| Minutes 18 January 2009 |
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LOCATION Community Meeting Room, Kezia Purick’s Office, Coolalinga. 1. Open, welcome and apologies. Meeting opened at 2.38 pm. Present: Strider, Machael Stott, Leisa Baldwin, Alan Anderson, Gemina Corpus, Heather Boulden, Jeremy Hemphill Apologies: Jane Moore; Penny Wurm; Jo Vandermark; Peter Walker, Denise Goodfellow. 2 Minutes of meeting 16 Nov 2008 Moved the minutes of meeting 16 November 2008 be accepted: Jeremy/Leisa. Accepted. 3 Business arising from minutes a) Fogg Dam equipment list from Ken Levy – awaiting return of Monika, overseas. b) Monsoon Forest Interpretive signage – Alan & Strider - in abeyance pending replacement of boardwalk. c) Donation boxes – awaiting response from P&W d) Photographs of Field Day are on the webpage – thanks to Peter Walker our webmaster. 4. Correspondence In: • 17 Nov, email from Barry Scott, advising that P&W will organise the official opening of the boardwalk. • 23 Nov, email from Beryl & Allan Rantall, Vic congratulating us on the Field Day, saying how they have enjoyed the photos on the website and are hoping to revisit. • 26 Nov, email from Vanda West, P&W, saying she’s happy to support us where she can re the sign. • 1 Dec, email from Penny Wurm, saying she’ll be in Perth for 6 months on Long Service Leave. • 8 Dec, email from Kezia Purick saying she had received advice from Director of NT Schools Top End that the school bus can go to Humpty Doo Station in 2009. • 13 Dec, email from Lynette Kenyon, thrilled about the news of the school bus. • 14 Dec, email from Gavin Gamston, Telstra, advising of successful applicants. • 16 Dec, email from Vanda West, P&W giving examples of quotes for artwork on signage and details of a local artist. • 16 Dec, letter from Telstra Shop Darwin and Winnellie advising that our application for a grant of $3,000.00 to purchase a shed/container for our equipment has been successful. • 7 Jan, email from Jane Moore attaching a draft of suggestions re how people could contribute to the signs. • 8 Jan, email from Michael Tsakirios, DPI advising that our application for signage on Anzac Parade has been approved and asking for us to send a picture of the finished product for their records. • 9 Jan, email from Mark Anderson, P&W, advising that the Monsoon Forest boardwalk is still in construction phase. Contractors are persevering despite wet weather, trying to complete before flooding occurs. We will be kept advised on progress. • 9 Jan, email from Michael Crossland, Sydney Uni, saying January is difficult for them to provide a talk to FOFD. March will be better. • 13 Jan, email from David Fisher enquiring about the state of the soil around the sulphuric acid spill. • 15 Jan, email from David Fisher, as a professional in the area, saying it’s extremely difficult to completely neutralise the spill so as not to affect the pH in the surrounding area, suggesting we chase the soil pH test results. Correspondence Out: • 9 Dec, email to Graham & Lynette Kenyon passing on advice that the school bus can visit Humpty Doo Station in 2009. • 18 Dec, letter to Mr Shane Dahlhelm, Manager Road Operations, DPI enclosing application for Fogg Dam signage off Anzac Parade, Middle Point. • 19 Dec, email to Vanda West, Alan Anderson, Jane Moore, Jeremy Hemphill attaching notes of meeting held at signage location on Anzac Parade. • 20 Dec, email to Gavin Gamston attaching confirmation letter for sponsorship. • 6 Jan, email to Mark Anderson, P&W asking for progress report on construction of the MF boardwalk. • 9 Jan, email to Michael Tsakiros, DPI thanking him for his email advising approval to go ahead with the sign and agreeing to send a photo of the completed sign. • 13 Jan, email to Gavin Gamston, Telstra, thanking him for his letter confirming the success of FOFD application for $3,000.00 funding, enclosing formal letter of acceptance and a copy of the FOFD logo. • 13 Jan, email to Barry Scott, P&W, asking: for advice on how we should proceed re opening up the water at Fogg Dam; information about the official opening of the Monsoon Forest boardwalk as soon as possible; for an official response re the proposed ‘donation box;’ information about heritage listing of Humpty Doo Rice Project areas and when the P&W draft Management Plan will be available. • 15 Jan, email to Mark Anderson, P&W, asking if there has been any soil testing for pH in the area close to the sulphuric acid spill. Correspondence accepted: Moved Jeremy/Michael. 5. Business arising from correspondence: • Sulphuric acid spill. Heather reported she had been asked to comment on an approx. 6,000 litre sulphuric acid spill between Lambell’s Lagoon Road and Anzac Parade by ABC radio and television and commercial radio stations. The acid was being transported to the Ranger Uranium mine. At the time the exact location of the spill was not clear. It was on the southern side of the road, where the land slopes away from Fogg Dam. The transportation company, Chemtrans, and NRETA reported they had bunded the spill and neutralised the acid. 6. Aust. Post/Landcare Grant a) PR Plan. Leisa reported she has prepared and distributed information on progress to the media. b) Purchase of equipment, tools. Heather noted she has purchased a first aid kit from St Johns. Alan had obtained quotes from Blackwoods, Bunnings and HD Hardware, none of which can provide everything on our list. As we have $300 less in our budget than our submission for the grant, he will meet with Mark Fogarty to clarify what Parks will provide us as volunteers and what we really need to buy ourselves. c) Signs: The dimensions are: 2 x 89cm high and 202,5 cm wide 2 x 119cm high and 41.5 cm wide 1 x 119cm high and 90.5 cm wide (the small panel facing the road) A meeting discussing options was held at the sign location on 16 Dec with Vanda West (P&W); Jane Moore; Alan A; Heather & Jeremy. Jane Moore has since offered to do the artwork. She has been in touch with Peter Walker who is doing the printing of the signs. Jane’s thoughts and suggestions for the sign are attached. Parks has agreed to help with the cost of artwork. Discussion ensued and it was agreed that the sign’s Fogg Dam content should provide a general orientation for visitors rather than concentrate on detail, which should be provided within the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. Suggestions being: Main sign, 2 metres x 1200 General, total area Adelaide River and floodplain Introduce ecology, habitats, history. Other side - to be divided into two, each 900x 1200 Half - Information about the Humpty Doo Rice Project Half - Aboriginal content, including Window on the Wetlands. Very front sign 900x1200 Welcome from FOFD Two small signs at the back of the front sign, 410 x 1200 One side - Hats, water bottles, mozzies, rubish removal, etc. Other side - Further info, websites, where to go Members are being provided with Jane’s suggestions and comment/input information should be provided to Heather by the end of January 2009. Alan, Leisa and Heather will work with Jane on the design. The shed/container, see Item 7, can also be used as a signboard for FOFD information. 7. Telstra Grant $3000.00 to purchase a small shed or container to store equipment in. Jeremy has spoken to NT Land Corporation Chairperson, Peter Blake, who has given verbal approval for the shed/container to be located inside Middle Point village behind the Anzac Parade sign. Jeremy to seek confirmation in writing and take action, as appropriate, to obtain a shed/container. 8. Finance • 11 Nov letter and tax invoice from Bendigo Bank re purchase of security token for internet banking. • 30 Nov, Bank Statement from Bendigo Bank, closing balance $4,555.00 with Aust Post/Landcare funding. 9. Open Day 2010 • Heather noted that we need to commence planning now and to seek sponsorship, particularly for bus transport, printing and prizes. • Cost of 2008 Open Day = $456.00 ($300.00 PL insurance, $156.00 gifts for speakers). Cost of printing, which would have been considerable, was donated by ConocoPhillips and given the departure of Colin, will no longer be available. • Volunteers for an Organising Committee will be sought. • It was noted that Warren Snowden’s office has indicated there is a source of funds to assist community organisations with office costs and Kezia Purick maybe able to assist in finding key sponsors. 10. Other Business = The meeting voted thanks to Kezia Purick for use of the community room 11. Next meeting: Sunday 22 Feb Heather proposed that the next meeting be at Fogg Dam to include a working bee starting at 9am, people welcome to join any time from then, followed by a BBQ at 12 noon with the meeting commencing at 1.00 pm. That will allow members to see Fogg Dam, provide ideas for future work and see progress on the Monsoon Forrest boardwalk. 12. Meeting closed – 4.15 pm Summary of issues to follow up. • Next working bee • Response from Parks re donation box, heritage listing of Fogg Dam, opening water at Fogg Dam, opening of Monsoon Forest boardwalk • Asking Parks to open up the western side of Fogg Dam for the next Fogg Dam Field Day • That the school bus does go into Humpty Doo Station • Design of signboard • Equipment to be purchased • Receipt of the Telstra Shop grant • Purchase of container/shed • Checking of Wulna peoples’ seasons with Aboriginal institute in Canberra • Formation of the next Fogg Dam Field Day organising committee |