Last year, the City of Hobart Bushcare program trialled a Trackcare activity at Tip Top and it was a huge success. The new Bushcare Coordinator at the Hobart City Council is now looking to extend this program by setting up a "Trackcare" group. Full details are below.
I wasn't personally involved, but as the new Bushcare Coordinator at the Council, I am keen to form a Trackcare group for the long-term involvement of the community in the development and maintenance of Hobart's track network. We currently have the capacity within the Bushcare program to host several new groups, and a Trackcare group is one of several I am keen to form and promote.
In particular, I really want to harness the passion, enthusiasm and experience of the Mountain Bike Community in working with our program. Bushcare has been operating as part of the Council for 21 years, and with your support, we could make the next 21 years involve the Mountain Bike Community in managing Hobart's bushland areas. I know this is something many of you are eager for, and I have met and discussed options with some of you already.
If this sounds good to you, this is how it would work.
As a Council program, Bushcare activities are undertaken on public and private land with the aim of benefiting Hobart's bushland reserves. Individuals would be involved in Trackcare as a Bushcare volunteer. When working as Bushcare volunteer you are a Council volunteer and there are many benefits to this. These include:
- · Insurance while you are working on approved projects – in a group or alone
- · An opportunity to have direct dialogue with the Council and influence how areas are managed
- · Notification of what's happening in areas you work
- · On-ground training from qualified Council staff and volunteers
- · Tools, materials and personal protective equipment all provided
- · Training opportunities are offered such as First Aid
- · Educational events
- · Annual thank you BBQ
- · Administration support for the group – WH&S, activity registers, grant writing etc.
- · Promotion of the group
- · Quarterly newsletter
- · No annual membership fees
- · No requirement to attend every working bee
To be a volunteer you need to fill in a Volunteer registration and agreement form, and undertake a Volunteer induction. For those that have already done this – you won't have to do it again. For those that haven't done this, the induction takes a maximum of 30 minutes and it can be done in the City or on-site.
If you think you would be happy to join the group and be a volunteer as part of the Council's Bushcare program, please let me know. I would also be eager to hear if you would be interested in being involved track maintenance (we have a number of proposed maintenance working bees) as well as track development, or only track development. All initial activities for the proposed group would be focused on tracks used by mountain bikers ( you ).
If I receive enough interest, those of you who have replied will hear from me again shortly on where to next.
Please feel free to pass this e-mail on to anyone who you think might be interested.
I look forward to hearing from you,
- Lisa
City of Hobart
Dr Lisa Cawthen | Bushcare Coordinator | Bushland and Reserves
T: (03) 6238 2884 | M: 0409 780 458
16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Tasmania 7000 Australia | hobartcity.com.au