Felton Community Hall played host to the Cambooya Landcare Association 2022 Annual General Meeting last week, which saw the group retain a strong financial position and the current committee continuing into the new year.
The returning Committee is Kate Reardon-Smith as Chair, Ian Whan as Deputy Chair, Hugh Reardon-Smith as Treasurer and Glenn Knight as Secretary.
In the Chair’s Report, Kate Reardon-Smith said 2022 has been a relatively quiet year for the organisation.
“We finalised our two federal government-funded Communities Environment Program projects,” Mrs Reardon-Smith said.
“One of these enabled us to fence and revegetate areas on four properties alongside the roadside reserve along the Toowoomba-Karara Road between Cambooya and Felton section.
“The other supported similar work on three properties in the Emu Creek and Sandy Creek catchments to better manage and maintain groundcover to protect areas from erosion.
“We have also submitted final reports for two projects supported by Toowoomba Regional Council for works around the Landcare Office and at Federation Park at Vale View. “
Cambooya Landcare Association AGM
Cambooya Landcare is also continuing to operate the Felton weather station and supporting the Lantana Busters, who have continued their work to reduce lantana in woodland at Symes Thorpe in Toowoomba.
In the report, Mrs Reardon-Smith spoke about projects planned for the future. “We’re keen to obtain funding for a project to map flood risk and develop strategies to manage erosion on Umbiram Creek, particularly in the lower reaches near its confluence with Hodgson Creek,” she said.
“The key driver for this project is Ian Whan, who has been tireless in compiling the case for the project, writing a report on erosion associated with a poorly designed culvert where the creek intersects the Cambooya-Felton Connection Road, hosting inspections of the culvert by Toowoomba Regional councilors, and developing funding proposals.
“Other projects we are keen to implement are a trial of new Hoggone feral pig control technologies developed by ACTA – Animal Control Technologies (Australia) – and a riparian weed control and nesting box project in the RiverReach plantings between Patterson Park and Policeman’s Point along Hodgson Creek within Cambooya township.”
The meeting included a presentation by guest speaker Ken Keith, who gave a background explanation of Agro-Ecology through his presentation ‘Transitioning to Agro-Ecology in Australian Agriculture – The Landcare Way’.
Mr Keith related it to the Darling Downs then facilitated a discussion on how Landcare groups could take a lead role with the whole of landscape approach.
He travelled with his wife from Brisbane to attend the event. In the Treasurer’s Report, Hugh Reardon-Smith outlined a sound financial situation for the Association.
The Committee contributes on a purely voluntary basis and there are currently no paid employees, such as a Project Officer. Annual Membership fees shall remain at $15 per Member/Family/Property and will be from 1 July to 30 June.
Cambooya Landcare holds monthly meetings at the Landcare office at 64 Eton Street, Cambooya on the second Monday of each month, commencing at 5.30pm.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 24 November 2022.
