Earthcare
News
February
2002
I do what I can, where I am.
Friends of Sandringham Railway
Reserve
Walk Talk and Gawk - Sunday 24th
Feb 10am -12noon
Weed and Seed - Sunday10th
March 10 -12noon
Meet at Riddell Parade footbridge, Elsternwick for a
tour of the site,
pull out the
occasional weed, admire our handy work, collect some seed etc
New comers always welcome.
Please bring your own hat, gloves, tools, sunscreen
and water
More details contact Rob 9537 2599
Clean Air - Or Is It???
Community Access to Air Monitoring
(CAAM)
Open Day Sunday 3rd March
10am-1pm
CAAM is in Lindsay St, between
tracks and car park, Brighton Mel. 67 E11
Come
along and find out how the EPA monitors the air we breathe. Hear how we can all
do our bit to keep Melbourne's air cleaner. CAAM are having an open Day at
Brighton's air monitoring station on March 3rd
Earthcare's next meeting features member Nicki Furkert,
speaking on her role at the CAAM air monitoring station, Thursday 28th
March, 7.30pm
EARTHCARE'S PLANTING AND WEEDING SCHEDULE
2002
Sunday MARCH 24 Slash and Weed Johnson
Reserve 1-3pm
Saturday APRIL 27 Planting Breakwater
11am-3pm
Sunday MAY 26 Planting West Beach 11am-3pm
Saturday JUNE 29 Grosvenor St 11am-2pm
Sunday JULY 28 West Beach Planting 11am-3pm
Saturday AUGUST 24 St Kilda Botanic Gardens
Indigenous area 11am-3pm
Sunday SEPTEMBER 29 Canterbury Road
planting 11am-3pm
Saturday OCTOBER 27 Elwood foreshore
11am-3pm
Sunday NOVEMBER 24 Weeding West Beach or
Johnson reserve 11am-3pm
Night Arch Proposal scrapped
Congratulations
to John Addie and the Parks Community Association on a successful campaign to
protect the Coroborree Tree grassland project.
CoPP has withdrawn the night arch plan although endorses St Kilda
junction as a site for public art. Lets hope next time they employ an artist
and leave Albert Park alone.
West Beach weeding - thanks
to all those members and friend who turned up to West Beach 3rd/02,
particularly CoPP Mayor Jullian Hill , who professed a fondness for weeding.
Much summer grass, fleabane, thistles were removed, earning us all a delicious
lunch, prepared thanks to Zoe.
Farewell Melissa Carmody
Melissa
Carmody, City of Port Phillip's hard working Open Spaces Co-Ordinator is moving
on. Earthcare wishes to thank her for
her diligence, and wishes her well in her new role at Yarra Ranges
Whats on
24rd Feb Friends
of Sandringham Rail, walk & talk and Gawk, tour of site. Meet at Riddell
Pde Footbridge, Elsternwick. 10am- 12noon Melways 67 G4
26th Feb Biodiversity
means bucks - Linking biodiversity and productivity. At Burnley Campus Energy
Effiency Centre 9.30am-4.30pm Cost $80 Earthcare member & concession. Info
Lydia Fehring ph:9450 5302 email lfehring@gavic.org.au
28th Feb Earthcare
Meeting featuring Nicki Furkert from CAAM air monitoring. The EcoCentre Mel 57 B11 7.30pm
3rd March Open
day at CAAM air monitoring station, Lindsay St carpark, Brighton mel67 E11
3rd Mar Penguin
Research, meet at start of St Kilda Pier at
9.00pm Angela 95278334
5th Mar Greening
Aust Bus tour Understanding Port Phillip's Ecological Vegetation Communities
and Broad Vegetation Types. 9.30am-4.30pm At 10 Buckingham Dr Heidelberg. $80
Earthcare member & conc. Lydia Fehring9450 5302
7th Closing
date for newsletter contributions. Please send to PO Box or 9532 4138 or aliart@bigpond.com
7th Mar Green
Aust Seminar- Messy Ecosytems/ Orderly Frames-
$30 Earthcare member & concession. Details John Van Braam Ph: 9450
5303 jvanbraam@gavic
10th Mar. Friends
of Sandy Rail, Working Bee At Riddell Parade Elsternwick Melways 67 G4
16th Mar Friends
of Port Melbourne Foreshore, Working Bee at the Perc White Reserve.
9.30am-12noon Melways 56 F3 Details Janet 9645 2269
17th Mar Penguin
Research, meet at start of St Kilda Pier at
8.45pm Angela 95278334
19th Mar Greening
Aust Training, Introduction to Plant Propagation Techniques. Cost $30 Earthcare
members. At Seawinds Community Nursery, Arthurs Seat. 9.30am- 4.30pm Bookings
John Van Braam Ph:9450 5303
21st Mar Earthcare
AGM featuring Dr Beth Gott, expert on Koori uses of Indigenous plants. 7.30pm
At the EcoCentre Corner of Blessington And Herbert sts, St Kilda. Please note
Special meeting date
24th Mar Earthcare
Working Bee, Johnson Reserve Slash and Weed. 1pm-3pmJohnson Reserve is at the
cnr of Longmore St and Cowderoy st, St Kilda West. Mel 57 K7
26th Mar Greening
Aust Training Caring for our Coasts, at Seaford Community Centre. 9.30-4.30pm
Cost $30 Earthcare Members. Info John Van Braam Ph:9450 5303
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
Wildlife
Act 1975
Declaration of a Wildlife Management Co-operative
Area
St Kilda Breakwater
The Governor in Council under section 32(1) of the Wildlife
Act 1975 declares the area shown hatched on the plan in the schedule, to be
a Wildlife Management Co-operative Area for the Little Penguin (Eudyptula
minor) until 30 June 2011.
SCHEDULE
A
working plan for the Wildlife Management Co-operative Area -St Kilda Breakwater
has been approved by the Minister in accordance with section 32(3) of the Wildlife
Act 1975.
A
working plan for the Wildlife Management Co-operative Area -St Kilda Breakwater
has been approved by the Minister, Sherryl Garbutt Minister for Environment and Conservation in accordance with
section 32(3) of the Wildlife Act 1975.
The
WMCA is aimed at providing conservation and protection of native wildlife and
their habitat.
This
involves basically the exsisting management arrangement for the next ten years,
on an increased area. It now applies to the whole length of the Breakwater, not
only that behind the fence, plus 5 metres beyond the rocks all the way around,
as shown in diagram.
City of Port Phillip management of indigenous areas has changed.
Due to lack of consistent maintenance in these areas by Excell and as a
response to the complaints made by Earthcare it has been decided to vary the
Excell contract to exclude Natural Heritage sites. This variation is not
just performance based. The City believes we can do a better job managing
these sites ourselves. Our intended management will consist of the
following in the short term until a longer term alternative is worked through:
NRA sites have been divided into significant (West Beach, Canterbury Rd,
Foreshore sites, Perc White Reserve and Gasworks indigenous beds) and open
space sites (traffic treatments such as Blessington St, light rail lines
etc). Significant sites will receive twice monthly weeding, litter
removal and pruning from a specialist contractor. Naturelinks have been
invited to tender for these works. Open space sites will receive monthly
servicing. We intend to cater for some extra visits initially to ensure weeding
is brought up to scratch.
Planting days will be run as a project by a specialist contractor who will work
with Earthcare and FOPM to coordinate and resource the days.
More Gecko Sightings
Our family is always glad when the geckos
in the garden finally emerge from hibernation. It seems to be a late
start this year - cold summer so far??
However, this week I've heard sounds in the garden I always associate with
them>. My theory is they're telling me we're now in for some hot spells. Can
we have some info. On their sounds, please? I'm not entirely sure the noises I
hear are the geckos or some other creatures that are around at the same times.-
Jill Sokol
Late last year (December) my daughter and I
found a gecko in a 'potty' in our garden shed.
We put it in an aquarium and she kept it as a pet for a few days (even
took it to school). It kept escaping so we put it back where
we had found it. The shed is where we also
feed and lock up the dogs at night. The
dogs are away at the moment so I have been undertaking a big clean up out the
back. I have just looked in the potty
again to find the gecko still in there and two eggs. I can only presume that the eggs belong to the gecko. What should we do? Should we move the potty and family to a safer place? -Rosemary
Etherton
I did see one of these geckos on the
outside of our north-facing window about 5 feet from the ground, one evening at
about 10 pm. I don't know the date but
I would guess at fairly early in January this year. -Anne Miller
I found an article in Australian Geographic
July-September 2000. page 84 "geckos have a voice-usually a squeak or
wheezing bark emitted when facing rivals or predators." All I can say is that there must be a lot of
rivals or predators outside my bedroom window because on hot nights they are
quite vocal for long periods of time. -Zoe
More gecko sightings, 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.
This is a draft of the indigenous heritage charter for your comment. If you
would like any adjustments please email Josephine mjsk@vicnet.net.au or Zoe
zoemh@bigpond.com
CITY OF PORT PHILLIP NATURAL
HERITAGE CHARTER
Mission
We
will work in partnership to plan, maintain, protect and enhance local natural
heritage areas.
Communication
·
All parties will
provide information and education to the community on the value of indigenous
flora and fauna.
·
All parties will seek
to maximise community participation in planting days through promotion and the
development of a planting calendar.
·
City of Port Phillip
will consult Earthcare and Friends of Port Melbournes Foreshore when developing
streetscape and landscape plans.
·
City of Port Phillip
will consult with Earthcare and Friends of Port Melbournes Foreshore prior to
the development of any plans effecting Natural Heritage Areas.
·
All parties will raise
any concern or issue regarding the management of Natural Heritage Areas
directly with the other parties.
All
parties agree to regularly review this charter with a view to including other
groups as appropriate in the future.
Resources
·
All parties will work
in partnership to plan, maintain, protect and enhance local Natural Heritage
Areas.
·
City of Port Phillip
will provide adequate resources for the ongoing maintenance of Natural Heritage
Areas.
·
City of Port Phillip
will consult with Earthcare and Friends of Port Melbournes Foreshore when
developing maintenance specifications for Natural Heritage Areas.
·
City of Port Phillip
will ensure that Natural Heritage Areas are maintained according to contract
specifications.
·
All parties will support
joint applications for funding grants to improve Natural Heritage Areas.
Planning
& Protection of Natural Heritage Areas
·
City of Port Phillip
will take the lead role in planning, policy development and maintenance of
Natural Heritage Areas.
·
All parties will work
together to develop and implement management plans for Natural Heritage Areas.
·
City of Port Phillip
will integrate the management of Natural Heritage Areas with local, state and
national strategies.
·
City of Port Phillip
will seek to link existing flora and fauna habitats and wildlife corridors
where possible.
·
Friends of Port
Melbournes Foreshore and Earthcare will actively participate in Councils
process for auditing Natural Heritage Areas.
·
All parties will
participate in this charter under the terms of the National Natural Heritage
Charter.
DAVID SPOKES
Chief Executive Officer,
City of Port Phillip
President,
Friends of Port Melbournes Foreshore
JO SAMUEL-KING JANET
BOLITHO
President, Earthcare St Kilda Inc.
Your Membership is Due
Earthcare
needs your membership to effectively lobby council on issues as important as
the Foreshore Draft Plan and protecting the penguin colony. Your membership
allows Earthcare to buy tools, apply for grants, pay for postage, the newsletter
and our planting sessions.
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.
Cost
: Single Membership $20 / Student or healthcare card holder $15
Family Membership $30 / Corporate Membership $40
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.
$15 Student/ Concession $20 individual $30
family
I wish to make a donation $
Please return completed form to PO Box 287 Elwood
3184
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..New Renewal
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