Greening Bathurst 2007 Chairman’s Report

The beginning of the year saw a very successful Climate Conference at CSU for which John Fry and his CVA team are to be congratulated. The conference was a catalyst for the establishment of the Bathurst Climate Action Network Group. GB is proud to support both the conference and the work of BCAN.

The start of the years also saw GB achieve valuable community recognition and publicity when Bronwyn Trathen organised a community based watering bee for Centennial Park.

Phillip Warner and the Kelso High Stream watch team drew community attention to the issues associated with dumping rubbish along the Macquarie River with a front page story in the Advocate. The story highlighted the need to educate the Bathurst community on caring for the river precinct.

Early in the year Chris and I attended the “Who Cares Seminar” on Social Trends in Environmental Issues” at Mt Panorama. This seminar provided interesting insights about the types of people who join groups such as this.

In April Peter Wilson approached the group with a very generous offer of paintings by the late Jo Ross to be sold as a fundraiser for GB. Novembers Art Auction was a very successful night raising in excess of $4600 for the group. This money will support on ground work and help to set up the Greening Bathurst Jo Ross Memorial Award for significant contribution to the improvement of the local environment.

During the year Chris lead the development of a submission by GB to the Department of Planning’s Central West Rural Lands Inquiry. GB publicly supported a minimum lot size for rural subdivisions to prevent the continued unsustainable fragmentation of rural lands. Our submission was well received.

This year we bid farewell to Michael Andrews and welcomed on board Julie Pownall as the Environmental Projects Officer for Bathurst Regional Council. Congratulations to Julie on her recent marriage. Julie has led the Raglan Creek project which is presently moving towards completion.

The year also saw Kelso High School, Macquarie Rivercare and All Saints’ College win major awards for their environmental works in the Central West Catchment Authority (CMA) Champions of the Catchment Awards. We congratulate all these groups and thank them for their ongoing commitment to the environment.

In May Jock, Phillip and myself gave a presentation to Bathurst Regional Council on the work of GB. Councilors were each given CD on GB including our information kit, submission to the Rural Land Inquiry, GB Charter, Strategic Plan and other bits and pieces. We spoke of GBs history and positive relationship with Council.

At mid year we were approached by Angela and Marjory Prior to become an environmental sponsor of the River Dreaming Festival. This cultural and artistic festival aimed at building support and community relationships with the local indigenous community through a series of workshops and community programs was a spectacular success and culminated in the magnificent giant lantern show on the river bank on November 10th.

GB was very proud to sponsor this event through the sale of the River Dreaming Platypus pins. It is to be hoped that in future Bathurst Regional Council will fall in behind the River Dreaming committee with financial and moral support.

After three years in the planning the GB website was finally launched at the Jo Ross Art Auction. Congratulations and thanks to all those who had input to this process but especially Heidi Fisher, the Bathurst TAFE and Mark McCormick from Net Maintain. GB now has an excellent educational and marketing tool.

GB is proud to continue to sponsor and support CVA’s ‘Classrooms to Country’ program aimed at getting school students out of the classroom and involved in ‘hands on’ environmental works. It was very pleasing to see Country Energy come on board with $5000 of sponsorship money for this program.

Macquarie Rivercare is to be congratulated for looking to sponsor the establishment of Tree Propagation nurseries at local schools including Bathurst High School, Kelso High School and the Assumption School. In the New Year GB may be approached to help these projects financially.

In the lead up to the Federal elections GB was inundated with invitations to meet the politicians as the various parties tried to “out green” each other. “Constructive” discussion meetings were held with Bob Debus, Malcolm Turnball, and Kerry Bartlett. Unfortunately the scheduled meet and greet with Peter Garrett did not eventuate. Thanks to Hugh, Nevil, Tracey and John for representing our interest at these meetings.

Tree Planting Days continued throughout the year with David Crooks and CVA at the helm. Successful plantings days took place at the Macquarie River, Hector Park, Edgells Park and Simplot to name a few. A most instructive Creek walk was lead by David Crooks down Hawthornden Creek as part of the Waterways Warriors program. We wish David all the very best as he leaves CVA for greener pastures.

The long awaited ‘Street Tree Audit’ report was released in September and GB meet with Australian Tree Consultants and interested community members at the RSL club on the 18th of September for an overview of their report. In the New Year GB will need to follow up this report with the Vegetation Reference Group to iron out some of the difficulties discussed at previous meetings, including protection of wildlife habitat.

Congratulations to Kelso High School and Philip Warner on their successful application for a Water Grant to provide rain water tanks for new buildings at the school.

The year ahead poses many not least of which will be the World Youth Visit to Bathurst and the mass plantings planned for July. John Fry has begun planning for this event but GB will be called upon to provide support.

Whilst the Jo Ross art auction, River Dreaming and the website were very exciting and rewarding ventures they have used up enormous resources of time and energy for the group. The main business of the group, vegetation management has been moved to the back burner in recent months.

Shrinkage in membership this year saw all of us called upon to do more. If we are to remain as busy and productive as this year we will need more members and a membership drive will be imperative in 2008.

Thank you all for your time, input and commitment over what has been a challenging and demanding year. I think the group rose to and meet with great success the challenges of 2007. I wish the GB membership and affiliates all the very best for 2008. Well done.

Wayne Feebrey,
December 2007