Landcare Report March 2018
Rather than report on the past I would like to focus on what Landcare sees as the areas of need in and around Rosedale that we will be focusing our efforts on in co-ordination with Eurobodalla Landcare and the resources they can provide in support and with Eurobodalla Shire council along with our working bees and associated activities. These are, in no particular order;
1. Beach Sand dunes – The storms of 2015 when the dunes were badly eroded placed a high priority on doing what we can to ensure their longterm stability. Last years working bee plantings had an incredibly high survival rate and this will help stabilize the dunes from wave erosion into the future. I do note that we will be removing the guards from the plants this year and will also be doing some additionally planting to prevent sand blowouts from the beach, which could undermine last years work.
2. The car park - Remains a high priority as the public face of Rosedale this area reflects our love of the Rosedale environment and sets the standard we expect of visitors to respect and also look after our environment. In addition to the Easter bee we have had a follow up Working bee to ensure that the good work at Easter wasn’t undone through neglect and are currently trying to lock in a follow up working bee. The car park and the beachfront dunes are intrinsically linked and need to be maintained as a single area.
3. Saltwater Creek/The Lagoon – The Lagoon despite the dark color of the water from tannin stains has been a healthy ecosystem this is despite the many houses abutting the lagoon, and George bass Drive dissecting the drainage lines of the creek from the west. This healthy status is under threat as many weeds have been encroaching along the track on the Northern side of the lagoon and the longer term threat comes from the impact of the proposed subdivision to the west of George Bass Drive. Where it will be important to ensure the drainage lines are maintained and protected.
4. Banksia Flats – This area has been one of our success storys with the work of previous weedathons and the support of Eurobodalla Landcare helping with bringing in contractors to assist past good work. However this area has had limited focus in the last few years and needs an ongoing effort to avoid it becoming overgrown with weeds.
5. Beach front Slopes – These include those bordering the south end of the beach, those between South beach and the log cabins and those at Boatshed beach. All of these are difficult to access and therefore become havens for weeds that only become noticeable when they become problematic and then of course are had to get to for control programs.
In the last few years Eurobodalla Landcare has supplemented our efforts by co-coordinating contractors to attack these areas. However during a walk of Rosedale over Christmas I noticed many new weeds on the slopes between Banksia flats and the Log cabins and fear we need to follow up our efforts in these areas before these weeds spread back into Banksia flats and become very difficult to contain.
6. Sewerage pumping Station – Council have Landscape plans for this area and assure us that the landscaping is an important consideration to soften the aesthetic of the building that currently sticks out like a sore thumb as one drives south on George bass Drive. Landcare would like to ensure the landscaping sets a benchmark standard for all future development on this side of the road and as such may require our efforts to Landscape along the creek line to protect it from degradation. Failure to protect the surrounds and drainage into Saltwater creek could lead to devastating impacts on the Lagoon end of Saltwater creek, which could be devastating for Rosedale.
7. Dale place reserve – This area has been a little neglected in recent years and risks becoming a seedbed for the surrounding area if follow up work is not done to remove the weeds.
8. Beach access paths/stairs – As has been discussed at last years AGM and reported by landcare in the past, there is a real need to install proper access tracks to the beach north of Rosedale that Dale Pl looks down onto and more recently the need for an alternative access path to nuns beach. In the case of the North Rosedale access there has been long standing concerns with regard to erosion along the current track and the subsequent risks to those using the path due to its poor condition. Whilst the Nun’s beach access recognizes the need for a public path that provides safe access and doesn’t rely on walking through private property. Pleasingly Council is supportive of both projects and has identified them in their recreation and outdoors space strategy, (ROSS). However they need to remain on the agenda until they are built.
9. Vacant Blocks of Land – We are indeed fortunate to have a number of reserves but also large blocks of vacant land that are privately owned in and around Rosedale. However many of these have been invaded by weeds over time. Landcare can assist in many ways to help address the proliferation of weeds but need owner’s approval to access the land and remove any weeds. This needs to be a collaborative approach if it is to succeed.
The above issues are interconnected in many ways and cannot be seen as isolated issues as they impact one another. Our success will be driven by our ability to all assist each other working where we can to address these issues to protect Rosedale’s environmental qualities and make sure it retains its inherent beauty.
Daniel Long, March 2018
Rather than report on the past I would like to focus on what Landcare sees as the areas of need in and around Rosedale that we will be focusing our efforts on in co-ordination with Eurobodalla Landcare and the resources they can provide in support and with Eurobodalla Shire council along with our working bees and associated activities. These are, in no particular order;
1. Beach Sand dunes – The storms of 2015 when the dunes were badly eroded placed a high priority on doing what we can to ensure their longterm stability. Last years working bee plantings had an incredibly high survival rate and this will help stabilize the dunes from wave erosion into the future. I do note that we will be removing the guards from the plants this year and will also be doing some additionally planting to prevent sand blowouts from the beach, which could undermine last years work.
2. The car park - Remains a high priority as the public face of Rosedale this area reflects our love of the Rosedale environment and sets the standard we expect of visitors to respect and also look after our environment. In addition to the Easter bee we have had a follow up Working bee to ensure that the good work at Easter wasn’t undone through neglect and are currently trying to lock in a follow up working bee. The car park and the beachfront dunes are intrinsically linked and need to be maintained as a single area.
3. Saltwater Creek/The Lagoon – The Lagoon despite the dark color of the water from tannin stains has been a healthy ecosystem this is despite the many houses abutting the lagoon, and George bass Drive dissecting the drainage lines of the creek from the west. This healthy status is under threat as many weeds have been encroaching along the track on the Northern side of the lagoon and the longer term threat comes from the impact of the proposed subdivision to the west of George Bass Drive. Where it will be important to ensure the drainage lines are maintained and protected.
4. Banksia Flats – This area has been one of our success storys with the work of previous weedathons and the support of Eurobodalla Landcare helping with bringing in contractors to assist past good work. However this area has had limited focus in the last few years and needs an ongoing effort to avoid it becoming overgrown with weeds.
5. Beach front Slopes – These include those bordering the south end of the beach, those between South beach and the log cabins and those at Boatshed beach. All of these are difficult to access and therefore become havens for weeds that only become noticeable when they become problematic and then of course are had to get to for control programs.
In the last few years Eurobodalla Landcare has supplemented our efforts by co-coordinating contractors to attack these areas. However during a walk of Rosedale over Christmas I noticed many new weeds on the slopes between Banksia flats and the Log cabins and fear we need to follow up our efforts in these areas before these weeds spread back into Banksia flats and become very difficult to contain.
6. Sewerage pumping Station – Council have Landscape plans for this area and assure us that the landscaping is an important consideration to soften the aesthetic of the building that currently sticks out like a sore thumb as one drives south on George bass Drive. Landcare would like to ensure the landscaping sets a benchmark standard for all future development on this side of the road and as such may require our efforts to Landscape along the creek line to protect it from degradation. Failure to protect the surrounds and drainage into Saltwater creek could lead to devastating impacts on the Lagoon end of Saltwater creek, which could be devastating for Rosedale.
7. Dale place reserve – This area has been a little neglected in recent years and risks becoming a seedbed for the surrounding area if follow up work is not done to remove the weeds.
8. Beach access paths/stairs – As has been discussed at last years AGM and reported by landcare in the past, there is a real need to install proper access tracks to the beach north of Rosedale that Dale Pl looks down onto and more recently the need for an alternative access path to nuns beach. In the case of the North Rosedale access there has been long standing concerns with regard to erosion along the current track and the subsequent risks to those using the path due to its poor condition. Whilst the Nun’s beach access recognizes the need for a public path that provides safe access and doesn’t rely on walking through private property. Pleasingly Council is supportive of both projects and has identified them in their recreation and outdoors space strategy, (ROSS). However they need to remain on the agenda until they are built.
9. Vacant Blocks of Land – We are indeed fortunate to have a number of reserves but also large blocks of vacant land that are privately owned in and around Rosedale. However many of these have been invaded by weeds over time. Landcare can assist in many ways to help address the proliferation of weeds but need owner’s approval to access the land and remove any weeds. This needs to be a collaborative approach if it is to succeed.
The above issues are interconnected in many ways and cannot be seen as isolated issues as they impact one another. Our success will be driven by our ability to all assist each other working where we can to address these issues to protect Rosedale’s environmental qualities and make sure it retains its inherent beauty.
Daniel Long, March 2018
