The 31st MAY 2015 Granite News Volume 9 Issue 19 Hughes Creek ٠ Highlands ٠ Ruffy ٠ Caveat ٠ Terip Terip ٠ Whiteheads Creek Update on the Hughes Creek Macquarie perch Project by Christine Glassford We have proceeded with the habitat works over a 2km stretch of stream Contact [email protected] 5790 4007 below the gorge as proposed in the last STUDENT of the WEEK To subscribe online go to update. Myself and other CMA staff www.highlands.org.au had an informal training day with Prof MAX McALPIN Robert Keller on site, which enabled us to learn more about scour creation. READERS‟ WRITES This learning guided us in the design and placement of in-stream structures “It is with a great sense of relief that to enhance habitat, in particular with we, the locals opposed to Strawberry re-establishment of depth. Fields, acknowledge their decision to withdraw the music festival from Gum Rd, Caveat. A closer examination of the festival revealed several flaws in their application data, particularly in relation to noise and traffic management. The fact is that Harmonic Solutions (the group behind Strawberry Fields) has never had its data seriously challenged before. Their withdrawal hinges primarily on their failure to meet Around 50 structures were installed E.P.A. and council guidelines. throughout the three work trial sites, Max receives the student of the I would like to thank the 135 individuals including an additional two log jam week award this week because of who signed the petition opposing the constrictions between sites 1 and 2. the persistence and courage he festival; those people who were prepared to look beyond the glossy Large boulders and logs (including showed whilst completing the P.R. surface of Strawberry Fields, to some of the timber sourced from 2 green courses on our Treetops voice their concerns publicly and stick Creighton’s Creek fire stockpiles) were excursion. to their guns when it was not perceived placed in various configurations Well Done Max! We are really to be a popular thing to do. throughout each site to induce scour, proud of you!! protect/stabilise areas of deposition A big thankyou must go to those who By Maree Moyle—Principal, HPS and increase shelter. In each instance put their money where their mouth is in we worked with the stream’s natural seeking impartial, professional exper- preference for position of primary flow We recently received the summary tise on the issue of noise disturbance or meander within the channel. results for the fish survey work under- and, in doing so, spared over 100 taken on the Hughes Creek. households from being detrimentally The results have been consistently impacted by the excessive music noise good across all Macquarie perch proposed by the festival organisers.” waterways monitored, reflecting Susan Bennett —Caveat successful spawning the past two sea- sons. Important to note, Macquarie perch were found within each of the three works trial sites, despite the LANDCARE NOTICE BOARD habitat being considered sub optimal prior to works, so we will hope the FOX ON THE RUN 2015 habitat enhancement undertaken will TEAM WITH THE MOST FOX better support these fish within this We will fly the site with a drone to cap- stretch of stream. TAILS WINS ! ture high quality aerial imagery that we can overlay with other spatial data, The two including the pre work physical survey. Macquarie perch This will be very useful for recording signs have been and monitoring purposes, in addition to installed. having a great way to display the works One is near the undertaken to an audience. Old Hume bridge HCCC Landcare is once again running in Avenel and the the “Fox on the Run” competition Thanks to CMA colleague, Collin Tate, other is located which commences on June 1st 2015. and the contractor, Chad Parker, for at a day visitor To register yourself or your team their great work. area off Hughes please email Creek Road. [email protected] or call Susan on 5796 9192 KOPANICA PASTORAL Tastings & “blackboard EXCAVATIONS menu” lunch Sundays 11am – 5pm Tapas bar last Friday of the month PH. 0357 904 235 from 6pm MOB. 0429 804 235 Bookings 57969366 RABBIT RIPPING, DAMS, DRIVEWAYS 1590 Highlands Rd GENERAL EARTHWORKS & MACHINERY HIRE www.rockypasses.com.au FRANZ KLOFT ALEXANDRA VETERINARY SOLAR ELECTRICS MECHANICAL REPAIRS CLINIC SOLAR PUMPS Repairs & service of * For Bores * For Creeks vehicles Emergency Service * For Dams * For Tanks Tyres, Windscreens, Brakes, Mobile AH 0408 576056 SOLAR ELECTRIC FENCES Batteries, Exhausts, Dr Doug Norman B.V.Sc.(Hons) OFF-GRID INSTALLS & Wheel alignment, UPRADES Dr Jacinta Kelly B.V.Sc.(Hons) Automatic transmission SOLAR LIGHTING Phone: 5772 1600 Phone 5795 2910 GENERATORS 38 Railway Street, Euroa Regular trips to the Tablelands on Friday 22 Callister St Shepparton afternoons with discounted travel Free Call 1300 669256 FREE QUOTES www.commodoreaustralia.com.au Kopanica AG Fencing & Contracting Services Pastoral Grant Wheatley Company P/L All fence constructions, Livestock, Water and Equipment maintenance & General Cartage Pump repairs, Blasting Service We Will Cart Anything “Not sure if we do it?” Give us a call Phone 5790 4235 Mobile 0447 775 247 0407 028 122 CF & HL HANDASYDE BUILDERS Phone Ian on Established 1978 NEW HOMES, EXTENSIONS, : 0408990487 RENOVATIONS, DOMESTIC, RURAL ALL YOUR BUILDING REQUIREMENTS. : 57904328 Registered Building Practitioner Registered Electrical Contractor: Call Colin for a quote Telephone: 0419 502 782 License No. 16959 [email protected] EDUCATION SPACE For Hire The Tablelands Community Come see Rodwells Alexandra Centre at Ruffy for all your Farm Supply (Opposite The Ruffy Store) requirements, from Fencing & Ideal for Meetings, Lectures or Animal Health needs to Information Sharing Agronomic Advice. Reasonable Rates Please phone (03) 57 722 444 Contact Sally Kubeil Free Delivery Available 0407 904335 www.mafekingroverpark.com Donation from MACSHAY Supporters of Hay & Silage The Hughes Creek Remotely manage your rural Contractors Platypus For All Your Plumbing property from your smart Rounds and Small Squares phone, tablet or & Drainage Needs We also do Contract Slashing computer…from anywhere. Drainage, Gas, Sewer. & General Freight Carriers Tank Levels—Camera Monthly Specials Weather—Electric Fence Phone Paul: 0418 393 596 Call Frits 57969318 0438969318 Phil Whitten 0488 093970 www.allroundplumbinganddrainage.com.au Call John 57969312 0429861817 [email protected] www.farmms.net Licence no. 35985 Classifieds and Community Notices LOCAL GOINGS ON TRADING PLACES Good stuff for private sale or wanted by The Tablelands BRIC-a-BRAC SHOP friendly locals For adverts in this column contact At The Community Centre (Opposite The Ruffy Store) [email protected] WINTER RECESS The „Bric-a-Brac‟ Shop will be going into Winter Recess after the June long FOR SALE weekend. We will close at 3pm Monday June 8th and we‟ll re-open in the Spring. We thank all of our sellers, our buyers and our Volunteers who have Now that we have a larger made our first season an outrageous success. permanent stage at the For any further information Contact Fiona Steel 0427 690970 Highlands Community Hall we no longer need our JANE BUNN MDF boxes which extended our stage. at Whitehead’s Creek We have 5 folding 20mm MDF hinged boxes each 1.2m x 1m x .615m Whitehead’s Creek Landcare Group is pleased to present Jane Bunn, familiar to many as the If you are interested face of Win News weather and lately, 7 News, Contact Judy Cameron who will speak on all things to do with the 5796 9247 weather and climate. Jane Bunn is a qualified meteorologist from Melbourne with an infectious enthusiasm for talking about the weather. WANTED With a Bachelor of Science degree from Monash University (majoring in Atmospheric Science & Mathematics), Jane was one of Farm Quad Bike nine students from Australia selected in 2006 to undertake a Graduate Diploma of Meteorology provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. I’m looking to buy an old but reliable farm quad bike. As part of her studies she also spent a semester at Pennsylvania State Preferably Honda/Yamaha/Polaris University, one of the leading meteorology schools in the US. but anything considered After graduation Jane was appointed as a forecaster with the BOM – If you have one to sell, please call posted initially to the Sydney office and later to Canberra as well as the Norm 0418 379401 RAAF’s Williamtown Base. In 2008 Jane joined The Weather Channel as the morning meteorolo- Correction gist, before moving on to WIN News to explain the highs and lows of The phone number & email address regional Victoria’s weather where she proved hugely popular. for bookings to the Jane Bunn talk at Whiteheads Creek were incorrect As a weather consultant, Jane also provides advice to farming in last week‟s Granite News. communities throughout Victoria, as well as the Country Fire Authority, The correct contact details are the Department of Environment and Primary Industries and a large number of organisations in the agricultural sector. 0439 371279 [email protected] More recently she has presented the weather report for ABC News 24 and the ABC’s primary 7pm news bulletin in Melbourne. FINDING FOXY Issue 18 2015 Jane also has a Graduate Certificate in Journalism from Charles Sturt Rent-a-Fox Page 3 University, and she maintains a strong social media presence through her Twitter account, @janesweather7 SAD but TRUE The event is on Sunday 14th June at 2pm Fish on Prozac: Around 1 in 4 people in Montreal take some kind of anti‐ at the Whiteheads Creek Hall depressant and, according to new re- search; the drugs are passing into the All are welcome. Entry is $10.00.