Where Landcare is at April 2012

Hey Yorlye


I have had a few comments in the past few months about the 'state' of the Cockpit area of the Cascade Reserve we have been doing rehabilitation on since 2006. I would remind people that Landcare is about rehabilitation and the mowing was done til the trees got to a height that they could survive on their own. This area is a reserve not a park and we have a very small crew who make up Landcare. Added to that is that most of the equipment we use is that of Norfolk Industries or Jimbos personally and provided at no charge. Since his accident he has not been able to do any kind of work.

Since our decision not to continue mowing we have used our funds to pay an operator to poison the woody weeds on the slopes. We will soon have a raffle out to get some more funding and this work will continue after that. We have not given up on Cockpit and will continue work there when able to.

We sorely miss Warren Langman who was our previous president and who made the time to make grant applications for us. We did try and get fudning as part of Norfolk's Caring for Our Country Grant application but were unsuccessful in the first round and dropped from the second. There are other grants available to us but unfortunately, I am short on time and could well do with a helper to do this job and if anyone is keen please let me know.

I would like to outline what Landcare has put into the Cockpit area in the past years. We think it is a pheomoninal effort from such a small working group. Much of this could not have been done without grant funding and we must thank the Australian Government for this.

Income
Grant - Envirofund $11,725.00 24/11/06
Donation $ 1,000.00 11/1/07
Landcare Aust $ 6,000.00 25/5/07
Fundraiser $ 525.00 26/7/07
Grant National Heritage $18,000.00 10/1/08
Fundraiser $ 850.00 24/3/08
Fundraiser $ 860.00 6/5/08
Grant - Envirofund $ 5,046.00 26/2/09
Fundraiser $ 350.00 24/6/09 $44,356.00 to date

Workers hours
2005 12 days/10 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $8,400.00 labour value
2006 17 days/12 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $14,280.00 labour value
2007 19 days/10 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $13,300.00 labour value
2008 18 days/9 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $11,340.00 labour value
2009 19 days/8 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $10,640.00 labour value
2010 17 days/7 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $8330.00 labour value
2011 8 days/8 person/3.5 hrs each/$20ph $4480.00 labour value $70,770.00 to date donated

Mowers/whippersnippers/chainsaws/equipment & fuel provided by many members at own expense.donated
Excavators/bobcat/tractor slasher - supplied by Jim Tavener donated at no cost except where grant funding covered specific areas
Slashing using own equipment on occasion donated at no charge - Rob Ward/Neil Tavener/George Nebauer
Building of bridges -
Bridge 1:- Poles - Electricity, timber Howard Christian donated
Bridge 2:- Poles - Electricity, timber ex old cockpit bridge when boards replaced donated
Bridge 3:- Poles - Electricity, timber Howard Christian donated
Fertilisers/water crystals paid by fundraising
Plants - donated Norfolk Island Administration

Where are we at now...

We currently have funding from the Toon Trust for the fencing of the Ball Bay Reserve in a partnership with the Forestry Dept. This reserve is severely degraded and requires much rehabilitation. Following protests from graziers on the prospect that there may be the exclusion of cattle from the reserve; the Minister suspended making a decision until after the plans of management of the reserves is completed. This is currently in process and expected soon. We have applied for an extension of time from the Toon Trust and hope that this work will be able to proceed.

We are about to do some planting work in the Selwyn Reserve to enhance the new bike track there. We will be looking it over this week and then will get planning about planting dates. The public will be invited to assist in these planting dates.

I would like to thank all the people who make up the Landcare team and those who have supported us. We are always in need of more members so if anyone is interested in joining our team, please let us know.

Best Regards

Lou
Louise Tavener

President - Norfolk Landcare Group Inc.