Volume 53 Number 4 December 2016 National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc. Butterfly Book to be launched PM’s Science Prize to Rick Shine Bilby trilogy to ACT primary schools NPA Bulletin Volume 53 number 4 December 2016 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives. CONTENTS The ‘Butterfly Book’ and an invitation to its launch ................9 On the outcome of the ACT election........................................2 Kevin McCue Rod Griffith River rides, pitcher plants, and macaques in ...........................10 From the Committee ................................................................3 Malaysian Borneo’s Sarawak Rod Griffiths Judy Kelly Shimmering..............................................................................12 NPA spreads the Bilby’s Ring story ..........................................3 Gerry Jacobson Esther Gallant NPA outings program, December 2016 – March 2017 ....13–16 NPA’s monthly get-togethers ....................................................4 Max Lawrence Bushwalks Rosenberg’s Monitors on Mount Ainslie..................................4 Temple of Doom ...............................................................16 Max Lawrence Philip Gatenby River Red Gum in the ACT ......................................................5 Bungonia Gorge................................................................17 Martin Chalk Philip Gatenby More trees for Gudgenby..........................................................5 A walk to The Rolling Ground .........................................17 Hazel Rath Brian Slee et al Glenburn/Burbong Historic Precinct news...............................6 Some Central Queensland national parks................................18 Col McAlister Rupert Barnett NPA Art at Gudgenby Cottage..................................................7 A few days in the Cockburns...................................................20 Hazel Rath Philip Gatenby Another award for our lad ........................................................8 Exploring the Kimberley Coast...............................................22 Max Lawrence Esther Gallant Max Day and the ‘unraveling’ of the Scribbly Gum Moth.......8 PARKWATCH ...........................................................................23 Dr Ken Green Compiled by Hazel Rath A visual feast of native Rock Lilies..........................................9 NPA notices.............................................................................26 Klaus Hueneke Meetings and speaker information..........................................27 Butters Bridge: a new crossing of the Molonglo ......................9 NPA information and contacts ................................................27 Max Lawrence On the outcome of the ACT election The recent ACT election has seen a the major political parties. This interaction there will need maintenance of the status quo with return led to The Greens putting forward a to be strong to government of the ACT Labor / Green proposal for a feasibility study into the lobbying to alliance. But what does the ACT election new national park, which has ensure the mean for the NPA? subsequently been included in the environment The election itself provided an parliamentary agreement between Labor does not suffer. opportunity for the NPA to flag its new and The Greens for the next 4 years. The Minister for Housing national park proposal to the political NPA welcomes this progress but would and Suburban Development – parties. This proposal seeks the creation contend the feasibility of a new national Yvette Berry: of a single management unit for the park has already been confirmed as a this portfolio will be directing green ACT’s lowland grassy woodlands. The result of a report prepared for the ACT field development in the ACT, which ACT is blessed with some of the finest Commissioner for Sustainability and the has the potential for habitat reduction. Environment (OCSE). This report, by Ian remaining examples of the ecosystems Minister for Climate Change and making up lowland grassy woodlands. Pulsford, forms Appendix H to the 2011 Nature Reserves Investigation Report and Sustainability – Shane Rattenbury: The NPA believes that these national climate change will continue to have treasures should be given broad can be found on the OCSE website. The election has also resulted in significant biodiversity impacts for the recognition through the creation of a ACT. national park devoted to their changes to portfolio responsibilities in the management. While many examples of ACT Assembly. Of particular relevance Shadow Spokesperson on the the ACT’s lowland grassy woodlands are are the following: Environment – Elizabeth Lee: included in Canberra Nature Park, the Minister for the Environment and one of the new Assembly members. NPA believes that the creation of a Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land The NPA will be engaging with all specific national park would help focus Development (including major projects) Assembly members to flag the management actions, promote further and Minister for Urban Renewal – Mick importance of the ACT’s reserve system connectivity and provide an appropriate Gentleman: and the significance of the ACT’s national level of recognition. During the these three portfolio responsibilities biodiversity. election campaign the NPA wrote to all have the potential for conflicts and Rod Griffiths 2 NPA BULLETIN − DECEMBER 2016 From the committee The NPA ACT has continued its wide recreational aircraft landings by Australian Capital Territory, range of activities. A key recent focus Namadgi’s plan of management. the latter to be launched in December. has been the ACT election which saw the The NPA continues to engage the Fire management has long been an NPA: younger ACT community in a number of issue for the NPA and work has • interviewed on ABC local radio in ways. Recently, all of the ACT’s public, continued in the planning for a fire respect to the ACT Liberal Democrats’ Catholic and independent private primary symposium to be held in July 2017. election policy to ‘open up’ Namadgi schools have received a set of the Bilby’s On the cultural and heritage front, a and the NPA’s own proposal for a new Ring trilogy of books as a donation from detailed submission has been made on national park the NPA. This series of books (see article the draft Conservation Management • lobbying political parties, which in this issue) covers many of the issues Plan for the Glenburn Precinct, Kowen resulted in The Greens adopting a facing Australia’s biodiversity in an Forest. policy to investigate the feasibility of a engaging way through the journey and The NPA was pleased to comment new national park. adventures of five friends, each on the well-developed new draft of the In support of its new national park representing an endangered species. If Mt Ginini Wetlands Management Plan. proposal the NPA has also held you haven’t seen the books, there will be The management plan provides for a discussions with the ACT Conservator some for sale at the NPA’s Christmas range of comprehensive actions for the and the Director of Parks and party. protection of these important wetlands. Conservation. The NPA has also continued its The above provides a snapshot of The NPA has also been expressing its involvement with ‘nature play’, a the many activities in which the NPA is concerns in response to a privately program to engage younger people in involved. With so much to do there are supported proposal for the introduction outdoor activities and also a new version always opportunities to assist. If you of commercial helicopter tours in of the junior ranger program. would like to deepen your involvement Namadgi National Park. These concerns The NPA’s publications subcommittee with the NPA, please don’t hesitate to have been raised at various levels of the remains active with work continuing on a contact any of the members of the administration. A key point against new edition of the NPA’s tree guide and a committee. helicopter tours is the banning of new Field Guide to the Butterflies of the Rod Griffiths NPA spreads the Bilby’s Ring story Kaye Kessing’s Bilby’s Ring comprises Bilby’s Ring is three books for 8–12-year-olds written as a quest describing the perils faced by many story in which a endangered native animals as a result of small band of human activities and the proliferation of endangered native feral animals. The National Parks animals (‘The Association of the ACT (NPA ACT) Ring’) crosses the recently donated a set of the books to continent in search each of the 108 primary schools in the of help. Along the public, private and independent school way they are aided systems of the ACT. by many friendly NPA ACT is a community-based animals and a few conservation organisation with a history humans, and of more than 50 years working to protect threated by quite a our natural environment. A key objective few predators. of the NPA is to promote a greater They pass through awareness of the issues facing the many different ACT’s, and Australia’s, natural heritage. ecosystems and When launching the Bilby’s Ring are amazed by the Esther Gallant from the NPA ACT Committee presenting 67 sets trilogy at the Australian National Botanic changing of ‘Bilby’s Ring’ books to Jason Borton, Acting Gardens last year, Commissioner for landscape. Director of ACT Learning and Teaching. Threatened Species Gregory Andrews Bilby’s Ring Photo by Quentin Moran. commented that