• News from the Mountain: Ants, first description of species on Mt Majura, deed to mitigate impact on nature reserve, submission Canberra Nature Park
• Woody Weeds Working Bee – Sunday 21 March
• Banksia Street wetland planting day – Sunday 14 March
• Native plant sale – Saturday 20 March

Dear Friends

More than 45 participants joined Ajay Narendra for a two hour educational ramble on ants on Sunday, the 28 February. Due to the overwhelming response – there were more than 200 enquiries – Ajay kindly agreed to guide a second walk on the 21 March. If you have registered for the 21 March walk but can’t make it please deregister to give others on the long waiting list the chance to come along. Please phone 6247 7515 or email admin@majura.org to deregister or if you have queries.

At the ant walk we discovered a patch of Lobe-seed Daisy (Brachyscome dentata), an uncommon daisy with yellow centred white flower heads, that has been not described for Mount Majura. It will be added to our flora list along with other species that were found since we published a preliminary list on our website.

Some of you will recall that FoMM has lodged a submission to object to a proposed residential development at the northwest corner of Mount Majura. The proposed development covers an area known as Australia Heritage Village and some adjacent undeveloped land and abuts Mt Majura nature reserve to the west and the north-west.

On the 8th February the Planning Authority informed FoMM that the proposal has been approved without any condition in regard to safeguarding the conservation values of Mt Majura nature reserve. Following the approval, the North Canberra Community Council announced that it will seek a revision of the decision at the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and several community groups, including FoMM and the Conservation Council considered joining the appeal. Ten days ago the developer approached the objecting parties and proposed to redirect resources, that would have been used for the appeal, to mitigate the potential impacts the development will have on environmental values. Following legal advice that indicated our appeal would be most likely unsuccessful, the community groups entered negotiations with the developer. The outcome, which was achieved in a very tight time frame, is a legally binding deed that provides, amongst other things, for a pet containment policy and 24hours cat curfew, a community engagement program, a dog and bike proofed fence with designated access point and a walking track connecting to the existing track in the reserve, rehabilitation work and weed control in the reserve adjacent to the project site, the immediate start of rabbit control on the project site, interpretative signs and the money to carry out the work and programs outlined in the deed.

I think the deed is a positive outcome for the environment and the people living close to nature reserve given that the Assembly, the Government and the Planning Authority have rezoned land managed for Tourism and Leisure as well as public land containing endangered ecological community into residential development, have totally ignored community concern and approved the development proposal unconditionally, and have not adequately resourced land management to deal with the effect the development will have on the nature park. The deed will be published on our website.

The Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment invited submissions into the investigation of Canberra Nature Park (closing date: 26 February 2010). FoMM, the Mt Ainslie Weeders and the Watson Woodland Working Group have lodged a joint submission which you can find on our website along with the terms of references of the investigation.

Woody weeds working bee – Sunday 21 March
On our monthly working bee in March we will return to the north-west slope of Mt Majura to tackle regrowth of Sweet Briar, Hawthorn and assorted woody weeds. I would be grateful if experienced weeders and those who have a chemical certification would come along.
When: Sunday 21 March 9.00am – 1.00pm
Where: nature park entrance Antill Street opposite Carotel
Bring: sun protection, sturdy shoes, body covering garden clothing
All equipment and morning tea will be provided
For more information and a map of the venue: http://majura.org/2010/02/23/woody-weeds-working-bee-4/

Banksia Street wetland planting day – Sunday 14 March
The wetland adjacent to Banksia Street in O’Connor is ready for planting and volunteers are invited to help planting sedges, native grasses and broad leaf species.
When: Sunday 14 March, 9.00am – 12.00nn
Where: Banksia St next to the Tennis Club in O’Connor
Bring: Sun protection, gloves, trowels, buckets
What to expect: ideal planting weather

Native plant sale – Saturday 20 March
The Australian Native Plant Society will hold a sale of native plantsWhen: Saturday 20 March 2010, 8.30am
Where: Australian National Botanical Gardens
What to bring: boxes for your plants
What to expect: long queues at 8.30am; so be early
There will be thousands of plants including local natives that are suitable for every aspect of your garden. A list of species is available at the ANPS website at http://www.nativeplants-canberra.asn.au/sale_list.aspx

Warm regards
Waltraud

The terms of reference were published on the Commissioner’s website at www.envcom.act.gov.au.

The closing date for the submission was 26 February 2010.

The Mt Ainslie Weeders, the Friends of Mt Majura and the Watson Woodland parkCare groups launched a joint submission.

For a pdf file of  the submission text click here: text

For a pdf file (588 KB) of the submission figures click here: figures

When: Sunday, 21 March 2010, from 9.00am to 12.00 noon
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance off Antill Street opposite Carotel, North Watson (view map for meeting point).
Bring and wear: Sun protection, appropriate shoes and body-covering clothing.
What: This will be a search and destroy exercise to remove Briar Rose, hawthorn and other woody weeds.
Equipment, tea and coffee will be provided
Enquiries: phone 6247 7515, e-mail to admin@majura.org or visit FoMM’s website at www.majura.au.

Print this  poster for distribution.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Novice weeders are encouraged to be early for an induction on target weeds and the safe handling of equipment. You will be working in pairs, the weather will be fantastic and you will go home with a cheerful feeling because you enhanced our precious woodlands.

More information on woody weeds

Garden plants going bush. Some commonly grown plants in Canberra gardens are invading our bushland where they cause environmental damage. The “garden escapes” may be native plants that have been planted outside their natural range, or plants, which have been introduced from overseas.

Your garden may be a source of garden escapes without you realising it. Birds spread seeds in their droppings after eating the berries of privet, firethorns or cotoneasters. Some garden escapes grow from stems after being dumped as garden waste such as English Ivy, Periwinkle or Japanese Honeysuckle.

Garden escapes cause environmental problems. They smother native plants, prevent natural regeneration and change the natural balance of resources for native animals.

FoMM conducts regular working parties to control garden escapes that have invaded Mount Majura nature reserve. You can help by joining our working bees, by removing potential garden escapes from your garden and by avoiding planting them. Information on garden plants that became environmental weeds is available at our working bees.

Hil and Vic of Hackett gave a hand cleaning up Mount Majura nature park in 2009

Join the Watson Woodland Working Group, the Friends of Mount Majura and the Watson Community Association to clean up the local bush land on our doorstep.

When: Sunday, 7 March 2010 from 9.00am to 12noon
Where: Meet at Antill street nature park entrance car parking area, opposite Carotel, south of Australian Heritage Village, North Watson (click on this map to view the meeting point)
Bring and wear: sun protection, long sleeve and pants, enclosed foot wear and gloves if you have them.

Ask your friends, family, neighbours, and work colleagues to come along.

Enquiries: ph 6241 3024 or admin@majura.org

Help promote the event: download this  poster for distribution

Clean-Up Australia Day
Every year hundreds of thousands of Australians help clean up their environment on Clean-Up Australia Day. This year’s Clean-Up Australia event will be held on 7st March, 2010.
The yearly event inspires communities to clean up, fix up, and conserve their local environment. Learn more from the Clean-Up Australia Website http://www.cleanup.com.au/

Sunday 14 Feburary 11.00am – 12.30pm
Please RSVP to admin@majura.org or 6247 7515

Everyone with an interest in the conservation and heritage values of Mt Majura is welcome.

For an idea of what we’ve done in the past see FoMM’s 2008-09 report and our archive of public announced events. FoMM’s objectives are available at the member’s page.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a serious woody weed of Mt Majura which is spread mainly by birds but also by foxes which eat the fruits. Distinguished by the red fleshy fruits (pomes) and leaves with toothed lobes (Photo: W. Pix).

Join the Friends of Mount Majura and the Watson Woodland parkCare groups to tackle woody weeds at the lower northwest slopes of Mount Majura. Our target weeds will be regrowth of Hawthorn and Briar Rose.
When: Sunday, 21 February 2010, from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance off Antill Street opposite Carotel south of the Australian Heritage Village (view map)
Bring and wear: sun protection, appropriate shoes and body-covering clothing.
Equipment, tea and coffee will be provided
Enquiries: phone 6247 7515, e-mail to admin@majura.org

Download this poster for distribution

Briar Rose (Rosa rubiginosa) Photo: W.Pix

Join ANU myrmecologist Dr. Ajay Narendra for a glimpse into the fascinating world of one of the most dominant animals on the planet.

When: Sunday 28 February, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm
Where: meet at Mackenzie / Grayson Sts nature park entrance, Hackett (view map)
Bring: sun protection, sturdy boots and a magnifying glass if you have one.
Children (with adults) are especially welcome; suitable for kids aged 8 years and older
Limited places! Booking and enquiries: P 62477515 or E admin@majura.org
A gold coin donation to support Friends of Mt Majura conservation work would be highly welcome.

If it rains we’ll celebrate and postpone the walk to the 7th March 2010, same time and place.

Ants play a leading role in the environment as predators and scavengers. Their highly social organization, effective communication and amazing navigation skills have been the object of research for generations. Mount Majura has a rich diversity of ants including several species of bull dog ants.

Ajay Narendra is part of the research team studying navigation strategies in Jack Jumpers (Myrmecia croslandi) in Hackett. Find out about Jack Jumpers and other ants on Ajay’s website at http://web.mac.com/ajaynarendra

Jack Jumper (photo: Ajay Narendra)

Gift an hour to the environment. Lend a hand to care for the young seedlings planted earlier this year and tackle some weeds. Enjoy a cuppa and tell us what you like to see in your nature reserve.