MEETING OPENED by Andrew Marshall at 7.30 pm.

Present:

Andrew Marshall (President), Graeme Heighton (Treasurer), John Kratochvill, Maurice McCormick (Vice President), John Blaney-Murphy, Noel Bignell, Monty Walker, Lionel Downes, Peter Collins (CALM), Terry Davey (Green Corp) Phillip Marshall, Dave Rushton (Dept of Environment), Dale Holley (Secretary) Louise Duxbury (Green Skills)

Apologies:

Terri Harwood, Chris Westcott

1. Minutes of previous meeting:

   Minutes were accepted by Maurice McCormick and seconded by Graeme Heighton.

2. Matters arising from Minutes:
   1. 5.2 Re Planning Officer from the Department of Conservation and Land Management being invited to attend the meeting to discuss the management of Lake Powell. Unfortunately this was not arranged, but will definitely be arranged for our next meeting on the 9th June, 2004.
      • The Lake Powell Bird Hide Application is being compiled
      • Bird Watchers visiting the Lake Powell Bird Hide have commented on the amount of regrowth hindering access to the hide. Trimming of this regrowth will be arranged

   2. 4.5 Other: Re the concerns raised about safety issues at the T-junction of Marbellup Road South and South Coast Highway. Andrew Marshall proposed that a letter be sent to Main Roads expressing the Group's concern following recent accidents and near misses at this site. Graeme Heighton seconded. Dale Holley to attend

3. Correspondence:

   (outwards)

   1. 6th April, 2004 letter to James McGuire, Water Corporation regarding the condition of the Torbay Catchment Drains, asking for the Water Corporation to fence and revegetate the land under their control. Copies of this letter were sent to Peter Watson MLA Member for Albany, the Hon Dr JM Edwards MLA Minister for the Environment, and Naomi Arrowsmith, Regional Manger for Water and Rivers
   2. 14th April, 2004 to Melanie Bainbridge, Million Trees Program acknowledging receipt of her letter and newsletter and informing their organisation that at present the Torbay Catchment Revegetation Program is already in operation, but if this changes we will contact them for assistance in tree planting.

   (inwards)
   

   1. Green Skills Inc. P.O. Box 577 Denmark 6333 Ph: 98 481019 Email basilschur@greenskills.green.net.au A Holistic Land Management -Land Field day - Tuesday llth May 2004 Green Skills, in conjunction with the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee has organised a not to be missed landcare field day at Tony and Alison Smith's Denbarker property "Bouverie"
   2. 22nd April, 2004 acknowledgment of our letter to Dr Edwards regarding Water Corporation Drains.

4. Treasurer's Report:

   Opening balance as at March 17th, 2004 of $50059.07, expenses including GST since March 17th have been $453.00 Bank Interest of $ $170.25 leaving a closing balance as at 28th April, 2004 of $49776.32

   Reminder regarding Membership Renewal: $5.00 membership is now due The Torbay Catchment Group needs your continued support to help cover the costs incurred from insurance cover, hire of equipment and the administration costs not covered by grant money. Please send to Torbay Catchment Inc. P.O. Box 1900, Albany 6331

5. General Business:

   5.1 Soil Testing: Those who attended the discussion on the soil testing follow-up held at the Ag Department with Dave Weaver felt the topic was comprehensively covered and well presented. Some land holders were surprised at the results of samples taken from their property. Maurice McCormick moved a letter of thanks be sent to Dave Weaver and John Grant. Dale Holley to attend. It was also suggested that Dave Weaver be invited to attend a future meeting. Andrew Marshall seconded.

   5.2 Weed Strategy Update: The Meeting went over the Weed Strategy for the coming year.

   Phil Mellon requested that the Torbay Catchment Group obtain a map showing what part of the waterways people own. Peter Collins offered to bring a cogs map to the next meeting. This may show the boundaries but not the ownership.

   Another topic discussed regarding the "Weed Strategy" was a "guardianship of the road verge". The idea of the land owner being the "guardian" of the road verge met with general approval of the Meeting. The owner need not necessarily have to manage the verge entirely, as long as he/she reported to the Catchment Group the condition of the verge. This could be catalogued and updated accordingly from information sent in by the landowner. This would need to be carried out in conjunction with the City of Albany.

   Sandra Maciejewski from the City of Albany has also been contacted to attend one of our meetings regarding weeds.

   5.3 Waterways Restoration: More applications have been received to fence and revegetate creek lines. The hope is that this will continue. So if you have been contemplating fencing and restoration, act now, ring Dave Rushton on 98 410108.

   5.4 Albany Town Planning Scheme Review. As part of the Watershed Torbay Project, the Steering Committee and Department of the Environment have begun discussions with Phil Shephard from City of Albany to incorporate the "Watershed Torbay Restoration Plan of Objectives and Priorities" into the Albany Town Planning Scheme Review. A letter stating the communities support for the inclusion of the Restoration Plan in the Town Planning Scheme is to be sent. Dale Holley to confer with Andrew Marshall on this.

   5.5 Other:

   1. Watershed Torbay update: Louise Duxbury gave a brief update on the last Steering Committee Meeting. Some of the key points included:
      • The Watershed Torbay Project only runs until March next year and there are quite a few things needing to be done which include the completion of the Restoratin Plan. It was felt more input was needed from the community. If you would like to be involved , the next Steering Committee Meeting is on the 19th May, 2004 at 7.30 pm in the Elleker Hall.
      • More research is being done - "What triggers the algal blooms" (Peter Davies from the Centre of Excellence will be handling this)
      • Σ Paul Close is asking for volunteers for night field trips to assist in the study of fish communities (if you are interested, please contact Paul at the Centre of Excellence, Albany).
      • Algal bio-assays was another topic discussed
      • Nutrient pathways: More work needed in this area
      • More work on the drainage model (different ways in which the drainage system can be managed)
      • Naomi Arrowsmith went to a conference in Canberra where they discussed what will happen after a project like Watershed Torbay (to move into an implementation stage). Also possible funding sources could be the National Action Plan and the Environmental Improvement Initiative which would be through the Water Corporation

   2. A case of Ross River Virus has been reported locally (a man living on Marbellup Brook closest to the plug)

   3. Unfortunately Dave Rushton is leaving us to go back to Perth. Dave will be sorry to go (he said he could just imagine himself settling in Albany). We are sorry to see Dave go and wish him well. The Group will keep him informed of the updates of the catchment, especially the Watershed Torbay Project. We will welcolm Julie back to take over from Dave.

   4. John Blaney -Murphy reported on a very successful workshop held at Youngs Siding organsied by Basil Schur and Green Skills. Work being carried out in the Hay River was mentioned showing there is a stark difference between the areas being revegetated and those not revegetated. The "Corridors of Green" from Kalgoorlie to Augusta was another interesting topic.

   5. Phil Mellon has obtained articles from the Historical Society of old paper clippings (of local interest) that go back many years. The Historical Society has catalogued topics of interest that go back to 1892. Louise will include some of the articles in the next newsletter.

MEETING CLOSED 9.40 pm