Earthcare News
August 2001
I do what I can, where I am
Earthcare cordially invites
you to the much anticipated launch of their North Pacific Seastar (Asterias
amurensis) eradication project from fundamental sites around Port Phillip
Bay.
The North Pacific Seastar is
native to eastern Russia, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It has been estimated
by CSIRO experts to have reached population numbers of over 12 million in the
Port Phillip bay alone, and is well known to consume molluscs, sponges,
crustaceans and other Seastars. Making it to harmful to the rest of the ecology
of the Port Phillip Bay.
To learn more about the
North Pacific Seastar, and how you can help defend the Port Phillip bay from
this predator, Earthcare is holding a launch for the project at 7:30 pm on the
30th of August Earthcare Meeting at EcoCentre cnr Blessington and
Herbert sts, St Kilda Botanical Garden (Melways Ref 57 B 11).
Special presentation by Greg
Perry a North Pacific Seastar Expert from the Australian Marine and Freshwater
Research Institute, Queenscliff.
Food and Beverage are
supplied.
Project Leader-Allan
Budziarski via Email at allan_bud@hotmail.com
or via phone on 0409 570 366.
Saturday
8th September
10am-12
noon
Melways
ref. 58 D/E12
Planting at
Johnson Reserve
Sunday
September 30th 1pm-4pm
Johnson
Reserve is at the corner of
Canterbury
Rd and Cowderoy St, West St Kilda. Melways Ref 57K7.
Lunch and
some tools and gloves supplied. Please provide your own protection from the
weather. Details Jo Samuel-King 9534 5751
Grant Success
Earthcare has again been
successful in the recent Parks Victoria grants, with $3000 for the
continuing revegation of the Breakwater
and $2000 to produce a Penguin booklet
and to reprint The Marvellous
Rakali.
Earthcare Misrepresented
Earthcare was bitterly
disappointed that we have been so misrepresented by the Leader newspaper, after
clearly stating our issues in the press release, seen in full in the July
Earthcare newsletter. Earthcare has a very good relationship with the City of
Port Phillip and wishes this to remain. Our sole complaint is and has always
been, against Excell.
Earthcare's hard working
President has clarified this point with the appropriate councillors and staff.
Earthcare anticipates improved environmental outcomes, with the City of Port
Phillip and it's contractors.
Seaweed For Penguins
Earthcare
and the EcoCentres champion, Neil Blake has recently organised a truckload of
seaweed to be deposited on the Breakwater by Council contractor
Streetsahead, in preparation for a
planting on October14th. Neil said Weve discovered from the previous loads of
seaweed delivered by Streetsahead that saltmarsh plants thrive in it. The
saltmarsh plants are the only ones that can handle the tough conditions on the
breakwater, and their colours are spectacular. The breeding season for the
hundred or so penguin couples in the colony is just about to start so they
wont go without nesting material this year,
What's On
26th Aug. Federation Walk, Working people's trail, meet at Lagoon Pier,
Beach rd Port Melb. 10am Bookings
essential ph:9690 9584
26th
Aug Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary,
Sandringham Open 2pm-4pm Mel Ref 77 B10
30th Aug. Earthcare Meeting, Featuring Greg Parry on Northern Pacific Seastars.
7.30pm at The EcoCentre
1st Sept, Water Quality Testing at Cowderoy Creek, West Beach. Corner
Pier Rd and Beaconsfield Pde. 2pm Mel ref 57 J8
2nd Sept. Penguin Research, Meet at start of St.
Kilda Pier 7.30pm Angela 9527 8334
8th Sept, Planting Sandy rail, Meet at Grosvenor St
Bridge 10am -12noon. More details Rob 9537 2599
9th Sept, Federation Walk, Aboriginal Trail, Meet at
Corner Beaconsfield and Pier Rd, (Mel 57 J8) 10 am. Bookings 9690 9584
15th Sept, Friends of Port Melb.foreshore Planting.
Perc White Reserve. Queries Janet 9645 2269 Melways 56 F3 9.30am- 12noon
16th Sept, Penguin Research, Meet at start of St.
Kilda Pier 7.30pm Angela 9527 8334
16th Sept, Sandy Rail Planting at Riddell Pde, footbridge Elsternwick (Mel
67G4) 10am-12noon Details Rob 9537 2599
16th Sept, Friends
of Westgate Park, Check noticeboard Todd Rd Carpark for exact location Free
Vegie bbq Mel. 56 F1. 11am onwards
27th Sept, Earthcare Meeting Featuring a celebration of
15years of Penguin Research, at the EcoCentre corner Blessington & Herbert
St, St Kilda 7.30pm
30th Sept, Earthcare
Planting Johnson Reserve, Corner of Canterbury Rd and Cowderoy St, St Kilda mel
57. 1pm-4pm Lunch provided
What follows is a draft
charter between Earthcare and City of Port Phillip. you agree with the idea of a charter? What do you you think of this draft? Any ideas gladly accepted!
Please speak to a committee member at the next Earthcare meeting or
email Jo Samuel-King on josephine_sk@hotmail.com
EARTHCARE
INC.& CITY OF PORT PHILLIP
CITY OF
PORT PHILLIP ENVIRONMENT CHARTER
Mission: To protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity
within the City of Port Phillip.
Shared Objectives:
·
Look for and take
opportunities to enhance, consolidate, extend and develop new Natural resource
areas, with the view to linking up current islands of vegetation and
transforming them into wildlife corridors.
·
Develop management
plans that maximise indigenous biodiversity and minimise environmental impact
of weed control.
As
managers of the City of Port Phillip open spaces we will:
·
Consult with Earthcare
in the planning of streetscape and landscaping policies that effect indigenous
biodiversity.
As
Community representatives, Earthcare Incorporated will;
·
Involve the community
in planting days by developing and advertising a planting calender.
NATURAL RESOURCE AREA MANAGEMENT
CHARTER
Mission: To protect, maintain and enhance indigenous
biodiversity within the natural resource areas in the City of Port Phillip.
Shared
Objectives:
As
partners in the delivery of Natural Resource Area Management we will;
·
Jointly apply for funding
grants to improve natural resource areas.
·
Work together in the
planning and maintenance of Natural Resource Areas.
·
Jointly develop
management plans for all Natural Resource Areas.
·
Work to agreed
management plans for each area.
As
Managers of the Natural Resource Areas, the City of Port Phillip will;
·
Continue to resource
the maintenance of Natural Resource Areas
·
Take the lead role in
the planning, policy development and maintenance.
·
Consult with Earthcare
on the specifications of any future contracts that involve the maintainence and
or development of the Natural resource areas.
·
Ensure that the Natural
resource areas are maintained by the contractors according to these
specifications.
·
As
Community representatives, Earthcare Incorporated will;
·
Consult with CoPP in
the planning and staging of working bees.
·
Work with the City of
Port Phillip to protect, enhance and develop the Natural resource areas.(N.B.
This is a change of focus so that it is clear that we are not responsible for
maintainence but are more interested in using our limited resources to develop
sites.)
City of Port Phillip Earthcare
Incorporated
David
Yeouart, Director physical Services Jo
Samuel King
Rosa
Marguccio, Manager Environmental Services Zoe
Hogg
Damien
Burgess, Coordinator Parks and Open Space Alison
Melissa
Carmody, Coordinator Parks and Landscapes
Earthcare's
History
Joanne
Minchin has recently compiled a history of Earthcare, available in full on the
website www.vicnet.net.au/~earthcare In the interest of accuracy we would be
interested in speaking with any one who's memory varies with this version, or
feel that important events have been neglected. Please email Alison aliart@bigpond.com Earthcare wishes to
thank Joanne for all her hard work.
Here is
part of what was recorded in 1992:
Several
urban management projects were underway. A restoration project at West Beach
aimed to recreate a historic wetland, to act as a filter for one of St. Kildas
polluted drain outlets. A $3500 grant from Greening Australia was used to
re-vegetate the railway at Balaclava with indigenous plants. Earthcare
volunteers together with local residents planted hundreds of trees at Elwood
canal and coastal vegetation was planted at Elwood foreshore with the help of
St. Columba Primary School and St. Bedes Church. Earthcare established a
community Nursery at the adventure playground, aiming to involve all
generations of the local community. Financially assisted by Greening Australia,
Brighton Rotary and St. Kilda council, the successful nursery grew so large it
had later had to be relocated. Student, Angela Hambling set up an indigenous
seed bank and catalogued the councils indigenous seed collection for seeding at
the community nursery.
Earthcare
Earthcare
is a practical, local environment group. We work closely with specialists and
the Council to improve the environment in the City of Port Phillip.
Our main projects are to increase the diversity and extent of native vegetation, the fortnightly penguin and rakali study groups, litter and water quality monitoring, underwater studies of the St Kilda Harbour, the nest box project and sustainable housing.
Membership
includes the monthly newsletter, admission to talks by guest speakers, access
to specialist project groups, and participation in local plantings.
Its
a great way to study local ecologies, with or without formal qualifications
while giving something to our community.
Tel.
05 008 32784 http://www.vicnet.net.au/~earthcare
Membership or Renewal Form
Membership of Earthcare St. Kilda
Inc. is per calendar year, February to January.
Membership includes a monthly
newsletter and information about coming events.
I wish to join Earthcare St. Kilda
Inc.
$20 individual $30 family I wish to make a donation $
Please return completed form to PO
Box 287 Elwood 3184
Name
..New Renewal
Address
..
Suburb/City
..P/Code
Phone
Number
email
.
I would like to receive my
newsletter by email Yes /
No
My special interest
is
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us?
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