During 2011, Friends of Fogg Dam Inc. (FOFD):

·   Gave a talk to Junior Rangers at Fogg Dam about Friends of Fogg Dam Inc.

·   Held a stall at the Garden Spectacular/Sustainable Living Expo at George Brown Botanical Gardens on 4th and 5th June.

·   Received an update in June by Dr Michael Crossland on the research work with cane toads being undertaken by Sydney University Tropical Ecology Research Centre based at Middle Point. 

·   Commenced a Newsletter for members and others with an interest in Fogg Dam, which has had positive feedback.

·   Reported the need for the boardwalk of the Woodland to Water Lily Walk to be extended because the walk could not be opened until mid-June after the heavy wet season.  

·   Held seven working bees at Fogg Dam totalling 237 hours weeding, clearing walkways, spraying the weed Olive Hymenachne, painting and applying preservative to the floors and seats of lookout shelters, cleaning signs and mowing.

·   Worked with Parks & Wildlife Fogg Dam with $4,700.00 funding from NT Natural Resource Management Board, Caring for Country Community Grant to work on the control of Olive Hymenachne at Fogg Dam and its catchment area.  Areas of weed infestation were mapped and spraying undertaken successfully on the dam’s floodplain and feeder creeks.  The project was hindered and not completed in the timeframe because the wet season was the highest on record restricting access, infestation was greater than anticipated and equipment owned by Parks & Wildlife, failed.  We have received support (funding) to continue this important work.  

·   Twice met with Parks & Wildlife staff and Construction personnel concerning actions to manage weed in Fogg Dam and create more open water and generally improve park facilities.  The integrity of the spillway on the dam wall has become an issue which is being addressed.  Improvement of the Woodland to Water Lily boardwalk is also being examined.

·   Prepared a Business Plan for 2011.

·   Discussed our Wetland proposal to create ponds downstream of the dam wall with the Minister and Parks personnel.

·   Successfully applied for three grants which carry through to 2012:

o   NT Heritage Grant of $10,000 for the Humpty Doo Rice Trail – to design a Rice Trail logo, prepare a leaflet about the project with a map showing key locations plus downloadable audiofiles.

o   NT EnvironmeNT grant of $5,000 to organise a Field Day in 2012.  Plans have commenced for this to happen on 29 April 2012.

o   NT EnvironmeNT grant of $8,000 for the control and eradication of Olive Hymenachne in the Fogg Dam catchment area.

APPRECIATION

We are grateful for the support we have received from:

·      Fogg Dam Parks & Wildlife for providing advice and provisions for BBQs at our working bee

·      our local member, Kezia Purick, for her interest and allowing us to use her community room for meetings.

·      Peter Walker of Imagineer Graphic & Website Design for the provision and hosting of our website.

·      All of our members and supporters.

Thank you all.