BACKCREEK
BRIEFINGS
June 2008
ABN
43 819 801 067
The photocopying
of this newsletter is courtesy of Bob Stensholt local MLA for Burwood.
Funds supporting the printing and distribution of newsletters provided
by Melbourne Water
Greetings friends
and other residents interested in Back Creek
This is the 29th edition of BACKCREEK BRIEFINGS.
Progress made is as follows:
Membership subscription: Membership subscriptions for 2008 are due. If you would like to become a member and or make a donation, contact our treasurer Bob Strickland on 9830 0749 or print off a membership form from our website and send us your subscription.
Working Bees: The last two working bees have involved laying down jute mat on the slopes of the creek south of Quinton Rd access track. Jute mat is very useful in it suppresses weed growth retains moisture in the soil and reduces the impact of erosion until new plantings take over. Precut the jute mat also makes it easy for people to plant seedlings at the correct distance from each other. These slopes will be planted out during National Tree Day end of July 2008.
Our next working bee will be Sunday 17 June 2008. The plan is to continue laying down jute mat as well as clearing weeds in preparation for planting. If you want to help out, come down to the Quinton Road bend Sunday Morning from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm. We will be working on the Cornell Street Site. Other working bees will generally occur around the third Sunday of each month. All our community events will be based at the Quinton Road end of the creek with work allocated from there to either Riversdale Road or Cornell St sites
Details of the FOBC event dates are as follows:
May 25th 2008 – Preparation Quinton Sth
June 17th 2008 – Preparation Cornell St
June 23- 26 2008 – Arbor week Wattle Park PS
July 15th 2008 – Preparation Cornell St
July 25th 2008 – Schools Tree day
July 27th 2008 – National Tree day Quinton Rd
August 17th 2008- Cornell Street planting
September 21st 2008 – Riversdale Rdv Planting
October 19th 2008 – Spring Planting Festival
November 16th 2008 – Spring Planting Festival
December 14th 2008 – (only if numbers permit)
FOBC WEBSITE:
We have updated our website providing some fascinating before and after photos of our work at Riversdale Rd end. Check it out.
Annual General Meeting: On Tuesday 15 April at 8.00pm, FOBC held its 8th Annual General Meeting of members. The committee members were reappointed and the Treasurer reported that the group is in a good financial position with a recent Community grant from Melbourne Water received for the year ahead.
Arbor week: FOBC has submitted a joint grant application with Wattle Park Primary school to plant along the Cornell Street end of the creek coinciding with Arbor week in June 23 – 27, 2008. A meeting with representatives from Melbourne Water went over the plan details along the western embankment next to the pathway approximately 100 metres in from Cornell Street.
The Grant has been approved and children from Wattle Park Primary School will be involved in planting. It is a great opportunity for them to learn about our local environment and how we can look after it.
Jute Matting will be laid at our next working bee in preparation for planting.
Boroondara Council: About a month ago FOBC met with Parks & Gardens from the council to walk along the creek to establish plans for further improvement to the creek. Council will be working closely with FOBC and Melbourne Water to coordinate works done to improve the amenity along the creek. Works will include periodic spraying of weeds, lopping of overhanging branches, supplying mulch and jute mat squares, rubbish removal and assisting with planting.
Melbourne Water in their meeting with FOBC a couple of weeks ago confirmed that they are responsible for the condition of the creek bed and banks. They revealed that they propose a meeting with the local community to reveal their draft plans for regeneration of the creek south of Quinton Road. While FOBC has not yet been involved in the formulation of these plans, it is understood that Melbourne Water will undertake capital works similar to that completed across Riversdale Road in South Surrey Park.
FOBC will be maintaining close contact with Melbourne Water about the timing of their community meeting.
FOBC South
Our affiliated group Friends of Back Creek South operates in Glen Iris end of the creek near Denman Avenue. Over the past 6 months they have made good progress with restoring the pathway, weed removal and mulching. FOBCS meet every first Sunday of the month from 10:00 am – 12:00pm.
Those interested contact Albert Toet on 9889-1787
FOBC Committee:
President - Robert Brierley – 9836 3779
Secretary – Chris Walta - 9888 4461
(29A Cornell Street, Camberwell, 3124)
Treasurer – Bob Strickland – 9830 0749
Committee members – Barrie Gallacher, Eleanor Stephenson, John Cott, Jim Breen, Rosemary Buchanan.