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Archived News Items from 2010 to 2011

17 December 2011:    Draft plan for restoring woodlands at The Pinnacle

ACT Parks and Greening Australia have released the draft plan for Woodland Restoration in the Belconnen Hills area (Black Mountain to Murrumbidgee Corridor). A working group of park carers, including from Friends of The Pinnacle, has had input to its development.

The draft has been forwarded to the parkcare groups involved for comment. If you would like to read the plan, download it from the link below. Comments can be submitted to by 21 January 2012, for inclusion in the fotpin response due by 27 January.

Draft Plan for Woodland Restoration in the Belconnen Hills [ pdf  6 MB ].

16 December 2011:    Seed Collection Workshop

Greening Australia have offered to run a seed collection workshop for fotpin members next year, possibly in March. The workshop would comprise a PowerPoint presentation and a practical demonstration on site.

If you're interested in participating and will be around next March to attend the workshop, please let know.

28 November 2011:   Weeding Effort updated

After a lapse of a few months while we got established in the new weeding year the weeding effort summary page is now up to date to end of October. Novembers numbers will be added next week.

The effort information for the 2010-2011 season has been retained and provided with a separate link: weeding effort in 2010-2011. Some new informative ways of looking at the effort information for the 2010-11 year have also been added, including:

  • monthly distributions of effort for different paddocks, different weed types and different treatment methods; this lets us see, for example, how the weeding requirements for different weeds changed from month to month across the year, how the effort required in different paddocks changed across the year, and the phasing in and out of spraying, seed bagging and slashing requirements.
  • distribution of effort across different weed types in each paddock; this lets us see which weeds are dominant in which paddocks, and how they are spread across the paddocks.

Highlights of the weeding effort in the year to date include:

  • Effort so far this year has been spent in very different ways to last year, primarily because of the different weather that we are experiencing this year compared to last. The greatest effort for the year so far has been required for Verbascum, which is having a bumper season.
  • This is well illustrated with a new way of looking at the data - a year-on-year comparison of effort this season compared with that last season for each weed type, which includes a discussion of the possible reasons for the differences.
  • Total effort so far this season is almost double that to the same time last season, and only just short of the target set in the Weed Plan. This is attributed to weather conditions that are more favourable to weeding, an increased number of active volunteers, and the ability to start spraying weeds earlier because of the availability of appropriate chemicals and Chemcerted volunteers.

Weeding maps have also been updated for the 2010-2011 year as well as the 2011-12 year to date.

17 October 2011:    Fireweed Alert

Fireweed has been recently located on the Monaro Highway, not far from the ACT border and also in Watson.
It is a Notifiable & Prohibited pest plant which forms a persistent seed bank if not controlled.

For information on identification, control and notification, see Fireweed alert [ pdf  390 kB ].

15 September 2011:    Opportunity to Comment on Canberra's Open Spaces Policy

Fotpin has received an invitation from the National Capital Authority (NCA) to participate in a discussion about the National Capital Open Space System (NCOSS) - see below.

The Coordinating Committee plans to make a submission, but encourages individual members to comment as well, or have other input as suggested below.

The NCA is seeking community views on the Australian Capital Territory's unique landscape setting. The last major policy review of the NCOSS occurred in 1989-1990. Today the NCOSS remains an integral part of the layout of Canberra. The NCA believes that you and your organisation can provide an important contribution to this review >and asks for your support.

Please tell us what you value about the Territory's unique landscape setting by leaving comments on www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursay. This community consultation will run from 16 September until 5pm, Friday >28 October 2011. > >Your members will be able to contribute in one of three ways. You can:

  • Complete a short survey about an area in the NCOSS that you value
  • Join a conversation about what is important about the NCOSS
  • Provide a submission to the discussion paper on the NCOSS review

You are welcome to call, or email me if you have any questions regarding this review. Please forward this letter to your friends, associates and members.

Andrew MacKenzie
Visiting Research Fellow >
Landscape Research Project >
National Capital Authority
62712848 (Mon-Wed)
andrew.mackenzie@natcap.gov.au

2 September 2011:    Spring walks program announced

A program of 6 diverse guided walks and related activities has been organised for late September - late November.

Details at Spring walks.

31 July 2011:   Annual General Meeting Outcomes

All supporting papers for the Annual General Meeting as well as the draft Minutes from the AGM held on 24 July are now available from the governance page.

The important outcomes of the meeting include the adoption of the new Management Rules, and the election of the new Coordinating Committee:

Convenor: Pax

Secretary: (vacant)

Treasurer: Warren Bond

Coordinator: (vacant)

Ordinary Members: John Brannan, Heather Burness and Don Driscoll

 

20 June 2011:   Winter Newsletter Released

Articles in this edition include:

  Kangaroos at the Pinnacle Nature Reserve (by Warren Bond)
        a report on The Pinnacle kangaroo count
  The Grass Project (by Don Driscoll)
        an update on the status of the treatment applications
  What's on the Horizon for fotpin (by Pax)
        our proposal to reserve lands adjacent to The Pinnacle and create a corridor to the Molonglo
  Where the Birds Are (by John Brannan)
        what to look out for and where

See Winter Newsletter 2011  [ pdf 621 kB ]

 

16 June 2011:   Funding for Fotpin's Pilot Revegetation Project

Landcare Australia and Spicers have awarded fotpin a one off funding contribution for the our Pilot Revegetation Project. This small grant of $2,873 will cover the cost of stakes, tree guards, ties, etc and a water tank to be installed on site to facilitate the watering of the seedlings through the summer months. Seedlings with provenances appropriate to the Pinnacle will be sourced from Greening Australia. Planting will be by fotpin volunteers on a date to be announced in Spring.

Thanks to John Brannan and his team (Rosemary, Len, Penny, Malcolm and Jim) for carefully planning the project and nursing it through the funding application process, and to all others who helped along the way.

Some information about the pilot project may be found here; more information will be available soon.

 

06 June 2011:   Weeding Effort updated for May

The weeding effort summary to end of May 2011 is now on the web site. Highlights include:

  • 56 hours effort recorded for March;
  • The total is 25% above the target for the month, reflecting that (a) the weeds are still very much rampant and needing our attention, and (b) for years such as this one the target for May is likely an underestimate.
  • 11 weeders contributed to this month's effort; 28 people have contributed to the weeding effort since 1 July 2010
  • The most targeted weed species for the month were thistles (23 h) followed by woody weeds(19 h, 8 of which was briars) and various broadleaf weeds (9 h).
  • These are expected to continue to be targets for June.
  • weeding maps have also been updated

A reminder that the weeding effort data serves a number of important purposes:

  • It provides hard evidence of the sizeable contribution of our members to the well-being of the Pinnacle (Our effort since 1 July 2010 is conservatively valued at $10 - 20,000)
  • It provides a good guide to the amount of effort required to manage each weed type, especially in those cases where we believe we have treated effectively all the weeds of a given species (as in the case of blackberry).
  • The spatial information coupled with the effort provide us with a good indication of the severity of the weed problem in particular locations, and, depending on the weed type and the weather, an indication of how much effort may need to be applied in particular areas next year.
  • The spatial information coupled with the date and type of treatment will enable us to assess the effectiveness of of given treatments at certain times of the year.
  • And there's no doubt more uses will emerge with time.

So, thanks to all those who logged their effort and provided GPS information about where the effort was expended - it really makes a difference. Keep up the good work!

Note: fotpin now has 4 GPS units available for use by weeders, with simple instructions and brief training available as required; contact or .


05 May 2011:    More Canberra Nature Park Investigation Papers Released

The Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment has announced the release of three more community information papers prepared as part of the Investigation into the Canberra Nature Park (nature reserves); Molonglo River Corridor (nature reserves) and Googong Foreshores.

These papers have been commissioned to address some of the key issues relating to the terms of reference for the Investigation:

Report on the Investigation into the Government's tree management practices and the renewal of Canberra's urban forest: Summary and Recommendations (pdf, 1.3Mb) or full report and appendices.

Other links of interest, including the terms of reference of the investigation, may be found on the investigation website: http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/investigations/nature_reserves_investigation

 

04 May 2011:   Weeding Effort updated for April

The weeding effort summary to end of April 2011 is now on the web site. Highlights include:

  • 58 hours effort recorded for March;
  • 14 weeders contributed to this effort, with no one person dominating the tally
  • The total is 25% above the target for the month, reflecting that (a) the weeds are still very much rampant and needing our attention, and (b) for years such as this one the target for April is likely an underestimate.
  • The most targeted weed species for the month were Verbascum (21 h) followed by Nodding thistles (10 h) and woody weeds (8 h; 11 h including briars).
  • These are expected to continue to be targets for May, with horehound and briars assuming a greater component as well.
  • weeding maps have also been updated, and two new ones added - Paterson's curse and Horehound

A reminder that the weeding effort data serves a number of important purposes:

  • It provides hard evidence of the sizeable contribution of our members to the well-being of the Pinnacle (Our effort since 1 July 2010 is conservatively valued at $10 - 20,000)
  • It provides a good guide to the amount of effort required to manage each weed type, especially in those cases where we believe we have treated effectively all the weeds of a given species (as in the case of blackberry).
  • The spatial information coupled with the effort provide us with a good indication of the severity of the weed problem in particular locations, and, depending on the weed type and the weather, an indication of how much effort may need to be applied in particular areas next year.
  • The spatial information coupled with the date and type of treatment will enable us to assess the effectiveness of of given treatments at certain times of the year.
  • And there's no doubt more uses will emerge with time.

So, thanks to all those who logged their effort and provided GPS information about where the effort was expended - it really makes a difference. Keep up the good work!

Note: fotpin now has 3 GPS units available for use by weeders, with simple instructions and brief training available as required.


01 May 2011:    Successful fotpin weekend

fotpin members, family and friends turned out in force on a beautiful Canberra autumn weekend to make significant contributions to two of our projects, the grass experiment and the kangaroo count.

A sterling effort on Saturday morning, saw the spreading of the Ryecorn seeds and sprinkling of sugar on the grass experiment plots completed ahead of schedule. This now completes the application of treatments for this year. The soil and plant samples are in the lab at ANU and analyses are underway.
The next activities for the grass experiment will be in early September, when we have to reapply the sugar, and, (fingers crossed) harvest our Ryecorn crop. Depending on the timing of growth of wild oats, we may be up to slashing the slash treatment around then too. Stay tuned.

Sunday saw a great turnout for both the morning and afternoon kangaroo counts, guided by Don Fletcher and Claire and from ACT Land Management and Planning. Both sessions were very successful, although lessons learnt from the morning session helped the afternoon one go more smoothly. Don is tallying up the numbers and will let us know the result, but early indications are that there are many more roos that anyone expected.

Thanks to all those who participated. For those who couldn't make it this year, stay tuned for a repeat performance of both projects next year.

Saturday also marked the end of yet another month where weeding effort was greater than the target value in the Weed Plan (by about 25%). A summary of the month's weeding activities will be on the website in the next day or two.

15 April 2011:    fotpin Update #5 Released

Members' update from the coordinator on a wide range of issues, reflecting the busy time the group has had since January. See fotpin Update#5  [ pdf 82 kB ]

12 April 2011:    Weeding Effort to end of March 2011

The weeding effort summary to end of March 2011 is now on the web site. Highlights include:

  • 80 hours effort recorded for March;
  • This is 75% above the target for the month, reflecting that (a) the weeds are still very much rampant and needing our attention, and (b) for years such as this one the target for March is likely an underestimate.
  • Most targeted weed species for the month were thistles (mainly nodding thistles) and verbascum. Both are expected to continue to be targets for April, and we also need to start on horehound and briars, both of which have had vigorous growth this year.
  • weeding maps have also been updated

A reminder that the weeding effort data serves a number of important purposes:

  • It provides hard evidence of the sizeable contribution of our members to the well-being of the Pinnacle (Our effort since 1 July 2010 is conservatively valued at $10 - 20,000)
  • It provides a good guide to the amount of effort required to manage each weed type, especially in those cases where we believe we have treated effectively all the weeds of a given species (as in the case of blackberry).
  • The spatial information coupled with the effort provide us with a good indication of the severity of the weed problem in particular locations, and, depending on the weed type and the weather, an indication of how much effort may need to be applied in particular areas next year.
  • The spatial information coupled with the date and type of treatment will enable us to assess the effectiveness of of given treatments at certain times of the year.
  • And there's no doubt more uses will emerge with time.

So, thanks to all those who logged their effort and provided GPS information about where the effort was expended - it really makes a difference. Keep up the good work!


18 March 2011:    Visit by National NRM Chairs a great success

On Wednesday 16 March, a group of about 40 Chairs of Natural Resource Management Groups around Australia visited The Pinnacle. This was the third and final stop on the afternoon field tour that was part of the Chairs' Annual Forum, hosted by the ACT Natural Resources Management Council in Canberra this year with the title "Keeping the bush in the Bush Capital". The other stops were Mt Pleasant and Mulligans Flat.

The group walked from the De Salis St carpark to the saddle just below the Pinnacle to hear a presentation by Warren Bond on our weed management and tracking activities, then on to the Defeating the Weed Menace plot just above the Woolner Circuit entrance to hear from Don Driscoll about the Native Grass Restoration Project. They then walked back across to the Pinnacle to enjoy the wonderful view in the late afternoon light, the perfect spot to hear from Heather Burness about the location of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve in the 'landscape' and how fotpin is fostering the community's connection with and sense of 'place'.

Feedback from the ACT NRM Council has been positive, with the Chairs impressed with the range of work that urban parkcarers are doing in Canberra, and, in the case of fotpin, with the leadership of the community.

Click to read the 2 page handout [ pdf 390 kB ] that we prepared for the Chairs. They also received a copy of out latest Newsletter.

NRM Chair visit

You can see more images from the visit in the photo gallery.

 

18 March 2011:    Canberra Nature Park Investigation Papers Released

The Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment today announced the release for community information of three papers prepared as part of the Investigation into the Canberra Nature Park (nature reserves); Molonglo River Corridor (nature reserves) and Googong Foreshores.

These papers have been commissioned to address some of the key issues relating to the terms of reference for the Investigation:

Other links of interest, including the terms of reference of the investigation, may be found on the investigation website: http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/investigations/nature_reserves_investigation

Comments on the issues raised in theses papers are welcome and can be sent to: envcomm@act.gov.au by Friday 8 April 2011. fotpin is considering submissions on these. If you are interested in helping prepare these, contact Any submissions prepared will be available from our advocacy page after 8th April

 

17 March 2011:    Update on 15th March General Meeting

The General Meeting convened at the request of member Dr Mervyn Aston was held at 7-30 pm on 15th March at the Weetangera Primary School with 21 members and 1 non-member present.

Dr Aston raised a point of order regarding the democratic process in the calling of the meeting which was ruled against by the Chair of the meeting. The members upheld the decision of the Chair through a majority of votes.

After a brief statement, Mervyn withdrew his motions. It was agreed that the Coordinating Committee will meet with Dr Aston at a later date to discuss his concerns.

The meeting closed at 8.10 pm. After the meeting closed an informal general discussion of his concerns that led to requesting the meeting followed.

 

12 March 2011:    Autumn Newsletter Released

Articles in this edition include:

  Fotpinning is a Lifestyle: the Australia Day Weed-off and BBQ (by Heather Burness)
  Weed Management Update (by Warren Bond)
  Initial Weed Menace Survey Report and Fotpin Kangaroo Rescue (by Don Driscoll)
  A Tale of FrogMouths (by John Brannan)

See Autumn Newsletter 2011  [ pdf 659 kB ]

 

6 March 2011:    Autumn walks program announced

A program of 3 diverse walks has been organised for late March - early April. Details at Autumn walks.


5 March 2011:    Weeding Effort to end of February 2011

The weeding effort summary to end of February 2011 is now on the web site. Highlights include:

  • 113 hours effort recorded for February;
  • This means that our annual effort for summer was less than 10% below the very ambitious target in the Weed Plan of 468 hours
  • The outstanding weeder of the month was again Bob Hodgson, with Pax bumping John Brannan out of second place.
  • Two new features for improving information exchange between weeders have been added:
    • recent weeding, which provides an up to date list of what weeders have been doing lately, and
    • weed notes, which is a collection of observations by our weeders, to alert each other to current developments on the weed front and exchange ideas
  • weeding maps also updated

A reminder that the weeding effort data serves a number of important purposes:

  • It provides hard evidence of the sizeable contribution of our members to the well-being of the Pinnacle (Our effort since 1 July 2010 is conservatively valued at $12,000)
  • It provides a good guide to the amount of effort required to manage each weed type, especially in those cases where we believe we have treated effectively all the weeds of a given species (as in the case of blackberry).
  • The spatial information coupled with the effort provide us with a good indication of the severity of the weed problem in particular locations, and, depending on the weed type and the weather, an indication of how much effort may need to be applied in particular areas next year.
  • The spatial information coupled with the date and type of treatment will enable us to assess the effectiveness of of given treatments at certain times of the year.
  • And there's no doubt more uses will emerge with time.

So, thanks to all those who logged their effort and provided GPS information about where the effort was expended - it really makes a difference. Keep up the good work!


28 February 2011:    February Ginninderra Catchment Group Newsletter

See what else is happening in the Ginninderra Catchment Group, one of fotpin's umbrella bodies, in their latest newsletter: February Ginninderra Catchment Group Newsletter [ pdf 687 kB]


26 January 2011:    Successful Australia Day Weeding Bee and BBQ

Today 14 fotpins put in a combined effort of 40 hours tackling the current priority weeds verbascum and nodding thistles as well as prickly lettuce, nightshade and a number of woody weeds (Chinese Pistachio, cotoneaster, firethorn and briar roses) that were encountered along the way. In doing so, we pushed the total weeding effort for January to over 180 hours, well in excess of the monthly target of 161 hours (from the Weed Management Plan). This is the first time since effort records began in July 2010 that the monthly target has been exceeded, and is testament to the enthusiasm with which our regular weeders have been tackling the current weed threats, particularly saffron thistles and St Johns Wort. Details of the month's weeding effort will be published on the weeding effort page in early February.

The weary weeders, as well as spouses and other fotpins, then relaxed and enjoyed a pleasant BBQ lunch thanks to the hospitality of Pax and Susan. Overall, a successful day for The Pinnacle and for the Friends of The Pinnacle.


24 January 2011:    Australia Day Weeding Bee and BBQ

In honour of Australia Day, on Wednesday January 26 fotpin will be hitting the exotic weed invaders hard. We will then adjourn to 68 Southwell St for a BBQ lunch to celebrate our efforts. Please bring what you would like BBQed and your drinks; bread, salad etc. will be provided. This is a good opportunity for the hard working weeders from the different teams to meet up and compare notes, and also for non-weeders to meet other fotpins.

Please feel free to come to either the Weeding Bee, the BBQ, or both, but please RSVP to for planning purposes as soon as possible (both for weeding, to plan equipment, and for the BBQ to plan catering).

Where? Suggest we weed across the Forest, Hawker and Central paddocks, and just south of the Forest in Kama paddock. Time permitting we can also do the top end of the Dam paddock. I'm proposing these paddocks as they are easily accessed, we'll be visible to users, and certainly Forest and Hawker are priorities for weed control.

And afterwards for lunch at 68 Southwell St, Weetangera

What? The goal is to avoid seed set and dispersal for the following weeds, and so we will go for:

  • verbascum, bag the portion of the stalk with seed pods, and grub the plant;
  • nodding and scotch thistles, cut/bag flowers only, cut buds from the plant and grub the rest;
  • grub isolated horehound (ie not the big patches);
  • prickly lettuce, cut flower buds, bag seeds, grub the plant; and
  • nightshade, grub only, and pile larger patches of plants for later removal (time permitting) or more efficient spraying next year. Small patches and isolated plants with berries can be bagged - but beware this could be bag consuming - best try to minimise the amount you bag. Teams of 2-3 should efficiently cut, grub and bag.

Who? All welcome, but please RSVP to for planning purposes as soon as possible (both for weeding, to plan equipment, and for the BBQ to plan catering)

When? There will be two start times, 7am and 8am.

7 am: Hawker fotpins meet along the footpath between 14 and 16 Marakai St.
Everyone else fotpins please assemble at the noticeboard just west of the de Salis St carpark. Pax will lead the team off from there.

8 am: Meet at the noticeboard just west of the de Salis St carpark. Someone will be there to set you up, allocate teams to paddocks, etc. 8am starters might either form new teams or bolster existing teams. Alternatively, Rosemary, Lesley and John will be weeding the Forest Block from 8am, meeting at Dungowan Street, if you want to join them.

10-10:15 : Given the weather best be off-reserve by 10-10.15, however if you really need to just finish that big patch of scotch thistle .....

Perhaps you'd like to head home to recover and refresh before ....

12 noon: I'd like everyone to be at #68 by noon for the BBQ.

How? We'll have hoes, loppers and bags available, but bring them if you have them.
All the usual common sense advice re clothing, sunscreen, sturdy footwear, water, fotpin sense of humour, apply. Would those of you with GPSs please bring them - remember to have good batteries. As part of our effort monitoring we'll record 'track logs' of where the team goes so we can report on what we're doing and usefully speculate where we need to return to. Please bring your GPSs to lunch and I'll download, and we can all see where everyone worked.

12 January 2011:    2010 "Scribbly Gum"

Find out what the other ParkCare groups around the ACT were up to last year by reading "The Scribbly Gum", an annual newsletter produced by the PCS Community Programs Officer (Sally McIntosh). You can download it, and previous editions, from the ACT ParkCare site, or directly using this link [ pdf 1.7 MB ]


5 January 2011:    fotpin Update #4 Released

Members' update from the coordinator on a wide range of issues, reflecting the busy time the group has had since August. See fotpin Update#4  [ pdf 30 kB ]

Weeding effort analysis updated to 31 December 2010

 

15 December 2010:    Summer Newsletter Released

The feature article in this edition is Defeating the Weed Menace - the Native Grass Restoration Project by Don Driscoll. Other articles include: The fotpin website (by Warren Bond), Recording what's happened before (by Mark Hallam), and The Pinnacle - Nature Park or Theme Park? (by Pax)

See Summer Newsletter 2010  [ pdf 613 kB ]

 

17 November 2010:   "Caring for Our Country" grant for the Native Grass Restoration Project

The Federal Government has announced that Don Driscoll's proposal was funded to the value of $19,930 in the 2010-11 round of the "Caring for our Country" Community Action Grants Program. The Native Grass Restoration Project was one of only two projects funded in the ACT (453 Australia wide). See the press release and the list of funded projects for further information.

Combined with the earlier funding from the ACT Environment Grant and the Belconnen Labor Club, this additional funding allows the project to proceed at its fully planned level of 12 replicated plots as described in the project methodology.

Congratulations Don for securing this important additional funding.

Recognition of the value of this project by a second major funding groups reinforces its importance. Assistance from volunteers will be essential, however, for its successful completion.

For information about tasks that assistance is required with in the coming weeks, check This Week on The Pinnacle and the Action Plan or contact .

More details of the project can be found on our website at Defeating the Weed Menace.

 

04 November 2010:    Belconnen Labor Club provides additional funds for the Native Grass Restoration Project

Our application for funds from the Sponsorship Committee of the Canberra Labor Club Group (through the Belconnen Club) has been successful. The Club has granted $9346 towards the Native Grass Restoration Project in this financial year, with the option to apply fir a further $9346 next year.

This grant, combined with the earlier ACT Environment Grant, ensures that we have sufficient money to fund the project at the basic level of 8 replicated plots.

Well done Pax for pursuing this line of funding.

More details of the project, including a preliminary list of activities that will require volunteer assistance, can be found on our website at Defeating the Weed Menace.

 

28 September 2010:    Spring Guided Walks Program Released

Three Spring walks were announced: a bird walk with John Brannan, a diversity of species and habitats walk with Rosemary Blemings, and Native Grass Restoration Project walk with Don Driscoll.

See Spring walks    pdf 1.1 MB

 


21 September 2010:    Spring Newsletter Released

Articles include: Friends of Grasslands Kama woodlands tour (by Don Driscoll), Preparing for Spring (by Rosemary Blemings), Spring bird report (by John Brannan), Saving Our Soils (by Pax), and Monitoring rabbit activity (by Pax).

See Spring Newsletter 2010   pdf 1.2 MB

 

02 September 2010:    Native Grass Restoration Project Funded

The Coordinating Committee is very pleased to to announce that that fotpin has been successful in gaining funding through the 2010-11 ACT Environment Grants for our Grass Restoration Project. This is a fotpin project applied for under the auspices of Ginninderra Catchment Group.

The range of other projects that were funded by the ACT government through this grant can be seen at: http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=9914&m=53

The group is very grateful to Don Driscoll who conceived and designed the project, prepared the funding application, and is now leading its implementation. If you attended the Special Meeting at Weetangera Primary School on the 25 July of this year you would have seen Don briefly and succinctly outline the project.

This means that we will be busy fotpins and will need to rally in achieving this worthwhile project and its outcomes. There will be many opportunities for members to contribute and the Coordinating Committee will make these known when we have determined the volunteer help needed to see the project through. The project will be a good opportunity to learn about the restoration of native grasslands.

More details of the project, including a preliminary list of activities that will require volunteer assistance, can be found on our website at Defeating the Weed Menace.

 

Thanks Don!

 

25 July 2010:    Friends of The Pinnacle formalised by community meeting

A community meeting was held on 25 July at the Weetangera Primary School with a view to formalising Friends of The Pinnacle as an unincorporated body.

The meeting modified and ratified a set of Draft Rules [ pdf  36 kB] for the group that had been previously prepared by a volunteer working group, and were presented to the meeting by Mark Burness. Nominations were called for to form the Coordinating Committee as specified in the Rules, and 6 were received.

The meeting also heard presentations on the history of fotpin (Rosemary Blemings), the proposed Native Grass Restoration Project (Don Driscoll), monitoring of bird species on The Pinnacle (John Brannan), and weed management on The Pinnacle (Bob Hodgson).

Draft minutes of the meeting, to be ratified at the next general meeting of members, and the composition of the Coordinating Committee, may be found on the governance page of this website.

16 May 2010:    Draft Community Weed Management Plan launched

The Draft Community Weed Management Plan for The Pinnacle Nature Reserve (2010 - 2020) was launched by Andrew Leigh (then ALP Candidate for the Federal Seat of Fraser) at an event held near the De Salis Street entrance to The Pinnacle on the morning of 16 May. After the launch, Andrew helped plant a commemorative tree a short way up the track from the entrance. Images of the event may be viewed in our photo gallery.

 

The draft plan is now open for comment from all members of the community.

Download a copy of the plan here   [ pdf  1.2 MB ]

Comments on the plan may be submitted to: .

 

 

© Friends of The Pinnacle