Welcome:

A welcome was extended to Bob Gretton of Green Skills by the Chairperson, Des Wolfe

Attendances:

Andrew Marshall, Deputy Chairperson; Des Wolfe, Chairperson; Jodie Oates, Water and Rivers Commission; Chris Gunby, Water and Rivers Commission; Julie Pech, Water and Rivers Commission; Margaret White; Jamie Ramage; Phillip Marshall; Hugh Smith; Maurice McCormack; Kym Witney-Soanes, Agwest; John Blaney-Murphy; Bob Gretton, Green Skills; Graham Wright, Water Corporation; Clark McGarva; Pat Walker, Dianne Evers

Apologies for non-attendance:

Chris Westcott, Kim Buttfield, David Elphick, Howard Shapland, Yvette Worsfold and Tony Erith.

Minutes of previous meeting:

Read and confirmed on the motion of John Blaney-Murphy and Phillip Marshall. Carried.

Business arising out of minutes:

CATCHMENT TOUR: The general feeling was that it was better than the first tour and Andrew Marshall asked that our thanks to Julie Pech be recorded in the minutes for organising the bus trip.

ROADSIDE CONSERVATION SURVEY: Julie Pech attended the meeting with the City of Albany and advised on how the survey would be conducted. Julie stressed that no botanical knowledge was needed and that the survey must be completed by the end of April. Members were asked to choose a road/roads to survey and to let Julie know at the end of the meeting.

DRAINAGE DEMONSTRATION SITES: four sites had been offered of wetlands or riffle zones. Nominations were needed to be in by 24 March. There was funding for three sites in the Torbay Sub-catchment area.

Correspondence:

INWARDS:

5 December 1999 Elleker Progress Association re eradication of Watsonias in the Elleker townsite
8 March 2000 Giz Watson, MLC, Member for North Metropolitan Region re aerial spraying of tree plantations

General business:

GROUP'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 12 MONTHS: Julie Pech and Kym Witney-Soanes had compiled a statement of the achievements of the Group in its first year of operation.

CALM ATTENDANCE: Secretary was instructed to write to Dr John Watson of CALM inviting him or his representative to our next meeting to speak about the progress or lack of it in the Lake Powell area. It was pointed out that CALM was a member of the Group but rarely attended the meetings.

ERADICATION OF WATSONIAS: Secretary was instructed to write to the Elleker Progress Association thanking them for their willingness to help in the task and to bring them up to date with our progress.

COMMITTEE GRANTS: Des Wolfe advised members to watch the press for a notice regarding grants being made. He suggested that the Group applies for a grant to help with the eradication of watsonias.

UPDATE OF SURVEY CONDUCTED OF THE 5 MILE AND 7 MILE CREEKS: Bob Gretton of Greenskills talked to the meeting updating a survey of the 5 Mile, 7 Mile Creeks and the Grasmere Drain. Bob showed aerial photographs of the area and spoke of the possible destruction of a pristine section on Kratochvillís farm where the proposed route for the road to take wood chips to Albany port would pass through the middle of the area.

WEB PAGE: Julie Pech advised the members that Water and Rivers Commission were now on the Internet at www.wrc.wa.gov.au/region/southcoast/scregion.html.

ALBANY WESTERN HINTERLAND FORUM: To be conducted by Jean Webb. Maurice McCormick may attend as a representative of the Group.

TRIAL OF PHOSLOCK IN MARBELLUP BROOK: Members were advised that a trial of a modified clay treatment named PhosLock would be carried out near the Penstocks in Marbellup Brook. PhosLock was sprayed over a 650 metre section of the Brook in the second week of April to strip phosphorus from the water as it settles and then strip stored phosphorus from the sediment on the Brook floor, thus reducing the growth of algal blooms. The Marbellup Brook sediment trial will run throughout April and May with water quality sampling being carried out weekly.

PIGGERY ON DOWN ROAD: Des Wolfe advised that the Minister for Planning had overturned a decision by the City of Albany and had approved a piggery on Down Road. Members were concerned of contamination effecting the 5 Mile and 7 Mile Creeks.

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX: Des Wolfe advised that a letter had been received advising that all LCDCs have to apply for the GST. Kym Witney-Soanes to report back to the next meeting on the implications of the GST on community groups.

NEXT MEETING: To be held in the Elleker Hall on Wednesday, 17 May 2000.

The meeting closed at 10.05pm.