Fourth Creek Walking Trail Project

2007 Project Report

The drought made caring for last year's plantings hard work. However, by carting water (a very time consuming and tedious task), I managed to save most of the new plantings. I guess we have to accept that there will be the occasional reminder from Mother Nature that there is a natural cycle that we cannot do much about.

I can also accept that there is a level of vandalism in our parks that we cannot do much about; the sight of markers next to plantings is too much for some people.

But I was upset by the slashing of new plants by contractors to National Parks, especially when there were markers clearly on view. Markers and all went!

We continue to work with the Department to improve communication and generate better outcomes in the future.

Don - Project Coordinator

2006 Project Report

I am pleased to report that the Bridal Creeper rust referred to in my 2005 report has "taken". Further applications of the rust were applied in August and I am quietly confident that this is one pest plant that can be controlled. If only a virus or rust could be found for all the other pest plants that thrive in the area.

The heavy rain in November last year (I recorded 94 millimetres in a 48 hour period), caused significant scouring along the bank and worst of all, the floodwaters brought down and deposited seeds from pest plants growing further upstream. A few earlier plantings also disappeared.

The work undertaken by National Parks adjacent to the main road leading to the Falls required some fill to be brought in and it came as no real surprised to me to find pest plants emergning in the first rains.

The working bee this year was devoted to planting - together with my specimens, a further 130 trees and shrubs have been added to the area.

Don Project Coordinator

2005 Project Report

At the beginning of September, areas of bridal creeper on the northern boundary of the project area were treated with rust virus. I am hoping that the rust 'takes' because there are areas of bridal creeper in inaccessible areas adjacent to the project area.

Additional planting has been undertaken. Since the project began in 1996, I estimate that approximately 300 local trees, shrubs and grasses, etc. have been planted and survived. This, together with the work of the Morialta Residents Association, is transforming the area.

National Parks have inspected the hazard referred to in previous reports and indicated that perhaps the Green Corps could address the problem. No action has been taken to date.

Don Project Coordinator

2004 Project Report

Bursaria spinosa

I have had some success, however over the years. Fennel has all but been eliminated, as has Salvation Jane. Broom, Rice millet grass and Bridal Creeper in particular, continue to pose a threat. This year, a new pest plant has appeared to add to my problems, white flowered fumitory. It is widespread and not only in the project area.

Apart from trying to keep the worst of the pest plants under control, my emphasis has been (and will continue to be) the planting of indigenous plants. I am currently raising Bursaria spinosa which I will plant next year. I am pleased I took some cuttings of the sole Correa glabra in the project area, as it was washed away in the recent August flood.

Don Project Coordinator

2003 Project Report

Last year's chain sawing and swabbing of some large olive trees was successful. Other weed control measures have included clearing around new plantings and some spraying. Losses of previous years' plantings have been minimal.

This year's working bee was directed largely towards planting, complementing my own earlier plantings. Over 130 plants, comprising 15 different species, have been planted this year. I have taken some cuttings from the sole Correa glabra in the project area and hope to plant these next year. A male Gang-gang Cockatoo was sighted at the working bee.

A works request form has been submitted to National Parks asking them to attend to some serious erosion on the walking path on the northern side of Fourth Creek. The erosion, caused by people climbing down the bank to get to the creek, is gradually encroaching onto the path and has become hazardous.

Don
Project Coordinator
Fourth Creek Walking Trail Project.

Planting during working bee
August 2002

2001 Project Report

Work in previous years has resulted in Fennel being largely eliminated, as has Broom. However, the neighboring property continues to be a rich source of pest plants, in particular. Broom and Bridal creeper.

Last year's report referred to some smaller plantings being given a whipper snipper "hair cut" the previous year. This year some were trampled by construction workers while working on the car parking areas at the end of the project area.

I am waiting to see whether railing taken down during the construction phase is replaced - new tracks have already appeared.

In 1997, a number of Acacia retinodes were planted along the creek line and until recently, were thriving. Most have now died, along with a large self sown mature specimen of the same species.

The Morialta Residents Association has continued its planting and weed control work.

During the last twelve months I have participated in Bird Australia's national bird count, with my project area included in one of my sites. I have been surprised at the scarcity of species in the area, particularly smaller birds.

Don - Project Coordinator

2000 Project Report

Of particular concern is the private land adjacent to the project area which is heavily infested with olives, broom, bridal creeper and blackberry. It is important for the long term future of my project and of the park that the private owners are required to address these infestations. Nevertheless, with the-possible exception of bridle creeper, I have been successful in keeping our land relatively clean of these pest plants.

The hard work done in previous years to combat fennel appears to have paid off. A rough count in September showed that approximately 200 of the trees planted since the project began in 1996 are alive and well. I will take great care this year to ensure that some of the smaller plants that were given a whipper snipper "haircut" last year are more clearly visible.

Large numbers of people walk through this project area and there is a need for interpretive signs and also a wonderful opportunity for National Parks to educate visitors on the work being done by the Friends on its behalf.

The Morialta Residents Association has again been active in part of the project area with plantings and weed control.

This years working bee was devoted to hand pulling an extensive path of Euphorbia and on spraying along the creek line.

Don - Coordinator

1999 Project Report

Planting during working bee
August 1999

I spent most of last summer eradicating noxious plants along the creek line. Fennel was particularly rampant. I cut and swabbed my way from the end of the walking trail downstream to the old fig tree (which incidentally appears to have finally succumbed), removing Fennel, Blackberry, Broom, Dog Rose and Ash. It will be interesting to walk the creek bed this summer to see the extent of any regeneration.

A working bee in September was largely devoted to planting - Acacia pyenantha and Acacia rupicola, Callitris preissii, Allocasuarina verticillata. Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata and Dodonaea viscosa. Earlier in the year I planted a number of Leptospermum lanigerum along the creek line to replace those planted last year, most of which did not survive the dry summer. The Morialta Residents Association has continued planting along the creel line in the area downstream from the old fig tree.

Don
Project Coordinator

1997 Project Report

Removal of exotic plants
August 1997

Work on the project has been mainly directed towards weed control and I am pleased to report that there is far less Salvation Jane in the area than there was 12 months ago. There is however, more Bridal Creeper than I had initially located along with some revegetation of Fennel and Millet in previously sprayed areas. Millet in previously sprayed areas. Millett. paspalum and Blackberry persist and a concentrated spraying effort will be required to control these weeds.

Planting in Fourth Creek
August 1997

A good deal of planting has been undertaken, firstly with our 70 Acacia retinodes seedlings supplied by Ron Saers, nearly all of which at the time of writing were thriving and recently, at a group September working bee, 48 plants consisting of Rubus parvifolius, Allocasuarina verticillata, Psoralea australasica (now Cullen australicum), Dodenaea viscosa, Ixodia achillaeides and Hardenbergia violacea raised by the group, were planted. I have collected seeds for Callstemon sieberi, Leptospermum lanigerum and Bursaria spinosa which I will sow this spring for planting next year.

Don
Project Coordinator
Fourth Creek Walking Trail Project.