Report to Council 2002
The following is the text of a report by the Greenways Management Committee to the Yarrowlumla Council.
Report on Current Status of the Project, August 2002
1 Description & Location
The Greenways Project had among its origins, work done for the 1988 Bi-centennial Celebration and an even older connection to a plan for a network of pony trails in the area. That network can be further traced back to the old roads, which existed in the area before subdivision. In addition Council has purchased strategic links from time to time, and further sections were added as sub-divisions took place.
Most importantly, the most critical sections were based on the original crown road reserve, which acted as a partial conservation zone for remnant vegetation and an important basis for future regeneration.
The consolidation of the above was a corridor connected by verge tracks of 20 kilometers in total length.
The current Greenways network is at at attachment A.
2.0 Acknowledgements
2.1 Yarrowlumla Shire Council
Council established a Greenways Committee of Council in 1992 and a Management Committee in 1995. Council also endorsed a management plan for the Greenways, which the Management Committee is now acting upon. Resources included financial contributions from Yarrowlumla Shire Council, Greening Australia and CALM. Labour and support was received from the local community.
2.2 Community Associations
The Bywong Community Association (the original sponsor of the project), the Wamboin Community Associations, the Geary’s Gap Pony Club and the Geary’s Gap/Wamboin Landcare Group have participated and supported the project.
2.3 Individual Contributions
The Management Committee comprises Cr. Geoff Butler(Chair) Mrs Suzanne Ridley, Mrs. Maria Taylor, Mrs Lyn Reid, Mr. Julian Thompson, Mr Colin Johnson and Mrs Connie Bachor (Secretary).
Many individuals have provided support and include:
Barry Hart Sue Williams
Bill Taylor Adam Taylor
Jacqui O'Leary Hans Bachor
Guy Cotsell Chris Creswell
Loretta Johnson Darryl Maloney
Morag Cameron Ian Coillet
Judy Thompson Alexander Thompson
Barry Hart Brian Ridley
Jan Gough Watson Brian Higgison
John van der Straaten Virginia Chadwicke
Trevor Couch Peter Greenwood
A more complete list can be found in the local Landcare association1 accounts, which details the areas and individual contributions by the above and adjacent landowners. A total of 330 hours of labour,30 hours of tractor time and $560 in individual contributions of materials has been donated.
3.0 Title of Project and Objectives
The Greenways Project has as its objective, the good management of the corridors, in cooperation with the community and user groups for the benefit of the conservation of nature and use by the community.
4.0 Physical Details
4.1 Typical Activities.
The overall activity is to open the Greenways for controlled public use. That included an action plan that embraced fencing, planting, minor earthworks, concreting, gate, signage and raise public awareness of the existence of Greenways and the conditions of use. The current workplan is at Attachment A.
Additional activities have included removal of pines which were hindering public access to sections of the Greenway and interfering with nature conservation objectives - ie: preserving the integrity of native vegetation corridors.
The Greenways committee has joined forces with Landcare here and elsewhere to enhance the conservation objectives of the Greenways.
4.2 Vegetation
A detailed report from Peter Barrer is available. Approximately 350 of the following have been planted.
Eucalyptus aggregata
viminalis
mannifera
dives
bridgesiana
macarthurii
bicostata
melliodora
rubida
pauciflora
Acacia rubida
pravissima
dealbata
Fimbriata
melanoxylon
mearnsii
Casuarina cunninghamiana
Allocasuarina verticillata
Hakea sericea
salicifolia
Olearia teniifolia
Dodonaea viscosa
Danthonia Sp
Themeda Triandra
4.3 Area of the Project
The area of the project is predominantly fenced and where unfenced is usually the choice of the adjacent resident. Local residents and sub-dividers provided much of the fencing. The project provided some assistance to local residents by providing materials for fencing limited to star pickets at 8 metre spans and two strands of wire. In a few cases, residents provided nothing, accepting that fencing standard and voluntary labour. In other cases, especially sub-dividers, all materials and labour was provided.
The extent of fencing provided is approximately 30 kms.
4.4 People
Those involved are volunteers from the local area. No wages were paid and no participants of Labour market schemes were involved.
5.0 Investment to Date
The total project is funded as:
1. Grant from Council 1992/93-1996/97 $8,000
2. Grant TCM Enhancement Program (1996/97) $4,750
3. Grant Greening Australia2 (1995/96) $5,000
4. Fencing & Realignment
Donated by Community Association (1999/2000) $1000
5. Harriott Road Revegetation
Donated by Landcare (2000/2001) $ 500
6. Harriott Road Erosion Prevention
Donated by Landcare/National Heritage Trust (2001/2002) $1200
Total Financial Investment $20,450
(1) Program: TCM Enhancement (1995/96) BG5082.94 & One Billion Trees (1994/95)
Title of Project: Erosion Control Regeneration Fencing for Linking Greenways
Name of group: Gearys Gap Wamboin Landcare
Date commenced: July 1995. These funds were received in 1994/95 and permission was received to treat both as grants for for 1995/96 3
Financial Report TCM 1995/96
Balance brought forward Funds Received Funds Expended Balance Date 30.6.96
Capital $0 $4,750 $4,7504 $0
Financial Report One Billion Trees 1995/96
Balance brought forward Funds Received Funds Expended Balance Date 30.6.96
Salary incl. wages $0 $5,000 5 $5,000 $0
Council Grants
Balance brought forward Grant Funds Received Funds Expended Balance
S 94 Funds 1992/96
$8,000 $3,000 $1707 $3,527 (@ 30.6.96)
S94 Funds 1998 $5,000
Nil Nil TBA
Greenways Committee Funds 1996/97
Balance brought forward Funds Received Funds Expended Balance Date 30.6.97
$300 $0 6 $0 Withdrawn by Council
6. Community Relations
Community acceptance, support and use has grown considerably over the life of the Greenways during the past 6-7 years.
Works projects often bring neighbours out unbidden to help or applaud efforts to regenerate or plant native vegetation.
Pony club children and other horse riders use the network extensively, traveling to and from facilities and events or simply moving through the countryside.
Community walks, extending beyond the current Greenways network, are organised by the Community Association twice a year and typically attract 10 to 20 residents. Mountain bike riders also use the Greenways.
The Greenways afford a much safer alternative to traveling on the roads on horseback or on foot. They also offer travelers an aesthetic, learning experience about local flora and fauna.
Access to Greenways is advertised as a feature of for-sale properties in the area.
Any cost benefit assessment of the greenways network has to take these community amenity features into account.
Complaints
Over the life of the project to date, complaints have fallen into three categories:
Complaints on the establishment of the Greenways, none received for at least five years,
Complaints on dogs not being on leads as required by the Dog Act, and
Complaints about trail bike riders.
In general, better signage deals with the second item. Trail bikers using the Greenways is limited to unlicensed and often un- plated vehicles and a reminder placed in the Bungendore Bulletin and Wamboin Whisper of the liability risk to riders and their parents promptly curtails this activity. Specifically, two complaint were received from a family in Majors Close on straying dogs. A reminder of the rules was placed in the Wamboin Whisper and a letter of thanks was received from the family.
Several complaints were received of trail bikes using the Greenways. Reminders of the rules were placed in the Bungendore Bulletin
This project is very local and communications is predominantly through the local monthly newspaper, a local community association newsletter, the local show, committee meetings of local associations such as Girl Guides, Pony Clubs, Community Associations, etc.
The material distributed is photocopies of the map (A3) and the management plan. The management plan 7 provided information on the objectives, principles, conditions of use, functions and role of the management committee, dispute resolution, definition and individual status of each section.
Copies of the material are available in the local hall. Further information is displayed in the local hall.
6.1 Communications
The Bungendore Bulletin (monthly) covers the area of the project and willingly accepted articles on this subject.
6.2 Published results
An ecological study by Mr. P Barrer is available.
MAP Attachment A
Greenways map
Attachment B
Workplan
Newington to Harriott
Action Labour Est Status
Sign Newington Road Access 2 hrs $10 Outstanding
Stabilise Creek Floor & Slopes 8hrs $130 Outstanding
Create track over low boggy round & planting 12hrs $150 Outstanding
Bridge Gully 6hrs $50 Outstanding
Sign Harriott Road 2hrs $10 Outstanding
Harriott Road to Denley Drive & Birriwa Road
Action Labour Est Status
Sign Birriwa Road Access 2 hrs $100 Complete
Delineate Greenway tba $130 Complete
Create 4 culverts bridges tba $1100 Complete
Stabilse Track tba $1000 Complete
Sign Denley Drive 2 hrs $10 Complete
Denley Drive to Weerona Drive
Action Labour Est Status
Sign Denley Drive Access 2 hrs $10 Complete
Stabilise Erosion 8hrs $600 Complete
Fence Youngs Corner to Majors Close tba nil Partially Complete
Sign Weeroona Drive Gate 4 hrs $10 Complete
Sign Hogan Drive Access 2 hrs $10 Complete
Fence Millpost Hill 10 hrs $150 Section unopened
Revegetate Millpost Hill 24 hrs $350 Section unopened
Revegetate Majors Close 24 hrs $350 Complete
Gate, Fence & Sign Majors Close tba $400 Complete
Delineate Greenways tba $0 Complete
Gate, Fence & Sign Weeroona (Gilletts) tba $400 Complete
Vegetate above 24 hrs $250 Complete
Weeroona Drive to Norton Road
Action Labour Cost Status
Gate, Fence & Sign Weerona Access to Norton Road tba $1100 Complete
Vegetate Corridor 24 hrs $350 Complete
Stabilise Erosion Gully (Earthworks ) 3 hrs $634 Complete
Vegetate above 11 hrs + $75 plants $0 Outstanding
Concrete lip to above 12 hrs $tba Outstanding
Delineate Greenways tba $0 Outstanding
Minor Culvert tba $100 Outstanding
Gate & Sign x 3 tba $300 Outstanding
Miscellaneous
Action Labour Cost Status
Legal opinions and Land survey $2235 Complete
Notes
1. Gearys Gap Wamboin Landcare
2. This item was totally and separately allocated to an environmental report by Mr. P Barrer.
3. Mr. S Baldwin CALM & Robert Douglas Greening Australia
4. Comprising fencing material, gates, tube stock, gravel, pipe and machine hire obtained from Soil Conservation, Bungendore Rural, Econuts and S Beer.
5. Consultancy fees
6. Consultancy fees
7. Conforms to guidelines in the Local Government Act 1993
Last updated September, 2003