| Minutes 25 May 2008 |
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Present: Jenny Rivers, Colin Rivers, Leisa Baldwin, Strider, Alan Anderson, Gemina Anderson, Jo Vandermark, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill. Apologies: Nil 1. Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 9.15 am.. 2. Minutes of meetings 30 March and 20 April 30 March 2008: Accepted: Alan A, Gemina 20 April 2008: Accepted: Colin, Jeremy 3. Business arising from minutes a) Landcare equipment grants. Heather advised of a decision to defer the application until the next round, expected in September. Colin is costing items and Heather and Alan have obtained some costs of first aid boxes and signage. Action: Pass costing information to Colin for consolidation. b) Lanoline treatment for Woodland to Waterlily boardwalk. No word yet from Parks. It was noted during the Australian Field Naturalists day at Fogg Dam that some boards need to be replaced. Action: Raise with Parks with view to Working Bee. c) Fogg Dam equipment list from Ken Levy - deferred. Action: Check with Monika d) Monsoon Forest Interpretive signage – Alan & Strider. Strider spoke on the significance of large old trees and their loss as the nature of the Top End forests changes due to land management practices (eg clearing) and natural causes (eg Cyclone Helen and fire). He sees it important to record what is here now. He has spoken to Traditional Owner Donna Jackson in relation to the Adelaide River Plan of Management and the need for a well defined fire management regime. He plans a walk around the area with Donna, starting with Black Jungle. e) Bird list for brochure – Niven. Action: Contact Niven f) Donation boxes – awaiting formal response from Parks. Meanwhile, Alan A and Mark Fogarty (Parks) are working on a design. Action: To consider further. 4. Correspondence: In: · 22 April, email from Peter Foster with information about a free Wollemi Pine offer to Landcare Groups and Schools. · 25 April, email from Denise Goodfellow edits on submission. · Donation of $250.00 from friends of Penny Steele staying at Eden at FD B&B. · 29 April, email from David Boehme, attaching Lambell’s Lagoon Landcare submission to Review of Adelaide River Parks. · 29 April, from Prue J Adamson, P&W, thanking us for submission & advising that Guy Dutson had told her that Birds Australia have registered both the Adelaide River and Mary River Parks as significant, presumably IBAs (Important Bird Areas). · 1 May, email from Dr Ben Phillips, Sydney Uni Tropical Research Centre, saying the submission is great and wishing us good luck. · 1 May, email from Ian Linley, Landcare, re Wollemi Pine offer to Landcare Groups & schools. · Emails responding to news about boardwalk funding: Jan Hintze; Brian & Lyn Reid; Jan Tucker; Penny Wurm Sally Forsstrom; Leisa Baldwin; Jenny Rivers; Monika Osterkamp-Madsen & Les Huth; Beryl Rantall; Sally Jacka. · 5 May, email from Prof. Rick Shine, advising of new website: www.canetoadsinoz.com · 5 May, email from Sally Hogg responding to thanks for donation. “It was a pleasure to be able to contribute in some small way to the upkeep and on-going viability of the beautiful Fogg Dam. Going to a movie on the weekend costs $15 yet no matter how enjoyable it is all but forgotten by the evening; yet the utter beauty of your locale – its flora and fauna - will stay with me forever. It makes my $50 look like darn good value.” · 15 May, email from Adrienne Francis, ABC Journalist, saying she’s eager to come out and do a TV News/Stateline story in the region later in the year. Out: · 29 April, email to Prue J Adamson attaching submission from FOFD to P&W Review of Adelaide River Parks · 30 April, emails attaching FOFD submission to: Barry Scott, with cc to Mark Fogarty, P&W; Graham Kenyon, TO; Prof. Rick Shine, with cc to Dr Ben Phillips, Sydney Uni Tropical Research; Field Naturalists of the NT; Top End Native Plants Society; Ted Warren, MLA. · 1 May, email to Ian Linley, re Wollemi Pine. · Emails thanking people who helped with petition for the boardwalk and to ABC for their help in raising profile of the issue. · Certificate of Appreciation to Ted Warren, MLA for his strong support and tenacity to obtain funding for the boardwalk. 5. Business arising from correspondence. · Jenny suggested Parks, Minister, local paper, etc be advised that the ABC plans a “Stateline” story on Fogg Dam. · Heather met Heidy Withers, Head Teacher at Middle Point School, advising of the Landcare offer of a Wollemi Pine to schools. They are keen to participate and Heather has collected one for the school. This will be presented to coincide with Term 3 curriculum, commencing 22 July, where the environment is a topic. Betsy Hill, who has a Masters in Environmental Science, is happy to assist with the course on behalf of FOFD. · Minister Kiely. That a letter of thanks be sent re the boardwalk renewal decision and that he be invited to visit Fogg Dam and hear what FOFD has submitted for the Plan of Management. Action: Heather to liaise with Minister’s office. · Individual submissions to the Review of Management Plan for Adelaide River Parks can still be emailed. The more comments on particular issues, the stronger the support for it to be included, eg cease wildfowl shooting at Harrison Dam and Lambell’s Lagoon and removing vegetation from Fogg Dam to give more open water, as it used to be. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it · Strider suggested a visit to McMinns lagoon where the local Landcare group arranged bulldozing to prevent the lagoon becoming a paperbark swamp. Action: Heather/Jeremy to contact Mrs Fiona Scott.
Membership fees are now overdue: Individual $25.00; Family $30.00; Student/Pensioner $15.00. Details for direct bank deposit are: Bank: Bendigo Bank, Coolalinga. Name of A/c Friends of Fogg Dam Inc BSB: 633 000 Account number: 13013 7946 If you chose to pay this way, please ensure you enter your name to be recorded on the FOFD statement. Cheques can be posted to FOFD, PO Box 1505, Humpty Doo, NT, 0836. 7. Revision of Business Plan Jenny, Leisa and Heather have updated the Plan which was tabled. 8. Calendar and Open Day Leisa is working on the Calendar and Peter Walker will put this (and future amendments) onto the FOFD website. 9. Open Day: decided to hold on Sunday 21 September . Sub-committee of Jenny, Leisa, Jo, Gemina to liaise by email. Events: · Bands – Graham and David Kenyan (check on power needs) · Displays (FOFD, invite Parks, Landcare, Field Nats, Native Plants) · Talks (invite Minister to open, Parks, Sydney University, Traditional Owners) · Walks (trees – Strider & Native Plants, herbs - Monika, fauna - Field Nats) · Rice Project (invite Ted Kilpatrick) · Food (barbeque, sausage sizzle - own food & drink or stalls?) · Parking and transport across dam wall (seek to limit vehicle access to wall – discuss with Parks possible shuttle bus/train as per Wildlife Park, or Tour Tub) · Something for children – Treasure hunt and prize, clown, drawing competition. 10. World Environment Day At the NT Museum Sunday 1 June, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. To be opened by Minister Kiely. Talks and displays Displays to be set up by 10.30am. Heather/Jeremy will provide a gazebo and display boards where FOFD will display photos, promote FOFD and its success lobbying for restoration of the Monsoon Forest boardwalk plus information on birds, butterflies, plants, walks, Ranger tours, membership, open day and seek suggestions for the Plan of Management, . Leisa, Strider and Jeremy are available (and possibly Jo late in the day) to “man” the display – set up to be complete around 10.30am. 11. Other Business a) Website: Jo - the Plan of Management submission on the website is difficult to find – via the minutes rather than a tab on the left hand column and needs to be changed. Action: Heather to arrange with Peter Walker. b) Resource Centre – the amount of information now available and planned (history, forest status recording and signage) adds to the need for a dedicated visitor resource centre with handouts). Action: to advise Prue Adamson. c) Love of Land: Strider advised of an exhibition on Wednesday 9 July at 6.00pm in the Charles Darwin University Art Gallery in conjunction with a meeting of the Association of Environment Educators. d) Old Fogg Dam photos. Suggestions have been made that Ian Morris, Greg Miles and Derek Rolfe may have suitable photos for the Plan of Management. Action: to advise Barry Scott. 12. Next Meeting: Sunday 29 June at 9am at Parks & Wildlife Fogg Dam Ranger Station: will include feedback on World Environment Day, Boardwalk replacement schedule, plans for Open Day, Plan of Management review status. 13. Meeting closed at 11.30am
Action Items Completed since April Meeting: a) Made submission to Parks on Adelaide River Parks Plan of Management b) Sent membership reminders to members c) Revised Business Plan d) Deferred seeking Australia Post-Landcare Grant this time, but obtained further costings and discussed with Landcare e) Obtained Landcare Wollemi Pine for Middle Pint School. f) Met with Traditional Owners re Open Day
Action Items from Meeting 25 May:
Action Items carried over from April meeting:
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