Tree book launched Fire management issues Changes at Tidbinbilla NPA BULLETIN Volume 44 number 4 December 2007

CONTENTS From the President 3 GBRG winter work reveals many talents 11 Hazel Rath Christine Goonrey Changing management at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve 11 NPA Reminder notices 3 Christine Goonrey NPA News 4 Looking at Scottsdale and Bullanamang 12 NPA ACT's new tree book has arrived! 5 Judy Kelly Sonja Lenz In die Budawangs 15 After die 2003 fires — fire management issues Philip Gatenby and concerns 6 Roger Good South Australia's Heysen Trail with Ted Fleming 16 Judy Kelly Finding common ground on future burning 9 Book review 17 Christine Goonrey Kevin McCue More controlled burns criticism 9 PARK WATCH 18 Climate change complexities 10 Compiled by Len Haskew Abridged from Agence France-Presse Meetings and Calendar of events 20 SF.E-Change 10

Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives.

National Parks Association of the ACT incorporated Conveners Inaugurated I960 Outings Suh-commiiiee Mike Smith 6286 2984 (h) Aims and objectives of the Association msm ithfSin etspeed. com. au • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the protection of Publications Sub-committee Sabine Friedrich 6249 7604 (h) fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in sabine.canberrafo; gmail.com the Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the Bulletin Working Group Max Lawrence 6288 1370 (h) reservation of specific areas. [email protected] • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. Judy Kelly 6253 1859(h) • Stimulation of interest in. and appreciation and enjoyment of, j udy .kell y^tpg.com. au such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, meetings or any other means. The NPA ACT office is in the Conservation Council building, Childers Street, City. It is staffed by volunteers but not on a regular • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar basis. Callers may leave phone or email messages at any time and interests and objectives. they will be attended to. The post office mail box is cleared daily. • Promotion of. and education for. conservation, and the planning oflanduse to achieve conservation. Phone: (02) 6229 3201 0412 071 382 Office-bearers Website: www.npaact.org.au President Christine Goonrey 6231 8395 (h) Email: [email protected] CGOonrey @grapevine. com .au Address: GPO Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601 Vice-President Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) Subscription rates (I July to 30 June) chris.emery(5)optusnet. com.au Household membership S40 Single members $35 Secretary Sonja Lenz " 625II291 (h) Corporate membership $30 Bulletin only $30 s I le nz@ grapevine. com.au Concession S25 Treasurer Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) Advertising Ro d. Gri ffi ths (ajdefenc e. gov.au The Bulletin accepts advertisements and inserts. Contact the Editor Committee members for information and rates. Mike Bremers 6292 3408 (h) NPA Bulletin mcbre mers@ optusnet .com. au Contributions of articles, letters, drawings and photographs arc Steven Forst 6251 6817 (h), 6219 5236 (w) always welcome. Items accepted for publication may also be Steven. fo rst(5)acma. gov au published on the NPA website. Send all items to The Bulletin Team. Sabine Friedrich 6249 7604(h) [email protected], or postal address above. sabine .canberra[o!gmail .com Deadline for March 2008 issue: 31 January 2008 Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h), 0407 783 422 (mob) This Bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group. cj hurls(oj bi gpond. n et. au Printed by Copy-Qik, Canberra, ACT Judy Kelly 6253 1859 (h) [email protected] ISSN 0727-8837 Kevin McCue (Immediate Past President) 6251 1291 fh) kmccue (ajgrapevine.com.au Cover Photo: Corang Arch in the Budawangs. See walk Annette Smith 6286 2984 (h) story page 15. Photo Philip Gatenby an nette. sm ith @n etspeed. com.au From the President Finally, after four and a half years of An effective, sustainable fire seeing the yellow and red tags flutter management plan is our only guarantee along Orroral Ridge, Jon Stanhope that trails will not be built in the wrong announced on September 12 that the places. Orroral Ridge fire trail would not be Your new executive committee has built. It was a huge relief to hear this settled in very well and we are looking from the Chief Minister himself (check forward to a productive year ahead. The out the announcement on our website) 2008 symposium will be our biggest and to hear that the Stockyard Link event but we are also planning in would be a modified, much smaller earnest for our 50th anniversary in track. In addition, the fire trail at the 2010. Dig out your old photos, write up southern end of the park, known as old memories and let Judy Kelly have Spencers, was put on hold for a year to them to put in the special Bulletin we see if some arrangement could be will be putting out. We have put a submission in to the worked out whereby the existing fire Committee members have been ACT Government budget process, trail over the fence in NSW could be busy in other areas as well. National asking for more spending in the park on restored to use by the ACT. Of the four Parks Australia Council met in capital improvements, money to originally proposed, only Bullen fire Brisbane in September; Anne Reeves is manage the Corin Forest/Paddy's River trail will go ahead in its original form Acting President, Kevin McCue was area and more research funds to and we have accepted that, as it is at the elected Treasurer, and I was elected monitor plant and animal response to heart of the urban/rural interface. Secretary, so we will be able to climate change. With the next local We should all be proud of our contribute to the agenda of NPAC quite elections due in late 2008 we will be efforts to get this result; the Chief significantly in what promises to be a interested to see what provision is made Minister made clear Orroral's very interesting year ahead nationally. for addressing the problems climate Aboriginal heritage and its We discussed issues such as tourism change is already bringing to our environmental and ecological values in parks, fire management, water national park and nature reserves. were significant, but also "strong catchment issues, alpine parks, and Thanks to Sonja Lenz for editing community opposition" had tipped the offshore islands. We also met with the this issue of the Bulletin, thus joining balance against the fire trail. However, new executive officer for the Australian the "rolling" group of editors. we need to keep an eye on the larger Alpine National Parks, Rod Atkins, Hope to catch up with you all at our picture because there is no doubt there who is now based in the ACT, which Christmas party (reminder below) and are still some hard decisions ahead of again gives us an opportunity to get have a safe and happy summer. us as a community in planning for fire more involved with the alpine parks Christine Goonrey management in the ACT and with National Heritage listing perhaps surrounding areas (see articles pp 6-9). ready by this time next year. NPA Reminder notices Sunday, 9 December Blue Range Hut from 11.30am i Blue Range Hut picnic area, in the "TJriarra Forest" is on the Blue Range Road which Cv"1 is a right turn off the Brindabella Road some 5km past the Uriarra Homestead. The usual Christmas Party features: bring your own picnic lunch (BBQ facilities available) and Christmas cheer. Nibbles, Christmas cake and some drinks will be provided. Bring along good-quality, pre-loved items to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for your NPA. If you need a lift, please contact a member of the committee (see page 2 of the Bulletin)

The Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group's December combined work and Christmas party is on Saturday, 8 December

Get out and about capturing your submissions for the calendar photography competition. See September 2007 Bulletin for details. Walking in Namadgi Entries close on Friday 29 February 2008.

NPA ACT Symposium Corridors for survival in a changing world Friday and Saturday 9 and 10 May 2008 at the CSIRO Discovery Centre. This symposium will cover issues of climate change for the ACT and wider region. Program, speakers and timetable will be published on the NPA website (www.npaact.org.au) as they are finalised. More information can be obtained from the convener Kevin McCue (ph: 6251 1291 or email [email protected]).

More details for all these items are on the NPA website: www.npaact.org.au NPA News NPA ACT's 50th Anniversa Bulletin, March 2010 Members are invited to start thinking, • Educational: displays for ACT • Beautiful photos: black and white as stirring their creative juices and jotting schools and NPA essay competitions; well as colour; down their recollections of NPA for the what has happened to essay winners? • Poetry: some of our poets are 50th anniversary Bulletin in 2010: Anecdotes about the NPA display identified. Any closet poets with a Fifty years on: NPA ACT reflects. now under Adrienne's care; gem about Namadgi? A brief outline of the association's • Publications: the history of our • Sketches, etchings, linocuts, early history will be followed by publications and the part played by drawings or paintings of Namadgi: sections such as the following: our benefactor, Alastair Morrison; could be scanned and reproduced in • Reminscences, old and new: the • The Bulletin: from birth to 50, the the anniversary Bulletin. reminiscences could include jottings story of the Bulletin's development; A contribution could be one about people's activities and • Work parties: past—eg, Budawangs paragraph, or one page. Although 2010 involvement with NPA that bring walking tracks; present—post-fire might seem far away, we need to start them and the association to life; work parties; an update on Boboyan preparing now and have enough time to memorable walks or outings; sighting regeneration area; Cotter catchment; select, edit, and liaise. a plant, animal, bird or insect that you • What has happened since the 40th Please email contributions to hadn't seen before, or that is now anniversary: NPA ACT's continuing [email protected] rare, or that struck you as quirkish, relevance; production of Caring for or post contributions to: 50th beautiful, or unusual; a humorous Namadgi; formulation of NPA's Anniversary Bulletin, NPA ACT, GPO incident; an early account of Nancy policies; revised Plan of Management Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601. Burbidge's Black Mountain walks; for Namadgi; fire management and If you would like to help research, perhaps an account of an outing to Mt fire trails; submissions; educating our gather material, or coordinate any of the Burbidge or a place you regard as politicians and the public; our sections, please let me know. special; a survey marker or line; symposium in 2006 (and 2008); Judy Kelly 1 • Memories of park staff: do people • Presidents perspectives: a selection 6253 1859 (h) have memories of staff past (1960s of presidential perspectives; 0428 435 661 (mobile) onwards) and present at Gudgenby • Archival snippets: snippets from the [email protected] Nature Reserve and Namadgi Visitor archives; Centre?

Work party round-up Work parties have long been a central areas in between. The following figures (PCL) to continue and our work party part of NPA activities and 2007 was no to date may be of interest: program to do likewise. Additionally, I exception. • 24 person days of effort expended; am currently discussing possible work During the year, 10 work parties • 100 briars removed; party activities with die Queanbeyan were programmed with two being • 2330 wilding pines removed; Area of the NSW National Parks and postponed due to inclement weather. At • 85 other exotic species removed; Wildlife Service with a view to the time of writing, two were still in the • two 4WD ute-loads of rubbish assisting with some of the many new offing. Our activities this year have removed; and nature reserves to our east. covered territory from the lower Cotter • 5km of walking track maintained and (See arboretum photo page 19). catchment south to Naas Creek cleared of encroaching vegetation. Martin Chalk including the Brindabella Range, and In 2008 I expect our cooperation Volunteer Coordinator Honeysuckle Creek and Smokers Gap with Parks, Conservation and Lands Vale Kaye Campbell NPA ACT member Kaye Campbell complete confidence that the job would Diana Heins greatly appreciated the died on 3 October 2007. be done properly. time Kaye took to introduce them to the Kaye was one of the association's In 2004, Kaye compiled detailed office tasks. Annette Smith took over dedicated volunteers who assisted in procedures for updating the NPA co-ordinating the NPA office our Chifley office from September membership database. Her Notes for volunteers. 2001 to September 2004. Users list every step to record renewals Kaye had well deserved to stand Kaye, with Leonie Bubb helping out and new members, assemble a welcome down after her invaluable service. Her with membership renewals, recorded pack, acknowledge donations, enter office procedures are still referred to by the correspondence and expertly new members in the correspondence the current office helpers in the new handled the sometimes complex file and print Bulletin labels. Civic office. process of membership renewals and In May 2004, Kaye indicated that Kaye was a regular Wednesday donation receipts. Part of the dedication she would like another volunteer/s to walker until she fell ill. In accordance was putting up with the spartan office share the responsibility of being office with her wishes, there was no funeral or conditions. If there was a problem Kaye helper for a few hours, twice a month. memorial service, instead donations would leave Clive Hurlstone a message Between June and September, Kaye could be made to the National Breast in the desk diary for him to make a organised a core of volunteers to help Cancer Foundation. decision, but this was infrequent. With with what she once did all by herself. Kaye and Leonie in the office he had Jenny McLeod, Kathryn Wingett and Diana Heins NPA ACT's new tree book has arrived!

There had been talk about the need What "are the trees growing in the park near-your house, on- for a new edition of one of NPA's Black Mountain or down by the lake?' sought-after field guides for a long - Trees put the bush into the bush capital. Native Trees of the • time, but producing one was not a ACT describes 62 trees indigenous to the Australian Capital straightforward task: the Field Territory;-From Snow Gums high in the Brindabellas to Apple- Guide to the Native Trees of the Box in the disappearing woodlands'and Black Cypress by the-. Murrumbidgee River, they are all here. ACT needed updating as well as the Have you ever wondered at. the difference between a Red"* addition of colour photographs and Gum and a Red Box?This bookcantetlyou. You can identify.; style elements to the original black trees easily with'. and white booklet. • colour photographs . , ', Clive Hurlstone took up the • botanical drawings -L .-- . challenge and set about organising reviewers and an NPA working • locationtips. , > * ' ; • group. He managed to get some of • thumbnail maps for less common trees the ACT's top tree specialists to • " a key for determining the species bring the 1980s text up to date. The Enjoy the bush by learning more about it. original text was scanned, converted back to text and then edited Recommended retail price $27.50, members price $22.00. accordingly. Later on Clive's Copies of the-book are available at NPA general meetings, • ' organisational talents and from liie NPA office, and from selected bookshops svcit as - negotiation skills also made it The Botanical Bookshop at the Botanic Gardens. possible to procure the latest vegetation map of the ACT as well as needed changing — a seemingly toned down — a few more days are hard-to-come-by tree species photos. endless process ... lost. Keep in mind that the 2003 bushfires But then, in late winter, finally the Finally, the announcement that the had changed the bush so much that it green light to organise the launch as the printing is going ahead. But with all the was hard or impossible to find good (or book was declared complete and ready lost days our time buffer is used up. photogenic) specimens of some of the for printing! The October 23 date was Will the books be available by the day rarer species. chosen as it gave a time buffer of a of the launch? The designer scanned the original couple of weeks more than the printers We are held in suspense until the line drawings and thumbnail maps and had stipulated they needed to print the 11th hour (literally!) on the 23rd when each scanned image then had to be book in Canberra and to have it bound Clive turns up at the Crosbie Morrison processed to remove the yellowed and covered in Melbourne. Another Building at the Australian National background. NPA ACT was fortunate working group sprang into life to Botanic Gardens with the first 200 to have engaged a designer who is not organise invitations and a speaker as bound books — the launch can go only very imaginative but also very well as snacks and drinks for the big ahead without us having to resort to a patient and didn't get fazed by repeated day. "virtual book". edits, and more edits, and even very, Then disaster struck — a couple of And what a good party we had! very last-minute changes. inadmissible errors had gone through Thanks to Adrienne, Annette, How often did the working group the whole process unnoticed and Beverley, Christine, Judy, Margaret and think: "It's just about ready for needed rectifying. Sabine for a lovely spread, and to printing" to then discover that some Ten days later a trial print run Michael for being such an attentive and point that was glaringly wrong or shows that the colour blue has to be friendly barman. invalid had been overlooked and Sonja Lenz Left. Sales team Rod Griffiths and Annette Smith selling the tree book to former NPA President Kevin Frawley and Russell Watkinson from Parks, Conservation and Lands. Right. Part of the crowd at the book launch. Photos by Sabine Friedrich

NPA's next publication will be Colin McAlister's Twelve historic sites in the Glenbtirn and Burbong areas of the Kowen Forest, Australian Capital Territory due in December 2007 or January 2008 — check the website or Burning Issues. After the 2003 fires—fire management With summer upon us, and unpredictable. This large system "More" is misleading another bushfire season facing extended over all fire areas in the high It is misleading the general community the bush capital, this timely country on January 18. totally to infer that if "more" prescribed contribution fi-om Roger Good burning is done it will provide should be mandatory reading for Factors in fire intensities protection for life and property. It must all Canberrans, especially those be recognised that prescribed burning drafting and overseeing the Many views have been expressed and for fuel reduction is based on and bushfire management strategy — with much discussion as to the factors contributing to the "firestorm" on carried out to reduce fine Utter ground Ed. January 18, most focused on the high fuels from some presumably quantified Another significant coronial inquiry fuel loads that existed in the native high level to some lower, defined into the cause and impacts of a wildfire forests and woodlands in the national (prescribed) level, which is generally has been completed, but will bushfire parks across the mountains, including stated as being below 10 tonnes per suppression techniques and bushfire Namadgi National Park. Unfortunately, hectare. This figure is based on fuels management planning change or very few discussants actually had any below 10 tonnes per hectare improve as a response? This question real knowledge of the fuel(s) complex contributing lower fire intensities has been asked many times following and what the fuel loads were at the time during a subsequent bushfire which coronial inquiries in Victoria, South of the fires, in terms of the fine litter burns over or through a previously Australia and New South Wales in the fuel loads and their distribution relative prescribed burn area. 1980s and '90s and several other to the various vegetation types, The basic premise is that lowered inquiries, notably that of the Australian topography, elevation and aspect, all of fire intensities enable direct fire Government Standing Committee on which influence the contribution of the fighting to be carried out with a greater Environment and Conservation and its various fuel types to a bushfire event as capacity to control a fire and, as a 1984 report Bushfires and the well as the intensities and rates of consequence, provide some level of Australian Environment. spread that occur during the passage of protection of life and property. The In many ways fire suppression a fire. length of time (months or years) that planning, techniques and better Many views have also been such prescribed burning contributes to equipment, together with basic training expressed over the past few months as lower potential bushfire intensities of bushfire suppression personnel, have to the need for more prescribed burning depends very much on the vegetation seen better and generally more effective in Namadgi National Park and adjacent type, its location in the landscape and and efficient bushfire suppression and areas in Brindabella and Kosciuszko whether the prescribed outcomes in fire management. The statistics in all national parks in New South Wales. A terms of fuel reduction of a prescribed states indicate an increasing number of call for more controlled burning bum were actually met at the time of fire ignitions each summer with a (prescribed burning) has been the prescribed burning. higher percentage being suppressed and response to all major fire events where It is obvious that a knowledge of extinguished before they develop into life and property have been impacted, vegetation types, the fuel accumulation major fire events. Unfortunately, but such calls are made in a very rates and the maximum fuel loads of widespread high-intensity bushfires general way with little cognisance of each vegetation type, as well as the have occurred, and will continue to what "more burning" really means. range of fuel loads that can occur at any occur, under high to extreme fire Certainly little or no consideration is one time in any one vegetation type, is weather, with further severe impacts on given by the proponents of "more essential to the sound and effective life and property, as witnessed in the burning" as to where, when, how and planning and implementation of 2003 bushfires in the ACT for what outcome the prescribed prescribed burning. Without this While the most devastating impacts burning should be implemented across knowledge, a general program to cover of the 2003 fires occurred in Canberra, the Brindabella Range and Snowy a larger area of prescribed burning as the extreme fire behaviour that resulted Mountains (Namadgi, Brindabella and some panacea to the protection of life in the destruction of housing was not Kosciuszko national parks). and property is both misleading and can restricted to the ACT. Prior to Any concept of prescribed burning engender a false sense of security with January 18, bushfires were burning across all the high country on a regular property owners. across the Snowy and Brindabella and frequent cycle lacks an ranges and on the Victorian high plains, understanding of the high country Accumulation rates differ as a result of lightning strikes earlier in ecosystems and has no sound ecological First we should look at the "fuels" and January. Suppression activities were basis. fuel accumulation rates in the various undertaken in all states immediately General widespread prescribed mountain vegetation communities. after the fire ignitions through burning for hazard fuel reduction These have been quantified from "standard" fire incident control cannot be undertaken every year even if extensive fuel sampling across the procedures, that were well planned and desired, due to many factors including major vegetation associations in the appropriate to the predicted fire weather weather patterns, the vegetation, terrain Snowy Mountains and the Brindabella conditions for the days following. The features, resources available, etc. Long- Ranges over several decades. As is prevailing fire weather conditions term monitoring of weather conditions evident after the 2003 fires, some provided for high to very high fire in the mountains also indicates that the vegetation communities accumulate danger indices and potentially very high number of days that are appropriate for fine litter fuels rapidly following the fire intensities, but the atmospheric prescribed burning (ie, meet the actual passage of a bushfire event while other weather factors that contributed to the prescribed conditions) is in the order of communities are very slow to recover extreme fire danger index and the 12 to 25 a year, depending on and produce very little fuel in the same "firestorm" on January 18 were vegetation type, aspect, location etc. unpredicted and probably timeframe. issues and concerns As noted by a number of people and implemented prescribed burning Quantifying hazard over recent months, there are now which accounts for both fuel reduction Part of strategic planning for prescribed communities with very high "fuel" by percentage of an area or by burning is the actual quantification of levels but it should also be noted that reduction in tonnes per hectare over all the fuel hazard existing at any one time these "heavy fuels" in most situations or part of an area (burning block), as across the range of vegetation types and are not the fine ground litter fuel which well as the ecological attributes of the fuel complexes. Heavy ground litter prescribed burning aims to reduce but various vegetation types. fuel loads do not necessarily equate to dense shrub and epicormic "regrowth In a similar context, those calling high "hazard" levels existing in a fuels". for more prescribed burning seldom vegetation type. Alternatively, low fuel It is very difficult to prescribe bum have any appreciation of existing fire loads (5 to 8 tonnes per hectare) often for fuel reduction in vegetation where management programs that include present as high or higher fire hazard, regenerating shrub understoreys and strategic prescribed burning, or take not in terms of potential bushfire epicormic regrowth are dominant, even any cognisance of the other legislative intensities but in very much higher where such burning can be justified and obligatory management issues that potential rates of spread of a bushfire. ecologically. These "fuels" are standing land management agencies are or may This was evident in the 2003 fires aerated fuels and bum very differently be required to address, eg catchment which "whipped" across bare drought- to the more compacted ground Utter and natural area management. ravaged agricultural lands between the fuels. A number of notable attempts at These make fire management an Murrumbidgee River and the pine prescribed burning of regenerating even greater challenge in conservation forests near Mt Stromlo. These shrub fuels in the mountains in past reserves such as Namadgi, Brindabella paddocks carried virtually no fuels but years have resulted in the ignition of and Kosciuszko national parks, as supported the carriage of fire under the high-intensity fires (bushfires). catchment stability, water quality, extreme wind conditions of January 18. The fine litter fuel loads for the biodiversity, nature conservation and The "hazard" level varies as a factor dominant vegetation communities in threatened species all have to be of fuel loads but also as a factor of time the mountains range from a maximum considered and addressed in fire and place and hence will be different fuel load of approximately 14 tonnes management plans and programs, under a range of weather conditions. per hectare in the dry woodland and including prescribed burning for both Fire management personnel, therefore, forests to 70 tonnes per hectare in the ecological and fuel reduction purposes. have to make a value judgment as to higher moist forests. Just as significant Field surveys and modelling of what level or what range of "hazards" though in terms of fire management vegetation, soils, slopes, terrain features they are managing for — they cannot planning, is the range of maximum fuel and fuel loads across the Alps National address all fire hazardous situations and loads within any one vegetation type. Parks, indicate that there are certainly not the very high to extreme For example, in Eucalyptus approximately 250 000 hectares where fire situations where unpredictable fire delegatensis the range has been the slopes and soil types require more weather overrides all other "hazard" recorded as 28.5 to 69.8 tonnes per than 10 tonnes per hectare of ground factors. hectare in the elevation range of 1200- litter to maintain soil stability and 1400 metres, while the drier Eucalyptus hence catchment stability and water paucifloralE. dalrympleana community quality. A conflict between prescribed Legacy of problems fuel loads range from 16.5 to 35 tonnes burning for hazardous fuel reduction The Snowy Mountains and the per hectare over an elevation range of and maintenance of an adequate ground Brindabella Ranges are part of the most 950-1350 metres. These two litter cover to maintain soil stability important water catchment in the communities exist adjacent to each therefore exists. country. The arbitrary implementation other and hence it is obvious that the To address this conflict a hazard and of hazard reduction burning over more application of prescribed burning in risk assessment must be undertaken as and more of the catchments would be these two communities, if deemed well as an assessment of the probability inappropriate to the long-term stability necessary and could be carried out, of fire ignition etc. Seldom is such a and maintenance of catchment values as would have to be executed under quite hazard and risk assessment carried out has been noted above. In fact, it has different prescribed weather conditions by any land management agency or fire been well documented in the Snowy and at different times. suppression agency. Mountains as having made a major The prescribed fire intensities Similarly, it is to be recognised that detrimental impact on the catchments, appropriate to each vegetation the fine litter ground cover in the higher actually contributing to increased fire community and their location in the elevation forests and woodlands is also ignition potential and soil stability landscape must be determined prior to the source of nutrients which, through problems. implementing any bum program, the cycle of growth, litter fall, The Hume Snowy Bushfire Council otherwise excessive fuel reduction with decomposition and nutrient uptake, (HSBC) was established in the 1950s as unacceptable scorch of the live provide for the maintenance and growth the only area-specific Bushfire Council, vegetation would result, or alternatively of the very vegetation communities that to plan and implement fire management a prescribed fire may be self- contribute the litter fuels. The regular programs in the catchments of the extinguishing with little or no fuel removal of this fuel through prescribed Snowy Mountains Scheme. The reduction. burning of the higher elevation forests organisation, made up of local reduces the nutrient base available to community and government agency Strategic burning needed the vegetation and, subsequently, the personnel, established a program of capacity of the vegetation to remain a planned burning over almost 80 per If there is a need for more prescribed self-sustaining ecosystem. cent of the Snowy Mountains, with burning it is not for larger areas but for more strategic and carefully planned After the 2003 fires — fire management issues and concerns (Continued from page 7) highly sensitive to even very low- Management lesson intensity fire, hence hazard reduction A land management and planning burning blocks being in the order of burning is not carried out in any Pinus lesson from 2003 must be that the 6000 to 10 000 acres (2500-4500ha). radiata plantations. replanting of pine plantations near to The general and stated aim of the The question could be posed as to existing or proposed future suburbs or program was to reduce the fuel load in the influence and contribution that the developments to the west of the city all burning blocks to a maximum of heavy litter (duff) loads in the must be foregone in the interest of 10 tonnes per hectare, with all blocks plantations and the moisture-stressed protection of life and property from being burnt within a 7- to 15-year pines themselves, made to the 2003 future extreme bushfire events. This is cycle. fires and the "firestorm" that impacted essential as no matter what is done to upon the urban areas adjacent to or in Unfortunately, the HSBC failed to improve fire management skills and fire the near vicinity of the plantations. It is recognise that burning blocks of this suppression techniques and equipment, interesting that the many hours of order in steep mountainous country further extreme fire events will occur inquiry into the hazardous nature of die with a great range of slopes, elevation, and will impact upon the city. The fuels in the native vegetation of the aspects and hence rainfall regimes and occurrence of the 2001 and 2003 Brindabella Ranges was not extended to vegetation communities, could not be bushfires is evidence of this. It is consideration of the significance of the burned under a single set of interesting to note that the fire map of pine plantations and their high fuel "prescribed" weather conditions. the 1939 fires, following which the loads, in either the ACT or NSW The HSBC unwittingly, due to a Stretton Report initiated many changes coronial inquiries. total lack of appreciation of the to "prevent further such catastrophes", vegetation/fuel complex, established Similarly, the location of the is almost mirrored in area and burn the very same cycle of burning that had plantations in the ACT and the location by the 2003 fires across the been implemented during the grazing proximity of the very heavy Pinus ACT, NSW and Victorian highlands. era in the mountains: a cycle of burning radiata fuel loads to, or at, the urban This raises the issue of warnings to that it could not get out of, for the more interface, and those adjacent to many the general community and when they it carried out prescribed burning to areas of native forest and woodland in should have been made. This was dealt reduce fuels, the more the leguminous the foothills of Namadgi and with at length in the ACT Coronial shrubs that were favoured by regular Brindabella national parks, were not Inquiry in terms of warnings on or burning regenerated in denser and considered as contributing to the extent immediately before January 18, but denser stands, contributing even greater and severity of the 2003 fires. little attention was given to the fact that fuel loads in shorter time frames with the fires of 2001 should have been the the consequent need for more extensive High hazard rating most important warning to the entire and more frequent burning. community as to the potential for urban It was finally recognised by the Pinus radiata plantations always areas to be impacted by any fire event. HSBC in the 1980s that the leguminous present a high fire hazard, particularly The 2001 fires were not of the same shrub understorey that had established when they exist near to the urban areas order in terms of fire intensities as the under its "hazard reduction" program (or vice versa). This is exacerbated 2003 fires but did still burn into the could not be removed by regular when plantations are immediately to the urban area, fortunately without causing burning, with the only outcome of the west or northwest of an urban interface extensive damage to private property. many years of burning being the change where they present huge amounts of In our accumulating experience of of the hazardous fuel loads from one of fuel to a fire moving under the bushfires, the 2001 fires should have ground litter to a heavier and more prevailing northwest fire weather engendered a greater awareness of aerated (more flammable) self- conditions. potential bushfire behaviour at the sustaining standing fuel. Unfortunately, the most extreme urban interface and served as the initial The so-called fuel and fire hazard combination of fuel loads and fire "warning" of the potential of future had not been removed but a legacy of weather conditions came together in fires (eg, in 2003) burning in the fire management problems were left for and over the pine plantations on Brindabella Ranges (and elsewhere) to future generations of land and January 18, contributing to the burn into, and impact upon, the city. catchment managers to address. The firestorm that devastated the city. Post- Maybe everyone in the community many failures to obtain or meet its own fire modelling of the January 17 and 18 at large failed to heed this initial stated prescribed outcomes in terms of weather features by scientists in NSW, warning and hence did not initiate fuel reduction burning and the many Victoria and the ACT indicates a suite actions appropriate to individual fire escapes and subsequent of conditions which exacerbated the requirements and expectations for the uncontrollable bushfires eventually led extreme fire danger index and fire protection of private property in the to the abolition of the HSBC. behaviour on January 18, to fire intensities and rates of spread that were 2003 fires. beyond die capacity of any fire fighting No plantation burning force to control. The future It is interesting to note that the issue of Fire intensities during the firestorm Hopefully much has been leamt from hazardous fuel loads is always event were estimated to be well in the experiences of the last five to six discussed in the context of native excess of 100 000 kilowatts per metre years such that further improvements in forests and woodlands, but never in of fire front, which is well beyond the bushfire management accrue and more terras of Pinus radiata plantations. This range of fire intensities that any fire strategic planning and program is very relevant to the 2003 fires where suppression organisation can plan and implementation is undertaken. extensive areas of pine plantation were manage for or have any capacity to Certainly more can be done but done on burnt, the majority of the area being suppress. burnt on January 18. Pinus radiata is Finding common ground on future burning In September 2007, 28 fire It was understood by participants The importance of protecting our management practitioners and policy that it was not a decision-making environmental assets as well as the makers gathered over two days to forum, the views of all stakeholders need to protect life and property was discuss and explore common ground on were not necessarily represented, and it acknowledged by the participants. ACT and regional fire management. had to be viewed in the wider context A prominent recurring challenge The objective of the workshop of a number of other processes relating identified was finding the balance Future Burning: Meeting the Challenge to fire planning and ongoing land between fuel management practices and of Bushfire Management was to build management. other, conflicting, land management constructive dialogue between key Workshop participants included objectives, particularly environmental stakeholders with a role or interest in government officials with responsibility and catchment protection. A second fire management so as to increase for fire management, conservationists, recurring challenge was the use of future collaboration, particularly within scientists, volunteer fire fighters, science in fire management, particularly the context of an uncertain fire future, professional fire fighters, land "conflicting" scientific advice and such as under a climatic changing managers, rural landholders and translating research and scientific world. community groups. information into operational practice. The workshop was timely, taking Participants identified a number of A key theme was the importance of place immediately prior to the official common values and a series of working in partnership, particularly start of the 2007-08 bushfire season challenges facing various stakeholders, planning with the community in order and in time to contribute to the review and suggested some ways forward. The to build an understanding and of the ACT Strategic Bushfire most notable shared view was the acceptance of shared and personal Management Plan. importance of bipartisan support and responsibility in regard to fire Jointly initiated by the Conservation continuity in government policy, management Council of the South East Region and structure, strategies and budget for fire Overall, participants welcomed the Canberra and the Emergency Services management in the ACT. Participants opportunity to talk in an "unpressured" Agency, the workshop on September 27 noted one step towards developing this environment, and supported ongoing and 28 aimed to discuss fire would be a transparent and inclusive dialogue. management away from the previous process in the current review of the Christine Goonrey forms of consultation around specific Strategic Bushfire Management Plan fire management proposals, plans or a framework and the forthcoming sub- fire event. regional plarining processes. More controlled burns criticism The Victorian National Parks "Controlled burning does help, but The DSE's senior fire management Association has renewed its attack on it helps mainly where you can get officer for East Gippsland, Steve the Department of Sustainability and people in to fight it, so it's no good Devoog, says there is a difference Environment (DSE) for its controlled burning remote areas and thinking between protection burning and full- burning program. that's going to be all right for 10 years," scale ecological burning. The association's research officer, she said. Mr Devoog says although the Jenny Barnett, has accused the DSE of "It won't be from the point of view mapping process could be changed, repeatedly burning in the same areas to of fire protection. What you have to do biodiversity is always taken into inflate its figures. is concentrate your burning on the account during bums, and the risk of Ms Barnett says planned bums for assets you want to protect, so it's not not doing anything is too great. areas near townships, such as Omeo in just questioning the extent of burning, the south-east, are justified, but it's the location of burning." conducting bums in remote areas The DSE says not all areas allocated destroys the biodiversity and scientific under the program are ignited. reference of national parks.

After the 2003 fires—fir e management issues and concerns (continuedfrom page 8) a sound, well-defined and sensitive How fire and land management improve fire management planning and basis. This includes well planned and personnel will meet this challenge will fire suppression. cooperative fire management orientated be very much dependent on the general Roger Good research and education programs. public's appreciation, acceptance and Alpine Ecologist, Lecturer in Fire Science The predictions for climate change support of fire management programs, and Land Management (Sydney and Charles particularly in major catchment areas over the next 20 to 30 years suggest Short Universities) that the incidence of fire ignitions will and conservation areas. It will also Previously: NSW National Parks and increase commensurate with higher require a breakdown of entrenched Wildlife Service (now retired); Fire temperatures and lower prevailing attitudes to fire management that have Research and Fire Management Officer; humidity and rainfall. negated many past initiatives to Past member of ACT Bushfire Council Climate change complexities Asia Pacific countries meeting at a world centres and said the complexity efficiency, ABARE calculated it would summit in Sydney in September agreed appeared to be a bad thing to some be feasible to reduce that emissions on a common statement on climate nations, notably the governments of figure by 49 per cent. Black said this change after intense wrangling between Malaysia, China and the Philippines was proposing that a rise in greenhouse rich and emerging nations. The which opposed Australian and US gas emissions of about 15 per cent by document, which was not binding, moves to get a climate resolution from 2050 was acceptable. contains an "aspirational" target of the Sydney APEC meeting. "There is no doubt that climate reducing energy intensity but also Black said the APEC formula, as politics is entering a complex phase," stresses the primacy of the United originally proposed by Australia with Black said. "No longer is it the case that Nations in the fight against climate Washington's blessing, envisaged nations are either for Kyoto or against change. developed and developing nations alike it; Japan, for example, is for Kyoto, and Drafted by experts of the signing up to goals — not on reducing yet also for the Asia-Pacific 21-member Asia Pacific Economic greenhouse gas emissions however, but Partnership which comes with a very Cooperation, the text was submitted for on improving "energy intensity". different level of ambition. approval to APEC leaders. Brought first into the political arena "And no longer are the arguments A senior Southeast Asian official by President Bush, the intensity concept just about cutting emissions. Funds for said the statement urged nations to is basically a measure of how adaptation, clean technology rollout, reduce energy intensity by 25 per cent efficiently your economy uses and financing mechanisms are by 2030 but did not make an energy — the ratio of wealth created to considered by many of the players, enforceable commitment. APEC was energy expended. certainly by the developing world's not a binding organisation, he said. He It is a concept that environmental superpowers. Energy security, leverage, added that the statement was groups find deeply troubling. "Even avoided deforestation, sequestration ... "formulated in such a way that it does with the proposed target (of a 25 per the list is almost as long as Angela not prejudice" the UN process. cent improvement in intensity by 2030), Merkel's climate travel itinerary. Australia had proposed a tough we would see a net increase in "But amidst these swirling, statement on climate change, which emissions from the region," said Tony evanescent mists it is possible to would draw in emerging nations to Mohr, climate change campaigner from discern two familiar philosophical make cuts in greenhouse gases, but it the Australian Conservation Foundation pillars. In one, governments commit to triggered a fierce debate, with emerging (ACF). "Intensity improves, but the common policies based on the science nations led by China saying they did economy grows as well. And that's the which, rightly or wrongly, they have not want to be bound by any problem witii intensity targets." endorsed through their membership of commitments. In the run-up to die APEC summit, the IPCC, and which the Stern Review They said all attention should be the Australian Bureau of Agricultural has declared affordable. In the other, focused on a UN climate change and Resource Economics (ABARE) they subject business-as-usual to only conference in Bali in December, which produced a report forecasting that under slight voluntary curtailments that will aims to lay the groundwork for a treaty business-as-usual, emissions from not distort its basic high-carbon shape." to replace the Kyoto Protocol on APEC nations would grow by 130 per Abridged by Graeme Wicks from an curbing emissions. cent between now and 2050. article by Agence France-Presse, In comment on the BBC news, With the deployment of 7 September 2007, Richard Black outlined international technologies such as renewables, negotiations being conducted in various nuclear, clean coal and energy SEE-Change NPA life member Fiona MacDonald care about these things and are willing specialising in a single issue or Brand brings this organisation to to work with people in the area to membership cohort. our attention —Ed. become better informed and to change SEE-Change centres and groups are SEE-Change (SEE = Society, Environ­ them. intended to be places where people of ment, Economy) is a new movement, The difference all ages can meet, learn and teach about commenced in 2006 in Canberra, which How does a SEE-Change Group problems confronting all of us, partic­ is about empowering individuals and differ from a community centre or ularly tie fast-emerging environmental communities to understand what is club? Perhaps the closest comparison is and health challenges that are global in going on and to take action for a with mechanics institutes of the 19th reach, but require individual and local "healthy population on a healthy century, which arose out of a hunger for action to deal with them. planet". knowledge and ideas among working Find out more Climate change and drought are two people in a time of technological There is a website which describes issues which now affect all Australians. advance and uneasiness about the activities of two groups in Canberra, at SEE-Change is promoting broad ability of government and business to Jamison and South Woden, www.see- community discussion and under­ provide answers to pressing problems. change.org.au. You can also contact standing of these and other issues, such By contrast, community centres have, Bob Douglas (0409 233 138) Convenor as injustice, the state of our democracy broadly, a welfare function and play a of the SEE-Change Steering Group for and the way our economy works. vital role in supporting citizens through the ACT. SEE-Change is a project of SEE-Change works at a local personal, financial, etc difficulties. the Nature and Society Forum community level and depends on Clubs are narrower in focus, www.natsoc.org.au (Tel 02 6288 0760). volunteers from the community who NPA OUTINGS PROGRAM December 2007 March 2008

Outings Guide' Distance grading (per day) Terrain grading 1 -—up to 10km " A—- Road, fire-trail, track E — Rock scrambling 2 — 10km to 15km B —Open forest F—ExploratorF y 3—15kmto20krh C—-Light scrub 4 — above 20km : D—Patches of thick scrub, regrowth Day Walks: Carry lunch, drinks and protective clothing. Pack Walks: Two or more days. Carry all food and camping requirements. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Car Camps: Facilities often limited. Vehicles taken to site can be used for camping. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Other activities include work parties, ski trips, canoe trips, nature rambles and environmental and field guide studies. Wednesday Walks are arranged on a joint NPA / CBC / FBI basis. Notification and detail is by email to registered members. Only the NPA-run walks are shown in this program. For email registration, contact the Outings Convener. Passenger transport: The committee suggests a donation per person to the nearest dollar, of THIRTY SIX cents per kilometre per car, divided by the number of occupants in the car including the driver. When odd numbers arise, a total contribution may be divided by the number of cars. The amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader. Drive and walk distances quoted in the program are approximate distances for return journeys.

Points to note Please help keep our outings program alive by volunteering to lead outings. New leaders are most welcome. The outings convener is happy to suggest locations suitable for a walk if you do not have something in mind yourself. Feel free to send in suggestions for outings to the association's office as soon as you think of them, with a suggested date. All persons joining an outing of the National Parks Association of the ACT do so as volunteers in all respects and as such accept responsibility for any injury howsoever incurred and the National Parks Association of the ACT, its office bearers and appointed leaders, are absolved from any liability in respect of injury or damage suffered whilst engaged in any such outing. In voluntarily participating in these activities conducted by the NPA, participants should be aware that they could be exposed to risks that could lead to injury, illness or death or to loss of or damage to their property. These risks could include but are not limited to slippery and/or uneven surfaces, rocks being dislodged, falling at edges of cliffs or drops or elsewhere, risks associated with crossing creeks, hypothermia, heat exhaustion and the risks associated with any of the Special Hazards listed on the Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Form provided by the leader at the start of the activity. To minimize these risks participants should endeavour to ensure that the activity is within their capabilities and that they are carrying food, water, equipment, clothing and footwear appropriate to the activity. Participants should advise the leader if they are taking any medication or have any physical or other limitation that might affect their participation in the activity. Participants should make every effort to remain with the rest of the party during the activity and accept the instructions of the leader. By signing the Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Form participants agree that they understand these requirements and have considered the risks before choosing to sign the form and waiver any claim for damages arising from the activity that they might have against the club, the leader or any other participants in tort or contract. 2 December, Sunday Walk 6 January, easy Sunday Walk MT GUDGENBY TUGGERANONG HILL CIRCUIT Map: Rendezvous Creek, Map: Tuggeranong 1:25 000 Yaouk 1:25 000 Grading: 1 A/B Grading: 4 A/C/D/E Leader. Mike Bremers Leader. Neville Esau Contact. 6292 3408(h), 6283 2052(w) Contact 6286 4176 or Sunday, 9 December or [email protected] [email protected] Meet at 8:00am at Calwell Shops Meet at the Namadgi Visitors Centre, BLUE RANGE HUT (in carpark between Calwell Club and past Tharwa, at 8:00am for a iong day Calwell Tavern) for a short drive to conquering one of the iconic peaks from 11:30am the start of the walk near the close to Canberra. The views from the substation at the southern end of Theodore. The walk is almost all on top are well worth the sometimes very Contact: NPA committee members. firetrail. We will do a circuit walk steep and challenging climb. Some rock This year we plan to hold our around the base of Tuggeranong Hill scrambling and regrowth to contend Christmas Party at Blue Range Hut followed by a walk to the summit with. Drive 140km, $50 per car. off the Brindabella Road. which involves some steep sections. Fit walkers only please. All the usual features; bring your Expect to be back at the cars before picnic lunch and Christmas cheer — lunchtime. 30 November to 3 December, nibbles, Christmas cake and some Car Camp drinks will be on hand. GUNGARLIN RIVER 13 January, Sunday Walk Joint KHA / NPA Activity Check Burning Issues for details. LAKE ALBINA Leader: Graham Scully Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 Contact: 6230 3352 or Grading: 2 A/C [email protected] Leader. Brian Slee A 4-day weekend with the Willis 10 to 14 December, Pack Walk Contact: 6281 0719 or family, the builders of Botheram Plain JAGUNGAL WILDERNESS [email protected] Hut, and John Libke, a CSIRO rabbit Map: Khancoban, Kosciuszko Depart 7:00am and drive to Charlotte researcher into myxomatosis. 1:50 000 (or equivalent 1:25 000s) Pass. Cross Snowy River then follow A grand opportunity to talk with and Grading: 3 A/B Club Lake Creek and Kunama Creek to learn from people who lived and Leaders: Neville Esau and Tim Walsh Kunama ruins. After a break, climb to worked in the area before it was Contact: Tim on 6285 1112 or Moraine Pass, contour around declared a National Park. [email protected] Northcote and descend to Lake Albina Conservation works will also be A 5-day pack walk exploring the for lunch. Return via Club Lake. carried out on Botheram Plain Hut Jagungal wilderness including visits to Excellent wildflowers. Steep climbs. during this weekend. Mt Jagungal, Brassy Mountain, Afternoon tea at Jindabyne. Valentine Falls and many other Shorter stays OK. Contact leader for meeting place. interesting features. Group numbers will Drive 420km. $150 per car plus NP be limited. If interested contact leader entry fee. 8 December, Saturday Work Party asap for a more detailed description. GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP Drive 480km, $173 per car 15 January, Tuesday Contact. Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, WALKS COMMITTEE MEETING [email protected], or 16 December, Sunday Walk Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, Convener. Stephen Forst BLUE LAKE FROM GUTHEGA Contact: 6251 6817(h) 6219 5236(w) [email protected] Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 or [email protected] Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, Grading: 3 A/C Meeting to set Outings/Activities Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car Leader. Brian Slee program for the period April to June park at 10:00am. Work in the Contact. 6281 0719 or 2008. Contact convener for details and regeneration area in the morning. [email protected] location. Tools provided. Depart 6:45am for Guthega. Walk south to Illawong, cross Snowy River Stay on for Christmas party lunch, then climb west to pass between which will be provided, enjoyed in the Twynam and Little Twynam. Descend shade of regenerating trees. In the to Blue Lake via spectacular western afternoon a leisurely stroll to check route. After lunch cross Blue Lake the progress of tree plantings. Creek, climb Crummer Spur and return via outward route. Alpine meadows and wildflowers. Afternoon tea Jindabyne. About 16km with several steep climbs. Contact leader for meeting place. Drive 420km, $150 per car plus NP entry fee. 20 January, easy Sunday Walk rocky peaks some of which offer great crossing Carruthers Creek. Wild SMOKERS TRAIL AIRCRAFT CRASH views. From Mt Stilwell we join the flowers should abound. SITE foot track to the car park. Please register your interest with the Map: Corin Dam 1:25 000 Please register your interest with the leader by Saturday for details. Grading: 1 A7B/C leader by Saturday for details. Drive 420km, $150 per car plus NP Leader. Mike Bremers Drive 420km, $150 per car plus NP entry fee. Contact 6292 3408(h), 6283 2052(w) entry fee. or [email protected] An 8km return walk to the crash site 30 January, WEDNESDAY WALK 17 February, Sunday Walk of a light aircraft. The walk starts at [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] DEADMANS HILL the Square Rock carpark and is Leader. David Large Map: Corin Dam, Williamsdale mainly on track or firetrail. Total Contact. 6291 4830 or 1:25 000 climb of 300 metres. Expect to be [email protected] Grading: 1 A/D back in Canberra by lunchtime. Details to be advised through the Leader. Mike Bremers Meet at 8:00am at NE comer of midweek walks email list, otherwise Contact. 6292 3408(h), 6283 2052(w) Bunnings Tuggeranong carpark, contact the leader. or [email protected] (comer Anketell and Sheerin Streets, A 6km return walk from the opposite Supacheap Auto). 3 February, Sunday Walk Booromba Rocks carpark on an old THE BIG HOLE AND MARBLE ARCH fire trail to Deadmans Hill, then Drive 65km, $20 per car. Map: Kain 1:25 000 descend NE to pick up the AAWT and Grading: 3 A return to the carpark. Total climb of 23 January, WEDNESDAY WALK Leader. Steven Forst 450m. Expect to be back in Canberra NPA / CBC / FBI [Joint Activity] Contact. 6251 6817(h) 6219 5236(w) by early afternoon. Meet at 8:00am at Leader. Henry Hatch or [email protected] Bunnings Tuggeranong carpark, NE Contact. 6290 1138 or Meet at the Canberra Railway corner (corner of Anketell and Sheerin [email protected] station at 8:00am. After crossing the Streets, opposite Supacheap Auto). Details to be advised through the Shoalhaven River, a walk on track midweek walks email list, otherwise Drive 85km, $32 per car. mainly through open forest to visit the contact the leader. large sink-hole, over 110m deep, known as the Big Hole. Then continue 18-21 February, midweek Pack Walk THE ROLLING GROUND AND 26-28 January, weekend Car Camp on to the Marble Arch, a limestone THREDBO DIGGINGS feature at the entrance to a narrow GUNGARTON Map: Mt Kosciusko 1:25 000 Map: Geehi Dam and Jagungal limestone gorge. Leader. Adrienne Nicholson Drive 180km, $65 per car. 1:25 000 Contact: 6281 6381 Grading: 2 A/C/E Australia Day long weekend outing. Leader: Philip Gatenby Campers options are to be as active 9 February, Saturday Work Party Contact: 6254 3094 or or inactive as desired. Can take GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP [email protected] chairlift from Thredbo and walk to Contact. Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, A four-day walk in the Kosciuszko Kosciusko summit and return; follow [email protected], or National Park. The walk starts at the Thredbo River from the village to Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, Guthega Power Station and will Dead Horse Gap and return. Half or [email protected] mostly be off tracks. Some steep full day walks or simply relax by (or Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, climbs will be involved. More details in) the river around the campsite. Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car will be available closer to the date as Possibly arrange to join Steve Hill park at 10:00am. Work for the the precise route will depend on on his day walk (see below). rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine weather conditions. Contact leader by Contact leader early for details or to forest area. Tools will be provided. the Wednesday before the walk. book (just keep trying!). Drive 420km, $ 150 per car plus NP entry fee. 10 February, Sunday Walk 27 January, Sunday Walk MT TWYNAM AND CRUMMER SPUR KANGAROO RIDGE, MTSTILWELL Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 Map: Perisher Valley 1:25 000 Grading: 3 A/C/E Grading: 2 A/C Leader. Steve Hill Leader. Steve Hill Contact. 6231 9186 Contact. 6231 9186 or [email protected] or [email protected] A highly scenic day requiring Stunning views all day. The walk reasonable fitness, proceeding only if will only proceed if the weather is the weather is suitable. suitable. We follow the main track from the We wander up the Kosciuszko track Charlotte Pass carpark to Blue Lake from Charlotte Pass carpark for a lookout trekking over the main range couple of kms, then stroll up the to the top of Watson's Crags (2136m) southern end of Kangaroo Ridge, for fabulous views. Lunch on visiting the source of Merritts Creek. Mt Twynam and returning via Kangaroo Ridge comprises many Crummer Spur, Hedley Tarn and 26 March, WEDNESDAY WALK 23 February, Saturday Work Party Admiration Point for lunch. Same route return. If hot weather, may go to [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] WOODLAND AREA BEHIND NAMADGI Leader. Mike Smith VISTOR CENTRE Corang Lagoon instead. Drive 250km, S90 per car. Contact. 6286 2984 or Leader. Martin Chalk [email protected] Contact 6292 3502 Details to be advised through the The area behind the Namadgi midweek walks email list, otherwise 8 March, Saturday Work Party Visitor Centre is the first (and contact the leader. sometimes only) taste that visitors get GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP of Namadgi. While the trees are Contact. Syd Comfort, 6286 2578, 29 March, Saturday Work Party generally in good condition the under- [email protected], or NAAS CREEK AREA story is in need of work. This work Clive Hurlstone, 0407 783 422, Leader. Martin Chalk parry will involve planting of shrub [email protected] Contact. 6292 3502 and under-story species as supplied by Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre, This work party will be a the park service. The February timing Tharwa at 9:15am or Yankee Hat car continuation of last year's efforts in has been picked to avoid work parry park at 10:00am. Work for the the same area and is a part of the activity in the more remote parts of rehabilitation of the old Boboyan pine NNP's task to rid the Naas Creek of the Park in the bush fire season. All forest area. Tools will be provided. woody weeds. The area of operation tools provided. Meet at the Namadgi will be upstream of the Mt Clear Visitor Centre at 9:30am. campground and will involve cutting 10 to 13 March, Pack walk and dabbing of briars and blackberry. 24 February, Sunday Walk BEN BOYD NATIONAL PARK All tools and equipment will be THE ROLLING GROUND Map: Pambula, Eden, Kiah 1:25 000 provided, just bring an appetite for Map: Geehi Dam 1:25 000 Grading: 3 A/B/E weed control. Meet at the Namadgi Grading: 3 A/C Leaders: Tim Walsh and Neville Visitor Centre at 9:00am. Leader. Steve Hill Esau Drive 160km, $48 per car. Contact. 6231 9186 Contact- Tim on 6285 1112 or or [email protected] [email protected] A great scenic day requiring A three (or four) day walk from reasonable fitness and proceeding if Boyd Tower to Green Cape along the the weather is suitable. coast, with an optional fourth day We climb Guthega spur from exploring the Green Cape area and Guthega carpark and continue past inspecting the Green Cape Light Consett Stephen Pass for a few House. This is a great introductory kilometres along the Rolling Grounds. through walk for those wishing to Lunch at the Granite Peaks. Expect widen their walking experience. great views all day with plenty of wild Numbers will be limited. A more flowers. detailed description is available. Please register your interest with the Please contact the leaders asap. leader by Saturday for details. Drive 500km, S180 per car. Drive 420km, S150 per car plus NP entry fee. 16 March, Sunday Day Walk MURRUMBIDGEE GULF 23 January, WEDNESDAY WALK Map: Rules Point, Tantangara [Joint NPA / CBC / FBI Activity] 1:25 000 Leader. Philip Gatenby Grading: 2 A/B Contact. 6254 3094 or Leader. Brian Slee [email protected] Contact: 6281 0719 or Details to be advised through the [email protected] midweek walks email list, otherwise Depart 7:15am. A through walk contact the leader. with car shuffle. Drive to Tantangara Dam, leave a car at Gulf Bend and 2 March, Sunday Walk then proceed on Pockets Saddle Road CORANG PEAK or LAGOON to Murrumbidgee River Fire Trail. Map: Corang 1:25 000 Walk downhill on trail to river via Grading: 3 A/D Love Nest in the Sallies Hut. Return Leader. Mike Smith to Gulf Bend via Peden and Contact: 6286 2984 or Townsend Huts. Bring sandshoes for [email protected] river crossings. Walk 12km. Meet at the Canberra Railway Afternoon tea Adaminaby. Contact Station carpark at 7:30am. Note early leader for meeting place. start. A walk in the Budawangs from Drive 250 km, $90 per car. Outings Convener: Mike Smith the Wog-Wog entrance to Corang 6286 2984 or Peak, which has 360 degree views, msmith@n etspeed. com. au and then to Corang Arch or GRBG winter work reveals many talents

During the winter months, the An exclosure near Frank Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group and Jack's Hut has also been has been busy planting trees along the repaired. This required Old Boboyan Road, repairing fencing replacing two comer posts and and corner posts to exclosures and also hanging a gate. Fencing wire sandbagging old fire trails to prevent was repaired and tightened. We further erosion. The variety of tasks has plan to perform a vegetation shown the group to be multi-talented survey of species present in the and able to address a variety of exclosure this year, and challenges. compare the findings with what The trees on the Old Boboyan Road grows once grazing has been were all planted with tree guards for excluded for a season. protection against damage from In May, we placed a rain kangaroos. They were sited to prevent gauge near the car park further erosion as there is considerable entrance so we could record Fiona MacDonald Brand, Michael Goonrey, run-off from the road during storms. In rainfall every month. June and Christine Goonrey, Adrienne Nicholson and John total, about 25 Banksia marginata, July were good months with 64 Waldron watching Clive Hurlstone measuring 65 Acacia melanoxylon and and 90mls respectively, but the rainfall in the Olympic exclosure. Unfortunately 20 eucalypts were planted. following months have not the rain gauge was stolen before the November Repairing the fire trail on Amanda recorded good falls. We hope work party. Photo Hazel Rath Slope required sand bags to be made up that rainfall will be sufficient to and placed across the slope. Trees were reduce the amount of watering also planted in strategic places and it is required during the summer. take place in August 2008 and plans are hoped that this will prevent further Over the next few months already underway to make this a very damage and slow the flow of water committee members will produce a special occasion. where it reaches the road. Large gullies paper outlining some long-term plans If you would like to join with the have been created in the road, making it for the future direction of the group group on one of their monthly work difficult for cars to cross, so on most now that the whole former plantation parties, please contact Clive Hurlstone occasions, when using Frank and Jack's area has been successfully seeded. The on 0407 784 322 for details of the Hut as a base for the day, we have used paper will provide objectives and goals program and where to meet vehicles with higher clearance. until 2010, Tenth year celebrations will Hazel Rath Changing management at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve On Tuesday October 23 community undertake some aspects of TNR Volunteer Interpreters would be groups with an interest in Tidbinbilla management. In the future, CVA will asked to make a one-off payment of Nature Reserve (TNR) met at manage the Visitor Centre and $50 ($30 concession) before Volunteering ACT in Belconnen to hear investigate possible ecotourism commencing training which is designed about the proposed volunteer program products but the scope of this meeting to foster a level of commitment from which is being run by Conservation was to discuss the first stage of this the potential Volunteer Interpreter. It Volunteers Australia (CVA) in partnership — the Volunteer Interpreter would be a big-time commitment and Tidbinbilla. Program. there was some concern that CVA Groups represented included Madeline Townsend is a National would not be able to find enough Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association, ACT Manager with CVA, based in Ballarat. suitable people for the program as Herpetological Association, Friends of She outlined the history of CVA, the many people who might be interested Grasslands, Canberra Ornithologists wide range of programs that CVA are already active members of the Group, Southern ACT Catchment currently operates and some of its groups represented. Suggestions for Group, Field Naturalists Association of achievements. The $300 000 contract volunteer sources included students. Canberra, Australian Native Plants will be the first time CVA has taken on People can contribute by assisting with Society , the Conservation Council, and a project of this nature. Paula Banks training or by making arrangements to the National Parks Association. It was a will be the Volunteer Manager at participate in interpretation activities shame that Friends of Tidbinbilla could Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and will be that are outside the program. not make it. located on site. Public transport to Tidbinbilla Rod Hillman, Acting General Volunteers would be asked to remains a big problem for visitors and Manager of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, undertake training and then provide Volunteer Interpreters. Options such as provided a map showing the new interpretation services in the new car pooling and use of bike hire to get "Wetlands" area and mentioned the wetlands area, to be opened early in around the reserve are being explored. studies that have been carried out and 2008. Later in the year volunteers Anyone seeking more information the reasons behind some of the changes would staff the Visitor Centre and can email Paula Banks on taking place at the Reserve. He also collect the reintroduced entry fee of [email protected] explained why the ACT Government $10 per car; further duties may be or phone her on (02) 6247 7770. has decided to contract CVA to included in the contract later on. Christine Goonrey Looking at Scottsdale and Bullanamang

Bush Heritage's Owen Management complexities Wliitaker gave a presentation For management purposes the at the September 200? NPA property is divided into general meeting. conservation activity cells. Owen, manager of Bush Heritage's NSW Scottsdale properties, arrived and took us in a Scottsdale, a 1328ha Bush Heritage 4WD convoy to selected spots. property bought in December 2006, Our first stop was a control lies to the north of Bredbo. between paddock of straw-coloured the Monaro Highway and the African Iovegrass, which gives the Murrumbidgee, and is a near landscape its bleached look. Cattle neighbour of Namadgi National graze the grass but sheep, being Park. It forms the first major step of picky eaters, won't because ihey Bush Heritage's ICosciuszko to get tangled up in it. Coast (K2C) landscape project. As well as performing the Many members of NPA ACT function of holding soil and support Bush Heritage and wanted moisture, the African Iovegrass, if to see Scottsdale; finally kept grazed to moderate biomass arrangements were made for levels, also provides habitat for committee members to visit the quails. It illustrates the property on September 27 this year. complexities of management About 12 of us gathered at the two when introduced plant species galvanised iron shelters, one for provide shelter and food for native tractors and the other for humans, to fauna. meet Bush Heritage staff. Paul African Iovegrass spreads through Evans and later, Owen Whitaker, human disturbance and has a very along with K2C Project Facilitator, Looking from the grassland flats up a Callitris slope small seed. Bringing about a Lauren Van Dyke. Seats were which leads to the plateau on Scottsdale, reduction of the weed's arranged under a tree near a truck 2 7 September 2007. Photo Judy Kellv dominance and increasing the laden with native plants that native grassland species volunteers were transferring that week national non-government and component over time wjJJ require a to their new home on the Gungoandra government organisations to achieve careful trial and error process, Owen Creek banks. wider conservation goals. explained, and attempting wholesale The rustic scene was supplemented Scottsdale's challenges include eradication would be costly and by a cool breeze, and cake and fruit that serrated tussock, African iovegrass, possibly counter-productive. Bush Heritage helpers passed around. feral pigs, deer and rabbits, the On the other side of the control Travis, Annette and Mike's grandson, continuing drought, and the subdivision paddock fence were native forbs mixed represented the future generation and of land to the south into hobby farms or with patches of African Iovegrass, had an amazing capacity for cake 'lifestyle blocks'. Bush Heritage is another dilemma for management. Four consumption. running 80 cattle in a strategic African species of parrots have been observed Iovegrass suppression project with a in the mix of natives and African Bush Heritage philosophy contractual agreement with local Iovegrass. graziers. The organisation works with Paul, a funding coordinator, gave us an The idea is to provide conditions for and supports other K2C partners to native plants to invade the African overview, linking Bush Heritage's provide incentives to farmers to philosophy with Scottsdale: to Iovegrass patches after they've been improve their land using appropriate subjected to grazing and possible patch regenerate a degraded property and to conservation measures. preserve its natural burning which will be monitored temperate grassland and accommodated using and box gum adaptive management woodland, two of techniques. Australia's most threatened habitats. Pine trees to stay Its value also lies in Behind us stood a windbreak of its proximity to pine trees. Would that go? "Not Namadgi National for the moment." said Owen. Park and the link it "We've observed that the pines forms in the K2C provide habitat for black project. cockatoos and other woodland Paul explained bird species and the grass nearby that a major will be kept low to reduce fire emphasis for Bush risk." Heritage is to form Although exotic, the barley and collaborative part­ silver grass that have emerged in nerships with local, the grazed cells on Sconsdale regional, state and Up on the plateau at Scottsdale. Photo Martin Chalk help reduce the African lovegrass's explosive summer growth. used for After good summer rain, Owen trapping feral predicted that 800 head of cattle would pigs. Once in, be needed to keep the African lovegrass they can't down. escape and they In the middle distance we could see are then shot, an eroded gully where the rich alluvial not poisoned. soils had been cultivated and grazed. This is done Measures to reduce erosion include with the help of encouraging good grass cover on the the Rural Lands 1000-acre plateau to reduce runoff, and Protection scalping the sheep nutrient areas to fill Board. the blind erosion gullies in preparation After lunch for growing sedges. Native grasses will under the trees, be planted in the scalped areas. we headed off In the less disturbed areas grow with Lauren on kangaroo grass (Themeda), another to the plateau native grass (Stipa), and forbs. which gave an excellent view Our second stop was beside the Bush Heritage volunteers planting shrubs along Gungoandra railway cutting and a tunnel along the of faded blue Creek, Note the willows which will be left "for the time being". Goulburn-Canberra-Cooma-B ombala hills lining the Photo Judy Kelly. line which is now disused except for the distance, the Railway Historical Society's journeys middle distance to Michelago. While the railway was interspersed with tans and yellows. It good seed propagator. Might emus be being built in the 1870s, trees were cut brought to mind the 20th century reintroduced to the property? down for sleepers and to provide fuel landscape painters like George Lambert We descended steeply through open for the 200 workers camped at the site. who portrayed the colours, light and dry sclerophyll woodland, returning to Railway buffs interested in the line's shadows of the southern highlands and our starting point for the day, and history sometimes want access to the Eden-Monaro so accurately. thanked our Bush Heritage hosts for Scottsdale to photograph the railway Lauren pointed out the reddish showing us around and explaining the tunnel, another management kangaroo grass and said the seed sown value of Scottsdale and the intricacies consideration. for regeneration is local. The roo and challenges of management. Adding intrigue to the area were the population comprises eastern' greys, Some of us have been concerned leek orchids and the deep pink stones euros and swamp wallabies which are about the use of cattle to graze pest and earth; mfortunately, no one could probably chewing the Tfiemeda. species on the property for fear that the identify the stone. Scottsdale's woodland trees are the argument could bolster the case endangered yellow box (Eucalyptus advanced by graziers in favour of River frontage melliodora) along with apple box grazing cattle in national parks. It is Owen led us down to the (Eucalyptus bridgesiana), and attempts easier to accept grazing as a tool on a Murrumbidgee which was flowing are being made to increase the area of combined agricultural and conservation reasonably strongly. It was a tranquil yellow box. site when it is seen in the context of spot lined with some patches of willows managing a property with clearly that will stay for the time being, helping Endangered dragon delineated boundary fences. The other to keep the banks secure. Scottsdale's important aspect is the close monitoring At our vantage point, Adrienne spotted with an emphasis on regeneration and four and a half kilometre river frontage a small lizard which some thought was is home to water dragons, platypus and conservation of native vegetation. a juvenile bearded dragon. Scottsdale It had been a very pleasant and peregrine falcons. staff are watching out for the grassland NSW State Fisheries have informative day and NPA ACT hopes earless dragon which is endangered and to establish a working partnership with approached Bush Heritage about endemic. restocking the river frontage on their Bush Heritage and Scottsdale. The We continued ascending to the top committee also decided to send the property with the endangered species, of the plateau where Lauren showed us Macquarie and silver perch, which used organisation a donation of $300 as a small eucalypts dancing in the wind. measure of our support. to be common but are now rare. They were the endangered Eucalyptus As we returned to the sheds for pulverulenta or the silver mountain lunch, we saw the volunteers with gum, and were obviously well adapted Bullanamang Lauren, hard at work on the to the harsh conditions and the exposed Bullanamang is an adjacent property Gungoandra Creek banks, planting site. NPA ACT's newly launched Field bottlebrush (Callistemon), tea tree which we had heard was of high Guide to the Native Trees of the ACT conservation value and on the market (Leptospermum), and Acacia where the describes E. pulverulenta as being pigs had churned the soil. They were for between $300 000 and $400 000 "Very rare and localised in the wild, the (see NPA Bulletin, September 2007). planting Lomandra on top of the banks. nearest population being found on Five thousand plants were waiting The property includes river frontage Black Ridge southeast of with the Murrumbidgee on its eastern to be bedded down. Twelve volunteers Bredbo" (p. 87). had planted 570 on Wednesday, a side, and sub-alpine vegetation Lauren explained that an advisor on extending to Mt Clear. significant achievement. local Aboriginal culture had Although the day was mild, the sun It had been offered to Bush Heritage commented on the lack of Lomandra who rejected it because it did not fit all had a sting which the band of hardy and of big birds like the emu which is a volunteers must have felt down near the creek. We stopped near a large cage (Continued on page 14) Looking at Scottsdale and Bullanamang (Continued from page 13) their criteria, including During the steep descent, the their focus on conserving first 4WD did a dramatic slide temperate grassland. on a bend that threatened to Wondering if it would overturn the vehicle. We be possible to form a group arrived minutes later to be of people interested in stopped. Kevin and Sonja buying the property, four of praised their driver's coolness us visited Bullanamang but were obviously shaken. several weeks before the Muriel and I. leaving nothing Scottsdale visit. to chance, abandoned our The day was initially 4WD but our driver was misty but cleared to crisp forewarned and negotiated the perfection. We met the two bend successfully. stock and station agents, We slowly descended to a John and Stewart, who had sub-alpine flat with a small lived most of their lives in dam reverberating with a the Cooma-Canberra Snow-covered Mt Jagungal can be seen on the far horiz on from chorus of the resident frogs. region and knew many of the trig on Mt Clear, Bullanamang. Photo Kevin McCue We spotted a small dark one, the locals. They were also the plains froglet, Crinia well into joshing each other about the Mt Jagungal to the south, wearing a parinsignifera. Our last stop was for the relative merits of their 4WDs. good mantle of snow, and of view down to the Murrumbidgee and a We had been warned that access Mt Morgan roughly in front of us: a look at the serrated tussock, another was 4WD only. It was. The refreshing panorama of the Australian cursed import. Murrumbidgee was flowing fast and Alps which brought back memories of Returning to Bredbo for a coffee deep, prompting Stewart to check on many walks. and debrief after thanking our his mobile with the property owner that On die way back to the vehicles, the irrepressible agents, the majority view a crossing was feasible. The two super optimist thought that buying such of our little group felt that it was a vehicles formed impressive bow waves a property would be straightforward beautiful property well worth but we reached the other bank without and that Bullanamang could pretty well conserving for its forest and sub-alpine further excitement. manage itself with minimum area. The track, rutted, uneven and rough, interference. The cautious ones pointed It would be best for an organisation took us past a green tin shed, actually out the difficulties of maintaining the like Bush Heritage to manage, on another property, which the agents road, the challenges in keeping weeds especially with the difficult access and thought epitomised the Australian bush and feral pests at bay, plus the ever- the lack of a building entitlement. shack. Sonja, Kevin, Muriel and J present concern of fire management and The latest news is that an weren't too entranced. Bullet holes, liaising with the authorities. And how organisation similar to NPA ACT has empty bottles, graffiti, trophies and the would you cope with shooters? bought the property which may be general atmosphere made us want to Once back in the 4WDs we managed later in conjunction with Bush keep going. encountered an ACT government Heritage. Less welcome news is that a The dry forest with apple box and vehicle from TAMS. The driver very communications tower has been built yellow box gave way to a moister assertively asked our first driver what on the top of Mt Clear and the impact aspect as we gained height and spotted he was doing there. He responded has been significant. Also fire a few black sallees. As we approached smartly, equally assertively. We authorities want to build a dam on one Mt Clear, a large tree blocked our way. gathered the TAMS staff were clearing of Bullanamang's creeks. What impact the road for fire control access because will the construction of the dam have? Refreshing panorama the road borders Namadgi National Bush Heritage's potential Park. involvement in managing two At this juncture, we left properties adjacent to the 4WDs, had lunch and Namadgi National Park can decided to walk to the top only be a plus. It will help of Mt Clear, leaving John conserve the biodiversity of and Stewart to lean on the part of the Kosciuszko to tree trunk and yam. They Coast area and act as a congratulated themselves buffer zone for the southern on having work that boundary of Namadgi as entailed getting out into the well as encouraging park bush. "Who'd want to neighbours to adopt practices spend days in front of the which will help protect the computer in an office?" environment. We walked for about half an hour past snow Judy Kellv gums glinting in the sunlight and little pockets of snow lining dips and hollows in the snowgrass. The top of Mt Clear The Murrumbidgee River from Bullanamang. with granite boulders Photo Kevin McCue yielded a clear view of In the Budawangs

Wog Wog to Monolith Valley, marked with a large 10-12 March 2007 arrow pointing eastwards to the gully Seven of us left from the Wog Wog between Mt Donjon entrance to Morton National Park in and Mt Cole. Through sunshine. We soon crossed Wog Wog the gully we turned Creek which was flowing strongly as a south, passing Seven result of plenty of recent rain. An hour Gods Pinnacles, then from the cars we passed a rocky descended into outcrop called Tinderry View and Monolith Valley. 30 minutes later the junction of a track to Corang Lagoon. Ten rninutes further Special place The view from Yurnga Lookout in the Budawangs. on our track went between two large It's a special place, conglomerates where from the rock to Photo Phil Gatenby described in Pigeon the north there are good views. By the House and Beyond as "an elevated time we had passed the turn-off to hidden valley surrounded by More descending, including a Adrriiration Point and reached Corang magnificent cliffs and dotted with huge traverse of a sloping rock face, brought Peak it was after midday. monoliths and crags" (p. 186). The us to the south-west corner of Mt A little further on we lunched sandstone walls either side of the valley Cole's cliffs. Half an hour later we overlooking Corang Arch (see cover are strewn with a variety of ferns, tree were again in the overhang we'd visited photo). First stop after lunch was roots and climbers. Rainforest trees in the morning, having completed the Yurnga Lookout at the head of such as sassafras and possum wood, circumnavigation of Mt Cole. From the Burrumbeet Brook, for breathtaking reach to the light from the valley floor. overhang the return to the tents took views over Mt Owen, Pigeon House another hour. We spent an hour in Monolith and Yadboro. An hour and a half from Valley, including having to backtrack a Another 8:00am start from the the lookout we arrived at our intended few hundred metres to find the natural campsite, this time with packs. campsite on the headwaters of the arch we'd previously passed by without Overnight drizzle had cleared well Corang River below Mt Tarn. noticing. The arch was first recorded by before dawn. We retraced our steps Next day, again in sunshine, we set Europeans in 1960 by Fred Kitchener. from the first day past Bibbenluke out at 8:00am with day packs on the A bridge and track to the east to Mountain and Yurnga Lookout, along track towards Mt Donjon and Mt Cole. Nibelung Pass marks the southern end Burrumbeet Brook (where we disturbed The track continues eastwards, passes a of Monolith Valley. Our track to the a snake sunning itself) and across junction with a track to the north to west between Mt Owen and Mt Cole Canowie Brook to the base of the Mt Tarn, then turns more to the south involved a scramble upwards of about Conglomerate Slope (map reference east through tea-tree, swamp and forest, five metres which brought us into a 375924). eventually crossing a tributary of Angel gloomy gully choked with large Here we took a less well-marked Creek flowing north east. In places the sandstone boulders. Further on we track along Canowie Brook, crossing it track was difficult to see. Climbing out crossed an amphitheatre strewn with a number of times. At its junction with of the creek we came across small more boulders, then climbed onto the the Corang River is an area of pools bright red fungi, then dropped to a side of Mt Owen. A rope fastened to a and waterfalls known as the Many saddle between Bibbenluke Mountain tree beside a small, almost subterranean Rock Ribs. Beyond the ribs the track is and Mt Cole before climbing to the waterfall made the scramble possible. easier to follow through more open base of Cole's cliffs for a well-earned scrub and after the junction with Broula breather in a small overhang. Spectacular views Brook is marked by rock caims to Tracks went in both directions from Corang Lagoon. I was grateful we had not chosen the the overhang to circumnavigate Mt The lagoon is a popular destination track anti-clockwise around Mt Cole as Cole. We chose the clockwise direction for day and overnight walkers. Much of climbing up beside the waterfall to the north. Almost half an hour after the vegetation cover has been worn seemed much easier than climbing leaving the overhang we came to a tree away and on this visit a lot of litter was down. After more, but scattered around the main camping easier, scrambling up a area. We cooled off in the lagoon and gully we stopped on collected as much litter as we could the side of Mt Owen carry. The track from the lagoon goes for a lunch with south-west, crosses a number of creeks spectacular views over (including Goodsell Creek), to its Mt Nibelung and junction with the main Wog Wog Yadboro. With lunch Track. From here it was another 75 over we continued minutes to the cars. westwards following cairns along the Reference: The Budawang Committee northern side of Mt 1982, Pigeon House and Beyond: A Owen, then dropped Guide to the Budawang Range and into a saddle between Environs, Eastwood. Mt Owen and Mt Map: Corang 1:25 000 Second Edition Cole. Philip Gatenby Tree roots on the sandstone cliffs. Photo Phil Gatenby South Australia's Heysen Trail with Ted Fleming Ted Fleming, NPA member and hints at the good things of life, before small plane crash site, marked by a the invited speaker at NPA's July leading the walker on to the Barossa black patch. On 3 July 1980, a twin general meeting, recalled his vineyards with their beckoning trellises. engine plane refuelled at Leigh Creek completion of a great Australian Ted wasn't tempted on this occasion. and took off al 1:50pm for Adelaide. bushwalk (1200 km from one end All is not plain ambling because Mount Remarkable was totally to the other), only the 71st person walkers are warned at Stein Hill (600m) shrouded in cloud and the pilot, although not qualified to do so, decided to do so. that the weather conditions in the section before Burra can be very to continue his flight in cloud. The pilot Charles Warren Bonython, scientist, hazardous with heavy mists and cold of another aircraft advised deteriorating keen outdoor man and conservationist sleety winds. Signage here is infrequent weather ahead but clear conditions to who proposed the Heysen Trail in 1969, and habitation very sparse. the west. The Adelaide-bound aircraft, walked the length of the Flinders The Heysen Trail passes Burra now at 2850ft turned right, flying Ranges in the 1970s. With the help of where Comish tin miners worked the straight into the mountain 300ft below Terry Lavender, "an anti-bureaucratic copper lode in the 1800s and used their its summit. public servant, mountain climber and masonry skills, leaving a legacy of Ted's next point of interest was busbwalker", as Ted described him, elegant stone buildings and mine Horrocks Pass, named after the explorer Bonylhon initiated the trail. chimneys. John Horrocks who, in 1846, reached The trail is testimony to the After Burra, Ted's slides took us Depot Creek, explorer John Eyre's old cooperation between landholders and through bare, exposed sheep country campsite. In attempting to shoot several levels of government and mallee style scrub before Newikie waterfowl from the back of a kneeling incorporating local, district, regional Creek, and Tooralie Gorge. He showed camel, Horrocks lost the middle fingers and state. The track traverses a variety us the uncompromising rocky gorges of his right hand and a row of teeth of landscapes: coastal, small farms, and conditions facing the nineteenth when the camel moved and the gun agricultural including the famous century farmers who had to negotiate discharged. He died three weeks later Barossa vineyards, mountains and the ranges to access the railroads to from septicaemia. forests. Adelaide, creating deep cuttings Ted's serious bushwalking started in through the hard rock to establish a Plants collected the 1940s, long before fire trails and route for the wool wagons. Mt Brown (970m) is scarcely a 4WD tracks became a feature of the Geologist and Antarctic explorer, name to inspire interest but Ted's bush. He walked from one end of the Sir Douglas Mawson, lived near Mt mentioning that the first white men to trail to the other, from Cape Jervis to Bryan (950m) which Ted described as ascend the hill in 1802 were from Parachilna Gorge, at intervals over "bristling with telecommunication Matthew Flinders' ship. the seven years between 1994 and 2001, towers". He then walked through open Investigator, was intriguing. They were during autumn, winter and spring. His country, noting the historic stone wall natural ist Robert B rown, arti s t an d slides revealed both the beauty and the al ong th e Brown Hill R ange and naturalist Ferdinand Bauer, and artist harshness of the landscape. The red, mentioning the 12km of very irregular, William Westall who were all burn i s hed country th e H eysen Trai 1 rough walking. benighted on Mt Brown without food or traverses is frequently rough, water is The Mt Bryan/Brown Hill Range water. scarce and the views overall give you a area has been selected as a site for very They collected and named the feel of the unyielding Outback. A shot extensive wind farm development in the native pear {Cynanchum florihundum) of Ted's blue tent pitched with rocks near future. and the silver emu bush (Eremophila weighing the corners down emphasised scoparia) from Mt Brown and Bauer cold, windy nights, another extreme. Goyder's Line illustrated them. His experiences reflected human At Spalding, Ted enjoyed The Royal Geographical Society of and geological history's juxtaposition Freshwater Campsite with ornate 19th South Australia in conjunction with with the modem, in the form of century gates that looked like an old National Parks and Wildlife South communication towers on hills along fashioned cast-iron bedstead, before Australia installed the memorial to the way. enduring a 9km straight roadbash to Robert Brown at the top of Mt Brown George Town and to the Rocky River in 2002. It tells us that the hill was The start crossing. This is where Goyder*s Line significant to the ancestors of the Ted left Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu was set, at the 254mm (10 inches in the present day Nukunnu people who Peninsula, his coastal shots of the sand imperial system) rainfall line, to witnessed ube arrival of the dunes and sea giving way to tree-lined determine the limits of viable Investigator. lanes, grass trees, country roads and the agriculture. Progressing further north to the Finniss River with permanent water. Ted showed us a shot of Crystal plains west of the Flinders Ranges, Ted This was one of the green spots of the Brook, its attractive grassy track lined warned us that the flat camp at trip with the Valley of Third Falls, near with majestic eucalypts giving respite Thompson's Gap can be very cold in Morialta, and close to Adelaide, whose from the harsh landscape. July. urban tentacles are gradually but He described The Bluff (770m) as Ted's next historical shot was a ruthlessly destroying the beauty of the another prominence "bristling with slide of a monument at Depot Creek Adelaide hills. huge telecommunication towers." which John Eyre discovered in 1839. It After climbing Mt Lofty, Ted Approaching Mt Remarkable is dedicated to several people, including passed through farms and forest to the (930m) near Melrose, about half way Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park which along the Trail, Ted took a shot of a Book Review Antarctica — Securing its the development of land forms, world instead of the 45 countries Heritage for the Whole World or significant geomorphic or party to the Antarctic Treaty, or the physiographic features, original 12 signatories in 1959, or Geoff Mosley and criterion (ix): even the 28 who have voting rights. be outstanding examples At only $6.00, this is a must-have ENV1ROBOOK, 2007 representing significant on-going book for anyone interested in ecological and biological Dr Mosley wrote this short book to Antarctica and its preservation, in the processes in the evolution and advance the case for World Heritage process of World Heritage Listing or development of terrestrial, fresh listing for Antarctica (the whole conservation in general. As a bonus water, coastal and marine continent and its ice shelves), and to there is a very useful map on the back ecosystems and communities of seek its inclusion on the 'Heritage in cover showing the boundaries of plants and animals. Danger' listing. territorial claims (and non-claimed Antarctica, he claims, would also The 29-page book, with a foreword areas), the extent of sea ice and the by Senator Bob Brown, has seven appear to have the attributes to meet polar front. chapters and two appendices, including two other criteria; (vii): The book may be purchased from a very useful brief history of the contain superlative natural the author; [email protected] territorial claims (Chapter 1) and phenomena or areas of Kevin McCue attempts at heritage protection in exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance, Antarctica (Chapter 2). Watch out for changes to the The author outlines the process to and criterion (x): achieve World Heritage listing of contain the most important and look of your Bulletin, starting Antarctica's heritage values and his significant natural habitats for in- next issue. staged approach to listing (Chapter 3). situ conservation of biological Chapters 4 and 5 outline the short diversity, including those history of previous nominations and a threatened species of outstanding possible alternative approach for universal value from the point of securing the listing. view of science or conservation. Chapter 6 contains the all-important Dr Mosley makes the point that recommendations, and he wraps up the Antarctica is *far and away the Earth's book with the conclusions in Chapter 7. major wilderness area* (pl2) and it is The core of the book is Mosley's worth reading his definition of argument that Antarctica satisfies not wilderness. one but several of the criteria for The advantages of listing are: listing, first and foremost 1) that whilst Antarctica is a protected criterion (viii): area, listing on the World Heritage be outstanding examples list would reduce the risk of future representing major stages of mining and of international conflict Imagine how good Esther earth's history, including the over mining; 2) Dr Mosley claims it would broaden Gallant's "flying ducks on record of life, significant on­ stalks" would look in colour? going geological processes in the sense of ownership to the whole

South Australia's Heysen Trail with Ted Fleming (continued from page 16) the botanist Baron von- Mueller (who He mentioned another piece of books, one for the northern section and investigated the flora from Mt Gambier history incorporating Willochra Creek, one for the southern and the further to the Flinders Ranges and Lake near Kanyaka Station, which the third north you go, the worse the track Torrens) and explorers Eyre and Earl of Carysfort's son, Hugh Proby, becomes. Transport needs to be Horrocksi Ted referred to Eyre's later ran. The station, like many of that era, organised mainly through private governorship of Jamaica, which was a small village, incorporating 70 operators. suggested adaptability on Eyre's part in families. The unfortunate Hugh Proby Water is a significant problem with making such a dramatic career change. drowned in Willochra Creek while very few permanent watercourses. The mustering sheep one stormy night in trail is closed from November 1 to Three waterfalls 1852. April 30, also during bushfires and to A slide of Arden Creek showed the Ted wound up his talk and slide meet farmers' needs as in the lambing challenge of three waterfalls that must presentation with views of the Elder season. Accommodation varies from be negotiated and Mt Arden, Ted told Range en route to Wilpena Pound, the hotels and motels to shearers' quarters, us, is again "bristling with Pound surrounds, and Brachina Gorge shelters, and campsites. communication towers." where he referred to the fossils of great Ted's presentation, rich with In the final segment of his geological significance, some dating anecdotes, history, scenery and presentation, Ted was in the area where back more than 600 million years. information, reflected his fascination the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, with the Heysen Trail in which he with Tim Flannery's involvement, is Practicalities fulfilled his quest to complete the entire buying huge tracts of land near Ted also mentioned the 1200km. Buckaringa Gorge. practicalities. If you want to walk the Judy Kelly Heysen Trail, there are two guide PARKWATCH After more than 10 years of trawling The resulting post-fire invasion of Letting down the marshes the environmental literature to tens of thousands of Grey Sallow An article with the above title in the Willows in Victoria's Alpine National produce PARKWATCH for the Bulletin, June-July issue of ECOS, the CSDIO Park has tested our capacity for weed Len Haskew has decided to journal, describes the demise of the threat assessment, effective monitoring relinquish the task for a fresh Macquarie Marshes in NSW, an and rapid response capabilities. interpretation. We all thank Len for internationally significant wetland. The And it's not just the quantity of a magnificent effort. Ed. article highlights "a critical breakdown seedlings that is a concern. We are in habitat management across vested faced with a shrubby tree invading interests and the price of prioritising New parks for southern areas that have until now been largely water extraction for commercial use highlands treeless. above environmental allocations." Once the invasion was identified, In June, the [NSW] Government quietly Although even in the days before Government post-fire funding, announced the conclusion of a ten-year climate change, the Macquarie River bolstered by funds from the North-east long assessment of State forests and was calculated to yield between Catchment Management Authority, Crown lands in the Southern Highlands. 400,000 and 475,000M1 of water, now As a result it is protecting 17,000 ha as enabled Parks Victoria to sign up teams about 700,000M1 is allocated to new national parks or nature reserves of volunteers and hire a range of extractive use. The result of this and a further 2,400 as state contractors to pull the young seedlings, unsustainable policy is, in the words of conservation areas. It also announced a or poison more advanced shrubs. the article, that "Today the northern further 22,400 ha of Crown lands will It is a big program, and has met Macquarie Marshes are struggling to remain in public ownership, unlike in with some success, but the survive and the southern Macquarie other areas of the State. identification last year of additional Marshes are all but gone — a wasteland tens of thousands of seedlings in the Attempts by NPA [NSW] and other of cracked and broken earth, littered Fainters area of the alps has made it groups to protect areas close to pine with blanched shells of freshwater clear this threat will not be over soon. plantations or with mineral interests mussels and bordered by the skeletons Parkwatch, September 2007 failed. There is no action on the draft of river red gums whose dead branches recommendation to assess the no longer support the nests of migrating conservation values of Crown leases Wood supply questioned birds or shelter native fish." covering Lake George. Dr Chris Beadle is a professional forest Climate change could be "a new In creating the small but important scientist based in Hobart. From 1997 to catalyst that could bring all parties parks between Canberra and the Blue 2005 he was Manager of the together", but, in the words of Bill Mountains, Minister Koperberg said, Johnson, Senior Scientific Officer for "This will no doubt help to further Sustainable Management Program in Wetlands and Rivers at DECC: "We stimulate the local economy in a way the Cooperative Research Centre for have to start now, we don't have time which was not previously possible Sustainable Production Forestry. These any more. We are not very far from a while public lands sat vacant and extracts from a recent article represent unused." his views and not those of his point where those ecosystems in the employing organisation, CSIRO. Macquarie Marshes cannot be restored National Parks Journal "Having observed the pulp mill and protected. It is vital that we move October-November 2007 debate in the media ... I am concerned now — today." that a very key issue is being neglected. The Colong Bulletin Willows on the march Can Tasmania's production forests September 2007 Willows of one sort or another are produce enough wood to supply a native to almost every continent except world-scale pulp mill for the next few Do parks owe us a living? Australia. decades? ... "The proposed mill will place An announcement by Fran Bailey, There are about 300 species world­ Federal Minister for Small Business wide, and most of them have a demands on Tasmania's production forests that will potentially overshadow and Tourism, that we should have more remarkable propensity to propagate visitor facilities, including hotels, in our from seed or broken bits of root or demands from other industries that rely on the same wood supply (such as sawn national parks, is a concern. stem. She was launching the Natural One of these willows, Grey Sallow timber and veneer). Several of these not only add more value to the wood Tourism Partnerships Action Plan — a Willow or Salix cinerea, is a native of Federal strategy aimed at "finding new, the British Isles, Europe and western harvested, their products also lead to greater storage of carbon. Tasmania's innovative ways of making our parks Asia. financially sustainable (while) It has turned up in wetlands production forests will have a more secure and sustainable future if they are delivering a high quality visitor throughout much of Victoria for some experience". time, and some years ago it was managed in the first instance for such products rather than pulp. There is nothing really new in these identified as a possible invader of the expectations — they crop up every few Victorian high country. It had become "Current arguments against the mill are all about it being in the wrong place years. well established in a number of creeks This time, however, the claim is and streams on the edge of the Alps. but it may also prove to be too large for the longer term benefit of Tasmania's made that increased tourism When the fires of 2003 burnt the opportunities will help fund [to fight] shrub and sphagnum moss layer from forests and for a more balanced suite of forest and associated industries." the threats of climate change to our many alpine peat beds, they left an parks. ideal peaty seedbed for Grey Sallow update, September 2007 But the plan presents us with little Willow to occupy. evidence for this. PARKWATCH continued

One case study for example, the Following negotiations with Colong management across the nation with the Overland Track in Tasmania, is Foundation for Wilderness and the aim of mimmising the impact of weeds headlined as "funding conservation NSW National Parks Association on Australia's environmental, economic through improved visitor services", but (NPA), Ernirates and the government and social assets. The Australian Weeds the supporting text more accurately agreed to: guarantee public access to Strategy emphasises the importance of points out that the track is "mosdy self- landlocked parts of the Gardens of preventing new weeds from funding its maintenance". Stone National Park and the Glow establishing and the need to respond Many other case studies cited show Worm Tunnel from the Wolgan Valley; quickly to incursions. no evidence of funding returning to the transfer Emirates-owned crown land The Australian Weeds Strategy is a park at all. outside the resort area to national park; vital part of Australia's integrated The impact of climate change on guarantee base flows to the Wolgan approach to national biosecurity, and parks is a serious issue. It should not be River; establish an expert panel chaired complements other existing and new trivialised as an opportunity for spin in by the NSW Department of national strategies, such as those for the promotion of private tourist Environment and Climate Change to terrestrial vertebrate pests and marine ventures. oversee the wildlife conservancy; ban pests. The Australian Weeds Strategy is The Federal Action Plan has come horse riding in the National Park; based on seven key principles: out at about the same time as the draft undertake public consultation on an 1. Weed management is an essential version of Victoria's Nature-based amendment to the Plan of Management and integral part of the sustainable Tourism Strategy. While many of the before constructing the feral-proof management of natural resources for latter's recommendations are good, fence for the wildlife conservancy; and the benefit of the economy, the there is an implication running through review public involvement and environment, human health and the document that our national parks transparency in future national park amenity. aren't doing their bit for the economy. leasing processes in NSW. 2. Combating weed problems is a In fact, our natural areas already Wild Spring 2007 shared responsibility that requires all contribute a lot. parties to have a clear understanding of Three of our major parks Macquarie Island news their roles. (Grampians, Port Campbell and the Follow-up to the September 2007 3. Good science underpins the Prom) are on record as contributing PARKWATCH item on rabbit effective development, monitoring and nearly $500 million annually to eradication on Macquarie Island. review of weed management strategies. regional and state economies, largely The plan has been described as "a 4. Prioritisation of and investment in through tourism. Grampians contributes lethally efficient military operation". weed management must be informed by some $246 million of this, for an annual During its first phase, expected to begin a risk management approach. park management investment of only in winter 2009, helicopters will 5. Prevention and early intervention $2.6 million. distribute poison in the form of cereal- are the most cost-effective techniques In the face of climate change, we based pellets. This will eradicate the for managing weeds. must spend more on protecting our rats and mice and more than 95 per cent 6. Weed management requires parks, and that investment will be well of the rabbits. In the second stage, coordination among all levels of rewarded. hunting teams on the ground will government in partnership with But tourism projects must be eradicate surviving rabbits using industry, land and water managers and demonstrably compatible with long- techniques including shooting, trapping, the community, regardless'of tenure. term conservation objectives, and fumigating burrows and the use of 7. Building capacity across developments like hotels are most dogs. The field teams will remain on government, industry, land and water appropriately located outside parks. the island for four years to ensure that managers and the community is update, August 2007 there is no longer a breeding fundamental to effective weed population. management. Emirates Blue Mountains At least 22 bird species are expected The Australian Weeds Strategy 2007 Resort approved to benefit from the eradication Compiled by Len Haskew operation, with 12 of these considered Key concerns about the plan for the threatened. However, four bird species Emirates Resort were: are at risk from the use of helicopters • establishing a fenced native wildlife and bait. The poison will also pollute sanctuary will isolate part of the lakes, pools and streams on the island. Gardens of Stone National Park It is feared that the areas at present • resort buildings would be within untouched by rabbit grazing will be Wollemi National Park destroyed before the eradication plan • water from Wolgan River would be gets under way in two years' time. The used island's landscape will take many years • bushwalker access to the Glow Worm to recover once the rodents are gone, Tunnel needed to be maintained and some areas may never recover. • and other bushland needed protection. Wild Spring 2007 While approving the resort proposal in a national park creates an alarming precedent for the future, the NSW The Australian Weeds Strategy Government conceded it was "an extra­ The Australian Weeds Strategy ordinary circumstance which is unlikely provides a framework to establish to be repeated in other national parks in consistent guidance for all parties, and NPA work party, Stockyard arboretum, NSW". identifies priorities for weed May 2007. Photo Martin Chalk National Parks Association Calendar

Dec 07 Jan 08 Feb Mar General Meetings Tues 25 Mon 17 Public holidays Tues 1 Wed 26 Fri 21, Mon 23 Third Thursday of the month (not December or January) General meetings - - Thur 21 Thur 20 Committee meetings Tues 3 Tues 5 Tues 4 8:00pm - Gudgenby Bush Regeneration 1 Sat 8 2 - Sat 9 Sat 8 Uniting Church hall NPA ACT Christmas Party Sun 9 56 Scrivener Street O'Connor Further details 1 Yankee Hat carpark 10:00am, Clive Hurlstone 62S8 7592 fh) 0407 783 422 (mob). 2 GBRG Christmas Party is on 8 December.

General Meeting The association welcomes the Thursday 21 February General Meeting following new members: Thursday 20 March Peter Anderson-Smith A year of orchids John Mahlberg Elephants, elephants, elephants Tony Wood: Nature photographer Catherine and Chris Ikin and outdoor enthusiast. Esther Gallant: NPA member, and Angela Delhunty popular speaker at our meetings A introduction to the diversity of Cheryle Hislop with her interesting adventures. terrestrial orchids to be found in our Maria Mulvaney and Susie local region, including some that are Both Zimbabwe and Botswana estimate MacLeman, considered rare and endangered. populations of 35 000 elephants. In Liz and Ian Harman three weeks we saw hundreds, along Wayne and Judy Ryan with 38 other mammal species and 100 kinds of birds. We had time to watch Mike Hettinger and Donna Trucillo animal behavior and to discuss it with Jennifer Engle The NPA ACT web­ our knowledgeable local guides. We We look forward to seeing you at site is hosted by our also visited rural villages and association activities. generous sponsor, spectacular Victoria Falls. £:nc:ach= Encode.

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