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Weed control – especially Caltrop (3 cornered jack) - March 2011
Weeds always seem to thrive in difficult conditions but Caltrop is one we must try especially hard to eradicate. We could help to eradicate Caltrop if we all familiarise ourselves with how to identify this nuisance weed.
The following Factsheet will help you to identify Caltrop:
Click here for factsheet
Caltrop is also known as 3 cornered jack because of its hard sharp seed which is a menace for animal feet and bicycle tyres. It spreads by sticking into your shoes.
If you notice just a few localised plants please remove them by pulling them up at the centre tap root, put them in a plastic bag, tie it off tightly and dispose of in with general rubbish. DO NOT just throw aside or dispose of in green waste or put in your compost.
If you find a bigger outbreak please advise Brian Pledger, Environmental Management Officer at Salisbury Council of the location so that he can arrange eradication. Ph 0423781415 or bpledger@salisbury.sa.gov.au
Clean Up Australia Day March 2011
Thank you to all our helpers for making Clean Up Australia Day in Mawson Lakes such a huge success.
The turnout of helpers broke all records with 24 members of MLEW, 8 other adults who were mainly friends and relatives of members and 9 children assisting around Mawson Lakes. One family came from The Pines at Parafield Gardens and having experiences what we do they have pledged to be the Site Coordinators for their own area for Clean Up Australia Day 2012
In excess of 50 bags of rubbish were collected along with various ‘miscellaneous’ items of rubbish. Collection of the bags of rubbish was organised by Salisbury Council.
The areas we have cleaned up include: Dry Creek from The Park Way all the way through to the Interchange, Railway Wetlands from Trinity Circuit north to the Interchange, Bennett’s Creek (for the first time) from The Bridges entrance to the Interchange and all around the Interchange area, much of Mawson Central, much of Shoalhaven and much of The Sanctuary.
Mawson Lakes has never looked this good!
The general opinion was that the amount of rubbish to be cleared is decreasing (but still too much) but the cleanup of Bennett’s Creek for the first time was a big job. The school had done a cleanup of the area between the two campuses which was a big help.
There is obviously a limit to what we can or should do and a couple of areas were noted as being litter hot spots but outside our range.
They are: Elder Smith Road on the industrial side opposite to The Sanctuary residential area and Salisbury Highway side of the wetlands running alongside The Sanctuary. This information has been passed on to Salisbury Council for action.
Nationally an estimated 562,511 volunteers at over 7,400 registered sites pitched in to support the 21st Clean Up Australia Day. Volunteers across Australia cleaned up the nation’s beaches, streets, parks, bushland and waterways, removing around 16,280 tonnes of rubbish. We were 1 of 600 sites registered for SA.
Growing trees 2010/2011 season
Mawson Lakes Environment Watch members propagate plants from seed through the Trees For Life program. The 2010/2011 growing season is our 2nd for The City of Salisbury and all seedlings grown are planted by MLEW members in Mawson Lakes – mostly on the Railway Wetlands.
We have 4 growers this season who, over the period December to May, will propagate at least 2000 seedlings and if all goes well up to 2400 seedlings. They will be planted out mainly over the winter in July and August.
The species being grown this year are:
Trees:
Acacia acinaceae - Wreath Wattle
Allocasuarina verticillata - Drooping Sheoak
Eucalyptus largiflorens – Black box
Melaleuca halmaturorum - Swamp Paper-bark
Melaleuca lanceolata – Black Paper-bark
Pittosporum angustifolium - Native Apricot
Tall shrubs
Senna artemisioides coriace - Silver Cassia
Low shrubs
Acacia ligulata - Umbrella Bush
Atriplex semibaccata - Berry Saltbush
Bursaria spinosa - Sweet Bursaria
Einadia nutans - Climbing Saltbush
Enchylaena tomentose - Ruby Saltbush
Eutaxia microphylla - Mallee Bush-pea
Maireana brevifolia - Short-leaf Bluebush
Rhagodia candolleana - Seaberry Saltbush
Rhagodia parabolic – Fragrant saltbush
Vittadinia australasica - New Holland daisy.
If you would like to get involved next season you need to register by July 2011. Please contact Colin Taylor – Coordinator MLEW for details: colmar@nuskope.com.au