Earthcare News
January 2002
I do what I can, where I
am
Friends day bbq at the ecocentre.
Sunday 20th January, 5pm onwards,
special
guest
Carol Scarpaci will speak on Dolphins.
BBQ
and VegeQ provided, bring drinks
(Earthcare has beer and wine)
Meet
other affiliated eco-groups,
grown ups and grown downs
The
EcoCentre is at the corner of Herbert and Blessinton sts, St Kilda. Melways 57
B11
Further
details Neil Blake 9209 6491 (BH)
Welcome the
New Year in at West Beach St Kilda.
Enjoy a relaxed, leisurely
morning with Earthcare, pull up a few weeds, have a swim, catch up with your
Earthcare Friends.
At West
Beach St Kilda, corner of Pier Rd and Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda. Melways 57
J8
Sunday 3rd
Feb 10am -1pm
Details Alison 9532 4138
GECKO
HAVE YOU SEEN ONE?
This
is the season for geckos and skinks and they do exist in the City of Port
Phillip.
Marbled
Geckos can be seen in the evening on warm walls, on your doorstep, and among
leaf litter. Take a look, you may find one and if you are lucky it will talk to
you, as they are capable of vocalisation. They range from 7-14cm, have large
prominent eyes, are mottled cream and brown and have rounded pads on their
toes.
Skinks
are seen in the day time, they are slimmer than geckos and have clawed toes.
Look for them on warm bricks and in sunny spots around your dwelling, the
skinks around Middle Park are quite pale in colour. Take a photo if you find
one we would like to identify it.
If
you see either of these reptiles please contact Earthcare on 0500 832 784 or email zoemh@bigpond.com or aliart@bigpond.com Tell us the date, time
of day, situation found and street.
Elwood Canal Marine Fauna Survey
Peter
Baird has received $4,300 from Coast Care to do a marine fauna survey of the
Elwood Canal in conjunction with N.R.E. and Earthcare.
Peter,
Zoe Hogg and N.R.E.'S fish ecologist Paul Close met at the canal on Friday 17/8
to walk the canal and discuss the site techniques and schedules.
The
aim of the survey is to determine the number of species using the canal, an
approximation of the overall number of fish using the canal, and to determine
exactly what they are up to: breeding, feeding, recruiting, seeking refuge etc.
Environmental issues such as water quality, habitat quality and obstructions to
the fishes' passage upstream will also be monitored during the survey period.
The
survey will consist of two baseline surveys, in Spring and Summer. These will
be done in conjunction with N.R.E. and will attempt to determine all species
utilising the canal in the peak period as well as the preliminary water quality
sampling and habitat assessment. These initial surveys will be followed by
monthly surveys done with Earthcare and local schools.
The
outcomes of the survey are to
1.
Determine the
ecological value of the Elwood Canal as the only estuary between the Yarra
River and Mordialloc Creek.
2.
To ensure future
planning enhances the ecological value of the Canal
3. To develop a 'fish calendar' - education package for local schools and general use.
4.
To use survey and
calendar as a template for general education package.
The next fish survey is Monday 21st Jan 10am -12 electro
fishing on the canal between Glenhuntly Rd and New St. Plus 4-6pm setting nets
in the Estuary below Glenhuntly Rd.
Your Membership is Due
All memberships are due, with the exception of those who recently
joined.
Have a say in the future of the City of Port Phillip and the
environment in general through Earthcare. Stay informed through our handy
newsletter and website. Be part of a dynamic group of individuals, caring for
our community. It's easy just fill out
form on rear of newsletter, and send it to PO Box 287 Elwood3184, or pay in
person at the next Earthcare meeting.
Cost : Single Membership
$20 / Student or healthcare card holder
$15
Family Membership $30 / Corporate
Membership $40
Whats on
19th Jan, Friends
Of Port Melbourne Foreshore, working bee, Perc White Reserve,
Mel 56 F3 Details Janet 9645 2269
20th Jan Ecocentre
Friends Day / Earthcare Meeting at the EcoCentre. BBq & VegeQ byo drinks ( Earthcare
has some) Speaker Carol Scarpaci on dolphins. Neil 9209 6491
20th Jan Penguin
Research, meet at start of St Kilda Pier at 9.30pm Angela 95278334
24st Jan Earthcare
Committee Meeting, all welcome. At The EcoCentre 7.30pm
28th-1st Rakali Watch intensive four evening study. Meet at start of St Kilda Pier, 9-11pm Details
Jessica 0412 103 550
4th Feb West
Beach weeding, cnr Pier Rd and Beaconsfield Pde . Mel 57 J8 10am-1pm
4th Feb Penguin
Research, meet at start of St Kilda Pier at 9.30pm Angela 95278334
17th Feb Penguin
Research, meet at start of St Kilda Pier at 9.30pm Angela 95278334
23rd Feb Seastar
Day possibly details Allan Budziarski
0409 570 366
26th Feb Earthcare
Meeting at the EcoCentre Mel 57 B11 7.30pm
The EcoCentre is at the corner of Blessington
and Herbert Sts, St Kilda.
Earthcare St Kilda Ph: 0500 832
784 Postal PO Box 287 Elwood 3184
Email aliart@bigpond.com
Rakali Watch Wednesday 19th
December 2001, 9pm-11pm
The
sea was calm, the night balmy and there was a school of white bait in front of
the boardwalk. Traps were set but rakali were uninterested.
On
a food platform among the rocks on the Breakwater side of the board walk we
found shore crab carapace, mussel shells and tube worm tubes. Rakali constantly
came to shore with white bait.
The
following notes were taken by Caroline Cordeiras.
1.
Came out from under
boardwalk around second bollard from breakwater side. Swam out about 5m diving
twice for about 5secs. Swam back under boardwalk, swam towards kiosk. Dived
twice around rocks near kiosk, mainly swam at surface for~3mins. Returned to
under BW.
2.
Came out from under 1st
bollard on breakwater side swam around for about 2mins diving continuously
for~4secs each time. Returned to feed on rock , left no shells. Returned to
water swimming ~15m diving repeatedly, returned to a different rock, appeared
to be grooming for ~1min, swam to middle of BW diving repeatedly, came to
shore/sand very briefly, returned to water on breakwater side, sat on rock past
BW grooming 3mins swam towards kiosk diving repeatedly.
3.
Came out from
underneath BW swam out ~5m towards 2nd bollard from breakwater side
diving repeatedly. Sat on rock for 2mins eating tube worm, swam to rock past BW
sat for ~5mins eating a mussel
4.
Meanwhile a small
individual has been swimming around in circles, periodically diving and
returning to rocks about 10m away from BW. Another large rakali swam up to the
rock with a mussel and they sat together eating,, after ~2mins it swam away
towards Breakwater to a rock~ 3m away where it sat grooming for 2mins.
5.
Another rakali swam
from 1st rock to second rock and both rakali swam to shared a rocks.
Next Rakali Watch, an intensive
four evening study, 28th Jan- 1st Feb, 9pm-11pm. Info
Jessica 0412 103 550
Penguin Colony at risk, again.
Despite
Earthcare's hard work, particularly Josephine Samuel-King, CoPP is again
proposing significant changes that endanger St Kilda Harbour's penguin colony
and the seagrass beds. The new St Kilda Foreshore Draft Plan contains many
improvements, such as the increase use of indigenous coastal plantings, and
Earthcare welcomes these, however there are serious problems concerning St
Kilda Harbour. The proposal seems to
contradict the Framework’s own design principle to ‘develop St Kilda as
a safe harbour ‘provided that this can be achieved without adverse
ecological impacts’.
Specifically
the five yachting bays (seven structures) proposed WEST from the boat pier near
the current kiosk and which would run most of the distance to the breakwater.
This part of the proposed marina expansion lies directly in the approach path
the penguins to the colony. The penguins typically wait cautiously offshore in
groups (rafts) or as individuals opposite the burrow system and then swim into
shore when the coast is clear.
Locating
this proposed structure alongside the breakwater would bring an unacceptable
increase in the level of human activity in close proximity to the colony. All
evidence points to the penguins preferring minimum disturbance by the activity
of humans. Numbers of penguins occupying the breakwater increases with distance
from built structures e.g. kiosk, boats, pedestrians, and human noise and
traffic. The penguin population has grown steadily since fencing, which
restricts human activity.
Increasing
boat traffic in close proximity to the breakwater inevitably decreases water
purity and increases the risk of local fuel spills. Even very small spills
could have an extreme effect on penguins and disturb the marine fauna and flora
of the breakwater (which feeds the rakalis). This is inconsistent with a bird
breeding colony where wildlife seeks safe and peaceful habitat to raise their
young.
As
well, the foreshore proposal includes "new finger piers extending from the
sea wall bastions", these finger pier are directly on top of the some of
the Harbour's vunerable seagrass beds, risking the breeding ground of fish and
endangering the whole food chain, already suffering from the Seastar invasion.
Earthcare
incourages everyone to have a look at the proposals, viewable at the Town Hall,
library or from www.portphillip.vic.gov.au,
and to let the council and councillors (remember there is a council election
coming up) know you views.
All responses need to be done in 31st of January.
Send to Private Bag 3, PO St Kilda 3182
Serei No Kai
We,Seirei
no kai, had "Shinnike Summit" in Obu on Nov18th as our anniversary
event after we have worked together for ten years.To the summit joined people
who have ponds named Shinnike in their towns or cities.
We talked and discussed about we have been doing with clean water of the ponds,
what the problems are now. In the afternoon we enjoyed the movie whose name is
Shimanto-river -the river famous for its beautiful stream and nature.
With about 900 citizens we learned clean current is closely related with our
way of human life . And we thought that nature would keep its beauty so long as
we have rich heart
to respect our nature. We are happy our event was so successful to satisfy lots
of citizens.
Best wishes
Masayasu Ogawa