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www.belmontwetlands.com.au
Belmont Wetlands state Park Kalaroo Road, Belmont North NSW
PO Box 305 Charlestown NSW 2292 E: [email protected]
Belmont Wetlands State ParkneIGHBourHood neWs #4
Current ProjeCtsConservation Volunteers Australia instigated a community project to help protect the Belmont Wetlands by monitoring the water, flora and fauna health. Diane is a significant part of this project and is a current Environmental Management student at Hunter TAFE. Diane working alongside Tim (Senior Project Officer at Conservation Volunteers) and Greg (Belmont Park Ranger) has collected an abundance of data to help safeguard the quality of Belmont Wetlands.
‘In my travels throughout the park I have enjoyed meeting walkers, riders, locals and tourists, all of them keen to leave this wonderful legacy for those who follow’ Diane, Hunter TAFE student
We’d lIke to tHank…Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust thanks the NSW Environmental Trust for funding our community outreach program. We are working in partnership with Conservation Volunteers to promote stewardship of the Park to our near neighbours.
Get InVolVed!Subscribe to receive our Community Eco-Activity program via emailEmail [email protected] to subscribe to our
quarterly newsletter and activity program!
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Follow Belmont Wetlands State Park (Public Places)
Join Friends of Belmont Wetlands LandcareMeet us at the Site Office, Jewells Crossing, Kalaroo Rd Belmont North any Tuesday 8.30 am. Wear long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Green ArmyVisit Conservation Volunteers Australia’s web site: www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/green-army/
Our Landcare group welcomes new members.
Tim (Senior Project Officer Conservation Volunteers) and Greg (Belmont Park Ranger) doing water monitoring works on site
CommunIty aCtIVIty ProGram sUMMeR 2016Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust and the Friends of Belmont Wetlands Landcare Group invite you to join our program of community activities in Summer.
9am – 11am Saturday 5 November WEtLANd WALkABoutJoin ecologists from Conservation Volunteers Australia to discover the plants, wildlife and natural values of Jewells Swamp, a precious coastal asset.
ENd oF YEAr SummArY rEportConservation Volunteers Australia, working alongside the Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust, has held over 18 community eco activities with over 200 volunteers attending these events. As part of the Belmont Engagement Project funded by the Environmental Trust, Conservation Volunteers Australia has also hosted a number of club presentations, school outreach activities and water monitoring program. Feedback from these events has been very positive within the community from people of all ages and backgrounds.
‘Wonderful morning, great knowledge by organizers, 7 year old granddaughter has gained a lot of information’
‘I particularly liked the inclusiveness- all ages were involved and educated’
For all activities wear sunscreen, insect repellant, closed walking shoes and hat. Bring a water bottle and snack.
ALL ACtIVItIES mEEt At SItE oFFICE, JEWELLS CroSSING, kALAroo roAd BELmoNt NortH Bookings essential by the Friday before: Phone 4961 2358 or email [email protected]
Come and joIn us!Every Tuesday volunteers from the Friends of Belmont Wetlands Landcare Group spend our mornings working together to restore the catchment and biodiversity values of the reserve. The Park stretches 4.5 km along the coast from Redhead to Belmont South so there’s always plenty to do!
The Landcare group restores native habitat, controls weeds, protects and enhances the wetlands, stops erosion, and plants native vegetation. It’s hard but rewarding work and we enjoy the camaraderie of working side by side in this beautiful outdoor environment. We finish about 12 noon and have a barbecue lunch. Come and join us!
www.belmontwetlands.com.au
The recent updates within the beach permit system for Belmont Wetlands State Park has been a fantastic success. The permit system was introduced in December 2015 to promote and support responsible off-road vehicle access and use along Nine Mile Beach, which is located between the areas of Redhead and Blacksmiths. This system is designed to encourage environmental awareness of beachgoers who enjoy our beautiful sandy beaches. Rangers have been employed to support the system.The beach front is an invaluable natural resource.
The beachfront and the stable sand dunes play an important role in protecting our Australian coastline. They act as a vital buffer against wave damage during storms, wind, salt water intrusion and other forces of nature. Human activity such as irresponsible 4-wheel driving can upset this delicate balance and destroy the sand dunes. A well-formed track has been established to the beach front before vehicles need to engage 4WD ready for beach driving. The dunes are out-of-bounds so that they are available for walkers and are being rehabilitated for future generations.
Supporting the EPA’s illegal dumping strategy, Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust has encouraged a change in attitude to more responsible behaviour by our visitors, resulting in far less rubbish blighting the natural beauty of the area. Well done beach goers! Keep reporting and challenging any irresponsible behaviour that you see.
A revised Beach Permit system will begin in December 1st, 2016. Annual permits for 2017 will be available and are current to March 1st 2018. All 2016 Annual permits will expire on March 1st 2017. Early renewals in 2017 are encouraged.
For more information about beach usage pick up a copy of “Guidelines for Access and Use of Nine Mile Beach” from our local agents at Redhead, Belmont North or Blacksmiths. Lake Macquarie CC and Tourism Centre also have a copy of the information. You can find further information on our website: www.belmontwetlands.com.au
Money collected from the permit system was used to develop this beach trail
PermIts: suCCess for BeaCHGoers
australIan PIed oysterCatCHer The Australian Pied Oystercatcher is an unmistakable bird species. With its distinctive black and white plumage, bright red bill and loud piping call it is a familiar bird to many people who visit the beautiful sandy beaches around Belmont Wetlands State Park. The pied oystercatcher is found around the majority of the Australian coastline, commonly making mudflats and sandy beaches their home. Pied Oystercatchers have suffered significant declines throughout their distribution range and their current population has reached levels as low as 10,000. These wader birds are classified as an endangered species in NSW.
The Australian Pied Oystercatcher is commonly seen poking through the sand or mud on the hunt for sand-worms, molluscs or crabs, occasionally using their specially adapted bill to prise apart molluscs or hammer on tough shells. Young pied oystercatchers are one of the few wader bird species that are fed by their parents using this particular feeding technique.
BloomInG suCCess — WIldfloWer WalkConservation Volunteers Australia and the Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust led a wildflower walk on Sunday 18th September. 33 neighbours attended and enjoyed the experience.
Feedback was very positive: “Any activity that takes you out into the local environment and educates at the same time is wonderful!’
The Australian Pied Oyster-catcher favours intertidal flats of inlets or bays, open beaches and sandbanks.
meet Volunteers joHn and CarolIneI moved to Belmont in 1959 when Coffs Harbour Rutile moved their operations to 9 mile beach to obtain larger leases. I worked as a plant operator separating heavy mineral from the sand, then in ‘Preparation and Restoration’ of the sand dunes until I retired in 1986. Caroline and I used different tracks to walk to the beach, and that’s when we began to clear Bitou bush and Lantana. We would love the park restored to the way we remember it prior to mining. We have had surprising results on the North Western Dune and the Wildflow-er Walk, by simply freeing the natives that are being choked by weeds, and clearing around them, thus allowing seeds to drop, and away they grow! That way we don’t
introduce more weeds and there’s little maintenance required. Besides the Gilbey Walk, we have formed many tracks we enjoy walking along, pulling out the odd weed as we pass.
We have many favourite spots within this special park, which we have named for ourselves, such as the Secret Forest, with its ancient Banksias, palms, tree ferns and rare trees, such as the Woody pear.
Each day in this park brings more pleasant surprises, like new bark on the eucalyptus
trees, new discoveries, such as native flowers and wild life and the sounds of birds – sheer joy!
John and Caroline
4-Wheel drivers and other beachgoers enjoying the sunshine at Nine Mile Beach
