Campbell Park

[martin butterfield <>]

Mark

Some years back I had a few quiet and initially polite words with a gentleman loading firewood into his trailer in this area.  He said he had permission from the Defence person to do this.  His words then got a trifle less polite when I noted down his rego number.  For reasons that escape me now - lack of time or such like - I never pursued this but I suggest that the relevant function is somewhere in Defence.  I seem to recall someone on the Committee mentioning more recently that they had spoken to a Defence Environmental person about their land on the opposite side of the Airport so that might be a good starting point.

Geoffrey may update me on this point but when I competed orienteers generally didn't carry chainsaws.  I think they were regarded as unauthorised artificial aids (like GPSs).

Martin

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 4:39 PM, Mark Clayton <> wrote:

Afternoon all,

 

This morning my wife and I visited Campbell Park to add a few more species in my attempt to see 1000 species this calendar year – I am going overseas on several occasions so hopefully should make the magic number. We ran into Elizabeth Compston and her husband (apologies Elizabeth if I have this wrong) who were also enjoying a pleasant mornings birding. There were two things there that have me somewhat concerned.

 

Firstly, someone has taken to a few trees with a chainsaw and cut them down. Most, if not all the trees cut, were marked with orange flagging tape. Many are cut into nice lengths, ideal for removing for firewood. This has happened between the car-park and the horse gate on what I presume is Commonwealth rather than ACT land. There are also a lot more trees marked with the tape that appear to be set to be cut down. I think the marking of the trees was noted in an earlier message to the chat line. Does anyone know what is going on – I don’t think it has anything to do with people orienteering in the reserve?

 

Secondly, the area is rapidly becoming infested with St John’s Wort. It appears some spraying work has been done but only on a very small scale. If it is Commonwealth land who do we complain too about this problem? I am not sure how far, if at all, it goes into the nature reserve as we only went as far as the horse gate. Perhaps a job for COG’s environment committee?

 

Mark