Bees

Bees become very active in Spring and generally swarm between September and December ... more

Magpies

Magpies begin swooping in spring, from August until October ... more

Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are not only an annoying pest to you, your family and pets, they are also transmitters of pathogens and parasites ... more

Snakes

Council does not provide a service for the removal of snakes, WIRES has access to snake experts who may be able to assist ... more

Composting Information

Composting is a great way to recycle your green waste from inside your house and around your yard ... more

Wood Heaters

Smoke from wood heaters is a major cause of air pollution. Not only is a smoking fire wasting your money ... more

Water Restrictions

Current weather conditions have eased the supply difficulties of last summer, however available water resources are sill limited...more

Landcare News

A monthly newsletter outlining what is happening in the environment around our area ... more

Draft Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan

Action plan for the management of natural resources for the Murrumbidgee Catchment.

Junee Shire Council, in conjunction with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, has embarked on an exciting new project targeting Urban Salinity. Our community will become a healthier and greener community. With the help of landowners, 60 hectares were planted out to native trees and shrubs in an effort to fight the effects of urban salinity.

This Council project targeted land zoned as 1(c) which is Rural Small Holdings eg Tarthra Drive Estate, Kinvara Drive Estate. Those involved have land zoned 1(c) and committed to the planting maintenance of a minimum of 100 trees. Council provided the trees selected from a list and will prepared the land.

The planting events coincided with Planet Arks National Tree Day on Sunday 27 July 2008.

  Waterwise and Salt Tolerant Plants for the Junee Area  (Details) | pdf | 425

Difference between an Australian Bee (left) and a Honey Bee (right)

Bees become very active in Spring and generally swarm between September and December. This is a natural behavior and is part of the reproductive life cycle of honey bees.

Bee swarms on private property are the responsibility of the occupier. People willing to collect bees in your area can be found in the yellow pages under “Apiarists” or “Beekeepers”. For more troublesome swarms and nests, it may be necessary to contact a local Pest Controller.

Any person wishing to keep bees must be registered with the Department of Agriculture.

In addition, the Department investigates complaints about nuisance bees. Any person enquiring about beekeeping or wishing to make a complaint about nuisance bees should contact the Department of Agriculture on Ph: (02) 6391 3100, or visit their web site for a form to report any problems.

For many months of the year Magpies are just another part of the environment, with many Australians not giving them another thought. It’s not until they start swooping that Magpies become a problem.

It is important to realise that swooping is a natural behaviour, as the birds defend their nesting territory. Swooping only occurs for about eight weeks in spring, from August until October.

There are things we can do to avoid being swooped:

• Avoid the swooping areas by taking an alternative route.
• Wear a wide brim hat and sunglasses.
• Carry and umbrella.
• Watch the bird as you walk through its territory, this may discourage attack.

Remember that Magpies are protected throughout NSW and it is against the law to kill them, collect their eggs, or harm their young.

Mosquitoes are not only an annoying pest to you, your family and pets, they are also transmitters of pathogens and parasites. Some of the common diseases known to be caused by mosquitoes are Filariasis (Heart Worm), Epidemic polyarthritis (Ross River Fever),

Australian encephalitis

Breeding occurs in any stagnant water body so make sure your property does not have water lying around. In order to prevent breeding you should change water weekly in bird baths, stock ponds with fish, make sure your roof gutters drain properly, remove pot plant saucers or fill them with sand, check funnels of bromeliad plants, screen or cover septic and water holding tanks, and keep lawns and other ground vegetation short. Partly emptied swimming pools containing dirty water are very likely to breed mosquitoes so demolish your pool, fill it in or drain it completely if not used. But now they’re back and breeding, possibly in your own back yard and this makes YOU a target for their next bloodmeal. You could also be exposed to viral and parasitic attack.

For more information on Mosquitoes see NSW Health publication ‘Mosquitoes are a Health Hazard’. (Murray Valley Fever).

Council does not under any circumstances provide a service for the removal of snakes. Residents are advised to contact:

Wildlife Information & Rescue Service (WIRES)

WIRES has access to snake experts (herpetologists) who may be able to assist on a voluntary basis.

Composting is a great way to recycle your green waste from inside your house and around your yard. The finished product makes a great fertilizer for the garden and can be used as mulch and potting mix.

Council’s ‘Handy Household Hints’ brochure is full of good tips on how to:

• Compost Correctly and
• Shop Smart to Reduce Rubbish

  Handy Hints  (Details) | pdf | 345

When winter roles around and the temperature drops outside, we reach for another blanket and light our wood fires, and the air outside becomes mysteriously hazy.

Smoke from wood heaters is a major cause of air pollution. Not only is a smoking fire wasting your money, but the air pollution it causes can also affect our health. If you can see or smell smoke then you are causing a problem for yourself, your family and your neighbors.

Do’s and Don’t of Wood Heating

	Do		Don’t
	Check that your heater complies with the Australian Standard for pollution emissions (AS 4013:1999).		Use old inefficient heaters that don't comply with pollution standards.
			Use open fires.
	Burn only, dry seasoned hardwood.		Burn coal, coke or moist wood.
	Check your wood is dry by tapping it with a coin. You should hear a loud, hollow sound.		Burn rubbish or painted or treated wood.
	Use a number of small logs in your heater.		Burn just one log.
	Store freshly cut wood for eight to twelve months before use.		Use green wood.
	Store wood under cover in a dry ventilated area.		Store your wood where it is exposed to water or moisture.
	Be aware of the source of your wood.		Harvest wood in a way that threatens vegetation and animal habitats.
	Ask your wood seller to verify whether wood for immediate use is aged and dry.
	Stack wood loosely in your fire box, so plenty of air circulates around it.		Pack wood too tightly in the firebox.
	Keep the flame lively and bright.		Let your fire smoulder.
	Open the air controls fully for 5 minutes before and 15 to 20 minutes after loading the heater.		Keep the vent closed when you add fuel.
	Keep enough air in the fire to maintain a flame or let it go out overnight.		Dampen down your fire or let it smoulder overnight .
	Rely on your home's insulation to hold in enough heat for the night.		Allow creosote to build up in the flue, increasing the risk of a chimney fire.
	Check your chimney regularly to see how well your fire is burning. If it is smoky, increase the air supply.
	Clean the woodheater flue and baffle regularly.

For more information on wood smoke or wood heaters visit the NSW EPA website.

While current weather conditions have certainly eased the supply difficulties of last summer, available water resources are sill limited. Goldenfields Water County Council finds it necessary to continue restrictions in a manner aimed at developing the long term conservation of our scarce resource.

The following restrictions apply to all consumers within the Shires of Bland, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Junee, Narrandera and Temora.

Level A Water Restrictions

The following restrictions are in force, EVERY DAY until further notice:

• Midnight - 9:00 am: Use any hose or sprinkler, whether fixed or handheld, providing water is not wasted and it is monitored (eg. Personally or with a timer)
• 9:00 am - 5:00 pm: ONLY USE A HAND HELD HOSE
• 5:00 pm - Midnight: Use any hose or sprinkler, whether fixed or handheld, providing water is not wasted and it is monitored (eg. Personally or with a timer)

For further infomation, consumers are requested to contact Goldenfields Water County Council on 1800 800 917 or visit www.gwcc.nsw.gov.au

To view the Plan click here or contact Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority on (02) 6923 0479.