Cowaramup Bay News and Views Newsletter of the Gracetown Progress Association Inc

Autumn 2009 Edition 4- 3

______________________________________________________This is the eighth edition of the Cowaramup Bay News and Views. The aim is to keep interested members of our community updated on environmental, social, political, economic and cultural activities affecting the Gracetown community. If you have any information of general interest to contribute to the next issue, please send to jillando@bigpond.net.au or to the Gracetown Progress Association Inc, PO Box 356 Cowaramup WA 6284.

________________________________________________________________________

GPA EVENTS FOR EASTER 2009 Gracetown Development Forum

Friday 10 April 9am - 12 in Gracetown Hall. Updates from the GPA on the Landcorp development proposals and discussion on the

position the community wishes to take. Outcomes will be reported back to the community and form the basis of an action plan.

9-10am GPA will provide update and answer questions 10am - 12noon Discussion and possible actions

Annual General Meeting of Gracetown Progress Association Inc Friday 10 April 3pm in Gracetown Hall

Bay Swim Saturday 11 April 9.30am Town Beach

Registration 8.30am. $10 Adults, $5 Children on Short Course Stand Up Board Race, Paddle Race $5 entry

Flag Races for little ones and Tug of War Sausage Sizzle and Raffles, Cappuccino Express van

For more information call Irene 0408 090045

Gracetown Community Sundowner Saturday 11 April 6pm-9pm

Hot beef rolls, beer, wine and soft drinks on sale. Family and friends welcome Children must be accompanied by parents.

From the President's Diary Easter greetings to all from the President, Executive, and the Committee. Please keep Easter a safe and happy occasion. We are looking forward to a great social time, a productive meeting and an update on the residential development. Diary notes on previous events. 2008. Tues. 16 Dec. - John J, David M and self met with Geoff Broad, the Shire Director of Development and Planning to give the GPA and community views on the proposed tourist development and go through the structure plan procedure. 2009 Sat. 3 Jan. - am GPA Committee Meeting. Minutes have been emailed. pm General Meeting of the GPA and community specifically on the proposed tourist development. The meeting was attended by about 100 people including the Shire President Steve Harrison and Councillors Lyn Serventy and Jenny McGregor. Tues. 13 Jan. - TV - the WIN transmitter fan failed and the WIN card and channel were put into the SBS decoder for the 20/20 cricket. Wed. 15 Jan. - WIN transmitter fan renewed and going ok. Fri. 16 Jan. - Jill Gaynor from Landcorp met with John J, David M and self for discussion and viewing of the tourist area precinct. Tues. 3 Feb. - John J and self met with Wayne B about the proposed rally. Sat. 7 Feb. - Meeting with Barry House MLC to explain the GPA position and view the proposed tourist site. Tues. 17 Feb. - Attended the Affordable Housing Summit in Margaret River. Tues. 24 Feb. - John J, Wayne B and self met with Landcorp's Jill Gaynor and Catherine Bentley and Adam Parker from Benchmark. Sat. 28 Feb. - am GPA Committee Meeting. pm - meeting for the rally arrangements. - mark out the DIA G1 area. Sun. 1 Mar. - The Gracetown rally. Sbout 300 attended with good coverage in the local newspaper and some on GWN and WIN. Wed. 18 Mar. - Meeting at Witchcliffe for all Shire hall committees Jan M and self attended. Fri. 20 Mar. - Margaret River Festival opening at the cultural centre. Sat. 21 Mar. - MR Festival at the river mouth. The GPA Environment Committee shared a stall with Gnarabup showing flora and fauna from the Gracetown area. Deb R, Jan M, Jan and John J and self attended. Bruce Macaulay President GPA

Gracetown Bushfire Brigade News Many thanks to all the community members who have reduced the fuel load around the Gracetown area by trimming their bushes and trees as well as tidying the local area. It is now a very good time to ensure that all households have a fire plan set out so that they can decide either to ‘Stay or Go’ if a fire threat develops. The FESA website has plenty of information on this very important matter.

1. Permits Permits are still required up to the 12th May 2009 at this stage and these dates may vary if there are early rains. These variations will be published in the local press. 2. Brush and Cuttings Dump This will remain closed through to the 1st May 2009 and this is still necessary as we do not want a large pile there due to the severe fire risk it becomes! People are reminded that the Cowaramup Transfer Station on the Bay Road accepts vegetation throughout the year. Once again if you spot someone doing the wrong thing in this area please let a brigade member know or provide a little re-education session for that poor confused person. 3. Training It has been great to see a larger group of volunteers training regularly, every fortnight during the fire season, developing competency in the use of all aspects of the fire fighting equipment we have on hand be it the vehicles, hose or radio use, as well as emergency procedures and fire management skills. The brigade has been called out to several fires throughout summer in our immediate area including the Cullen Rd fire due to a lightning strike as well as assisting in the Bridgetown fires. Peter Delfs Fire Control Officer Gracetown Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.

RECREATIONAL SKIPPER’S TICKET

Wayne Baddock is an experienced Marine Studies teacher providing all training, assessment and use of training vessel. One Day Course- $250 Gracetown, Sun April 19

VHF RADIO COURSE-$220

( Includes theory exam, emergency scenarios and practical use of radios )

Sat May 23 & Sun May 24

406 EPIRBS-McMurdo Manual/Water activated $650-limited stock-delivered to your door

97555579 or email wayne@seasoaringmarine.com

Authorised Provider-Challenger TAFE

Social

Bremner Wedding

Congratulations and best wishes to Hayley Holmes (formerly of Mallacoota Vic) and Keighley Bremner of Gracetown were married out at North Point on 14th March. Weather was glorious and the setting just perfect with surfers in the background. Reception was held at Cullens Winery. Because family and friends were over for the wedding the couple will honeymoon at a later date.

Arthur Armstrong 80th Birthday Long time Gracetown resident and town identity Arthur Armstrong celebrates his 80th birthday on 6th April. Arthur, who likes a yarn and clad in his navy overalls, is well known for his generosity and community spirit, initiating and helping out on many community projects in the district and coming to the rescue of many a household in dire need of his skills as a plumber. Happy Birthday Arthur ______________________________________________________________________________________

Environment news

Revegetation sites 3000 plants were planted at 7 revegetation sites around Gracetown during the planting season. These were all of provenance and had been propagated from local seed by Cowaramup Tube Nursery. State and federal funding and Biodiversity Hot Spot funding was obtained through the Cape to Cape Catchments Group. 1000 plants went in at the creek revegetation sites and 2000 plants in at the boatramp, Melaleuca picnic and foreshore sites, South Point and South point carpark sites. The 3000 plants were all bagged and staked to protect from rabbits. Work was undertaken by volunteers on 5 community planting days and on our Recycle Tuesdays. We have high survival rates of 70% to 90% at the creek and boatramp sites, and 40% survival rates on our more exposed coastal dune sites. Much thanks to every one who participated in a very successful planting season. We have funding from Cape to Cape Catchments Group for another 1500 plants to add to our revegetation sites this year. A new revegetation site number 8 will be added. This new site is behind the fence opposite the shop and will help protect and maintain the important wildlife corridor connecting the Cowaramup Brook to South Point. Planting will begin in May and our first community planting day is planned for Sunday 31 May, Foundation Day long weekend. More details to come. Fencing Project Combined funding was obtained through Shire, GPA and Biodiversity Hot Spot Funding with The Cape to Cape catchments Group for fencing . This was the replacement of the fallen down fence along Herring/Melaleuca beach to Main Beach protecting the foredunes, replacement of the rusty broken wire of the fences at Melaleuca picnic area protecting the secondary dunes, and the construction of a low impact fence opposite the Gracetown store, set 10m back from the road to protect the important wildlife corridor.

This project was completed in December with help from the Cape to Cape Catchments Volunteer group removing all the old broken and rusty wire keeping the costs down, and Fencing The Capes contractors. Cape to Cape Catchments Volunteers The Cape to Cape Catchments Volunteers spent 3 days working with us in the bay over the second half of the year. The Cape to Capes Volunteer Group is assigned to environmental community groups within the Augusta Margaret River Shire each Thursday to help with on ground works. We have very much appreciated their support. As well as helping with the fencing ,hand removal of Geraldton Carnation weed was done at the oval boundary and along the fire track behind the hall, seed collecting for on going revegetation projects, hand removal of Veldt Daisy and Purple Pincushion weeds along Percy St road verge, and removal of a trailer load of green waste and grass clippings dumping from Percy St Shire reserve. They will be helping us again this year with further work days around the bay. Ring the Cape to Cape Catchments office on 97572202 if you are interested in joining their volunteer work group. Weeds The Percy St Shire reserve is part of the important wildlife corridor linking Cowaramup Brook to South Point and is also part of the fragile Huzzas cliff system . The vegetation protects the cliffs and provides a buffer from the eroding westerly winds. It is important to keep this vegetation healthy by not dumping green waste and grass clippings and not to clear the vegetation for paths and viewing platforms. Residents are encouraged to take their green waste pruning and grass clippings to the Transfer Station on Cowaramup Bay Rd towards Bussell Hwy. It is open all year, usually until 2pm each day. The town’s burn off site behind the fire shed will reopen for prunings within the next month. Green waste dumping is one of the major sources of weeds populating road reserves and the native vegetation. Geraldton Carnation Weed was sprayed by shire along Salter St and the fire breaks behind the hall. DEC sprayed along lefties track to Lefties carpark. Populations of Geraldton Carnation Weed had increased and new populations found, but the combined assault on this weed has also increased. Mapping of our major weeds has continued. Weeds tackled around Cowaramup Bay this year were Purple Groundsel, Broom, Geraldton Carnation Weed, Veldt daisy, Purple Pincushion, Broom, Victorian t-tree, Polygala, Flinders Wattle and Arum Lily. Some of these weeds are escapees from gardens. A “Weed Alert” flyer was written to encourage residents to remove these plants from their gardens. A plant list of “Local Plants for Limestone Coastal Gardens” has also been written to help find suitable replacements for coastal gardens. Both are available from the shop. Also at the shop is a pamphlet about Geraldton Carnation Weed and pamphlets “Weed-It-Out” and “Plant-This-Instead”produced by the Cape to Cape Catchments Group. Fire Area Big Rock track was slashed by the Shire in December. The weed load has increased since the fire of 21 January 2007. The fire area from 21 January 2007 is being monitored. Photo points are taken every second month and the regeneration of the coastal dune and melaleuca heath recorded. Populations of onion weed , geranium and purple groundsel have spread in disturbed areas. Please avoid accessing these burnt areas so we can reduce the spread of weeds, and to allow the area to regenerate with the least amount of disturbance. The area is still fragile and unstable. If any access is to be done please keep to walking along the emergency access tracks. Osprey Perch Ospreys were viewed using the Osprey perch last autumn/ winter. A female Osprey was photographed on the perch June 6 2008 with a tangled mass of fishing line and seaweed on her foot. Social activity was recorded up to and during June, but only solitary sightings since and no family activity in late spring when the young leave the nest. There are concerns that the breeding female did not survive and therefore it was an unsuccessful breeding season. A solitary male Osprey has continued to be sighted. On advice from Birds Australia it is hoped that the male will be able to attract a new female of breeding age (possibly from the Autumn courting season). The nest sights are highly valuable and usually never unoccupied during a breeding season. So we are hoping to record increased activity again soon. Other activities Cape to Cape Clean Up was organised with backing from Tangaroa Blue on October 11/12 to collect rubbish from our beaches, and Clean up Australia day on Monday 2 March. We participated in the annual Hooded Plover survey on February 21/ 22. The Cowaramup Creeks action plan was launched on 25 November 2008 after four years of development. It was developed with support from Ribbons of Blue, GPA, CCG, and the Department of Water to assist the Cowaramup Creeks community in prioritising actions in the catchment to protect and enhance the creeks. Suggested actions will be adopted by the environment committee. Copies are available for viewing at Gracetown Hall’s library. The Margaret River River Festival was held on Saturday 21 March 2009 to celebrate the unique values of our streams and coastline. The GPA Environment Committee participated with a display of potted native plants and pamphlets to promote our local plants. We also had a photo display of works done around Cowaramup Bay. It was a very enjoyable and successful day.

Peppis For Possums Over the winter/spring 80 Peppermint trees [Agonis flexuosa] were given away at the Gracetown Store as part of the “Peppis for Possums” program. This program, backed by Geocatch, is to help increase awareness of our Threatened residents the Western Ringtail Possum and to encourage the planting of Peppis, their main food source. Gracetown has a fragmented population of Western Ringtail Possums. We are participating in this program again this year and peppis will be available soon at the shop. Flora and Fauna

Red-eared Firetail Finch It has been a dry and reasonably warm summer. The Cowaramup brook stopped flowing on 12 December 2008, 6 months of flow since May 26 200. Two more months of flow from the previous year! Even so the bush has being showing signs of stress this summer with quite a few “drought” related deaths noticeably with Coastal sharks tooth wattle[Acacia littorea] and Basket bush[Spyridium globulosum].The Marris[Corymbia calophylla]begun flowering early this year in mid January and are still flowering strongly now. A relief after such a poor flowering last year! They are one of the favourite foods of the Baudins’ Black cockatoo. Melaleuca lanceolata is still flowering along the coast and the Candlestick hakea[Hakea ruscifolia] is beginning to flower with its showy white arms. The red Beaufortia sparsa[Swamp bottle brush] and Banksia littoralis[Swamp banksia] are flowering on the swampy creeks north of Gracetown. All are providing an important source of nectar at this time of year for insects, honeyeaters, honey possums and pygmy possums. Red-eared firetail finches have been sited more regularly along the south point track and at the brook. They are a shy, secretive bird but occasionally seen in well vegetated gardens in the bay. They have a mournful ‘wee-ee’ or ‘oo-ee’ cry and are seen singly, in pairs or small family parties. In flight they show a scarlet red rump. These firetails are seed and insect eaters and forage in grass, sedges and low shrubs. They favour Lepidosperma sps., including our local coastal sword sedge. They can be encouraged into our gardens by planting local coastal species. A plant list of available local plants for coastal limestone gardens is available at the Gracetown store. Fauna report forms are available at the Gracetown store to report any interesting fauna. These are to be forwarded on to DEC to add to data already collected for this area. To be appreciated by developers etc records must be official. Fauna of special interest are the Western Ringtail Possum[Threatened], Brush-tailed Phasogale[Threatened], Chuditch[Threatened], Carpet python[Special Protected], Bandicoot[Priority 4], Western Brush Wallaby[Priority 4], Echidna, Pygmy and Honey possums. All are found in Gracetown or its surrounds. Contact Debra Rooks 97555522 if you need help filling out the Fauna Report Form[eg.GPS, veg type] and to forward on to the appropriate person at DEC.

Debra Rooks, GPA Environment Committee ______________________________________________________________________________________

Gracetown Development Committee Autumn 2009 Progress Report

The Gracetown community was relieved to learn on the 16th February 2009 that LandCorp, with advice from the State Government, had withdrawn its application to the A-MR Shire for its Scheme Amendment No.198, Gracetown Tourist Development. This means that the town’s further development is now confined to the Residential Development – Scheme Amendment No.175, lodged with the Shire in late 2007 and which comprises 136 lots which will accommodate 146 housing units. Any move to establish a tourism facility in the town in the future would need to be activated by the State Government. The GPA has a strategy in place to make difficult such a move by government, which involves having the so-called DIA 1 removed from the Gracetown townsite in the Shire’s new Town Planning Scheme No.1. The strategy involves timely approaches to all Shire councillors and if necessary the local State politicians. For the local and wider community who has been following the Gracetown development process since 2000 and before, this tourism facility withdrawal has lifted a veritable blot from the Gracetown landscape. For those on the GPA’s General and Development Committees it has more than halved the strain of carrying out the task of monitoring and liaising with the State Government and its agencies in their planning of the further development of Gracetown, in accordance with the Leeuwin Naturaliste Statement of Planning Policy 1998. Since late 2003, when the GPA chose to participate in this planning as distinct from withdrawing and being ignored, which was the other option offered, it has been able to have a significant input into the process, which it believes will be to the benefit of residents and visitors in the future. Not the least of these benefits will be the ceding of the remaining 231 ha of the 276 ha site to the National Park; an undertaking reconfirmed by LandCorp on the 30th March 2009 at an informal meeting with members of the GPA’s Development Committee. Other information gleaned from this meeting with LandCorp is that the Amendment 175 for the Residential Development is scheduled to be advertised for public comment in June 2009. As the result of discussions between the Shire and LandCorp, more information will be included with this Amendment than is normally the case. The purpose of this is to provide the community with as much information as possible that is irrevocable as distinct from conceptual. Community information days involving LandCorp may be used at this point to bring the community up to speed with what is planned. Further to this, LandCorp has indicated it will make the Traffic Management Report available once it has brought it up to date, post the tourist facility withdrawal. LandCorp has also advised that further underground investigations will be undertaken within the townsite starting at the end of April. Later in the year a report of the annual water table levels and water quality will be made public. The latest LandCorp development timetable and other snippets from the LandCorp meeting will be available as part of the “Gracetown Development Forum” to be held in the Gracetown Hall on Friday the 10th April running from 9.00 am to 12.00 am. John James

Gracetown Tennis Club News

The club has had a successful start to the season with several new members joining and a healthy turnout each Saturday. New members are most welcome and Club Day is every Saturday during the season commencing at 4.30pm. Club Championships are currently being conducted under supervision of our Captain Peter Delf. The format is most intriguing with Pete being the only one who seems to know what is happening. Non members can hire the Courts for a nominal fee, and keys for Court Hire are available from the Bay Store. The club is very thankful that Cassie and her staff from the Bay Store continue to offer this service, so please support the store wherever possible. The Club will be running the sausage sizzle on the day of The Bay Swim so please ensure you buy tickets to support our club.

________________________________________________________________________

Sandgroper Contracting Controlled Liquid Waste Removal

Septic tanks, leach drains, grease traps, soaks wells and chemical toilets etc 9757 9720

_______________________________________________________________________

A large selection of fully self contained holiday homes available in and around The Bay for family holidays and short breaks.

Contact Denise Sumich www.seasidehomes.com.au , email info@seasidehomes.co

_______________________________________________________________________

Work Offered Body Care Alexander technique Learn to solve back problems, headaches, pain, and stress, and hone your skills using this method.

Phone: 97555934 Mob: 04274449554 Email psbi@iinet.net.au

Peter Spence Building Integrity Carpentry, cabinet/furniture repairs, painting and renovation Phone: 97555934 Mob: 04274449554 email psbi@iinet.net.au

________________________________________________________________________

Bay Store Gracetown and Gracetown Holiday Services While in Gracetown support your local shop and the community services it offers.

Check out the website www.baystore.com.au for a great resource for holiday accommodation, surf reports, and up to date GPA information.

________________________________________________________________________

*******GPA SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE ******* A reminder that Gracetown Progress Association Subs are now due for 2009/10

If your details have changed, please use the form on the following page. If it is possible to supply an email address, it greatly helps with sending information. Receipt book will be available at the Annual General Meeting 3pm Friday 10 April

or Saturday Sundowner at Gracetown Hall 6pm - 9pm

Gracetown Progress Association

Membership Application and Update Form:

Membership eligibility:

� 18 years and over

� Ratepayers within 5 Kilometres of Gracetown

� Rental residents of 6 months or more duration

Membership Details: Ratepayer Rental Resident

Name: ____________________________________

Postal Address

Residential Address: _______________________________________

Gracetown Address:._________________________

Telephone Home: _____ _____________________________

Gracetown: ______________________________

*Email: _____________________________________

(Email addresses will greatly help in forwarding information!)

Payment: Status Last Expired: _______________________

* If you are a current member, please check your details, and return this form, either by mail,

email or drop to Bay Store, Gracetown.

Please enclose your payment for Membership, $22.00 per person, either by:

• Cash (to the Bay Store with relevant info)

• Cheque made out to Gracetown Progress Association, PO Box 356, Cowaramup W.A. 6284

• Direct transfer to: Bank Name: Bankwest Margaret River

Account name: GPA General Account

Branch Code/BSB BSB: 306-021

Account Number: 416 622-2

Reference: 'Your name' - 'GPA Membership Fees'

If paying electronically, please ensure you forward above information as well to the GPA.

If you have any queries regarding membership status, would like an e-form or to forward

membership renewal or contact information updates please contact Jill Anderson, GPA

Secretary, on phone 93864861; fax 93862712; email jillando@bigpond.net.au or post to PO

Box 356 Cowaramup, W.A. 6284.