in process of being updated.....

​

 

15 Aug 2024 - Quentin continued  the spraying with Amanda, with the help from Kole and Warren Bretag. Warren manned the hose while Kole and Quentin cut and pasted large gorse plants in the boobyalla and tea tree. They also cleaned up the dry limbs and dead trees around the planned Field Day site and made a small style over the new fence.

(photos)

 

14 Aug 2024 - Quentin organised Amanda Brooks from Grindstone Bay Pastoral to come up for a couple of days spraying gorse. They sprayed from 9am to 4pm, Quentin covered the eastern side of the Templestowe Beach track with the lateral hose while Amanda covered the northern area with the quad bike. (photos)

​

3 Aug 2024 - It was decided to hold monthly working bees on the first Saturday of each month. 6 of us meat at 10am for general maintenance and cut and pasting gorse. We finished at 12:30  having worked along Champ St and to the north.

​

21 Jul 2024 -  We had our AGM and General meeting at Kez and Quentin's place at Wuggateena in Seymour. The AGM started with the President's Annual Report. The voting of the office bearers was conducted by Helen Preston with Quentin being returned as President the only change was within the committee members, Sheryl Quon stood down from her role and Kez Smith accepted the role. Daniel is now Public Officer as well as Treasurer. The full meeting minutes have been recorded and emailed to all present by Neridah for comments and approval at the next general meeting. Kez kindly offered us a soup lunch following the proceedings and the table was full of home made contributions from all present. Thank you to everyone and especially to Kez and Quentin for yet another successful AGM at Wuggateena.

​

18 Jul 2024 - BODC sent a copy of the revised Dog Policy Update 2024 - It was passed at Council and is subject to approval from Parks. (map for Seymour, Policy 2024, Survey Document)

​

14 Jul 2024 - Neridah sent out the agenda for the SCAGI AGM on the 21 Jul.

​

13 Jul 2024 - Quent, David and Daniel met for a working bee cutting and pasting between 10am and 1 pm.

​

12 Jul 2024 - Kez, Melissa, Neridah, Ben, Quentin and Daniel went out to plant another 25 trees along the Champ St fence line today, between 1:30 and 3pm. The planned planting was brought forward by a day due to the weather forecast.

​

​9 Jul 2024 - Latest update Restore Skyline Tier/Scamander Plantation by the NE Bioregional Network

​Notice of Intent by Timberland Pacific

​

8 Jul 2024 - Quentin had a site meeting with Joe Dowde, he is part of the Peri-urban Deer Program team from Parks. They visited the Seymour Wetlands site in response to reports of increased deer sightings and damage reported in the area. Quentin followed up with putting Joe in contact with all the other affected neighbours in the area including Chain of Lagoons and Bird in Hand Vineyard.

​

2 Jul 2024 - Quentin and Amanda Brooks from Grindstone/Chain of Lagoons have sprayed gorse for 7 hrs with the greatly appreciated generosity of Melissa and William Ferguson from Grindstone Bay Pastoral.  They donated the chemicals, spray unit and Amanda's services for the two days. Most of the north east and west sections are done and 50% of the eastern section is completed. There is still a couple of days to do and Quentin is negotiating with Grindstone Bay Pastoral for Amanda's return. (photo)

​

1 Jul 2024 - Quentin and Amanda Brooks from Grindstone/Chain of Lagoons spent 5 hours  with the greatly appreciated generosity of Melissa and William Ferguson from Grindstone Bay Pastoral.  They donated the chemicals, spray unit and Amanda's services for the two days.

​

27 Jun 2024 - Neridah attended a Volunteering Tasmania online Workshop for National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.  A practical application of the refreshed national standards.

​

27 Jun 2024 - Quentin had discussions with Sarah Gradie from FRRR and has negotiated an extension on our Strengthening Rural Communities Grant till October 2025.

​

26 Jun 2024 - Quentin acquitted the Landcare 24 Grant and registered an EOI in the Landcare Project Bank for ongoing funding.

​

25 Jun 2024 - Warren Bretag is also intending to resolve the gorse problem on his property, by planning a controlled burn by the beginning of August 2024, if possible in conjunction with Parks.

​

24 Jun 2024 - Neridah circulated to the Committee a draft of the SCAGI Operations Manual

​

24 Jun 2024 - Quentin sent the requested burn sites plan to Parks and received a quick response from Alena who talked to the regional Fire Management Officer, Bernard Plumpton, about plans to burn at Seymour, and he and Sam Tacey have also been talking about that.

​

23 Jun 2024 - Quentin and Daniel produces a possible burn sites map at Seymour Conservation Area following a request my Marty Wells from Parks.

​

18 Jun 2024 - The committee confirmed the 21th July 2024 for the next AGM for SCAGI.

​

14 Jun 2024 - Neridah registered for a Workshop on "Practical application of the Refreshed National Standards for Volunteer Involvement."

​

12 Jun 2024 - Request for assistance - Reaching out to landholders for a survey on coastal wetland restoration. Dr Rifaee (Rify) Rasheed (She/Her) Research Fellow, Social Science is asking for assistance. (link here)

​

11 Jun 2024 - Marti Wells from Parks replied to Quentin's enquiries re the condition of the Leeabarra Track at the northern end of the Douglas Apsley NP. His reply can be seen here.

​

11 Jun 2024 - Marnie Wylde from Highways & Byways has acknowledged Quentin's grant acquittal for the 2023 Small Grants Program.

​

8 Jun 2024 -  Quentin organised a tree planting day at short notice and 8 people were able to attend. They managed to plant 50 trees along the Champ Street fence line. The first 50 seedlings from locally collected and locally propagated seeds. Many thanks to Alison Peacock who both collected and propagated the seeds. (photos)

​

7 Jun 2024 - Quentin sent off the acquittal for the Highways & Byways "2023 Small Grants Program" grant.

​

4 Jun 2024 - Neridah attended a Tasmanian Community Benefit Fund session -  The role of the Secretary.

​

2 Jun 2024 - Quentin sent off the acquittal report for the Landcare Action Grants: Tasmanian Landcare Fund
Round 24

​

25 May 2024 - SCAGI is planning another seed propagation workshop with Ruth Mollison in mid October to be run in conjunction with a Field Day to put a plaque in the wetlands in memory of Michell Mentz  who was the organiser of the first round of gorse control and native planting in the wetlands early this century.

​

23 May 2024 - Quentin undertook cutting and pasting gorse for a few hours, and was chasing up Marty for the possible use of the Park's spray unit for another days work. Marta has left Parks at Freycinet to work in a different location.

​

23 May 2024 - The Understory Network and Habitat Restoration Australia have received locally sourced seeds to begin propagation for SCAGI.  Generously supported by Keep Tassie Wild.

​

20 May 2024 - Quentin continues to try and track as many people as possible who worked with Michelle Mentz in the early stages of the Seymour Wetland project.

​

18 May 2024 - Quentin wrote to Piet in search for contact information for Michelle Mentz Memorial celebration

to be held in Oct.

​

17 May 2024 - Alison and Neridah took water samples at Doctors Creek for the Landcare Community Waterwatch Pilot Project.

​

15 May 2024 - Neridah and Alison went to the wetland aera to collect seeds for propagation and future planting activities.

​

13 May 2024 - Neridah submitted an article and photographs to Anita the editor of the Bicheno Forward for publishing in the June edition.

​

10 May 2024 - SCAGI made a submission to BODC's Dog Policy Review 2024.  Some of our members didn't agree with the submission but the great majority supported a no dogs zone in the wetland area. SCAGI has always advocated for the shorebirds which are present and all native animals. We encouraged all members to write their own submissions as well.

​

10 May 2024 - SCAGI made a donation to UTAS Landcare Society. We have had great support from the young folks at UTAS over so many years now. 

​

7 May 2024 - Marta and Marty from Parks came up with a spray unit to assist with gorse eradication. Quentin was able to operate one hose.

​

30 Apr 2024 - Neridah wrote and organised an article on SCAGI for the Bicheno Forward newsletter to spread the good word and hopefully attract some new members.

​

24 Apr 2024 - Marta Piech from Parks called to introduce herself and offered to come to Seymour at 9:30am on the 7th of May to do a days spraying. She will bring a spray unit with two hoses, chemicals, and a tank to refill the spray unit. Marta will be accompanied by Marty and Nathan and will need to be shown the areas to spray.

​

23 Apr 2024 - Sam from UTAS Landcare Society contacted Quentin with the offer to come up and invest some volunteering hours in our project. Early October was pencilled in for a visit.

​

14 Apr 2024 - A Draft of the 2024 Break O' Day Dog Management Policy review was released for comment before tabling at the council meeting. Unfortunately it had errors in the Seymour locality which caused considerable anxiety to people caring for our decreasing shorebird population.

​

12 Apr 2024 - Neridah prepared a 2024 forward planning for funded activity document for * project management 

* budget tracking and * corporate knowledge for the future and succession planning.

​

10 Apr 2024 - Tim Reid was in the Seymour area, spraying weeds on the road verges organised by Quentin and BODC.

​

10 Apr 2024 - Neridah chased up some outstanding yearly membership fees.

​

6 Apr 2024 - Habitat Nursery are on a long sabbatical so Neridah organised with Mark Lawrence for potential propagation work of locally collected seeds.

​

5 Apr 2024 - Quentin wrote to Alena (PWA) after having spent another 2 hours replacing tree guards.. They had been damaged by deer and there are signs of an increase number in the area. He mentioned that Marty had offered assistance with spraying the gorse but was too busy before he went off on leave and suggested a follow up with Alena.

​

5 Apr 2024 - Daniel added a page to our website to include our supporters and sponsors, through grants and donations.

​

 4 Apr 2024 - Neridah organised for SCAGI to be a recipient of a Keep Tassie Wild Cash Injection Donation to support our tree planting activities on the Conservation Area.  SCAGI acknowledges the generosity of Keep Tassie Wild in helping us to achieve our land restoration goals.

​

30 Mar 2024 - Neridah is undertaking behind the scenes governance work preparing a SCAGI Operations Manual and consolidating intranet file sharing for the committee. 

​

29 Mar 2024 - Neridah put together a SCAGI contacts list for the intranet Drive.

​

29 Mar 2024 - Sam Tacey - A/Coordinator - Red Hot Tips Program - Community Fire Safety - Tasmania Fire Service is still pulling some other information together in relation to alternative fire action/fire response plans and trying to find some contacts that may be able to assist further in that area as discussed with Quentin.

​

28 Mar 2024 - Landcare Tasmania notified us that the 2024-25 Landcare Bulk Insurance cover has been renewed.

​

28 Mar 2024 - Quentin sent photos to BODC and Polly Buchhorn with regard to weed re-growth on the verges out to Long Point.

​

27 Mar 2024 - Quentin did three hours cutting and pasting gorse, weeding trees and replacing tree guards in the Seymour Conservation Area.

​

27 Mar 2024 - The annual cost of SCAGI's webhosting with WIX will increase from $180 to $192

​

22 Mar 2024 - Quentin backpack sprayed and cut and pasted the Champ Street Trees

​

21 Mar 2024 - Quentin backpack sprayed and cut and pasted the Champ Street Trees

​

20 Mar 2024 - Quentin completed the acquittal form with photos for the Landcare Action Grants: Additional Projects Round. Luke Cooper from Landcare Tasmania acknowledged receipt the next day.

​

16 Mar 2024 - Neridah organised additional funding for SCAGI. Through social media she was able to apply for a cash injection by Keep Tassie Wild to support tree planting activities on the Conservation Area.  SCAGI acknowledges the generosity of Keep Tassie Wild in supporting us to achieve our restoration goals.

​

14  Mar 2024 - Neridah is undertaking behind the scenes governance work, preparing a SCAGI Operations Manual (OM) and consolidating intranet file sharing for the committee. This work is greatly appreciated by the committee and will help SCAGI's prosperity.

​

12 Mar 2024 - Kez, Quentin and Alison have been potting up seedlings for the next working bee.

​

23 Feb 2024 - Quentin contacted Parks and Jenny the Coordinator of Friends of Freycinet offering SCAGI's assistance on Schouten Island with weed management. Jenny replied that she can't give him an answer on your proposal.  Friends of Freycinet still needs to sit down with Parks Freycinet staff and organise a program for the year.

​

5 Feb 2024 - We received from Donna Stanley an up-date of key points of contact (in order) at Parks:

​

• Alena Hrasky, Ranger in Charge Freycinet Field Centre – for day to day matters, planning and works associated with the boom gate and volunteer activities (this may change in due course but for now Alena is the contact).

• Brian French, Parks and Reserves Manager North East Coast.  Brian is Adams permanent replacement. He only tarted late 2023 and getting across all issues for both Freycinet and St Helens Field Centre areas.  Please cc Brian into any non day to day matters relating to Seymour.

• Donna Stanley, Regional Manager North.  Brian reports directly to me and Alena also (through Brian).  If you’re not happy with how things are working with Alena or Brian, then come to me.

• Will Joscelyne, General Manager Operations and Business.  If you’re not happy with how things are working with Alena, Brian or me, then go to Will.

​

3  Feb 2024 - Daniel made another attempt to get access to Google Workspace for not for profit organisations.

Unfortunately I had to give up while receiving reoccurring error messages and will have to start the process from scratch at a later stage.

​

2 Feb 2024 - Neridah sent out the minutes of the committee meeting to the all members present.

​

1 Feb 2024 - We had a successful committee meeting at Aurora with all present between 4 and 6pm.

​

27 Jan 2024 - Neridah initiated a SCAGI committee meeting, to be held at Aurora on the 1st of Feb. Please forward possible agenda items for discussion by next Wed. to Neridah.

​

24 Jan 2024 - Daniel complied with the ACNC Charity Register requirements, submitting SCAGI's annual report to ACNC.

​

16 Jan 2024 - Landcare Tasmania sent out a renewal notice for the 2024 membership for SCAGI. Daniel transferred $40 for 2024 on the 17 Jan.

​

12 Jan 2024 - Shelby Pinkerton, organiser of last year's School Group working bee, responded to Quentin's request for suitable photographs for publishing. She endeavored to get back to us. 

​

6 Jan 2024 - Adam Cruse continued to to flail mow the open areas on the south western side of the 4WD access track he started at 7am for 9 hrs.

​

3 Jan 2024 - Quentin received some encouraging emails, following his synopsis of 2023.  - see below​

​

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Restorative New Year.

 

Firstly, thanks to the Committee for all their work through the year.

Thank you to Neridah who took on the role of Secretary and Cheryl who joined the Committee and to Kez and Andy for their long service to the Group.

Thanks also to all the Group Members and our supporters for contributing to our efforts through the year.

 

I am writing this on Schouten Island and only have limited internet so unable to access our website with all the details of what we have accomplished through the year.

Please forgive me for those I miss.

 

We share a common history with Schouten. 

A rich First Nation Heritage, a past of whaling, residual workings of the convicts in the coal mines with abandoned shafts and tram lines, abandoned farmland now reserved for conservation.

Most importantly the restoration efforts in both places to rid them of gorse and other weeds and restore them to their original natural state.

The Friends of Freycinet, who have assisted us over the years, continue to care for Schouten helping it restore to a pristine paradise and are a great inspiration to me.

 

This has been a year of consolidation and diversification.

 

The Environmental Management Plan for Seymour was completed by Helen Morgan of Busways Environmental Services with a lot of help from Daniel.

 

Donna Stanely PWS Regional Manager North endorsed our Gorse Eradication Strategy for the Seymour Wetlands.

 

We have had a number of working bees with Friends of Freycinet, Utas Landcare Society and a group of School Students on a World Expeditions Schools trip, helping tend the trees and deal with gorse.

We have contained the gorse with help of Adam Cruse slashing, Tim Reid Agricultural Spraying, Freycinet PWS spraying, BODC weed team and recently Amanda Brooks now with Will and Melissa Ferguson at Grindstone.

After a discussion with Amanda at the Landcare Conference she offered to spray at Seymour in return for help across the fence at Chain of Lagoons and the Ferguson's again donated the chemicals.

We are very grateful to Amanda and the Ferguson's and hope this can be an ongoing arrangement.

Thanks to the Group volunteers, Ben Wall and Paul Peacock who assisted with the spraying and to David Quon how supplied water.

 

We managed to plant another 100 native trees grown from locally collected seeds.

We had seed collection and propagation workshops run by Ruth Mollison in conjunction with Landcare. 

Hopefully this will result in an ongoing supply of local trees for the Wetland Area.

 

With an increased presence of feral deer causing damage to the trees we enlisted Ant Singline to eradicate them.

This is an ongoing project and if anyone sees deer, please let Ant at Chain of Lagoons know.

 

We have worked constructively with Andrew Nugent at the Bird in Hand Vineyard.

He has allowed us access to Doctors Creek to take water samples after we attended a workshop run by Landcare on how to do so.

Andrew has met with Group members at the dam site and taken us to the new weir in the Creek.

When there was concerns about the water flow in the Creek Andrew allowed us access to the flow metre.

Andrew and David Quon met and discussed re-vegetation on the western side of Doctors Creek.

We look forward to building on this relationship.

 

We have had some successes and failures with Grant Applications.

Thanks to Neridah for all the work she did for the Tas Community Grant which unfortunately we did not get.

We also missed out on the Bendigo Bank Sponsorship. Now they have a Branch in St Helens and so rejected us as we are in the BODC Municipality.

 

Grants to be acquitted this year include two from Landcare, one from FRRR and one from Highways and Byways.

We are also to get a final donation from the Earth Ocean Network who wound up the organisation during the year.

Many thanks to EON for their long running support. You will be missed.

 

We have been involved with the NE Coast Shore Bird working Group and continue to work with them for the protection of the endangered shore birds.

 

Sadly, a long-term supporter and original initiator of the Seymour Wetland Restoration Michelle Mentz died in a car accident at the beginning of the year.

It is our intention to put a Memorial Plaque for her in the wetland under some of the trees she planted and cared for.

Maybe the anniversary of her death 19th January would be an appropriate day to do this?

 

At our AGM we discussed the importance of Succession Planning for the long-term continuation of a Group. 

 

At his years inspirational Landcare Conference held at the Triabunna Chip Mill the Group Award was given to the Mount Rolland Landcare Group.

Over the last year they have renamed the Group, have a new Committee and through a series of workshops, Field Days including a Music Festival they have more than doubled their membership.

Maybe we could discuss some of these options at our next Meeting.

 

Again, thanks to all and best wishes for the Festive Season and coming year.

Look forward to connecting in person.

 

Kind Regards, 

Quentin

Quentin Smith
President 

​

​