Present:   Leisa Baldwin, Ian Walker, Jo Vandermark, Alan Anderson, Gemina Anderson, Strider, Michael Stott, Dr Michael Crossland, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill.   

Apologies:  Niven McCrie, Cynthia and Philip Croft, Monica Osterkamp-Madsen, Denise Goodfellow, Jenny and Colin Rivers, Jan Tucker, Michael Coulthard. Noted that Native Title Owner Graham Kenyon was unable to attend due to illness.

1.    Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 9.10 am

2.    Minutes of the meeting on 17 June 2007 were accepted as a true record.
    Moved Leisa, seconded Jo.

3.    Business arising from minutes
a)    Minister’s visit. Minister Scrymgour visited Fogg Dam with Dave West of Parks and Wildlife at 3.00pm on Wednesday 1 August at invitation of FOFD. Included were a walk along Monsoon Forest Walk, discussions and afternoon tea at the Pandanus Lookout aimed at repairing the Monsoon Forest boardwalk and management of the dam itself. Greg Brown spoke on the Fogg Dam area habitats and Sydney University’s research programs. While impressed by Fogg Dam’s attractions, the Minister gave no commitment to funding restoration of the Monsoon forest boardwalk. Unfortunately, almost immediately after that visit, the Ministry changed.  Delia Lawrie was appointed Minister for Parks and Wildlife.

b)    Monsoon Forest boardwalk where our aim is to have the damaged boardwalk reopened this year, as per the sign erected on the walk. Jo Vandermark’s letter to the editor of the NT News on the state of the boardwalk was not published but led to an article on page 3 of the 3 August edition with a statement attributed to Dave West that money for boardwalk restoration would be sought in Park’s 2008 budget allocation. If that funding request is approved, construction of the boardwalk would probably be able to commence late in 2008. However, there is no guarantee that the project will be funded next year so the timing of the restoration remains uncertain. Options for action were discussed with MLA Ted Warren who recommended a petition to the Legislative Assembly seeking urgent funding to allow the boardwalk to be constructed this year.  A petition was prepared and over 1400 signatures collected at various markets, businesses and at Fogg Dam.

(Note: Ted Warren tabled the petition in the Legislative Assembly on 29 August but Government need not respond before 12 sitting days elapse which is early next year. Chief Minister has stated on radio that she thought the boardwalk had been fixed, expressed concern that it isn’t open and said she would check on the situation.)

Strider commented we should endeavour to notify the result of the petition to all those who people who signed it.


c)    Restoration of Monsoon walk Forest  where trees have fallen through fire and storms. Strider advised that the first thing should be adequate fire prevention, then weed control.  The next step needed thought, ie is it necessary to revegetate or will time resolve the problem?  Do we know what species have been lost?  Is seed to be sourced locally or a little distance away?  Transplanting seedlings in the wet may be appropriate, may be best to plant clumps. To be further discussed with parks and Native Title owners.  Interpretive signs along the walk need to be replaced.    Strider suggested we develop information sheets about trees, identify (eg with Herbarium) significant trees and make the area a ‘path of pilgrimage.’
     
4.    Correspondence In:   
a)    31 July email from Armando Bonazinga, Dukes Officer from Taminmin High School seeking information for school excursion to Fogg Dam.
b)    Department of Law: Incorporation certificate
c)    Dr Ben Phillips, confirming Fogg Dam reptile list.
d)    13 August email from Peter Foster: invitation to host Green Corps – closes 27 August.
e)    17 August: Peter Foster: 4-6 Charles Darwin university students willing to volunteer.
f)    23 August email ex Barry Scott: draft sign in preparation, needs photos from working bees for inclusion.

5.     Correspondence Out:
a)    1 August email to Armando Bonazinga attaching data on Fogg Dam today, bird, frog and snake lists.

6.    Business arising from correspondence.  
a)    Reptile/Amphibian list has been updated and finalised.  We now have lists for birds, frogs, butterflies, snakes/reptiles (updated August 2007), mammals and plants.
b)     We need to scope out work plans to take advantage of opportunities, eg to involve Green Corp. Strider suggested signage be upgraded eg along the monsoon forest walk. This might start with a visiting with the Herbarium to  ascertain the names and take photographs of plants, prepare signs and install them.
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7.     New memberships. Applications from Brigitte Wilson and Rasjida Durham nominated by Heather, seconded by Gemina were accepted.

Jeremy proposed/seconded Leisa that Ted Kilpatrick (former Humpty Doo rice farmer and author of a book on the rice project) be made a life member of FOFD. Carried.

To grow membership, Leisa suggested that membership application forms together with background information of FOFD be provided to those people who distributed the boardwalk petition. Gemina commented that the membership application form needs modification to state how payments by applicants can be made.

8.     Membership Kit
Options for inclusion in a kit for members included a membership card, information on the organisation and Fogg Dam, a membership list and a ring binder, or make use of the  internet for the provision of the basic information.

Agreed that a sub-committee of Heather, Leisa and Jenny develop a concept and report to the next meeting.

9.     Annual General Meeting Arrangements
Date, location and time for the FOFD AGM were discussed. Agreed that it be held on Sunday 23 September at the Fogg Dam Rotunda following a General meeting which would commence at 9.00am and be followed by a BBQ. Ted Kilpatrick to be invited to address the ordinary meeting and Parks to be asked to sponsor food and drink.

10.    Other business
    a)    Suggestion by Parks that FOFD might spray the Woodlands to Waterlilly boardwalk with lanoline before the wet season. Parks to provide suitable hand operated spraying equipment and the lanoline. FOFD would provide the labour. Estimated fee $2,000. FOFD would need to be able to provide a tax invoice, ie will need to obtain an Australian Business number or P&W would have to deduct tax before payment.  May need to seek qualification for tax exempt status.

Agreed to advise parks that FOFD would like to undertake the work.

b)    Funding priorities. Members are asked to propose by the 23 September General Meeting projects that FOFD might fund, eg provision of a spotting scope at the Pandanus Lookout.

c)    Website maintenance. No progress made on updating the website.

11.    University of Sydney.report.   
Dr Michael Crossland deputised for Dr Ben Phillips and made the following points:
•    University effort at Fogg Dam slows during the dry season. Up to 11 people work from the Fogg Dam research station, but current number is 4.
•    Greg Brown: snake and toad studies.  By radio tracking keelback snakes, has found females tend to return to the location they were born to lay their eggs.
•    Ben Phillips with Greg are looking at toad dispersal. While the toads lay up in the dry season, they tend to move west and south from Fogg Dam in the wet rather than stay at Fogg Dam. This may change over time.
•    Lidja: concentrating on small and baby water pythons – what they do, where they go. As radio tracking batteries (last about 3 months) deteriorate, she works on toads.  Findings: small/baby water pythons behave much the same as adults. Toads tend to breed later than native frogs and the metamorphs and small toads tend to congregate near water. There is cannibalism and metamorphs like to keep away from the big toads.
•    Michael is looking at the relationship between toad eggs which are poisonous and frog tadpoles. Many frog species will eat toad eggs. None of 13 (of the 17 or 18)
local frog species studied can cope with toad egg poison, ie if the tadpoles eat toad eggs they die without having the ability to learn to avoid eating toad eggs.
However, not all tadpoles eat the toad eggs so those that don’t may grow faster, mature faster and breed faster. Overall effect is uncertain.
•    Christa is looking at the effects of toads on birds.  Has found waders are not particularly interested in toad eggs or metamorphs. Also, there is as yet no evidence that eating road kill is causing birds a problem. The birds seem to prefer frogs (is it because they are smaller?) and the raptors and crows can cope with the relatively small amounts of poison in the tongue, liver and hearts of toads, possibly due to their Asian ancestry and exposure to similar toxins in Asian toads.

Heather thanked Michael for his thorough report.

12.    Meeting closed at 11.30am. Heather thanked all those present for participating in the working bee to replace boards along the Woodland to Waterlilies walk.