Newsletter

The next meeting is the July General Meeting which will be held at the Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield Street on Wednesday 18^th July commencing at 7.30pm.

We will have Jean Cannon as our guest speaker and she will be discussing progress in the aquaculture industry.

Star of the Sea School Marine Discovery Centre

Our May Boat Dives

Licensing Of Marine Discharges and Planned Improvements

Encounter 2002

ENVIROLINX: Catchments, Waterways and Estuaries

Anniversaries and Achievements

October Long Weekend 2001

Groups Get Grants

The Star of the Sea is an urban Catholic Primary School of 450 students situated in Henley Beach, a seaside suburb of western Adelaide. The school has established a Marine Discovery Centre, which is accessed by students both from Star of the Sea and other schools, and also by the general public. The large aquaria featured in the centre contain a stunning collection of local temperate marine species. The fish include Port Jackson sharks hatched in the tanks, school fish and long nosed boarfish. Others are added, as they become available.

(Picture courtesy - John Hemmings)

Star of the Sea (SOS) has a strong interest in the marine environment due to its close proximity to Henley Beach. The school's location and desire to know more about its local environment was the inspiration for embarking on the ambitious project to establish an onsite ‘Marine Discovery Centre’ (MDC).

The parish purchased a house adjacent to the school for the express purpose of conversion to a marine study centre. The principal of SOS, Sister Enid, was instrumental in this purchase. The interior of the house was refitted for the centre and an extension built at the back. A parent on the school council who operates a building and construction business, and therefore had the appropriate expertise coordinated these structural changes.

Enormous effort went into the preparation of the MDC, with funds from many sources including grants from Coastcare and the Catchment Water Management Boards (Torrens Patawalonga, Onkaparinga, Northern Adelaide Plains and Barossa), in-kind support and advice from Fish Protection Services and from the wider community. As a result of this support, the MDC opened in 1998, celebrated by 200 guests and a ‘Catchment Dance’.

A steering committee was formed in the early planning stages of the MDC. It consists of Tim Hoile, (MDC coordinator and SOS teacher), and representatives from the local council, DEH, school Parents and Friends group, Catholic Education Office, SARDI, Coastcare, and the Fisheries Department. Tim drew in many ‘expert’ members of the steering committee through his involvement in related committees.

The steering committee holds quarterly meetings in the SOS school staff room. These well-attended (and well-catered!) breakfast meetings focus on the current running of the MDC (reports, visitor numbers, budget, etc.) and planning for the future (including obtaining funds). There is an expert on the committee for everything necessary, i.e. a builder, media representative and marine science experts. Being able to tap into these people through existing networks (e.g. the builder is also the school board chairperson) is a huge advantage for the school.

All students from SOS have one 45-minute class lesson per week in the MDC. Activities include hands-on experiences with flora and fauna from the aquaria, scientific studies and observation, research, and writing exercises. They also participate in outdoor activities linked to the MDC, i.e. beachcombing and water testing.

Visiting schools and the general community make bookings for the MDC, and pay a small entrance fee. Visiting students generally spend a whole day at the centre, participating in activities inside and at the beach.

The MDC covers all aspects of the marine environment, including:

• marine fauna (fish, sea dragons, sea urchins, molluscs, etc.), many of which can be found in the aquaria

• marine flora (seaweed, algae)

• coastal issues (e.g. beach erosion)

• whole catchment issues

• water quality.

Information on the above aspects, including how to identify marine flora and fauna, is displayed throughout the MDC in the form of dried or preserved specimens, live creatures, books, videos, posters, pictures and models.

Models are used in the MDC to provide an alternative way of teaching students. For example, a model of two houses, one a ‘water saver’ and the other a ‘water waster’ demonstrates the effects of different life styles on the whole catchment.

A model of the catchment was recently completed which allows visitors to track water from the top of the catchment to the sea.

A new theme is introduced at the MDC in each term. This maintains diversity in the teaching program, and is the basis for the term's student activities. New activities are also developed on a regular basis for all age groups; these range from alphabet games and puzzles for young students through to activities on the computer, and scientific observation and recording exercises for older students.

The MDC receives, and has received, many sources of support which have led to the level of success it now enjoys. Sources include:

Parents’ support has been consistent and strong. They are involved in many aspects of MDC, including:

Contributions made by volunteers are highly valued, with much effort made to ensure that they enjoy their experience at the MDC. Many volunteers attend on a fortnightly rotational basis, which does not place too many expectations on their time.

New volunteers are trained in an ongoing process to ensure sustainability of the MDC.

Parents who are involved in the MDC share the school’s vision and hope for the Center’s future. This solid partnership between the school and parents will ensure that the MDC dream is carried into the future.

The outcomes of the MDC continue to be high for all involved. Students, staff and parents are more environmentally aware, particularly of their local marine environment. There is increased awareness of endangered species and ecosystems (including the leafy sea dragon and changes in seagrass ecosystems). There is a mutual respect for all involved and a high regard for Sister Enid and Tim Hoile.

Certainly no one can resist the fascination of the aquaria and its many unusual sea creatures as they walk in the door!

One month ago I dived with Geoff Prince and several other divers. My logbook has now been packed away in preparation for house moving so I am compiling this report completely from memory. I believe that the dive was held over the May long weekend on Sunday 20^th May.

We launched Geoff’s brother’s boat from the West Beach boat ramp. Apart from Geoff and myself there were three of Geoff’s friends and one of mine. We first went to the Glenelg Barge where we enjoyed a good dive. It was only my second time on the Barge but one that I will remember. At 15m on the deck I peered over the side and spotted a huge stingray on the bottom at 20m. I rushed down to join it and we eyeballed each other at close range for a while. It was some 2m long and wide. I remember also seeing my first female Blue-tailed Leatherjacket under the hull. Our dive time was about 40mins each and everyone seemed to be happy with the experience.

Geoff then took us north to the wreck of the Norma. I had never managed to dive there before, although I seem to remember trying to find the site nearly 20 years ago. Once again, we all enjoyed the dive. The wreck is widely scattered at 15m but still substantial. I enjoyed the fish life, particularly a male Rainbow Cale and a Warty Prowfish.

Two great dives on the one day. I am looking forward to being able to repeat the experience again.

Assistant Diving Officer 2001-2

Every year industries dump nutrients, chemicals, minerals and thermal discharges into our gulfs. Since 1993 all discharges have had to be licensed through the Environment Protection Agency. The Environment Protection Agency answers to the Environment Protection Authority. According to The Advertiser of 24^th July, the Environment Protection Agency receives about $1.35m in licence fees from SA organisations each year. $18,844 of this comes from the Port Stanvac oil refinery. Surprisingly, only $1,879 of this is for a marine pollution licence despite the fact that oil spills occur frequently at the refinery. Last year there was a 270,000 L spill. The Conservation Council of SA believes that under the licence system there is little incentive for the licensees to make costly changes. The EPA has called for changes to its own structure and a recent parliamentary inquiry’s findings supported that call. The Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee’s Inquiry into Gulf St Vincent made the following recommendation:- "that the SA Government give enhanced statutory powers and greater flexibility and independence to the SA Environment Protection Agency to take action to protect the environment more effectively" (Recommendation 10). BHP’s Whyalla plant pays an annual licence fee of over $220,000 and most of that is for marine pollution. Under their licence agreements, companies had to implement environment improvement programs (mandatory programs) by March 2001. BHP is apparently working very hard to reduce its polluting by installing reed beds for removing chemicals from wastewater before it is discharged into Spencer Gulf. The company has apparently spent $38m on pollution reduction programs over the past four years. SA Water at Bolivar pays a licence fee of over $280,000 and most of that is for marine pollution. SA Water has apparently spent something like $52m on improvements at Bolivar recently. Last year the State Government announced in its State Budget that the environment improvement program for the Bolivar STW would receive $28.7m in funding for the ongoing construction of new treatment facilities to reduce odour emissions and the levels of nutrients discharged into Gulf St Vincent. $139m was to be spent on improvements to SA’s water and wastewater systems last year. A further $80m has been budgeted for Bolivar this year. A total of $97m is aparently being spent overhauling SA’s sewage treatment. The overhaul is due to be completed by March 2001. It will reduce outfall to the Port River by almost a third. The first stage of the Port Adelaide Environment Improvement Program will divert low-saline wastewater from the Port Adelaide catchment area to Bolivar. About 30% of the total volume of wastewater will be diverted. Stage two of the program is the construction of a new pumping main to transfer high-saline wastewater to a new plant at Bolivar. This wastewater will be treated and undergo nitrogen reduction of more than 70%. The Virgina pipeline scheme and a new filtration plant have increased the use of reclaimed water from Bolivar by 375% in one year. The activated sludge facility for nutrient and odour reduction is due to be completed by March 2001. Some of the biggest SA companies are expected to fail to meet the March deadline but it seems that these are likely to be granted deadline extensions.

In 2002 South Australia will be celebrating the 200^th anniversary of Matthew Flinders’ charting of the SA coast and his ‘encounter’ with Nicolas Baudin at Encounter Bay in April 1802.

"Encounter 2002" was launched in Adelaide on 1^st December 2000. An international series of activities and celebrations are planned for 2002. Several tall ships will retrace Flinders’ voyage along the SA coast. They will visit coastal towns 200 years to the day from when they were first visited by Flinders. Educational programs would inform students of the importance of the voyages by Flinders and Baudin.

A thousand diving clubs in France are being targeted as part of the campaign. One of the keys to the project is the proposed recovery of a ship’s anchor. One of Baudin’s ships, the Casuarina, lost an anchor off the south coast of Yorke Peninsula in 1803.

It is hoped that the anchor’s position can be pinpointed using modern technology. The navies of France, England and Australia will then join together to recover the anchor.

The SA Tourism Minister, Joan Hall, anticipates that "Encounter 2002" will attract over 20,000 visitors to SA. These visitors would have an economic tourism impact of over $6m.

Envirolinx is a non-profit group that I had never heard of before, but they obviously had their act together to get a large number of groups around Australia, and a scientist in America, all hooked up via satellite on the same day at the same time. In May they hosted a special day to discuss catchments, waterways and in particular estuaries.

The morning was taken up with talks by various regional groups, programs and researchers. The key speaker was Dr Robert Costanza, (from Maryland, USA) who spoke about a new model for ecological economics. Unfortunately the technology is still not as good as it will be and the sound and picture quality was terrible, so we could not see the slides, or hear his presentation well. I was left with the impression that it was extremely interesting but was very frustrated not to have heard more clearly.

The afternoon consisted of a ‘regional’ workshop. We were split into a number of groups and asked a series of questions. Basically we were asked how to define an estuary, so that government can form a little box for them and decide who should be ‘in charge’ of them. This proved to be a particularly difficult exercise because SA has 2 of the worlds 3 reverse (or inverse) estuaries (if anyone knows where the 3^rd one is, I’d love to know!). We also have tidal creeks that wind inland but have no freshwater input. In the end we came up with a small number of factors that may help to put a definition around ‘estuaries’:

• A semi-enclosed body of water with a salinity gradient (whether more or less salty) – this is probably the most significant factor.

• There is a gradient of wave strength.

• They are an interface environment between land, catchments and the sea.

• There are particular communities of plants and animals:

• Plants that live in or near estuaries are salt-tolerant, and progressively less so the farther away one goes from the estuary (plants are a good indicator because they are static and can be monitored at any time of year)

• Some migratory birds only use estuaries when they come to SA but they are not here all year round.

• They are an important nursery for marine creatures.

Who is responsible for estuaries? Various policies and strategies include estuaries but have no active component and are thus neglected. There are several State authorities with the power to act but not the resources.

The National Land & Water Resources Audit (NLWRA) undertaken in SA by the Office for Coast & Marine included estuaries, however again there are not the resources to appoint an officer to deal with this issue. The Audit classified the majority of SA’s estuaries as ‘modified’ or ‘severely modified’ (the Murray was conspicuously absent from the list as were several Adelaide metropolitan rivers).

In general the feeling of the day was that this ecosystem has been largely and needs urgent attention. There is much community concern illustrated by increases in community awareness and the formation of regional groups such as BIPEC (Barker Inlet & Port Environment Committee, chaired by Pat Harbison). At the end of the day a number of wrap-up points were made:

• We need an awareness/education campaign.

• In the end you can’t differentiate between the continuous system that comprises catchments, estuaries and ocean.

• Stop preaching to the converted; embrace industry.

• Fundamental and urgent need for a centralized approach with a State co-ordinator to oversee estuarine issues, develop a management strategy and encourage communication between government, regional authorities and the community.

Our Society celebrated its 25^th Anniversary at our June General Meeting. During the break Tony Isaacson and I gave a presentation about the beginnings of the Society. I suggested that it was time to start instigating some kind of tradition in the Society. I started the ball rolling by first presenting Tony with a Silver Anniversary wineglass in recognition of his founding of our group 25 years ago in 1976. Our group was then known as the Marine Aquarium Research Institute of Australia (SA Branch) or MARIA. The group, in effect, replaced a marine study group based at the SA Museum. Tony was our interim Chairman and inaugural President back in 1976. I then presented our present Chairman and President, Philip Hall, with the new "MLSSA Anniversary Trophy" in recognition of his services for our Society. I then called on Tony and Philip to cut the special birthday cake together. We then all enjoyed a celebratory drink and supper.

The wineglass and trophy came courtesy of a number of small individual donations which enabled me to present them at absolutely no cost. As our founder, Tony gets to keep his anniversary wineglass to boast about at dinner parties. The Anniversary Trophy, however, is to be presented by the holder to a worthy member at the June meeting every year when we celebrate yet another anniversary.

Philip goes down on record as the first recipient of the MLSSA Anniversary Trophy. There have already been many other milestones and achievements. For example, our newsletter reached its own 25 years as of July. October 2000 was the 18th anniversary of our Society logo (and name). Our name change became effective on 1st October 1982 and the Leafy Seadragon logo appeared officially for the first time on the cover of our October 1982 Newsletter (No.65).

Six of our members have achieved over twenty years membership (or association) with our Society. They are Geoff Mower, Peter Gilbert, Steve Reynolds, Phill McPeake, Philip Hall and David Muirhead.

Most of these members will recall our group becoming a member of the Scuba Divers Association of SA, which it was known as back in 1980. The Association later became the Scuba Divers Federation of SA, but I digress. We have been a member of the Federation for twentyone years now.

In our first year we set up a marine aquarium display for the Adelaide Skindiving Centre exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show. The ASDC exhibit won the ANZ Bank's 2nd Prize for "Best Commercial Exhibit", second only to Channel 10’s MASH tent.

Our Society has often won prizes and awards for aquarium displays at the Royal Adelaide Show thanks to a few dedicated members.

In 1997 we were awarded a KESAB Action Award for being a finalist in the "Small-Community Environmental Action" category.

So we already have a distinguished history full of achievements and I have now been able to document many of them together above. From now on I will strive to build on our history and establish a greater sense of tradition.

(MLSSA’s Honorary Historian)

As we did the year before last, MLSSA will be putting on a display during the fair that will be held at Edithburgh on Sunday 30^th of September. A tent will be set up near the jetty and we will have a display tank in it, to showcase some of the local marine life. Our new calendars will be available for sale and general information about the society, our goals and the projects we are involved with will also be on display.

We hope to see as many members as possible make the effort to come along. Anyone who can provide assistance in either manning the tent or diving to collect specimens for the tank would be greatly appreciated.

Accommodation will be available for a cheap rate at the Edithburgh Lodge, which is on the foreshore just up from the jetty. Please let me know as soon as possible if you want to stay at the lodge especially if you are only planning to stay for 1 or 2 nights. I currently have it booked for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

I will be doing a night dive on either the Edithburg or the Port Giles jetty late on Friday night and will be taking my brothers boat over. So if the weather is good I will be keen to do a few dives on the Clan Ranald or around the Troubridge area. If you wish to do some absolutely spectacular dives please let me know.

Please contact me on (08) 8296 2664 or 0417 808 327 for any further details or with any suggestions for the display tent.

Congratulations to two groups that recently received Natural Heritage Trust grants to rehabilitate and protect the coast. They gave the Semaphore Park Coastcare Group $12,400 for re-vegetation and an interpretive area. They gave the Tennyson Dunes Group $12,200 for a viewing platform and interpretive signs.