UPDATE May 2014
A brief reflection of our 2009 goals reveals that though we have achieved the greater part of our aims including establishing our Friends Group as a stakeholder in Catchment management that we still have a great deal of work to do.
Construction is ongoing in the suburbs of Johnston and Zuccoli and the hope of success through protective zoning has turned out to be fragile. This is due to Ministerial discretion being sufficient to remove or reinstate Conservation Zoning at any time depending on the whim/aims of Government. Its evident that the whole of Mitchell Creek Catchment is way past being considered for Reserve status due to urban development. To date neither NT Government nor City of Palmerston Council have an interest or intent to balance urban development within this intact natural Catchment environment. This short sighted view is causing loss of amenity for residents and visitors and a reduction in the mitigating effects of retained woodland and riparian vegetation (shade eg) in terms of temperature control and heavy water flows (flooding and erosion control).
See presentation below for a slide show of our Group’s aims and activities.
I will provide a table of aims met and those still requiring more effort in a new post in the near future.
Thanks to the very many people who have assisted this long running campaign – you have kept us relevant in the long fight for protection of the Catchment’s natural values and open space for Palmerston people.
It is the 2013 extension of 172,050 hectares that the Abbott Government now wants to roll back by just over 74,000 hectares. The 2013 extension increased the listed area by around 12 per cent. The Government wants to remove almost 5 per cent of the increased listed area.
Map of World heritage area with proposed changes – http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/f99dbb51-03c2-4eb2-a66e-87c4044117b4/files/twwha-2014-proposal-map4.pdf
Tasmanian Wilderness WORLD HERITAGE AREA (AUSTRALIA)
Property ID 181bis
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
TO THE PROPOSAL FOR A MINOR BOUNDARY MODIFICATION
For submission by 28 February 2013
All submissions to the March 2014 Senate Enquiry – http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Tasmanian_Wilderness_World_Heritage_Area/Submissions
March 2014 Senate Enquiry Terms of Reference –
Photowalk along high ridgeline in Mitchell Creek Catchment
WHEN: 3 PM on Sunday 30 March 2014 WHERE: the end of Belyuen Road, Rosebery WHAT: A walk through the Mitchell Creek bush area with a variety of botanists, ecologists and photographers. Bring your telephoto for the birds, your macro for the insects and flowers, and your wide angle for the gorgeous scenery. Come document the beauty of this area.
We are going out to find more about this tree-the Eucalyptus atrovirens and the surrounding environment. This tree is also considered to be a subspecies of Corymbia dichromophloia or small fruited bloodwood. See link below, http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Gumtopped+Bloodwood#tab_gallery
Our Friends Group set up a display stall yesterday during the GANT open day for retail plant sales at their thorak rd site. It wan’t a busy day for us but overall we had a steady flow of queries and conversations on the purpose & activities of our Friends group.We have a range of material at the stall – maps, books, Reports, posters, photographs,a current petition (seeking protection and conservation status for the riparian areas of the Catchment form the NTG) on display which we are always happy to discuss with anyone interested to enquire.
See this site for international activities for World Water Day!
NRM & Landcare Forum Power point display Mitchell Creek – Landcare forum 13-10-11
Venue : – Ross Bohlin’s MLA Community Room, Palm Plaza Palmerston CBD next to Independent Motor Mart
Contact : Alderman Sue McKinnon, Ph 0434348950
Email: sue.mckinnon@palmerston.nt.gov.au
Please click the link below to access the newsletter:
Hi Everyone!
Mitchell Creek Walk with Zuccoli consultant Jane Munday – 8am -11am Sunday 12 September
The consultant firm Michels Warren Munday have been engaged by the Land Development Corporation (NT) to consult with the community about the proposed new development of Zuccoli.
Jane Munday is their representative and came out to Palmerston Library Community Room Sunday 29/8/10 to consult with those Friends of Mitchell Creek who were able to attend.
She is happy to hear your comments individually or in a group over the next few weeks if you would like to contact her. Ph: 08 8981 6445; Fax: 08 8941 7296;Mob: 0427 880 083
Email: jane@michelswarrenmunday.com.au;Web: www.michelswarrenmunday.com.au
Jane is keen to walk the Creek with us to better understand the issues we have! So we have planned a Walk of the Mitchell Creek Catchment ie from the high point in Farrar/Gunn down to the inter-tidal zone of the Creek with her.
The Walk will take at least 2 hours.
I will advise the starting point and route shortly.
Also please remember we are holding the Great Northern Cleanup on the day before – Saturday the 11 September from 8.30am – 11.00am – meeting up at the corner of Buscall Ave and Roystonea Ave Bakewell!
Please contact me on 0434348950 or sue.mckinnon@palmerston.nt.gov.au with any queries, comments