Bushcare Hewitts Creek

 Plant Dare We have over fifty small plants to put in at sites which are dry & hard so those wanting to plant should bring a spade + trowel and a 2 litre bottle/bucket.  The planting sites are a bit further east on Woodlands Ck and a bare area west of McKellar Glade . There is ongoing chopper work at Woodlands Ck and a major Blackberry at the back of Steve's Beach needs removal & painting.  And there's still a lot of Honeysuckle & Lantana root system to be extricated.

Our lack of rain Condons Corner weeds now accessible, inc. Mother of Millions in flower and a big Blackberry at Steve's Beach . Fifty+ plants to go in, mostly Lomandra , Dianella & Kangaroo Grass for Bruce's Square but we'll only put them in if there is decent rain this evening. Showers tomorrow less likely than on yesterday's forecast. If we get no rain tonight we'll need the water detail again tomorrow.  We will also send a pair to the Firepit where Mother of Millions is rampant and we can get those outside the fence. Preparing the Woodlands Creek clearing for planting should be another priority. A couple of small jobs both sides of Cycleway in the grassy areas. 2022 Problems Some opportunities up the creek itself caused by salt washed up by the recent swells.  Here are the results of the clean-up after the large wattle fell. Council have planted some small trees.

 Cardboarding We have a donation of cardboard to the cause of Privet obliteration. Its all over there, across the Bridge of Doom in Manifest Destiny , waiting for cutters/slashers to spread it & weight it under previously cut timber. Also, we advance on Woodland Creek and have been advised that the best move at Bruce's Square would be a bit of mattock work on the Honeysuckle root systems, some tough plantings & eternal vigilance. Andrew's Mistake is almost under control but still offers enjoyment for micro-weeders.  Note the map error. Woodlands creek goes under the cycleway and does not head north east. 2022 Fallen Tree The fallen tree has been cut up, so we will move the logs as a barrier to discourage people from wandering off the path.  Target the blackberry west of the bike path south of the trees . There is a cassia near Condon's corner that needs to be removed.

Lagoon still overfull  So apart from a few bits & pieces along the Cycleway there will be 3 main targets elsewhere: the weed smorgasbord that is Manifest Destiny finishing? off Andrew's Mistake Woodlands Creek edge; so Ted et Al can get maximum choppage. We'll give watering a break. Some members are off to the Port Kembla Dunes and Coomaditchie Lagoon for a mass planting morning as part of NAIDOC week . 2022 Area waterlogged The eastern edge next to the beach should be navigable - treating morning glory and collecting plastic flotsam.   Along the creek should be OK. Loppers can cut up the small branches on the fallen tree across the walking track - Council have been asked to deal with the heavy bits. A minor construction job awaits to protect cedar plantings with star pickets and netting.

An order for another decent rain There will be enough work to go around: more work for Watering Team, if available a large Moth Vine beside Cycleway a Cleavers; the "Velcro" plant (Galium aparine)   outbreak, also beside Cycleway (bag needed) Cape Ivy in flower in SE corner & NE corner of Manifest Destiny (bags needed) Bidens & Crofton east of Cycleway in the grass area Andrew's Mistake (patience needed) Some chance of showers Tuesday and we have a couple of areas set for plantings. 2022 Weather Conditions have been and will continue to be, less than ideal for Bushcare operations.. www.bom.gov.au IDY28000 Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Bureau National Operations Centre Satellite Notes for 1800UTC Chart Issued at 6:08 am EST Monday on 04 July 2022  A cloud band with some embedded thunderstorms lies over much of Qld, driven by a broad upper trough across the east of the continent. Cloud activity can be seen over NSW associated with a trough that