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Issue 11: November 2008 Welcome to the November edition of Catchment News, the newsletter of the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA). Previous editions of this newsletter are available on the CMA website. To subscribe to Catchment News or make changes to your subscription details please send an email to hcr@cma.nsw.gov.au. Click here to view large text format | Click here for print-friendly version What's happening around the catchments?
For two days in October the Upper Pages River had the focused attention of up to 60 students from Murrurundi Public School as part of a broader program aimed at enhancing and protecting the Upper Pages. Murrurundi Public School is located on the banks of the river and the students spend a lot of their free time playing in and around it, so they have a very good understanding of why it is so important to protect it. On 16 October the students were taken through some educational activities on river health and ways of improving the health of the Pages River, by staff of the CMA and Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch. A week later the team regrouped with the students to put what they’d learnt into action. The students undertook water quality testing, water bug surveys, habitat assessments and helped plant over 100 trees on the riverbanks adjacent to Murrurundi Showground. The involvement of the school community is part of a ‘whole of community’ approach to improving the health of the Upper Pages River for the long term. A management plan, developed in consultation with the local community, outlines actions to be achieved over a three year period that aim to enhance aquatic habitat along the Upper Pages River above Camerons Gorge, returning some of the pools, native fauna and other natural features of the river that locals have observed a decline in over the years. Actions completed to date include the control of weeds, including giant bamboo reed, willows and privet in the river at Murrurundi, and replanting with native trees and shrubs including river oaks. Major areas of erosion are also being stabilised through revegetation, stock management and in some areas, placement of rocks to protect the stream bed and stream banks. Underwater cameras keeping an eye on our marine life Important marine research is being assisted by the installation of underwater cameras at The Haven in Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast. The permanent underwater cameras will allow researchers, led by Professor Bill Gladstone from the University of Newcastle, to monitor the breeding and migration habits of various fish species and in particular any impacts of climate change. Previously researchers had to dive to monitor the underwater environment but this new innovation, which is considered to be an Australian first, allows information to be gathered around the clock, providing considerably more data than was available before. The project is a joint initiative of the University of Newcastle and the CMA and is being funded by Crowne Plaza Terrigal.
The Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch team were at the Hunter Wetlands Centre for Hunter Water’s Catchment Day again this year and were educating visitors on the importance of protecting and conserving our vulnerable wildlife by looking after our catchments and waterways. While there has been a strong focus in our communities on the need to reduce the volume of water we use, we must also remember that consumption is not the only thing that affects water availability in our communities. Ensuring the quality of the water we all rely so heavily on is the other critical part of the equation and this is just as important to our native fauna as it is to us humans. The Waterwatch team took the opportunity on Catchment Day to introduce residents of the Hunter to some vulnerable species in the Hunter-Central Rivers catchment area that rely on superior water quality to survive. These included the Wallum Froglet, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Davies Tree Frog, Giant Barred Frog and the Giant Dragonfly. Tiny macro-invertebrates (or water bugs) that had been scooped out of the Wetland Centre’s BHP Pond into shallow trays for visitors to examine helped remind people not to forget the little guys. The Damselfly Nymph, Stonefly Nymph and Water Boatmen were some of the stars of the show while the pest species, Gambusia (Mosquito Fish), was a very convincing bad guy. Overall the day was a great success with up to five hundred community members in attendance—each and every one looking forward to Catchment Day 2009!
A new enclosure was officially opened in September at the Hunter Wetlands Centre for the centre’s 24 freckled ducks. The new enclosure simulates the ducks’ natural habitat as closely as possible and prepares them for eventual release into the wild. Teepees, which have proven to be the key to the success of the Hunter Wetlands Centre freckled duck breeding program, feature prominently in the new enclosure, giving the ducks a comfortable place to nest. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the new viewing platform that gives a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the ducks. The current family of freckled ducks will remain with the Wetlands Centre for a short while only before they move on to the Serendip Wildlife Sanctuary in Victoria. The new freckled duck enclosure received $5000 from the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, an initiative supported by the CMA and Newcastle City Council. Photo courtesy of Sharon Louise Postlethwaite.
Every second month the CMA Board and executive meet to discuss issues of strategic importance to the CMA. The meetings are held in a different location each time and follow a full day of inspections of CMA-funded projects local to that area. In October the CMA Board had the opportunity of visiting some Upper Hunter projects prior to their Board meeting in Scone. They visited a river rehabilitation project at Dartbrook with AngloCoal, which is enhancing the local population of River Red Gums, and two properties that have Property Vegetation Plans underway - the historic Belltrees Station owned by the White family, and John and Corinna Doyle's property Amaroo at Woolooma. The members of the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA Board are Dr WEJ Paradice (Chairman), Neil Rose (Deputy Chairman), John Weate, Julia Imrie, Arthur Burns, John Asquith, and Chris Scott. All live within the Hunter-Central Rivers region and were appointed by the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment for a term of up to three years. The members of the Board represent the diversity of the Hunter-Central Rivers region and bring expertise and experience in community, government and industry activities, and an understanding of environmental, social and economic issues facing our catchments.
On Sunday 19 October, around 60 friends, family, colleagues and collaborators of Sue Rostas gathered at Kooragang Wetlands to plant a garden as a tribute to Sue and her contribution to the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project (KWRP). The garden was planted in an 'S' shape at the end of a section of boardwalk that leads back towards Newcastle from the Schoolmaster's House. Two bench seats will also be installed and visitors are invited to stop for a minute to reflect on the peaceful surroundings and to consider the value of our natural environment.
The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is seeking proposals from rural supply companies to provide materials to landholders and groups undertaking environmental projects with the CMA from 2008-2010. Successful companies will be included on a CMA preferred suppliers list for promotion to CMA clients, and will need to provide a variety of fencing materials and stock water supply materials at a discounted or fixed price to landholders undertaking CMA funded projects. Interested parties should review and complete the Request for proposals information package available on the CMA website. Contact the CMA on 6542 4431 or 6551 8994 ext 291 for more information. Closing date for proposals is Friday 28 November 2008.
Bell miners, also known as Bellbirds, are a native honeyeater with a very distinctive ‘bell-like’ call, occurring in forests along the coast and Great Dividing Range. The Bell miners feed on psyllid insects and a species of psyllid is found in certain Eucalypts. Under normal environmental conditions, psyllid populations remain at low to moderate levels and a number of small birds such as Pardalotes and Thornbills as well as spiders and other invertebrate predators feed on them. However Bell miners are extremely territorial and drive away birds that would otherwise help to control insect numbers. The increased population of insects puts trees under enormous stress and can lead to the eventual death of the host trees. It has been estimated that 2.5 million hectares of forest is vulnerable to Bell Miner Associated Dieback (BMAD) across coastal NSW. Dieback is having a significant impact in Blue Gum, Flooded Gum, Grey Gum, Ironbark and Dunn’s White Gum dominated forests. There is also some evidence that more resistant forest species such as Spotted Gum may be affected. For further information on this problem and to find out how to identify and report dieback contact the BMAD Working Group Ecologist on 02 6650 7150 or log on to www.bmad.com.au. Photo courtesy of Lisa Wellman, National Parks and Wildlife Service.
A ground-breaking partnership between the Karuah Local Aboriginal Lands Council, and a number of local agencies involved in natural resource management and community development, is working to provide long term employment of local Aboriginal people in conservation management projects in the Great Lakes area. A team of eight local Aboriginal people from the Karuah area is undertaking the Conservation Land Management Certificate II, a TAFE certified course, to gain the skills and knowledge required to undertake natural regeneration and conservation projects in their local area. As part of their training, the team is working on the Jimmy’s Beach Renourishment project in Hawks Nest and the results to date have been outstanding, with a consistent commitment from participants resulting in some great quality outcomes for the project. The project is supported by the successful partnership between Great Lakes Council, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), Karuah Local Aboriginal Lands Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (Great Lakes Area), Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Taree Indigenous Development and Employment, the Community Development and Education Program and the Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee. For more information on the project contact Andrew Staniland at Great Lakes Council on 6591 7238. Photo courtesy of Andrew Staniland, Great Lakes Council.
Tocal Field Days is one of the biggest events on the regional calendar, and has been attracting numbers of up to 27,000 from all areas of NSW in recent years. The CMA is a major sponsor of Tocal Field Days and is assisting with the coordination of the Land Management Area for 2009. As part of the CMA’s sponsorship of the event, 10 display spaces in Land Management Pavilion are being offered free of charge to Hunter-based community groups who can provide professional and interactive educational displays about environmental issues in the Hunter. If you are interested in a free site in the Land Management Area at Tocal Field Days 2009, please contact the CMA for an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. EOIs are being received by the CMA until Friday 21 November 2008. Sites will be allocated and successful organisations notified by 5 December 2008. Please contact CMA Community Education Manager Liane Corocher on 4938 4932 or email liane.corocher@cma.nsw.gov.au for further information.
On Wednesday 10 December there will be a book launch at Maitland Town Hall for a new publication called Maitland, City on the Hunter – Fighting floods or living with them? The book has been written by Dr Chas Keys, a former director general of the State Emergency Service, and produced by the CMA under the Community Flood Education Project to provide a comprehensive account of flooding in the Maitland area. It contains stories from survivors of historic floods including the infamous 1930, 1949 and 1955 floods. Their compelling accounts of harrowing ordeals in these devastating times provide a compelling reminder that floods are a real threat to Maitland and its surrounding floodplains. The book also provides information on the flood mitigation scheme and some practical tips on preparing for floods. The book will be available for purchase from 10 December through the CMA and at McDonalds Booksellers Maitland, and comes with a bonus Are You FloodSafe? DVD and fact sheet series. Residents of Maitland and surrounding areas are invited to attend a book signing at the Heritage Room, Maitland Town Hall, from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm. There’ll be photos of historic and recent flood events on display. For more details, contact the CMA’s Flood Education Officer Amanda Hyde on 4930 1030. Photo original by Jim Lucey, digitised by David Sciffer.
Staff of the Gosford CMA office supported National Ride to Work Day on October 15, and joined other DECC agency staff by jumping on their bikes and making their way to Gosford. About 40 riders—including workers from Workcover, TAFE, Department of Water and Energy, Department of Planning and local businesses—converged on Gosford for breakfast provided by some local businesses. The function was organised by Gosford City Council. Fire at the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office The Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office was sadly destroyed in an arson attack in early October, with thousands of dollars worth of damage being done. The theft of a trailer and tools following the attack have added insult to injury. Staff and volunteers of the Landcare Resource Office have temporarily relocated to the Teralba Worm Farm (off Griffen Road) and can be contacted there on 4953 0165 or 4953 0185. Congratulations to Wyong Creek Public School Following on from our article in last month's Catchment News, the CMA are thrilled to congratulate Wyong Creek Public School on taking out the Peoples' Choice Award at the National Landcare Awards on 23 October. Students from the school accepted their award from actor Jack Thompson at the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra, in front of 550 guests, politicians and celebrities in attendance at the awards. The People’s Choice Award gave people from around the nation the opportunity to vote for their favourite Landcare project and the Wyong Creek Public School beat 71 other projects to win the award. To read all about the school's achievements go to the Landcare Heroes website. Well done once again to Principal Gale Ball and the staff and students of Wyong Creek Public School. Dates for the calendar6-20 November – It's In Our Hands Visit Erina Fair for an Interactive Enviro Expo (located outside Big W). Learn about some of the simplest ways to reduce your impact on the environment. 7 November – Stroll for seeds Volunteers and a Seed Collection supervisor from Trees in Newcastle go seed collecting every Friday in some of the best bush in the Lower Hunter. If you’d like to learn about seed in all of its glorious shapes and stages, see the bush in bloom and contribute to the Lower Hunter Region Community Seedbank, the bus leaves at 9.00 am from TIN headquarters at 252 Parry Street, Newcastle West, and returns by 12.30 pm. 12 November - Pest control workshop Improve your knowledge on local pest species, find out about your responsibilities and those of government, and learn how to start a control program. This workshop will take place at the DPI Research Station, Lackersteens Rd, Somersby and will includes an outdoor demonstration on control products. Register your attendance by contacting Carolyn Jenkinson on 4348 1979 or by email: carolyn.jenkinson@dpi.nsw.gov.au 15 November – Finding out about frogs Come along to a fun and interactive workshop all about Australian frogs. Join the Community Environment Network and the Lake Macquarie Frog & Reptile Observation Group at the Mingara Recreation Club at Tumbi Umbi to find out which native frog species might live near you and how you can encourage frogs into your yard by building a frog pond. You can also learn how to carry out a frog survey and find out why frog numbers are declining so rapidly. Bookings are essential phone: 4349 4756 or email: admin@cccen.org.au. 15 November - Walk Against Warming 2008 This year, CAN is supporting the Sydney Walk Against Warming on Saturday 15th November at 11am at Martin Place. Hundreds of Novocastrians are making our their down to Sydney by train to be a part of this huge show of community spirit. Join thousands of families, workplaces and communities in a walk for renewable energy and a safe climate future for our children. With vital decisions being made this year, we will Walk Against Warming to ensure the Australian Government supports strong, urgent action and justice for developing nations affected by global warming. RSVP for the walk by emailing: can@climateaction.org.au 16 November – Planting Day at Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia This month the KooraGang volunteers will be planting at the Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia at Shortland as part of an EnviroFund project. Planting will kick off at 8.30 am and morning tea will be provided. All comers welcome. For further details contact Peggy Svoboda on 4964 9308. 19 November - The Farmer’s Guide to Managing Climate Risk DPI are offering a workshop that will help farmers better understand how weather works. Find out how El Niño, the southern oscillation index, the Indian Ocean dipole and the southern annular mode affect rainfall in your area. The content from this workshop is designed to help farmers gather information to analyse local and regional climate history, interpret future scenarios, better understand the potential impacts of climate change, and use forecasts to make practical decisions for their business. The workshop will be held at Mangrove Mountain Memorial Golf Club. Register your attendance by contacting Carolyn Jenkinson on 4348 1979 or by email: carolyn.jenkinson@dpi.nsw.gov.au. 21 November - Close of entries for the CMA Christmas photo competition The CMA is inviting you to submit your favourite landscape photo to be considered for the CMA's Christmas photo competition. The winner will receive a great prize pack of books and will have their photo published as part of the CMA's Christmas greeting, which is sent to CMA contacts in the first week of December. Send your entry as a high-resolution jpeg file to hcr@cma.nsw.gov.au by Friday 21 November 2008. Files must be under 3 Mb to email; images larger than this should be burnt to CD and posted to: CMA Christmas Photo Competition, Hunter-Central Rivers CMA, Private Bag 2010 Paterson NSW 2421. 23 November - Congewai Field Day on managing erosion This field day will focus on stream management issues, including channel erosion, vegetation and creek function. Case studies will be presented on managing erosion through creek revegetation, large woody debris and structural in-stream works. Participants will also get involved in some revegetation and water quality testing. Meet at 9.30 am at Congewai Public School. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Monday 17 November for catering purposes to the CMA’s Grahame Price on 4930 1030 or email grahame.price@cma.nsw.gov.au. 29 November - Wetland Crawl The Wetland Crawl will begin at Woy Woy station where participants hop on a bus and travel to the Everglades Lagoon Wetland, Palm Springs Avenue Wetland and Dora Point Wetland, and then back to Woy Woy station. There will be activities at each wetland such as collecting water bugs, a survey of native wetland plants and water quality testing. Guest speakers will also be on hand to give talks on topics such as the use of rushes in Aboriginal weaving, the effects of climate change on the Central Coast and what local councils are doing to protect wetland habitats. For more information call Narelle Leite, CEN’s Wetland Officer, on 4348 4327 or email wetlands@cccen.org.au. 29-30 November - Smart Energy Expo 2008 Newcastle The annual Smart Energy Expo Newcastle is on again. The one-stop shop for the latest in renewable energy and sustainable living. The Expo runs from 9.00 am-4.00 pm at Honeysuckle Boiler Shop (near Civic Station). For more information call Climate Action Newcastle on 8588 1260 or go to www.climateaction.org.au. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
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Community action on the Upper Pages River
Quality
and quantity
Freckled Ducks
find new home at the Wetlands Centre
CMA Board
visit the Upper Hunter
Memorial garden
at Kooragang Wetlands
Seeking suppliers of stock water and fencing materials
Bell miners
going mad
Aboriginal Green Team and regional agencies forge partnership
Free sites at Tocal Field Days 2009
Flood Stories
Ride to work day