The last year has seen many dramatic and unexpected changes, and our little corner of the Aiport has not been immune. In particular, staff turnover (including the Airport's Environment Manager), has resulted in some loss of momentum. Few of the original members of the original Patawalonga Creek steering committee are still involved with the project. It is inevitable that individuals, particularly project officers, will move on as they pursue career paths in their respective organisations.
This highlights the importance of local community groups in sustaining the continuity of vision and effort that is required to set up and maintain long-term environmental projects.
So it is pleasing to report that FoPC has made significant organisational progress: we have adopted a constitution, received an ABN, ITEC (Income Tax Exempt) status and our first grants funding. We now have a bank account, a website, an office and Environment Resource Centre at the Reedbeds Community Centre.
The Catchment Board has installed an 'Our Patch' sign at Patawalonga Creek, which has started to generate local interest; we have gained extra publicity through co-operating with the City of West Torrens at Apex Park and other community groups.
the Editor
The departure of Steve Green (Airport Environment Manager) midway through 2001, to return to Western Mining Corporation at Roxby Downs, coincided with the non-renewal of Dr Barbara Radcliffe's contract as Commonwealth Airport Environment Officer.
Despite the difficulties presented by this loss of vision and expertise (and the upheavals in the aviation industry which put additional pressure on Airport staff) Sharn Lucas managed to pull together a big effort on Planet Ark National Tree Day. Around fifty people took part in planting out an area near the entrance to the site with native grasses and groundcovers. The Mayor of the City of West Torrens, John Trainer, planted two river redgum saplings.
The day also marked the arrival of Scott Nairn as the new Airport Environment Manager. Scott has a background in Environmental Toxicology and therefore has a very good understanding of the issues involved with the silt ponds and their eventual removal.
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Mayor John Trainer plants a redgum sapling,
assisted by Sharn Lucas
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Sharn also lead a tour of the site in September, when it was among four sites chosen across the Adelaide region by the Urban Forest Biodiversity Program, to celebrate National Biodiversity Month.
Sharn's term as the Environment Student at the Airport expired at the end of last year. The new occupant of the position is Claire Davill, who did her Honours under Dr David Paton, who is a prominent ornithologist at the University of Adelaide. Claire's project will involve studying bird strikes, which is a serious issue for the Airport.
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Progress on Flooding Issues
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Early in 2002 it was announced that a working party consisting of representatives from state
and local government, the West Beach Trust, Adelaide Airport Ltd and the Patawalonga
Catchment Board had chosen a preferred
option to deal with potential flooding in the northwestern suburbs.of the City of West Torrens.
Major features of this plan include:
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a. onsite temporary detention of stormwater from the proposed developments on the northwest corner of the Airport
b. upgrading the Airport Drain along Sir Donald Bradman Drive, from May Terrace to West Beach Road (which feeds into Patawalonga Creek)
c. diverting part of this flow into an upgraded existing channel along the eastern side of Tapleys Hill Road to the Patawalonga
d. diverting the drainage of the suburb of West Beach away from the Airport Drain, towards the west
e. raising the water level in the system through weirs, to increase the pressure, and therefore the capacity, of the venturi system of the Barcoo Outlet.
The combined effects of this proposal on the Patawalonga Creek are anticipated to keep peak flows at about the same rate. However, increasing the waterlevel of the Creek means that peak flows will spill out into the creek's meanders, which have been starved of water since the Creek was dredged about 12 years ago. This increased flushing will help to restore the health of the meanders.
According to Trevor Starr, CEO of the City of West Torrens, these works may be completed in about three years, subject to funding. They are expected to cost $8m, $2m from West Torrens, the remainder from other bodies.
Late in 2001, a new photographic display, 'Birds and Reptiles of Patawalonga Creek' was exhibited at the City of West Torrens' Hilton Library.
In December, FoPC participated in a combined display of environmental work by other local community groups, at the Summer Fete held at the Henley Beach Primary School.
Some of the displays in the 'Westside Stories' exhibition | |
In February 2002, we were invited to participate in the 'Westside Stories' exhibition at the former Henley & Grange Town Hall, as part of the City of Charles Sturt's Festival of the Coast. This proved to be a major networking opportunity with other local environmental and history groups. |
When not on tour, the Pat Creek displays are on show at the Reedbeds Community Centre.
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Reedbeds Environment Centre
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The Environment Resource Centre has been set up in a disused office at the Reedbeds
Community Centre. Some equipment - a filing cabinet, display boards, etc have been generously donated following the demise of the former CAPP shop at Port Adelaide. We have benefitted from the state government's program of donating surplus computers to community groups; Adelaide Airport Ltd has donated a second computer, which will be used for digitising the photographic archive.
We received a grant for $1,000 (IYV 2001) which has been used to puchase a laminator and tools (including two knapsack spray units), which are available for use by other community groups.
We have also received a $200 grant from the City of West Torrens for setting up an
environmental history archive, so we will welcome donations of material of historic and
environmental significance.
The mayor of West Torrens, John Trainer, opening the Reed Garden at the Reedbeds Community Centre, 14th December 2001 |
Sunday 21 April (2pm-4pm): Energy Forum
Hosted by Henley & Grange Residents Association and presented by Cool Communities (Conservation Council of SA and Australian Greenhouse Office) and Energy SA
"Have your say on the directions for energy efficiency and the management of summer peak demand that should be recommended to the Government of SA from your community." Free
Friday 26 April (6:30pm): Curry Night
Fundraiser for FoPC & Western Suburbs Friends of Parks. Cost: $10
(8pm) Guest speaker: Dr Victor Gostin
Topic: The history of the Adelaide coastline over the last million years.
(attendance at talk only is welcome) Free
Ian Kiernan
(founder of Clean Up Australia Day) launches the SA 2002 CUAD campaign at Apex Park, West Beach |
The next Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Pat Creek will be at 7:30 pm, on Thursday, 2nd May 2002, at the Reedbeds Community Centre, cnr. Fitch & Halsey Roads, Fulham (carpark entry off Phelps Court).
The purpose of the meeting is to
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a. elect office bearers;
b. to make minor changes to the constitution
c. to discuss the work program for the coming year.
The next workday will be held on Sunday 5th May, from 10 am. Workdays are held on the first Sunday of each month, except January. Meet at the busstop (18B) on West Beach Road,(west of Tapleys Hill Road, and adjacent to the Creek and the silt ponds).
Henley & Grange Dunecare have workdays on the second Sunday of each month at the nursery in Atkin Street, Henley Beach, at 10 am.
Corrections
In the first print run of the hardcopy of this issue, an out-of-date email address was given.
The correct email address for the Editor is: < littoral@chariot.net.au >.
The date of the Curry Night has also changed. It was originally advertised for Friday 3rd May; due to circumstances beyond our control, it has been brought forward to Friday 26th April.
CREATED BY:
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LINKED TO:
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 Ground Truth:
towards an
environmental history
of South Australia
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<URL=http://www.chariot.net.au/~littoral/pat-ck/pb/pb4-1.htm>
Web version created 29th March 2002; last updated 21st April 2002.
This page maintained by Andrew Winkler for the Friends of Patawalonga Creek.
Please email any comments or material for future issues to: The Editor
© Littoral Productions 2002
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