| Minutes 3 February 08 |
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Prue Adamson, Joint Management Planner, Parks and Wildlife.Student Volunteers.ABC Radio Report.More signage needed.Donation Boxes.
1. Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 9.15 am
2. Minutes of the meeting of 28 October 2007 were accepted as a true record. Moved Denise, seconded Alan A. 3. Business arising from minutes
4. Correspondence:In:· 8 Nov. Tax File Number received. · Email from Lisa Knight, teacher at Darwin High. Will email again when school starts re student volunteers – see Business arising from correspondence · Email from Alex Dudley to say he has moved interstate. · Email from Alan Scott to say he has moved to Queensland · 10 Dec 07 copy of letter from Ted Warren, MLA to the Hon. Len Kiely, MLA re replacement of the Monsoon Forest Boardwalk. · 24 Jan 08 Email from Prue Adamson, Senior Joint Management Planner asking if she could attend our Feb meeting. · 3 Feb 08 Email from Prof Ric Shine agreeing to meet to talk about input into Fogg Dam Joint Management Plan. Out: · Nov. Welcome letters sent to all members. · 22 Jan 08 Letter of welcome emailed to Ray and Betty Goodwin in the UK. · 22 Jan 08 to The Editor NT News re no funding being available to replace the Monsoon Forest Boardwalk. · 23 Jan 08 to The Hon Len Kieley, MLA re replacement of the Monsoon Forest Boardwalk with cc to local member, Ted Warren, MLA. · 2 Feb 08 Email to Prof Ric Shine, Sydney Uni inviting him to meet to discuss wetlands educational input into Joint Management Plan of Fogg Dam. Business arising from correspondence. · Darwin High School volunteering experience for students: 15 -20 at a time available one day a week over a period of 3 weeks in early March. Will be supervised by at least 1 teacher at all times. They seek projects which aren’t just weeding. · Issue of the boardwalk picked up by ABC radio. Part of an interview with Heather included in news bulletin on Mon 28th January and the Minister on Tues 29th. Heather also interviewed on morning program Thursday 31st where Dave West, Senior Officer with P&W said that a submission for replacement of the monsoon forest walk is before government. Later that morning Leon Compton interviewed Penny Tatsulis who commented on the poor maintenance of many parks, highlighting Fogg Dam’s importance. Correspondence accepted: Moved Jeremy, seconded Alan A. 5. Membership Ray and Betty Goodwin from the UK are welcomed as members. Heather mentioned that renewal of membership fees are due to be paid in March. 6. Monsoon Forest interpretive signage Strider and Alan A reported that there are several good explanatory signs along the walk, including the section that is closed and suggested those in the closed section should be relocated to the open parts of the walk. The meeting felt that plus extra signs would be appreciated by visitors (See note on creation of a place of pilgrimage, minutes of meeting 28 October 2007). Suggested that the painting and installation of interpretive signs could form part of the high school students’ project. Noted that insurance needs to be considered. 7. Donation Boxes Alan A noted that there are honesty boxes in some parks now. Agreed that a letter requesting approval to install two donation boxes be sent to the Director of Parks. To be followed up, if approval given, asking Parks to design and erect boxes. 8. Birding Guide Development Consideration deferred in the absence of Niven, 9. Guest Speaker – Prue Adamson, Joint Management Planner, Parks and Wildlife Prue has been engaged to develop Plans of Management for several NT parks. · She has wide experience in parks management and planning, ecotourism course development and teaching. Has worked in Kakadu, Pine Creek, Batchelor, Cambodia. Husband is a ranger. First hand knowledge of Fogg Dam Adelaide River plain before and after buffalo, weed infestation, crocodile increases, Aboriginal communities engagement, Threatened Species Network. It is important to get the views of everyone. · 27 NT parks will have joint NT Government – Tradional Owner (TO) management. Covered by Parks and Reserves (Frameworks for Future) Act 2003. She says TOs still coming to grips with how they can be involved. Seems they don’t see the need for great changes in how the parks are managed. · The various Joint Management Plans will be an agreement between the NTBG and TOs, worked out through consultative meetings and taking into account the views and ideas of various interest groups on perspectives and opportunities about the parks. · The plans will have an up to 10 year life with a five-year review and modification. · It is intended that Government will provide adequate funding to manage the parks and maintain their facilities to an appropriate standard. · Draft Adelaide River Parks Plan: Prue is looking to develop a draft plan for the Adelaide River parks/flood plain by October. Will include Fogg Dam, Harrison Dam, Lambells Lagoon, Black Jungle and the land between Fogg Dam and Lambells. Anticipates it will take three to four months after that for the plan to work its way through the government consideration system, which includes a public comment process. · Management issues include natural and cultural resource management, enterprise development, visitor and user group needs, governance and management structures. · Prue anticipates FOFD being able to attend one or more of the planning meetings and also seeks direct input from FOFD members on such things as: · How you currently use the reserve, with statistics if available · How you would like the parks to develop · Ideas and opportunities for future partnerships and activities · What you can offer the Joint Management process · Prue encourages us to think both regionally and on specific issues. Discussion during Prue’s presentation included: · tourism promotion versus park maintenance, · feral pig damage and control - contract shooting? · shooting at Lambells Lagoon and Harrison Dam – difficult issue for government as some groups want, some oppose. the heritage/tourism value of past activities, eg rice project and CSIRO research fire management and the impact of fire on plant populations and revegetation after fire – the suggestion was made that this might form a long term area of study for CDU students . Prue sought contacts in other local groups, and was given contacts for Lambells Lagoon LandCare. Heather thanked Prue for attending, outlining the Plan of Management process and for seeking input from FOFD, its individual members and from other relevant people and groups. 10. Other business · Members are asked to think and nominate points relevant to the management of Fogg Dam and the other Adelaide River parks. To be given a high priority at future meetings. · Jeremy advised of the great work of Parks, and Mark White in particular, to clear the trees along the Fogg Dam walks damaged by Cyclone Helen. · Heather noted Peter Walker has made modifications to the FOFD website to simplify management. 11. Next meeting: Sunday 24 February – deferred to Sunday 2 March - at Fogg Dam Ranger Station, Anzac Parade Middle Point. 12. Meeting closed at 11.30 am. Item Person responsible Completion date Membership fees due for year 2008 .Input to Parks & Wildlife Plan of Management Apply lanoline to boardwalksBird list for visitor brochurePrepare map for FOFD flyerSignificant tree list for Monsoon Forest Walk and name signsAsk if members willing to have their contact details accessible to FOFD members and/or the public Seek Conoco Phillips funding criteriaOrganise a meeting with an Arafura Games school organiser Suggestions for projects EveryoneEveryone AlanA/JeremyNivenNivenColinJennyall March 08Input Feb 24th meetingUpon provision of materials by ParksAlan A, Strider, Monica Action Items Completed since October Meeting: a) ABN and tax file number received. b) Publicity for state of Monsoon forest boardwalk and letter to new Minister. c) Website management simplified. d) Discussion initiated with Darwin High re school projects. e) Parks erected FOFD sign at Fogg Dam.. |