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Silt ponds to be removed?
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Apparently the results of recent soil testing of the sediments in the silt ponds has shown them to be relatively clean of pollutants.
Adelaide Airport Ltd has therefore resolved to pressure the State Government to remove the silt, while retaining the clay forming the bunds (the walls of the silt ponds) for use as fill for Airport developments. AAL will seek to impose a time limit on this, so the silt ponds may be removed by the end of this year.
Together with progress on resolving the flooding issues this means that works with the potential to have impacts on the Creek may soon commence.
The Airport's commitment to environmental standards and the high conservation status of the Creek means that these impacts will be carefully monitored.
the Editor
The flooding event at Glenelg North last year has, it seems, sharpened the resolve of the various authorities to come to an agreement regarding a solution to the potential flood risk in the western suburbs, including the Airport Drain and Patawalonga Creek. Peri Coleman of Delta Environmental Consulting has been commissioned to undertake a
hydrological study of the area. This study is now almost complete.
She has also been given the task of compiling an Action Plan for the Creek, to complement the existing Management Plan. She will shortly begin consulting with our group and other interested parties. This is very good news, as it will enable us to integrate our efforts with other groups and contractors, optimise the times for effective weed control and plantings, etc.
The Summer Survey went off without a hitch. Thanks to all who helped out during January. Thanks also to Sharn Lucas of 'Our Patch', and the Airport for organising the BBQ for the last day of the survey.
Some interesting initial results can be seen when comparing the Summer to Spring Surveys. There was more evidence of both Fox and Hare activity at the site. Although similar numbers of Mice were trapped, their nests had grown in size. One species of frog, the Spotted Grass Frog (Lymnodynastes tasmaniensis), was still active even during the hottest part of the week. Surprisingly, less reptiles were trapped during the Summer Survey than during Spring. Whether this was due to the increase in Fox activity, or some other cause, is unclear. The numbers of invertebrates trapped increased also.
We have now completed three seasons of our year long fauna survey. For those that may remember, we
began back in July with the Winter Survey and followed it with the Spring Survey in November. With the recent completion of the Summer Survey in January, we are close to completing the fauna survey project. Our
Autumn Survey in April will be our last Patawalonga Creek Fauna Survey during this project. It will begin on Thursday the 15th of April and will continue until Wednesday the 21st.
Nick Crouch
If anyone is interested in assisting Nick during the hours of dawn and dusk on these days, here are his contact details:
Nick Crouch,
Lecturer
Conservation and Land Management
Torrens Valley Institute of TAFE
Phone: +61 8 8372 6887 (work) 8356 0026 (AH)
Email: Nick.Crouch@tv.tafe.sa.edu.au
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Reedbeds Environment Centre
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Around 30 people attended the sixth 'Curry & Casserole Evening' held last November, with guest speaker Dr Yvonne Bone speaking on the topic 'Gulf St Vincent - getting to the bottom of it all'.
We are planning to hold three more 'Curry & Casserole Evenings' this year. The first of these will be held on Friday April 16th. The guest speaker will be Darrell Kraehenbuehl, local native vegetation expert and the author of 'Pre-European Vegetation of Adelaide: a survey from the Gawler River to Hallett Cove'.
The second event will be held in July, on a date yet to be fixed. The guest speaker will be Peri Coleman, on the subject of 'Salt Marshes'; the third will be held later in the year, around September/October. The details of these events will be circulated, once they have been finalised.
If anyone wishes to help with the preparations for these events, they are more than welcome to come along to Reedbeds at any time after 10 am on the day.
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Friends of Gulf St Vincent
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Since the Inaugural General Meeting of the Friends of Gulf St Vincent (FoGStV ), held at Middle Beach last August, not much has happened over the summer. This IGM attracted interest from groups mainly to the north of Adelaide.
At the next committee meeting, on the 26th of March, we will discuss holding another general meeting somewhere to the south of Adelaide to try to attract groups from that region, as well as from Kangaroo Island.
If there are any ideas as to suitable venues, or if anyone from that area is interested in helping to organise this event, please contact us at the addresses below.
The FoGStV website will also be updated soon. It can be found at:
FoGStV
The Newspaper Clippings project has moved ahead. Around 1100 articles have been scanned so far, mostly on local environmental issues and on a variety of topics, including aquaculture, mangroves, marine mammals, coastal management, etc. Having returned to Uni this year, I intend to use this for a Master of Environmental Studies project next year. I also intend to use it as a resource for developing the website further. This is potentially a huge project and I would welcome assistance from anyone who has an interest in the historical aspect of local issues, please contact me (Andrew Winkler) at the Reedbeds office on 8235 1644.
Sunday March 7 will soon be on us. Last year, CUAD saw a disappointingly low turnout for the event. This was a pity, as we rely on this day, as well as the other high profile event, National Tree Day at the end of July, for publicity and to raise interest in the Creek. An appeal will also be made to AAL staff. Please consider coming along, and see the changes that have been achieved over the past few years.
Friday 16 April: Curry & Casserole Night
Fundraiser for FoPC & Friends of Gulf St Vincent.
6:30pm Meal:Cost: $15 ($10 Friends of Reedbeds, S/P/U)
8:00pm Guest speaker: Darrell Kraehenbuehl
(author and expert on local flora)
Topic: The Original Vegetation of Western and Northern Adelaide
(attendance at talk only is welcome Free)
Download the flyer for this event - MS Word 2000 version (42 Kb)
Thursday, 25 March 2004, 7:30 pm, at:
The Reedbeds Community Centre, cnr. Fitch & Halsey Roads, Fulham (carpark entry off Phelps Court).
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the work program for the coming workday and other on-going projects
Workdays:
Pat Creek:
Sunday 7 March, (Clean Up Australia Day) from 9 am.
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.
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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