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FOURTH CREEK CATCHMENT GROUP WORKING BEES The FCCG has conducted two working bees already this year, both along the Heysen Trail. The Heysen Trail and the Yurebilla Trail run through our area and have proven to be popular with both serious bushwalkers and day trippers. The section that we have taken some responsibility for runs from the Country Fire Service shed on Colonial Drive to the Morialta Barns. It’s only a short section but as it runs through some bushland which hasn’t been farmed or “developed”, it has a lovely natural and unspoilt charm. Every year we clear away the fallen trees and pick up the litter but this year we did quite a bit more than normal. Helen Smith owns a property through which the trail wanders. She has had a growing problem with that pest plant broom and asked for our help in reducing it. As it adjoined the trail, it seemed to have some priority. Two working bees, one with ten workers and the other with twelve, have made a huge difference. For walkers along that section of track the surroundings have been truly enhanced with an absence of that prolific weed – now you can’t see the broom for the gum trees! Thanks are particularly due to Jean & Ray White who have organized these events and to Helen Smith who provided delicious cakes and coffee to all the volunteer workers. In the not-too-distant future the FCCG will be having another working bee to check on all the trees and shrubs we have planted over the years. The past two dry summers have wrought some destruction but about 50 per cent of our plantings have survived. Not too bad considering that they have had to rely entirely on rainwater. BUSHWALK IN MOUNT We were going to have a bushwalk on Sunday May 11 until a mother amongst us (and I say that in the best possible sense) pointed out that Mothers Day is to be celebrated on that date. The bushwalk is now postponed to the following Sunday, May 18. The Mount George Conservation Park is on the north side of the freeway in Stirling. If you look in your street directory, you will see Mount George Road coming off Rangeview Road which starts next to the Woodhouse Scout Camp at Piccadilly. For those who would like to share transport and those who get lost in the gullies and twisty roads of the Adelaide Hills, we will be leaving the Natural Resource Centre at Norton Summit at 9.30.We can then all get lost together. For those who can find their own way, meet at 10.00 am at the Mount George picnic ground at the end of Mount George Road. The walk will take about one and a half hours and the trail is steep in some short sections but anyone with reasonable fitness and stout shoes should be able to cope. Bring a water bottle and a hat. Raincoats may be also required at this time of year. You will see Blue Wrens, white-throated Tree Creepers, Kangaroos and Koalas but not many snakes at this time of year unfortunately. Candlebark and Manna gums are common here. Friends and children are welcome to join us. It is hoped that one of the Friends of Mount George will be on hand to explain some of the features of the park.
WATERWATCH The FCCG is continuing with the Waterwatch program conducted by the Dept for the Environment. Volunteers Jean White, Jacqueline Dekker and Lesley Smit test a number of sites in Fourth Creek throughout the year in association with students from the Norton Summit Primary School. Their results help to construct a view on the health of the tributaries of the River Torrens. ADELAIDE HILLS CLIMATE ACTION GROUP On the second Wednesday of each month, the Adelaide Hills Climate Action Group meets at the Aldgate Pump Hotel at 7.30 pm. It’s good to know that there are other people interested in the wider issues affecting our region.
ADELAIDE AND MOUNT LOFTY RANGES NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD (NRM) The NRM Board which looks after our area, puts out a monthly Newsletter. The latest issue features a couple of issues that affect the FCCG. After two years of planning and consultation, the draft of the board’s Regional NRM Plan is completed. Ours was one of the organizations consulted. Over 1200 individuals and 500 organisations were involved. The Minister for Environment and Conservation, Gail Gago, will forward the draft to the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament for consideration. With a bit of luck the plan will be implemented in the coming financial year. Ever wondered what happens to the water from Fourth Creek when it joins the River Torrens? There have been a lot of bad news stories over the years about the health of the Torrens. Rubbish dumping, algal blooms, stormwater disasters and pollution problems to name but a few. However the NRM newsletter has a good news story about a new urban wetland being established on the Torrens Linear Park between Henley Beach Road and Tapleys Hill Road. Work began in March. The new in-stream wetland will convert a weed-infested, neglected part of the river to a reinvigorated wetland and provide a suitable habitat for native fish, animals and plants. This new area of the wetlands will extend a section already established about ten years ago near Henley Beach. The area is to be planted with about 60,000 native plants.
FCCG Newsletter edited by Jim Stratmann, PO Box 122, Norton Summit, 5136. HELLO POSSUMS That great environmentalist, Dame Edna Everidge, is always carrying on about possums, and so should the FCCG. Possums aren’t quite as cute as Koalas, nor as rare as Bilbys nor as specky as kangaroos, but they are just as important to the natural environment. We have three species in the Adelaide Hills: The Common Brushtail, the Western Pigmy Possum and the Common Ringtail. Brushtails are generally larger than Ringtails and have a dark brush tail whereas the Ringtail has a white tip and the characteristic curled tail. The Western Pigmy is about the size of a mouse. If you ever have to pick up a possum, first look out for the claws and second, be sure to keep their rear end pointing away from you. The reason for this is that their revolting but most effective method of defence is to squirt their foul-smelling urine all over their attacker.
FOURTH CREEK CATCHMENT GROUP - March 08 Newsletter
The Heysen & Yurrebilla Trails The Heysen Trail is a long distance bushwalking trail about 1500 kilometres in length, running from Cape Jervis to the Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges. The Yurrebilla Trail connects many different Conservation Parks scattered throughout the Adelaide Hills. Both of these walking trails run through the Fourth Creek Catchment. For some years our group has assisted with the maintenance of sections of these trails that run through privately owned land. The time has come to help yet again. A working bee has been organized for next Sunday, March 16, begining at 10 am. The section of trail we will be working on is on Helen Smith's property, adjacent to the Church Block next to the Norton Summit CFS shed on Colonial Drive. Some preliminary work has already been carried out, consisting of the removal of fallen trees. However a nasty infestation of weeds bordering the trail could do with a clean up. If you can help on Sunday, please bring along secatures, spades, hoes and your own water to drink, hat, gloves and sturdy boots. You can park next to the CFS shed and walk along the trail to find the hotbed of activity. Speaking of hot, if it gets too hot to work safely, the working bee of course will be postponed.
Echidnas Ancestors of the amazing Echidna, one of the world's three egg laying mammals, lived with the dinosaurs. Echidnas could be said to have survived better than the dinosaurs but how much longer will they be around? So many native species are in trouble with the sudden changes occurring in our environment that research is needed to understand how Echidnas are faring. These shy, secretive monotremes were once spread across Australia, but now no one knows how many are around. Scientists need our help to find out where and how many Echidnas are seen. An Echidna Watch Survey has been set up and we are all asked to report sightings to: Echidna Watch Survey, Post Office, Penneshaw, SA 5222.
Local Winery gains ECO certification Sinclair's Gully wines of Colonial Drive, Norton Summit, has recently received a prestigious ECO certification, being the second such winery in Australia to be so honoured. The criteria demand that wineries should be sustainable on three grounds: economic, environmental and social. Owners Sean & Sue Delaney have been keen environmentalists for many years and have been members of the FCCG for some time. Their property contains wonderful native Candlebark Gum forests and a survey carried out by Kieren Brewer has discovered 150 species of native plants and 66 species of native birds. FCCG has also assisted them in the past with weed removal and native plantings. Not only are they doing the right thing by the environment, their wines are very good. Well worth a visit. You can visit their website on www.sinclairsgully.com
Upcoming Events Thurs March 13: Committee Meeting at the Natural Resource Centre, 7.30pm.
Sunday March 16: Working Bee on the Heysen Trail, heading North from the CFS shed on Colonial Drive, Norton Summit. Park next to the CFS shed. Starting at 10 am and finishing at 12 noon.
Thurs April 10: Committee Meeting.
Sunday April 20: Bushwalk.
Fourth Creek Catchment Group, PO Box 122, Norton Summit, 5136. Ph. 8390 1352. |
