I am sure Chris won't mind me forwarding what was an off-line email to all
as a whole with a bit more added. Canberra International (the cup is getting
rather full Martin!) Airport is one of the most dangerous for take off and
landing in Australia (direct contact with several former pilot friends)
because of Mounts Majura and Ainslie. For a long time there was a suggestion
to move it to the area along the Barton Hwy just past Hall and to the west
of Spring Range. One of the main reasons given at the time was that it
experienced less fog in winter that CIA. There is also the reason that there
are less "big" hill in the way.
Anyway there are other things in my email to Chris that I think need to be
considered. Additionally, what about all the plans to change the concrete
drains in Canberra to waterbird habitat? I reckon as Martin Butterfield
suggests things are not being thought through properly.
This one will keep on popping up ad infinitum
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Tuesday, 16 January 2007 7:15 PM
To: 'Chris Davey'
Subject: Jerrabomberra Wetland Management Plan?
G'day Chris,
I am sure the airport mob and their idea of small is something different to
what the birds consider small. Look at the very small wetland beside the
Mackellar Football Club grounds - I have seen up to 8 pelicans on this! The
Canturf farm at Fyshwick is a magnet for ibis, gulls and ducks in prolonged
wet weather (remember that when that happened!!???). When Lakes George and
Bathurst had water you would often see pelicans coming in to Jerrabombera
from that direction. I think the best suggestion is to move the airport to
where it has been suggested for many years - out on that flat plain to the
west of Spring Range out from Hall. Still as Peter Milburn says, there are
many airports around the world that have lots of water around them, look at
Kingford Smith and the surrounding golf courses.
Mark
ps very bad news on Tom Green
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Davey
Sent: Tuesday, 16 January 2007 6:54 PM
To: 'Mark Clayton'
Subject: Jerrabomberra Wetland Management Plan?
Mark,
Concerning large waterbirds and the airport the idea is that further
developments can go ahead but the waterways need to be kept small for
this will then prevent the "larger' waterbirds from using the wetlands.
The airport authority is only concerned with these larger birds.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Tuesday, 16 January 2007 1:41 PM
To: 'Peter Milburn';
Subject: Jerrabomberra Wetland Management Plan?
Sorry Peter, but I think we have had this conversation before. I would
imagine that the answer would be a resounding NO as it is far too close
to
that other magnificent national icon, The Canberra International Airport
........... (excuse me while I throw up into an airport plastic cup)
.......
Now where was I? Oh yes, Jerrabombera Wetlands. Anything that has the
potential to bring in large flying birds is definitely a "nono". However
what the powers that be could do is remove the barbed wire fence from
the
middle of Kellys and do a little bit of soil removal from the centre of
the
pond to deepen them slightly, then remove the Blackberry and other weeds
from the small islands. I have also said before bring back the cattle to
graze/trample/ plough the edges of the swamp as this was the condition
of
the swamp when I saw Painted Snipe there many years ago. As For the
Australian or ACT Governments taking notice of the IUCN listings for
species
you must be joking - have a good look (and laugh) at the Federal
Government's EPBC Act. The last time I looked, admittedly several years
ago,
it listed the "Helmeted Honeyeater" as a "Migratory Species"..... enough
said, don't get me started on that!
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Milburn
Sent: Tuesday, 16 January 2007 11:58 AM
To:
Subject: Jerrabomberra Wetland Management Plan?
Does the Jerrabomberra Wetland Management Plan include upgrading the
wetlands to being an internationally important wetland and sought
after ecotourism destination by expanding the system of marshes to
create a haven for Australian Bittern, creating shallow lagoons that
would be ideal habitat for Australian Painted Snipe (endangered under
IUCN (1994) red list criteria), controlling water levels, installing
screens and walkways to additional hides and eliminating foxes?
Milburn
--
Dr P.J. Milburn
Technical Specialist
ANU ACRF Biomolecular Resource Facility
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Australian National University
GPO Box 334
Canberra ACT 0200
'Phone +61 2 6125 4326
FAX +61 2 6125 9533
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