Volunteer Programs

Becoming an environmental volunteer gives you the chance to meet new people, learnnew skills and have a good time.

Here are a few of the things that you might do when you join our team:

• plant native trees, shrubs and grasses;
• have a say in local environmental matters;
• participate in native seed collection and plant propagation activities;
• work and interact with other volunteers;
• monitor change in our bushland;
• learn about and identify native plants;
• participate in environmental awareness days;
• identify and remove environmental weeds;
• participate in activities to promote our city's nature reserves; and
• assist with public information displays.

If you would like more information on what we are doing or are interested in becoming an environmental volunteer contact Devonport City Council'sSustainability Officeron 0438 002 620 or 6420 2700.

Other volunteer groups supported by Council include the following:

Friends of the Don Reserve

This group encompasses a variety of activities including planting of native trees and shrubs, weeding and general maintenance within the Don Reserve area. New members are always welcome to join with the regular working bees.

Council's Sustainability Officer, Phil Murray supervises the activities and provides detailed information on identifying native plants and how best to propagate and grow natives and importantly how to undertake work in our local bushland. Activities regularly occur each Wednesday.

Contact Phil Murray on (03) 6420 2700 (wk) or 0438 002620 for general information and to confirm location for each upcoming working bee.

Mersey Estuary Group

The Mersey Estuary Group (MEG) consists of a group of environmentally concerned individuals and representatives from Devonport and Latrobe Councils, Tasports and several industries such as Fonterra (Aust) Limited. They are committed to preserving the natural integrity of the Mersey Estuary and environs.

The MEG meet monthly, usually on a Sunday, to undertake a number of community projects including:

• Removal of weed species near the Tarleton Volunteer Fire Station to encourage regrowth of native flora and the return of native fauna to the area.
• Tree planting along waterways such as Bishton Creek and the banks of the Mersey River to enhance the local environment and improve water quality.
• Mapping and photography surveys of vegetation communities as a way to track changes on a long term basis.
• A survey of siltation in the Mersey Estuary to determine the effects of human settlement in the area over time.
• Fauna surveys, with particular emphasis on endangered species.

The Mersey River is a major Tasmanian watercourse. It is vital to the agricultural, industrial, cultural and recreational life of the north west region. It provides significant hydro-electric power for the State, and water to irrigated farms, industry and the community.

The Mersey Estuary creates the focal point for the City of Devonport, with Port Frederick being the home of the Bass Strait Ferries, and ships carrying cement and general cargo. It is the venue for regular sporting events such as the Devonport Regatta, Devonport Triathlon and other recreational activities (eg sailing, rowing, canoing, water skiing, surfing and fishing).

Estuaries are extremely important both for human use and for biodiversity. They are the nurseries of the seas, encompassing many habitats including rocky foreshores, marshes, mudflats, seagrass meadows, and associated riparian vegetation (plant communities near the water). The Mersey Estuary has been classified as "Badly Degraded(1)" both in terms of water quality, aquatic and riparian habitat.It is important for the community that actively uses this waterway to address and reverse the causes of this degradation so that the remaining habitat, flora and fauna are preserved and water quality in the estuary is improved.

Why Preserve Native Vegetation?

Native vegetation provides a home to our unique Tasmanian birds, animals and invertebrates (ie insects, worms etc).

The main riparian communities along the Mersey Estuary include Black Gum - White Gum Forest (listed as endangered) and Swamp Paperbark Forest. These vegetation communities are under attack through clearing activities and by introduced species such as Gorse, Blackberry and Broom. By maintaining our native vegetation and revegetating along key creeks that feed into the Mersey River such as Bishton Creek, habitat will be provided for our native fauna and water quality within the Mersey Estuary can be improved.

What Can You Do?

• Help the MEG by volunteering your time with projects that aim to maintain native vegetation along the Mersey Estuary and improve water quality.
• Plant endemic species (native to the area) to create habitat for our native animals. A good source of information is the Grow Local Guide & Coastal Weeds.
• If your property is located near remnant bushland, make sure that your backyard plants and domestic animals do not escape to these bushland areas.
• Dispose of all waste thoughtfully. Don't dump household waste, garden waste or building material in remnant bushland.

The MEG meet every month on a Sunday for approximately 2 hours to undertake bush regeneration, planting and other activities and
approximately every two months on a Wednesday night to plan activities.

All volunteers are welcome.

CONTACT DETAILS

Merv Tippett (President)

Phone: 6424 1025Email:matippett@vision.net.aumatippett@vision.net.au

Jane Bouchard(Secretary)Phone: 64246795Email:ausmosis@iprimus.com.au