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Theft puts reserve at risk OLYMPIC DAM…Staff and volunteers at one of Australia’s most successful arid zone ecology projects are up in arms after thieves damaged the reserve’s feral animal-proof fence, risking the project’s native animal populations. Local stakeholders in the Arid Recovery reserve - situated 20km north of Roxby Downs - reported the theft of several bales of fencing wire from inside the reserve this month. In the process of climbing the fence to steal the bales, however, the thieves have damaged the ‘floppy-top’ design which ensures cats cannot breach the reserve. The reserve is home to one of Australia’s largest populations of Greater Bilbies, Burrowing Bettongs, Western Barred Bandicoots and Stick Nest Rats. “Not only have they climbed in and stolen something – they’ve damaged the integrity of the fence, leaving it vulnerable to predators getting in,” project officer Brydie Hill told The Monitor last week. “The fence was more than seven years in the design and completion, and in all the time the reserve’s been here we’ve never had an incident like this.” Local staff and volunteers are “shocked and disappointed” by the incidents, she said. The damage comes just days after the project’s donation box – a padlocked container soldered to a metal pole – was stolen from the reserve’s front gates, more than 16km along the borefield road. “We have tourists from all over the world travelling this road and dropping money in the donation tin – it’s horrible to think that that money they’ve given won’t go to the reserve as they intended,” Ms Hill said. “We’ve always enjoyed strong support from the local community – it’s not just the staff’s project, it’s everybody’s project and I just hope this is a one-off incident.”
Cleaning up the Outback
FENCE FEARS…Arid Recovery project officer Brydie Hill indicates where vandals have damaged the reserve’s unique feral-proof fence, risking the project’s native animal populations.
ROXBY DOWNS…Roxby Downs resident Stephen Moss is calling for volunteers to help him Clean Up Australia on Sunday, March 6 – or at least the little bit of it along Olympic Way, from Roxby Downs to Charlton Rd. “The first time I came into town I saw all the Tidy Towns signs and then as I drove through the other side I was thinking “look at the mess”. “There’s bottles, plastic, cardboard, bags – just rubbish. “Every visitor we have here goes to the mine, and that’s what they see.” Now Mr Moss will head up a team to clean up Olympic Way on Clean
Up Australia Day next month. Already, local businesses have thrown their support behind the effort, with high-visibility vests donated by WMC for volunteers, extra bags from Eurest Support Services and KESAB. Collex/SBS will supply dump facilities, a covered trailer and will help recycle waste from the collection. Volunteers will meet on Sunday, March 6, at 9am – outside Outback Landscaping and Supplies on Olympic Way. “And when it’s done, let’s keep Olympic Way tidy after we’re finished,” Mr Moss said.
the
STOP PRESS
CLEAN-UP CREW...Roxby Downs resident Stephen Moss will head up a drive to clean up Olympic Way this Clean-Up Australia Day.
The SA Government will host a ‘Country Cabinet Meeting’ in Roxby Downs on Monday, March 14, 2005. This is the first time one of these meetings - an official sitting of the SA Parliament - has ever been held in the region. Premier Mike Rann and the full complement of SA Ministers will arrive early Monday morning for a community morning tea. Presentations will be made to cabinet by the Roxby Downs Council and WMC Resources (Olympic Dam). Cabinet will then sit at the Roxby Downs Council offices, followed by a visit to Andamooka. Member for Giles Lyn Breuer invited community members to discuss local issues with SA ministers by making an appointment. Phone the Giles office - 8645 7800. “I’m thrilled to bits that they can come to Roxby Downs, see the local community, talk to the local people and find out some of the local issues in Roxby Downs.”
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