Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek Inc.

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Newsletter No. 6

Spring 2003

 

Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek is an environmental initiative, to preserve the amenity of a largely suburban waterway and its flood plain.

What has happened in the past 3 months

Good on you guides for the great turnout of girls, parents and leaders from Highton, Belmont and Grovedale groups to plant 100 trees along the creek to celebrate World Environment Day in June. Their helpful horticulturist delighted them with info. on the other trees planted nearby and we hope to see you back again caring for the plants you have put in and maybe to plant more next year.

A big thanks to Stephen, Madeline and Sam for helping Jackie replace 25 plants that hadn't survived from last October's planting.

Lions organized the annual “Tree Planting Day” close to Readings and managed to plant 300 shrubs.

June 6th was a wild and woolly day, and that's putting it mildly! But there were a few very brave souls who accepted the challenge. Amongst them were residents , not-so-local residents, Grade 5/6 from Mandama PS. and of course Tony Woolford who brought all plants,supplies and expertise with him . Fifty trees were planted in record time, due to previously prepared sites and teamwork! Remember, this was before the rains came and the earth was HARD! Fortunately for us, David G., who wasn't able to be there on the day, had during the previous week, loosened the soil by pick. Thankyou David, we would have been struggling in that wind for much, much longer, had it not been for your thoughtfulness. Working in pairs, one holding down all tools and buckets, while the other planted, we accomplished the plantings pretty quickly considering the circumstances. We survived and remarkably so did most of the plants! There is satisfaction in knowing that one day these trees will help create a wind break and bring some relief from strong prevailing winds. Thankyou Tony, Nuria, Andrew, Luis, William, Eva, Graham, David, Peter and Gr.5/6 Mandama. The next planting (Sept 20) will continue from that site, along the creek bank travelling northwards towards the shopping centre. This will assist stabilization of the eroded creek bank. Everyone is welcome to join us. Don't let the weather put you off, once you're out there, it's never as bad as what you think it would be, looking from the inside, out.

CVA are regularly working hard behind Winter Street clearing the banks, laying weed mat and mulch and planting poa grass.

Council are making huge improvements behind Winter and Bailey Streets, bulldozing unwanted vegetation, removing dilapidated fencing and even the old burnt out car body has gone! Culverts have been built over the sewer pipe to enable access of large trucks to continue this same work on the corner of Bailey Street. The rest of the year will see more weed removal ready for a HUGE planting in spring 2004.

THE MIGHTY 'F' GROUP !!! (Grove Road/Cobbin Farm area)

F Group at work planting
This group is unstoppable. Every first Sunday of the month from 9 am sees a regular troupe of dedicated Friends giving their all to improve their section of the creek, supported by Murray Box, Adrian and Nancy Donkers, Mike and Bev Haigh (who also puts the web page together), Mickey Huson and Graeme and Sharon Abbot to name a few. Their efforts are already being rewarded by a good growth in all this lovely rain. Keep it up guys, you're great!!

What will be happening in the next 3 months

CCMA have agreed to clean out the actual creek which is too dangerous for Friends to do.

Rotary, Mathew Flinders, Christian College (Junior) and Mandama have all organized their own planting days.

Seed Collection and Propagation

“… to recreate the creek as it used to be”

It has always been the intention for the Friends to collect indigenous native seeds along the creek, propagate them and plant them to recreate the creek as it used to be.

So this is about to happen, starting with information sessions to be held in November, collection of seed in December/January and propagating beginning soon after that.

It is important that you register before collecting seed to know what to collect, how much, how to store it and where to take it, as it is an offence to do so without a licence. We are allowed to use the resources at Barwon Community Nursery and a regular day will be set up on a weekly basis that Friends can volunteer their time to propagate the seeds. This way we will have a lot more plants at our disposal in the coming years to supply the increasing demand we are receiving from various groups to help replant the creek. Please phone Jackie to register your interest.

Birds observed over the last 12 months at 38°11'S 144°20'E

Little Black Cormorant
Little Pied Cormorant
White-faced Heron
Black-shouldered Kite
Pacific Black Duck (breeding)*
Chestnut Teal
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Masked Lapwing
Silver Gull
Gang-gang Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Galah
Rainbow Lorikeet
Azure Kingfisher
Welcome Swallow
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Willie Wagtail
Superb Fairy-wren
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Red Wattlebird
New Holland Honeyeater
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Common Starling
Common Mynah
Australian Magpie
Magpie Lark
Pied Currawong
Little Raven
The duck family
*Mother Duck was observed escorting a brood of eight ducklings, which at the time were hitching a ride on a piece of foam plastic board.
Dave King

Lastly, but not leastly, thank you to our newsletter deliverers-Julie, Stephen, Madeline, Lionel, Lisa, Mickey, Graeme, Annette, Eric, Jessica, Eva, Pam, Kylie and Bob.

 


TREASURER REQUIRED It's not a hard job!! We desperately need a treasurer. It is not a difficult job as we are not a fund raising group, just a bit of paper work to keep the ATO happy and so that we can accept cheques from COGG.
PLEASE, CONTACT BRUCE.






PLANTINGS Will be held in mid-end September along Meadowvale Drive and near Bunnings. More details ph. Jackie, Silvanna or Jillian.






CLEAN UP On Saturday Sept 13th, at 2 pm for about an hour. Meet on the corner of Bailey and Winter Streets. Wear protective gloves and suitable footwear. Ph. Jackie for more info.






Details of Planting Day: Saturday September 20th, 10am. If you come through the walkway access between 64 & 66 Meadowvale Drive and turn to look towards the Town & Country shopping centre, you'll spot the site. All tools supplied but bring gardening gloves and drink if you wish. If you need more info, call Silvana.






Forward notice--
We hope to hold another forum early next year to update the community on our progress.












PUBLIC LIABILITY
IN REGARD TO POTENTIAL INSURANCE CLAIMS, IT IS IN YOUR OWN BEST INTEREST TO MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY WORK BESIDE THE CREEK, EITHER WITH JACKIE, BRUCE or YOUR LOCAL CO-ORDINATOR.



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