Artwork by Ewen
BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT REPORT – AGM 2025
PLACE
SWS TANKS: RAIN
We will have another four tanks installed by the 29th of May this year, bringing the total to eight tanks. The four new tank sites are two on Davies, one on Malapiki and another at Eco. We’ve continued to go for steel tanks lined with a polymer both on the inside and bottom of the tanks. With the cost being slightly below concrete tanks.
We had a small leak in the south end tank which was fixed under warranty.
I encourage people to contact me to ask if there’s an SWS tank planned for their hamlet and if so then reach out to your neighbours to start discussing where’s best for the tank.
I’ve asked for a budget to buy a plate compactor for the crusher dust pads. We hand compacted the last four pads but considering how many pads we plan to make and how small a cost a plate compactor would be it seems reasonable to buy a plate compactor.
FIRE MITIGATION COMMUNITY WORK DAYS: KAREN / BIKO
Workdays
SPRING WORKDAY 27th Sept
The incredibly wet weather leading up to the day prevented some activities from occurring on the day-
-South End Crossing and Fire Trails- unable to be accessed due to wet ground conditions.
–Centre grounds- lots of clearing around the hall and rubbish removed. Clearing the road behind the hall got as far as just behind the tanks at the back of the hall.
It was a nice day, bit low on numbers due to date change, and the forest camp which was well attended. Thanks to Ginger for organising Forest Camp. More workdays in future.
Fabien – needs to reschedule North end work day as did not happen on BFMP work day ( date was changed at short notice- best not to do this). Brodie indicated interest in attending a Northend workday. . Simon – Wallagulla trail was done – Ben didn’t get tractor through because of fallen trees – Simon and Ash will follow up. Keiran – South end dam work is happening today – new water line being laid.
FOREST CAMP 2025.-GINGER
Forest camp 2025
Last year a group of us had the honour of camping amongst the giants of Tuntable.
On the first day Rocky, Will, Tyko, Marley and I met at the shop and travelled up via the Channon. There is a new NP gate at the south end, near siddha turn-off and the road is well maintained because of the Wallace Rd residents. Due to the major landslide on the Channon rd, Siddha farm received a grant to improve this access as wallace rd became their only way to travel to Lismore.
As we continued on there was surprisingly very few obstructions. On previous day trips Steve, Rocky, Macca and I had been up there a few times to open in up but hadn’t since March when Ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred rolled through, so it was a pleasant surprise to make it to our Forest Camp site easily.
We decided to use our excess time with Rocky to keep working and open up the piano frame and the south end loop. Turns out that’s where all the trees were down, only made it about 20m at a time before chainsaws were out, then the next one and the next. Marley and Tyko were having a great time on the roof of Will’s car sharing stories. Rocky and Will quickly got into their familiar zone with the chainsaws and I was the cleanup crew. I recall thinking how nice it is to reach this stage of physical labour, when the only thing you’re thinking of is chop, drag, chop, drag. After 5 more hours we came to the mother-load, just before camp. We had the Utes precariously parked on the steepest part of south-end dam track and a wall of tree in front. Chop, drag, chop, drag, chop, drag, then we broke through and scaled the last crest to forest camp, well and truly ready for dinner and bed.
Late that night Ben and Remy arrived with their truck and Ben walked down to get the tractor the following morning. Remy, Marley and Tyko accompanied Will and I to open up Echo. Thanks to NP and Rocky’s direction, there is a drivable road most of the way down now.
From the Echo lookout Remy and I could identify Blossoms & Sean’s, Jesse’s, Hannah’s and Sylvia’s. We found some wild raspberry bush tucker and then returned to camp to meet up with Steve, Cruze, Nemo, Navy, Isaac and Roman.
With the whole team there we embarked on the super-massive Tallow tree obstructing the whole road on the south-end middle track.
Steve, Macca and I had attempted to clear this tree on a seperate occasion, Macca even managed to slice it into 6 sections but the trucks still couldn’t budge it. This time we had the tractor and 3 chainsaws going. The boys all sat on the log, headphones on, paper daisy crowns on to watch the show.
It still required a bunch of people-power but the tractor finally got through. The boys all cheered and Nemo got some great firewood.
We celebrated with a swim in the dam.
The next day Will, Tyko, Ben, Remy, Steve, Cruze, Marley and I ventured down, Doris’ road, the new road (temporarily known as sunset boulevard) and onto 5 ways. There was an ocean of paper daisy’s awaiting us. Steve cut into a tree across the track and suddenly blood started spitting out of his leg, as he turned to look at me with shock on his face I thought he had amputated his own leg, only to take a step back and realise the blood was pissing out of the tree! Ben gleefully jumped down from the tractor calling “a bloodwood, a bloodwood” we caught the blood in a large piece of bark and the boys started painting themselves up like little zombie blood warriors. They were surprised by the eucalyptus aroma and how it made their skin tighten when applied. Steve said it has been used for medicinal purposes and also keeps the mozzies away.
It was a great camping trip, excellent weather and we successfully completed everything we set out to do. As well as opening up all the tracks for fire access, one of the main objectives for me is for the kids to gain an understanding of their surroundings, learn the names of the roads and develop their bearings and connection to the bush.
The next one is Friday 25th September-Monday 28th of September.
Regards
Ginja O’Brien
AUTUMN WORKDAY 21st March 2026
The weather held off and we were able to get some work done in several locations;
-Ginger O’Brien led a group who did roadside vegetation maintenance at the North End along the road leading to the forest fire trails.
-Garden House crew did some vegetation work along the watercourse to increase the APZ below the building and further up along the waterway.
-South End – Will led a crew to do some investigation and to do some vegetation removal along the access.
-Centre – Elvis organised work on the APZ at the rear of the Hall and a team cleaned inside the Hall and removed flammable material from under the building.
Simon and the Resonance team inspected the Walagala fire trail and did some vegetation management.
-Community Centre volunteers delivered a delicious and bountiful lunch just as the rain came in. Thank you to all the members who helped and who contributed to the feast.
-Fire shed and machinery – Rocky very kindly inducted Michelle C, Monika B and Carla F to the tractor users group. They gave the red striker a run while they were out. The area around the fire shed and donga needs some serious clearing so we can assess improving our storage and security in this area.
There are always bushfire related jobs to do. If you are looking for ideas please contact a Co-ordinator : Environment, Buildings, Common Lands, Members & Guests, Occupancy or Community Engagement. They are responsible for managing the work days and the Voluntary Contribution program.
If you have anything you would like to add to this list of bushfire related jobs, please let the Board know.
There are also several very active and committed groups taking care of our buildings. Please contact Sams group,the Community Centre group, the Hall team and the Garden House group if you want to contribute your time and energy in those locations.
We had planned to do a North End pits clean up and rubbish removal session at a previous workday which didn’t go ahead. If anyone would like to organise this job please talk to the Commons Land Co-ordinator, Rain.
There is also a continuing job clearing the vegetation back from the roadside on the road leading to the rear of the Hall. This requires cutting and removing the woody weeds that have taken over up to the corner at the rear of the Hall.
We will be marking some saplings for removal between the Hall and The CC . Please contact Environment Co-ordinator, Doug if you can help remove them.
There is a large pile of assorted flammable timbers stacked against the rear of the Hall which needs to be rehomed. This timber may still be usable. There is also a large pile of unusable timber near the tanks which needs to be removed. Please contact the Buildings Co-ordinator, Elvis if you are interested in helping.
Hamlets are encouraged to get together and do some roadside vegetation removal in their locality. Please use the workday forms available from the office and send in once the session has been completed.
Let’s get together and contribute to our community’s fire preparedness and then enjoy a delicious meal together that has been prepared with love and happy kitchen co-operation. How wonderful!
The next organised workday will be in September.
Does anyone want to organise a pre-AGM clean up workday for the Centre?
FIRE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING ROCKY –
Autumn workday Rocky was leading a group who wanted to learn about the tractor. When they weren’t on the tractor they familiarised themselves with the fire truck, including driving and vehicle care.
SWS Levy: RAIN
We’ve used the money previously raised by the SWS levy and now we’re using our savings to pay for the project. This isn’t a sustainable approach though and we’ll need to reinstate the SWS levy this year for $300 per site. This is an incredibly important project that is essential for safety and insurance purposes.
FUTURE BFMP events- 2026-27
Forest Camp 2026 – October -date to be confirmed
Spring Work Day – date mid September, subject to change
Autumn Work Day – date mid March subject to change
SIGNAGE BIKO / RAIN
The signage for our entrances has been approved at two tribal meetings and is now awaiting approval from an AGM. A quote has been requested from various places and we’re still waiting for them to come in.