| Minutes 20 July 2008 |
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Meeting held at Electoral Office of Mr Ted Warren, MLA, Coolalinga Meeting opened at 2.45pm. Present: Alan Anderson, Gemina Corpus, Jo Vandermark, Jenny Rivers, Penny Wurm, Peta Jones, Leisa Baldwin, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill. Apologies: Cynthia Croft, Phillip Croft, Colin Rivers, Brigitte Wilson, Denise Goodfellow, Michael Stott, Ted Warren, Jayne Moore. 1. Minutes of meetings 29 June 2008 Two amendments proposed by Heather: • Item 6 – That John Christopherson’s work on fire management and vegetation change may be of use to P&W at Fogg Dam. • Item 7 – Open Day. That Keith Savage offered to assist Jo Vandrmark with publicity for the September Open Day. Accepted: Jeremy, Penny. 2. Business arising from minutes a) To invite Minister to open the September Field Day. b) Landcare equipment grants: Cynthia to take over costing preparation from Colin. c) Lanoline treatment for Woodland to Waterlily boardwalk. Deferred, P&W is obtaining new boards to replace damaged ones. d) Fogg Dam equipment list from Ken Levy – Monika. e) Monsoon Forest Interpretive signage – Alan & Strider. Also proposing numbering of trees and a revised interpretive tree list. f) Bird list for brochure – Niven is working on this. Heather to check on use of P&W’s images. g) Donation boxes – still awaiting formal response from P&W. 3. Minister Kiely’s visit to Fogg Dam. Went well. Ted Warren & his Personal Assistant Joanne Burgess, Traditional owners & Barry Scott attended as well as a small number of FOFD. Dr Greg Brown spoke about the uniqueness of Fogg Dam. A portfolio of Fogg Dam was presented to the Minister. Several members spoke to the Minister, mentioning issues such as the general state of maintenance, which has become a safety issue on the boardwalks, the dam surface, weed management and the planned Open Day. 4. Correspondence: In: • Landcare Magazine • 30 Jun, email from Marj King (Top End Native Plant Society) saying she’ll suggest making our Field Day their September field trip. Email 19 July, asking us to email Felicity Chibbert about our request. • 2 July, email from Prue Adamson (P&W). All new points are duly noted. She will present these at next week’s Planning Team (PT) meeting. She is aiming to ask us to meet the Traditional Owners (TOs) and planning team at next month’s PT meeting. She will also let the planning team know about our open day and thanks us for the invitation. She will contact us when the dates for next month’s meeting have been fixed. • 3 July, email from Don Franklin, saying he will lead the Butterfly Walk at Fogg Dam on the Open Day. • 4 July, email from Barry Scott, thanking Jo for the photos and giving contact details for the Junior Ranger program. • 7 July, email from Ted Warren, MLA advising about ‘Caring for Country’ grants for 08/09, closing 1 August. Jeremy discussed a project to evaluate clearing in the dam with Barry Scott – part consultancy, part practical trials. However, there is insufficient time to prepare for this round of funding. To develop a project brief for the next round of funding. • 8 July, email from Niven McCrie in Thailand, saying he will do the bird list for Fogg Dam and will be at the Open Day. • 11 July, email from Prof Rick Shine, (Sydney Uni) saying he’s unsure whether he’ll be available on 21 September but will keep it in mind. He also requested a letter of support from FOFD to include with grant applications. • 17 July, email from Barry Scott re CDU Honours project of the open water/vegetation relationship in Fogg Dam under Don Franklin. P&W are prepared to give a lot of support to the project. • 20 July, email from Felicity Chibberta, Top End Native Plant Soc. FOFD field day on agenda for Committee meeting on 22 July. Agreed to make TENPS September field trip to Fogg Dam. Will be suggesting a static display to promote their activities. • 18 July, email from Ligya Pizzatto, post doc researcher with Sydney Uni, saying she will do the talk on pythons. The person to talk on toads is yet to be determined. Sydney Uni would like the times of 9am and 10.00am in order to not stress the animals. • 18 July, email from Jane Moore to Jo. She will lead a group on sketching animals and environment. Meet in the 1st observation deck and spill over to the next one if necessary. Bring favourite sketching tools and 2 camping chairs. Beginners: big hat; sun protection jacket; visual diary A4 size; HB pencils; eraser and sharpener, or a sketch pen. Perhaps a small drawing board to rest your work on and lean it on the back of the second camping chair with a back. Camera to take reference shots. • Continue from Jane Moore. Husband Greg Miles will give a talk on photographing wildlife. Out: • 2 July, email to Prue Adamson, asking to add to our submission on Management Review of Adelaide River Parks the desirability for 2 toilets on the west side of the causeway and noting that the increase in vegetation in the dam seemed to be associated with the transfer of management from Primary Industry & Fisheries to P&W and their different management practices. • 8 July, email to Graham Kenyon, thanking him for joining us at the Minister’s visit and asking for a Cultural talk on the Open Day. • 8 July, email to Greg Brown, thanking him for speaking at the Minister’s visit and asking about Sydney Uni presentations on Open Day: toads; water pythons; and creature display. • 8 July, letter to Ted Warren, MLA seeking assistance for seeking assistance about 9 children at Humpty Doo station who do not attend school,. • 10 July, email to Monika, asking about Humpty Doo Rice Project equipment. • 10 July, email to Prof. Rick Shine, asking if he is in Darwin on 21 Sept. to speak at Fogg Dam Open Day. • 11 July, letter to Graham Phelps, Executive Director Parks, with application for permit to hold Open Day at Fogg Dam, asking for various forms of support, eg shuttle bus, generator, displays, Junior Rangers, talk on status of Plan of management review, boardwalk replacement, etc. • 12 July, letter of support for the research work of Prof. Rick Shine and Team Bufo. • 18 July, emails from Jo to Dean Macadam & David Rochford asking if Junior Ranger activities could be organized for the Open Day. • Telephone discussion with Barry Scott, re (1) the ‘Caring for Country’ grant, and (2) an application which has been submitted for Humpty Doo Rice Project locations/equipment to be heritage listed. • Telephone to Wendy Thomsen asking if she would take over the Humpty Doo Rice Project History table of information. • 19 July, email to Graham Kenyon, asking if a family member can lead a ‘bush tucker walk’ on the Open Day. • 19 July, email to Jacquie Hindmarsh, P&W Senior Policy Officer, asking about bird pictures to use for the bird sheet. Correspondence accepted: Heather/Jo. 5. Business arising from correspondence: • CDU honours project/ Caring for Our Country grants: Penny advised no one has yet been selected to undertake the Honours project. Jeremy said this can help define how to clear the dam surface and be a part of a future ‘Caring for Country’ grant application. He proposes to alert Sydney University to the opportunity. • Open Day matters – see Item below. 6. New member application: Cathy Lancaster from Victoria. Proposed Jeremy/Heather and approved. Cathy welcomed as a member in absentia. Currently have 32 members. 7. Budget $1380.00 in bank. To reimburse Jeremy $300 for public liability insurance. Invoice received for $145.00 for domain name renewal, $20 needed for a token to allow approved bank payments by internet. 8. Open Day planning Name considered, agreed to change to the alliteratively more attractive Fogg Dam Field Day featuring: workshops, fun, treasures, creatures and critters, water & wildlife, feathered friends. • Program discussed: current draft appended – Sub-committee • Awaiting approval from P&W to proceed with the draft program • Publicity: Agreed to utilise free publicity only, ie no paid advertising. Jo to draft revised flier but will be absent when several of the “free to air” organisations need information. Jeremy to contact Keith Savage to see if he can help. To contact: Southern Cross television community announcements, ABC, TOP FM, NT Government website and media release to NT News, Territory Times, etc. Politicians’ notice boards, shopping centre notice boards. • Parking, base station, toilets, bus, generator. Discussions proceeding with P&W - Alan, Heather, Jeremy. • Small bus for causeway transfer - Leisa to seek from Eurpocar • Sausage sizzle, drinks – Litchfield Lions available • Prizes – for completion of exit survey, treasure hunt • Treasure hunt – Leisa developing and will test. • Sponsorships – Jenny seeking information on groups to contact, eg P&W has offered prizes. Try ConocoPhillips, Tourist Commission, ABC, Adelaide River crocodile cruises. Seek assistance for prizes, sunscreen, caps, printing of leaflets and signs, eg for parking, program, bird/plant lists, etc • Exit survey – yet to be developed • Band – lunchtime proposed. Alan to discuss with David Kenyan. 9. Annual General Meeting. Due by end September. Propose afternoon of Sunday 27 September. Jeremy to contact Michael Stott re preparation of accounts and notice of meeting. 10. Other business: P&W still seeking old photos of Fogg Dam, black and white or colour, ideally including people. . 11. Next meetings: a) Ted Warren’s Coolalinga office, 2.30 pm Saturday 23 August. b) Propose another meeting about a week before the Field Day. c) AGM Sunday 27 September Action items appended. Action Items arising from July Meeting • Open day o Alan A: bands and discuss with Parks - traffic control/parking, bus, display area, first aid, walkie/talkies o Jeremy – permit, Rice Project information, walkie/talkies, exit survey, check with Keith re publicity o Heather – Invitations to P&W, Landcare, Field Naturalists, Native Plant Society, Sydney University, Litchfield Lions, speakers, Administrator, Chief Minister, Tourism Minister, Tourism Top End o Jo/Keith: Publicity. o Leisa - developing invitation format & contacting Europcar re shuttle bus o Sub-Committee/Heather – program schedule o All: please advise Jenny of potential sponsors (what they can do and/or might provide) • Next meeting venue: Jeremy to book Ted Warren’s office. Action Items Completed since June Meeting: • Open Day – Sub-committee developing draft program, publicity, sponsors; permit application submitted, discussions with P&W re parking, generator, first aid, etc • Website – • Calendar – Leisa is working on this • Humpty Doo Rice Project equipment list – email sent to Monika • Bird list for brochure – Niven contacted • Old Fogg Dam photos – Barry Scott advised of possible sources Action Items carried over: • Equipment for grants: costing information to be forwarded from Colin to Cynthia • Working bees – seek suggestions from P&W • Monsoon forest walk: - Parks be asked to review and upgrade signage of trees, shrubs - FOFD members to be asked for suggestions on signage. - Visits be made to review signage at Howard Springs and Wildlife Park • Resource Centre – Heather/Jeremy advise Prue Adamson of resources available • Meeting with Windows on Wetland • Fogg Dam – contact McMinns Lagoon Landcare Group re dam rehabilitation • Draft letter to P&W: sign stating rules for entry • Contact Conservation Volunteers Aust and Green Corp |