Guest Speaker World Heritage Nomination The guest speaker at the Society’s Great news!! The World Heritage submission for general meeting on Friday 31 July will be the Greater Blue Mountains has been completed and Gaye Spies, a leader and a pioneer in the sent to UNESCO in Paris for assessment. bush regeneration movement. The Greater Blue Mountains nomination covers an Gaye will talk about the Sugarloaf area of over one million hectares, that is about the size Creek bush regeneration project, an of Belgium or half the size of Ireland. The area is unusual and difficult task which was started made up of Nattai, Kanangra-Boyd, Blue Mountains, species. The whole campaign in 1985. At Castlecrag. it covers the whole Wollemi, Gardens of Stone and Yengo National Parks to raise the wall is based on sub-catchment and different ecosystems and the Thirlmere Lakes. fear and lies about the real including rainforest and waterfalls. The significant features of the area includes its effects of the wall-raising The meeting at the Conservation Hut, geological features — the escarpments, and its option and the spillway option Wentworth Falls, starts at 7.30 pm. biodiversity including its large variety of eucalypts. which has been adopted by the Visitors are welcome. There are 4 criteria for natural heritage and 3 for State Labor Government. cultural heritage. The Greater Blue Mountains area, we The Carr Government’s Bushcare Group on Tuesday believe, satisfies 6 out of 7 criteria. We are hopeful of decision in February to Here is your chance, leisure walkers a successful outcome at the meeting of the World construct a side spillway for and others busy on Mondays, to come and Heritage Committee in December. Warragamba Dam is the right see what the Valley of the Waters Bushcare There are already 11 World Heritage sites around decision. Progress towards Group is doing, and to give a hand. In July including the Tasmanian Wilderness, Uluru, construction must be made we are going to try out a Tuesday instead Kakadu, Frazer Island, and Great Barrier Reef. What this year, well before next of our usual Monday morning working day. makes this area significantly different from the other year’s State election. Bring morning tea and gloves. Tools sites is its proximity to a major capital city. A huge amount of public are provided. There will be a variety of A successful nomination will be a great draw card money will be wasted if the weeds to pull and dig out, and while we for tourism and will lead to a greater appreciation of the dam wall is raised. work we will enjoy the bush, the company, very special values of the local area and cultivate local Regrettably, it appears more and the birds. Meet 9 am on Tuesday 21 pride. We can also expect to benefit from improved of our resources may have to July at The Conservation Hut . More info: planning and management of the region along with the be applied to combat the Jessica 4757.2783. availability of additional State and/or Federal funding. campaign of misinformation Kids’ Club ——— Bird Walk with which the Kowmung wilderness is being attacked. The next Kids' Club activity will be an option. early morning bird walk with Carol BMCC should call a public meeting Blue Mountains First Probets, on Sunday 19 July, at Catelina early about this proposal if there is to be It appears that Councillors will be Park, Katoomba. any hope of a compromise. Meanwhile, under more pressure to vote in an environ- Meet at the car-park off Gates Avenue BMCS members need to talk to the more mentally responsible way from now on. opposite the swimming pool at 8 am. receptive among our Ward Councillors Councillors Henson and Gaul spoke at Bring morning tea, drink, and if you have about the dangers of the development. them, binoculars and a field guide. More a highly successful launch of the new info: Jessica 4757.2783. Blue Mountains First group on Saturday Battle Lines for the Kowmung 27 June. Over 250 concerned residents at Skyway Hype A meeting of Society representatives the launch showed that they are ready to with Liberal Macquarie MP Kerry Bartlett, work to get many more councillors of that Described by a BMCC planner as one brought the unfortunate news that Kerry of the largest Development Applications in quality elected if existing pro- supports the raising of the Warragamba development councillors do not lift their the City’s recent history, the Scenic Dam wall. The support by several Skyway-Railway proposal will be game. prominent Liberals, including NSW leader There was rousing applause for State controversial. Peter Collins, for the raising of the dam BMCS has objected on many grounds wall, is one of the saddest chapters in Independent MP and Manly Councillor including the lack of a geo-technical report Liberal Party History. Peter McDonald who told the meeting despite the area being prone to cliff The raising of the wall would do how he and his companions had worked collapses, non-conformity of the proposal irreparable damage to the unique for more than 12 years to bring about a to planning instruments, and the intrusion Valley, home to the “Green” Manly. of the proposed ‘Steepo’ gondola ropeway Camden White Gum and other exquisite and a 600-metre boardwalk into sensitive rainforest in Kedumba Valley. “Hut News” , the newsletter of Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc. There is potential loss of passive P.O.Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782. Phone 4757 1872. Fax 4757 1753 recreation values of the Blue Email [email protected] Web page: http//www.pnc.com.au/~bmcs Mountains National Park tracks near President: Imre Gahl, Ph.4784-3286 First Vice President: Don Morison, Ph:4759.2471 due to screams and Second Vice President: Heather Coster {Ph:Work 4759-1247, Home 4759.1837, vibrations from the proposed Orphan Membership Secretary: Ross Coster {Fax 4759-1095, Email [email protected] Correspondence Secretary: Mary Shaw, Ph:4757-4133; Treasurer: Ivica Buc Rocker operation. Meetings Secretary: Kevin Bell, Ph:4787-6436 Email: [email protected] A Blue Mountains Gazette article Land Use: Jim Warburton, Phone 4759-1312; Bushwalks: Jim Wallace, Ph:4784-3305 that treated the proposals as a ‘fait Plant Nursery Manager: David Coleby, Ph/Fax:4784-1395 Projects: Marion Hawley Ph:4784-1933 accompli’ suggests that this is going to Projects: Philippa Fincher,Ph:4787-6436 Email: [email protected]; Kathy Gott,Ph:4739-8124 be yet another knock down — drag out Publicity: Catriona Gillies, Ph:4782-1235; Bushcare: Helga Esamie, Ph:Mobile 0418-397-117 Education: Jacqueline Reid, Ph: 4739-8485; Bushfire Rep: Hugh Paterson, Phone 4751-2303 struggle with the same old faces Newsletter : Christine Davies, Phone 4787-7246 Fax 4787-7777 Email: [email protected] supporting the ‘Develop at Any Cost’ Hut News , No. 132, July 1998 — Page 1. Sludge Trucked to Lithgow Membership Enquiries: The Society is Water have recently been keen to have new members who are claiming that all of the sewage sludge concerned about the welfare of the Blue Mountains natural environment. Contact extracted from Sydney's sewage is being membership secretary, Ross Coster: Work "re-used in agriculture". (02)4759.1247, Home 4759.1837, Fax One of the projects for re-use is 4759.1095, Email [email protected], or spraying the sludge from Cronulla Sewer- write to PO Box 29, Wentworth Falls 2782. age Treatment Plant (STP) onto the pine plantation at Newnes Plateau. We have written to Sydney Water and State Forests for Macquarie informs us that “The official objecting to this process, but have been re- position of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Space Piracy assured by both authorities that sludge is Party is that it supports a second airport for In 1996 there were 3,430,000 environmentally safe and that water quality Sydney, but has not determined whether it dwellings in Australia with three is being monitored and has not suffered. will support or oppose Badgerys Creek as bedrooms, and 1,460,000 with four Another recently approved re-use is the desired site until the finalisation of the bedrooms or more, so the Australian dumping of 30,000 tonnes of sludge per EIS process.” Bureau of Statistics tell us. For 17 million year from the North Head STP into an “You may be aware that the Australian people, that’s a lot of bedrooms, abandoned quarry at Capertee, north of Labor Party at its National Conference in especially when you throw in an extra Lithgow. The site is in the catchment of Hobart in January this year changed its 2,060,000 one or two bedroom dwellings. the (relatively pristine) Turon River. platform on transport issues to delete Economist Ross Gittins has stated that We are writing to Sydney Water and Badgery’s Creek as the favoured site for a the size of the average Australian home Lithgow Council objecting to this dumping second airport. This move was made after grew by 25% between the 1960s and the on several grounds: 30,000 tonnes per year strong protests by Party members in 1990s. Why do we need so much indoor equates to 2,000+ truck movements in each Western Sydney who feel very strongly space? Partly, no doubt, it’s to house direction, just for the North Head sludge; that Badgerys Creek is now not a suitable some of the energy-hungry commodities Neither the nor site for the airport. The Party is also deeply that more people own in the 1990s. Could Bells Line of Road needs this additional concerned about the process and findings it be also that the amount of space each of truck traffic; Dumping in a quarry is not of the EIS that appear to be seriously us can occupy has become crucial to our really agricultural re-use flawed. The audit undertaken by Smec has social status and sense of self worth? If If the dumping must go ahead, we will pointed out a great number of failings in so, where will it end? ask Sydney Water to conduct water quality the EIS, and both reports need to be The competition between humans and carefully examined.” testing of the Turon river before and during Blue Mountains City Council remains the natural environment for space is at its dumping to measure downstream affects. most critical in a place like the Blue steadfast in its opposition to the I believe that Sydney's sewage sludge establishment of any airport in the Sydney Mountains. Developers trying to create should be transported by rail to agricultural ‘prestige’ housing are forever seeking to basin (as do all Western Sydney Councils areas west of the Blue Mountains and used except Liverpool.) carve up beautiful — at times rugged — to rehabilitate degraded farming land. bushland. In some streets of Glenbrook, Spraying onto pine plantations and The Shortest Day blocks have been sold with caveats, dumping in abandoned quarries is not intended to force land-owners to keep up In Australia, by now the shortest day acceptable, and nor is the resulting truck of the year has passed, winter solstice, the the ‘tone’ of the neighbourhood by traffic. — Ross Coster. building huge houses! traditional start of winter. In contrast, in Every square metre, taken for an the most northern part of the northern Badgery’s Creek Airport hemisphere the sun never sets on June 21 unnecessarily large house, is a square While recent statements by both major metre lost to the native plants and animals as people celebrate summer solstice and parties have indicated that no final decision the beginning of summer. of the Blue Mountains. The loss from the on the airport will be made prior to the natural environment is not confined to the Here in the Blue Mountains, most of us upcoming Federal Election, the latest appreciate the change of seasons. Nature actual floor space of houses. The amount Federal Budget allocated $500,000 for the of space demanded for driveways, carports Government to promote the Badgery’s does not sleep in winter even if it and other sealed outdoor areas has also Creek option. sometimes might look like that on a cold grown over the years. All of these things A letter from the office of Federal dark day — it prepares for a spring with affect the ability of water to seep through Minister for Transport and Regional light and sunshine. the soil and rock underneath, the way water Development, Hon. Mark Vaile MP, to one It never fails to amaze that, as the runs over the surface downslope, the of our members, has stated that “The leaves fall off the deciduous, mostly pattern of erosion and so on. Many Government is committed to building a introduced trees, new buds emerge. building and paving materials also release second major airport in the Sydney basin, A walk through the bush in July will chemicals into the environment. subject to a rigorous and transparent confirm that many Australian native plants Some will say that humans are part of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) have set flower buds or bear flowers. the natural environment. I would not argue process. Badgery’s Creek...remains this Depending on the area, different plants are that we have to return to living in caves to Government’s preferred site.” .... “The prominent. Here in the Upper Blue be considered as much part of the natural Minister released a draft EIS on 21 Mountains, wattle time has started. The environment as we once were. However, December 1997. Overall, the findings of first flowers appeared on the appropriately most humans in the Blue Mountains do the Draft EIS are encouraging as they named Sunshine Wattle (Acacia need to be more concerned about the suggest that careful design and terminalis), closely followed by Prickly amount of space and other resources our management can reduce many of the Moses (A. ulicifolia) with the Sydney lifestyles consume. — Don Morison. environmental impacts.” Golden Wattle (A. longifolia) coming into According to Mr. Vaile’s office, bud. In abundance are the nectar-rich employment and major infrastructure Banksia flowers (B. spinulosa, B. BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND BATS improvements are some of the key ericafolia, B. marginata), and spot reasons why “the proposal has been flowering of the Mountain Devil Wildlife and the Native Garden (Lambertia formosia). A seminar arranged by Australian Plants Society supported by groups such as Greater Western Sydney Regional Chamber There is of course one member of our (Blue Mountains Group) of Commerce and Industry, Western family who has not noticed any of this. On Sunday, 2 August 1998; 10 am to 3.30 pm Sydney Council of the Australian Until the middle of July, for him, World At Blaxland Community Centre,Hope St,Blaxland Business Chamber, Greater Western Cup Soccer rules! — Helga. Speakers and panel discussions on: the interrelationship Sydney Business Connection and between flora & fauna in the garden; birds & mammals; frogs Liverpool City Council.” & reptiles; butterflies, bees & insects. Maggie Deahm, Labor Candidate Hut News , No. 132, July 1998 — Page 2. The Broken Waratahs History of Our Walking Tracks In that gentle mountain valley, just below the tree-lined crest, Part 5. (Extracts from Jim Smith’s Draft Historical Report Fairy wren and golden finch, mid banksia hides a nest. for the Walking Track Heritage Study.) Fern clad creeks are falling, through stands of stringy bark, Towns Vied for Tourism And the morning light seems filtered, by the fading of the dark. And the bush is slowly waking to its melody of sound, The main attraction of the Blue Mountains tourist industry With joy, the blood red waratahs mark this as hallowed ground. up until the late 1930s was the natural scenery. Access to this environment was facilitated by bushwalking tracks. Each Magpies warble morning prayers, their song so sweet and true, town’s tourism industry operated independently and in The currawongs and butcherbirds ring morning praises too. competition with the other towns. Cicadas sound the rhythms, as morning floods this place, And I glimpse, just for a moment, the smile of nature’s grace. As the main tourism resource was the bushwalking tracks, And the bush is softly stirring, in a symphony of sound, each town’s trustees tried to develop the local track system as As here, the blood red waratahs mark this as hallowed ground. much as possible. This led to a proliferation of tracks that is unique in Australian history. Yet in this gentle bushland, the hand of man is found Bundanoon developed in a similar way to the Blue And he is full of lusting for that wealth within the ground — Be it gold and zinc, sand or tin, woodchips from her trees, Mountains towns, with guesthouse accommodation on a high Do you hear the diesel screaming as it comes to tear them free. altitude plateau that was cooler than Sydney in summer. The And the bush in fear is waking to an avalanche of sound, main attraction for the guests were the bushwalks. These But still, the blood red waratahs mark this as hallowed ground. walks were developed by trustees in a similar way to those of

Now the stringy bark has fallen, the banksia crushed and burned, the Blue Mountains, accessing escarpment lookouts and the The creek enslaved in piping, its freedom now is turned, valleys and the bases of waterfalls by way of stone steps. But, Through dam and pump and nozzle to tear away the land at Bundanoon, only a few kilometres of track was developed. To flush away God’s handy work and leave us, concrete sand. In the Blue Mountains there were a dozen “Bundanoons” And the bush is broken, dying, in a sacrifice of sound, in close proximity vying against each other to attract tourists. And yet, one blood red waratah marks this as hallowed ground. Over a period of about 50 years (1885 to 1935) each town

“How can it be?”, you ask me, “Why has our land been slain, tried to get an edge over the others by extending the walking Has its beauty now been ravished for the sake of fiscal gain?” tracks to “new sights”. This process of proliferation reached its “To improve our company spreadsheet, increase its dividend, highest degree in and around the . To pay the owners overseas big bonuses my friend.” The independently developed track systems of Wentworth But the bush is slowly dying, in a litany of sound, Falls, Leura and Katoomba began to merge. There was a And now, the blood red waratah, lies broken on the ground. continuous set of passes (Wentworth, Roberts, Lindeman and (Ken Dean) Federal) at the base of the escarpments and an almost continuous set of tracks at the top of the cliffs. A virtual labyrinth of tracks developed around the “nodes” of the In The Bush system, Wentworth Falls, Valley of the Waters, Gordon Falls, With a walking party Bunyip revisited Leura Falls and Katoomba Falls. an area he had not seen for 50 years — Bundeena. In those days it was no more (Next Month: What is the connection between the Royal than a few ramshackle huts and houses Prince Alfred Hospital and Blue Mountains walking tracks?) facing the Port Hacking River and only accessible via rutted dirt road to Audley. Now there is a well laid out village of The rock colours and their form- Join the Jabiluka Blockade classy homes with good bitumen and The blockade at Jabiluka grows guttered roads and paths running wherever ations were a good compensation for stronger every day as more and more needed. people join in. Plans are to maintain the The jackets, jumpers and gloves worn the absence of flowers. blockade until the Wet season sets in at to face the early morning trip from the Kakadu, so there is a big need for people mountains were soon discarded once the And so we went on, past Marley, Wattamolla, Eagle to reinforce those already up there. wharf was left. Bougainvilleas, hibiscus Bus transport is available from capital and soft Rock and on to the YHA hut behind Garie Beach where we had made a booking. It cities. You will need to have basic bodied camping gear and be in reasonable health. shrubs and was equipped with gas burners, bunks For details, call the ACF Jabiluka Bus trees were Hotline on 03 9926 6738. standard and blankets and fixtures in cooking utensils Winter “Discovery” houses gar- ($7 a night) and so A few of the activities in the NPWS dens and we were spared Winter “Discovery” Program: we felt that much weight ♦♦♦ “Creatures of the Night” , guided night we were carrying. Next day there was only walks at Blackheath and Glenbrook. many miles ♦♦♦ “Aboriginal Art and Engravings” north of a 10K walk on to Otford Station and ♦♦♦ “Historic Glenbrook” Sydney. ♦♦♦ Once a comfortable train to Central. “Little Lyrebirds” for the 6-8 year olds. the Cliff Track was reached at the town’s I recommend the walk. It’s a bit tatty Call in at NPWS Heritage Centre, outskirts we were into typical Sydney but so different to the mountain walks. Blackheath, or phone 4787.8877. sandstone heath which stretched southward Pamphlets and map are available from as far as the eye could see. Despite the last NPWS but YHA hostel accommodation The Wedgetailed Eagle fires, ground cover seemed complete has to be booked and in this case a key Master of the thermals rising. though immature and flowering shrubs issued.—The Bunyip. Effort and display despising, Prince of crags, by rock face gliding. were scarce. The sandy nature of the soil Lord of all the bushland places and very heavy usage have led to tracks Welcome to New Members Aileen and Val Solomon, Blackheath Ruler of less noble races, become very deep gullies, in some places 4 Eyes that see, and brain that traces, to 5 feet deep. NPWS has laid down many Aileen and Daniel Beaver, Bullaburra All who enter his domain. Judity Aggett, Faulconbridge iron meshed lengths of keep walkers off the Master of the ridge and valleys ground level plants. This mechanised Belinda Pursey, Wentworth Falls Wings the air as forth he sallies, material among the natural bush is a bit of Katherine Crawford, Faulconbridge Prince and keeper of life’s tallies. an eye sore but so are eroded gullies. The Andrew Kennedy, Double Bay Hard of eye, proud, uncaring, lofty cliff line, the rock platforms and the Janice Adams, Glenbrook Sharp of talon, lordly bearing, Pearl F Adams, Wentworth Falls Life and death are his for sharing, crashing breakers give the walk a special With all who enter his domain.. character especially to mountain dwellers. (Ken Dean)

Hut News , No. 132, July 1998 — Page 3. Saving the Bush from Us JULY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Part 8: Health in Bushland—Keeping 19 (Sun) Kids’ Club — Early morning Bird Walk (details on page 1). Water 21 (Tues) Valley of the Waters Bushcare Group, 9-12. Meet at The Hut at 9 am. Plants of all types bind soil and allow Contact Jessica Yuille 4757.2783. time for rain water to infiltrate the soil and 23 (Thu) Committee Meeting. Mid Mountains Community Centre, 7 pm. become part of the soil water bank. It 31 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut, 7.30 pm. — Guest Speaker: Gaye Spies, stays there for the plants to use when the “Sugarloaf Creek” (more information on page 1) dry seasons come. Water is stored in Leisure Walks small spaces and adheres to clays and 06 (Mon) Rachel’s Track/Clifftop/Braeside. Meet 9.30 Blackheath organic matter. The plant roots actively Neighbourhood seek out water. Animals too can find a Centre. Contact Kees Putting 4759.1958. drink from the forked branches of a tree or 13 (Mon) The Pheasant’s Cave, Mount Wilson. Meet 9.30 Blackheath from the cupped petals of a flower. Neighbourhood Centre. Contact Jan Cutler 4784.3079. But this land, our land, has undergone 20 (Mon) . Meet 9.30 Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre. Contact a process of drying out. When the Gillian Janus 4787.6181. vegetation is lost, water runs off very fast 27 (Mon) Mystery Walk. Meet 9.30 Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre. Contact and carries mainly the best clays and Jan Cutler 4784.3079 organic matter. If washed to the ocean Bushwalks (Weekends) these are lost to the land for almost 05 (Sun) The Tessalated Pavement, Mount Irvine. Meet 9.30 Mount Victoria Station. Contact Christine Davies 4787.7246. (previously rained out) infinity. If forming the beds of deep rivers 18 (Sat) to Grose Lookout. Meet Cnr. Hawkesbury and White and estuaries, then they contribute to the Cross Roads, Winmalee, at 9.30. Contact Ron Wheeler 4757.1526. (See silt bed and the higher flood levels. Both how Blue Gum Swamp has regenerated after bushfire.) ways, it is the water table and the aquifers AUGUST which suffer. The water table is depleted 20 (Thu) Committee Meeting. Mid Mountains Community Centre, 7 pm. and some plants give up the effort of 28 (Fri) General Meeting at The Hut, 7.30 pm. trying to find deeper water. Leisure Walks Every time it rains in the mountains, 03 (Mon) Terrace Falls. Meet 9.30 War Memorial, Honour Avenue, Lawson. the clearing of trees, especially shrubs, Contact Kees Putting 4759.1958. (Some rough patches) and the paved surfaces contribute to 10 (Mon) Mystery Walk. Meet 9.30 Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre. Contact enormously fast water loss. The water has Rose Hodgson 4787.7121. not time to be cleaned by the 17 (Mon) The Nature Trail. macrophytes, or infiltrate and replenish 24 (Mon) McMahon’s Lookout. the aquifers. It leaves dirty. Bushwalks (Weekends) What We Can Do: Of course, we can 02 (Sun) Glastonbell — a lovely walk at Glastonbell, Bell. Meet at Mount plant and plant densely at first. Some Victoria Station at 9.30. Contact Christine Davies 47 877 246. plants can later be culled for mulch or firewood. Dirty, soapy type water can be used to Bernard O’Reilly’s “Magic Road” to First, start planting uphill. Whether it water exotic vegetables and fruit trees, school, a short walk across paddocks and is water or soil, it gathers speed and erosive when the action of mulch, organic matter, alongside Long Swamp Creek which was a power as it moves down the slope. By and high use of nutrients by exotic plants, magic road to a little boy whose wonderful starting at the top, the water and soil act as a filter before the water reaches the imagination and love of nature led to the particles are slowed down. Make simple water table or flows into bushland. writing of “Cullenbenbong”. drains along the contours to slow down Macrophytes, plants which usually look Never mind the rain and the mud and water movement. And this will also catch like reeds, will actively take up some toxins the cocktail of grass seeds which attached water for the new seedlings as they grow. and nutrient excess. You will see this in themselves to our shoes and sox, thanks to The general rule is the steeper the slope, hanging swamps and at the headwaters of Jim Smith’s contagious enthusiasm and the closer the drains. Planting on the top of rivers and creeks where there is an his unique way of teaching, it was a magic hills and ridges is very efficient in amphitheatre type landscape. Wetlands can road for us too! replenishing ground water. be thought of as giant water filters. You At a little church hall where we stopped Make saucers around the new seedlings can make your own. I have a good design. for lunch to escape the rain Jim read to us and mulch them with local leaf litter to Another type of filter is the use of bush Bernard’s descriptions of the home near keep the soil water weedfree, and evapor- plants which can tolerate nutrient enriched Long Swamp Creek and of his journeys to ation low. If there is heavy rain and the water. Typically, this would be the tea tree. school. Then we went to the old O’Reilly saucers fill up, the run-off from one plant These can be designed as a barrier between property and met Mrs Hadley, then 82 should flow to another below it on the disturbed land and the local indigenous years old, who had lived there since a slope. Keep the soil covered with mulch bush. Often they can be harvested for child. which is most effective in prohibiting the firewood or household building purposes. The original slab house which was the famous splash effect of raindrops. Enough water falls from the sky to meet O’Reilly family’s main living room is still New planting can be designed as all our needs. Usually we say `it is too standing. As described by Bernard windbreaks to stop dessication of the soil soon, too late, too much, or too little'. In O’Reilly, strips of iron cover the gaps and plants at the height of summer. I use fact, it is up to us to catch it and store it to between the slabs, and there are remnants Acacias and then interplant longterm stretch out seasons we think are not of the newspapers which lined the walls, species when there is good protection. favourable. with special pages from colour magazines Remember that a windbreak protects its There are a few rules about ethical use which had received pride of place. height by twenty times along the ground, of water which are challenging to apply: Nobody minded that the slabs were not so be careful in a backyard block not to The first is, that all the water coming to “two feet wide” (perhaps too the swimming plant trees which will grow to be your place should be stored there — in holes in Long Swamp were not quite as enormous. And a windbreak species plants, in animals and in the ground. The deep as a five year old remembers). should have leaves to the ground to ensure second is, that any water leaving your place Then along the magic road, on the way the wind actually rises and is also should leave it clean. This means designing feasting on sweet blackberries and finding deflected. (A row of Eucalypts is not a plant and soil systems in a mimicry of the landmarks which had been given names windbreak.) nature to let this happen. by the O’Reilly children. So, we have slowed the water flow to The personally creative and satisfying As we sat in the ruins of the tiny red let it infiltrate the soil. Now, we also add process is finding the techniques to do this schoolhouse, under the gigantic pine tree to the amount of run-off from garden for your land and garden. — Ro Morrow. which had been planted when the school hoses, and perhaps washing machines and (Next Time : Garden Filters) was opened, Jim read for us Bernard’s household water. In this case, we are also descriptions of his school and schooldays responsible for cleaning it before it leaves The Magic Road and boyhood friends. It was a magic day! out boundaries. This is quite a challenge. On a wet Saturday we journeyed along — Christine Davies. This issue of Hut News has been printed on 100% Recycled Paper Hut News , No. 132, July 1998 — Page 4.