Tasmania – Fungi at Huon Camp – 24 March 2018

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Dave Noble

We drove out to Scotts Peak Dam in South West Tasmania and set up our Tents at Huon Camp. We planned to start our Western Arthurs Walk the next morning.

Near Huon Camp, we found some nice fungi –  Continue reading →

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Tasmania – Mt Wellington – 23 February 2018

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Dave Noble

This is the first in a series of posts from a holiday in Tasmania. The holiday included some bushwalks and some touring. It was organise by my friend Wendy. We were also joined by Colin and Steph for part of the time. Wendy was keen to walk in the Western Arthur Range in South West Tasmania, and that was the main goal of the trip. But when we arrived in Tasmania, the weather looked poor, so we delayed our departure by a day. During that day, we headed up to the summit area on Mt Wellington (we had a hire car).

On top of Mt Wellington, the worst of the weather had not yet arrived – it was cold and windy, but not wet. It was not misty and we had fair views. After visiting the summit trig, we walked for a bit on the plateau area – enjoying the dolerite boulders and the alpine vegetation. Continue reading →

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Keep Radiata Plateau Wild

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Dave Noble

Here is a short video that focuses on conservation and recreation aspects of Radiata Plateau. It is well worth watching –

Leave Radiata Plateau Wild – Conservation and Recreation from BMCSNSW on Vimeo.

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Cooks River Birds – 21 February 2018

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Dave Noble

Posting some now old photos of some of the local birds I saw about a month ago.

These were all taken in the Boat Harbour – Cup and Saucer Creek part of the  Cooks River. Photos of a juvenile White Faced Heron, a Striated Heron and and several Egrets – Continue reading →

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Save The Blue Mountains Wild Rivers – Campaign Launch – Monday 26 March, Springwood Community Hub

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

Wilderness supporters are invited to attend the launch of the campaign to save many of the Blue Mountains wild rivers from inundation due to the proposed raising of Warragamba Dam. This launch will be held at the Springwood Community Hub from 6:30 pm on Monday 26th March.

Lower Kowmung River

The NSW State Government has proposed that the wall of Warragamba Dam be raised for flood mitigation. At present the proposal is for the level of water in the dam not be raised except in times of heavy rain events. And then the water level be gradually lowered back down. At the very least this will mean that about 65 kms of rivers will be flooded during these events. This will lead to the death of trees and other vegetation, the loss of aboriginal heritage sites and the destruction of the heart of a magnificent wilderness area that currently has World Heritage Status.

One of the river that will be greatly damaged is the currently pristine Kowmung River. One of the truly wild rivers of NSW.

Perhaps the more cynical readers will think that rather than flood mitigation, the real reason for the proposed wall raising will be to open up flood prone areas of the Sydney Basin to property developers.

Speakers at the Campaign Launch include Bob Brown and Bob Debus.

For more information about the issue and the campaign launch public meeting go to this link on the Colong Foundation’s Website.

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Tahmoor Gorge Walk – 20 February 2018

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

Bob was keen on a walk or canyon. We had tentatively planned a canyon trip in the Blue Mountains but had changed our plans with an unfavourable weather forecast and other reasons, so decided instead to visit Tahmoor Gorge. I like the walk through the gorge and was keen to get more photographs.

The Bargo River flows through the Tahmoor Gorge shortly before it joins the Nepean River. It is in part of the proposed Bargo-Nepean National Park. Continue reading →

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The Grand Canyon – 18 February 2018

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Dave Noble

Stacey was keen on a canyon trip and had suggested the Grand Canyon at Blackheath. I like this canyon – it is quite spectacular and not too hard to get to, but I had so far visited it three times already during the season. But if I went again, I thought, then this time I could shoot some video in the canyon. This time in the party were Stacey, Albert, Vesa, Kirrily and myself.

It was also an excellent day for canyon – hot, but not too hot for the walk out. After a morning tea stop at Blackheath, we arrived at the carpark on Evans Lookout Road and were soon heading down to the canyon. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 17 February 2018

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Dave Noble

I went down to the Cooks River in the late afternoon to see what birds were out.

I had an unsuccessful look for the Tawny Frogmouth family at the Dog Area, and there were not too many birds out at the Boat Harbour. A few Pelicans were floating on the river nearby and the odd cormorant flew past. Continue reading →

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Fix Public Transport Rally – 17 February 2018

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Dave Noble

I attended the Fix Public Transport Rally held in the city and completed the march with a large crowd from Hyde Park, through the city to end at Martin Place.

The present government has unfortunately neglected spending money on public transport at the expense of massive road developments that have ripped the guts of out of some suburbs. They have also privatised the local bus service which will probably mean the end of a lot of services. a sad state of affairs.

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Bass Point and Killalea State Park – 16 February 2018

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Dave Noble

David Hufton had suggested a visit to Bass Point at Shellharbour for a photographic trip. He had been to the area before, and we had both seen it from Minnamurra Headland on one former Kiama Coastal Walk. So our plan was to visit the point and if we had time to also visit the nearby Killalea State Park.

David picked me up from his local station and we drove down to Shellharbour between Wollongong and Kiama. We visited the town for a coffee stop and were bewildered by the amazing number of cafes. We also visited the tourist office and collected some maps and brochures.

Continue reading →

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