Hays Inlet Awareness Week Activities Jun 2 - 11

The full Hays Inlet Awareness Week program can be found on http://haysfestival.blogspot.com

REF or REF members are directly or indirectly involved in many of these activities.

Listed below are the program activities directly organised by REF.

Sunday June 4 Mangrove Clean-up.

Register in the car park of Peninsula Animal Aid, Duffield Rd at 9am.
Head into the mangroves to complete the clean-up of motor vehicles the Council will have already started.

Monday June 5 Mangrove Walk

Join Bob Crudgington at 10am for a one hour walk through the mangroves starting at Haysmouth Parade Clontarf.

Thursday June 8 Mangrove Walk

Join David Lergessner at 9am for a one hour walk through the mangroves starting at Duffield Rd

Friday June 9 Mangrove Walk

Join David Lergessner at 9am for a one hour walk through the mangroves starting at Duffield Rd.

Friday June 9 'Hays Inlet - Then, Now and the Future'

Bob Crudgington and David Lergessner are combining to provide a visual presentation of Hays Inlet and the changes which are occurring and have occurred in this fantastic wetland area. This evening is at the Redcliffe City Council Library and starts at 6.00pm and goes until 7.30pm. Supper is being provided by the Redcliffe City Council. This evening is REF's second quarterly meeting.

Council and REF combine at Humpybong Primary

Council Environment officer, Christy Samorowski and Sonya, her University apprentice from Germany, joined today with REF's David Lergessner to discuss local environments with Year 7 students at Humpybong Primary School.

David resorting to whiteboard and whiteboard marker techniques compressed the 200 million year history of the Peninsula's geological development into 5 minutes and spoke about different scales of ecosystems from world-wide to a local pond before focusing on Redcliffe's local mangrove communities.

Christy picked up on the impact of people on the local environments pointing out the Council's role in removing rubbish from waterways and attempting to prevent sediment washing into the surrounding bays. Christy also spoke of the Council's work in relation to fencing mangroves and koala surveys before introducing students to the Council's new environment website - http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/ENVIRONMENT.HTM

The students were well prepped for the exercise having spent some weeks looking at local environments in particular Humpybong Creek and asked probing questions about the role of Council. The students were very interested in the talks and thanked Christy, Sonya and David for their time.

Special thanks to young Mitchell who operated the technoligical side of things.

Council and REF combine at Humpybong Primary

Council Environment officer, Christy Samorowski and Sonya, her University apprentice from Germany, joined today with REF's David Lergessner to discuss local environments with Year 7 students at Humpybong Primary School.

David compressed the 200 million year histroy of the Peninsula's geological development into 5 minutes and spoke about different scales of ecosystems from world-wide to a local pond before focusing on Redcliffe's local mangrove communities.

Christy picked up on the impact of people on the local environments pointing out the Council's role in removing rubbish from waterways and attempting to prevent sediment washing into the surrounding bays. Christy also spoke of the Council's work in relation to fencing mangroves, koala surveys before introducing students to the Council's new environment website - http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/ENVIRONMENT.HTM

The students were well prepped for the exercise having spent some weeks looking at local environments in particular Humpybong Creek and asked probing questions about the role of Council. The students were very interested in the talks and thanked Christy, Sonya and David for their time.

Fred and Fiona's First Sighting

Hays Inlet Awareness Week is drawing closer and Fred and Fiona have made their first appearance on the peninsula.

Local birdwatchers have been eagerly awaiting the arival of the stilts this year on their migratory path and were pleased when Fred and Fiona were finally seen arriving yesterday. Local birdwatchers were worried that Fred might have sustained some damage since he was last here as he favoured his right leg during the short time the pair were seen after their arduous flight from Strathpine. Locals were also concerned about whether pelicans now being forced to find new roosting sites off the Houghton Highway might make it difficult for Fred and Fiona to find roosting sites in the Hays Inlet area. It would be a shame to lose this magnificent pair and it is hoped a solution to the pelican problem can be found by next year. REF members have indicated to authorities that they favour alternative roosting sites for the pelicans being constructed out over the water from the existing light posts on the Highway.

Residents should keep a lookout for Fred and Fiona as their stay will be brief and these birds are wary of human contact. The evening of June 2 is recommended as a good time to see the pair again as the moon and tides will be right and should draw them from their roosting place in Hays Inlet around dusk or just after to partake of the free food on offer at Langdon Park that evening between 5 and 7pm.

Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Birdwatchers warn this could be the only occasion to see Fred and Fiona in the Margate area for FREE as the birds are known to consume vast amounts of food before returning to mangrove areas for up to a week to allow for digestion. If this happens the next opportunity to see the rare stilts will be on Saturday June 10 when the Hays Inlet Awareness Committee is holding a 'Birds of a Feather Get Together ' hoping that people attending this function will dress in black and white with red socks or stockings to try to temp the birds to the Humpybong Yacht Club at around 7.30pm for a final feed before their long flight back to Strathpine. This is a ticketed event and tickets can be obtained fron GoVita Health Foods at the Margate Shopping Centre for $10. As an additional attraction to this event, prizes will be given out for the native garden and photo competitions and people will be able to buy tickets in the Polyworld tank raffle.

CU.

Pine Water Community Reference Group Meeting May 2006

David Lergessner is currently representing REF on the Pine Water Community reference Group which is one of a number of groups considering the impact of the proposed expansion of the Murrumba Downs waste water treatment plant on the Pine Rivers and surrounding urban, rural and industrial environs. This is David's report of the first meeting.

The meeting was essentially one of setting the scene. This was done by Andrew Sloan of Pine Water ( http://prsc.gky.com.au/c/prsc?a=sp&pid=1144190720 ).

Stuart Macnish of MWH Global ( http://www.mwhglobal.com.au/ ) outlined the roles of members of the group, other consultative groups involved in the process ranging from the local to federal government level as well as indicating the time line for the process. Construction, which will all be contained within the existing site, is not due to start before 2007 with the plant coming on-line in 2008.

There were suggestions from the floor of the meeting that Sunfish and the Redcliffe City Council might be invited to send representatives. Andrew Sloan would take those suggestions to the Pine Shire Council for consideration.

Concerns were also raised about how community concerns were addressed in relation to the upgrading of the Sandgate treatment works. It is believed that community concerns will be more positively addressed by this particular reference group.

I have listed below the websites for other groups participating in the reference group:

Amcor
http://www.amcor.com/index.aspx

Heritage Pacific
http://www.heritagepacific.com.au/

Stockland
http://www.stockland.com.au/

Osprey House
http://www.prsc.qld.gov.au/c/prsc?a=da&did=1057693&pid=1095396429&sid=

Boondall to Tinchi Tamba Wildlife Preservation Society
http://www.boondalltotinchitamba.org.au/

North Lakes Golf Club
http://www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au/

Pine Rivers Catchment Association
http://www.healthywaterways.org/PAGE081228PMAJDLQL.html

as well as our own website:

Redcliffe Environmental Forum
http://www.redcliffeenvironmentalforum.blogspot.com/

There are also two local community members on the reference group.

The next meeting will be on June 19 at the actual development site.

David can be contacted regarding this reference group on legs99@hotmail.com.

David Lergessner

REF's Museum Display

See some of the exciting items REF members have retrieved from the mangroves around Redcliffe in the community spot at the Redcliffe Museum.

The Museum is in the former Catholic Church in Anzac Avenue on the bank of humpybong Creek. The display will be there until August 21. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 4pm.

The display case is the first on the left as you go in the door.

Drop in and see the many other exhibits which showcase Redcliffe's history.

REF at Peninsula Fair

Peg and I had an interesting session talking to locals at the Peninsula Shopping centre today. REF had a 2 1/2 hour session as part of Volunteers Week to display our wares.

We handed out pamphlets to all and sundry more than doubling the number of handouts given away by previous groups. It will be interesting to see if the Lionesses were able to out do us. They certainly had plenty of people on the ground.

Photos were a hit with one mother and daughter recognising Carolyn and Luke's photo. Pushed Hays Inlet Awareness Week as often as we could.

Thanks to Peg for relieving me so I could head off to another appointment.

REF's BIG DAY OUT - Sunday June 4

Hi

As part of Hays Inlet Awareness Week and as a follow-up to REF's successful Clean Up Australia day exercise, members are asked to return again to the scene of the crime - at 9am Sunday June 4.

Redcliffe City Council will be there in force to remove car bodies located on Clean-Up Australia Day. REF's task is to do the mopping up.

Starting point is Peninsula Animal Aid at 9am.

This clean up will have a significant impact on the environment of Hays Inlet and members should be proud of this co-operative effort with the Redcliffe City Council.

This will be BIG.

Hays Inlet Awareness Week Friday June 2

Hi

Don't miss the free Aussie BBQ from 5pm - 7pm at Langdon Park Oxley Ave Margate.

The stilts Fred and Fiona fly in ( walk in, ride in, crawl in ) with the ceremonial flame around 6.45pm and then there's the free Country Music Concert till 9pm.

This is just the start of a great week ( actually 10 days but who's quibbling! ) of activities.

CU there.

David

Ask Lesley 'Who controls our food?'

REF's own Lesley Parker will be one of the panel answering questions following the showing of the documentary 'The Future of Food' at the Scarborough State School Hall , Garsen St. on Wednesday June 7 ( 7pm for 7.30 ).

Tickets are $10 ( $5 concession ) and can be pre-purchased from Go Vita Margate now located in the Margate Shopping Centre or at the door on the night.

The Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre is presenting this documentary which examines the complex web of market and political forces which are changing what we eat. Proceeds will go towards the Centre's community garden. More information from 3284 4543.

antici-PATION!

One thing REF team member David Lergessner learnt today - a 1.8m high tide doesn't reach the mangroves!!!

David set up his cameras on the sewerage line at Hays Inlet at 7.30am this morning to film the incoming tide. High tide was due around 10.00am. A photograph was fired off every minute but around 8.15 David became dubious about how high the tide would reach. By 9.15 he was downright worried and by 9.40 he had shut off the cameras. The photo above was taken at 9.40! David has a great 5 minute DVD of the shadows of the mangroves moving across the pipeline as the water stays well out of vision!!!

Lesson 2 from this morning's exercise. Don't leave your car in the car park of Peninsula Animal Aid on a Sunday morning. David thought if he were back by 10am all would be right. WRONG!!! The crew had gone home locking the beloved EH in the car park. David had of an EH being trashed and burned or being locked up for breaking and entering. Talk about luck. Walking home, David encountered the Peninsula Animal Aid team on the gates of the Leagues Club Sunday Markets. The team quickly moved to have David and his car reunited!!!

Thanks to Roy from PAA who drove me back to PAA; Sandy and other members who acted quickly at the Markets to help.

May Monitoring excitement

We arrived at our Woody Point monitoring site today to fine a group of University of Queensland students laying out a transect line almost identical to our line.

A brief discussion found they were doing a longer line and were looking at different aspects of the environment along that line. Their study was part of a wider SE Queensland study and would be completed in 6 months. The REF group was happy because it re-inforced the idea to use Woody Point as a monitoring site.

While we were preparing to record the information at a site known to the REF group as Mt Tibrogargan, Karen from the Uni group pointed out there was a blue-ringed octopus in the pool where Jenny was standing. It was a jump to the left and a step to the right for Jenny but as you can see the octopus was unphased.

Nothing like a bit of excitement in the day.