Landcare has plenty to keep us busy for the rest of 2010. Providing the showers of rain continue and we don't get a prolonged dry patch; the next 3-4 meets will be taken up with further tree planting at Cockpit in the C1 region. For ease of identification; some time back we named the different areas C1 is the closest section to Harpers Road and the two bridges along to the ridge. C2 is from this area around to the bank above the creek. C3 is the stretch on the other side of the ridge down to the next creek corner and C4 is the section around this corner to where the fence ends on the slopes above Cockpit waterfall. R1 is Rubys Glen. There is plenty of maintenance of needed in all sections of Cockpit so as it drys off we will get into that.
The Conservator Peter Davidson has kindly agreed to add the Headstone Monument area (which we rehabilitated in partnership with Westpac ) to the rest of the Headstone Reserve and from now on it will be mown by the Forestry Dept when they do the rest of the area. Thankyou Peter and the Forestry team for taking this over.
Sometime down the track we have agreed to assist in planting within the Ball Bay Reserve. This is unlikely to be this year as there is plenty of fencing and clearing to get done beforehand. We are very happy that work will eventually be done in this reserve. Around 2007 we put a proposal to the Government for the rehabilitation of the coastal end of this reserve. In discussions with the Boral representative who has bulk tanks in the area; a suggestion was made that a cattlestop with gates should be put adjacent to the end of the fuel depot tanks and fencing done to the boundaries either side. It was suggested that eventually Norfolk will be made to comply with Australian regulations for safe discharge of fuels and that we may need to provide a closed port when fuel or gas was being discharged from the carrier ships. It would also allow us to block cattle from the very badly eroded slopes and to do some beautification planting. We proposed planting a line of pines down the seaward side edge of te old road. The steep slope from the old road to the new one below and the new road to the base of the hill would be planted with flax and with pandanus (which used to be found there years ago). Random trees would be planted elsewhere at agreeable locations. The Gas Centre was also agreeable to assist in funding an improved viewing platform. We had some adjoining land owners willing to do work on their land sections at the same time to compliment the work we were going to do.
The new Conservator/Planning Officer (at that time a combined position) stated that he and the Environment Minister felt that our organisation already had enough on and they didnt think we would be able to adequately continue the maintenance it would require. The changes proposed were low maintenance - their reasons never rang true at all. They would not give us permission to do the project requested and it went nowhere. The area today is still in the same state - industrial look around the foreshore; inadequate and unsafe viewing platform and hillsides in a terrible state of erosion.
Hopefully this will change when the whole reserve is fenced and work commences.
It doesnt take long for National Tree Day to roll around again. Fortunately this year we have had lots of rain showers and the long dry is over. The dry caused us to lose about 75% of the trees planted in the last National Tree Day. It was decided that we would try and replace the trees lost by a public planting to celebrate Planet Earth's National Tree Day.
Around 25 of members and the public came for the plantings. A total of 100 trees were put in the ground. Thankyou to all who assisted in this event with digging holes, carrying trees and planting. The area planted was very steep and being a mountain goat would have had its advantages. Nonetheless; the holes were dug and trees planted. Well done yorlye
Mid June we were upset to find out that persons unknown had had a bonfire at Cockpit (which incidentally is not permitted in Reserves) and that this fire had obviously spread and had scorched and partially burnt the memorial seat of Janelle Patons put there in her honour and also destroyed the pallet box and whitewood tree that was also planted in her honour. I sent an enraged letter to the Norfolk Island Police and the Conservator. Coincidentally; the Police were about to go on radio for their regular weekly chat and so mentioned the incident and how disappointed we all were and asked for information from the public.
To his credit a young man came forward who had been at the bonfire. He told us that he had left before the bonfire was out and thought that all the others had as well. The bonfire unattended had spread and got to the seat and tree. He was horrified that the damage had occured and wanted to right the damage. Despite ribbing from his mates; he did turn up at the next meeting and assisted in constructing a new pallet protection box and planting a new whitewood tree. We are proud of him for doing so. The seat was not badly damaged but was taken away by Cascade Joinery and repaired at no cost. It has been reinstated at the site. Thankyou to these people for righting this accidental damage.
Late in May 2010 it was decided to have a cleanup of Harpers Road which is the other road used by the buses for cruise ship shuttles. Harpers Road had never been done on the Roadside Cleanup before probably because there are few houses along it and so it was heavily infested with woody weeds.
Only a handful of people turned up and worked but they did accomplish quite a stretch of road considering. It was a great job done and the people assisted should be proud. Again it was great to see the Island pride and community spirit on show.
It was felt that the rest of the road needed to be done by the Administration on their motorbike sprayer if it was to be completed.
The Woody Weed Roadside Cleanup fizzled a bit this year; maybe it was my doing as over time there have been some changes. Some of the roads which had been 1km in length ended up being the entire road as it became harder to find people willing to organise a section. Also this year I did not organise a draw for a winning team - mostly because the economic situation is so bad just now I didnt have the heart to ask for donations of food and grog from establishments that are struggling.
We had support from some road teams who got completed in the month of May but some promised to get to it later in the year and some were not interested at all. It was disappointing but we are thankful for those people who were able to participate this year. As always their efforts beautify our roadsides and make it a more beautiful place for our visitors to see and for us to live. Thanks Yorlye
In the weeks preceding the arrival of the frist cruise ship in March 2010; we decided to organise a cleanup of the last section of Cascade Road which leads down to the Cascade Pier. This is a high bank alongside the road which had a lot of woody weed on it. An appeal was made to the public and we had about 25 people attend - some members and some members of the public.
Everyone worked fantastically and the job was soon done. Finished with a cuppa afterwards. This was another great display of the Island pride and community spirit which makes Norfolk great.
2010 saw the stealthy removal by the Administration workers of several mature but young pines from the grassy area opposite the Customs/Post Office building and the Liquor Bond. There was no public advice that this was to happen and they were taken at first light to avoid traffic (and any opposition presumably). As the business community came to life they were outraged to find stumps where before majestic trees had stood. There were notes written and left on the stumps, there was flowers left and the Conservator and Ministers of Government copped flak verbally from many members of the public. I too joined the throng in condemning the taking of these trees and voiced Landcares disapproval. We called for a long term plan for the replacement of trees years prior to trees being removed. The conservator did his best to quell the publics outrage and did agreed with our comments about tree planning. As yet to our knowledge no such policy has been introduced or exists.
Kavha also planned to remove trees but did publically state this in their weekly column in the local paper. It was planned that 3 trees would be removed from the region of the Queen Elizabeth Lookout. Again a letter of protest from Landcare was penned. The Manager of Kavha called to discuss the letter with me. After some discussion; we agreed to the removal of only 1 tree - that closest the lookout which was a pine which had been topped sometime in the past.
True to their word only this one tree was removed.
Kavha did however remove several pines near to the roadway that runs behind the beach. I dont remember reading that this was going to happen but no doubt their proximity to the road sealed their fate and our protests would have been futile.
In Feb 2010 I heard of the proposed removal of one of the two pines which stand behind the Westpac bank and Maxes Duty Free store. Again a letter of protest was penned. The land on which the pine stood is part of a family estate who all live off Island. I was contacted by the family member who managed the estates affairs and invited to a meeting with him, the Conservator and the shop owner who proposed the trees removal. The meeting duly took place with the shop owner complaining that the tree shaded his PV cells atop the roof and dropped pine needles there. He brought with him a local electrical contractor to push this argument. I stated why I thought the tree should stay - it was still quite young ... I estimated 40-45 years based on the similar size of pines at Kingston which had been planted for my great-grandmothers 100 birthday in 1971. It provided a beautiful behind vista to town etc etc
The conservator felt it was in the best interests that the tree come down. I lost... The tree was removed!
Late in 2009 under a new Government and new Environment Minister - we submitted our proposal for the beautification of the Cascade Pier area. From March 2010 P&O Cruises would begin calling at Norfolk Island and this area has an industrial look about it not in keeping with the beauty of the rest of the Island.
As before we proposed a cattlestop to block cattle from coming to this area; which had no grazing in it whatsoever anyhow.. Our original proposal which was to have been funded by Westpac had included a stairway with a viewing platform halfway down which would link the top and bottom car parks but unless we could get some other source to fund this; the stairway would have to be omitted this time. A barrier was to be put about 2m into on the current place where people park going towards the pier on seaward side of the area. (This would not restrict parking as two cars could easily park one behind the other here and still not be on the roadway). A line of pines would be planted here at set intervals. Flax would be planted on the exposed eroding slopes and a few random trees planted in other locations.
The proposal was sent into the Government for comment or approval but we did not even get a reply this time. Again Norfolk's loss!
This is how the area remains
At the very end of the Cockpit Stage 3 is a steep embankment which was weed infested. This could not be cleared by machine as it had a creek running in front of it and was very steep. It involved climbing the embankment and either cutting from the hill above or from where-ever a foothold could be got (even climbing into a tree at one stage to get one hard to reach tree). There was only hardly any native trees on the embankment to save but we ensured they stayed. We stacked the brush into a pile at the base as we went on the only section at that location which wasnt so steep but was still sloping and later burnt the brush on site to get rid of it. This completed the lions share of the clearing required in the Stage 3 area
Late in 2008 we submitted an application to the Toon Trust for funding to reinstate the old walking track to the two hill peaks above Crystal Pool and to have built at the end of each track a viewing platform. This would allow safe viewing of the views to Kingston from one and Rocky Point/Hundred Acre at the other. The maximum grant available was $20,000.00 and this is what we applied for as that just covered the cost of making the platforms and excavator work. Planting of the slopes and around the platforms to further stabilise these areas would be our in kind contribution.
This area is popular with visitors who currently scramble up a steep slope strewn with mutton birds holes and who then stand directly on the cliff edge above which is crumbling and unsafe. There is a sheer drop off the back of around 80m which has no barrier to stop people toppling over. There is a bird hole strewn track across the top and over to the next peak which has the same drop a metre or so behind and a grassy slope in front. The views are fantastic - right around Rocky Point one way and looking past Bumborus and the coast to Kingston the other.
We were successful in getting the grant subject to planning board approval. We duly put the plans into the Planning Board and after months of backward and forward discussions did not get them approved as the board wanted a formed stepped walkway to go to the two peaks rather than a grassed track. There was insufficient money in the grant to cover this cost and we could not afford the extra cost this would entail. We tried for several months to find the funding without success. Regretably we had to withdraw our application and give up the grant. This was Norfolk's and our visitors loss entirely and such a shame.
These pics show the drop behind one area and the view to Kingston from the other. Some other time I'll add in more pics of how this area continues to be unsafe and unimproved all for a reason that could have been solved had they allowed us to do this in stages as funding was available.
Following on winter 2009 Norfolk went into a really bad dry spell. This was bad news for the tree plantings done in winter especially as they were so young still. We had 8 months of absolutely no rain at all. Things were grim and unfortunately we lost about 75% of the trees planted. What was more incredible was the 25% which survived. You never can tell can you!
A total of around 25 members and community volunteers turned out to assist planting trees on National Tree Day 2009. A total of 150 trees were planted which was a fabulous effort considering the relatively small number of people there and that many of them were kids. The area being planted was also quite steep and it was a hard slog getting trees and tools up there not to mention the buckets of water crystals and fertiliser. Well done yorlye
I was contacted by a member of the Administration management and asked if Landcare would consider assisting plant an area recently cleared of woody weeds and fenced. This was a narrow section of land off Stockyard Road which went directly out to the cliff edge. I took the time and inspected the area as did Warren Langman our president. We both decided we would be happy to assist in this project and advised accordingly.
This project still has to commence... we have not heard further.
The Landcare Woody Weed Roadside Cleanup was again well supported by the community. Groups of people from areas got together and cleared their road sides of woody weeds. There were around 23 teams participating and again it was great to see the community spirit and Island pride in action
Once the clearing of the bush was done in Stage 3 at Cockpit in the Cascade Reserve; we began planting. This area is very steep and you need mountain goat blood to be able to successfully get about on the slopes especially armed with either a spade, tree or buckets of water crystals and fertiliser. Once again our dedicated team of Landcare members rose to the challenge, trees were planted and we begain the job of filling out the area.
Sorry the pics shown in the entry Pics of the work in progress are out of sequence. These were from the work done in Stage 2 in 2008. Look at earlier entries re; 2008 for detail
Darren & David were contracted to fence the area and did a great job. These pics shows the fencing and the extent of the first clearing done.
2009 soon rolled around and the program of maintenance continued. Our dedicated team meet every fortnight and work hard mowing and woody weed control. We had raised a good amount of money at our fundraiser the previous year and a decision was made that we would use this money to carry on work into Stage 3 of Cockpit in the Cascade Reserve and not wait for another Federal environment grant to come up again. This would finish off the whole remant forest area at Cockpit.
This area was steep as was the rest of Cockpit and it was necessary to use machinery and hand clearing. It was a mammoth job which took months to complete. The pics show the work starting
As 2008 drew towards the end and it got drier as summer approached there was less maintenance to do as even the weeds found it hard growing in the dry. Warren & Wally spent quite a bit of time bucketing water from the creek onto the trees planted last. Luckily almost all of the trees survived the dry.
Around Sept 08 we decided we would run a fundraising Auction Night. We had some fabulous jewellery pieces donated by Warren & Cynthia Langman of Diamonds Exclusive; Adam & Jenny Jauczius had donated a lovely painting and there was some other wonderful donated items as well. We had a dinner at Governors Lodge Restaurant which was quite well attended and a lovely meal had by all. Afterwards the auctioner David Buffett began the auction.
A bit of fun came when the Landcare cake brought in as an extra dessert was auctioned and reached $160.00! A equally funny moment was the auctioning of the auctioneers bow tie which he had been convinced to give up! All in all a great night which tided us over for funding for the next few months thereafter.
Well April didnt take long to roll around and with it came the role of contacting all of the teams about participating again in this years Woody Weed Roadside Cleanup. 23 teams took up the challenge and again Norfolk Island benefitted by having its' roadsides cleaned up for Bounty.
Again the restaurants, bakeries, butchers & clubs gave for a prize. This time we decided it would be a good idea to finish with a community event and this was organised at the RSL Club for the final Saturday of May. Band members performed there for us for free and the smorgasbord of donated and community brought food was staggering. The team who won the draw was given all of the donated grog. Unfortunately not as many people attended as we hoped but those that did had a great feed and great music to dance to.
When the new round of Envirofund grants became available; our president Warren Langman decided to go for another grant to fund it to rehabiliate Stage 2 of Cockpit in the Cascade Reserve. This was heavily overgrown centre section with a area sloping down to the creek with behind a high escarpment.
Landcare was successful in receiving another grant and the work was carried out. Some of the work was carried out by machinery with an excavator being used to clear some of the heaviest bush and to cut us a track at the rear of the creek under the escarpment.There was lots of hand work carried out by our crew too clearing before finally we could plant native trees & shrubs throughout the area.
Once we had it at a point to be presentable and looking good we arranged an opening. We had the then acting Administrator & his wife Owen & Biancca Walsh attend, also our then Chief Minister Andre Nobbs & his wife Kim and family. They and our Landcare team, their family and other members of the public had the speeches, planted a few more trees and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea.
Here's some photos of the opening of Stage 2.
