NEWSLETTER clean green PROTECTING ENHANCING PROGRESSIVELY LIVING OUR WATER BIODIVERSITY ADDRESSING LOCAL RESOURCES CLIMATE CHANGE In this autumn 2017 edition... Little Corella Management 2 * Opening of Point Sturt KESAB Awards *Community Environment Grants 3 * Landcare Reserve Climate Change Adaptation Plan *Launch We open this edition with a success story of Federal, 4 State and Local Government working together with community. Fleurieu Aquatic Centre *Help Our Freshwater Turtles In September 2016, the Point Sturt and Districts Landcare 5 * Group officially opened the Point Sturt Landcare Reserve. Over 80 people enjoyed a guided walking tour of the reserve before the official opening. After six years of and the Australian Government) and the excellent revegetation the reserve has been transformed from an teamwork between the Landcare Group, Goolwa to uninviting, weed-infested water reserve into a space Wellington Local Action Planning Association and where native flora is thriving. The reserve is now open to Alexandrina Council. Council congratulates the vision and the public and over time will become a great example tenacity of the Point Sturt and Districts Landcare Group of the native vegetation of Point Sturt prior to European in bringing this project to fruition. The Point Sturt and settlement. Districts Landcare Group has been operating for the past twenty seven years. The group is now moving to a new This wonderful community project has been made stage, evolving into the ‘Friends of Point Sturt Landcare possible through the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Reserve’ and interested members of the community are Mouth Community Revegetation Project (funded by the invited to be involved. See page 4 of this newsletter for South Australian Government’s Murray Futures program details on how to volunteer. Alexandrina Council and its communities acknowledge the Ngarrindjeri people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of our Council district. 1 little corella management Council and the community Council Actions in the Strathalbyn Memorial Gardens. This is not a culling program to reduce have been dealing with the Over many years Alexandrina Council impacts of Little Corella bird numbers. The aim is to create a has trialled a variety of methods ‘fear factor’ for these very intelligent (Cacatua Sanguinea) to manage the Corella problem, birds who should quickly learn that throughout the Alexandrina including: the Soldiers Memorial Gardens is district for well over a • birds of prey (falcon) an unsafe place for them to be. decade. • drones While lethal control techniques are being undertaken, necessary safety Little Corellas are a native Australian • electronic bird scaring devices bird. Until the 1920s Little Corellas restrictions will be in place. • kites were restricted to the far north east of • traps and gas culling programs Council is also working closely with the the State but from the 1960s onwards State Government, the University of • laser lights their natural range and abundance South Australia (UniSA) and the Local has extended significantly southward. • revolving lights on vehicles Government Association to develop a This is because farming, residential • Bird Frite® Products. state-wide Little Corella Management and irrigated recreation areas provide Plan. Around 1,500 people have While these techniques have the birds with ideal feeding, watering participated in a study led by UniSA provided some short-term benefits, and roosting habitat. Little Corellas which included community surveys and overall they have not deterred large thrive in the agricultural and urban workshops, and field data collection at flocks of Corellas from entering our landscapes we have created – they over 150 Little Corella sites. Keep an townships each year. actively avoid bushland areas. eye on our website for a copy of the It is now common for over 10,000 There is no ‘silver-bullet’ public report and information about future actions. Corellas to be in Strathalbyn at any solution to the management one time during the warmer months of Little Corellas. For more information on this and they also roost in and around year’s approach please visit This year Council will be trialling a many of our other towns. This influx of mix of non-lethal scaring techniques www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/corellas Corellas can cause a lot of stress and or contact Alexandrina Council on and lethal shooting to try and deter concern for residents, schools and 8555 7000. business owners due to noise, mess the birds from returning to the and damage to trees and buildings. Strathalbyn central business district, Other people report enjoying the once daily numbers reach 800 birds presence of Corellas and value them as being part of nature. Printed on a 100% recycled paper 2 Inaugural Community Environment EachKEsab year KESAB awards acknowledges and celebrates sustainable community actions and achievements by Grants recognising councils, community groups, businesses, schools In 2016 Alexandrina and individuals for enhancing or Council launched our new protecting their local environment Community Environment Grants to support This year’s local award winners, communities in achieving pictured above, are: local environmental • Clayton Bay – Best Small outcomes. Town 2016. • Clayton Bay Nursery & For 2016-2017 the focus of this grant • Hindmarsh Island Land Environment Group – program was enhancing biodiversity, Care Group Inc.: Increasing Natural Environment 2016. funding projects of up to $5,000 understorey biodiversity on each. Ferrymans Conservation Reserve. • Clayton Bay Community Association (Clayton Bay We are pleased to announce that a • Angas River Catchment Group Waterways Event) – Outstanding total of $25,000 was awarded. The Inc.: Managing EPBC listed Community Event 2016. following eight projects will all receive Eucalyptus Odorata Grassy funding for their environmental work: Woodlands in the Strathalbyn • Friends of Port Elliot Dog District with community groups. Park – Community Action and • Lee Hammerstein: “Adoptaverge” • Goolwa Coastcare Group: Partnerships 2016. – Clearing weeds from remnant Supporting Goolwa Coastcare vegetation on roadside verge. • Carol Richardson, Manager to keep on top of environmental Clayton Bay Nursery & • Point Sturt and District Landcare weeds. Environment – Commendation Group Inc.: Point Sturt Landcare • Finniss Catchment Group Inc.: Award 2016. Reserve Enhancement, Education Finniss River Riparian Movement. and Protection Project. Alexandrina Council congratulates all award winners and acknowledges • Friends of Nurragi: Managing the For more information about next their hard work, commitment and Nurragi Conservation Reserve. year’s grants, the application process or closing dates please visit enthusiasm for improving their local • Prospect Hill Bushland Group: www.alexandrina.gov.au/grants communities. It is great that so many Restoration of Ti Tree Creek. dedicated groups and individuals call or call on 8555 7000. Applications the Alexandrina region home. will next open in July 2017. 3 Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island Region Resilient Hills & Coasts - Climate Change Adaptation Plan launched The Climate Change Adaptation Plan • improved stormwater for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and management for water quality Kangaroo Island region has been and quantity released. A launch event was held • managing fuel loads on public in Mount Barker on 9 December lands and areas in close proximity Want to 2016. The adaptation plan is the to townships culmination of a 3-year collaborative project involving 11 project partners, • supporting landholders to better including the region’s six local manage native vegetation for We haveVolunteer? lots of very active community councils. improved landscape conservation conservation groups in our region. outcomes. These groups are friendly, welcoming The project has drawn upon expertise and always looking for new members. and input from across community, The adaptation plan was also named business, government, industry and as a finalist in the Premiers Climate Visit the GWLAP website to find out academia to identify and understand Change Council’s 2016 SA Leaders more and get in touch with many of the impacts, risks, vulnerabilities Awards. Project partners are now the volunteer groups currently and opportunities associated with focused on implementing regional working in our area. climate change. The regional plan priorities and tailoring adaptation Communitywww.gwlap.org.au/what-we-do/ News proposes a raft of adaptation actions actions to reflect priorities at a local community-groups to strengthen and grow the resilience level. of our communities, economies and For further information about the the natural environment in responding project or to view the adaptation to the changing climate. Topics plan please visit www.alexandrina. addressed in the plan include: sa.gov.au/resilienthillscoasts • diversifying agricultural activities • advocating and planning for climate-ready homes, community facilities, public spaces and infrastructure 4 Fleurieu Aquatic Centre - Swimmingly Sustainable The Fleurieu Aquatic Centre will initiatives were embedded early half the daily energy requirements open its doors on 25 March 2017. in the design process. It’s no of 50KW. A 50% reduction in The centre includes a 25 metre secret that swimming pools are big backwash water has been achieved lap swimming pool, a multi-use energy users so optimised