I take your point, Mike, about the site being an operational facility and not a
conservation reserve. But it is precisely those sorts of sites that have
become important refuges for birds (albeit unintentionally) during times of
drought and clearance/modification of other habitats. However, I do agree with
Greg that as a collective group we should not "shoot from the hip" - it's
likely to put the council off side and respond defensively. Emphasising local
economic benefits of managing habitats for bird life in the shire is the way to
go, as some Birding-aussers have already done.
Cheers,
Stephen
Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of
mike.honeyman
Sent: 10 August 2018 8:16 AM
To: Denise Goodfellow <>; Graeme Stevens
<>
Cc: birding-aus <>; Michael Honeyman
<>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Winton, QLD
Perhaps they are collating and agreeing an appropriate response.
Perhaps multiple emails to multiple departments has caused some additional
discussion/ confusion/ debate about who should respond and on what basis.
Perhaps they are more focused on the job they are paid to do so this is a lower
priority.
Perhaps they've dismissed it all as hot air from outsiders and put tge emails
in their virtual trash cans.
Of the million (at least!) environmental issues to be outraged about in
Australia, right now let alone the world I'm amazed at the heat being generated
by this one.
I get the death by a thousand cuts thing, but seriously, this is an operational
facility not a conservation reserve.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Denise Goodfellow
<> Date: 10/8/18 7:28 am (GMT+10:00) To: Graeme
Stevens <> Cc: Martin Butterfield <>,
birding-aus <>, Michael Honeyman
<> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Winton, QLD Graeme,
couldn’t agree more. But such attitudes towards birders are not surprising. A
couple of decades ago I put it to councils around the NT that birders are a
market they should target. In North America birding has been the saviour of
the economy of some small towns. There is still little interest as I found
when I put it to both the mayors of my shire and Tennant Creek.
Here, by the way, I’m not just talking listers. Most birders have a wide range
of interests, and many are travelling with a spouse as well. Denise
On 10 Aug 2018, at 6:31 am, Graeme Stevens <> wrote:
Also my line Denise:
Very polite advice on the power of this medium to spread the word and the risk
of a "Birding and grey nomad" bypass as they give Winton a "why bother" just at
the time when the severe drought needs visitors to support local businesses.
Perhaps they have so many visitors stocking up before chasing Night Parrots
that the don't really care?
Graeme S
From: Denise Goodfellow <>
Sent: Friday, 10 August 2018 6:23 AM
To: Martin Butterfield
Cc: Graeme Stevens; birding-aus; Michael Honeyman
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Winton, QLD I’m an ex-alderman (Darwin City Council)
and know that this is the case for many issues. Which is why I took the
tourism angle. Denise
On 10 Aug 2018, at 5:28 am, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:
Welcome to the world of Local Government! What would get the Council's
attention would be complaints from residents - preferably ones who pay a lot of
rates - of the area. Outsiders jumping up and down can be safely ignored.
Martin Butterfield
http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
On 9 August 2018 at 21:52, Graeme Stevens <> wrote:
And no response to email.
Graeme Stevens
________________________________
From: Birding-Aus <> on behalf of Greg and
Val Clancy <>
Sent: Thursday, 9 August 2018 8:10 PM
To: Michael Honeyman; Peter Shute
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Winton, QLD
I agree that we shouldn’t 'shoot from the hip' but I am still awaiting a
response from the Director of Works who promised to call me back days ago.
I have followed up but to no avail. Not a good look.
Greg Clancy
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Honeyman
Sent: Wednesday, August 8, 2018 10:27 PM
To: Peter Shute
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Winton, QLD
Very much depends on the site Peter!
And to an extent also depends on who you ask. I’ve worked on jobs where
previous advice given was along the lines of ‘fill it all in and build a big
automated plant’ and been able to recommend minor changes that kept the lagoons
in situ with minor modifications.
That said vegetation to any significant degree usually risks the integrity of
the lining of the pond, and whether 500 rhizomes or 250 rhizomes are starting
to penetrate the liner is academic - they all have to come out to protect the
liner.
Another factor is that ponds (usually over many years) accumulate sludge as
part of the way they operate and this needs to be periodically dug out one way
or another. If the reeds are growing in the sludge then again, they have to
come out.
This is all speculation on my part of course, just trying to give some context
as someone experienced in the design and operation of treatment lagoons before
the birding community shoots from the hip at too many council employees. In the
unique situation of being both qualified as an engineer and qualified as an
ornithologist!
mjh
On 8 Aug 2018, at 20:52, Peter Shute <> wrote:
Are compromises feasible, Mike? Eg just remove half the reeds?
Peter Shute
Sent from my iPad
On 8 Aug 2018, at 6:47 am, mike.honeyman <>
wrote:
Hi allThere is mention of the 'old' treatment ponds, was this a current active
treatment plant?
Excessive vegetation in treatment lagoons is not condusive to their primary
purpose - treating sewage - so if they were active lagoons there may have been
a need to have removed the veg to ensure it was working effectively.I'm not
personally familiar with this site, but have consulted on other sites where the
lagoons had reeds encroaching and the reeds have generally had to go, birds or
not.
mjh
null
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=
http%3A%2F%2Fbirding-aus.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%
2Fbirding-aus_birding-aus.org&data=02%7C01%7C%
7C49de4b9c764d48f5864108d5fde1f702%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaa
aaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636694069319730920&sdata=lCajKzOAfRnLYAMKT8eo80siRUbwGo
4nT23h4VQFIJI%3D&reserved=0
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=
http%3A%2F%2Fbirding-aus.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%
2Fbirding-aus_birding-aus.org&data=02%7C01%7C%
7C49de4b9c764d48f5864108d5fde1f702%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaa
aaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636694069319730920&sdata=lCajKzOAfRnLYAMKT8eo80siRUbwGo
4nT23h4VQFIJI%3D&reserved=0
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=
http%3A%2F%2Fbirding-aus.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%
2Fbirding-aus_birding-aus.org&data=02%7C01%7C%
7C49de4b9c764d48f5864108d5fde1f702%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaa
aaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636694069319730920&sdata=lCajKzOAfRnLYAMKT8eo80siRUbwGo
4nT23h4VQFIJI%3D&reserved=0
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
|
