Hi everyone,
There has been some interest from birders external to the Hunter in how to
access Hexham Swamp (part of which lies in the Hunter Wetlands National Park).
In the past couple of months we've had some great birds here, including both
Eastern and Green-headed Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ruff, 3 Broad-billed Sands, at
least 2 Pectoral Sands, 50+ Marshies, 150+ Curlew Sands, 4000+ Sharpies
etc...even some shorebirds we're having trouble identifying!
Please see below for instructions on how to access the area, noting the
additional text I have added in the email I forwarded to our local chat group.
If anyone needs any further clarification they should contact me off-list.
Cheers
Mick
On Thursday, 16 January 2014 5:24 PM, Mick Roderick <>
wrote:
Hi all,
Please see the below message about accessing Hexham Swamp via Woodlands Close.
There was no attached newsletter so I have asked Kath to send that to me. If
anyone's interested in receiving that they can email me or Kath direct.
It is all pretty self-explanatory and the situation seems to be working quite
well out there, but note that you must carry a mobile phone so you can contact
the security officer to exit the site. I think this is a much more workable
situation than we had previously in accessing Hexham Swamp, so please take note
of the procedures in the message below and you shouldn't have any troubles.
In an effort to try and quell the number of queries I have had about accessing
the swamp, "Woodlands Close, Tarro, New South Wales" in Google Maps shows you
exactly where this is, but be mindful that you can only access it from the east
(ie there is no right turn coming from Maitland direction). The turn off is
immediately after you go over the rail bridge on the highway near Tarro.
The security vehicle will take you close to the main pipeline track that runs
roughly north-south into the swamp. The majority of birds are seen from about
3km south of where you get onto the main track (there is a house straight ahead
- do not go there, go left down the track), after you pass a track to your left
(which comes in from the old derelict house near the railway line). They are
mostly seen south of this track-head to the Fishery Creek, which is where the
track ends.
I hope this makes things easier for everyone.
Mick
On Thursday, 16 January 2014 11:27 AM, Kath Elliott <> wrote:
Dear Mick,
As discussed on the telephone recently, the Upper Hunter Valley Alliance (UHVA)
is constructing the Hexham Relief Roads Project (the Project) on behalf of the
Australia Rail Track Corporation. Please find attached a copy of the November
2013 Newsletter which provides an overview of the Project and a map for your
members’ information. The Project will take approximately 15 months to
construct.
Please be advised that construction activities include a number of mobile plant
and equipment which can be hazardous if safety measures are not followed. As
part of the construction, UHVA has implemented safety measures to ensure that
workers, neighbours and visitors who enter the site are protected. Practically
speaking this means that during construction access through the Project site
will be restricted under escort. Access is controlled via two gates with
gatehouses in place on Woodlands Close; one at the northern end (approximately
500m from the New England Highway ) and another located further south.
Would you please advise your members of the following safety procedures which
they should adopt if they are visiting the site.
· Arrive and depart via Woodlands Close from the New England Highway end.
· On approaching the gatehouse a security officer will attend the vehicle
and request name and contact details of the driver and record the vehicle
registration. Visitors will be asked what the purpose of their visit is and
where they are likely to be. It is useful if bird observers are able to provide
location information and the approximate duration of their visit.
· Visitors will be escorted through the project area by a light vehicle
with flashing light and UHF radio, and in the case of bird observers who are
travelling to the Hexham Swamp, the escort will cease when they leave the
project boundary at the southern end.
· The escorting security officer will give the visitors a phone number to
call when the visitor is returning to the project boundary, so that an escort
can meet them and escort them back through to the northern gate. This may mean
that the visitor has to wait for up to 15 minutes.
· Please note that the project boundary is clearly marked with small white
posts approximately 50m apart and one metre high with a yellow top.
· Visitors should not enter the project boundary unescorted at any time.
· Security officers are in attendance 24 hours a day.
· At some times, if an escort is already underway, a visitor may need to
wait at the gate for a security officer to return and this could take up to 15
minutes. Visitors’ patience is appreciated.
UHVA has a Road Occupancy License issued by Newcastle City Council which
authorises UHVA to control access and safety on the project site.
Anyone who enters the site unescorted puts themselves and others at risk.
Thankyou for your patience, UHVA is very happy to work closely with your
members to ensure that their access is facilitated, with minimum inconvenience.
If there are any issues please do not hesitate to contact us on the 24 hour
toll-free UHVA Community Contact line: 1800 722669 or email:
Kath Elliott
Principal Consultant
KMH Environmental
P: +61 2 9468 9300
M: 0412 003 272
F: +61 2 8008 1600
E:
Suite 902, Level 9, North Tower, 1-5 Railway St, Chatswood NSW 2067
PO Box 5487, West Chatswood NSW 1515
www.kmh.com.au
Kath Elliott
Project Manager - Comms
KMH
Environmental
P: +61 2 9468 9300
F: +61 2
8008 1600
E:
Suite 902, Level 9, North Tower, 1-5 Railway St, Chatswood NSW 2067
PO Box 5487, West Chatswood NSW 1515
www.kmh.com.au
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