Small things done now will be disproportionately important in decades to come.

NEXT MEETING   Thursday 18th May. 7pm at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

GUEST SPEAKER – Scott Paten    (commencing 7pm)

At this months meeting Mr Scott Paten will give a presentation about  erosion and sediment control requirements at development and building sites. Scott has a good knowledge of procedures in this regard.
With the booming housing industry encroaching on Karawatha Forest and its environmental corridors we are concerned about potential damage to its sensitive ecosystems. It is important that we be aware of the developer’s responsibilities and recognize if proper sediment control measures are being taken.
We encourage as many members and friends as possible to attend this presentation.

BUSH CARE REPORT

Planting at three zones at the bush care site off Pamela Crescent is almost complete. The results of six years work are now really having an impact. Trees planted in zone one are now over 10 metres tall. It is hard to believe that this was a weed-infested paddock a few years ago. But most importantly all the plants were supplied by the “Karawatha Seed Collection & Propagation Program.  Many thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who tend the plants at the “Shade House”, now run by Ralph Angus.
Planting is about to start in Zone four, which is the last of the areas allocated for rehabilitation. This was originally a house paddock and it is anticipated to take about two years to complete.
As always we are looking for volunteers. If you can spare some time between 7 and 9am on the second Sunday of the month. We would really be pleased to see you.
Dennis Kerr
Coordinator Karawatha B.C.G

SHADE HOUSE REPORT

Work last month consisted mainly of weeding and cleaning up the plants. As a result of the water restrictions and the prohibition on using the automatic sprinkler system, efforts were made to reduce plant stocks. Approximately 500 plants were given to the Brisbane Council for planting in Karawatha, another 600 were earmarked for donation to the BCC and 80 have been given to Stretton State College grade 7 class who is designing a Karawatha compatible landscaping project. Many heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who water the plants by hand daily.
Ralph Angus
Shade House Coordinator  

WATERING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Following the recent successful planting at the Trinder Park Lutheran Rest Home last month a roster is being organized to water the newly planted trees. Assistance will only be required once a month so if you have a few spare hours this would be a great way to enjoy the out-doors.
Phone  Sarah – 3387 4999 or 0418 733125

BUSH WALK – 28 May

The May bush walk will leave from the Acacia Rd picnic area at 7am. Make sure you wear a good pair of walking shoes. The mornings are getting chilly with the elongated shadows of the later sun rise guaranteeing  a splendid experience.

OXLEY CREEK WATER FESTIVAL

The Oxley Creek Water Festival 2006 will take place from 17 June to 2 July.  It will be 16 days of environmental and cultural celebration starting with the Brisbane City Council’s Family Day on Sunday 18 June at  Oxley Creek Common, 428 Sherwood Rd, Rocklea.  UBD 179 B20.

SOME WEE RECYCLING FACTS

Would you drink water which has already passed through the human body? What do you think about recycled sewage? Often there is a  lot of resistance in communities when a sewage recycling plant is proposed but what many of us don’t realize is that Queenslanders have been bathing in it and drinking it for years without any ill effects. Treated two or three times before arriving back at your tap the effluent begins its journey again.
About one quarter of Queensland’s population is already drinking water sourced from waterways into which treated effluent has been discharged upstream. The cities of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Beenleigh regularly receive into their water supplies the treated waste of Lowood, Fernvale, Esk Toogoolawah, Gatton and Laidley, according to information freely available from the Environmental Protection Agency.  The treated waste from the Brisbane valley townships is added to Brisbane’s water supply via the Mt Crosby weir.
Those living in Dalby and Chinchilla are drinking the recycled human waste water from the 93,000 people in Toowoomba, courtesy of the Condamine River.  The treated sewage discharge from Gympie ends up in Teddington Weir which supplies Maryborough.  Maleney’s discharge finds its way into picturesque Baroon pocket Dam adding to the drinking water for Caloundra and Maroochy.  Inglewood’s waste finds its way to Goondiwindi Weir and thereby into households of Goondiwindi. Kooralbyn’s water is discharged into the Albert River and becomes the drinking water for the town of Beaudesert. The people of Kingaroy are fortunate because they get to drink their own waste via the Gordonbrook Dam, the source of Kingaroy’s water supply.
Throughout Europe there is hardly a city left which does not turn human waste into pure drinking water.
Recycling human waste is now seen by many in government as the only real solution to our water woes. We can build all the dams we want but there is no guarantee it will rain in the right place to fill them.  To quote Dr Peter Pollard, a water expert from Griffith University. “People have this idea that because you drink treated waste you are drinking piss, but you are not. It’s an H2O molecule. It’s just water”.
Source  - Courier Mail    29.4.2006                                                                                      

QUOTE OF THE MONTH                                                                                      

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not”
- Dr Seuss, ‘The Lorax’

DATES TO REMEMBER - May/June

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