From the Coordinators Desk |
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Hi,
Welcome to Autumn team. We have 2 outings in one week to you socially engaged this month. On Wednesday 20th SACTCG is inviting you to our Quarterly Meeting. It will be on World Frog Day, so who better than AnkeMaria Hoefer to give a very animated and entertaining talk on this special day? Then on Friday 22nd we have the launch of the 2023 CHiP report. Details below to keep you scrolling.
It is also time again for the Bug Blitz, so email me if you would like to help me again. (waterwatch@sactcg.org.au) Finally I need you to pencil in Sunday May 19th for the next QA/QC Workshop. This time hosted by Antia Brademann, Cooma Waterwatch. Cheers, Southern ACT Waterwatchers of the MonthCombined Tertiary Students Waterwatch team By Caitlin; 2. Funniest experience while Waterwatching 3. What you love/hate most about your site/s There’s not much to hate about the site, it’s frustrating when there’s been rubbish dumped on the site but generally it’s pretty good. 4. Your motivation for continuing to Waterwatch 5. Anything else you would love to share about yourself
Southern ACT Catchment Group news and eventsHead to SACTCG Calendar/News for the latest on the SACTCG website Southern ACT Catchment Group Membership Form.
Membership to the SACTCG is now a requirement for all Southern ACT Waterwatchers. Below is the link to a downloadable form. Please complete this as best you can and email/post/carrier pigeon it to me. Thanks to those who have done so already. ACT Environment Grants Open Applications for the ACT Government’s 2024-2025 ACT Environmental Grants Program are now open. • Environment Grants – grants of up to $35,000 are available for projects focused on enhancing ecological condition and connectivity, connecting people with nature and Caring for Country initiatives. • Environmental Volunteer Assistance Grants – grants of up to $5,000 are available for volunteer groups to improve their capabilities and capacity to engage in environmental stewardship through volunteer recruitment, promotion, training or planning activities. To discuss your project ideas please get in touch with us: Martin Lind waterwatch@sactcg.org.au
Dear Members, Southern ACT Catchment Group is delighted to invite you to our Quarterly Members Meeting on World Frog Day (20th March) This is a social event in which members can share achievements and exchange ideas with the SACTCG team and other Landcare groups in the Southern ACT Catchment group area. To mark the occasion, the delightful Anke-Maria (From Ginninderra Catchment Groups’ Frogwatch Program) will be sharing an exciting and educational talk on local frogs and how we can care for them. Please share amongst your volunteers and join us for the meeting, share in nibbles and learn all about the local frogs in Canberra. 🐸 When: Wednesday 20th March 5:30pm 6:30pm 🐸 Where: Hughes Community Centre (Whittle St, Hughes ACT 2605, See attached image for map) 🐸RSVP: Please reply to Joe Johnstone communications@sactcg.org.au to register your attendance Looking forward to seeing you there! Joseph Johnstone Treasurer needed Southern ACT Catchment Group is looking for a Treasurer for the Executive Committee. Please refer anyone who may be interested to our Chair Miranda Gardner –sactcg.chair@gmail.com The role is well supported with the previous treasurer still active on the committee, a paid bookkeeper and a General Manager. CHiP 2023 Launch “Hi there everyone, the CHIP report 2023 launch is going ahead on Friday the 22nd of March for World Water Day. Croke Place Wetlands in Evatt at 10:30am. 10:30am: Arrival, greetings, speeches RSVP here: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/TKrz3u9hh3 by the 12th of March for catering purposes. Kind regards, QA/QC Workshop Save the date Just a heads up that the next QA/QC will be on Sunday 19th May at Michelago Hall, NSW. I will be informing those teams who should attended. Look forward to an email soonish.
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Some shared snippets
Late last year, the Australian River Restoration Centre surveyed more than 1,000 residents of the ACT and greater ACT region about the Upper Murrumbidgee and their relationship with it. The ARRC’s survey showed that the community holds strong personal connections to the river. They value the Upper Murrumbidgee for cultural, social, environmental, and economic benefits, while many had strong connections relating to childhood and family experiences. They believed that these values need to be better considered in the river’s current and future management. Further details are available via the ARRC link above.
DCCEEW funding boost for the Upper Murrumbidgee
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has recently overseen the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023. This commenced on 7 December 2023 providing more options, more time, more funding, and more accountability to deliver the Murray Darling Basin Plan in full. Healthy and sustainable river systems are important for all of us, sustaining businesses, recreation, cultural use, and providing critical drinking water.
The DCCEEW announcement (see link below) provides details of their recent $50 million commitment for measures to improve the health of the Upper Murrumbidgee.
Andy Bodsworth
Executive Officer | UMCN
PO Box 82 Jamison Centre ACT 2614
Mob: 0439 602 769
contact@umcn.org.au
Aliens Among Us
What: Aliens Among Us Q&A – The Ferals that Ate Australia
When: Monday 18th March, 12-1pm AEDT
Where: Online on Zoom – register for the link to join (plus calendar and email reminders)
Invasive animals are significant issue for the Murrumbidgee River. Pigs, deer and horses do major damage to the headwaters of the river and many tributaries both in the ACT and NSW. Find more and RSVP here.
Expert Commentary: 2023 was the warmest year on record
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) announced on 9 January 2024 that 2023 was officially the hottest year in recorded history.
The announcement follows a preliminary press release, 30 November, by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which showed that data even up to the end of October 2023 meant that the year 2023 was about 1.40 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.
Copernicus’ full record, which now includes November and December data, saw that record temperature updated to 1.48 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.
CSIRO experts, who are undertaking a wide range of research to help governments, industries and communities tackle climate change, respond. Go to the article.