MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING

Date: 14/3/2006

Location: Home of Chris Walta

Present: Robert Brierley (president), Eleanor Stephenson, John Cott, Chris Walta, Bob Strickland

Apologies: Jim Breen

1. WELCOME

Robert welcomed all present.

2. CORRESPONDENCE

Thank you letter from GLEN WAVERLY INDIGENOUS PLANTS GROUP.

3. BUSINESS OF THE MEETING

Amendments to be made to some of the dates scheduled – the following meeting schedule has the amended dates. Amendments indicates in shaded boxes.

Meeting schedule for 2006

Committee Meetings – 2^nd Tuesday of the month

Monthly Working Bees – 3^rd Sunday of the month

Month	Committee Meeting Date and Location	Working Bee Date
March	14^th Chris’ - 29A Cornell St	5^th Clean Up Australia 19^th
April	9^thAGM Robert’s - 3 Nicholsdale Rd	16^th
May	9^th Jim’s 29 Cornell St	21^st
June	13^th Barrie’s – 7 Quinton Rd	18^th
July	11^th John’s - 2 Hollsmore St	23^rd 28^th – School’s Tree day 30^th – National tree Day
August	8^th Rosemary’s – 966 Riversdale Rd	20^th
September	12^th Bob’s – 160 Through Rd	17^thSpring Planting Festival
October	10^th Eleanor’s – I Weafgreen Crt	15^th Spring Planting Festival
November	14^th Chris’ – 29A Cornell St	19^th Spring Planting Festival
December	12^th Dinner out	17^th (only if numbers permit)

4. FOBC WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER – BACKCREEK BRIEFINGS FEBRUARY 2006

The Newsletter has been uploaded on the FOBC website by Jim. He has also included photos of recent storm. A local resident has requested a copy of one of the photos as a result of seeing it on the FOBC website. The recent press release used in the Leader newspaper is also included on the site.

5. CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

About 25 people participated in the clean up in 2006 and collected more bags of rubbish than last year. Recent storm activity washed down much debris that was collected. Thanks to all the people who helped on the day.

6. MELBOURNE WATER GRANT

Robert contacted Melbourne Water to see what was happening about the application and spoke with Russell Hobs. Russell indicated that the grant application will be approved but that there was a delay in finalizing it. Melbourne Water had visited the FOBC site with Boroondara Council to check the implication associated with the grant for willow removal. It was suggested that Robert write to Jana at Melbourne Water to request that the marked problem willows be removed to enable the next planting and clean up phase and that it be made clear that residents are informed about the work in the creek. It was suggested that a copy be sent also to Grant Wilson.

It was suggested that ongoing reporting of the work taking place continues to be explained in the NEWSLETTER – BACKCREEK BRIEFINGS including invitations for feedback with contact numbers provided.

7. NEXT WORKING BEE – March 19

SITE PREPARATION FOR NATIONAL TREE PLANTING DAY – July 2006

Recent storm activity means that work needs to be done in tidying up along the path, mulch removed from board walk and mulch replaced where it has been washed away.

John is happy to bring his chain saw to working bees to clear heavier timber.

8. GLEN WAVERLY INDIGENOUS PLANTS GROUP

A group of approximately 30 people visited the FOBC site before moving on to the SSP site. Robert and Barrie discussed what the FOBC works is. Terry Millane from capital works at Melbourne Water accompanied the group and conducted the SSP walk.

9. CONSOLIDATION OF THE WORK REQUIRED

It was suggested that we be proactive in putting up a proposal for how the work in the FOBC section of the creek be tackled and presented to Melbourne Water as a phased project over the next 5 years. This strategy was suggested as part of acknowledging the challenges of the site and a way of moving on a plan to have Melbourne Water and Council talk about what is needed to deal with the most challenging part of the creek restoration. Incorporated in the next phase is the need for strategic engineering work requirements to deal with the steep cliff areas that may need appropriate rock stabilisation.

10. FINANCES

Bob reported that the 2005 Financial Statements had been audited and approved in readiness for formal presentation at the AGM.

There was some discussion about what was to be done about the TERM DEPOSIT with the Bendigo Bank. Bob will be away for about a month from May 11 and that is when the account matures.

The account will automatically be reinvested for the same term if they are not notified of an alternative. Since we expect that the Melbourne Water Grant will be approved that may allow us to reinvest what is currently in the TERM DEPOSIT account. It was decided that we could wait until next month to make the decision. It was suggested that Bob check who else was able to sign checks in the account.

11. BIRD REPORT

Eleanor reported the following sightings:

• A pair of Tawny Frogmouths is back
• Immature Spine Bills
• A few Silver Eyes
• A Red Collared Lorikeet

12. OTHER BUSINESS

Robert would like to include discussion about membership increase for the AGM meeting and align it with what the SSP uses.

Discussion followed about recruitment needs. It was suggested that about $600 needs to be raised to cover costs associated with insurance and VINC membership. Recruitment of FOBC members is one way to cover these costs. It was decided that each Committee member to take responsibility for a door knocking program to recruit members/donations for the coming year.

Each person to approach the area they normally cover in the Newsletter distribution.

What is needed is:

· A receipt book

· Some Newsletters for membership forms

· Membership fees to be $5 for singles and $10 for households

Bob to email committee members with electronic copies of the last Newsletter to allow for some additional printing of copies for membership recruitment and also current membership list.

NEXT MEETING

AGM Sunday April 9 at Robert Brierley’s – 3 Nicholsdale Rd at 4.00pm.