What's happening at the Hall and where the Landcare team will be lurking

The Hall is being utilised again for community activities and events.

If you want to know what's on check out the calendar for Yoga times on Monday & Wednesday, Pilates on Friday.

Or if you want to book the hall for an event, you can see when it's available.

Locals Landcaring around Coal Point, Carey Bay & Toronto

There's lots of information about the reserves and the local landcare activities on the website.

We meet anytime between 8am and noon, for however long you want 

Tools & techniques provided

Morning tea at 10am

15/5 West Ridge

22/5 Hampton St Link

29/5 West Ridge

5/6 Ambrose/Yarul

12/6 Puntei Creek

19/6 Burnage

Crocodile Point (TASNG)

1st &3rd Wed

8:30-10am. Meet under the Fennel Bay bridge

Want to join Us?

If you would like to receive weekly emails about where we are landcaring and what we will be doing?

Ros - cppalandcare@gmail.com

Neighbour Day not far away…27 March

Neighbour Day has been running for 20 years with its aim to connect neighbours in an annual celebration of respectful relationships and strong communities.

One thing that’s become glaringly obvious over the past few years is that social connection counts. It’s a part of who we are as a social animal and as a caring community.

This year it’s possible to actually get out and meet your neighbours, with COVID safety in mind, and from all the ‘For Sale’ and ‘Sold’ signs that have been in abundance there’s probably a lot of new neighbours to meet.

We have so many wonderful spaces that lend themselves to community meeting places, fantastic foreshore reserves dotted around the community for catching up and connecting with neighbours, wide grassy verges and dead-end streets. A map is on the website

It’s easy to organise a meet-up, grab a pen or printer and send out an invitation to your neighbours to have a cuppa by the kerb (bring your own cuppa and snack - and meet in your street!), maybe a morning tea, afternoon tea or shared plate/ potluck event, or maybe a wellness walk in one of our local parks or around the neighbourhood.

There’s lots of ideas at https://neighbourday.org/get-involved/individuals-and-hosts/

And lots of local places to explore at https://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/map-of.html

Community consequence of COVID

The COVID19 ripples are still resonating throughout daily community life, shaping the way we communicate and the availability of social activities…but it’s not all bad especially if you can master the video-conferencing technology that’s now available.

The local art group that was meeting at the hall moved their meeting to video conferencing very quickly. It turns out that the social glue that binds the group remained sticky with increased benefits of not having to pack up the art materials and no travel time. Unexpected benefits were more extensive sharing of skills and critiquing of art work with everyone being involved, more time for art and an extra art session was easily accommodated. The group continues to happily meet online.

Local yoga moved online, downward dog from the comfort of your private space. Some studios were providing recordings for whenever the mood and time allowed, creating new flexible opportunities. Yoga is now back with face to face options.

Some of the national events that CPPA has been involved with in the past have had to make the call to do things differently this year.

National Science Week, in August, is providing the Scinema Film Festival for free to anyone! You can stream a wide range of award-winning science films by signing up to get the films delivered to your inbox!.

National Tree Day this year may have been cancelled by Planet Ark, but this is not deterring landcarers from popping a few plants in the ground around this time of year…it’s a good time for planting.

We’ll have 80 plants at Burnage Reserve on Thursday 30th July between 8am and noon as part of the regular Landcare session. If you’d like to lend a hand whilst out on your morning constitutional feel free to drop by and help with planting. Everyone is welcome, there’ll be suitable spacing, and morning tea is at 10am, BYO beverage.(The image is from 2001...those plants have grown)

COVID-19 is also mobilising and connecting community groups that can see the possibilities of a seismic shift in the way society operates, a window of opportunity to change direction, and build on the changes COVID has inspired.

Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), an internationally recognised climate change think tank, has recently commenced the Hunter Diversification research and engagement project - which will run 2+ years. BZE has also released the Million Jobs Plan showing that 115,000 new jobs can be created across the Hunter over the next 10 years, with rapid start up in industries such as Hydrogen & Green Steel manufacturing, Home Retrofits, Fly Ash Reuse, Electric Buses and Land Regeneration.

With energy production and mining a core part of our community, alternative employment opportunities that will fill the gap after coal will be needed. The Hunter Case Study of the BZE Million jobs plan can be viewed online 

Old reserves New names

What’s the patch of green bounded by Hampton Street and Excelsior Parade called? The dog park, the wetland, the pony club, the old dairy… not any more. As of 23/9/19 it now is officially known as Puntei Park, puntei means a narrow place, any narrow point of land. 

What’s the green space at the southern end of Laycock St called? It never had a name, but’s it a beautiful grassy safe swimming spot now called Killibinbin Reserve, which means shining, bright and beautiful.

NAIDOC Week - Naming of 2 reserves

The history of the Awabakal peoples is written in our landscape. Locally many of our reserve names connect us to the language of the oldest culture on earth.

• Yarul - cloud watching place
• Wombal - the sea beach
• Wippi - wind
• Birriban – the talented Awabakal linguist
• Gurranba – the place of brambles
• Puntei – narrow place, or any narrow neck of land
• Killibinbin – bright, shining, beautiful

On exhibition from 8/7/19 to 5/8/19 is the proposed naming of two local reserves, the former Pony club, proposed to be named Puntei Park and the unnamed foreshore reserve at the southern end of Laycock Street proposed to be named Killibinbin Reserve.

Submissions on the naming can be sent to spichaloff@lakemac.nsw.gov.au by close of business Monday 5 August 2019.

Lest We Forget

Burnage Reserve was named in honour of local resident Lt Granville Burnage, who donated the reserve to Council and lived at 1 Excelsior Pde. He commanded the ‘fighting 13th’ at Gallipoli and was instrumental in the formation of the Toronto R.S.L.

Landcarers have been caring for the reserve since the Clean Up Australia Day event in 2000 and have transformed a very weedy area into a remnant rainforest gully, loved by birds and an important refuge for mature gum trees and home to Kookaburras.

If you haven't had a chance to peruse the sign in the reserve now is the time.Click on the image to get a bigger picture.

Hampton Street Link Landcare

Diversity is the spice of life.

The Hampton Street Link (HSL) is a rather special piece of greenery. It is the only public land that links the vegetated corridor that runs along the Coal Point peninsula to the east with the bushland remnants to the west including the Carey Bay Wetlands, an Endangered Ecological Community.

This 20m wide road reserve has one of the greatest varieties of plants in any of the 12 reserves the local landcare crew look after, with 95 different species having been recorded over 5 years of flora surveys.

The canopy contains eight varieties of gum trees, some hundreds of years old, there’s a dozen different vines, a legacy of the rainforest-like features in the lower section, there’s a healthy mid sized shrub layer, but it is the native grasses and herbs that are the highlight of this area.

There are 42 different ground covers along the 200m length of the Hampton St Link.

There are ferns, native grasses, little lomandras, pastel flowers, native geraniums, scrambling lilies and blue flax lilies. Often overlooked in the understory these plants are the beauties in the bush that are battling for survival against the beasts of exotic grasses and mowers.

A brochure was recently made and distributed to the neighbours of this reserve, you can get your own copy here. 

-->

International Day of Forests 21/3/17

This year’s IDF theme of Forests and Energy is a reminder of how our urban forests impact upon our energy consumption. Do you remember the heat of summer? Strategically placed trees can cool the air between 2 to 8 degrees.

As we turn the seasonal tide autumn preparations to keep warm in winter and the energy efficiency of wood heaters are worth considering. Dry wood has double the energy value of wet wood, which holds up to 50% moisture, it takes a year of storage to dry wood. A clean flue aids combustion and reduces harmful gas build up, flues should be cleaned annually, and if you don’t want all the heat to go up in smoke insulate everything, walls, floors, ceilings and windows.

Buying ethically sourced wood is a way of protecting our local forests too. Please help protect our community’s public forest assets and leave the local wood in the reserves where it falls, it creates habitat and recycles valuable nutrients.

Our local Open Spotted Gum Forests provide another kind of energy too, a sense of well being that flows from fresh air, abundant birdlife, serenity and beauty. 

Have you been for a stroll along the West Ridge recently?

There’s a track off Whitelocke Street and you can experience some of the best Open Forest around here. If you’re partial to water tanks you might like to take a happy snap of the old water tank, which is set to be decommissioned and taken away this financial year.

Another eye-opening local forest walk is in the reserve off Stansfield Close. Recently a U3A group were guided along the Garden Path to see the difference a fire makes. To the south the impacts of garden escapes such as Asparagus fern, to the north a diversity of plants not seen in a very long while rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

Our public reserves, our local forests, are continually being expanded by LMCC acquiring land. The CPPA has recently followed up on the 2016 AGM resolution to sell a portion of its land to LMCC to expand Stansfield Reserve. 

Are you going to celebrate World Forests Day?

Why not plant a tree and support the long distance pollinators in our area or attend one of the workshops LMCC libraries are hosting. RSVP to library.lakemac.com.au. or ring the host library.

Planting for pollinators: Build your knowledge on local species to attract birds, bees and butterflies to enhance your habitat and vegetable gardens. Mon 20 March - 5.30-7.30pm Cardiff Library p:4954 8575

Birdscaping your garden : Build your knowledge on local native species to plant in your garden to attract nectar eating birds.
Tues 21 Mar - 10am-12. Swansea Library p:4921 0780

Gardening with local native plants: Discover plants that are local to our area and where they will thrive to recreate native habitat including bush tucker species.
Wed 22 Mar - 1.30-3.30pm Belmont Library p:4945 4329

Your native garden, encouraging frogs and dragonflies: Build your knowledge on key components required to maximise opportunities for frogs, dragonflies and other beneficial critters.
Tues 4 April - 6-8pm: Charlestown Library p:4943 5555
Wed 5 April - 10am-noon: Morisset Library p:4973 1248

What’s in a Name? Killibinbin

The CPPA is proposing to name the reserve at the southern end of Laycock Street as Killibinbin Reserve. 

It means shinning , bright and beautiful in Awabakal, which certainly fits the Kilaben Bay outlook.

If you have any other suggestions please let the CPPA committee know.

Will you adopt some local shrubbery?

Last year 1270 plants took up residence in our reserves. You may notice them as you wander past; they often have a white tipped stake alongside them. 

If you have some extra water in your bottle feel free to give your tree or shrub a drink each time you pass. A little water can go a long way to ensuring their survival.

Potential Sale of Progress Land

The Local Environment Plan aims to preserve the Coal Point ridge line as "Conservation" zoning.  Council has for many years identified parts of existing lots backing on the ridge line as "acquisition" - i.e. the Council would like to buy those parts of the lots and thereby expand the ridge line conservation area.  The land at the "top" half of the Progress Association’s block (behind the hall) is one such area.  

The committee believe that having this land in community ownership and zoned as "conservation" land is fully consistent with our objectives, and would also provide a substantial injection of funds.  The committee intends to put a special resolution to the AGM in April to allow the current or a future committee to explore (and if terms are satisfactory to conclude) such a sale.  Note that no change is proposed to ownership of the hall or the front part of the lot.  All members are encouraged to express any opinions on whether this is a good idea!

All of these items, the Constitution, The Objectives and the sale of land are decisions of the CPPA membership. The March meeting will be an opportunity for discussing these proposals and developing the motions to be put at the Annual General Meeting on April 13th.

Landcare Roster for 2015

Every Thursday local Landcarers frolic about in our reserves. There is always lots to do and interesting things to discover and everyone is welcome. There is a rotating reserve roster that sees all the reserves get a bit of landcaring action throughout the year. 

February- Carey Bay Wetlands

March-Burnage Reserve

April-Gurranba Reserve

April School Holidays- buffer planting along the edge of Carey Bay Wetlands

May-West Ridge Reserve

June- Laycock St South Reserve

July- Carey Bay Wetlands and Hampton St link

August-Burnage Reserve

September-Gurranba Reserve

October-West Ridge Reserve 

November-Yarul Reserve/Ambrose St Reserve

December- Carey Bay Wetlands and end of year BBQ

On the 1^st Thursday of each month the Trees In Newcastle (TIN) team go Threlkeld Reserve and Lake Macquarie Landcare’s Green team lends a hand with the local landcare 

group. 

The Threatened Species Project provides additional support each week in the form of additional Landcare volunteers from TIN, a bush regeneration expert and lunch.

Landcare Report

For most Thursdays of December and January we’ve had the pleasure of working on the “point” at Gurranba Reserve where breezes from all directions and some shade make it bearable/enjoyable in most weathers. 

We’ve been chasing Mother of Millions mostly, which enjoyed the rain as much as we did and responded quickly. Regrowth of African Olive, Asparagus Fern and Mickey Mouse Bush gave us variety along with some watering of the most precious of the last plantings.

The landcare crew would also like to thank a neighbour to Burnage Reserve who offered, then moved to a convenient place, 29 barrow loads of pure native mulch from a fallen Eucalypt. It goes especially well on top of the “black” aged mulch we use to help make soil more native plant friendly. The newer denser mulch allows water to penetrate, collect and be retained keeping the plants cool and damp. 

Landcaring locally happens every Thursday with a focus reserve for each month. February sees the Carey Bay Wetlands get some attention; Burnage Reserve is the focus in March.
Generally the 1st Thursday of the month sees the Lake Macquarie Landcare Green Team (GT) give additional support. 


Hope to see you around: Robyn Gill for Judy, Lois, Dianne and ??? (places for partners in this interesting enterprise).

Landcare dates

The Landcare program for 2013 is outlined below with the dates being for the Green Team days.


February 
Carey Bay 7/2/13
March 
Burnage Reserve 7/3/13
April 
Gurranba Reserve 4/4/13
May 
West Ridge Reserves 2/5/13
June 
Laycock St South 6/6/13
July 
Stansfield Reserve 4/7/13
July 28th 
National Tree Day- Carey Bay Wetlands
August 
Burnage Reserve 8/8/13
September 
Gurranba  Reserve 5/9/13
October 
West Ridge Reserves 3/10/13
November 
Yural/Ambrose St Reserves 7/11/13
December
 Carey Bay Wetlands 12/12/13
February 2014 
Carey Bay Wetlands  6/2/14

Landcare Report –Robyn Gill

Recently we’ve been at Hampton St working around one of the little gullies of the Puntei Ck catchment above Carey Bay Wetlands and along the interesting Gurranba foreshore in the sunshine at times.  At both sites passers by have commented encouragingly on the changing scene. We are lucky that we have conditions for all occasions in our many reserves from the warming sun to the cooling breeze and sometimes the absence of these when the season is different. The views are great too.

In the recent showers one Thursday we had the amazing roll up of 5 energetic workers, 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren and 2 dogs to enjoy the occasion.

If you are interested in learning a bit about the bush, landcaring provides local connections to both people who share your interest and the wealth of resources available through the Lake Macquarie Landcare Network & Office.

Local Landcaring

For Coal Point landcarers May began with the Lake Macquarie Green Team assisting us at the West Ridge Reserve (off Whitelocke St) which gives us great pleasure and satisfaction (especially after we have managed to remove some Bitou and Asparagus Fern colonies ).
This area is specially blessed with a diversity of natives that have been lost from other reserves and it was a thrill to be told by the professional leader of the Green Team that she regards it as one of the top 5 in the Lake Mac. area. A neighbour to the reserve also mentioned that a botanist writing a report on their land commented on the quality of the vegetation.

At Gurranba the blitzing of Asparagus Fern is almost complete with consistent maintenance to follow as the red berries that had fallen spring up. The planting to replace the weeds is doing well and continuing.

Part of the planting at Gurranba has great hopes pinned on it as it follows from an interesting comment by one of the Dune Carers working at Pearl Beach recently that they notice that Mother of Millions doesn’t grow below Tuckeroos (Cupaniopsis). As we’re always hoping for a magic bullet to deal with these great survivors we’ve planted 16 Tuckeroos so far. They are attractive small to medium trees that thrive “in humid places near the sea or on windswept headlands”- which sums up Gurranba point very well.

Observers of Carey Bay Wetlands might notice some additional plump black plastic bundles. They are full of a large volume of Morning Glory and as they “cook” will provide safe mulch to continue filling in around and over the dumped concrete chunks that are scary to work among. Bundles from last December have been unwrapped and provided fill.

On June 7th we will be at Hampton St corner which adjoins the Pony Club area at the back of  “the” wetlands (with help from the Green Team).

Thursday May 31st will be at Gurranba (magic views and hopefully sunshine).
A bird in the Bush

by Robyn Gill : Landcare Coordinator

Landcare Update

This month apart from some planting and weeding at Burnage we have spent many hours at Gurranba tackling OUR GREATEST FOE, Asparagus Fern.
Fortunately our quote comes in considerably lower than the other 2 we received ($1200 and $1500) and the satisfaction is enormous when we tip a bag of Asparagus “crowns” in the bin as that represents a huge amount of long, very green, seed bearing fronds.
The Green Team Day which was good still left us with a long way to go before we can replant in April. The plants will be supplied by Hunter Water as part of a special program to assist reserves which “house” a sewerage facility. We are getting close to the result we need.
The amazing thing is that apart from some Mother of Millions, a colony of large African Olive and an occasional Broadleaf Privet, some natives keep struggling through the junk – especially Wombat Berry, some Native Olive and many little Rapanea.
On Thursday April 5th REPLANTING BEGINS with assistance from the Lake Macquarie Landcare Green Team and any other welcome volunteers.

Dates for the Diary

• Wednesday 29th Feb-9am
  Asparagus Fern Fun at Gurranba reserve
• Thurs 1st March -9am 

  Burnage Reserve beautification by removing weeds and planting natives.
• Local Landcaring each Thursday Ring Robyn for details 4959 1507
• Saturday 3rd March 2012, 5-8pm
  at Progress Hall. The Songs of Henry Lawson & Tunes of Waltzing Matilda
• Monday 5th March, 7pm
  at Progress Hall. Annual General Meeting of the Coal Point Progress Association
• Meeting soon- Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood-Cycleways & Pedestrian Group Contact nico.marcar@gmail.com
• Wednesday 7th March 5pm-Toronto library meeting room-
  Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Coordinators meeting.
• Wednesday 14th 10-noon  Kilaben Bay Playgroup is hosting a FREE fun filled party to celebrate Playgroup NSW 40th birthday All welcome!
  Where: Kilaben Bay Hire Hall, Jarrett St and Kilaben Bay Rd
• Wednesday 14th March, 7pm Toronto library meeting room
  Toronto Area Community Garden Group will aim to form a Committee to get a community garden growing.

Landcare Update

The Landcare lads and ladies have started the year off with adventures at Burnage, Threlkeld and Carey Bay Wetland Reserves.

Landcaring is an active pastime and if you’d like to get a bit of bending and stretching into your day, then landcaring can provide a good upper and lower body workout whilst doing great things for the local bushland. 

On Wednesday 29th February, Asparagus fern which is becoming problematic at Gurranba will be given a Green Team blitz. If you want to see how the experts deal with this local nuisance pop down for a visit. 

Gurranba is a great reserve, it was the site of the first landcaring project on Coal Point, it has spectacular views of the lake and is the designated leash free area…what more could you ask for?
 

Ongoing work at the Carey Bay Wetlands has required the ‘cooking’ of weeds onsite by wrapping them in black plastic. Whilst this may look temporarily unattractive it is proving a cost effective management technique.
 
Threlkeld Reserve has also received some extra attention lately with the ongoing mulching of the track.

Catch up with your Friends...and they all sang Waltzing Matilda

Are you getting withdrawals from the festive season? Are you missing you mates already?Did you promise to keep in touch more regularly this year?
 
The 1st Progress social event for the year is all planned for Saturday March 3rd, 5-8pm at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd, Coal Point.
 
The event is an audio visual spectacular by a passionate presenter Roger Walter. An evening exploring the highlights of Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson’s works is set to open ears and eyes to lesser known aspects of the dynamic duos masterpieces.
 
Tables can be pre-booked for $10/person, tickets on the night are $12/person.
 
The night  will have plenty of opportunity for chatting and you are encouraged to pack a picnic, nibbles and BYO to stave off the hunger.
 
Tea and coffee will be available, donations for  supper will be graciously shared with all.
If you need to park a car, Gurranba Reserve has plenty of space, the area in front of the Hall will be for dropping off only.
 
It would help enormously with setting up the hall if we knew how many people to expect. Table bookings are essential. RSVP to Barbara 4959 1259 or Jean 4959 4019

Landcaring - Robyn Gill, CPPA Landcare Coordinator

The local Landcare group has been busy planting in great conditions as the best way we know to “head off” the weed problems that usually plague us in summer. We have needed to be a little cautious with the numbers of plants going in as hot days can make watering necessary but have been lucky so far. We planted 650 plants in 2011. Since the last Chronicle we have been at Gurranba and Burnage Reserves and Carey Bay Wetlands.
 
On February 2nd we will be at the wetlands in Excelsior Pde with the Green Team of additional volunteers and a professional leader from the Lake Macquarie Landcare Office. This wetland contains– Puntei Creek – the catchment watercourse for a lot of Carey and Kilaben Bays. This landcare project has been replacing a large area of  Blackberry and other serious weeds with native plantings that have thrived. It has been a big project. We have one serious advancing weed to struggle with – one of the Trumpet Creepers , a garden escape.