Croaker June-july 2015

The WSN Restoring Our Waterways

CROAKER Newsletter

Diane Farmer Co-ordinator, WSN Restoring Our Waterways PO Box 772 Wangaratta Vic 3677 [email protected] 0439020448

Contents Pg. 2. KABV Judges visit Pg. 3. SES Flood Safe Week Pg. 4. Around the Traps Pg. 5, 6 & 7. Events - NE Victorian Carp Conference, National Tree Day & Remembering Tree Day Pg. 8. Sponsors

JUNE/JULY 2015 Issue # 39

Welcome to this June/July issue of the WSN Croaker about what is going on, in and around our local waterways. May slowed down for me a bit thank goodness with just a few major projects keeping me busy. WSN-ROW Carp Report, WHS-CLC students working each Wednesday around our waterways, Volunteers Appreciation Day celebrations (which I couldnt make ), the WSN-ROW nomination into the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Awards judges visit. Also the 25 years celebration of OAK FM Community Radio Station being on air on Saturday 23rd May throw in there SES Flood Safe Week Monday 25th May and that just about covers my Mays interesting month of volunteering. June and the first two weeks in July were to be my recharge the batteries and keep warm time, but unfortunately the first week in June I took ill and for 21 days my life came to a dead halt. That is why you are reading a June/July issue of the Croaker as there was no one else to write all the articles and put it together, the good news is I didnt lose my memory of what had happened (I know some of you may wish I had forgotten, but to bad I remembered most things).

The North East Victorian 2015 Carp Conference is on Tuesday 21st July and at the conference Wangaratta Sustainability Network will be releasing the report on their four year program removing Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio, from waterways in and around Wangaratta. Kelvin Berry WSN/ROWs Fishing and Carp Removal Coordinator will be a speaker at the conference about the different methods used to remove the Carp and how to humanely kill and dispose of them, information about the Carp Conference is in the Events Section. You will be able to view the Carp Report on WSN website www.wangarattasustainability.org after the 20th July and the report will also be published in the North East Anglers August edition.

National Tree Planting Sunday 26th July is coming up and Remembering Tree Day is in August. Oh such nice rain for all the farmers and to water all our parks and gardens as well as giving our creeks and rivers a good flush out ( but a bit of bad news with the flushing out of Councils stormwater system into our waterways, Around the traps is where you will read more about that problem). Some great events in July, North East Victorian Carp Conference 2015, launch of WSN-ROW Carp Removal Program Report, National Tree Planting Day and in August Remembering Tree Day, you can read all the information about these activities in the Events section. Lets get on with the articles and some great photos Enjoy your read. Regards Di Farmer

go with it, fulfil your Destiney

The WSN Restoring Our Waterways CROAKER Newsletter Page 2

KABV JUDGES VISIT Thursday 14th May 2015 Busy day and my first mistake was miss reading the days program and I arrived one hour late for the Community Pride Committee presentation in the foyer at the Council building (well it just goes to show anyone can be done without). Then it was off to Batchelors Green for morning tea and the Liberty Swing presentation. LIBERTY SWING

This is such a great project in such a great area. The swing is for disabled members of the community to enjoy the playground which makes them feel free to do what other able people have the pleasure of, enjoying the freedom of swinging on play equipment. Too see the little boy with a smile on his face was very heart warming. Lots of chatting and enjoying a very nice morning tea. Robbie Rae the judge was very interested in this Community Government Partnership project.

GALEN BILLABONG PROJECT (now called Mullinmur Billabong)

Gayle South was the presenter and Ian Minns (from Galen College) and Tony Lane (from Wangaratta Sustainability Network) were there to explain their involvement. Lots of walking around the area so Robbie Rae could have a good look at this large project that still has a lot more to be done to it. I got the chance to talk to Robbie about the WHS-CLC students project down there which was building the

Turtle Track and setting up a global tracking system that is being well used by people visiting the area. Although this project is in opposition to WSNs entry it is a great place in our own backyard so lets hope the community keeps up working down there and making it one of Wangaratta Hidden Treasures. Friday 15th May 2015 MACCAS BACK FROM EXTINCTION WSN presentation on behalf of DELWP & NECMA.

I spent a lot of time putting together a power point for the presentation setting up a display and posters around the wall with Kate Coles help at The Centre. We had a great support crowd there. Several teachers and students from Cathedral College, along with Tony Lane Chairperson of WSN, Kerry Strauch Community Project Manager at The Centre did the Acknowledgment to Country, Glen Johnson from DELWP and Andrew Briggs NECMA explaining all about the project and their involvement. I did my presentation about WSNs Carp removal program starting with WHS-CLC students fishing for Carp, our Carp Musters and the Electro fishing removal of Carp over the last Summer. By removing Carp from our waterways, gives the Native fish a better chance to survive. After the presentation we all enjoyed a very nice finger food lunch that Marg Pullen Wangaratta Community Pride Committee had organized.


Gill Bakers thoughts on the day. Robbie Rae, a judge from Keep Australia Beautiful, Victoria, came to The Centre for a presentation in the Clean Beaches/Waterways category of the Awards, which is called Maccas Back from Extinction, the Maccas being our once seriously endangered Macquarie Perch. Glen Johnson Senior Officer from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spoke about the re-establishing of Macquarie Perch back into the Ovens River and showed a 5 minute video that had just recently been produced about the combined efforts of all those connected with this project, which included Government Agencies, Community Groups and both secondary and primary schools. Andrew Briggs from North East Catchment Management Authority explained how the works that have taken place to improve the habitat for our native fish, such as Fish Motels and Fish ways are already having positive affects on native fish populations.

Diane Farmer Wangaratta Sustainability Networks Restoring Our Waterways Coordinator, who nominated the Macquarie Perch release program in the awards on behalf of WSN and was the presenter on the day, described all the Carp Removal Programs WSN-ROW have put in place to start to rid Carp from our local waterways so our native fish species have a clean waterway to survive. The Judge, Robbie Rae was impressed with the combined efforts of Government Agencies, schools and community volunteers working together to achieve a mutual goal.

SES FLOODSAFE WEEK Monday 25th May 2015

On Sunday 24th at 4pm some members of Wangaratta SES went to place some sandbags around Yogi (the local flood marker and personality) in Apex Park ready for the media release on the Monday afternoon. This was fun with competition on how it should be done, circle or square (you had to be there to see the funny side of it) but in the end Yogi would be safe if it flooded. Monday 25th 1pm. It was great to see so many people there local residents,

members of Apex Club, several of Council Management team and a few of Councils staff and also Wangaratta SES unit members. Sue Sheldrick SES Community Resilience Coordinator displayed the new flood markers one will be placed near the Sydney Hotel and more flood markers are being planned for other parts of Wangaratta. The new local Flood Guide for the Wangaratta area was officially launched by SES Regional Officer Steve Schneider and will be

available on the SES website. The flood guide was put together with the assistance from Council and North East Catchment Management Authority and local residents. The final version will be delivered in the coming months. It might take a while because weve got a lot of homes and farms to visit, but its an important part of emergency planning in Victoria , Sue Sheldrick said. Brendan McGrath, said Council also has a flood emergency plan, containing the same

information as the new flood plan.


AROUND THE TRAPS Well I did a little walking along One Mile Creek near the White Street Bridge, Perry Street Bridge, Rowan Street Bridge and Wareena Wetlands ponds and litter trap. HOW DISAPPOINTING AND DISCOURAGING.

In March this year around Clean Up Australia Day One Mile Creek was cleaned up and heaps of litter was removed by members of the community and the local Scout groups and here it is only just over 3 months later and One Mile Creek is full of litter mainly from Councils stormwater system just empting into the creek with nothing to stop it polluting the waterways. Also when some members of the community have empty cans of drink or take a way food containers in their hand when walking or

driving cross a bridge they cant help themselves and toss it over the side of the bridge. The lack of rubbish bins along the walk/bike path doesnt help, but there is enough people complaining about that and have been for years but it seems to fall on deaf ears. White Street Bridge on the downstream site bottles and cans caught up in the reeds and lots of litter from the large stormwater drain, which empties out into One Mile Creek on the Yarrunga Primary School side. The litter is spread all over the place down to the creek and in the creek the pile of dead phragmities litter has collected litter and is blocking the creek. Perry Street Bridge both sides of the bridge has litter everywhere but on the downstream side of the bridge and all over the rock walls more large amounts of cans, bottles, take away food containers and a couple of Coles trolleys So disappointing and gets me quite frustrated 5 years of requesting that Council tries to do something to fix the problem of so much pollution entering our waterways. I am thinking strongly of doing next years Clean Up Australia Day event somewhere other than One Mile Creek so we will see how much litter will collect in the creek if it is not cleaned out for a few years Rowan Street Bridge Under the bridge there is a large tree branch which has been catching and collecting rubbish for several months (which I have reported). After the last flush of the stormwater system it is really piling up and I think there is a wire cloths drying rack in the pile (my mind boggles with how that got there). So with 8 months to go till Clean Up Australia Day (One Mile Creeks annual clean out by members of the community) under the bridge will be completely blocked

As for Wareena Wetlands it had a nice facelift last year, walking path around it and some information signs to read about flora and fauna as you walk around also a lot of shrubs and different grasses have been planted but as for the two ponds that are suppose to filter the water


and rubbish that comes through the litter trap are not working. There is so much built up slit in the ponds that they only hold minimal water and the reeds cant do what they are meant to do, the smell of the water is horrendous and the first pond is full of all sorts of nasties, syringes and things like that. Why there is a plastic drain pipe floating in the first pond fascinates me! The Wetlands were a fantastic thing and it was great that it was constructed and built there but it only goes to show you if you dont maintain something it will become ineffective and cause more trouble that it is worth. So it is now time for Council and NECMA to have a real good think about what can be done to get Wareena Wetlands working again as it should be or do they block the drain and detour the water elsewhere and turn Wareena Wetlands into a safe bird aviary or a native fish nursery or something useful.

EVENTS

JULY Events: The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is hosting the 2015 North East Victorian Carp Conference on Tuesday 21 July at La Trobe University, Wodonga.

Carp are a problem in local waterways because their feeding technique muddies the water, making it difficult for native fish species to breed and survive, said Lachlan Campbell from the North East CMA.

Were bringing some of Australias leading carp researchers and practitioners to our region because we want to support local people who are motivated to control these underwater rabbits.

Speakers at the 2015 North East Victorian Carp Conference will offer updates about carp population modelling, discuss the impacts of the biological control Herpesvirus, and share different approaches for removing and disposing of carp. The Wangaratta Sustainability Network will also release the results of a four year program to remove the Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio, from waterways in and around Wangaratta.

Thanks to funding support from the Australian Governments National Landcare Programme and the State Government of Victoria the North East CMA is offering free registration for the conference. .

This event offers people the chance to learn about carp life cycles and hear how groups within our region and beyond are approaching carp control, said Kelly Behrens, Regional Landcare Facilitator.Were hoping that farmers, community and Landcare groups and fishing clubs will attend. But places are limited so people need to register by 15 July to secure a spot!

People can register at: http://tinyurl.com/carpconference or contact Kelly Behrens at the North East CMA on (02) 6043 7627 for more information.

The full conference program is available at www.necma.vic.gov.au/events

Speakers Include: Dr John Koehn: Arthur Rylah Institute- Paul Brown: The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre- Dr Ken McColl: Invasive Animals CRC- Scott Raymond: Arthur Rylah Institute- Stephen Ryan: Glenelg Hopkins CMA- Kelvin Berry: Undertaking local Carp control (Wangaratta Sustainability Network) -Rachelle Armstrong: NutriSoil

HUMANE KILLING OF FISH - FRESHWATER ...

www.ikijime.com/ To knock a fish on the head, use a wooden club or 'priest' with sufficient weight to render the fish immediately unconscious.


AUGUST

WHS Students Work Experience at the Centre

The Centre had a student doing work experience on the 11th to 15th May Holly Wright. She worked in many areas from reception to assisting Jo Maples in promotion and publicity. Both Jo and Holly came out to Oak FM Wangarattas local community radio station while I was on air to find out what is involved in doing your own program. It took me a while to entice young Holly to say hallo over air but she did and when I spoke to her later in the week she said it was the highlight of her week being on air at Oak FM. As another part of her learning she came down to the Billabong project when the KABV judge was there and to find out what the project is all about as The Centre supports this project in many ways through WSNs involvement.


KEEP UP TO DATE ABOUT ACTIVITIES CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF CARP. There is always something happening to control feral fish locally and you can learn about current programs and how you can get involved by checking out the Wangaratta Sustainability Networks website: www.wangarattasustainability.org WSN - ROW are always looking for new members and volunteers to help with our programs. Diane Farmer on 0439020448 or [email protected]

Kelvin Berry on 0407805670 or [email protected]

So you know what these acronyms mean:Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) - North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) - Invasive Animal Corporate Research Centre (IACRC). Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI). Wangaratta Sustainability Network (WSN ) Restoring Our Waterways (ROW). - Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV).

Thank you to Gayle South, Diane Farmer, Tim McCurdys office and our sponsors

WSN INFORMATION For more information contact:

Dr Rowan OHagan Secretary PO Box 772 Wangaratta Vic 3676 12 Deakin Court Wangaratta VIC 3677 Phone (03) 5721 8231

[email protected]

www.wangarattasustainability.org

Under the umbrella of the Wangaratta Urban

Landcare Group

Family/Household/Organisation $10 per year Single $5 per year Student $2 per year

This Newsletter designed by the Volunteers at Community Skillsbank, Wangaratta.

Croaker June-july 2015

Documents

Transcript of Croaker June-july 2015