FRIENDS OF FOGG DAM INC.

Minutes of Meeting Sunday 24 October 2010

at Kezia Purick’s Community Meeting Room, Coolalinga.

1.         Meeting opened   at 2.35pm.              

Present: Heather Boulden, Alan Anderson, Leisa Baldwin, Ross Trevena, Jeremy Hemphill.

Apologies: Jane Moore, Wayne Bennett, Gemina Corpus

2.         Members were advised of the death of traditional owner, Brian Kenyon, in September.   Jeremy attended the funeral representing FOFD.

3.         Minutes of meeting 26 September 2010. Accepted Jeremy/Leisa

4.            Business arising from minutes & ongoing issues

Donation box at Fogg Dam – refer item 8

Updating the Business Plan – draft updated with achievements, Leisa and Heather to complete.

5.            Correspondence:  Out:

·    27 Sep 2010, email to Michael Crossland thanking him for his presentation on Sydney Uni research activities.

·    1 Oct 10, email to Kezia Purick, thanking her for assistance/suggestions.

·    13 Oct 10, email to Alice Leppitt, asking if her thesis is available yet.

·    19 Oct 10, email to Dr Simon Ward, asking if he is still available to give advice re development of a plan for monitoring birds at Fogg Dam.

·    21 Oct 10, email to Norm Greenfield, asking for information about the FOFD donation box plus P&W proposed input into the NRMB (NT) grant.

·    21 Oct 10, email to Alice Leppitt, thanking her for the update about her thesis.

Correspondence In:

·    27 Sep 10, email from Norm Greenfield, P&W Fogg Dam advising that a couple of bench seats will be placed at the end of the MF boardwalk but not a priority.  The toilet and BBQ have been put on Minor New Works listing.

·    28 Sep 10, email from Alan Anderson & Gemina Corpus, apologising for missing AGM – their internet had been down.

·    28 Sep 10, email from Alan Anderson & Gemina Corpus, saying they are happy to continue on the committee of FOFD.

·    30 Sep 10, email from Kezia Purick, (1) offering assistance to get a toilet block on the west side of Fogg Dam (2) advising that she will try to get a noise metre from Mick Dennigan re shooting noise levels for Robin Purtill (3) suggesting we consider Humpty Doo Scouts and Guides for working bee days as they look for exercises and it helps them progress for their badges.

·    6 Oct10, email from Sagar Virdi, requesting a vegetation list for Fogg Dam.

·    14 Oct 10, email from Alice Leppitt, advising that it took a long time for her thesis to be marked and returned to her with recommended changes.   She is now in teaching practice.   She plans to finalise the thesis mid November and will then send us a copy.

·    15 Oct 10, email from Chantal Bramley, advising appointments to the Australian Landcare Council.

·    19 Oct 10, email from Dr Simon Ward, organising a time to meet at Fogg Dam re bird monitoring.

·    20 Oct 10, email from Norm Greenfield, enclosing information about Natural Resource Management Board (NT) grants for 2011.

Correspondence accepted Jeremy/Leisa

6.         Business arising from correspondence: 

·           Alan Anderson and Gemina Corpus endorsed onto the committee of FOFD: Heather/Leisa.

·           Natural Resource Management Board (NT) grant proposal.  Up to $20.000 “addressing invasive species threats in high conservation value wetlands.” Discussed. Agreed that we talk to Norm Greenfield re ideas and budget, development of a weed management plan, whether we need agreement of traditional owners – Leisa/Ross

7     Humpty Doo Rice Trail.    

·    Draft of booklet is on our website with an invitation to people involved in the project to contact us.  Discussed, agreed we need to consider how we build on this. Propose to discuss with Jane.

·    The Project Report has been completed and acquitted.

·    We need funds to complete the original concept to have posts/markers along the Rice Trail and for messages to be made available for downloading onto MP3 player. That  could be via a grant - Heather asked members to consider volunteering to prepare a proposal.

8            Opening Fogg Dam water

Government has made $180,000 available to build a drainage system on the wall and dredge areas of the dam this calendar year to create considerable open water near the causeway and the lookout on Woodlands to Water Lily walk late this year – with the likelihood that the machinery can implement some of the wetlands area.

Bird Monitoring – Heather, Jeremy and Alan met with Dr Simon Ward of NRETAS Biodiverfsity Branch on Saturday 23^rd October. He considers 6-7 sites should be monitored to check on bird specie/numbers in the open water versus two control sites. Birds to be counted over a ten-minute period at each site once a month for a year. Review situation at that time. The monitoring should start before the earthworks begin.

         Monitoring open water – photo points need to be identified to monitor weed incursion after the water is opened.

Actions arising – (1) Simon to propose bird monitoring sites and control sites; (2) discuss the above with Norm Greenfield and ask Parks to install marker posts for the bird monitoring areas and photo stands to monitor the water/weed situation. (3) ask Norm to email Biodiversity Branch seeking heir input into the bird monitoring-

Wetlands proposal (Greg Miles) – to develop a series of connecting waterholes of differing depth on the northern side of the causeway. Norm Greenfield is hopeful this can be achieved, at least partially, in conjunction with earthworks in the dam.   

9            Donation box & brochure holders

         Still awaiting repair following damage to locked door at the April field day. Location of the signs unknown. To discuss with Norm Greenfield ASAP.

10            Finance

         $1,008.34 in fixed deposit.          $2,320.43 in account.  

Environment Grant for Field Day – final report submitted and grant acquitted.

Heritage Grant for Humpty Doo Rice Trail – report being finalised Branch before 31 October. Not yet acquitted.

11            Membership 

         Welcome to new members: Roger Law and Diedre Amsden.           

         Definition of family membership to accommodate the Fogg family which includes the daughter of James Fogg (Ellen), her children and grandchildren. Agreed Heather should discuss with the Ellen Fogg Turner.

          12         Wildfowl hunting

Infringements at Harrison Dam & Lambell’s Lagoon continue to be reported to the police.

13             Other business –

·      Jeremy gave a presentation on the Fogg Dam environment to Darwin Region Cub Scouts on Saturday 2 October.

·      Possible activities: (1) Butterfly walk or bird call activity. Desirable to know how many will attend
(2) Calendar of events next year that can be publicised, eg Field Nats, media public announcements.

·      Next Field Day proposed for 29 April 2012.

14    Next meeting: Sunday 26 Nov. following a working bee at Fogg Dam. Tasks (eg weeding snake weed) to be discussed with Parks.  Propose start at 9.00am with a midday BBQ and meeting.

MeetMeeting closed at 4.10pm.  

SumSumary of issues to follow up.