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World Environment Day, FOFD Open Day , Minister Kiely's visit,
Meeting held in the Coolalinga Community Meeting Room of Ted Warren, MLA. Present: Alan Anderson, Jo Vandermark, Denise Goodfellow, Michael Stott, Mary Savage, Keith Savage, Penny Worm, Cynthia Croft, Phillip Croft, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill.
Apologies: Jenny Rivers, Colin Rivers, Leisa Baldwin
1. Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 2.45 pm, welcoming Mary and Keith Savage who had expressed interest in FOFD at the World environment Day Expo. 2. Minutes of meetings 25 May Accepted: Jo, Jeremy.
3. Business arising from minutes
a) Landcare equipment grants. Awaiting next call for grant applications, approx September.. Cynthia offered to assist in preparing the submission.
b) Lanoline treatment for Woodland to Waterlily boardwalk. No word yet from Parks
c) Fogg Dam rice project equipment list from Ken Levy - Monika. Action: Heather to check with Monika
d) Monsoon Forest walk Interpretive signage – Actions: Parks to be asked to make new signs covering the different types of trees and shrubs and their uses and to produce handout notes.
e) Bird list for brochure – Niven. Action: Heather to check with Niven
f) Donation boxes – awaiting formal response from Parks (additional to the March email from Barry Scott). Meanwhile, Alan A and Mark Fogarty (Parks) are working on a design. Action: To consider further. 4. Correspondence: In:
• Emails from Jan Hintze, Denise, Leisa, Peta, Alan & Gemina re alternative meeting times at Coolalinga: 3 ok Sat pm; 2 ok Sun pm; 2 Sun am; 1 Sat am.
• Bendigo Bank Statement as at 26 May: $1,160.00
• 18 Jun, email from Barry Scott responding to questions about the open day:
a) replacement of unstable boards in boardwalks. Recycled plastic boards have been ordered and should be here soon.
b) potholes in the causeway to be repaired. This is in the hands of the construction agency of DIP. Work has commenced.
c) transport across the causeway. No idea how we will achieve this!
d) live creatures to be on exhibit. A permit can be arranged. Contact Dr Greg Brown or others at Sydney University.
e) Can P&W help out with prizes for children? Need to advise the number of prizes required. Can help, eg double pass to Territory Wildlife Park, Steve Parish ‘kid friendly books’ for major prizes and posters and park notes, etc for minor prizes.
f) Can we borrow P&W BBQ. Yes.
• 23 June Tax Invoice and Letter of Currency from Altiora for Public Liability & Personal Accident Insurance.
• 26 June, email from Dr Greg Brown agreeing to speak at Minister Kiely’s visit.
• 27 June, email with application form for Heritage Listing
Out:
• Application for Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance with Altiora to cover Open Day in September – cost $300.00, paid by Jeremy..
• 26 June, email to Dr Greg Brown asking if he would speak about the uniqueness of Fogg Dam at Minister Kiely’s visit.
• 26 June, emails to those who haven’t renewed membership. 5. Business arising from correspondence. • Open Day at Fogg Dam on 21 September - see Item 7 below.
• Preparation for Minister’s visit – see item 6 below.
: 6. Minister Kiely’s visit at 4.00 pm Tuesday 1 JulyAnticipate Ministerial party of 3; FOFD 6; Sydney Uni 1; P&W 2 or 3, ie 12-13 attending. Will provide glasses, serviettes, tablecloth, crackers, dips, some vegetables, corn chips, red & white wine, non alcoholic drink. Dr Greg Brown (Sydney University) to speak on significance and international reputation of Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve.
Priorities discussed to bring up with Minister:
• Thanks for provision of funding for boardwalk replacement
• General state of maintenance/program maintenance, which has become a safety issue, eg state of boards on Woodlands to Waterlillies walk, failure to obtain lanoline before last wet
• Need for toilet on western side of dam
• Dam surface
• Weed management
• Research into fire management – Penny noted work of John Christopherson on floodplain fire and weed management
• Outcome of 2007 visitor survey
Agreed that:
• Heather provide overview of FOFD and thanks for obtaining boardwalk replacement funds
• Jo raise general state of vegetation/weed management
• Denise raise maintenance/safety issues
• Penny raise potential for research on fire management 7. Open Day: decided to hold on Sunday 21 September based on availability of FOFD members. .Sub-committee of Jenny, Leisa, Jo, Gemina.Liaising with Barry Scott on process to organise the open day.
Permit application covering activities and including copy of Public Liability Insurance to be prepared and lodged with NRETA.
Proposed Events and items to resolve:
• Permit application - Jeremy
• Bands –David Kenyan - Alan A to liaise with David
• Displays (propose FOFD, P&W, Landcare, Field Naturalists, Native Plant Society, Sydney University re toads and with live animals)
• Talks (propose Traditional owner welcome, Minister to open, Parks, Sydney University)
• Walks (trees – eg Strider & Native Plants, herbs - Monika, birds – Niven, butterflies – Don Franklin, other fauna - Field Nats)
• Rice Project – Jeremy to discuss with Ted Kilpatrick, Wendy Thomsen)
• Food (barbeque, sausage sizzle – Heather to discuss with Litchfield Lions)
• Parking and transport across dam wall (Alan A to discuss with P&W)
• First aid – Alan A o check with Parks/St Johns
• Communications – Alan/Jeremy offered use of their walkie-talkies
• Something for children, groups – Treasure hunt and prize, clown, drawing competition. Denise suggested a competition based on finding the most bush tucker or medicine plants.
• Feedback/evaluation survey (including Plan of Management input) with a “lucky door” prize. Jeremy to discuss with Prue Adamson
• Other invitations to attend: Administrator, Chief Minister, Minister Kiely, Minister Vatskalis (Tourism), Tourism Top End.
• P&W to promote Boardwalk, Plan of Management, Junior Range program
• P&W, Tourism NT, Crocodile cruises and ABC to be asked to donate prizes
8. World Environment DayAt the NT Museum Sunday 1 June, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. Opened by Minister Kiely. FOFD display was manned by Leisa, Strider and Jeremy with photos, information used to promote restoration of the Monsoon Forest boardwalk plus information on birds, butterflies, plants, walks, Ranger tours, membership, open day and also seeking suggestions for inclusion in the P&W Plan of Management.
Minister Kiely visited the display and three people signed up to receive emails on FOFD activities. Several other events took place around Darwin and Adelaide River that day and attendance at World Environment Day was disappointing.
9. Other Business
Old Fogg Dam photos. Jo left some 1980s photos of Fogg Dam for the Plan of Management review. Action: to advise Barry Scott that Ian Morris, Greg Miles and Derek Rolfe may have photos suitable for the Plan of Management.
Thanks to Ted for use of his facilities.
10. Next Meeting: Sunday 20 July at 2.30 pm at Ted Warren’s Coolalinga Office – entry through the door: at the rear of the shops. will include feedback on Boardwalk replacement, plans for Open Day, Plan of Management review status.
11. Meeting closed at 4.25 pm Action items appended.
Action Items arising from May Meeting
• Finalise preparations for Minister’s visit: Heather/Jeremy – refreshments, handouts
• 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
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: Publicity
o Sub-Committee/Heather – program schedule
• Next meeting venue: Jeremy to book Ted Warren’s office.
Action Items Completed since May Meeting:
• Donation boxes – to consider further
• World Environment Day – FOFD mounted display
• Open Day – Sub-committee prepared draft program
• Website – new tab arranged covering FOFD’s Plan of Management submission
• Calendar – Leisa is working on this
• Boardwalk – Heather: letter of thanks to Minister Kiely
Action Items carried over:
• Equipment for grants: Pass costing information to Colin for consolidation
• Working bees – seek suggestions from P&W
• Fogg Dam equipment list - Check with Monika
• 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
• Bird list for brochure – Contact Niven
• Resource Centre – Heather/Jeremy advise Prue Adamson of resources available
• Old Fogg Dam photos – Heather/Jeremy to advise Barry Scott of possible sources
• 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 |
