STEP has received an ACT Environment Grant of $9,900 for our project entitled: STEP Master Plan Stage 2 – Out Door Education Space.
News
News from the STEP garden
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher attends STEP Planting
Warrren Saunders, was quick to capture this great clip on his mobile phone of Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher planting a Hardenbergia at the STEP site on 1 April 2012. Thank you Warren!!!
STEP Newsletter Summer 2011
The Summer 2011 STEP Newsletter may be downloaded from this link.
- STEP News Summer 2011 (PDF)
Step Lot 100 Stage One Masterplan Panels
STEP has developed 5 colourful display posters with information on the iconic ecosystems of the southern tablelands. The display posters present the STEP plans for landscaping and planting stage 1 of the southern tablelands regional botanic garden, education and ecosystems recovery centre.
NSW Scientific Committee makes final determination on Snow Gum
Tony Lawson requested that STEP news publicise the news that the Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Tablelands Snow Gum, Black Sallee, Candlebark and Ribbon Gum Grassy Woodland in the South Eastern Highlands, Sydney Basin, South East Corner and NSW South Western Slopes Bioregions as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Endangered Ecological Communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
An Interview with Andy Russell
This article is based on an interview in April 2011 with Andy Russell, a founding member of STEP and currently both the STEP treasurer and Public Officer.
Telling the understorey
Barbara Payne of Quandong Designs, our pro bono landscape architect, is completing her work on the landscape design for the STEP site. This project is supported by an ACT Environment Grant entitled Growing Our Natural Capital, awarded to STEP in September 2010, by the former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and the National Arboretum.
Developing Molonglo Connectivity …a proposal
Members will be interested to know that the STEP Committee is supporting the Conservation Council’s application for an ACT Environment Grant round for 2011/2012.
STEP Working Bees
Working bees have been very productive recently. Now is a good time for STEP members to visit the STEP site and see what has been achieved so far. We are always glad to see members who would like to join our Thursday morning ‘working bees’.
The Birdlime Spider of Block 100
Article contibuter by Stephen Skinner
The Birdlime spider (Celaenia kinbergi) is an interesting member of the diverse family of Orb Weavers. She, and yes, she is the big spider, the male is tiny, builds a day-bed and the wonderful ‘lobster buoy’ incubation sacs and little more.
She is believed to lure her diet of moths using a pheromone-mimicking scent. The more she eats, the more of the incubation sacs she will construct, and the ground below her day-bed will be littered with moth carcasses. Given warm weather and so plenty of moths she may build one egg sac every five to seven days, taking a bit longer as the days shorten and the weather cools. She is a long lived lady and may have bunches of about a dozen sacs across the season. The spiderlings are tiny and may have hatched from the early sacs well before the last one is finished. This lady has seven sacs hanging in her chosen sapling. 22nd May 2011.
CVA helps construct Botanic Garden visitor pathways
Saturday 21 May 2011 and at 9.30 the start of a wonderful day at the STEP site, National Arboretum Canberra, in the glorious autumn sunshine. A bunch of conservation volunteers were driven on site in the Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) van by Tim Harvey.
ABC News Canberra features Festival of the Forests
ABC News Canberra included a feature story on the Festival of the Forests in its evening broadcast on Sunday 20/03/2011.
An accompanying article and the original story may be viewed on the ABC website.
New garden for National Arboretum
Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, today commemorated the official opening of Stage 2 of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP) garden at the National Arboretum by planting the first understorey species at the site.
“STEP has a vision, an applaudable vision, to create a community-based regional botanic garden, education and ecosystem recovery centre specifically for Canberra and the surrounding Southern Tablelands,” Mr Stanhope said.
“This project aims to enhance the quality and availability of practical and scientific knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the ecosystems and species of the Southern Tablelands.
STEP Raffle Prize Winners
The STEP Raffle Winners were drawn out of a hat at the STEP exhibit by Ann Duncan, National Arboretum Board member.
The draw was witnessed by Tony Lawson, Andrew Russell and Cathy Robertson.
- First Prize: won by James Overall, Campbell. The prize is: Eucalypts by Murray Fagg and John Wrigley.
- Second prize: won by Jens Svennson, STEP Committee member. The prize is $50.00 worth of southern tablelands tube stock from Seeds and Plants Australia.
- Third Prize: Anthony Widderspoon, Isaacs. The prize is a copy of Grassland Flora by Eddy, Mallieson, Rehwinkel and Sharp.
Arrangements have been made for all prizes have been delivered to their owners.
First Understorey Planting at STEP Site
Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park at Block 100 in the National Arboretum Canberra invites you to the official opening of the Festival of the Forests by the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope.
Bjarne K Dahl Grant awarded to STEP
David Shorthouse and Max Bourke were successful in December 2010 with their application for a grant from the Bjarne K Dahl Trust. Our successful STEP project is called: Know your Eucalypts (Southern Tablelands of the ACT/NSW). STEP Inc has been awarded a grant of $7,500.00 for this project.
WANTED – STEP SECRETARY 2011
STEP is looking for a new Secretary to help support the work of the organisation.
Duties are to attend meetings of the Committee, keep the records for the Association and enjoy participating in and organising the best parts of our STEP activities. New blood is needed on our committee. So please don’t be shy. Come along on Monday 7 March at 5.30 pm to the Conservation Council building in Childers Street.
Welcome to the new member of STEP Committee
Welcome to Mr Jens Svensson. Jens joined the STEP committee at the 2010 AGM.
The committee members who were elected at the STEP AGM held on 4 December 2010 are: Cathy Robertson (President), David Shorthouse (Vice President) Treasurer/ Membership Officer and Public Officer: Andy Russell. The STEP committee members who were elected are: Tony Lawson, Warren Saunders and Jens Svensson.
Report on the Park Care in the Molonglo Valley
STEP has released the Report on the Park Care in the Molonglo Valley held on 28 August 2010.
Feedback on the report and any suggestions or projects that you have developed since the workshop would be most welcome.
Various ways to get the terrain mapping for the northern end of the central Molonglo Valley are being contemplated. If you are interested in participating in /contributing to this please send me an email.
November 2010 Newsletter
The November 2010 Newsletter is available for download.
Grant awarded to STEP: Growing Our Natural and Cultural Capital
The Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Mr Simon Corbell offered a 2010 – 2011 ACT Environment Grant of $16,058 for our nominated project: Growing Our Natural and Cultural Capital – Stage 2 of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park.
He has congratulated STEP on its success and commended our commitment to addressing environmental issues in the ACT.
Thanks to all our partners who supported the STEP Grant Application.
A copy of the grant application can be viewed here.
STEP Strategic Direction 2010 – 2013
STEP’s strategic direction for 2010 – 2013 is available for download from this link.
August 2010 Newsletter
The STEP newsletter for February 2010 is now available.
Included in this edition:
- STEP at Festival of the Forests—March 2010
- Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) for lots 31-35 National Arboretum Canberra
- Landscape Architect offers to lead STEP Master Plan project!
- Hunter Valley Community of volunteers manages its Regional Botanic Garden
- STEP Partnerships with neighbouring community groups who are leaders biodiversity conservation
- Support from Friends of Aranda Bushland
Download the newletter here.
Festival of the Forests 2010
STEP recently participated in the second Festival of the Forests run by the Friends of the National Arboretum.
The Festival of the Forests was an opportunity for STEP and FONA members, and the ACT community, to come and see and enjoy the Forests that the two groups are working to establish.
STEP Raffle Prize Winners
Congratulations to our three STEP Raffle Prize Winners – at 14 March Festival of the Forests.
All prizes were donated by: www.seedsandplantsaustralia.com.au – Thanks to Warren Saunders – CEO of Seeds and Plants Australia.
- First Prize – sixty dollars worth of local provenance plants – Ticket F27 Red Circles Jenny.
- Second prize– thirty dollars worth of local provenance plants – Stephen and Sam Ning – F47 – Red Circles
- Third prize- fifteen dollars worth of local provenance plants – Peter Yarit – B02 Red Diamonds.
We sold 132 tickets and proceeds from the raffle were $105.95 cents.
February 2010 Newletter
The STEP newsletter for February 2010 is now available.
Included in this edition:
- STEP calendar – working bees and important dates
- STEP ecosystems monitoring workshop
- Threatened Mallee Eucalypts
- Tilba Aboretum
- Tree feature
- STEP joins celebrations for the International Year of Biodiversity
Download the February 2010 newletter here.
2010 Committee Members Elected
A warm welcome to Dr Hanna Jaireth who was appointed to the STEP Committee following the election held at our AGM on 7 November 2009. The 2010 Committee is:
Cathy Robertson – President
David Shorthouse – Vice President
Geoff Robertson – Secretary
Andrew Russell – Treasurer
Warren Saunders – Member
Tony Lawson – Member
Hanna Jaireth – Member
Advice to members of amended STEP Inc Rules
This notice is to advise members at the 2009 STEP AGM members present carried a motion to amend the STEP rules (constitution). Essentially the motion allows committee members to continue on the committee after serving five years. Optimistically the current long-serving committee members considered that after five years others would take up the cudgel. Unfortunately, we were a little optimistic. This motion enables the current President, Secretary and Treasurer to continue on the committee after having served five years. Secondly, quorums at committee meetings and general meetings of the committee are higher than required for the model rules. The higher quorums in the STEP rules were again a little optimistic and have required us to cancel the occasional meeting. The changes would bring the STEP rules in line with the model rules. A copy of the amended rules is attached.
Notice of Annual General Meeting 2009
The STEP AGM will be held on Saturday 7 November 2009 from 5.00 – 7.00 pm at the CIAG Board Room on site at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens.
All members and non members welcome. Light refreshments will be provided.
October 2009 Newsletter
The STEP newsletter for October 2009 is now available.
Included in this addition:
- Notificatino of AGM
- STEP Events calendar
- Information on the STEP working bee
- Geology, Soil and Water Flows: digging into the Soil Survey for the STEP site
- A report on the STEP Wetland Project
- Volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia come to work on the STEP project
- Water Flows into STEP Ephemeral Wetland
- Thirty year old seeds successfully germinated for the STEP forest
- Tree of the month: Eucalyptus delegatensis
Download the October 2009 Newsletter here.
Membership Renewals
It’s that time of the year again when STEP membership renewal for 2009/2010 is due.
Your ongoing support for STEP is much appreciated. Please download and complete the form and post it to the membership officer with your cheque. Donations would also be appreciated.
Floriade 2009 at Commonwealth Park Canberra
Come along to the Floriade in Canberra this year. STEP is presenting information about our project as part of the Friends of the Canberra International Aboretum and Gardens Display at Floriade this year from 12 September to 11 October. We are located in the cottage that is part of the Bonsai Display, on the fence near the Archbishops Residence. Do drop by and say hello.
STEP Tree Planting Ceremony
On the 15th of March STEP hosted a tree planting ceremony at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens on Block 100. The first tree was planted by the Chief Minister, John Stanhope, followed by students from a Evatt Primary School, members from the planning committee of the ACT House of Assembly and STEP members and friends.
What is an Arboretum?
An arboretum is a plantation of mixed species, established for comparative and educational purposes. Numerous arboreta were established in the ACT during the early stages of the city’s development. See the FACTA website for more information:
‘Friends of the ACT Arboreta’ .
STEP thanks supporters
Last month, Jon Stanhope MLA, Chief Minister made the decision to give the STEP Project the resources needed to make our vision a reality within the Arboretum. We wish to thank him for his trust and belief in our vision. And we wish to thank every one of our members who have supported STEP during the last seven years. Your efforts have been vital to creating our project. Please keep your support for us going through the next phase.
Thanks to all the individuals who…
A warmest thank you to the individuals who helped including Geoff Robertson, David Shorthouse, Andy Russell, Warren Saunders, Seeds and Plants Australia, Hanna Jaireth, Margaret Ning, Jonathon Banks, Mary Porter, Mick Gentleman, Brian Cumberland, Greening Australia, Michel Bedingfield, Sarah Fethers, CSIRO Australian Seeds Centre, environment ACT, Maxine Cooper, Sarah Sharp, Jo Walker, Rainer Rehwinkel, NPS, Lainie Shorthouse, Jocelyn Plovits, Sherry McArdle-English, Shirley Pipitone, Alan Ford, Ingrid Adler, An Van den Borre, Paul Jannsens and many more…
Landscape Designer Assesses Block 100
When STEP was first offered a site at the International Arboretum, there were three possible blocks to choose, Block 100. 101 and 102.
After receiving advice, from John Nightingale, a well known Canberra horticulturalist and landscape designer, we selected the Block 100, for stage 1, being very happy to take his excellent advice. John drafted a report comparing the three sites and recommended that the Committee select Block 100 for the first stage of the STEP project. This became the basis for our discussions with the Executive Director for the Arboretum Project in 2007.
Ground Breaking Decisions for Block 100
David Shorthouse, Warren Saunders and Cathy Robertson went on site at Block 100 with Adam Burgess, the Curator for the Arboretum on 23 December 2008 to discuss the preparation and planting requirements for Block 100.
STEP’s partnership with the Arboretum?
By Wurmbea
Many people have asked us why STEP has partnered with the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens? Our relationship with the Arboretum began in 2006, when the ACT Standing Committee on Planning and the Environment commenced public consultations for Shaping Our Territory, with a view to formulating future planning controls for the ACT.
Festival of the Forests 2009
15 March 2009 will be the first open day at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens giving members of the public an exciting opportunity to experience the unique 250 hectare park, just five minutes from the centre of Canberra.
No clover in Block 100
The task of preparing for the planting 12 species of Eucalyptus trees and 541 trees in total on Block 100 has commenced in accordance with the Arboretum’s landscape architects’ (Taylor Cullity and Lathlean’s) planting design.
Twelve Eucalyptus Species on Block 100
In stage 1, twelve different tree species and a total of 541 trees, will be planted in autumn 2009.
Planning for Block 100’s understorey
Geoff Robertson has devoted many hours to researching a planting plan for the STEP concept. Geoff has prepared a draft tree planting plan for the STEP garden using David Keith’s NSW Vegetation Classification.Basically he has noted the dominant and associate trees for the ecosystems of the Southern Tablelands to devise a plan to show what trees to plant and where. Meanwhile Sarah Sharp has been working on an ACT classification framework. When this is available Geoff will check the STEP design for compatibility with the ACT framework. Later this design will be developed further for the understorey components of the garden. To find the plan go to Eucalypts of STEP.
Yellow Box, STEP’s feature tree
For our first issue, we have chosen as our feature, Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), which is one of five key species, in the endangered ecological Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland.
Ceremonial Tree Planting
Sunday 15 March at 10.00 am
The Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park Inc (STEP), invites members and friends to join with Jon Stanhope MLA, ACT Chief Minister, and the Friends of the International Arboretum and Gardens, to celebrate STEP’s first ceremonial planting at Block 100 in the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG) at 10am on Sunday 15 March.
STEP receives seeds from Greening Australia
On 3 January STEP was very pleased to receive a gift of seeds for E. viminalis and E. dives from ACT Greening Australia . Thank you GA for your support. Especial thanks to Brian Cumberland.
Membership of the STEP Committee in 2008/9
A new committee was elected at the STEP AGM on 1 December 2008. Thank you to the outgoing committee members for their support over the past year and to the new for their commitment to STEP.
Friends of the International Arboretum and Gardens
First newsletter for Friends of the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG)
Chief Minister writes to encourage STEP
STEP has been in discussions with the Chief Minister’s Office since March 2007 to establish a regional botanic park in association with the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG).
STEP has 50 members in 2008
STEP membership is currently 50 people committed to the development of the STEP project. Please tell your friends about us and get them to join. We will be planting on the the first STEP block in the Arboretum this coming spring and need lots of volunteers to help us. The membership form and other information are on this website.