Red Hill work activity Sunday 1 March 2020
Welcome to the March working bee on Red Hill. We have had over 80mm of rain so far this February and about half that amount in January, which has helped put some moisture back into the landscape. Some green shoots of grass are starting to appear, but the weeds – St John’s Wort, verbascum, Briar rose, blackberry are also growing strongly. The rabbits are eating everything in sight! This month we plan to attack some small blackberry plants and to add some protective cuttings to struggling plantings to give them a chance against the ever hungry kangaroos and rabbits. (more…)
Red Hill work activity Sunday 2 February: CANCELLED
The scheduled work activity on Red Hill on Sunday 2 February 2020 has been cancelled owing to the forecast high temperatures and Total Fire Ban announced this week, combined with the likely poor air quality from the Ororral Valley and other bush fires.
The Regenerators is advised by the Parks & Conservation Service and their ‘Guidelines for Volunteer fieldwork in extreme conditions‘, which addresses extreme temperatures and poor air quality, as measured by PM2.5 levels (to obtain up to the minute information about air quality, there are a number of Apps, including the ‘Air Matters‘ App).
Red Hill work activity Wednesday 15 January 2020
Welcome to our first Regenerators activity for 2020! The plantings are surviving the worst that the weather can throw at them – maximums of 44oC and no rain since 5 November 2019. During our Christmas break some watering was undertaken by enthusiastic volunteers, but more is required. Our ever helpful ranger Martin Bajt has topped up our water cubes, which will enable a complete watering to be carried out on Wednesday 15 January 2020, subject to the usual weather warnings. (more…)
News about our Little eagles
Little Eagle about to be released after being banded Stuart Rae
The Red Hill Regenerators applied successfully to the ACT Government on 12 April 2019, for a grant of $30,000 to assist in a study entitled ‘The ecology and movement of ACT’s adult female Little Eagles“
Canberra Grammar helps on Red Hill
On 4 December 2019, 20 enthusiastic year 6 students and two supervisors visited Red Hill to experience some of the practicalities in repairing and conserving the environment. One team of students carried buckets of water to support some of the stressed recent plantings, while the other team learned about the many weeds growing on Red Hill, followed by a practical session with hand mattocks to chip them out. The Regenerators thank Canberra Grammar for supporting their local Nature Reserve.
Red Hill work activity Sunday 1 December 2019
The weather continues to be dry and hot since the Environment Day plantings six months ago. Further plantings six weeks ago are also suffering, and so this month’s activity will focus on watering all the plantings and spreading the recently delivered (thanks Marty!) cottamundra cuttings for kangaroo protection. The activity will be followed at 11am by morning tea and our AGM. Time: Sunday 1 December 2019 Work: 0900 to 1100. AGM 1100 to 1200 (more…)
Regenerators win awards
Congratulations to the Red Hill Regenerators volunteers for winning two awards in 2019:
- Awarded an ‘honourable mention’ at the ACT Conservation Council annual Environment Awards: Member Group of the Year award ‘for their work protecting and enhancing the Red Hill Nature Reserve’
- Awarded “Australian Community Media: Landcare Community Group Award” to Ross Kingsland, President, Red Hill Regenerators, at the 2019 ACT Landcare Awards.
More information about grants and awards won the the Regenerators.
Draft Red Hill Integrated Plan: public comments before 31 December 2019
The full Draft red Hill Integrated Plan was released for public comment on 13/11/19 by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD). Comments should be provided by 31 December 2019 to terrplan@act.gov.au
The draft plan considers four possible options for the context area and identifies a preferred option which includes the following recommendations (refer to the map in the attached document for further detail):
- Retaining open space which adjoins and links to the Red Hill Nature Reserve, preserving the ecological values of the area.
- Implementing buffers around the Federal Golf Course and associated development.
- Managing the Red Hill Nature Reserve in line with the Plan of Management for the Canberra Nature Park and the National Capital Plan.
- Identification of proposed upgrading to a number of roads and intersections to cater to the current traffic volume of the roads and prepare for future growth and capacity.
- Retaining residential zones adjoining the Nature Reserve.
- Expanding the Deakin Office Park (rezoning Deakin Section 66) to partly include further urban open space and commercial use.
- Increasing housing choice particularly for the ageing population through the development of a retirement village, to be located in the southern portion of the Federal Golf Course with access via Kitchener Street
More Information:
Draft Integrated Plan for Red Hill Nature Reserve and Surrounds (PDF 3.6Mb)
Appendix D – Traffic Analysis and Study (PDF 3.8Mb)
“Red Hill draft plan stymies Hindmarsh development plans” RiotACT 14 November 2019
The Red Hill Regenerators responded with a submission which was emailed to the ACT Government on 24 December 2019. More…
Red Hill work activity Wednesday 13 November 2019
For our mid month work activity we plan to lend a hand to our Hughes neighbours on the surprisingly large piece of bushland next to Carruthers Street, between Kent Street and Yarra Glen. On this bushland are a host of small cootamundra wattle plants, which will be easier to remove now rather than when they mature. As a byproduct, the cootamundra cuttings will be available for protecting our recent plantings. It’s a win-win!
Time: Wednesday 13 November 2019 Work: 0900 to 1230 (more…)
Red Hill work activity Sunday 3 November 2019
The weather forecast for Sunday predicts rain, which will be great for our plantings – but forecasts have not been great recently, so we’ll plan for a rain free morning. This month we will meet at the top of Brereton Street, Garran to do some woody weed removal along this side of the Hill. Morning tea will enable members to update on the latest news about the golf club development proposal, and to visit the part of the golf course where the ACT Government has earmarked for this development. Don’t forget that on Saturday 2 November 2019, Dr Michael Mulvaney will be conducting a nature walk. Check out the website for times and meeting place.
Time: Sunday 3 November 2019 Work: 0900 to 1230 (more…)