MEETING OPENED by Andrew Marshall at 7.30 pm.

Present:

Andrew Marshall (President), Dave Rushton (Dept of E), John Kratochvill, Maurice McCormick (Vice President), Monty Walker, John Blaney-Murphy, Peter Collins (CALM), Phillip Marshall, Terri Harwood, Lionel Downes, Noel Bignall, Dale Holley (Secretary).

Apologies:

Graham Wright (Water Corp), Chris Westcott, Phil Mellon.

1. Minutes of previous meeting:

   Minutes were were accepted by Maurice McCormick.

2. Matters arising from Minutes:
   1. 5.2 Lake Powell - A Planning Officer from Department of Conservation and Land Management will be invited to attend our next meeting (28th April, 2004) to talk about the management of Lake Powell.
      * Louise Duxbury is applying for funds to build a board walk through the wet areas to the Bird Hide

   2. 4.5 Other business: Brookdale Sewerage Plant will not be coming to Albany.
      * Communications are still continuing regarding the bridge. There was talk about pursuing the possibility of getting the bridge heritage listed

3. Correspondence:

   (outwards) none

   (inwards)
   

   1. Confirmation of letter from CALM read out by Peter Collins at the last meeting (5.2 Lake Powell)
   2. E-mail from Karen Baker 5th March, 2004 (Bushcarers Group) inviting a representative from our group to attend their monthly meetings and asking for contributions for their newsletter on topics of our catchment. ACTION: A copy of our Minutes will be forwarded to Bushcarers.
   3. Letter & Newsletter from Men of the Trees regarding "Million Trees Program" addressed to Landcare Officer and forwarded on by Dept of Environment. Million Trees Program is asking for sites for seedling plantings. ACTION: Letter of reply informing the program co-ordinators that Greenskills at present supply this area with seedling planting.

4. General Business:

   4.1 Spatial Mapping
   Andrew Marshall and Maurice McCormick presented maps of the catchment area outlying the horticultural and dairy industries in the area. These maps are due to be updated to identify trouble spots.

   4.2 Soil Testing
   Following the Fertilizer & Soil Day a get-together is being organised to discuss the results of the soil sampling. As time is short, Dave Rushton will contact Dave Weaver to arrange a time to meet at the Department of Agriculture. Dave will send an email to those who have expressed an interest to attend (This will need to be within the week).

   4.3 Catchment Health Indicators
   Copies were handed out of Louise Duxbury's discussion paper on "Catchment Health Indicators for Torbay" prepared for the Watershed Torbay TAG & Steering Committee. Louise is the communications Co-ordinator for Green Skills. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can contact Louise at Green Skills.

   4.4 Restoration Projects
   More restoration projects are being planned. We have $30,000 from the Envirofund still to spend on fencing and revegetation. Contact Dave Rushton at Department of Environment if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
   * The subject of the Water Corporations Drains being included in the restoration was again discussed. ACTION: Maurice McCormick moved we write to the Water Corp regarding our concerns of the condition of the drains under their care. Seconded Phillip Marshall.

   4.5 Other business
   The Weed Strategy is to be updated at the next meeting. Copy of our existing Weed Strategy is to be forwarded to Sarah at CALM.

   • An honour student from UWA (Centre of Excellence) is doing a case study of water quality in horticultural areas and piggeries.
   • Bus Trip: Visited Timewell Road Wastewater Plant, Orchards creek line, Martins restorations, Wetlands, Lake Powell Bird Hide and Phillip Marshalls perennial pasture. Stopping for morning tea and lunch. Dave Rushing was thanked for organising an informative and enjoyable day.
   • Lottery West talk: Dave Rushton attended a talk about community funding. Reminding the community there is always an opportunity to apply for funding for conservation and care projects.
   • SCRIPT It was suggested we forward more articles for SCRIPT to include in their Newsletter.
   • Concern was expressed by. local farmers regarding accidents occurring at the corner of Marbellup Road and South Coast Highway and South Coast Highway and Rutherford Road.. With the increase of heavy traffic on South Coast Highway it was questioned whether the present road markings are sufficient indicators for these two spots. Both sites are T-junctions and both follow a bend in the highway. Main Roads have now added a T junction sign to Marbellup but doubt was raised if this is enough. As there are not many straight stretches for overtaking between Denmark and Albany, these two stretches of straight road are used for that purpose.

MEETING CLOSED 9.00pm