=== VALLEY OF THE BANDICOOTS UPDATE #11 ===
Thursday, June 25, 2003
(circulation: 88)
===============
'VALLEY OF THE BANDICOOTS UPDATE' is an occasional email newsletter for people who are interested in the 'Valley of the Bandicoots' project in Aldgate Valley, South Australia. To subscribe, send an email saying 'subscribe VOB UPDATE' (or 'unsubscribe') to David Mussared, mussared@emailmedia.com.au (phone: 8388-5608).
===============
===============
CONTENTS:
===============
1. A BANDICOOT PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR ALDGATE VALLEY ROAD
2. CAMBRIDGE ROAD: GET READY FOR SOME BIG CHANGES BEFORE SPRING
3. IT'S NOW OFFICIAL: GREEN CORPS IS COMING TO VALLEY OF THE BANDICOOTS
4. THEY ARE UP: BLACKWOOD LANE TRAFFIC BARRIER & ALDGATE CREEK BRIDGE
5. PLANT PROPAGATION WORKING BEE: 'PINCHING OUT' & DIVISION
6. JULY DATES FOR ALDGATE VALLEY RESERVE WORKING BEES
7. JULY DATE FOR MYLOR PARKLANDS WORKING BEE
8. KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR HOURS: WE NEED IT FOR OUR FUNDING
9 LANDCARE INSURANCE CRISIS: WE WIN A YEAR'S REPRIEVE===============
=================================================================
1. A BANDICOOT PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR ALDGATE VALLEY ROAD
 |
(photo of bandicoot supplied by Jo Hurn)
In this issue of 'VOB Update', I have broken my own rule, and have included an attachment - a photo of a bandicoot visiting a backyard on Aldgate Valley Road. My apologies if this attachment mucks up anybody's email (it is only 12K - hope everyone can view it). But I thought it was a timely reminder of what our project is about. This is the note that Jo Hurn sent me with the photo:
"This is the bandicoot that visits us often, taken out our back door, next to our swing. Feel free to pass it on to whomever may be interested!! I think I took it about 3 weeks ago." My thanks also to those others who have also sent in photos and reports of bandicoot sightings.
=================================================================
2. CAMBRIDGE ROAD: GET READY FOR SOME BIG CHANGES BEFORE SPRING (weeding & pine removal in the pipeline, planting to follow)
After six months of preparation, locals should watch out for some dramatic changes along Cambridge Road (and parts of Blackwood Lane) over the next two or three months. Following months of preparation, a major effort to remove weeds along Cambridge Road and replace them with native bush is about to begin, creating a continuous habitat link between the bandicoot population in the Stirling Cemetery Bush and the rest of the Valley of the Bandicoots corridor. The weeding and replanting exercise along Cambridge Road, which has the unanimous support of residents, is designed to remove the largest single obstacle to the Valley of the Bandicoots corridor. It will will widen and replant the narrow, weedy bottleneck of scant cover which runs from the Cemetery Bush to Blackwood Lane.
One of the first tasks facing the Green Corps team (see below) will be removing infestations of perennial weeds - chiefly broom - from along Cambridge Road and parts of Blackwood Lane. Any remnant native vegetation will be protected and encouraged, and later this year the Green Corps team and volunteers will begin replanting weeded areas with some of the thousands of local native seedlings the VOB project has propagated over the past six months.
It is looking increasingly likely that the weed-removal along Cambridge Road will also include the removal of many pine trees on both private and public land, to be replaced with native trees and shrubs. Valley of the Bandicoots Project Officer Mark Fagan says there has been "very positive" progress in negotiations with a commercial tree-feller about removing the pine trees before spring, at no cost to the landholders.
Although activity is also planned for the rest of the Valley of the Bandicoots corridor, the Cambridge Road section is expected to be the most visible part of the VOB project this year. =================================================================
3. IT'S OFFICIAL: GREEN CORPS IS HERE & READY TO START WORK (supervisor appointed, team of 10 to start work soon)
It has now been officially confirmed that the Valley of the Bandicoots project will be the major project site for a 'Green Corps' team over the next six months - and the team is expected to start work on Cambridge Road within days. A group of 10 young people (aged 17-20), headed by Green Corps supervisor Peter Spinks has been selected, and they will spend a total of 14 weeks between now and the end of 2003 working on various aspects of the Valley of the Bandicoots project. Participants in the team will each be paid a 'Training Wage', and will receive various forms of training as well as work experience in environmental project work.
=================================================================
4. THEY ARE UP: BLACKWOOD LANE TRAFFIC BARRIER & ALDGATE CREEK BRIDGE (thanks to the Adelaide Hills Council)
The traffic barrier promised by the Adelaide Hills Council on Blackwood Lane has been erected - along with 'No Through Road' signs at either end of the Lane - and has already led to a noticeable reduction in through traffic using the unmade firetrack as a short-cut.
The Council has also constructed a new bridge over Aldgate Creek on the Aldgate Valley Reserve (corner of Aldgate Valley Road and Shanks Road) to replace the former bridge which was smashed by a falling pine tree about two years ago.
=================================================================
5. PLANT PROPAGATION WORKING BEE: 'PINCHING OUT' & DIVISION (2pm Saturday, June 28, Nation Ridge Road)
There will be a 'Plant Propagation' working bee next Saturday to 'pinch out' and divide seedlings, transferring them into individual pots for planting out over the next few months. The seedlings are some of the thousands that we have propagated from local native seed over the past six months, with about 30 different species being prepared for planting.
When: 2pm-4pm, Saturday, June 28
Where: 36 Nation Ridge Road (in the carport)
All tools and equipment will be provided - all you need to bring is yourself. The working bee will be held under shelter in the carport at David Mussared and Chris Duigan's house (36 Nation Ridge Road). The house is a construction site, so children need to be supervised. CONTACT: Mark Fagan, 8339-1359 (email: meshach@iweb.net.au )
=================================================================
6. JULY DATES FOR ALDGATE VALLEY RESERVE WORKING BEES (Sunday, July 6 & Saturday July 19, 10am-12noon)
The Aldgate Valley Landcare Group holds Working Bees on the first Sunday and third Saturday of every month at the Aldgate Valley Reserve (the former Scout camp), which is mid-way along the Valley of the Bandicoots wildlife corridor. Tasks usually include planting local native species and cutting and swabbing environmental weeds (along with other things that come up from time to time).
Aldgate Valley Reserve is located on the corner of Aldgate Valley Road and Shanks Road (inside the hairpin turnoff into Shanks Road). Entry is off Shanks Road, next to the stone bridge.
Tools etc are provided. Gloves and old clothes are advised. Newcomers are most welcome.
The two Working Bees scheduled for the Aldgate Valley Reserve in July are:
SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2003
WHEN: 10am-12noon
CONTACT: David Mussared, 8388-5608 (email: mussared@emailmedia.com.au )
SATURDAY, July 19, 2003
WHEN: 10am-12noon
CONTACT: Ed Douglas, 8339-2737 (email: Ed.Douglas@unisa.edu.au )
=================================================================
7. JULY DATE FOR MYLOR PARKLANDS WORKING BEE (Saturday, July 5, 1.30-4.30pm)
The Mylor Parklands Bushcare Group holds Working Bees once a month (usually on the first Saturday of the month, except for long weekends and holidays) with afternoon tea halfway. The Mylor Parklands is at the southern end of the Valley of the Bandicoots wildlife corridor.
Here are the details of the Working Bee scheduled for Mylor Parklands in July:
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2003
WHEN: 1.30-4.30pm
WHAT: Cut & paint Gorse 50m west of Strathalbyn Road
WHERE: Park at Strathalbyn Road entrance gate, walk west up main track
CONTACT: Joslyn van der Moolen, 0439-472-921 (mobile) or 8391-7503
(work) or email: vandermoolen.joslyn@saugov.sa.gov.au
=================================================================
8. KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR HOURS: WE NEED IT FOR OUR FUNDING (please keep track of your contributions to VOB)
If you are doing any volunteer work which contributes to the Valley of the Bandicoots project (either on your own property or on public land) it is a big help to us if you can keep a record of the hours you work, and any expenses you incur. This is because we need to show a "matching" commitment by the community when we are lodging funding applications. For every dollar in Government grants, we need to show that the community is putting in at least as much - either in kind (as labour or materials) or in money.
If you are doing weeding, planting, fencing or similar work on your property which contributes to the Valley of the Bandicoots, please keep a note of your hours. We have a simple, one-page form available for you to record your hours if that helps.
For an emailed copy of the form, please contact either Mark Fagan, 8339-1359 (email: meshach@iweb.net.au ) or David Mussared, 8388-5608
(email: mussared@emailmedia.com.au ).
=================================================================
9. LANDCARE INSURANCE CRISIS: WE WIN A YEAR'S REPRIEVE (Minister promises another year of free insurance)
The South Australian Government will provide up to another year of free public liability insurance for all SA's landcare groups - including the Aldgate Valley Landcare Group - following a last-minute intervention by State Environment Minister John Hill. On May 29, all of SA's estimated 400 landcare groups were sent a letter by Rob Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation, warning that the free public liability insurance it had provided to all landcare groups would cease on June 30 this year.
Mr Freeman's letter warned groups they would now have to seek out and pay for their own insurance arrangements. It is understood that this would cost somewhere between $750 and $1,500 a year for each group.
There was an immediate public outcry from many landcare groups over the decision, and the issue was aired on the local ABC Radio's morning talk program on June 3. Later that day, following Mr Hill's intervention, Mr Freeman issued an "Urgent Notice" to all the groups by email, announcing that landcare group's insurance would continue to be covered by the SA Government for another year.
Here is the full text of Mr Freeman's 'Urgent Notice':
URGENT NOTICE TO ALL COMMUNITY LANDCARE GROUPS
RE: LANDCARE GROUP INSURANCE
You recently received an urgent notice from me regarding the provision of >insurance cover for landcare groups by the South Australian Government.
I am now pleased to inform you that the Government has decided to extend existing insurance cover of registered community Landcare Groups by SAICORP for a further twelve months, to 30 June 2004, or until appropriate commercial insurance arrangements can be implemented, whichever occurs first.
This extension will allow more time for community groups, commercial insurers and the Government to assess and negotiate future insurance options.
For further information please contact Ms Sally O'Brien on telephone: (08)8303 9336 or e-mail: obrien.sally@saugov.sa.gov.au.
Rob Freeman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DEPARTMENT OF WATER, LAND & BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Date: 3rd June 2003
===============
If you know someone else you think would like to get this 'Valley of the Bandicoots' newsletter, please forward it to them and invite them to subscribe. For more information about the 'Valley of the Bandicoots', visit: http://www.communitywebs.org/BandicootValley
===============
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Email Media PO Box 212 ALDGATE SA 5154
08-8388-5608 (fax: 08-8388-5372)
adverts@emailmedia.com.au
http://www.emailmedia.com.au