|
Present: Monika Osterkamp-Madsen, Alan Anderson, Gemina Anderson, Jenny Rivers, Colin Rivers, Heather Boulden; Jeremy Hemphill.
Apologies: Denise Goodfellow, Michael Stott, Penny Wurm; Sally Forsstrom.
1. Opening. Heather opened the meeting at 9.15 am
2. Minutes of the meeting of 3 February 2008. Amendment from Alan Anderson, item 7: to change the word ‘donation’ to ‘honesty.’ Moved that amended minutes be accepted: Jeremy, seconded Gemina. Agreed. .
3. Business arising from minutes a) Lanoline treatment for Woodland to Waterlily boardwalk. This hasn’t happened because the lanoline and equipment haven’t yet been obtained by P&W. Mark Fogarty advises that even if available, it is now too wet to do the work. .
b) Jeremy Hemphill reported on his meeting with Professor Rick Shine on 18 February. Rick says he hasn’t thought much on Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve management. However he:
· sees the clearing the growth in the dam as the number one priority. He says most Darwin sunset postcard photos some 20-25 years ago were taken from the Fogg Dam causeway. He doesn’t think dredging would be good for the ecology, eg its immediate impact on the file snakes, etc. Not opposed in principle to limited grazing by cattle.
· Thinks reflectors or markers along the forest paths is a good idea (he’s become lost several times).
· Thinks much more could be made of the history of the area, eg might even rehabilitate and operate one of the rice paddies.
4. Correspondence:In:· 31 Jan 08 Letter from Ted Warren, MLA, enclosing the strong letter he sent to Minister Kiely lobbying for replacement of the Monsoon Forest Boardwalk.
· 11 Feb Letter from Ted Warren, MLA, enclosing a response from the Minister saying: a capital works submission for $1.5M to replace the MF boardwalk has been prepared for cabinet to determine the possibility of bringing it forward to the 2007-08 financial year, including cost options.
· 19 Feb email from Peter Foster re small equipment grants available through Landcare www.landcareonline.com/funding_opportunity_details.asp?fo_id=9). Grant closes 25 April 2008.
· 21 Feb email from Peter Walker. Suggestion for a ‘bin ya butt program’ which used to operate at Byron Bay to prevent littering with cigarette butts. Used flim canisters, available from photo processing shops, made available for smokers to use for ash and butts for them to remove and dispose in garbage bins.
· 26 Feb statement from Bendigo Bank: account balance $605.00.
Out:· 4 Feb email to Prue Adamson, thanking her for coming to our February meeting.
· 11 Feb Letter of thanks to Barry Scott with cc to Mark Fogarty re FOFD sign at the dam.
· Emails thanking Ted Warren, MLA, for his support.
· 21 Feb Letter to Graham Phelps, Executive Director Parks, seeking approval to have two donation boxes at Fogg Dam.
· 27 Feb email to Lisa Knight, teacher at Darwin High, asking if student volunteer project is still happening.
5. Business arising from correspondence · Landcare small equipment grants. These need to relate to planned projects. No decision made as first need to define projects. Possible types of equipment discussed were:
o Tools: eg spray units, hand tools: obtain our own or use Parks?
o Gloves for School children assisting at Fogg Dam
o Pots for seed collection and propagation
o Safety equipment eg first aid box, gloves, glasses, gumboots
o Preparation or purchase of promotional materials, eg handouts/checklists for visitors, display equipment,
o Equipment for visitor enjoyment, eg binoculars for lookouts, headlights for night walking
· “Bin Ya Butts”: Alan A suggested specific bins for cigarette butts could be fixed to posts as in Litchfield.
6. MembershipHeather noted membership fees are now due to be renewed: Individual $25.00; Family $30.00; student/pensioner $15.00. Cash or Direct Bank Deposit is preferred to minimise bank fees. 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 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 members are to be contacted individually re preference for cash or direct deposit modes of payment. 7. Development of FOFD Submission to Parks and Wildlife Management Plan for Adelaide River Parks (includes Fogg and Harrison Dams, Lambell’s Lagoon and Black Jungle)
Heather had prepared notes of members suggestions for improving Fogg Dam from member application forms and suggestions noted in minutes of meetings. A review of both the 1990 Clouston consultancy report entitled “Fogg Dam Landscape Master Plan” and the NT Conservation Commission’s Draft Plan of Management for Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve provided the following information.
· Towards Year 2000 Northern Territory Tourism Development Plan (1989) ranked the Top End Wetlands as the second priority for tourist development.
· Four zones were proposed:
o Recreation for sightseeing, picnicking, photography, short walks, toilets, high standard walking tracks
o natural zones to cater for people seeking experiences away from crowds
o protected zones with access limited by permit (eg Black Jungle)
o Habitat Research and Management zone
· Aesthetic Quality: close viewing water birds, flowering water lillies, “catching the reflected glow of sunset silhouetting trees drowned in the placid waters of the lake”, views from the causeway and observation platforms, etc
· Need to protect the biodiversity of the wetlands’ habitats: including monitoring of water quality (conductivity, pH and pesticide residue) and flora and fauna with preparation of a plan to manage unacceptable changes. Foresaw possible impact of greenhouse effect.
· Water management: “water catchment, quality and control are fundamental considerations in the conservation of Fogg Dam Reserve’s lake, dam wall and the Wetlands”.
· Native flora includes sedge grassland, melaleuca swamp, monsoon forest and acacia-lophostemon forest. Some serious infestations of Introduced plants need management.
· Access to areas of interest and traffic management: access ways, rules (eg passing on causeway, speed limits and parking areas).
· The 1993 Draft Plan of Management also considers:
o Feral animal control – cattle, buffalo, pigs, cats, dogs, fence-lines
o Hunting – Lambell’s Lagoon, Harrison Dam with buffer zones
o Fire management – (Barry Scott has previously addressed FOFD on current methods)
o Weed management – formation of local Landcare Group
o Visitor safety, eg crocodiles, snakes
o Visitor facilities
o Traffic management
o History and heritage: Aboriginal, European, World War 2, rice project
o Research – several recommendations for ongoing study
o Administration of the Adelaide River parks
These issues were discussed and it was decided Heather and Jeremy should continue work on a draft of the FOFD submission to the Management Plan for the next FOFD meeting. This to build on previous reports/plans and cover:
· Facility maintenance and development: causeway – speed limits, dam, walks, picnic areas, parking, kiosk, toilets
· Tourism Promotion: building a “Wow” factor to attract people to visit/learn about the region’s history and biology/ecology
· Park Management: the dams, habitat, interpretive signage, etc
· Visitor Information: Resource Centre - where, eg possible link with Window on the Wetlands; signage; handouts - things to do & see, eg historical sites; program of night walks
· Visitor management: access, traffic flow rules, parking, etc
· Research: water, impact of nearby farming, toads, weeds
· Hunting/feral animal control: water fowl season undesirable, pigs, buffer zones
· Heritage: Humpty Doo rice project and equipment (contact Monika, Ken Levy), World War 2 Army history and facilities
A meeting is proposed with Lynette Hayes, Graham Kenyon’s partner and manager of Widows on the Wetlands (WOTW), to learn what they are/will be doing and how we can support them. Also to see if FOFD can hold a meeting at WOTW. 8. Other Businessa) Business Plan: Heather suggested this is due for review. If interested please contact Heather or Jeremy on 8988 5599. It’s proposed that a preliminary review to put to members will be undertaken over coffee at a location to suit participants.
b) Heritage/History. Heather asked if members thought it worthwhile to seek associate membership of the NT Historical Society. Discussed without decision. Note that we already have informal links with NT Field Naturalists and Top End Native Plant Society.
c) Mark Fogarty of Parks and Wildlife joined us for morning tea. Discussed:
· Butt bins
· Donation boxes – viewed sample
· placing reflective markers along forest walks – viewed standard Parks markers
· relocation of the interpretive sign at the Woodlands walk car park – to make it 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 30 March (as the 4th Sunday is the Easter weekend), 9am at Parks & Wildlife Fogg Dam Ranger Station
10. Formal meeting closed at 10.00 am Morning tea and discussion continued until12.00 noon
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 Contact Lynette Hayes at WOTW to ask about meeting to learn about their role and if we can support them.Define projects for Landcare grantsMeeting with Windows on WetlandSeek Fogg Dam equipment list (Ken Levy)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 ConocoPhillips funding criteriaOrganise a meeting with an Arafura Games school organiser Propose projects that FOFD might fund HeatherEveryone AlanAndersonAllHeather/JeremyMonikaAlanA/JeremyNivenNivenColinJennyAll March 08Input March 30th meetingMarch 30th meetingMarch 30th meetingMarch 30th meetingMarch 30th meetingUpon provision of materials by 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.
|
