Wednesday 10th December, 2003
MEETING OPENED by Andrew Marshall (President) 7.30pm.
Present:
Andrew Marshall (President), Des Wolfe, John Blaney-Murphy, Maurice McCormick (Vice President), John Kratochvill, Louise Duxbury (GS), Dave Rushton (Dept of Environment), Phil Mellon, Dale Holley (Secretary), Noel Bignell.
Apologies:
Phillip Marshall, Chris Westcott, Graeme Heighton (treasurer), Monty Walker, Melissa Vernon, Graham Wright (Water Corp.), Terri Harwood.
Confirmed on the motion of Maurice McCormick, seconded Dave Rushton.
Blackberry control - The group is keen to keep on to the control of blackberries and Dave Rushton talked about a Weed Watch Register for the Catchment.
South Coast Regions Natural Resource Management meeting - Andrew Marshall, Maurice McCormick and John Blaney-Murphy attended the meeting. They reported good points being made and overall a worthwhile discussion. John and Maurice felt the Group's ideals were able to be put forward. However, at times it was difficult to keep on track because of strong feelings people had and difference of opinion about the environment.
Because of bad weather, the venue of our barbeque was changed from Cosy Corner to Liz and Andrew Marshall's place. Liz and Andrew have the perfect shed for entertaining. Thank you to them both for saving the day.
Lake Powell has good flushing - It seems we jumped the gun. Lake Powell has an increased algal bloom.
INWARDS:
(1) 17th November, 2003 - from Amanda Keesing, Green Skills Inc. Asking for feed back on how the TCG viewed Greenskills services.
(2) Letter from the Australian Government, Department of Family and Community Services, Volunteer Small Equipment Grants 2003. Enclosing agreement forms for signature and return.
OUTWARDS:
(1) 12th November, 2003 to Paul Beattie, Albany Job Futures, endorsing the proposal of work planned to be carried out by Green Corp to help control weed infestation and carry out maintenance work at the Torbay inlet. (2) 8th December, 2003 from Dale Holley to Alison Ackerman, Department of Family and Community Services asking for consideration of late return of forms for Small Equipment Grant. (3) 12th November, 2003 to Fay Overheu, Executive Officer, Lotterywest, P.O. Box 1113 Osborne Park, WA enclosing Acquittal Small Equipment Grant (Lake Powell Bird Hide)
Maurice McCormick moved the correspondence inwards and outwards be accepted.
As Graeme Heighton was away the treasurer's report was read to the Meeting by Andrew Marshall. Our Treasurer is on the ball. Thanks to Graeme, we now have an extra few hundred dollars which we had been billed twice for.
Computer sales
Phil Mellon handed over $290.00 for the sale of one fax and two computers paid for so far. We are waiting on the money now for three more computers sold.
Lake Powell
A Lake Powell Management plan was discussed to better manage weeds, access, the role of fire, water level control and nutrient impacts from the catchment, including nutrients from Timewell Road. A letter is to be sent to the Department of Conservation and Land Management suggesting a management plan be put in place to work with the local community to handle these problems. Also on Lake Powell, regarding the letter to the City Council requesting a car bay. The City is in favour of the idea but it may take a while to organise and solve a few problems affecting the commencement of a car bay.
Integrated Catchment Management
Louise Duxbury attended a conference in Sydney and gave a talk based on Watershed Torbay, highlighting the fact that it was a national project. Louise said information is not enough, integrating research and value judgements to change catchment management is essential for success. Louise also went on a field trip. The whole conference was in Parramatta. Louise also went to the Murrumbidgee, seeing a project on the flood plains. She was amazed at the amount of weeds they had. It made her aware of what an asset we have here and that its well worth the effort looking after.
Weed control
Blackberries already discussed. Update on watsonia spraying.
Funding - status
Green Corp - Allan Carter has put in another application. A letter of support is being compiled.
Envirofund - Has been accepted - We have close to $28,000.00 Hopefully we will receive a letter confirming this soon.
National Landcare Program -We have not been successful with our application so far but further planning will be carried out to reapply. A bid for close to $100,000.00 was put in.
Upcoming Events
Soils & Fertiliser Day - The TCG, The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment are holding another Soils and Fertiliser Day on Wednesday 21st January, 2004, Bornholm Hall, commencing at 10.30am. To register contact Dave Weaver or Ron Master at the Department of Agriculture on 9892 8444 or Dave Ruston at Department of Environment on 9841 0108 If you own agricultural land in the Torbay catchment and you attend the event, you will be eligible for a 50% subsidy on the cost of 10 soil tests across your property.
Catchment Tour - February, 04 Suggestions so far are to hold it on a Saturday or Sunday and our intention is to include the tree farm and chip mill if possible.
Revegetation bush walk (Marbellup Nature Reserve) Another date still to be set.
Communications
Newsletter: More ideas were thrown around for newsletter items. If you have anything of interest to add to our Newsletter please contact Louise at Green Skills (Denmark).
Other
A trip up Unndiup Creek from the Inlet shows the drain on both sides is being badly degraded by cattle. Dave Rushton investigating. Fencing of Water Corporation drains was also discussed.
Inc (Incorporation) is to be added to our logo.
A new list for next year's meetings is being compiled.
John Kratochvill and Maurice McCormick attended a meeting at the Napier Hall in relation to a new amendment to the Environmental Act redefining environmental farming. They felt many questions were not answered and there was a lot of anger expressed. Among others, Barry Court and the President of the Farmers Federation attended. The main bone of contention was that the "man on the land" has not been consulted and "his" rights are being taken away.
MEETING CLOSED 9.50pm
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
NEXT MEETING 4th February, 2004 Elleker Hall 7.30pm