Short term projects
Replicating Grey Box Day in the north of Adelaide: The Understorey Project
Wittunga Botanic Gardens: June 9 2012
Gawler Natural Resource Centre: June 17 2012
In May 2009 the Grey Box Group held the first ‘Grey Box Day’ to celebrate and recognise this valuable plant community. Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) woodlands are currently nominated for protection under the EPBC Act given their significance on a national scale. This event saw the Grey Box Group distribute 250 kits that contained 20 local indigenous understory plants to residents at a subsidised cost. This proved to be so popular that all the plant kits sold out well before the event.
In 2012, Grey Box Day will be held once again as part of an NRM grant initiative. Following on from the success of this event, the Urban Biodiversity Unit (UBU) sought additional NRM funding to recreate the event somewhere else in Adelaide. As Grey Box Day services the south of Adelaide, it made sense to extend into the north of Adelaide and from there ‘The Understorey Project’ was born. UBU, along with the support of the Gawler Environmental and Heritage Association and the Gawler Natural Resource Centre, have developed this event to increase the profile of the biodiversity of the vegetation associations surrounding the Gawler area. These associations include Mallee Box and Peppermint Box grassy woodlands, Native Tussock, and Iron Grass grasslands. It is hoped that by re-creating the understorey, the birds, butterflies and lizards that rely on these plants for food and shelter will return and increase in number over time.
More information:
- Grey Box Day will be held on June 9 at Wittunga Botanic Gardens. Contact UBU on 8278 0600 or info@urbanforest.on.net to order your box of plants.
- The Understorey Project will be held on June 17 at Gawler NRC. Contact the NRC on 8523 7700 or admin@nrcgawler.org.au to order your box of plants.
Revegetation Program and Bats at Bimbowrie Conservation Park
22 – 24 June 2012
Spend three days at Bimbowrie Conservation Park, working with the Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team to plan and prepare for a planting trip. At night the team will monitor bats in the area and explain how to use software to identify bat species by their echolocations calls. There will be also time to spot some Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies!
Bimbowrie Conservation Park is three hours from Clare and there is limited public access to the conservation park. This is an extraordinary opportunity to spend a weekend in one of the best-kept secrets in the Mid North and experience the real South Australian outback. The accommodation will be in the historic old homestead and food will be provided.
More information:
Animal Management Volunteers - Cleland Wildlife Park
Ongoing
Animal Management volunteers work closely with the keeper staff at Cleland Wildlife Park helping with the care and husbandry of our captive native wildlife population.
While there is no direct handling of the animals volunteering at Cleland can be a worthwhile and rewarding experience. Some of the tasks you may be involved in include food preparation and cleaning of the food prep area, cleaning exhibits and enclosures and creating behavioural and environmental enrichment tools.
Volunteers at Cleland Wildlife Park are rostered on for an allocated day a minimum of 2 days per month.
More Information:
Food bag production volunteers - Cleland Wildlife Park
Ongoing
Assist with the production and bagging of food pellets. These bags are provided to park visitors to hand feed animals throughout the park. We will provide any relevant training to ensure you are able to complete your voluntary work safely and confidently.
Food bag production volunteers are rostered on for a minimum of one shift per month.
More information:
Cocky tucker planting
Ongoing
Observations have been made of breeding Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos travelling some distance to find food and there is a possibility that the species is becoming too reliant on introduced species such as Aleppo and Radiata Pines. To begin to address this issue, DENR and the AMLR NRM Board are offering community members Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo ‘food plants’ to plant in their backyard. The aim of the plantings is to provide food resources close to their breeding sites to help breeding pairs rear their young. Plants will be provided to people who meet the following criteria:
- live in a foothills suburb south of Tea Tree Gully and north of Stonyfell
- have a sunny spot in your front yard / backyard
- have space to plant five shrubs between 1 and 2 metres apart
- are prepared to leave the plants to grow for at least 10 years.
The plant species we have available is the Erect Hakea, Hakea carinata, whose fruits are a favourite meal of the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. The Erect Hakea is a medium growing shrub to about 1.5 – 3 metres tall.
More information:
Adelaide Gaol administration volunteer
Ongoing
Adelaide Gaol is looking for a volunteer to help with general office administration. This is an excellent opportunity to gain real life work experience and learn new skills in the historic surrounds of the gaol.
This position will initially require one session per week lasting between 5 and 7.5 hours. The ability to work extra sessions is advantageous, but not essential.
The successful applicant must have a clear and concise phone manner, intermediate computer skills, and be able (or willing to learn how) to operate Point of Sale and process credit card transactions. They will be responsible for a range of tasks including maintaining a guided tour booking system, as well as general office administration, filing, and working with other volunteers.
To register your interest or for more information please contact Bryn or Karen on (08) 8231 4062 or email adelaidegaol@sa.gov.au
Education Officer - Mt Remarkable National Park
May - November 2012
Every year Mount Remarkable National Park welcomes around 100 schools from May to November as part of the 100 Schools Project.
As the Education Officer you will be responsible for:
- contacting schools and promoting the 100 schools educational package
- supporting teacher and school groups
- acting as a point of contact for teachers
- evaluating the effectiveness of the project
- recording schools contact details and interests
- working with DENR staff to organise practical conservation activities.
The position is for a minimum of four weeks but an extended period may be negotiated. Dates are negotiable from early May till late September.
A degree qualification and experience in environmental education programs and working with schools and students is essential.
More information:
Plant-a-Feast Days – community planting events for the yellow-tailed black-cockatoo
Black Hill Conservation Park: 12 May 2012
Anstey Hill Recreation Park: 20 May 2012
Join DENR for the first year of the revegetation project, Plant-a-Feast Days, which helps to restore the habitat for the declining numbers of the yellow-tailed black-cockatoos.
Black Hill Conservation Park
Time: 10am - 2.30pm (approx)
Where: Black Hill Conservation Park. Meet at Wildflower Garden, Black Hill Conservation Park, off Addison Avenue.
Anstey Hill Recreation Park
Time: 10am - 2.30pm (approx)
Where: Anstey Hill Recreation Park. Enter via gate 18, Range Road South, Houghton.
Please bring sun/rain protection, gloves for planting, sturdy footwear, snacks and water. Hot drinks and BBQ lunch will be provided.
To RSVP or for more information, please contact Liz McTaggart on (08) 8336 0930 or liz.mctaggart@sa.gov.au.
