what's happening

SCAT wins community achievement award!

SCAT was awarded the 2009 Nyrstar Environment and Sustainability Award at the Community Achievement Awards ceremony held at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart on Saturday 14th November. SCAT accepted the trophy and cheque from sponsor Nyrstar in front of a packed audience of politicians, community and business leaders and other dignitaries.

SCAT was recognised for outstanding work bridging the gap between Coastcare groups, government agencies and environmental organisations. 

Kristy Blackburn, Leah Page, Janelle Dennis and Leah’s partner Dave Wilson all enjoyed fine food and wine and a good night out.

And the best thing about the night says Kristy “We shared a table with representatives of Spring Bay Seafoods who won the Primary Industries and Agriculture Award. In between the formalities of the evening we discussed a Coastcare program based around their farm sites throughout Glamorgan Spring Bay municipality. The Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor was also at the table so we have his high level support straight away as well which is great”.

Janelle Dennis, Leah Page and Kristy Blackburn (back row centre) with the other category award winners at the ceremony

SCAT Community Engagement Facilitator

As you may have heard, through an Australian Government Caring for our Country Coastcare grant, SCAT has employed a facilitator to provide practical on-ground support and advice to community groups undertaking work rehabilitating and protecting coastal habitats.

As the facilitator, I will be working with Coastcare groups and individuals across the Southern region, supporting the work you are doing.

I have experience working in the private and public sectors, having worked for the Parks and Wildlife Service, the Private Land Conservation Program, the Understorey Network and Tasmanian Land and Water Professionals. I have a Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies from UTAS, majoring in Plant Science and Geography and Environmental Studies.

I am passionate about nature conservation in Tasmania and my areas of interest include native flora, revegetation, threatened species management, monitoring environmental change, the impact of exotic species, human/wildlife interactions, sustainable settlements, cultural heritage, ‘sense of place’, natural area interpretation and climate change adaptations.

I am keen to hear how I may be of assistance to your group and to get my hands dirty at some working bees! I will be sharing best practice coastal management techniques, working with stakeholders, organising events and promoting sustainable coastal practices and community involvement in coastal management.

So please don’t hesitate to contact me to talk about your plans, projects or issues.

It is also time to start thinking about Coastcare week which this year will be from the 7th to the 13th of December. If you have any ideas for activities or events or would like help planning something please contact me.

I look forward to working with you.

Phone: 0407 784 945
Email: oliverstrutt@scat.org.au
 

Pipe Clay Coastcare gets a helping hand from Conservation Volunteers Australia

By Jodie, Pipe Clay Coastcare group member

On the 29th of May a team from Conservation Volunteers Australia assisted in planting a wildlife corridor at the small coastal property of “Pipshy” at Cremorne.

The landholders had received funding from the 2008 Caring for our Country Coastcare grants for 400 plants.

The rainy weather was ideal for planting although not exactly pleasant for the volunteers. The provision of muffins and cakes was said to keep their moral and enthusiasm up.

The landholders were most impressed by their hard work as the team managed to plant and bag everything within the day. Prior ground preparation assisted with the task.

The volunteers come highly recommended. You can contact the Tasmanian Branch of Conservation Volunteers Australia on 6231 1779.

Rosny Foreshore Trail link opens

Forty people attended the opening of the Rosny Foreshore Trail Link at Montagu Bay on Sunday 17 May.

The event was organised by the Rosny Montagu Bay Land and Coastcare Group and City of Clarence.  The link was officially opened by the Mayor of Clarence Alderman Jock Campbell.  Also attending were the Deputy Mayor Alderman Doug Chipman, Alderman Kay McFarlane, Ross Butler MP for Franklin and Paul Helleman from the Parks and Wildlife Service..

The link joins sections of the pedestrian/cycleway each side of the boatshed.   Previously, pedestrians and cyclists had to cross Rosny Esplanade twice to re-join the trail or walk along the roadway in face of traffic.

The Mayor cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque signifying the event.  The plaque also acknowledges the environmental work of local resident Graeme Short.

The Mayor also thanked Carole Edwards the outgoing Convenor of the Land and Coastcare Group for her valuable contribution to the environment.

Before the opening, group members planted shrubs and placed mulch at the site.  People attending enjoyed orange juice and cake in the sunny weather.

The local Land and Coastcare group meets every second Sunday of each month on the Rosny foreshore opposite 27 Esplanade from 10.30am to 12.30pm to carry out weeding, seeding and mulching on foreshore and Rosny Hill. 

They have also coordinated a local burn off, engaged the Conservation Volunteers of Australia and Green Corps to carry out local Landcare projects and assisted the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Bay to erect seats around Rosny Point. 

Membership is free and welcomed.  All tools and opportunities for training in many areas are supplied.   Contact Carole on phone 6244 5512 for information.

Annual Tasmanian Environment Awards 2009

SCAT committee members, NRM South representatives and Wendy Andrew from Tranmere-Clarence Plains Land and Coastcare Inc had a great time at the Environment Awards on World Environment Day at Wrest Point.
SCAT was happy to lose to SPRATS the Sea Spurge Remote Area Teams who were awarded the Community Award for their wonderful work protecting remote Tasmanian coastlines from this voracious weed.

Congratulations also go to Clarence City Council who were awarded the Premier’s Award for Climate Action for their report on climate change impacts on coastal areas which is only one of five of its kind in Australia and the most detailed carried out by a Tasmanian Council.

It is wonderful to see two great southern coastal projects achieve this recognition for their hard work and achievements.

Sea Spurge Remote Areas Teams (SPRATS)
By Jon Marsden-Smedley, SPRATS coordinator

SPRATS (Sea Spurge Remote Area Teams) are about making a difference. We are a volunteer group with a ten year plan to remove weeds from the coastline between Cape Sorell and Cockle Creek. Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias) and marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria), are devastating coastal ecosystems across southern Australia including Tasmania’s World Heritage listed south and west coasts.

In the past three summers we have surveyed this coastline with 350 of its 600 km being classified as susceptible to invasion. To date we have treated 91% (315 km) of susceptible areas. We have developed a range of remote area weeding techniques that are highly practical and effective, with the potential to remove >99% of weeds following two or three treatments.

By the end of the 2012/13 field season SPRATS is aiming to have controlled all of the infestations of these weeds in our work areas, and will be concentrating on surveillance and follow-up of minor infestations.

A critical aspect of the work that SPRATS does is the collection of comprehensive data on all of the work performed. Each site is allocated a unique identifier, geo-referenced and entered into a Geographic Information System. This means that the weeds present, the work performed and the performance of our weeding treatments can be tracked in order to ensure that we are being effective.

The effectiveness of the work that SPRATS is doing has recently been recognised by winning the community group section of the Tasmanian Environment Awards.

SPRATS are also working closely with other groups doing similar work. We have a spin-off group, SPLATS (Sea Spurge Local Area Teams), which is aiming to remove sea spurge (and some areas of marram grass) between Cockle Creek and Bicheno. We are working closely with the Tasmanian University White Water Rafting Club to remove blackberries from the Andrew and Franklin Rivers in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area. SPRATS is also working closely with the West Coast Fire and Weeds Group to remove these weeds from Tasmania’s west coast north of Cape Sorell.

Finally, a major outcome of SPRATS’ work is the example it sets. We have demonstrated that volunteer groups can be highly effective and do great work. As a group, our volunteers give up their time to perform this work, they focus on doing the work BUT also work hard on having fun at the same time. If it is not a pleasurable experience, volunteers will not return.

Tasmania’s iconic Giant Kelp forests nominated as threatened under Federal Law

Humane Society International has nominated Tasmania’s giant underwater kelp forests (Macrocystus pyrifera) as a ‘Threatened Ecological Community’ under the federal Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Environment Tasmania is supporting this nomination and progressing an equivalent listing in Tasmania.

“Tasmania’s giant kelp forests are unique and iconic, renowned both in Australia and globally. They are incredibly important ecosystems supporting a high diversity of plant and animal species, providing habitat for economically important populations of rock lobster and abalone, and are socially important areas for enjoyment and appreciation of our spectacular marine environment. Yet on the east coast of Tasmania they have been in serious decline for many years,” said Danielle Annese from Humane Society International.

“Despite our giant kelp forests being ecologically, economically and socially important, they have been offered little protection in Tasmania. These ecosystems are like the coral reefs of our cool water marine environments, and yet we have stood by and watched them decline drastically over recent decades,” said Rebecca Hubbard of Environment Tasmania.

“Changes in nutrient availability, sea surface temperature, invading marine pests and fishing impacts are having a compounding impact on these unique ecosystems, and they must be offered extra protection or we may see their extinction in our lifetimes,” said Ms Annese.

“If successful, the nomination of the giant kelp forests as a threatened ecological community under federal law will help us to better protect these crucial ecosystems. Combined with nomination under state law, we could help to secure the future of this iconic ecosystem, before it’s too late,” concluded Ms Hubbard.

Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, an umbrella body that represents 25 Tasmanian conservation groups, with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians. 

Humane Society International concentrates on the preservation of endangered animals and ecosystems and works to ensure quality of life for all animals, both domestic and wild. HSI is the largest animal protection not-for-profit organisation in the world, with over 10 million supporters globally and has been established in Australia since 1994.

For more information: 

Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator Environment Tasmania, 0401 854 912

Danielle Annese, Program Manager, Humane Society International, 02 9973 1728

Treadlightly 2009

The new SCAT marquee was put the test in the mud at the Treadlightly Envirofest on the 7th June at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Whilst it didn’t actually rain, we had to contend with an incredible amount of moisture on the ground from the previous week of very wet weather. Thankfully we managed to keep everything pretty clean.

The damp conditions kept the number of visitors lower than last year but we had a good time. We all made contact with a few people that were really happy to learn more about Coastcare, Birds Tasmania and coastal issues.

It was also great to meet some of our members for the first time and catch up with familiar faces.

­Thanks to everyone that braved the weather to come and say hello and a HUGE thank you to the those of you that volunteered to spend time setting up, packing up and manning the display.

The new SCAT marquee at Treadlightly

Sea level rise to become part of the plan

The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) has launched a national program of information seminars and training workshops on how to incorporate future sealevel rise projections into coastal planning codes.

Co-funded by the Department of Climate Change, the workshops are part of a package announced by – the Australian Government, aimed at helping vulnerable coastal communities plan for climate change.

ACE CRC will deliver a series of multi-day training workshops for coastal infrastructure owners, planners, engineers and other interested stakeholders around Australia, commencing in Hobart shortly.

ACE CRC will also be delivering a series of seminars aimed at providing an overview for policymakers and major coastal infrastructure owners, highlighting the need to address the potential impacts of a rising sea level into their planning and decision making in the short term.

The workshops and seminars will be delivered nationally between February 2009 and June 2010. A website for registrations of interest in seminar and course participation is available at [www.sealevelrise.info].

Boneseed and Asparagus Weeds Work Continues

By Margie Jenkins
Project Officer
Boneseed and Asparagus Weeds
Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority

Work towards the control of Boneseed and Asparagus weeds in Southern Tasmania continues through the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA) with the recent appointment of Project Officer, Margie Jenkin.

Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera), Bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), and Asparagus fern (A scandens) are Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) that threaten coastal values and biodiversity. 

Boneseed was bought to Australia about 150 years ago from the Cape region of South Africa and has now invaded a range of habitats across southern Australia. Its invasiveness and potential for spread is aided by large seed production, absence of natural enemies and rapid regeneration after disturbance.  Threatened plant communities including Eucalyptus ovata, E viminalis and E. globulus are endangered by Boneseed.

Bridal creeper was introduced to Australia in the 1870s and was once a favorite for bridal bouquets.  Now considered an aggressive invader, Bridal creeper inundates natural plant communities, smothering trees and out-competing understorey vegetation.  Asparagus fern is a close relative, which prefers moist sites and produces dense underground tubers. 

This nationally strategic project will progress the identification, mapping and treatment of outlying infestations, working with land managers and community groups across Southern Tasmania.  

‘This project needs widespread support to succeed, and I look forward to meeting and working with local Coast Carers,’ said Margie. ‘Work has already commenced, but it’s vital to continue monitoring and follow up, particularly in the Pittwater/Orielton Lagoon and Derwent Estuary areas. Community awareness will also be essential to ensure new strategic infestations are identified and controlled’.

Funding for this landscape scale project was sourced through the Australian Government Caring for Our Country Program.

For more information, and to get involved please contact Margie Jenkin on mjenkin@stca.tas.gov.au or phone 6270 2242.

 

 

SCAT policies and procedures

SCAT is currently developing policies and procedures for the operation of our association.

Recording what we do and the ways we do it will make it easier for future committee members to undertake their duties and will foster a consistent approach to our services and activities.

If you are a SCAT member and you would like to provide input or view these documents just get in touch with Leah our Administration Officer.

Envirofund project update

You can keep up to date with our Envirofund projects here. Envirofund Project Update