Archive for the ‘Water systems’ Category
Kororoit Creek – Help needed 8 Dec
Request for help -
Propagation effort for the Kororoit Creek
There is a special event happening on Thursday 8 December during the morning and we are looking for a number of volunteers to help.
Its a project the Friends group is involved in with City West Water and we need people to help propagate indigenous plants by pricking out seedlings to tubes. These plants will form a stock of plants that will be put in the ground next year along the creek.
No previous knowledge is required, just a pair of hands and some enthusiasm to help improve our natural environment.
I know that a Thursday may be a difficult time for some, however, if you know of others who may not be on this list, but would be interested, please pass on this message.
Please contact me if you wish further information or if you can let me know if you are available to help.
Regards
Tony
Secretary
THE FRIENDS OF KOROROIT CREEK INC
WEBSITE – www.fokc.org.au
Home Scale Aquaponics Workshop
Saturday June 11 9am – 12
Cost :$25 or $20 for Permaculture Melbourne members or concession card holders. BYO lunch.
Venue: Ballarat East (to be advised after registration)
Ian and Pat have built a simple aquaponics system using mostly salvaged and recycled materials. Rainbow trout live in a sunken 1000 litre tank; water from the tank is cycled up to four bathtubs full of ‘B’ grade blue metal into which vegetables are planted. After 15 minutes pumping up, the pump goes off and the water trickles back into the tank, aerating the water and keeping the fish happy. The system was built from scratch by Ian so this workshop will include his design tips as well as practical observations of how the system is working. We’ll discuss the general principles of setting up aquaponics systems, then
build a simple system on the day!
One of our members who wants a system will buy the pump and other articles, so we all get to actually put a system together. If you like learning by doing – this workshop is for you!
Everyone attending the workshop will be in the running for a door prize “Easy Aquaponics – Back Yard Fish and Food” donated by the Good Earth Book Club (the folks who bring you Earth Garden magazine) We will also have copies of the book for sale on the day for $20. The workshop will include print-outs of some useful articles. For address and any questions, please call Ian or Pat on 5333 2073. For bookings, email bpgworkshops@gmail.com to obtain a registration form
Waterwatch – Free Event
BOTH EVENTS ARE FREE, HOWEVER BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!
1. Drain Spotters Walking Tour of Toyota (2:00-3:30pm):
a behind-the-scenes tour of the manufacturing plant in Altona to gain a first-hand look at the many practices incorporated to reduce environmental impacts and engage with the community.
RSVP to confirm your place.
Contact Rohan Long; rohan.long@melbournewater.com.au or 9235 7037.
2. Welcome Back to Waterwatch Event (6:30pm-9:30pm):
a gourmet lakeside BBQ followed by community presentations to celebrate and recognise the contributions that community makes to the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Program. Event includes guest speakers, give-aways and activities.
RSVP to confirm your place.
Contact Sasha Roos; sasha.roos@melbournewater.com.au or 9742 9207.
Drain Spotters – Werribee Zoo – Free
Drain Spotters Walking Tours at Werribee Open Range Zoo
Friday 4th March, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee
The Drain Spotter project is being trialled in the west because the western suburbs are a highly industrialised region and many of the waterways are at risk from accidental or intentional pollution spills.
Drain Spotters is a community based water pollution monitoring program. We are holding a number of clean industry tours to highlight industries that are taking steps to reduce water-pollution and incorporate sustainable water use.
Come on a behind-the-scenes walking tour of Werribee Open Range Zoo! Get a first-hand look on the many practices they have incorporated into their business to use water effectively and reduce their impact on the environment.
Where: Werribee Open Range Zoo, K Road, Werribee Melways 201 D1.
When: 10:00am – 11:30am, Friday 4th March.
Cost: Tour and entry to the zoo is free,
but bookings are essential.
For bookings or more information please
email rohan.long@melbournewater.com.au, check out www.drainspotters.melbournewater.com.au or call Rohan on 9235 7037.
Maribyrnong river – Bike path flooded
There is no bike path.
Frog Night – Williamstown
Find out about how to record frogs calling in your local waterway
Have you ever wanted to know more about the native animals that live in your local area? Frogs live fascinating lives and are an important part of our aquatic ecosystems. Our frogs are adapted to specific local conditions and are an indicator of waterway health.
Join Healthy Waterways Waterwatch, Hobsons Bay City Council and Friends of Williamstown Wetlands for an evening of frog discovery on the distribution and life cycles of the frogs of Melbourne, as well as:
• Identification of frogs by their call
• Tips and hints for recording these often cryptic creatures
• Training for the Melbourne Water Frog Census
• How to attract frogs to you garden and creating frog-friendly habitat.
Check out the frog census website http://frogs.melbournewater.com.au/ with interactive map
When: 7:30 PM, Sunday November 28.
Where: Meet at the end of Bayview St, Williamstown. Melway 55 K10.
Please Bring: Weather appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, long pants, torch and if available, recording equipment such as digital voice recorder, mobile phone, etc.
Please contact Laura Murphy (Hobsons Bay City Council) on ranger@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or
Phone 9932 1282 to book your place.
Waterwatch – Volunteer Training Offered
Free Volunteer Monitor Training
Iramoo, Victoria University St Albans, November 18 2010
Do you want to know what’s happening in your local waterway?
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch regularly conducts free training sessions that prepare ‘citizen scientists’ to monitor the health of our waterways.
During training you will learn about the theory of water quality monitoring and practical techniques for monitoring, including physical and chemical monitoring
and the basics of identifying macro-invertebrates. It’s fun, free and very easy to do!
Location: Iramoo Sustainable Community Centre, Victoria
University, St Albans
When: Thursday November 18, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Bookings Essential: contact Sam Harrison – 0438 314 931.
Email sam.harrison@melbournewater.com.au
Jackie French and Wombats need help
Please help us, the wombats, and the valley. There is only one week left to try to save them.
Two weeks ago we were finally given copies of the Environmental Assessment into the proposed Dargues Reef Goldmine at Majors Creek, four kilometres directly upstream from our property and even closer to the Nature Reserve and National Park partially surrounding us. The details revealed in it had not previously been made public.
The Dargues Reef Mine proposes to remove 66.2 megalitres of water per year from the local water table, leading to a drop in ground water levels of between 1.5 and 10.5 metres.
No studies have been done for the Environmental Assessment on how taking this amount of water will affect the land beyond the actual mine site. …….
Read the full article here
http://www.jackiefrench.com.au/urgent_message.htm …….
If you have loved Diary of a Wombat; if you want to save the life and environment of the real wombat on whom the story is based;
The Dargue’s Reef Environmental Assessment can be read at www.planning.nsw.gov.au. If you would like further details about the critically endangered species and grasslands, or the removal of the groundwater, please contact me at jfrench@dragnet.com.au.
Please — can you help? Or do you know anyone else who can help?
Any submission will help save the valley, and its critically endangered species.
If you have a spare five minutes, please send your own submission. Please ask your friends to put in submissions too, by the end of this week.
Submissions should include:
• Your name and address
• The reference number 10 0054
• Whether you support or object to the mine proposal
• The reasons why you support or object to the mine proposal
Submissions much reach the Department of Planning by close of business November 1, 2010
Fax: 902) 9228 6466
Or
Emailed to: plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au
Gisborne – Waterwatch Volunteer Training
Free Volunteer Monitor Training
Macedon Ranges Shire Council Offices, Gisborne, September 16
Do you want to know what’s happening in your local waterway? Healthy Waterways Waterwatch regularly conducts free training sessions that prepare ‘citizen scientists’
to monitor the health of our waterways. During training you will learn about the theory of
water quality monitoring and practical techniques for monitoring, including physical and chemical monitoring
and the basics of identifying macro-invertebrates.
It’s fun, free and very easy to do!
Location: Macedon Ranges Shire Council Offices
40 Robertson Street, Gisborne
When: Thursday September 16, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Bookings Essential: contact Sam Harrison – 0438 314 931.
Email sam.harrison@melbournewater.com.au
