Trust the science
World renowned scientist Stephen Hawking warned of the dangers of ignoring science. Luckily for us in the Shoalhaven, we are apparently immune from the laws of both reason and science. We have a community association fishing for support for a petition ostensibly to save Conjola Lake. The suggested way to do so is to build a permanent artificial opening to the open water. This is, in fact, almost the worst possible way to “save” Conjola, although it might well draw support from local tourism operators.
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The reality is that if this community really wants to preserve Conjola Lake as natural gem of the local area, and as a long term tourism infrastructure attraction, then it needs a different approach. This approach relies upon the natural processes upon which operate in similar healthy bodies of water. Lake Conjola is a large open body of saline or brackish water which has a relatively narrow permanent or intermittent connection to the sea. Many similar healthy coastal lakes and lagoons alternate between being open or closed to the ocean. These are known as Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons or ICOLLs. Burrill Lake is another local example of an ICOLL.
ICOLLs are separated from the ocean by a sand beach barrier or berm. This entrance barrier forms and breaks down depending on the movement and redistribution of sand and sediments by waves, tides, flood flows and winds. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage has a clear scientific view of ICOLL entrance management. In a paper titled “The Risky Business of ICOLL Entrance Management”, a strong case is put forward to argue that artificial entrance management is associated with a range of negative impacts, some of which may take many years to become evident.
Shoalhaven City Council has traditionally opted to artificially open ICOLL entrances only when they are at certain “trigger point” levels, to prevent low level flooding. These levels are based on the recommendations of their water experts and engineers. We should trust their scientific judgments.
B. Tomkinson, Little Forest
A job well done
I would like to acknowledge the recent work to revegetate and further protect the rainforest on my farm which has been carried out by Dr David Bain and colleagues from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, as well as volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia, local Landcare volunteers, and members of Ulladulla’s indigenous community. They have taken on the tasks of planting local rainforest species and clearing invasive weeds which had taken hold after the original plantings of 1992.
The efforts of the local Landcare volunteers have been exceptional: they’ve collected the rainforest seeds, germinated them, and planted the young trees. It has been a drawn-out wait for spring rainfall and the opportunity to plant these new trees given the current drought conditions.
To protect the rainforest from livestock, rural fencing specialists from Southern Rural Contracting are replacing fences erected in 1992 as well as installing fences around the newly-expanded, protected area.
The current mayor, Amanda Findlay, has supported the project since inception, including carrying out mulching and planting when the original plantings were made. The Saving our Species grant allocated to the rainforest on my farm is not a cash handout to me. A signed agreement between me and the NSW OEH states “no funding will be paid to the landowner”. The allocation covers the OEH’s budgeted costs associated with fencing, weed control, revegetation equipment, revegetation planting, watering, and monitoring. The current project will run for 10 years.
Preserving Milton’s ancient rainforest, which happens to be the most southerly subtropical rainforest in Australia, contributes significantly to the area’s natural diversity. My sincerest thanks go to everyone who has contributed to this project.
