Jerrabomberra Wetland concerns

[martin butterfield <>]

Chris 

I would add to Geoffrey's list of 'immediate concerns' a commitment by the Board to communication on a regular basis with the members of COG, about the Board's activities.  Given the importance of the Wetlands to the some of the birdlife of Canberra holding a single meeting at a Sunday outing is not adequate.  

In the medium term - I suggest 6 - 12 months - there needs to be "something" done to start to control the other exotic species rampant at the Wetlands, both aquatic and terrestrial.  Many years ago a former President of COG referred to the are as a site for a Museum of Australian Weeds and it has got worse since then.   If the conditions there existed on a private property in Palerang Shire I would expect the place to be put under a Weed Control Order.

Martin

On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

Thanks Chris.  Has the letter gone?  If so, it would be a ‘raising of some immediate concerns’ thing, which would be appropriate.

 

For myself, the immediate points are:

 

-          Rampant growth of the cumbungi

-          Need for installation/replacement of some large (preferably varied) perching logs.

-          Removal of fence while not needed for cattle, and reconsidering its siting.

 

On the willow removal, I suppose the answer will be:  “This is to be replaced by carefully chosen native species”.  Difficult to argue with that . However there is a question of transition, given that trees do take some time to grow.  Wholesale removal of exotics would see the loss of some much-used trees at Kelly Swamp, including the spoonbill tree.

 

Longer term, another point is management of the Silt Trap Pond.  For a large and quite deep body of water this is, surprisingly to me, generally  avoided by bird life eg ducks, suggesting an absence of fish, arthropods etc.  Is there  a contamination issue? 

 

Yours in haste (off to the swamp)

 

Geoffrey

 

 

From: Chris Davey [
Sent: Thursday, 5 May 2011 10:58 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Jerrabomberra Wetland concerns

 

Hi,

 

Having just returned from a few weeks in southern Queensland I note that there has been some traffic on the Chat-line regarding the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

 

Today I attended a meeting of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Board of Management and took the opportunity to express some of the sentiments regarding the state of the Wetlands.

 

I have been asked by the Board to express these sentiments in a letter so that the Board can formally respond to some of the issues raised.  In the letter I have also requested an outline of the role of the Board concerning management decisions and importantly, to indicate what is happening behind the scenes.  On receipt of the Board's reply I will make the letter available by posting to the Chat-line.

 

Regards

 

Chris (President)

24 Bardsley Place
Holt
ACT 2615

 

Tel: 02-62546324