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Project Officer Report - 26 August 2009

  1. Project Completion / follow up Letters to go out within one week to all outstanding projects to remind landholders of final deadline. Focus for September will be on final inspections & acquitting the Torbay project funding (for entire funding period since 2006). Final report for SCNRM to be submitted & one final invoice and payment to cover 2009 projects will be made to the TCG. On-ground works project mapping also needs to be updated for all works completed in 2009.

  2. Report Card
    Completed and mailed to all landholders last week. Report card is for 2008, accounting for water quality data for sites sampled in 2008, phytoplankton data for July 2007 to June 2008 and all on ground works for 2008. In summary: The incidence of algal blooms in that particular 12 month period showed some improvement (ie less months in toxic and non-toxic blooms). However, water quality indicators (Total Nitrogen & Total Phosphorus) are not showing improvement to date and in some cases are getting worse (ie Grasmere Drain and Torbay Main Drain). The level of waterways fencing has been maintained (13.8km in 2008) and may get to reach its 2010 target of 150kms total, though perhaps not all along 'priority waterways'. Great achievement on the biodiversity / remnant bush protection front in 2008 with an estimated total of 335 ha protected. The Annual Weed Program maintained the extent of coverage of the Watsonia control program.

  3. Workshops - Elleker Hall
    First Weeds one held yesterday, with 14 attending. Well received and enthusiastic participants. Diane Harwood and John Moore presented. Repeat workshop on Saturday will have Diane Harwood and Mark Ford (City of Albany). Another 12 participants expected. Small article appeared in Albany Advertiser 'Extra' to publicise the workshops.

    Publicity flier for the September seed collecting, plant propagating and revegetation workshop went out to all landholders with Report Card. Dates: Saturday 19th September or Wednesday 23rd. Would hope for an equal or better response.

  4. Catchment Signage
    Making good progress, thanks to help and support from Phil and particularly Rod Nation who has put in a lot of work on sign design and siting issues. Two out of 3 requests for permission to erect signs on private land have been approved - Phillip Marshall (for West End of South Coast Highway) and Rick and Lee Frantom for West end Lower Denmark Rd. Need to follow up with landholders on South Coast Hwy, Gledhow. Attempting to run by Main Roads the proposed sites and design prior to submission to City of Albany. Application for approval must get to City of Albany ASAP. Once chance only to get approval to have signs produced whilst SCNRM funding is available.

  5. TCG AGM Wed 16th September
    Publicity flier with Membership form on reverse went out with recent mailout to everyone in the catchment.

  6. Annual Weed Control Program
    Planning in progress. Permission sought with Department of Water regarding Dalapon use, with support from Adrian Stratico, Water Corporation. Contact made with Corrective Services (Roy Nicholls) and City of Albany (Mark Ford) who have both agreed up to assist the program. Notice put in with recent mailout, so landholders are aware, and encouraging them to consider helping with their road reserve areas. I propose to do a field assessment of progress with Watsonia control and priorities for this year and hope we might also tackle a few areas for Taylorina and/or Sydney Wattle control.

  7. Rail trail
    Participated on 18th August in a phone meeting with Kerstin Stender, Trails Coordinator, Department of Environment and Conservation, along with Phil Mellon. Terri Harwood and Pip Tilbrook. Kerstin outlined DEC community consultation plans with funding now available for the Munda Biddi trail through to Albany and we discussed the implications for development of the Torbay - Elleker Rail Trail.

  8. Information

Lesley Hart
Torbay Catchment Project Officer 26/08/2009