1.        Meeting held at Kezia Purick's Community Room at Coolalinga.

Meeting Opened 3.30pm                

         Present: Leisa Baldwin, Wayne Bennett, Kristen Ap[pel (P&W), Alan Anderson, Gemina Corpus, Leanne Hardinge , Jane Moore, Heather Boulden, Jeremy Hemphill. 

Apologies: Jo Vandermark, Ross Trevena, Denise Goodfellow, Michael Stott, Gerry Wood, Brigitte Wilson, Brian Reid, Lyn Reid.

2       Minutes of meetings:

·      17 April 2011 & 19 June 2011 approved: Jeremy, Leisa

·       25 Sep 2011 approved: Jeremy, Wayne 

3       Business arising from minutes & ongoing issues

·      Letter to Minister re the need to extend boardwalk area on Woodland to Water Lily Walk was prepared and sent.  

4.         Correspondence:  Out:

·      20 Jun 11, email to Michael Crossland, thanking him for the most interesting talk about recent research at the Sydney Uni Tropical Research Centre at Fogg Dam.

·      26 Jul 11, email from The Growers, offering premium wines from $5 per bottle.

·      29 Jul 11, Newsletter 2 distributed.

·      1 Aug 11, email to NRMB, progress report on Olive Hymenachne

·      25 Aug 11, email to Ellen Fogg Turner, asking if she wished to continue membership with FOFD.

·      29 Aug 11, email to NT members informing of Rice Trail Grant and inviting involvement on working group.

·      31 Aug 11, email to NRMB, advising that our final report is delayed due to accessing details from P&W.

·      1 Sep 11, email to NRMB, Final report on Olive Hymenachne sent.

·      2 Sep 11, email to NRMB, amended page 6, acquittal, of Report sent.

·      6 Sep 11, email to Thomas Madsen, asking if he’d be available to speak at our AGM.

·      21 Sep 11, email to Karen Moir of Heritage, thanking her for emailing documents and advising they will be returned in a week or two.

·      4 Oct 11, email to Anne Walters, Ministerial officer thanking her for the updated information about the sluice gate works.  Also stating that, unless last year’s design plans have changed, the dam has to be drained to install the sluice gate so it shouldn’t matter if the water level is high or low. Both Graham and David Kenyon are favourable about the proposal.  Professor Madsen of Wollongong University tells us the main danger to the Fogg Dam environment is if cattle are put on land north of the conservation reserve it would devastate the water python/dusky rat populations.

·      4 Oct 11, email to Greg Williams & Kristen Appel (P&W), forwarding information about the EnvironmeNT grant of $8,000 for control of Olive Hymenachne.

·      6 Oct 11, email to Kristen Appel, attaching copies of: Wetland Proposal; 2010 Field Day Program and Evaluation; FOFD submission to P&W Management Plan in 2008.

·      9 Oct 11, letter to the Hon. Karl Hampton, MLA, bringing to his attention the need for the boardwalk on Woodland to Water Lily Walk to be extended because the walk remains closed into the dry season because it’s too wet.

·      13 Oct 11, email to Vali Yousefpour (DCI engineer), enclosing: copy of Masters thesis on vegetation in Fogg Dam; summary of thesis; power point presentation of project; and a FOFD note on what to monitor when there’s more open water.

·      16 Oct 11, email to members reminding about the AGM and enclosing financial statements.

Correspondence In:

·        29 Jul & 5 Aug 11, emails thanking for newsletter from Minister McCarthy, Stuart Blanch, Beryl Rantall.

·        undated letter from Minister Karl Hampton, advising application to continue working on eradication of Olive hymenachne within Fogg Dam catchment area has been approved and inviting to afternoon tea on 7 September.

·        7 Sep 11, email from Thomas Madsen, saying he’s unsure whether he’ll be here at the time of the AGM.  Attached papers about the biomass at Fogg Dam.

·        8 Sep 11, email from Anne Walters – Min. Advisor, advising that installation of the sluice gate was planned for this year but there is too much water behind the dam wall to do it this year and it will have to wait until next dry season, possibly next financial year.  There is no commitment on the FOFD wetland proposal.   It will be explored and depend upon: 1, having funding to add to the planned works; 2, not having adverse implications for other species, eg snakes and rats; 3, support of the TOs.

·        16 Sep 11, email from Karen Moir, Heritage Branch NRETAS, advising approval of FOFD Heritage Grant and attaching: Conditions letter; Grant Agreement; Schedule 1, and Schedule 2.

·        19 Sep 11, email from Wendy Walsh, NRETAS, attaching two letters (1) conditions of grant for Olive Hymenachne & attaching schedules 1&2 plus Agreement to be signed & (2) formal letter of offer.

·        5 Oct 11, email from Kristen Appel (P&W), to arrange meeting re Olive Hymenachne grant.

·        10 Oct 11, email from Greg Williams, inviting to join meeting with engineer at Fogg Dam re the sluice gate and other works.

Correspondencen approved: Jeremy, Leisa

5.         Business arising from correspondence: 

·      Grant offers – see under separate item.

·        The Traditional Owners are in favour of the wetland proposal.   Dr Greg Brown of Sydney Uni says it will not be a problem to snakes and rats.

6       Newsletter.  

         2^nd edition distributed on 29 July.  Positive feedback received and stimulated membership renewal. Wayne advised he will start on the 3^rd edition shortly.

7.      NRMB grant with P&W Fogg Dam to Control & eradication of olive hymenachne

         Final Report with acquittal have been sent. Jeremy noted that due to airboat problems, not all the planned work was carried out, the result is that not all fuel and herbicide purchased has been used.

8       2011 EnvironmeNT

·      Approval of $5,000 to continue working to eradicate Olive Hymenachne.

·      Paperwork to accept the grant to be undertaken with P&W including plan and budget.

·      Working bees for the project to be advised.

9       Heritage Grant for Rice Trail.  

·      Applied for $13,410.00 and have been advised approval of $10,000. 

·      Need working group, especially anyone with experience to do with downloading tourist info on MP3 players.

· The roof of the rice mill building at the 14 mile is now very rusty. Apparently (Kezia Purick), the buildings date from World War 2. They are now owned by Dale Fong Lim. – Photographs are planned.

· Kristen suggested we check with government archives to see if there are records on the building and perhaps audio files, also Peter Forrest and NT News..

· Wayne suggested we consider a podcast and offered to assist Jeremy follow through on the various ideas..

10     Field Day, 29 April 2012.  

·      Funding of $5,000 granted. 

·      In view of the causeway condition and possibility it may be closed to traffic on 29 April, see Item 11) the date will be reviewed.

·      Working Group for planning to meet soon:  Leisa, Catherine (researcher at CDU), Heather, Jane.

11     Opening Fogg Dam water & wetlands proposal

·   In Oct P&W, DCI and Jeremy met at the dam to consider ways to open significant water along causeway. DCI’s geotechnical engineer reported the causeway is in poor condition so plans to install a sluice gate have been shelved. Also until the central spillway is strengthened, the causeway should be closed to traffic when water flows over that spillway.  Options and strategies to manage the dam in the long term are being considered.

·   Bird & open water monitoring  – photo points still to be identified with P&W staff

12.    Donation box & brochure holders – nothing new to report – with P&W.

13     Finance

         Since June $185.45 in donations were received  from campers at Eden at Fogg Dam.

There was $2,084.42 in fixed deposit and  $1,472.82 in general account.

14     Memberships:   45 members (31 NT; 8 interstate; 6 overseas)

15     Other business

·      3 Sep.  Prof. Thomas Madsen, Wollongong University met with Heather Boulden re wetland proposal and field day. Probably not available in April 2012..

·      7 Sep.  Jeremy attended EnvironmeNT & Heritage Grant afternoon tea hosted by Minister Karl Hampton. 

·      Landcare meeting attended by Jeremy

16    Next meeting:  a Working Bee at Fogg dam at 9.00am Sunday 27 November at Coolalinga, followed by a BBQ and meeting. Arrangements to be made with Dean Lonza of P&W.

Summary of issues to follow up.

17.    Kristen Appel provided an informative review of P&W’s Fogg Dam Ranger Station’s operational features, issues and plans and asked up for our long term views on how the Adelaide River parks should be managed. Operations are constrained by staffing numbers and budget allocation. \Action to fill all staff positions is underway.

18     Meeting closed 4.40pm

 The meeting was held at Coolalinga in the Community Room of Kezia Purick, MLA

1.        Meeting opened at 3.30pm

 Present: Leisa Baldwin, Wayne Bennett, Kristen Appel, Alan Anderson, Gemina Corpus,  Leanne Harding, Jane Moore, Heather Boulden, Jeremy Hemphill.   
         

         Apologies: Jo Vandermark, Ross Trevena, Denise Goodfellow, Michael Stott, Gerry Wood, Brigitte Wilson, Lyn Reid, Brian Reid.

2       Minutes of meetings 17 April, 19 June, 25 Sep 2011.
17April  approved- Jeremy/Leisa

         19 June and 25 September approved – Jeremy/Wayne

3       Business arising from minutes & ongoing issues

·      A letter was sent to Minister Hampton re the need to extend boardwalk area on Woodland to Water Lily Walk.  

4.         Correspondence:  Out:

·      20 Jun 11, email to Michael Crossland, thanking him for the most interesting talk about recent research at the Sydney Uni Tropical Research Centre at Fogg Dam.

·      26 Jul 11, email from The Growers, offering premium wines from $5 per bottle.

·      29 Jul 11, Newsletter 2 distributed.

·      1 Aug 11, email to NRMB, progress report on olive hymenachne

·      25 Aug 11, email to Ellen Fogg Turner, asking if she wished to continue membership with FOFD.

·      29 Aug 11, email to NT members informing of Rice Trail Grant and inviting involvement on working group.

·      31 Aug 11, email to NRMB, advising that our final report is delayed due to accessing details from P&W.

·      1 Sep 11, email to NRMB, Final report on Olive Hymenachne sent.

·      2 Sep 11, email to NRMB, amended page 6, acquittal, of Report sent.

·      6 Sep 11, email to Thomas Madsen, asking if he’d be available to speak at our AGM.

·      21 Sep 11, email to Karen Moir of Heritage, thanking her for emailing documents and advising they will be returned in a week or two.

·      4 Oct 11, email to Anne Walters, Ministerial officer thanking her for the updated information about the sluice gate works.  Also stating that, unless last year’s design plans have changed, the dam has to be drained to install the sluice gate so it shouldn’t matter if the water level is high or low. Both Graham and David Kenyon are favourable about the proposal.  Professor Madsen of Wollongong University tells us the main danger to the Fogg Dam environment is if cattle are put on land north of the conservation reserve it would devastate the water python/dusky rat populations.

·      4 Oct 11, email to Greg Williams & Kristen Appel (P&W), forwarding information about the EnvironmeNT grant of $8,000 for control of Olive Hymenachne.

·      6 Oct 11, email to Kristen Appel, attaching copies of: Wetland Proposal; 2010 Field Day Program and Evaluation; FOFD submission to P&W Management Plan in 2008.

·      9 Oct 11, letter to the Hon. Karl Hampton, MLA, bringing to his attention the need for the boardwalk on Woodland to Water Lily Walk to be extended because the walk remains closed into the dry season because it’s too wet.

·      13 Oct 11, email to Vali Yousefpour (DCI engineer), enclosing: copy of the Masters thesis on vegetation in Fogg Dam; summary of thesis; powerpoint presentation of the project; and a FOFD note on what to monitor when there’s more open water.

·      16 Oct 11, email to members reminding about the AGM and enclosing financial statements.

Correspondence In:

·        29 Jul & 5 Aug 11, emails thanking FOFD for the newsletter received from Minister McCarthy, Stuart Blanch, Beryl Rantall.

·        undated letter from Minister Karl Hampton, advising application to continue working on eradication of Olive hymenachne within Fogg Dam catchment area has been approved and inviting Jeremy to afternoon tea on 7 September.

·        7 Sep 11, email from Thomas Madsen, saying he’s unsure whether he’ll be here at the time of the AGM.  Attached papers about the biomass at Fogg Dam.

·        8 Sep 11, email from Anne Walters – Min. Advisor, advising that installation of the sluice gate was planned for this year but there is too much water behind the dam wall to do it this year and it will have to wait until next dry season, possibly next financial year.  There is no commitment on the FOFD wetland proposal.   It will be explored and depend upon: 1, having funding to add to the planned works; 2, not having adverse implications for other species, eg snakes and rats; 3, support of the TOs.

·        16 Sep 11, email from Karen Moir, Heritage Branch NRETAS, advising approval of FOFD Heritage Grant and attaching: Conditions letter; Grant Agreement; Schedule 1, and Schedule 2.

·        19 Sep 11, email from Wendy Walsh, NRETAS, attaching two letters (1) conditions of grant for Olive Hymenachne & attaching schedules 1&2 plus Agreement to be signed & (2) formal letter of offer.

·        5 Oct 11, email from Kristen Appel (P&W), to arrange meeting re Olive Hymenachne grant.

·        10 Oct 11, email from Greg Williams, inviting to join meeting with engineer at Fogg Dam re the sluice gate and other works.

Correspondence accepted- Jeremy/Leisa.

5.         Business arising from correspondence: 

·      Grant offers – see under separate item.

·        The TOs are in favour of the wetland proposal.   Dr Greg Brown of Sydney Uni says it will not be a problem to snakes and rats.

6       Newsletter.  

         2^nd edition distributed on 29 July.  Positive feedback received and stimulated membership renewal. Wayne advised he is about to start work on the 3^rd edition.

7.      NRMB grant with P&W Fogg Dam to Control & eradication of olive hymenachne

         Final Report with acquittal has been sent.

8       2011 EnvironmeNT

·      Approval of $8,000 to continue working to eradicate Olive Hymenachne.

·      Paperwork to accept the grant to be undertaken with P&W including plan and budget.

·      Working bees for the project to be advised.

9       Heritage Grant for Rice Trail.  

·      Applied for $13,410.00 and have been advised approval of $10,000. 

·      Need working group, especially anyone with experience to do with downloading tourist info on MP3 players.

·      Jeremy to liaise with Jane on preparation of draft logos and reformatting the draft tour guide.

· The rice mill at the 14 mile has deteriorated considerably – need photographs. Kezia Purick says the buildings date from world war 2. Dale Fong Lim is believed to be the owner: Heather/Jeremy to contact her to gain access for photographs.

· Kristen suggested NT archives may have some audio files relating to the rice project and Peter Forrest and NT News are potential sources of interesting information.

10     Field Day, 29 April 2012.  

·      Funding of $5,000 granted. After reviewing other potential dates, 29 April has been confirmed for the event.

·      Working Group for planning:  Leisa, Catherine (a researcher at Charles Darwin University), Heather, Jane and others as necessary, eg Alan and Wayne.

11     Opening Fogg Dam water & wetlands proposal

·   In October, P&W, DCI met at the dam to consider how best to open significant water along causeway and modify the central spillway this year.  Jeremy attended. This year weed will be removed to improve drainage towards the western spillway, a big backhoe may be used to skim 18-20 metres of weed out from the wall short term stabilisation of the central spillway will be undertaken.  Options and strategies to manage the dam in the longer term are also being considered.

·   Bird & open water monitoring  – photo points still to be identified with P&W staff

12.    Donation box & brochure holders – nothing new to report – with P&W.

13     Finance

         Since June $185.45 in donations from campers at Eden at Fogg Dam.

$2,084.42 in fixed deposit.   $1,472.82 in general account.

14     Memberships:   45 members ( 31 NT; 8 I/S; 6 OS)

15     Other business

·      3 Sep.  Visit by Prof. Thomas Madsen, Wollongong University.

·      7 Sep.  Jeremy attended EnvironmeNT & Heritage Grant afternoon tea hosted by Minister Karl Hampton. 

·      12 Sep Jeremy attended a Landcare meeting.

16    Next meeting:  Working Bee Sunday at Fogg Dam, 9.00am  27 November 2.30pm followed by a general meeting and BBQ

17     Meeting closed at 4.40pm.

Summary of issues to follow up.