Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Conservation Parks Incorporated

Olive Hill Project Site - Morialta Conservation Park.

The following is part of a fact sheet I produced for Pembroke School & Rostrevor College geography students. I hope you too find the information contained herin of interest.

Graham Churchett

A Volunteer Revegetation Project

Explanatory Note.

Introduction

It is approximately 8km from Adelaide and adjacent to residential developments on its western and south-western boundaries.

Olive Hill is unfortunately typical of many areas adjacent to settled areas where native vegetation has been removed due to agricultural or horticultural pursuits then abandoned. Agricultural activities modify and increase soil fertility enabling introduced plants (weeds) to quickly become established and take over any remnant native vegetation which may still exist.

In addition to residual weed populations found on site more weed species are introduced into such areas by the wind, mud on vehicles, on animal fur and by other vectors. Introduced animals such as Starlings, Black Birds and Foxes, which eat olive fruits along with other weed species, disperse seed widely in their scats.

Spread of Olives

Weeds

Project History and Future Actions

• A survey of remnant species found that only 55 were recorded over a period of 5 years. Many species were poorly represented and in a number on instances only one ot two specimens were recorded.
• In 1986 the Firends of Black Hill & Morialta Inc, along with the National Parks & Wildlife Service, commenced removing olive trees. The service employed heavy equipment to rip out trees while volunteers adopted cut & swab chemical methods.
• Chemical used was Garlon at a rate of 1:30.
• Great care was taken so that remnant species were not damaged.
• When sufficient area was cleared, particularly on the western slopes, planting commenced and each year plantings took place using tube-stock raised by the group from local and nearby seed sources.

• olive removal has continued at the summit and down the northern slopes. Planting has been carried out each year and will continue until the entire area is planted out sufficietnly to enable natural revegetation processes to continue to restore flora and fauna communities.
• Ongoing weed control will be necessary but we will not have to deal with large trees and dense olive thickets which we originally encountered in 1986.

One such native is the Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx). Some have been removed near the boundary to the north and they line the roadway and flank the valley slopes right up into the main valley of the Morialta Conservation park. These plants are endemic to Kangaroo Island, southern Flinders Ranges, near Port Lincoln and Eyre Peninsula.

Other Olive problems

Biological Control

Summary

2007 Project Report

While this has damaged some of the earlier Friends plantings, it also appears to have killed the only Correas in the project site.

Regrowth of weeds is now the challenge, as not only does fire stimulate the germination of many of our native plants, it also results in the germination of many weed species.

Recent working bees have looked at the regrowth in the site, and we dealt with some Olive seedlings, Bridal Creeper, and sprayed Artichoke coming up on the edge of the project area.

We will need to work with the Department to decide the best way forward at this site, and look forward to the much anticipated Draft Fire Management plan to help inform us in the direction the Department is heading with controlled burns.

John Fleming - On behalf of the committee

2005 Project Report

Rostrevor college too again planted in the eastern portion of the project site as part of the National Tree Day activities.

Other working bees have been directed to woody weed control and plant surveys and a total of 300 hours have been dedicted to this site this year. We have been advised that a cool burn will be undertaken from the Woodforde Track to the south later this year and whilst I am not an advocate of the practice, the decision is political so as to protect property and will take place no matter what. However, it concerns me that we are prepared to burn areas in out parks but I see the huge thickets of olive, and other woody weeds, through Skye and other sites on private land that could be the instrument of a disaster but, I head nothing from the policitical front to have landowners play their part in lowering the fire potential of such areas.

We have set up photographic markers in the proposed burn area and will monitor after the burn to assess the effects.

Graham site coordinator

2003 Project Report

Chainsawing Olives
October 2003

The Friends also received a grant to control woody weeds and this has been partly applied to the removal of Olives and other woody weeds in this site.

Graham for Friends Executive

2001 Project Report

Don, Lola and Ann
April 2001

We have ceased cutting large olive trees this year but have concentrated on regrowth and seedlings within planted areas to ensure that sites are not going to re infest. We have also planted another 520 seedlings here and while rabbits and kangaroos have eaten some plantings on the edge of the eastern section by the enclosure, others are doing well.

Contract spraying is continuing when the weather permits but the latter part of this year has been frustrating weather wise.

Next year we will continue to cut large olive trees on the northern edge of the project area then plant in May to further extend our regenerative program.

Earlier plantings have now grown, and together with piled heaps of olive and other weeds, they have provided habitat for many small creatures. Insects, small lizards and spiders etc have increased, and likewise, so have other animals which prey on them.

Leaving piles of olive, rather than burning, has provided a much needed habitat as the area has little leaf litter or rock which might give small fauna cover.

This project, the group's first, is a winable site but, we must keep up the effort to achieve our goal here. I would ask every member to consider some commitment here each year, even if it is only a few hours once a year it will make a difference to our collective outcomes.

Graham Churchett - On behalf of the Friends Executive.

2000 Project Report

Stopping for morning tea
July 2000

Contract spraying and cut/swab activities have also made their mark on weed populations and grant funds obtained, will see this work continue into the future. Evidence of rabbits was found during our extensive weed control programs this year and our thanks to Andy for fumigating burrows. Breaks in the enclosure were also found and repaired so as to prevent entry by any remaining rabbits.

Friends members have attended four working bees and are adopting more productive methods of weed control by spraying small to medium sized weeds. In addition, students and staff of the following; Thorndon Park, Campbelltown, Newton and Athelstone Primary Schools plus Pembroke School year 10 students, have made valuable contributions to the work we have started here. Thank you to all who participate in the ongoing work on this project and particularly to Pembroke students and other schools for their interest and time.

Erica, on behalf of the Group Executive.

1999 Project Report

Don and Ann planting
July 1999

At two of our working bees this past year we've concentrated on Olive and other weed removal on the Northern slope and have continued to work our way down the hill. We're getting to the steep bit which should be an interesting challenge.

Our Winter planting bee was poorly attended (though exceedingly well attended by those present thank you!) but we did plant 150 of the 300 seedlings available. The remainder have since been planted in another project area in Morialta.

Graham Churchett and the participating schools have again been working very hard with weed removal this year and we greatly appreciate their efforts - thank you all!

I've been attempting to control Bridal Creeper which has been a fast growing weed on Olive Hill; repeated spraying has still not knocked it on the head. Some Boneseed has quickly been pulled out as I refuse to let it take overagain.

Our next working bee in November will involve a scouring clean-out of wicked wayward weeds on the western slope. Hope to see you there.

Thank you to all who participated this year.

Erica
Project Coordinator

1997 Project Report

Taking a well deserved break from cutting olives
October 1997

This year, Ranger Ron Saers from National Parks, commenced a major Olive removal programme adjacent to the project site and this will speed up the rehabilitation of this section on the Park. Earlier plantings on the southern and western slopes have done very well and these areas, which were once weed infested, are now providing excellent habitat.

At present we are cutting Olive from the top of the Hill and sprialling down. Checking and rechecking of cut areas is an ongoing activity and 125 plants were put in during May and June of this year.

It is planned to increase planting activities now that more areas are being cleared and made available.

Olive Hill is an Executive Committee coordinated project and on behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank Friends members, members of the public, students and staff from the Collaborative School Landcare Project and Pembroke School for the excellent effort they have given the project.

Graham for Friends Executive Committee

1990 Project Report

There are now increasing areas of the hill lacking mature olive trees, but no real shortage of seedlings. All areas will need (and get!) follow up spraying, but for most of the east and west aspects the sizes are now manageable.

1989 Project Report

The heat kept the throngs away for this effort. Indeed, I was moderately confident the Park would be closed and I could come home again - but it wasn't Three other adults and two junior members turned up. A few more people would have enabled a more thorough search, but we were fairly happy that most of Olive Hill was reasonably covered.

Despite suggestions that rabbits would be squatting under thick branches and bulldozed olive stumps we found no evidence of this, based on the absence of droppings and scratchings around what appeared to be suitable "squatting areas".

Rabbits In the vicinity of the tree plantings appeared to be remarkably few, with the concentration being in a band parallel to Brunners Track about halfway up the hill. A map is being passed to NPWS as requested. Finally, thanks to Bruce and Joy and children who made up two thirds of the team.

Explaining the planting out process
May 1987

On 30th April the weed control on Olive Hill took us mostly to the very southern edge of Morialta Park Some small olives and thistles were removed but the major week was some very large boneseed - most of the smaller boneseed having already been pulled, These were far too big to pull, some taking a full five minutes to dig out.

Certainly it was fairly strenuous, but the patch was small enough so that the end was always in sight. Still we may not have got to the end of the patch without the help of a strong turn-out of Athelstone Kiwanis. Thanks! On 21st and 28th May a total of about 750 trees were planted Actually a large percentage of the "trees" were shrubs, but the mix was designed to a balance over-storey and under-storey re-vegetation using plants raised from locally collected seed. Our thanks must go to Kieran whose knowledge and help in collecting, propagating and organising these occasions is invaluable.

Attendance was an average of 30 people on both days as well as another useful contribution from the Kiwanis and Apex, there were a number of new faces whom I hope we will see more of. Planting of plots was mostly done as team efforts rather than people slogging away alone. Also refreshments and enough nibbles for a main meal were available producing a relaxing and more social gathering than one might expect at a "working bee"

With another successful planting session behind session us, a well attended weeding and continuing olive control by the NPWS, there is plenty of cause for optimism over Olive Hlll.