Marlo Landcare working bee, AGM and some important BIRD FLU UPDATE
Our next working bee will be on Sunday 21 June from 9.30 until about 11.30. The activity will be Sea Spurge weeding in the MOTS Beach area. We will meet at the MOTS carpark. Tools will be available but if you have a favourite trowel please bring it. Our past work on Sea Spurge over several years has been quite successful but follow up is needed every year to remove small seedlings and any bigger ones that we have missed.
We have had a couple of requests to help with tree planting around the area. I will send out the details (time and place) when we get firm dates.
Our AGM date is coming up fast. The committee set Tuesday 7 July as the provisional date but I will confirm this and advertise the details with agendas etc in the next week or so. The AGM will be followed by an ordinary meeting. All positions will be open and we welcome people interested in taking on a committee role.
One of the main frustrations that confronts anyone trying to do planting outside a well fenced area in our district is browsing by deer. We are looking to assemble a list of native shrubs and trees that deer dont like. There are existing lists of plants that deer don’t like but many of these are exotic (and even weedy) species. If you have discovered native plants that deer dont eat please let me know.
IMPORTANT Some notices and updates:
Sea Spurge control in the Snowy Estuary - thanks to the 7 members who braved some dodgy weather last Sunday to keep up the Sea Spurge control effort. This has now been running for several years and we have the infestations down to a few isolated patches of larger plants and rather more widespread extensive seedlings. Seedlings grow from seeds washed in on the tide as well as seed stored in the sand so persistence will be needed to keep infestations under control.
We are hearing about the first confirmed records of H5N1 bird flu on mainland Australia, in south-west Western Australia. There are no confirmed cases on the east coast (yet), but it likely to be a matter of time. Dave Butler has drawn my attention to a website with information on signs to look out for and where to report sick birds and mammals, where bird flu is a possible cause. At the moment this is most likely to be sick seabirds and marine mammals like seals. The site is:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza/report
3. We have been invited to help out with a couple of member's planting projects. The first of these is for Dave Butler, who has a block on Brodribb Drive on the corner with Neptune Court. Dave has invited people who might like to help on Wednesday 1 July from 10.00am.
4. The weeds brochure is progressing. Lead by Emma, we have selected the featured weeds and a graphic designer to put it together. We are assembling photos and information about the weeds and their control.
AND FINALLY
5. Confirming the AGM for Tuesday 7 July starting at 5.30 pm. The AGM will be followed by an Ordinary meeting It will be at 34 Willis Avenue Marlo. Agendas, etc will follow.
Reminder to keep an eye on our Facebook page as well as the FEVL page for events and updates.