Friends of Back Creek (FOBC) - Annual General Meeting

Presidents Statement 3 April 2005

The 2004 year has been one of consolidation and completion of a long
sought vision of FOBC.  Specifically; the linking of the pathway network
between Union Road/South Surrey Park and Highfield Road/Linden Park.
Although membership has remained steady at around 35, proceeds from
donations and fund raising activities have increased. This I feel
reflects the growing community awareness and appreciation of our efforts
to regenerate the creek environment. 

Thanks to our local Member for Burwood Bob Stensholt for continuing to
support FOBC by printing our newsletters. Our Local Councillor Heinz
Kreutz deserves special mention for without his ongoing support the
pathway and boardwalk may not have been possible. It is pleasing to know
that Heinz was reelected to council. The recent elections saw many
established councillors not being reelected and I am sure Heinz's success
reflects the community's satisfaction with his representation. Once
again I must also express our gratitude to the Parks and Gardens
department of the City of Boroondara, in particular Janyce and Adrian
for their ongoing assistance in supplying mulch, removing rubbish and
coordinating maintenance and capital works along the creek.

Clean-up Australia day continues to reveal occasional rubbish
accumulated over the past 30 years. I am pleased to say however that the
volume of rubbish appears to be diminishing.  While 30 bags of rubbish
were filled in 2004 year, the recent 2005 Clean up day resulted in just
under 20 bags. 

During 2004  FOBC published 4 newsletters maintaining a distribution of
500 households. We conducted 13 working bees with our goal of 300
volunteers being exceeded. Total contribution of participant time
exceeded 600 hours of work. Sadly much of this participation effort was
achieved during the key Clean Up and National Tree days with numbers
otherwise remaining low during monthly working bees. 

This year we will attempt to gain greater levels of participation during
monthly working bees.  With the cooperation and assistance of local
residents, the City of Boroondara and Melbourne Water the following was
achieved in 2004

The establishment of project plans for our various planting schemes
enabling us to allocate and account for resources more effectively

National Tree Day on 27 July 2003 saw over 120 residents plant 2000
seedlings at the Quinton Road end of the creek. The previous Friday had
seen 55 grade 4/5 students from Wattle Park Primary School plant 250
seedlings.

In August 2004 the Council completed the boardwalk section of the
pathway at the Riversdale end of the creek. It was officially opened in
November 2004. The council also replaced the fencing along Riversdale
Road as well as removed weeds and mulched the embankment. This has been
useful preparation for a planned FOBC project in which consolidated
planting on both sides of the boardwalk will take place later in 2005

Over the last 12 months we experienced a number of storms with the most
significant occurring in early 2005 with a number of trees being felled.
This is likely to become a common occurrence with most willows now aged
over 70 years and in very poor condition.

We have destroyed 6 wasps' nests making the creek environment safer.

We provided 3 community talks to local scout and community groups,
something we will do more of in 2005

Overall more than 1000 square meters of ground was cleared of weeds and
mulched with nearly 3500 seedlings planted over the past 12 months.

The 2005 year ahead:

This year's challenges concern maintaining the momentum and commitment
for change while consolidating previous work performed. It is fair to
say that as more ground is covered with clearing, mulching and planting
the thinner the resources are stretched to ensure all areas are
maintained in a weed controlled state. A mild and sometime wet summer
during 2004 has seen much of the good work performed over the past 12
months seem to be undone by the proliferation of new weeds species. That
said the seedlings we have planted have thrived and in many areas the
native landscape is beginning to take shape. Maintaining momentum and
interest amongst our membership and the community will also be one of
our major challenges. 

Our goals for the year ahead will be:

Complete all our current active projects at Quinton Road and along the
middle pathway.

Increase community participation in our working bees to exceed 300
people for the year with a more even contribution coming from monthly
working bees. We will seek to average 15 participants per month.

Establish a community notice board at the Cornell Street end.

Remove more weeds, mulch more ground, Plant over 4000 seedlings 

Extend our newsletter distribution to a total of 600 households 

May I take this moment to thank our committee members for their
commitment, enthusiasm and support this past year.   Chris Walta our
Secretary, John Cott,  Jim Breen,  Eleanor Stephenson, Bob Strickland,
Barry Gallacher and Malcolm Carr Riddell. It is hoped each of our
committee members will be able to take more of a leadership role in FOBC
activities and less of an actual hands on role during 2005 year.

Robert Brierley

3 April 2005