Earthcare
News
October 2000
I do what I can, where I am
Become involved in Earthcare's newest Project…
Friends Of Alma Rail Reserve
Alma
Rail Reserve refers to the eastern embankment of the Sandringham Railway Line that
runs through Alma Park. This Reserve contains the City of Port Phillip's only
intact remnant of the once common red gum - yellow box grassy woodland. The
survival of this amazing patch of indigenous grasses, wildflowers and two
species of orchids (yes Orchids!) is threatened by encroaching weeds.
The reserve desperately requires the help of some dedicated people that are willing to give up a few hours of their time to help save this important ecosystem. This project provides an excellent opportunity for people to find out more about our local flora and to learn about bush regeneration techniques in a hands on, practical way. If you would like to become involved in regenerating this reserve or would like to find out more, then come along to the next Earthcare meeting, November 30th, discuss it with Jo-Anne in person at the dinner on October 26th, or contact Jo on 9533 8707
Earthcare St Kilda's
Annual Dinner
October 26th
6.30pm
At The Kiosk, St Kilda
Pier
Please Confirm (and Pay)
ASAP
Ph: Alison 9532 4138 or PO
Box 287 Elwood 3184
$20 WAGED/ $12.50 UNWAGED
Come and join us, bring
your friends, watch the sunset,
Enjoy a beautiful meal all
in great company!
See you there.
Skinc
Indigenous Nursery
are having
their annual Plant Sale
28th
October
10am - 4pm
525 Williamstown Road Port
Melbourne
Ph: 9645 2477
Ticket
to Ride - Getting
to Sustainable Transport Solutions
Storey Hall RMIT
Sunday 29th October 11am
- 4pm
Speaker
include- Kenneth Davidson (The Age) and many more.
This
conference will develop a Transport Statement of demand together with detailed
targets for Government. It's time to stop being divided and conquered and to
come together to tell the Government what they should achieve for all
Victorians.
Cost $25 waged / $15 unwaged
Whats On
19th
October, Friends of Sandy Rail Reserve meeting, 7.30pm The EcoCentre
21st
October, Greening Aust. Id of Native wildflowers 10am-4pm Warrandyte
Community Centre, 168 Yarra St,
Warrandyte cost $15.00 Kate Stothers 9457 3024
22nd
October, Friends Of Sandy, Wildflower walk, 10am Riddell Pde & Oak Ave
Footbridge
22nd
October, St Kilda Park Primary School presents: Richard Franklin and his films
Harry's War & No Way To Forget, 10am, Gasworks Theatre. $12 Enquires
Rosemary Etherton 9534 2480
26th
October, Earthcare Dinner at The Kiosk, St Kilda Pier, 6.30pm
$20 or $12.50
Con/Stud. Please Rsvp ASAP Alison 9532
4138
28th
October, Skinc plant sale, 525 Williamstown Rd Port Melbourne 10am - 4pm
28th
October, Friends of Port Melbourne Foreshore, Planting/weeding October 9:30 am
-12 pm
29th
October, Transport Solutions Conference, at Storey Hall RMIT 11am-4pm. 9320
5409
31st
October, Greening Aust. Invertebrates. 10am-4pm Currawong Bush Park, Reynolds
Rd
Doncaster
East Cost $15 Details Kate Stothers 9457 3024
5th
November, Water Quality Testing, Cowderoy Creek, Cnr Beaconsfield Pde &
Pier Rd, 4pm
5th
November, Penguin research, Start St Kilda Pier, 830pm Enquiries Angela 9527
8334
5th
November, Vic Frog Group Lecture, Frogs: Ancient, adaptable and endlessly
fascinating, Healesville Sanctuary 7.30pm. Cost $3.00 Bookings essential 5957
2818
19th
November, Friends of Westgate Park, working bee 11am till late. Naomie 9387
9041
19th
November, Friends of Sandy Railway, Working bee Riddell Parade, 10 am
24th
November, VFG Frog lectures, Melbourne Zoo (ERC Centre) 7.30pm
30th
November, Last Earthcare meeting this year. Featuring Josie Dujmovic and
Jo-Anne Thyer
The EcoCentre corner Blessington and Herbert
St St Kilda
Children's day at
West Beach
Corner of Pier Rd and Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda
25th November 10am-
12noon
Come along, bring your friends and family for a fun
and educational time at West Beach.
There will be competitions & prizes for the kids,
spark your childrens environmental awareness while weeding plantain, Bring your
bathers & have a swim if the weather looks good, and enjoy a picnic with us
afterwards. All children should be accompanied by an adult.
Please bring your own hat, gloves and sunscreen.
Tea, coffee and lunch and some tools will be provided (bring your own tools if possible).
Developments at Webb Docklands
Recently
Earthcare has been invited to read and comment on The Draft Environmental Plan
for Webb Dock, prepared by Egis consulting in association with Urbris, for Melbourne
Ports Corporation. The document was far from satisfactory, containing several
astounding inaccuracies and or unfounded assertions. Here are some of the
issues raised in our response.
The
Environmental Plan lacks genuine commitment to its stated objectives of
protecting existing native vegetation, and that a deliberate attempt is being
made to downplay the value of the salt marsh. For example,
“The
Webb Dock area contains 17 species of flora” should read “Regionally
Significant species”.
There
are at least 103 vascular plant species within the precinct, of which 34% are
indigenous species. It goes on to say:
“From
an ecological process and salt marsh resource perspective it (the Webb Dock
salt marsh) is reported as a negligible proportion of the total salt marsh
inventory of Port Phillip and Corio bays”.
This
implies that there are extensive tracts of saltmarsh in the bays. This is not
supported by the Webb Dock EES Flora and Fauna Investigation (1997), which
states:
“More
broadly, saltmarsh was extensively developed along the western shores of Port
Phillip Bay and Corio Bay. Most has been modified or eliminated through
conversion of salt pans, drained and filled for pasture, stock grazing, and
urban development (McMahon et al. 1990).
Earthcare
acknowledges the saltmarsh is of limited value as fauna habitat (proportionate
to its relatively small area). However, faunal habitat value is but one part of
the overall ecological function of an inter-tidal plant community. Other
positive environmental roles of the saltmarsh (not acknowledged in the draft
EMP) include water-borne dispersal of seeds to supplement other locations
within the bay; and nutrient uptake from storm water run-off.
Despite
these compelling arguments for retention of the saltmarsh, its future is
clearly in contention, as evidenced by the annotation on the Conceptual
Development Plan: “Possible future berth subject to environmental economic
justification”.
Situations Vacant
Babysitter needed to attend Earthcare and Earthcare Committee meetings. Must be able to look after more than one child. Wages $15 an hour Ph: 9532 4138
News from Obu City
Well
the rain has stopped and the floods have subsided so life is getting back to
normal for most in Obu. On Monday 11th Sept Obu received over 500mm of
rain in less than 24hrs and at one stage 120mm in an hour. More than 1/3
of the annual rainfall meant flooding of numerous areas of the city, though we
were not as unfortunate as a nearby area, which saw the whole town
flooded. - Bronte Neyland
Seirei (Dragonfly)
Seirei no Kai.
Bulletin no. 20000923
(1)
Evaluating
the success of the Odorikomi Competition
*Disappointed that
they were unable to advertise the event in Koho Obu.
*2
hours was a bit long. Some people left
midway.
*Difficult
for children to catch muddy fish.
*A
special pool for children aged Grade 3 or below was set up.
*Difficult
to read the nametags made out of bamboo as they became quite dirty.
(2)
Test
plant for water purification
*Keen to establish
the bamboo stakes, to be used in the construction of the water path, before the
start of winter. Working bees will be
held every Saturday and Sunday from now on.
*Final
plans and accumulating materials for the water wheel will occur in September
and October, with construction of the wheel to occur between November and
February.