News
SACTCG Postcards
The Southern ACT Catchment group now has a range of postcards featuring local flora and fauna. Each postcard features a plant or animal that is native to the area.
View the cards or make a purchase.
All proceeds used by the catchment group for the benefit of our local environment.
20th Anniversary of ParkCare
Preparations are underway for the twentieth anniversary of ParkCare. The 19th of September is World Parks Day and Parks Conservation and Lands thought this an ideal day to celebrate ParkCare’s 20th year. PCL would like to host a get together/lunch for present and past ParkCare members to celebrate. The venue and various other details are yet be finalised as we need to get an idea of the type of numbers we might be entertaining. Can you please contact Sally McIntosh with some idea of the numbers likely to attend. Formal invitations will be sent out at a later stage. Sally would also love to start receiving some photos from your archives and current photo albums. If you think you have some photos that could be used in a slide show of ParkCare, please get in touch with Sally. As part of the celebrations and PCL’s thanks to ParkCare for twenty years of volunteering we have organised ParkCare notices for the Reserves. As discussed at the last Coordinators meeting the noticeboard would have a section that would allow ParkCare Groups to advertise their activities and post community notices, to the right of the noticeboard section is a description and a bit of history about ParkCare. We are delighted that Screenmakers are jointly sponsoring this initiative. The intention is to have the signs unveiled on Friday the 18th of September by the Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Sally is proposing a meeting to discuss the unveiling of these Community Environmental Notice Boards and various aspects of the celebration. The date is Wednesday the 26th of August from 10:00 am at Stromlo. Please RSVP by Wednesday the 19th August. Contact Sally McIntosh, Community Programs Officer, Parks, Conservation and Lands: 6205 7384 sally.mcintosh@act.gov.au
20 years of landcare on Mt Taylor
Congratulations to Mt Taylor ParkCare who recently celebrated 20 years of dedicated effort in looking after their patch. In particular, congratulations to Anne I’ons who has been the driving force behind this incredible effort.
Anne has provided a summary of the 20 years of activities on Mt Taylor, 1989-2009. You can read it here.
FARMREADY:
Reimbursement Grants Now Available
Primary producers and Indigenous land managers can now apply to be reimbursed up to $1500 per financial year to attend approved training courses.
Willow sawfly
Its that time of year again when willow sawfly may be active. Already willow populations along the Murrumbidgee are showing impact from willow sawfly.
Its impact on willow populations in Australia is being studied by Fiona Ede, a researcher from the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria. Fiona would like to collate as much information about willow sawfly activity as possible. If you observe sawfly activity she would greatly appreciate your observations - in particular date, location and severity (extent of defoliation).
Mexican Feather Grass
Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima) Family Poaceae
It has recently come to notice that over 300 plants of Mexican Feather Grass (MFG) have been sold through Canberra nursery outlets, probably labelled as Stipa. 
If you have bought Stipa plants from any nursery outlets in the ACT or region within the last 12 months please have the plant checked, or check it yourself.
This species has the potential to invade pastures and native grasslands in the ACT as an agricultural and environmental weed as bad as Serrated Tussock . It is not yet established in the ACT, and we really don’t want it here either!
Read the full Mexican Feather Grass story, with links.
Fireweed Alert
Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) Family Asteraceae
Fireweed was found in the ACT in September & had been found beside the Captains Flat Rd in Carwoola, NSW last year. Previously, it was believed that winter frosts would limit its spread on the tablelands, but experiences indicates that this is not the case. Fireweed normally occurs along the South Coast & north of Goulburn. It is highly invasive and toxic to horses.
Description: Fireweed is a low branching annual herb with leaves 2-6 cm long, occasionally 8-10 cm on older, vigorous plants. Bright green, thin, slightly fleshy, toothed or smooth- edged, hairless, alternate on stem. Seeds are very fine, ‘dandelion’-like seed heads. Usually seeds during spring.
Additional Fireweed information and resources.
20 years of landcare on Mt Taylor
Sub-Catchment Planning in the Southern ACT
Purpose
Sub-Catchment Planning is a method for community groups to participate in Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) for the ACT. ICM aims to foster cooperation between landholders, community groups and the ACT Government in the integrated management of our shared resources.
The Southern ACT Catchment Group has recently undergone a review of its plans to bring them up to date with existing management strategies for the region and to develop new projects for implementation in the future.
Our Meetings
The Southern ACT Catchment Group generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month to be updated on the progress of our projects and discuss environmental issues affecting our region. We meet at various locations around Canberra and have a variety of different guest speakers.
Please feel free to come along and participate.
For more information about our meetings or for a copy of the previous minutes please contact the SACTCG Coordinator on (02) 6296 6400 or e-mail info@sactcg.org.au
Ted Fleming - A winner in the 2008 ACT NRMA Volunteer of the Year Awards
Ted Fleming has won the Environment category of the 2008 ACT NRMA Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Launch of the Southern ACT Catchment Management Strategy
A very successful launch of our Catchment Management Strategy (CMS) was held at Tuggeranong Homestead on June 26th. Dr Sarah Ryan Chair of the ACT NRM Council officially launched the Strategy.
Southern ACT Catchment Group recognizes the significance this land had for Aboriginal people before European settlement and acknowledged that we are now on land that belonged to the Ngunnawal nation.
Our objectives
- To provide a forum through which the community can work to ensure that its natural resources are managed on an ecologically sustainable basis.
- Encourage the development and dissemination of best available information supporting the management of natural resources.
- Provide input and advice to the formulation and review of Natural Resource Management (NRM) policy, plans and strategies proposed by government, business and community groups.
