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Earthcare News

November 2000

I do what I can where I am.

 

 

Childrens day at

West Beach

Corner of Pier Rd and Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda

2nd December 10am- 12noon

formerly 25th November

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. Children of all ages welcome, from 1-100yrs, although children 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult. We will be receiving a Mayoral blessing.

This event will be staged with the assistance of CoastAction/Coastcare

Please bring your own hat, gloves and sunscreen.

Tea, coffee, cool drinks and some tools will be provided (bring your own tools if possible).

 

 

NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

Juncus acutus Eradication Programme

Join Jo and Zo

On

West Beach

10.30am Friday mornings for an hour or so

IT’S PRICKLY

wear gloves, long sleeves, bring secateurs if you have them

we are determined to make a difference

SEE YOU THERE

 

 

Josie Dujmovic the Manager of Parks and Open Spaces in the City of Port Phillip, will join Earthcare in an open discussion on the maintenance and development of the natural resource areas in the City of Port Phillip. Josie needs your input to gage where and how improvements can be made and where it is working. Josie will also show us a presentation of completed works by Excell, so that we can discuss their contract and how best to work in that contract

Come and have your say, and help work towards a better future.

Also Jo-Anne Thyer will discuss The Friends of Alma Rail Reserve Project - the only remnant vegetation site left in The City of Port Phillip and how to preserve it!

Thursday 30th November 7.30pm, at the EcoCentre

 

Beach Report Program 2000/2001

The Environment Protection Authority's Beach Report Program are looking for people to volunteer this Summer to monitor water quality, local rainfall and stormwater drain and litter conditions, providing valuable information about beach conditions.

For more information, check out EPA's Beach Report Web Site: www.epa.vic.gov.au/beachreport

Any queries contact Karen Vondruska Ph:9695 2702 or  email karen.vondruska@epa.vic.gov.au

 

 

A WALK FOR RECONCILIATION

Flinders Street  to the King's Domain Gardens

Start 8am, last walker leaves at 11am

Then celebrate in the King's Domain Gardens at a free community festival 9.30am-3pm

SUNDAY 3RD DECEMBER  2000

For more info visit www.reconciliation.org.au

Coroboree Melbourne 2000

 

 

 

 

Whats on

24th November, Friday Juncus Eradication Program, West Beach, 10.30am-12noon

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. 7.30pm The EcoCentre cnr Blessington and Herbert St, St Kilda

1st December, Friday Juncus Eradication Program, West Beach, 10.30am-12noon

2nd December, Childrens Day at West Beach, 10am-12noon Details Alison 9532 4138

2nd December, Greening Aust. ID of native Grasses and Sedges.10am-4pm Village

 School, 9-13 Holloway Rd Croydon North. Cost $15. contact Kate Stothers

3rd December, Water Quality Testing, Cowderoy Creek, West Beach  3pm

3rd December, Penguin Research, 9pm Start of St Kilda Pier contact Angela 9527 8334

3rd Dec, Walk for Reconciliation, Flinders St Station 8am-11am go to King's Domain Gardens

8th December, Friday Juncus Eradication Program, West Beach, 10.30am-12noon

9th December, Greening Aust. Introduction to Native Seed Collection. 10am-4pm

Mt Martha House, cnr The Esplanade and Dominion Rd, Mt Martha Contact 9457 3024

15th December, Friday Juncus Eradication Program, West Beach, 10.30am-12noon

17th Dec, EcoCentre Open Day 2pm - 4pm Contact Neil for Details 9209 6491

 

LowTide Festival

Earthcarers are  planning the FIRST LOW TIDE Festival in Australia to be held at West Beach in St Kilda, May 2001.

LowTide is an annual inter-tidal festival - on one day right across the globe, held every year on the Saturday in May with the lowest tide. Since 1995 individuals and community groups all over the world have been joining together to put on this international event of celebration and education

Each LowTide event is unique, reflecting the interests and skills of the people who put it on, and the specificity of the environment it celebrates. But whatever form the day takes, LowTide is about people exploring, enjoying and sharing the wonder of the coastal, inter-tidal and near shore marine places where we live.

Our aim is to create a small local environmental day for the community, which combines natural sciences, humanities, visual and performance arts.

We welcome those who would like to be involved in a working group, or want to know more about LowTide.

Sylvie Shaw ssha10@student.monash.edu.au  Ph:9531 6397

Rebecca Lucas rluc1@student.monash.edu.au  Ph:9530 3621

'One Tide on One Day around One World because We All Live Downstream'

 

 

A good year for St Kilda Penguins

 Penguin research reports that the St Kilda penguins had a very successful breeding this season, with two hatchings.

Most adults had their first clutch in August, which is fairly early, but was apparently successful. The same cannot be said of the Phillip Island colony, which also started breeding in August but had a lot of fatalities, believed due to a low water temperature, a key factor for the young birds.

The second hatch is presently under way with most adults involved, and is so far going well, with some very heavy weight chicks observed. One chick weighed a massive 1550grams, higher than an average adult.

Also reported was a large number of un-banded adults found, either they have arrived from other colonies and chosen to make St Kilda breakwater their home or are from previous breedings that have missed the banding process.  St Kilda Breakwater's colony is growing at a health rate, with the rookery spreading the length of the park area, and some even birds found on the other side of the enclosure.

 

We at Earthcare wish to thank everyone for their hard work and perseverance this year, and we wish everyone has a happy and safe Christmas break.

Those people wishing to be involved with Earthcare and other environmental activities over the festive break, the Earthcare web site is now redesigned and up to date.

www.home.vicnet.net.au/~earthcare or simple type Earthcare St Kilda in your search engine.  I will attempt to keep everyone with access informed of events, as they are reported to me. To let me know of upcoming events please phone Alison 9532 4138 or email kingcasey@one.net.au

 

 

 

HAVE A GANDER AT THE GREBES

 

A pair of Australasian Grebes (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) have taken up residence in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens pond. This is the first time a pair have been sighted since the ponds creation (1986). So impressed are they with the pond habitat (following its 1999 rejuvenation by Naturelinks and the EcoCentre) that they have decided to raise a family.

 

Two eggs were sighted on Nov 15. Usually there are 4-6 per clutch. All being well there are likely to be hatchlings around December 6. It is quite probable that this is the first breeding attempt in St Kilda by this species in over a hundred years. Let’s hope the Silver Gulls don’t trouble them. So far so good.

 

If you’d like a look at the Grebes and turtles through a high-powered spotting scope, why not come down to the

EcoCentre Open Day, 2-4pm, on Sunday December 17.

 We’ll also be showing our new Waste Wise display, and the new improved Resource Room. Want more info: phone Neil at the EcoCentre 9209 6491.

 

 

 

 

Seirei (Dragonfly)

Seirei no Kai.  Bulletin no. 20001028

 

Finalisation of a Commissioned Contract with Groundwork

A commissioned contract with the non-profit organisation Japan Groundwork has been finalized.  The philosophies and ideas held by Japan Groundwork are similar to those of our organisation.  We hope that through this partnership, which links local residents, industry and administration, we will be able to improve the local environment.  Seirei no Kai have been awarded a grant of 200,000yen (approx. $3500) to use in our efforts to purify the water of Shinike Pond.  The contract is until February 28 next year.

 

October Meeting Topics

(1)    Floods

l           The houses of two members were affected by the floods, which occurred September 11 – 12.

l          The flooding affected some of our projects, though the fish preserve, willow area and water wheel were unaffected.

l          Due to the cancellation of the Environment Festival and the Industrial and Cultural Festival we were unable to raise money through the sale of bamboo charcoal.  We need to decide other means of raising money.

(1)    Test plant for water purification

l           We will decide the final destination of the water flow as we construct the water passage.  We are presently deciding the finer details of this project.

 

October Activities

l           Bamboo Charcoal Making – Removing the charcoal prepared in September and placing the next batch in the kilns.

l           Water Purification Test Plant  -

l           Removal of the bamboo that was affected by the flooding.

l           Planting of irises.

l           Complete the installation of bamboo stakes.

l           Observation of our working bee by a member of Japan Groundwork.

l           Pruning of the willow trees.