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Your NPA

 

Bush Regeneration for Mid North Coast

Town and Country works for NPA

Hope for Georges R./Botany Bay Catchment

Ralph Newboult Memorial Walk

Walk in the Blue Mountains


Photo: Judith Bennett
Blue Mountains Walk

HOWDY NPA PARTNER!!

NPA has introduced an exciting new option for membership. Now you can decide to become an NPA Partner providing regular monthly tax-deductible donations of a chosen amount to NPA, or you can remain a regular NPA member who pays an annual membership fee. Existing NPA members who choose to change over to the Partner scheme will provide NPA with regular support throughout the year to carry out its important conservation work with more certainty. 

Full details on pages eleven and twelve of the Supplement!

Bush Regeneration and Telephone Trees for Mid North Coast

Our branch currently runs four bush regeneration projects including lantana and bitou removal from littoral rainforests at Big Hill and Pelican Point, a huge bitou/lantana removal project on spectacular Diamond Head, and creation of a weed-free habitat corridor leading up to Kattang NR.

We have many weed removal enthusiasts who gain great satisfaction from our achievements and this in turn binds us closely together. I thoroughly recommend NPA involvement in bush regeneration projects.

Photo: Sue Baker

Greencorps teams have helped volunteers remove 
an estimated 80 tonnes of prickly pear!

What are the successful ingredients? Long term vision and commitment, strong organisation and lots of publicity (plus a bit of arm-twisting!) are essential. Telephone trees are a very successful method of recruiting volunteers — we had 33 volunteers at our last bash!

Our projects have been aided enormously by three Coastcare grants, enabling contract work and spraying, a landcare grant to buy materials and two Greencorps teams who have blazed their way through huge weed infestations which were beyond our ability.

Applying for grants and teams is very daunting the first time around due to the complexity of the questions and the information which has to be provided. There are however, regional facilitators who can assist with applications. After the first one the rest is a breeze but make sure to keep copies of all paperwork, maps etc to help with ensuing applications. Good luck!

Sue Baker, 
President
mid north coast branch, NPA


Town and Country works for NPA

Living in the west of the state means to a certain extent, that even in this world of technology and instant communication, if you are someone concerned for the environment you are isolated from the mainstream of activities and the conservation support network. The NPA and especially its Journal bridges this gap in distance.

I have memories of the bitter campaign to have Wiangarie State Forest (now Border Ranges NP) protected and at a young age the feeling of isolation and guilt because I believed in the value of protecting this pristine rainforest – at the same time having friends whose parents looked like losing their livelihood. I guess the barbs that I endured 30 or so years ago are still thrown, and as a birdwatcher I am selfish in the fact that I would like my grandchildren to enjoy some of the experience I’ve had throughout my life with birds. The community of Kyogle now has a different perspective on the value of the Border Ranges National Park.

With the subsequent campaign for the Herveys Range NP, the support network formed by the Lachlan Valley Branch and the NPA saw the dedication of Goobang NP in a short time – this is testament to the strength of the NPA's network of branches throughout the state.

If you live in an inland community you soon realise that people have a phobia about policy or change being forced on them by people who don’t live in their area. Anyone who has been on any of the many natural resource committees would have heard this comment over and over. In (reciprocation), having served on Catchment Management, River Management and Vegetation Committees as an NPA representative I’ve always appreciated the support that the NPA Head Office provides.

The branch network also means that individuals are not isolated in campaigning on local issues. The Lachlan Valley Branch has a small but dedicated membership that organises an array of guided and very popular educational walks each month – encouraging locals.

Neville Schrader, 
Secetary Lachlan Valley branch

More from Neville (including a photo) in our feature on Salinity in the Lachlan Valley.


Renewed hope for Georges River–Botany Bay Catchment

NPA's Southern Sydney Branch participated wholeheartedly in the Independent Inquiry into the state of the Georges River–Botany Bay Catchment System towards the end of last year. The inquiry was conducted by the Healthy Rivers Commission.

Our Branch believes that apart from the lack of a detailed map which should pinpoint key areas needing higher protection, the final recommendations to the NSW Government are ones which point the way forward to sustainable use of the Catchment.

Minister Craig Knowles has already endorsed some recommendations which support elements of NPA's Corporate Plan:



PHOTO: GARY SCHOER
An NPA walk through Kurnell wetlands 
— Nature Reserve to the left and private land to the right

establishment of better environmental flow regimes from the Woronora Dam. This will help to ensure the sustainability of the riparian ecosystems along the Woronora river which flows through Heathcote National Park and proposed additions adjacent to Lucas Heights

creation of a new reserve in the O'Hares Creek subcatchment to be managed by NPWS, protecting important upland wetlands and preserving water quality downstream

new clay mining and other surface extractive industries will be prohibited on undisturbed areas of upland wetlands and preserving water quality

protection of Rockdale wetland corridor

Other recommendations within the Report not yet formally endorsed by the minister for Environment include:

ensuring protection for remaining natural public and private lands on the Kurnell Peninsula. NPA has long advocated that these lands should be added to Botany Bay National Park or Towra Point Nature Reserve – NPA also endorse the initiative of Sutherland Council in seeking Commonwealth funds for purchase of private lands to make this happen.

adding all unprotected wetland areas in Wooloware Bay to Towra Point Aquatic Reserve for ultimate dedication as a Marine National Park

participation of Aboriginal groups and the broader community in shared natural resource management as one further component of the reconciliation process

NPA Southern Branch congatulates Commissioner Crawford on the way he and his team conducted the Inquiry although NPA has also called on the State Government to provide the necessary resources for the overseeing committee and team to produce the promised new regional management and planning framework.

A full copy of the final report can be viewed at: www.hrc.nsw.gov.au

Gary Schoer, 
Secretary
Southern Sydney Branch NPA


Ralph Newboult Memorial Walk


PHOTO: TED HUTCHINSON

A group of walkers at the unveiling of a plaque in Nielsen Park in memory of NPA Leader Ralph Newboult. The memorial was made possible through the efforts of NPA Wednesday walkers, especially Bill Wurth and Bob Shayler. 

The National Parks and Wildlife Service kindly refurbished the seat and allowed the plaque to be placed on it.

Walk in the Blue Mountains

Over 20 walkers defied the very stormy weather on 18 November for 
the NPA Open Day Bushwalk 
in the Blue Mountains NP. 

Thanks to Karen Petley and Richard Thompson for organising the day, Darryl for BBQ-ing lunch in the tough conditions and to all those who attended and witnessed the sunshine at Lawson.


Photo: Judith Bennett
Richard and Darryl - masters of the barbecue



Salinity

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