KILLCARE WAGSTAFFE TRUST
NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2008

Guest Speaker: (at about 10.30) Jeannie Lawson - a presentation on Whales

ALL VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF KILLCARE WAGSTAFFE ARE WELCOME

The Agenda will include on-going concerns and projects and plans for the future.

You will have noted from the circulated minutes of the May and June meetings that ‘The Trust’ has done a “phoenix like performance, igniting, reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arose.” The new phoenix is said to be destined to live, usually, as long as the old one. Best wishes to the new executive/committee.
If you missed out on a copy of the minutes, please contact the secretary (PO Box 4009, Wagstaffe 2257) or visit our website: www.killcarewagstaffetrust.org.au

President            David Legge 
Vice President    Kay Linton-Mann
Secretary            Jenette Bringolf
Treasurer            Sharon Smith
Public Officer    Laurie Jones
Committee        Don Runcie
                        Steve Teasdell
                        Alan Stott
                          Terri Latella
                            Mark Attwooll
Website coordinator & newsletter editor (acting) is Terry Jones.

Proposed Killcare Marina Extensions

The Killcare Marina, after attempting to involve the community in the redesign of its facility, appears to have run into problems. The NSW Department of Planning have advised that they cannot support an application as a marina and the other proposed uses are not permissible as  the majority of the proposed site is zoned 6(a) Open Space (Recreation). The department also raised concerns with the size and scale of the current proposal in the Hardys Bay context.

Bushcare

In June, Gosford City Council engaged a local Bush Regeneration company called Engedi Environment Management, to manually remove weeds from the dune area next to the dog car park on Killcare Road. Engedi, removed very old and gigantic Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera), that had grown in some areas as high as three meters. The large bitou was entangled in the canopy of the native trees, Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) and Coastal Tea Tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) inhibiting their growth and ability for seedlings to grow through the dense weeds. The large rafts of dead bitou that were left on site will soon decompose and the organic matter will provide an excellent hummus for the sandy soil. Some Lantana (Lantana camara) and Asparagus fern (Protasparagus aethiopicus), were also killed and left to decay on site.  Engedi used hand tools and as little as practical poison. Approx 3600m of weed was cleared.

Grant Application

Deb Holloman, on behalf of the KWT is applying for a ‘Community Coastcare’ Grant for funds to mount a modern permanent display in the lower level of the Maitland Bay Centre. Community Coastcare is part of the Australian Government’s $2.25 billion ‘Caring for our Country’ initiative. It provides grants of up to $50,000 for coastal communities and organisations for the  ‘…..Education and training to enhance skills, knowledge and community awareness in the protection of coastal environments.”

Maitland Bay Centre

Right through the difficult time for ‘The Trust’ over the past few months, volunteers continued to provide their regular service at the Maitland Bay Centre. A meeting of ten volunteers on 22nd May discussed a range of matters. The important issues raised include:-

• Volunteers were concerned about dated look of the centre.
•  Public assessable toilets should be provided.
• The NPWS should re-examine opening tea rooms (some disagreement)
• Appropriate and functional signs should be provided by the NPWS.
• Proposed extending the hours from 10 to 4 except in winter.

The Maitland Bay Centre (previously the Maitland Bay store) is a heritage listed building located near the start of the Maitland Bay walk, and is within Bouddi National Park (pronounced as in moody).

If you can provide one day per month to help out as a volunteer, please contact Grahame Morgan on 4360 2178. As a volunteer, the NPWS will provide you with a National Parks sticker for your car.

Woy Woy Environment Centre

Have you been to the Woy Woy Environment Centre recently? It is found at 267 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy (corner of Billabong Road, one block south of swimming/leisure centre) and is open every Saturday morning 10am-12noon plus occasional weekdays. Volunteers are needed to help with one Saturday session a month. Enquiries to Zainem, phone 4342 6589 or email zainem@optusnet.com.au or drop in and leave your name. The Centre’s website is at http://www.ecoshop.com.au/wwec.htm .

The centre aims to provide:-

• practical environmental information about sustainable living
• information on, and contact details for, local environmental issues and organisations
•  information on local green activities such as bushcare, bushwalking, kayaking, cycling, bird watching,
• regular Saturday morning talks and workshops
• eco-library of environmental books you can borrow

Walk of the Month

If you have Jeanette Blomfield’s ‘Bouddi Walks” you will be aware of her outlined Bombi Moor walk. With the wildflower season approaching, now is the time to visit this wonderful area. The walk, approximately 4km, grade mainly flat, commences at the Grahame Drive car park (turn off to Little Beach). Take the right hand (or second) service trail at the end of the car park. This white sandy trail passes an old perched dune from which the fine sand used to be extracted for glass-making. Trees are quite tall and provide good shade cover on hot days. Turn sharply left when you reach the Bouddi Coastal Walk (formally Bouddi Trail) and walk through the stunted heathland of Bombi Moor, featuring Banksia aemula and many heath plants. Three right hand dead end sandy tracks are of special interest to native plant enthusiasts, but do not provide much in the way of coastal views. The steep end segment of the track is eroded and degraded and is in need of restoration. An optional short detour to Little Beach is recommended. Return up the service trail and right hand walking track through a rainforest pocket (lillypillys, coachwoods, mock olives, bangalow and cabbage tree palms) to the car park.

Fraser Road – Mudflat Creek Plan

In June, Gosford Council’s floodplain risk management committee recommended to council that the actions outlined in the Fraser Rd-Mudflat Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan be implemented and the issue of addressing storm water runoff entering the system along Fraser and Noble Rds. be considered as high priority. The committee also recommended that council seek funding assistance to proceed with the plan.

The committee advised council to review and update the Section 149 flood encoding of properties initially identified as being affected by the Mudflat Creek flood studies where required.

The issue of siltation in the Mudflat Creek delta was referred to the coast and estuaries management committee for further consideration in the Brisbane Water Estuary Management Study.

Weed Spraying

South African bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) was first recorded in Australia at Stockton near Newcastle in 1908. Between 1946 and 1968, it was widely planted to stabilise mined sand dunes. However in 1999, 'invasion of native plant communities by bitou bush and boneseed' was listed as a key threatening process by the NSW Scientific Committee and bitou was declared a Weed of National Significance by the Australian Government in 2000.

Bitou bush has now infested about 80 per cent (or more than 900km) of the NSW coastline, extending 10km inland in some areas. It has become the dominant species along about 36 per cent of the state's coastline. There is also a small infestation in far western NSW around Menindee Lakes.

Bitou bush is a highly competitive weed that smothers native plant communities and destroys natural habitat and food sources for native animals. It threatens a variety of native plant species, including shrubs, small trees, herbs, orchids and ferns and ecological communities.

Aerial spraying can be an effective technique to control bitou bush. In a number of reserves helicopter spraying has resulted in better than 95 per cent control of bitou in the areas sprayed, while native plant species have been largely unaffected. Where NPWS uses aerial spraying, follow-up ground-based control is undertaken to prevent bitou reinvasions. NPWS is also trialling a helicopter-mounted retractable hose and spray nozzle to spot-spray inaccessible areas.

History “Snippet”

European Settlement of the Bouddi Peninsula began in the 1820s when the Brisbane Water district was opened up for settlement following the moving of the convicts from Newcastle to Port Macquarie. Interest was largely determined by the possibilities for gaining access to the area from Sydney to exploit its natural resources, at first for primary production and then later for recreation plus residency.

Early access to the district was by sea with Peter Campbell venturing by a track over the hill from today’s Bensville to Cockrone Lagoon at Macmasters Beach in 1826. James Mallen settled in the southern corner of Hardys Bay and by 1828 had cultivated 10 of his 50 acre grant.

    Four others were in residence in the 1830s at Wagstaffe, Pretty Beach and Rileys Bay. They were subsistence farmers only, making a living by cutting logs and shingles and gathering shells for lime manufacture. They also became involved in shipbuilding. Wiliam Spears had the first licence for ‘spirituous liquor’ in 1838/9 and converted his home into an inn.

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