Category: FONB

Bushfire, Environment, FONB

Are you bushfire ready?

There’s good reason to be worried about the possibility of bushfire this summer.  Winter has been much drier than usual, and the summer also promises to be hot and dry.

Members of the Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS) are coming to North Bruny on Sunday, 12 November, to participate in a community meeting about bushfire preparedness. The meeting will also involve representatives from Tasmania Police and Kingborough Council Emergency Management.

The North Bruny meeting will be held at the Dennes Point Community Hall, between 9.30 and 11.30 am and will involve:

  • Fire behaviour specialists discussing how bushfires behave, and the on-ground operations we might expect
  • Police discussing evacuation capacity and planning
  • Information from Kingborough Council Emergency Management staff

and importantly:

  • information addressing the specific needs of residents, shackies and tourism business owners
  • a Q & A panel discussing and sharing local experience and observations
  • observations on the use of TFS’s Bushfire Readiness Challenge Program

You may also wish to see a copy of the TFS Community Bushfire Protection Plan for Bruny Island, which will be discussed at the meeting.  This can be viewed here.

I encourage you to come to the meeting, as part of becoming properly prepared for the fire season, and as part of planning how you and your household and our wider community can best stay safe in the event of wildfire in our vicinity.

I hope to see you at the meeting.

Best wishes,

Simon Allston
FONB Chair

FONB

2023 AGM & Presentation

Friends of North Bruny (FONB) AGM

Saturday 7 October 2023, 11.00-1.00

Dennes Point Hall

Annual General Meeting 11.00 am – 11.30am

Followed by Guest Speaker

Dr Nick Gales

“From Whales to Ice; challenges in ocean governance”

11.30am – 1.00pm

FONB members and new members welcome to attend the AGM

All Committee Positions open for election

All are welcome to attend the public talk at 11.30am

Dr Nick Gales

Nick Gales is a global leader in marine and polar environmental science, policy, and management. Among his many career highlights, Nick has led Australia’s Antarctic Program and been Australia’s Chief Antarctic Scientist and Chief Science Advisor to Australia’s Department of Environment. He has also served as President of the international Society of Marine Mammalogy.

Nick is currently Australia’s Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission and Vice-Chair of the International Whaling Commission.  

Come and hear a distinguished resident of North Bruny speak on environmental issues of global significance which are facing our oceans.

FONB, Tasmania Reads

Reading Tasmanian for Tasmania Reads!

Let’s all read, this Tasmania Reads Week


Between 5 – 11 March, libraries, schools, business, and communities across the state will be celebrating Tasmania Reads week and you can too. Friends of North Bruny (FONB) are supporting a get together at Dennes Point on Tuesday 7 March where we will talk about our favourite Tasmanian Read. We hope this will be the impetus for a regular book group here in North Bruny and we’d love it if you could come along (and maybe bring a friend).

Here’s the details:

When: Tuesday 7 March 2023
Time: 11am – 1 pm
Where: Dennes Point – location will depend on final numbers, and we’ll keep you posted.
Cost: Free
Booking: Not essential but preferred – it will help us in finalising the venue and making sure there are enough cups! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reading-tasmanian-for-tasmania-reads-tickets-558497479997

What to Read?

Now for the fun bit, what to read? We’re leaving that up to you, it just needs to have a Tasmanian flavour – it could be a read by a Tasmanian writer; it could be set in Tasmania; it could be about Tasmania – the broader the range the more interesting the discussion. Fiction/nonfiction/poetry/essays/magazines are all excellent choices, and you can ‘read’ hardcopy, eBooks or audio books. There are some great suggestions in the Tasmania reads online magazine. Download it here

Where do I find the books?

You might already have something in your own collection. If not, why not check out what’s available at:
Libraries Tasmania. Our nearest branch is at Kingston but if you are a member, you can borrow or return from any branch and membership is free. You can join online which will also allow you to borrow straight away from the eLibrary.

Bruny Island Community Library at Alonnah has a great range of Tasmanian titles. They are open on Thursday and Saturday from 1-4 pm, and also on Wednesday mornings. The Community Library is also planning an event for Tasmania Reads in April – we’ll keep you posted!

Get Involved

Share what you’re reading on social media using the hashtags #TasmaniaReads and #BrunyIslandReads

Create your own logo using the resources on the Australia Reads page.

Read for Pleasure/Read with Friends/Read for Learning

Bin Marine Plastics, Environment, FONB

Bin Marine Plastics

The primary objective of Friends of North Bruny is to protect the environment and lifestyle of North Bruny, but we are also concerned with issues which affect the whole of Bruny Island.

After a fairly long period of preparation, we have recently installed bins and associated signs at 8 locations around the island as part of our ‘Bin Marine Plastics’ project.  Our aim is for folk who are walking on the beach to collect any plastic debris that they see and put it in these bins, to get it out of the marine environment and away from seabirds and marine creatures which might otherwise eat it.  And of course, to help keep our beaches wild and beautiful!

The bins are at these locations:

  • Jetty Beach, Dennes Point
  • Stiffy’s Creek, Nebraska Beach, Dennes Point
  • The car park 2 km north of Great Bay
  • Alonnah jetty
  • Cemetery Beach, Lunawanna
  • Two Trees Beach, Adventure Bay
  • Quiet Corner, Adventure Bay
  • Pennicott car park, Adventure Bay

The artwork for the project by Gordon Harrison-Williams is very impressive, and we will be using the logo for T-shirts and car stickers as we spread the ‘Bin Marine Plastics’ message.  We hope that the project will inspire similar action in other places.

We are very grateful for the support of various organisations and individuals who have contributed to the project – Kingborough Council; the Bruny Island Environment Network (BIEN); the Bruny Island Community Association (BICA); the Inala Foundation; the Pennicott Foundation; Bruny Island Coastal Retreats; and the Matysek family.

Unfortunately, despite the signage which explains the purpose of the bins, and despite the prominent label on the top of the bins which says ‘Beach Plastic Only’, we have been finding from the outset that people are using the bins for general rubbish.  This is very thoughtless, and dispiriting.  We have made modifications to the bins to address the problem and working towards positive solutions.

We do still need volunteers to help us manage the project, particularly on South Bruny.  If you feel able to help, please contact Ros Woodburn on 0407 581070.

FONB, Kellaway Park

Kellaway Park Reactivation

We need your input!

Friends of North Bruny is currently undertaking community consultation about the possible reactivation of Kellaway Park, Dennes Point. We value your opinion and there are a couple of ways you can be involved – keep reading …

Background

Kellaway Park is located in the centre of Dennes Point off Sports Road. The land was donated by Percival Wallace Kellaway for recreational use for the people of North Bruny and named Kellaway Park as a mark of respect. This public open space, now owned by Kingborough Council, has a tennis court, cricket pitch and clubroom. Part of the land is wooded. The Park is also used for emergency helicopter retrieval from the area. There were discussions about the Park in 2016 as part of the North Bruny Background and Future Directions Plan. In the coming weeks day to day management of the Park will be assumed by the North Bruny Hall (Lennon Hall, Dennes Point) Committee.

 
  
Some young families have suggested that we investigate the level of community support to revitalise the Park. What facilities are lacking on North Bruny which might be introduced into Kellaway Park for community use? If there is enough interest Friends of North Bruny (FONB)  in partnership with the Hall Committee would need to develop a proposal and seek funding through various community grant programs as well as seeking support from Kingborough Council for any proposals. The latter is needed as the land is Council property and additional maintenance may be required.
 

How can you be involved?

There are a couple of ways you can provide feedback.

  • We are asking you to complete our online survey to assist us in gauging community support and what the priorities may be. This will be open until 31 January 2023.
  • A (free) community barbeque and discussion will be held on site at Kellaway Park on Saturday 14 January 2023 12-2pm and all are welcome. Hope to see you there.
  • You can also send us an email friendsofnorthbruny@gmail.com

Thank you for your assistance and best wishes for the holiday season.
 
FONB Committee

FONB

Dennes Point Heritage Trail Opens!

 

Friends of North Bruny are very pleased to announce that the Dennes Point Heritage Trail has opened! Thanks to Rodney Dillon for welcoming us to Country, and Greg Lehman for his moving speech about the great significance of the site and the new trail. Thanks also to Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass for officially opening the Trail, and Gerry McAfee for officiating. And thank you also to everyone who came along to the opening, and all those who have supported this project at every step along the way. If you haven’t seen the Trail yet, we hope you’ll come along and walk it soon.

Find out more:

Here are some photos from the opening.

FONB

Tassal’s Media Release re Retirement of Tinderbox Lease, 17 Nov 2017

Below is an important media release from Tassal. It provides formal confirmation by their accreditation body, SCS Global Services, that MF90 (the Tinderbox Lease) will soon be retired. FONB cautiously welcomes this development. We have sought advice from Tassal about the remediation protocols that might be in place for this process. We have also asked DPIWE’s Director of Marine Resources for advice on what reduction in nitrogen load might be expected with this and other retirements in the Channel. We remain deeply concerned about the impacts of proposed expansions of fish farming in Storm Bay. FONB would welcome comment.