roger Green, on (06) 247 0059. past president Beverley Hammond 288 6577(h) The editorial fax is (06) 249 7373. Secretary Max Lawrence 288 1370(h); 272 2032(w) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Association opinion or objectives. Treasurer Mike Smith 286 2984(h); 248 3624(w) Deadline for March issue: 1 February 1996. Committee NPA Bulletin is produced by Green Words for the Len Haskew 281 4268(h); fax 281 4257 National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated. The Stephen Johnston 254 3738(h); 264 2100(w) NPA Bulletin was produced with the assistance of funds 264 2364 (fax) made available by the ACT Government under the Phil Bubb 248 6769(h); 275 8028(w) 1994-95 ACT Heritage Grants Program. Steven Forst 2516817(h); 279 1326(w) David Large 291 4830(h) Printed on recycled paper by Koomarri Printers, Colin McAlister 288 4171(h) Belconnen, ACT. ISSN 0727-8837 President's report 1994-95 This has been a challenging year for we welcome Ray Polglaze to the forward the need for adequate NPAbut fortunately it has not been position. He brings experience resources to be allocated to the beyond the resources of members. working for the conservation of area's rehabilitation The first problem was the lack of Perth wetlands and much • a statement on the future an elected president. As the second enthusiasm, and we look forward to development of Tidbinbilla acting president, however, I can working with him. Nature Reserve testify to the effective networking The general committee and the • a submission to the Legislative and commitment of our members. subcommittees on Namadgi and the Assembly Standing Committee on Many do not have the time to serve environment have met monthly Economic Development and on committees, or need a break from throughout the year. Len Haskew as Tourism emphasising the need for doing so, but whenever necessary, secretary has recorded minutes, conservation to be paramount in people have come forward to make arranged speakers for meetings and national parks. sure that we have continued to work provided support at other times. All these reports were prepared by to our objectives. Clive Hurlstone Treasurer Mike Smith has managed Nicki Taws in consultation with the acted as president until March the accounts with assurance. Environment Subcommittee. when he took on the position of vice- Stephen Johnston has convened the president, and I, the elected vice- Environment Subcommittee and Members also made progress president, stepped into the Steven Forst the Namadgi constructing boardwalks in president's position. Subcommittee, both giving time well Namadgi under the direction of park rangers. The boardwalks cover We have had other changes beyond that demanded by the swampy ground on the track during the year. Charmian meetings themselves. Phil Bubb has between Orroral camping ground Crimmins, who ruled our little roost organised the outings program so and the space tracking station site. at Chifley, resigned as office that once again members can go Less tangible achievements manager to take up full-time work, walking, canoeing, or skiing with include meeting with ACT but we were fortunate to engage the Association nearly every politicians Gary Humphries, Lucy another excellent manager, weekend if they wish. Horodny, Michael Moore and Paul Maureen .Blackmore, and the The more tangible achievements Osborne, to put our view that the changeover went very smoothly. of the year have been: present management of Namadgi And now the year has ended with • the report on the rehabilitation of has been sensitive to the a change of research officer. We the Boboyan pine plantation, conservation of the area, and that thank Nicki Taws for her valuable prepared in anticipation of developments in national parks work over the past 18 months and harvesting of the pines, to put must be consistent with the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. These visits were prompted by the government's A word from the president proposal to let the management of In the ACTEW Environment Management Plan launched last Namadgi to interests outside the September it was refreshing to read that 'ACTEW recognises that we ACT as well as by the push for need to move towards more sustainable development and use of ecotourism developments which resources' rather than the more frequent glib promise to maintain may compromise wilderness sustainable development, for it shows a recognition that a sustainable qualities. Previously committee use of resources is something that will not come simply and easily. members had accompanied Bill It is fairly obvious that water supplies need long-term planning and Wood on a walk along the Yerrabi are of value to the community. The management structure of a national Track. Committee members also park also requires long-term planning and is of value to the community, met with Linda Webb, Director of for different managements will almost inevitably have different effects ACT Parks and Conservation, and in the longer term. Conservation in national parks requires a very long- we plan to continue liaison with the term view. NPA's main project at the moment is to look at the kind of department. NPA was also management that will best conserve the natural and cultural features represented at two workshops run of Namadgi National Park so that we can take a proactive rather than by Parks and Conservation, one on reactive role in assessing any changes that may be proposed. a strategy for weed control and the other on the management of Eleanor Stodart Tidbinbilla, and we expect to continued overleaf President's report pine report. We continue to benefit continued from previous page from Alastair Morrison's generous Bush-walking grant towards the cost of printing comment on draft plans which will the Bird Book as funds come in from result from the workshops. the sale of the book. food The Bulletin continued to be of a Monthly general meetings have high standard and was again I am conducting a study of the food been held in the Griffin Centre where produced by Green Words. The customs and traditions of bush- members have had the opportunity Bulletin published articles on walkers. The aim is to document the to listen to a variety of environment- natural and cultural heritage in the types of food and meals that walkers related talks, from the importance of ACT as well as a broad range of prepare and take with them, and the the ACTs remnant native grasslands changes that may have taken place other items of environmental to trips by members. over the years. interest. NPA (ACT) has maintained links Funding for all this activity has With this issue you will find a with the ACT Conservation Con­ come from several government 'Bush-walking Food' survey sheet. sultative Committee, the Conserva­ grants as well as subscriptions, Please take the time to complete and tion Council of the South-East Re­ return it to me. It will help the donations and voluntary effort. We gion and Canberra, the Landcare project greatly to get as many received a grant from the federal subcommittee, the Heritage Week replies as possible. I am interested government's Grants to Voluntary committee, and the Australian Na­ in your experiences, whether you Conservation Organisations tional Parks Council. We have also are an occasional day walker or very towards our administration, had public displays on Canberra experienced expeditioner. enabling the office to continue its Day, World Environment Day and function as a very important base Feel free to photocopy the survey in public libraries.