CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY ACTIVITY.

23 volunteers fronted for indoctrination in suspect weather before setting out to remove every scrap of litter from the Centenary bikeway from Sumner Road to the Jindalee Bridge.

The majority of these volunteers were recently arrived citizens of Australia and were attending their first Clean Up Australia Day event and while a good percentage was from Jamboree Heights many other Centenary Suburbs were represented.  These willing workers with ages ranging from 9 to 74 year of age, were joined by four members of the regular Adopt a Road Meyer Family from Jamboree Heights after returning from a similar clean up of Anzac Park Toowong.

Robin Luscombe and two fellow cyclists, from the Centenary Bug cycle club, provided safe passage by alert marshalling at the front and rear of the group.  Local Sumner Road businessman Mr. Mal Devlin from Lifestyle Lounges and Sofas made an early start by de-littering the roadway between the two roundabouts near his workplace.

 

By the end of the exercise, 21 bags of litter were deposited in the bin at Jindalee for collection by BCC.

Because of strong attendance, volunteers concentrated on collecting cigarette buts for the first time.  Over the trial zone of 2.5km, 1,800 butts were collected. Most of these had been washed in from the motorway and consequently discarded by motorists.

Jindalee Rotary volunteers were waiting at the finish line to provide much needed food and drinks for the JRA group and the Jindalee Bush Care Group who were well supported by Councillor Candidate Mrs Fran Bell and her crew.

JRA President, Wayne Williams, was ecstatic with the turn up and completed result and never has this section of Bikeway been so free of litter.

The Sunday de-littering and Saturday mulching activities in The Andaman Strip was timely as next week, the beautification committee will be visited by the judges of the Queensland Spotless Suburb Award.

THE ANDAMAN STRIP SUMMER PLANTING BEE

NOVEMBER, 2011

A total of 18 volunteers ranging in age from 5 years old and upwards attended over the two days of idea weather and just about all tasks were achieved.  Wolston and Centenary Creek Ranger, Sean Marler and two visitors from neighbouring bush care groups continued creek erosion planting. This creek planting project will be ongoing over the remaining 150 metres of earthen drain as stone becomes available.

• 90% of the rainforest section is now completed with another 40 mature plantings.

• 70 metres of mulching completed.

• Another 30 sound barrier trees as well as 80 callistemon and feature trees were planted. They include 5 species of fruit trees, a bottle tree and 8 pine trees.

• 150 reed type species were planted to act as retardants for water erosion.

• Local businessman and camera buff, Ross Steinhart, once again attended to film a visual record of progress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QM4BvwIlPM 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lwu-RuR3T0

The volunteers were again well fed and watered by Bruce, Julie and Terry at a BBQ held in the grounds of new recruit Sarah Jacobson.  At the feed break, JRA president thanked all past and present volunteers, Westside Church, various local businesses, our politicians, Land Care, Keep Australia Beautiful and Energex, Gary Johnson for the continuous loan of his utility and especially Murray for his unwavering support over the last 2 ½ years.

In the week proceeding the Summer Planting “B”, BCC workers supplied valuable mulch and vegetation chipping and Peter Bell from Priority Landscaping assisted with the removal of unsightly timber stumps.

Cr Matthew Bourke, Mrs Julie Attwood and Mrs Fran Bell, the Labor candidate for the 2012 BCC elections, attended and once again gave their moral support.

Cr Bourke during his site inspection announced that BCC workers in the near future will fix up the seepage problem near the Ebril chicane and re-construct 100 metres of new footpath between Ebril and Laptev Close.   These two projects will alleviate dangerous and boggy walking conditions and compliment JRA’s proposal for a bush walk through the Andaman Strip.

Except for a couple of sections of existing heavier vegetations measuring some 60 metres, the remaining 400 metres of the Andaman Strip has now received new trees, bushes and ground cover – total 1,500 plantings.

The beautification team still has $500 remaining of the $2000 Energex Grant to continue infill planting.

The beautification committee is always on the alert for volunteers to assist with the spreading of mulch, infill planting, weeding and watering duties.

 Andaman Strip Update.

JRA was successful in securing an Energex $2,000 planting Grant for the Andaman Strip. The Beautification Committee are extremely pleased that Energex continue to be very active in providing funding for communities, businesses and schools to assist with tree and landscape planting.  These funds will allow the placement of a further 300 sound barrier and infill plants to compliment the existing 1300 species already established with funding from the Landcare grant.

Another working party is planned for the weekend of 5/6th November, 2011.  If you can spare just an hour or two on either day, it would be most appreciated by the few willing workers that have been toiling away for the last couple of years.  If that weekend is inconvenient, you can always assist with preparation tasks that will be necessary before this weekend and the ongoing watering and maintenance after.  Please contact Wayne on 3279 0744 for further information.

As JRA has now been involved with litter clean up on the Centenary Bikeway and restoration and planting work in the Andaman Strip for over 18 months under the Adopt a Road program, signage recognizing JRA’S participation has been publicly recognized with the installation of two signs on the bikeway and one in the Andaman Strip.

The Beautification Committee feels the sign location (on the chicane island near Ebrill Street) is 'unfortunate', and that lead to a little disappointment. However, is thrilled that there is recognition for the hard hours and work that has been put into Andaman Strip.