Southern ACT Catchment Group Coordinators Report 10thth February 2015

Peak Body Development

I have been involved with the other 2 catchment groups in developing a Peak Body in the ACT to represent community Landcare in the ACT Region. With Glenys I am on the temporary executive for this body. We are currently working on a contract with a consultant to develop a Business Plan and Communications Plan, as well as finalising the constitution and ongoing arrangements for sharing the ACT Landcare website. Our contract with the Commonwealth has provided funds for the consultant as well as secretary support which is being undertaken by Fiona Spier. A brief has been sent to all CG members to introduce the Peak Body and to consult on the name. A launch, forum and joint lighthouse project are all being discussed.

Erosion Control Workshop for ParkCarers

We are running a workshop on low- cost solutions to Erosion Control aimed at ParkCarers. Workshops will be on the 21st of February and the 7th of March and we have 28 subscribed. They will be led by Cam Wilson who has worked with ParkCares to aid in reading the landscape and targeting action where efforts will benefit the most. Funding for this will be through the RLF program. Additional days to undertake individual / reserve assessments and planning with groups with Cam are also being organised for Farrer ridge, Mt Mugga Mugga, Red Hill, POSM and TLC at this stage. Black Mountain and the Pinnacle group may also be offered this consultancy advice if no other SACTCG groups is interested. All workshops will need to be completed by July 2015.

Regional Investment / coordinator funding

The installment due 21 August 2014 is paid. Fiona continues to assist me 3 days a week in planning and delivery of next year’s milestones including GIS mapping and workshops. The meeting on the 15th December with the ACT Government to discuss the move from Caring for our Country to the National Landcare Program was highly productive. Our funding and amounts remain guaranteed for the next three years as stipulated in our contracts (ie. $129,396, $130,303, $127,778 consecutively). However it has been proposed that many of our outputs will be reduced to more achievable numbers (eg. 80ha of revegetation within the year may be reduced to 77ha over the 5 years). This will mean that much of the pressure to achieve onground outputs will be reduced and we are able to support community driven directives more effectively.

New groups

The Urambi Hills Group lead by Louise Curham is meeting with Athlon Depot rangers and Jasmine and myself this week and formalizing them as a ParkCare Group is looking close In meantime activities can occur if organised under SACTCG (and this will also cover insurance). I plan on organising another planting event either spring or autumn. Another Group at Uriarra Village (Uriarra ParkCare Group) has also formed and I will be meeting with them soon to include them in our membership.

SACTCG equipment and tools

A lending agreement has been written up for the digital devises and these are available for use by members. We are keen to use the GPS function on the Samsung Galaxy notes for groups to map rabbit warrens and weed infestations in order to provide this information directly to PCS digitally. Tools including photo boards and a marquee are also available for groups to use.

The Weed Spotter portal is up and running and is still needing some work. A user manual is being developed and it is also now available on iPhone. Canberra Nature Map is also being rolled out with most groups being asked to be moderators.

The small grants are not yet available for application as yet. This is to be further discussed with the executive in light of current financial position of the group.

25th Anniversary Landcare grants

We have been successful in a grant for fencing for rehabilitating an area of Strangers Paddock near point hut crossisng for POSM following approval from the Research unit to go ahead with this proposal. We will be undertaking project planning in the next couple of weeks with rangers and Lauren.

20 Million Trees Grant

This Grant was unsuccessful as expected under a highly competitive program. It has however provided the beginning of engagement with a group of 5 landholders in Southern ACT and bordering NSW situated in Clear Range, Michelago and Bredbo in NSW and in Paddys River bordering Namadgi NP in the ACT where engaged landholders are making significant effort in revegetation.

ACT Environment Grants

2013-2014

Paddy’s River lessees weed control grant now aquitted.

2014-2015

1. Cypress Springs waterways (erosion control structures): ~$15,000. Some structures already in place. We will organise a field visit soon to interested farmers.

2. Revegetation of the MRC at Castle Hill: ~$8,000. The first 1400 plants have been planted. The next 1000 plants will go in late April early May.

ACT Heritage Grants

The 2013-2014 grant for $12474 for signage at Nil Desperandum at Tidbinbilla is currently being aquitted. All signs are installed at under the quoted amount.

We have been successful in the 2014-2015 grant application for $9000 for 6 indigenous interpretive walks in Tuggeranong. Initial field visits have taken place with Tyronne and Wally Bell. Dates so far are the 22nd March at Theodore Grinding Grooves and 18th April at Tuggeranong Homestead with a photographic exhibition. The 3rd and 24th May and 14th June sites are likely to include Lanyon, Mt Taylor, Urambi Hills, and Coolaman Ridge. Red Hill is also a potential site of interest. The August walk will join with the other catchment groups in a “progressive” walk across the region were people can join in when the walk comes to their area throughout the day.

ACT Rural Grants

“Cypress Springs rabbit control and native grassland restoration” for ~$11 600. Successful. Work has progressed with an area being ripped to destroy burrows. Seeding may occur at a later date depending on what naturally re-establishes.

Green Army Projects

SACTCG is a green army sponsor in partnership with Greening Australia, the other 2 catchment groups, Bush Heritage and Lyons Youth Haven. This project is for one team of 9, 17 to 24 year olds with a team supervisor, full time over 6 months to be shared across the 6 organisations. They will start work in March and I am booking them in for all activities now. So far I will be using them to undertake erosion control activities at Mugga Mugga Reserve, Farrer Ridge weeding, Tuggeranong Homestead weeding, waterwatch, the new Uriarra Group plantings, Castle Hill planting and the POSM grant work. Round 2 of Green Army has been released and round 3 is due for release in February. The three Catchment Groups are considering a joint application for round 3.

Website and IT

We continue to use ArcGIS to map and our projects are beginning to be added to a spatial database with the help of Fiona. We would like to map our member group planned and completed activities on the ArcGIS program to assist with the strategic planning process, for communicating with PCS, for SACTCG reporting and to be useful for groups when looking at future works planning.

Office and Other Activities

  • I have taken half of December and nearly all of January off. My leave balance is down to around 114hrs.
  • Jim Adams from the National Landcare Network is sharing our office space and Anne Duncan who is working on the business plan for the new Peak Body will also be visiting.
  • I will be helping set up the Canberra Show stall this year.
  • All current accounts paid as of 09/02/2015. A reminder that Authorises need to logon twice a week to authorise payments or accounts can end up being overdue.
  • Radio Landcare monthly shows are running very well. Volunteers are welcome to join the show as guest speakers.

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