Workshop/Community Meeting - 20th December and 22nd March 2007
An important development in the "Our Place, Southern Rivers" project has been the involvement of the Australian National University in catchment study work on the Bournda Lagoon/Sandy Beach Creek Catchment.
In 2006 an undergraduate student conducted research on sources of nutrients, the results of which were presented to an audience of secondary teachers, NPWS personnel and representatives of several agencies.
Dr Sara Beavis and Professor David Ellis highlighted the limited nature of the study but showed that the data raised many interesting issues including:
1. the “boutique” or iconic status of coastal lagoons like Wallagoot and Bournda Lagoon and the risks to environmental, aesthetic and recreation values associated with being at the end of the “pipe”
2. high levels of nitrates in some areas of the Bournda Lagoon catchment
3. the potential risks associated with large rainfall events and disruption of the Nitrogen/Phosphorus equilibrium
4. probable continuing concentration of Phosphorus in Bournda Lagoon sediments
5. risks associated with bank disturbance and sedimentation
6. potential groundwater outflow at the lagoon
7. exchanges through the sand barrier
8. desirability of weekly sampling of the lagoon for 12 months to get a better picture of what is going on.
There are many unanswered questions that will form the basis of further activities with schools in 2007/8. Further funding for these projects has been sought as part of the "Australian Schools Innovations in Science, Mathematics and Technology" to allow students to work with researchers on these important questions.
An additional planning meeting on the 20th Feb 2007 then led to the organisation of a well attended community meeting on the 22nd March 2007 where ANU staff made a presentation to local landholders on the nature of their research. The meeting included a kayaking session and BBQ - both of which were well received.
