A community at work

Ever wondered how many birds and animal species share this valley with us?

Would you believe 90 species of birds, 24 mammal species (not including domesticated animals) and 15 of reptiles / amphibians.

Thanks to resident ornithologist, Don Knowler, below is a list of species that are known to visit or live here.

Or you can download the list HERE

Birds

Family Phalacrocoracidae
Black-faced cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Little pied cormorant Phalacrocorax elanoleucos
Little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

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Our local community is part of something much bigger – a rapidly growing worldwide movement. It’s an energetic people’s response to peak oil and climate change, springing up all over the planet.

And throughout Tasmania Transition Communities like ours are emerging all over the place. To give this movement visibility there’s a bright new website – Transition Tasmania.

Check it out now HERE. See what other community groups are doing. You can even join Transition Tasmania as an active participant.

Native plants can be part of a well managed, fire resistant garden.

Here is a new service (based in Neika) dedicated to helping householders who wish to develop fire-safe native gardens using plants developed from the local gene pool.

Proprietor Paulette will produce high quality tubestock or grow advanced plants on request, after collecting seeds from the immediate locality.

Ph 0458 796 343

Hello, if you are new to this site and are a householder wishing to contact us about the Climate Connect Project please email us at wwvalley@dodo.com.au.

A dedicated website link (Powerdown Tasmania) has now been set up so that project participants can find out the latest and contribute to the program.

Meanwhile, please feel free to peruse this community site. Feedback always welcome.

Having initiated the solar hot water bulk purchase scheme in 2007, solar installations are ballooning in our community as well as neighbouring suburbs.

During the past few weeks new solar systems have been installed at 46, 134, 141, 164, 178, 183 and 195 Waterworks Rd and at 22 and 30 Romilly Street – all these in addition to those already installed in the previous two years.

Taking a leaf from our book, South Hobart community’s bulk purchase scheme was overwhelmed with 300 expressions of Interest, many of those now being installed.

Solar systems are very visible sign of sustainable living, and are valuable not only in reducing our own energy footprints, but in advertising the concept of sustainable living.

During the coming six months our climate project will step up into top gear, with home assessments, free shower heads, collective insulation working bees and so forth. Watch this space!

The Project Team

Pure wool Berber carpet.
Suit small room, very good condition.
Colour: flecked pinkish biege.
Size: approx 4.0 X 2.9 m with hall runs 3.0 X 0.8 and 2.4 X 0.8m and two largish off-cuts.
Contact Sue at shunt@tassie.net.au
[Sorry, this has now been taken up]

This information was kindly provided by Ruth at 187 Waterworks. Timely advice as we go into Summer.

The best thing about having a plan is that it requires you to think about what you will do, discuss it with your household, and write it down – so everyone knows exactly what to do.

Question: When do I implement my plan?

Answer: This is a personal decision, and should be based on how prepared you are to face the predicted fire conditions…

There are two separate sections to a Bushfire Plan – preparation before the fire season, and actions during the fire season.

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Compost is good for the soil. And right now there are lots of weeds growing (like fennel, pictured right and red valerian, below) which you can use to make great compost.

Weeds for compost need to be:

• Free of woody material (so the compost breaks down fast)
• Free of seeds and fruit (so the compost doesn’t spread weeds).

Red valerian, fennel and the new growth on willows are all abundant in the valley at the moment and will probably all make great compost – ready in time to protect your soil against driving rain through Autumn and Winter.

Jonah @ 46

Waterworks Valley Landcare Group is holding a Bird Walk on Sunday, 6th December.

To be led by local resident Don Knowler (he writes the popular ‘On the Wing’ column each week in the Mercury)

Meet 10am at main gates of Waterworks picnic reserve. Bring a drink and binoculars if you have them.

Two working bees in November and the community garden (28 beds) is now all planted with its first crop of beans and spuds. Thanks to everyone who came along. Contact is Jonah.