Earlier this afternoon I opened an email from Elan saying:
“Just wanted to let you
know I was very rudely abused by a man walking two little dogs on leash.
He yelled at me saying Ringo should be on leash. When I told him it is an
off leash area he said it is not because it is not sign posted. Ringo was
nowhere near his dogs.”
I was spurred into finalising the wording below, to which several of you contributed several months ago. I will send this off, asking Domestic Animal Services for ‘dog behaviour’ – OFF LEASH signs.
“Welcome
to Mt Rogers
Mt Rogers is a dog off-lead area where all dogs under control of their handlers are welcome.
Please
make sure your dog is either under good voice-control or on-lead if you have
trouble recalling your dog.
If your dog harms another
animal or person, you could face legal action.
Pick up any dog faeces left by your
dog and put it in the bin provided at Wickens Place or take it home with you.
Dog poo bags are available near the
bin at the car park for those who forget the legal requirement to carry poo
bags.
Because this is an off-lead area, any
walkers who are nervous around dogs, or do not like dogs, may prefer to walk in places
where dogs are not allowed off leash.
Mt Rogers is shared by
walkers without dogs, and naturalists, joggers and cyclists, so consideration for others
is always appreciated. Cyclists need to
be aware of keeping their speed low since dogs and children are unpredictable.
Please
respect Mt Rogers reserve. Its habitats, native animals and plants are protected
by law for the well-being of all.
Mt Rogers Landcare volunteers”.
Signs explaining that Mt Rogers reserve is an OFF-LEASH area were ‘promised’ after the 2014 debacle of our having to spend hours of submission writing defending the off-leash status against the perceptions of ACT government ecologists.
I met several late-afternoon dog-walkers as I cable-tied the signs at the carpark. One lady said she was unnerved for a week after being berated for having her dog on a leash when Mt Rogers is off-leash.
Over the years there have been horror stories of attacks by dogs off- and on-leash: of kangaroos being chased, of people being knocked over by boisterous dogs, and of the huge vet bills that have been incurred by members of our community. The increased numbers of newcomers to Mt Rogers and all open spaces, since Covid19 altered people’s exercise and outdoor habits, has been remarkable. It is small comfort to regularly hear how much the visitors enjoy the spaces they have discovered if there are such upsetting results when people have more time to spend in areas treasured by the locals.
Claire
reported three youths on pee-wee motorcycles herding kangaroos eastward in
their habitat alongside Kuringa Drive on Friday 17th. Others have
dug up soil, rocks and native grasses north of the Second Summit to increase
the adrenaline rush from their bike track towards the telecom tower.
and how the view to One Tree Hill has changed in 200 years!
Technicians
have been working at the tower, and the crane was present on Friday - it was visible
as I returned from Hall. Apparently the strength of the tower is to be
increased by the pole that was inserted by the crane.
As a result
of Angharad reporting that a vehicle had been driven over wire fencing, rocks
have been placed along the fenceline augmenting the boulders that went in
several years ago. The rocks look more natural and will keep some vehicles out, though not motorcycles.
Phone Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or the police 131 444
depending on the severity of the incident but always consider your own safety
first even if considering taking photos.
We may need
to also consider safety from rogue magpies soon. Many people are reporting
pre-breeding and breeding activities observed in a range of species around the
ACT. I have several of those Swooping
Bird signs in the garage if you need them for somewhere where you walk.
Access Canberra usually actions reports of magpies rapidly;
phone 13 22 81.
We’ve had
two well attended working-bees recently concentrating on the green herbaceous
weeds that have germinated as a result of the rain reaching the species’ seed
banks. Mustard, Prickly Lettuce, Fumitory, Cranesbill, Wild Oats, Capeweed, Paterson’s
Curse and wild oats have turned the drought-affected areas lush. There are
swathes of Plantain and numerous Verbascum in places, and scattered Flatweed
seedlings. Some Mallow plants are huge, taller than the weeders from some
reports. Dandelions are in flower.
We’ll be continuing work against
these introduced species for our next working bees on
Sunday 26th
July and Monday 3rd August
also taking out any woody invasives we
come across as we wander and weed.
Meet at Wickens Place carpark on each day
at 09.30.
Jesse has
been taking photos of Mt Rogers plants, and reporting some he didn’t know to
Canberra Nature Map and creating a photographic species list as a herbarium.
Ted has continued to carry and apply a weed wand when he’s on his daily walks
and Phil has drawn up plans for erosion mitigation…newcomers during Covid19
don’t know about walking and riding bikes along the contours to reduce erosion
of the thin soils.
The Ginninderra Catchment Group has a new Co-ordinator - Kat McGilp. Kat and the Group are working on a submission against a Defence Housing plan to build houses too close to the Natural Temperate Grasslands (NTG) on the one-time Naval Transmission Station at Lawson. Such NTG are critically endangered in southern Australia, and it’s another theft of habitat from native wildlife both rare and everyday species.
Rosemary
