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Australia Post-Landcare equipment grants. Lanolin Coating for Boardwalks. FOFD Submission to PW for Adelaide River Parks.
Present: Alan Anderson, Gemina Anderson, Leisa Baldwin, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill.
Apologies: Jenny Rivers, Colin Rivers, Penny Wurm; Strider.
1. Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 9.15 am
2. Minutes of the meeting of 2 March 2008.
Heather noted that comments on minutes can be made directly via the website:
http://foggdamfriends.net
Amendment proposed by Alan Anderson on action items: it was not he who would meet with Lynette Hayes of Window on the Wetland. Agreed. Moved that amended minutes be accepted: Moved Gemina/Jeremy. Agreed. .
3. Business arising from minutes
a) Australia Post-Landcare equipment grants: To succeed need a plan or project and report on completion. While this seems to limit immediate options, there will be another round of grants later in the year. Considered we could seek general equipment for immediate and future use: first aid kit, gloves, repellent, drinking water container, cabinet or small shed for storage of equipment, office supplies eg handout materials, laminator, a panel/sign for the “FOFD sign board” (currently located outside Middle Point village), construction/installation of donation boxes and appropriate signage, viewing binoculars for Pandanus Lookout.
b) Lanoline treatment for Woodland to Waterlily boardwalk. In abeyance until P&W can provide the lanoline and equipment
c) Contact Lynette Hayes at Window on the Wetlands re meeting them and seeing how we might support them. Heather/Jeremy to action.
d) Fogg Dam equipment list from Ken Levy – Monika - deferred
e) Monsoon Forest Interpretive signage – Alan & Strider - deferred
f) Bird list for brochure – Niven - deferred
g) Map for FOFD flyer – Niven - deferred
h) Conoco Phillips funding criteria – Colin - deferred
i) Meeting with Arafura Games school organiser – Jenny - deferred
4. Correspondence:
In:
· 11 Mar from Minister Kiely re the MF boardwalk. The plan is for a prefab 900m long, 1.5m wide structure using recycled plastic decking, aluminium structural elements and lightweight ‘floating’ concrete pads. Project is currently being considered by government.
· 17 Mar, email from Barry Scott advising that donation boxes would require annual reports on $ received and how it was acquitted. Also a note on the box stating that FOFD is a not for profit organisation and how funds are used. P&W need to approve the design and be consulted on where they will be located.
· 26 Mar email from Mark Fogarty saying FOFD may use the donation box stored at Fog Dam park headquarters. This has no key but a new lock could easily be fitted; the design of the box is in P&W manual.
· 28 Mar, email from Barry Scott asking for old photos of Fogg Dam, particularly those that depict people using the dam and photos that show what the dam was like before it was overgrown with vegetation. Photos can be in colour or black and white. They are needed for the management plan and for monitoring and archive purposes. Copies will be made and photos returned. If used, the photographer will be acknowledged.
Out:
· Email and phone message to Lisa Knight, teacher at Darwin High re volunteers. No reply.
· 25 Mar email to Mark Fogarty asking if donation box could be made available to FOFD, if it has a key and design information.
5. Business arising from correspondence.
· As Darwin High volunteers don’t seem to be available, discussed whether we should consider inviting Conservation Volunteers Aust. Or Green Corps to join us with a working bee?
· Donation box. Alan A believes there is a second one at Wildman. He notes from past experience they will have to be mounted strongly, eg so can’t be broken onto or pulled out.
6. Membership
Membership fees are due to be renewed: individual $25.00; Family $30.00; student/pensioner $15.00. Details for direct bank deposit are:
Name of A/c : Friends of Fogg Dam Inc
BSB : 633 000
A/c number 13013 7946
Bendigo Bank, Coolalinga.
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.
Agreed that reminders be sent to members who haven’t yet paid intend to renew their membership. Firstly an email asking if it is intended to renew membership with a follow-up letter to those who don’t respond or pay.
Leisa suggested this is a good time to start a membership drive around town. Jeremy said that one option is the Environment Centre’ World Environment Day Expo, as FOFD attended last year, to be held at NT Museum on Sunday 1 June. Agreed Jeremy should book space at this.
7. Development of FOFD Submission to Parks and Wildlife Management Plan for Adelaide River Parks (includes Fogg and Harrison Dams, Lambells Lagoon and Black Jungle)
Jeremy has completed a summary of the 1990 Clouston consultancy report entitled “Fogg Dam Landscape Master Plan” for members. This provides an understanding of how, in the early 1990s, Fogg Dam was to developed. Several things were done eg bitumen road from the east, construction of some passing bays, viewing platforms, creation of islands in the dam, the woodlands to Waterlillies and Monsoon Forest walks. But at some stage, presumably when the decision was made to build Windows on the Wetland on Beatrice Hill instead of at Fogg Dam, further work on Clouston’s concepts stopped, eg road access with car parks and walking tracks on the western side of the dam, restaurant, boardwalks to the islands and traffic limitation on the dam wall, extension of the forest walks, more interpretive signage, greater promotion of the region’s heritage values.
See the minutes of the 2 March meeting for key points of Clouston’s report and the Conservation Commission of the NT’s 1993 Draft Plan of Management. Jeremy felt most of the concepts contained in those remain valid.
Heather spoke on notes she has prepared on issues to be submitted to Parks for consideration in preparing the Plan of Management including:
· Visitation – need to make Fogg Dam as attractive to locals as it (apparently) was about 25 years ago:
· Water management – need for much more open water to attract water birds and enhance viewing. Devise a plan to maintain this, eg periodic draining and desilting of the dam whilst maintaining water in part of the dam for tourists.
· Improve causeway traffic management: options include restrict access to large buses, vehicles travelling westward to have right of way, additional passing bays, restrict speed to 20km an hour, install appropriate signage.
· Consolidate and make an exhibit of the area’s rice project equipment, perhaps at Windows on the Wetland
· Protect the biodiversity of the Adelaide River habitats, floodplain and upland vegetation as land use in the region and the climate changes. Monitor water quality and undertake corrective action. Maintain an appropriate fire management regime.
· Collect ad present historical information, photographs and film.
Other points raised:
· The use of the bank in the middle of the causeway as a car parking area is proving popular and should continue.
· A number of bollards which hawks and owls often roost on, need replacing.
· Aboriginal guided tours should be encouraged.
These comments to be amalgamated into a draft submission.
To seek comments and input, the draft of the Management Plan submission will be put on the FOFD website and that copies be provided to: Birds NT (Niven McCrie), Filed Naturalists, Top End Native Plants, Tourism Top End, Tourism NT, Traditional Owners (Graham Kenyon), Historical Society.
8. Other Business
a) Those interested in participating in revision of Business Plan, which will then be put to members, please contact Heather or Jeremy on 8988 5599. This will be done at informal coffee meetings at locations to suit participants.
b) Heritage/History. Discussed. Joining NT Historical Society. Heather/Jeremy to check whether FOFD could join as an associate member or be placed on their mailing list
c) Linkage with Windows on the Wetland. Heather and Jeremy to arrange meeting with WOTW manager, Lynette Hayes, to ascertain their plans and see how we might work together. Also to see if FOFD can hold a meeting at WOTW.
d) Open Day: Leisa suggested an open day to promote Fogg Dam and FOFD. Discussed with ideas suggested of September, a barbeque, let people know what we are doing, seek new members, find out what people seek at Fogg Dam, publicise on radio TV (7), papers
e) Website: discussed possibility of installing a webcamera linked to the FOFD website. May be impractical given no power supply at Fogg Dam..
f) Meeting location: consider holding some closer to town which may encourage more members to participate.. Marlows Lagoon suggested.
g) Graeme Talbot of Parks and Wildlife joined us for morning tea. Discussed:Park rules as some people seen fishing and bringing pets into Fogg Dam. Suggest better signage needed.
h) Butt bins
i) Donation boxes – viewed sample
j) Placing reflective markers along forest walks – viewed standard Parks markers
k) Relocation of the interpretive sign at the Woodlands walk car park – to makeit more visible to tourists
· possible projects for Darwin High students: installing markers along walks, relocating two signs currently situated on the closed section of the Monsoon Forrest walk.
9. Next Meeting:
Sunday 20 April 9am at Parks & Wildlife Fogg Dam Ranger Station (as the 4th Sunday is the Anzac Day weekend and to finalise the Plan of Management submission before the end of April),
10. Meeting closed at 11.45 am
Action items appended.
Item Person responsible Completion date
Membership fees due for year 2008 -reminders to be sent outInput to Parks & Wildlife Plan of Management· Draft proposal· Circulate for commentLandcare grant ideas:· Cost signs· Cost binoculars· Cost first aid kit· Cost gloves, office suppliesMeeting with Windows on WetlandDraft letter to Parks: sign stating rules for entryContact Conservation Volunteers Aust and Green CorpSeek Fogg Dam equipment list (Ken Levy)Coordinate lanoline for 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 ConocoPhillips funding criteriaOrganise a meeting with an Arafura Games school organiser Propose projects that FOFD might fund HeatherEveryone Heather/JeremyHeather/JeremyAllAlan AJeremyHeatherHeather/JeremyHeather/JeremyAlan AHeaterh/JeremyMonikaAlanA/JeremyNivenNivenColinJennyAll April 08Input for 20 April meetingApril 20th meetingApril 20th meetingApril 20th meetingApril 20th meetingUp to ParksAlan A, Strider, Monika
Action Items Completed since February Meeting:
a) Replacement of Monsoon forest boardwalk gains budget consideration.
b) Discussion continuing with Darwin High re school projects.
c) Parks considering reflectors on walking tracks, “Bin ya butt” bins, donation boxes, relocation of interpretive signs along Monsoon forest walk and at Woodlands car park.
d) Have learnt Water Resources is trying to locate WW2 army bores.
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