PROJECTS - Part two

Oolong Sanctuary banner created by J. K. Phillips

PROJECTS - Part two

Project no 21 (second stage completed): The second Bats Survey was carried out on 17 March 2007 by Michael Pennay, Conservation Assessment Officer, Information & Assessment Section, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation. (Click to view the survey).
Any additional survey will be carried out at the expenses of the Landholder of Dalton Park:

Project no 22 (On-going): Management for the Regeneration of Oolong habitat including weed control and tree planting. Carried out by Landholder of Dalton Park and Friends.

The Domestic stock has been permanently removed from the sanctuary to allow germination and restoration of endangered and threatened flora species. Collection of seed of endemic species to germinate in tubes in the sanctuary nursery (see project no.16)to be transplanted where dense woody weeds are being removed to facilitate regrowth of the understorey as recommanded by Dr D. Windsor, Scientific Advisory Board.

Project no 23 (On-going): Orchids Survey sponsored by Australasian Native Orchid Society (ANOS). To be carried out by several ANOS field parties starting in Spring (28-29 September 2002). So far a new species is being classified before its illustration is entered in the Oolong inventory.

Project no 24 (On-going): Frog survey sponsored by Frog and Tadpole Study Group of NSW (FATS). To be covered by field parties from the NSW Study Group in Autumn and Spring (2003). First visit: 3, 4 and 5 January 2003.

Project no 25 (On-going): Project Leader- Mrs Annette Barbaris (resigned): Bushs Lane as a protected corridor.
1-Native grass seed classification and collection, (to expand project no.16).
2-Very urgent sub-project! Artificial nests to be constructed, set and monitored,(to further expand and develop project no.13 but with funding from donations and hopefully from a grant) Two applications for funding to the Australian Bird Environment Foundation (ABEF) in 2002 and 2003 have been unsuccessful.
by Dalton Park Landholder, Friends and Volunteers and support by The Gunning Shire Council, which maintains the lane as a crown road. A request has been forwarded to the LPPB for the erection of a warning sign against grazing.

Project no 26 (On-going): (By agreement with the Landholders of Lot 342) Long-term Management for the Regeneration of the Pristine Block. The block is for sale and consideration is given to its purchase Management plan by Project Officer, Bushcare support, Greening, Australia.
It involves the following stages:
Stage a) Access (Crown road) after permission is obtained from DLWC for the work (involves also project no 11). By Landholder of Dalton Park and volunteers.
Stage b) Reconstruction of the fence on the road boundary for flora protection. By Landholder of Dalton Park with funds for fence material supplied by: Greening, Australia? (This project is supported by NPWS).
Stage c) The thinning out of the dense canopy cover with the selective removal of patches of eucalypts, combined with the reduction in leaf litter, to increase species diversity (as recommanded by Dr D. Windsor, Scientific Advisory Board). By Friends and Greening, Australia,

Project no 27 (On-going): (By agreement with the Landholders of Calendarah) Long Term Management for the Regeneration of Calendarah. The management has already started with the removal of domestic stock. A revegetation program should be carried out, in the near future with the planting of trees in tubes grown at the Oolong Nursery. By Friends, and the Landholders of Calendarah.

Project no 28(On-going): (Sponsored by S&S Telford Earthmoving, Canberra with the donation of 20 hrs) Fence post holes and other earthwork such as the construction of frog pond, ground preparation for completion of project no.20, planting tubes etc. With assistance by Friends, and Landholder of Dalton Park

Project no 29 (On-going): Windbreak design and construction to reduce serrate tussocks invasion. Ground preparation for planting tubes, fencing etc. By landholder of Dalton Park with assistance by Project Officer, Bushcare support, Greening Australia, Friends, and Landholder of Dalton Park.

Project no 30(Under consideration): Project leader- position vacant):Revegetation of a portion of Loop Road to link it to Bushs Lane and to extend the corridor into the disused crown road to the West. The proposal, to be submitted to Shire Council, landholders and the Gunning Shooters Club, will include the widening of the strip and some additional fencing. By some volunteers and assistance by Greening, Australia, Friends and Landholders.

Project no 31 (On-going) : Management strategy for White Box-Yellow Box Woodland remnants. Removal of weeds, perennial native grass seeding and regeneration of the understorey to increase the habitat value to native fauna progressively in corridors and adjacent land, restoration of grassy woodland at Dalton Park.

Stage One: (In progress)
a) Removal of wooden weed - Sifton Bush, Revegetation (native grass) of the central southern portion of Dalton Park linking it to the Pristine Block and Calendarah. sponsored by AGILITY, Landholder of Dalton Park and Friends od Oolong).

b) Revegetation with native grasses of the central portion of the native habitat of Dalton Park.

c) Removal of woody weed- Sifton Bush and seeding with native perennial grasses and regeneration of understorey in the northern and eastern portion of the natural habitat of Dalton Park. Sponsored by Landholder of Dalton Park, Friends of Oolong and Auswide Projects.

d) Seeding of deep rooted perennial native grass and planting of tube trees of indicator species of our community types (white box, yellow box and Blakely's red gum) in selected small paddocks in the western pasture land of "Dalton Park" to regenerate the grassy woodland. Management strategy developed by Program Officer, Bushcare Support, Greening Australia and implemented by Landholder of Dalton Park and Friends. (Probably supplemented with funds under the Grassy Box Woodland project).

Stage Two : (As funds became available)
e) Restoration of grassy woodland at "Dalton Park" and Management of the fenced remnant. By Landholder, Friends of Oolong and sponsors.

Project no 32 (On-going):Pipe reticulation and water supply (from perennial spring) to selected points, including frog ponds and waterfowl lake and as part of the management of Grassy Box Woodland remnants. Reticulation cost up to $1500 and petrol pump $500 supplied by Landholder of Dalton Park. Sponsorship required for the purchase of a suitable alternative: diesel pump (estimated purchase price $1,000 plus $20pw to operate, or windmill or solar panels $3,000-5,000. Managed by Landholder of Dalton Park and Friends of Oolong.

Project no 33 (Under consideration):Dalton Cemetery-conservation program and future seed collection. This project is under consideration for a possible management-designed by Mr Rainer Rehwinkel, Threatened Species Officer, Southern Directorate, NPWS-of the grass and forbes species present there and carried out by a group of our members. Awaiting reply by NPWS to formulate the proposal to the Gunning Shire and get a formal agreement.

Project no 34 (On-going): Oolong Sanctuary in Dalton Park. Project Leader and initial financial supporter: Ms Nora Duve. Cameramen : Mick Hines and Belinda Deny-Feroe.

Documentary capturing and creating public awareness in the long-term program and fight for the commitment of conservation from flora to fauna in Oolong Sanctuary with the reconstruction of depleted ecosystems in habitat/remnant, including environmental day to day changes on a farm named Dalton Park witnessing the survival of wildlife with artificial nest boxes .

This is a current affair project to encourage more volunteers and new members into the Friends of Oolong Association Inc. It is promoted by GW D'Addario, landholder of Dalton Park and established by the community in the ACT and SE NSW.

The project will illustrate also:
-Complementary projects
-The efforts made so that all habitat/remnants are recognised as an endangered and threatened environment and to prevent the disappearance of wildlife.
-How Landholders- in cooperation with each other- using the model of the Oolong sanctuary, develop wildlife corridors for fauna movement between them.

Project no 35 (Proposal): Native vegetation remnants and related wildlife corridors. Upper Lachlan. This proposal is under preparation and involves a major cooperative effort with the Upper Lachlan Landcare Network.

Project no 36 (on-going):Checklist of Birds compiled by Tony Saunders, SAB. The habitat type, where each species is encountered by observers, is listed along side each specie. It will include a map showing general habitat areas, the map will have also a grid system so that the grids where uncommon or rare species are encountered can be named. This list will be useful to assess the frequency of encounter by visitors such as COG, Cumberland Bird Observers' Club etc. Supported by the Cumberland Bird Observers' Club and Friends of Oolong

Project no 37(on-going):Statistical Model or Analysis of Habitat/Remnants Linked by Wildlife Corridors at Oolong. Leader: Tony Yan, (Report received by author on 25 October, 2005)
"I have completed organizing and summary of the data in Excel, I have highlighted inconsistencies. Now I think it is more realistic to provide the statistical work on the given data and noting it may subject to future correction rather then waiting for everything to be confirmed correctly, I will send out the Excel data summary and some simple analysis in a few days time".

Project no 38 Save the Tasmanian Devil!
Please visit http://www.tassiedevil.com.au and view the 6-minute film on Tasmanian Devil and Tiger! This 6-minute movie includes information on the Tasmanian devil - its evolution and habitat. Scientists discuss the implications of the terrible disease that has now killed about half the Tasmanian devil population in the last ten years. The Friends of Oolong support the program and are applying to breed the Devil at Oolong and propose the introduction of large fenced-island type enclosures in the program on mainland.
Stage One: (In progress)
Our president, member of our Task Force was in Tasmania recently to visit zoos, to familiarise himself with the management of the devil, to discuss the Captive Management Program and to propose the introduction of large fenced-island type enclosures in the program on mainland. The proposal has been well received at the meeting with Dr Steven Smith, Program Manager, Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease, DPIW in Hobart.
The plans for the "insurance" population have been finalised. The FOO is applying to the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria (ARAZPA) for membership and also seeking grants to support the program with improved infrastructures in about 104.5ha to be added to the sanctuary.
We are setting up suitable accommodation at Oolong for the staff (all volunteers) while seeking a suitably qualified Manager for the implementation of the breeding program at Oolong.

The owners of the Eaglehawk Holiday Park, Canberra, have agreed to participate in a Tasmanian devil breeding progam in conjunction with the Friends of Oolong (FOO). The FOO will design and manage the Eaglehawk Native Park, which will also include a display of indigenous animals and plants. The native park will be located next the Eaglehawk Holiday Park.

The patron is also to be announced shortly. This project is suspended indefinitely.
Click to go to the top of the page

Click to go back to Projects - Part one