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Queens Birthday 2010 Honours
 Fred Cook, has been recognised for his tremendous voluntary contribution as Works Co-ordinator for the Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail, with a place on the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2010.
Fred has been awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) for leading this volunteer group in the revegetation work along the trail since 2002. The work goes on, but the trail has already been substantially transformed under Fred's supervision, with his constant planning, arranging of plant acquisitions, organising the volunteer working bees, and providing tools, water and mulch on site as required. Fred represents the organisation on the Bellarine Rail Trail Advisory Committee, and is also its representative on the Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Committee and the Bellarine Catchment Authority. His enthusiasm provides the essential motivation for the team of volunteers to continue despite cold or hot weather conditions, and to overcome the difficulties brought on by drought, so as to achieve a remarkably high retention rate for new plantings.
Fred Cook is deserving of the highest recognition for his efforts, which provide a wonderful example of just what can be achieved through the determined efforts of volunteers in our community.
Partial closure of the Bellarine Rail Trail
All users of the Bellarine Rail Trail need to be aware that some sections of the trail will be temporarily closed between late April and mid July 2010.
The reason for these closures is because Barwon Water Alliance are to begin work on a new sewer pipeline along the Bellarine Rail Trail from the 19th April, 2010.
The 7.7 kilometre pipeline is needed to meet growth on the Bellarine Peninsula.The new, larger pipe will service Leopold, Clifton Springs and Drysdale and replaces an existing sewage pipeline that has reached the end of its operational life.
The majority of new pipeline will be constructed adjacent to the Bellarine Rail Trail in a Barwon Water reserve. A smaller section, between Coppards and Boundary Roads, will be laid within the Bellarine Rail Trail. This will avoid an area of significant vegetation within the Barwon Water reserve.
During construction, sections of the Bellarine Rail Trail will be closed to ensure public safety. They include:
· Coppards Road to Wilson Road – late April to mid June, 2010.
· Wilsons Road to Boundary Road – mid May to mid June, 2010.
· Coppards Road to Earls Road – late June to mid July, 2010.
Detours will be in place whilst these works are in progress.
The project is part of the Bellarine Peninsula Sewerage Management Strategy, which was developed to address the needs of communities across the coastal region over the next 50 years.
Work is expected to be completed in October, 2010
Rock Garden Development at Christies Road
A new raised garden bed has being developed in the reserve adjacent to Christies Road. Several large rocks have been installed to provide an attractive visual feature, whilst at a recent working bee, 450 native seedlings were planted, watered, mulched and plant guards installed in this area. The rocks were provided by way of donation, and we also gratefully acknowledge the valuable assistance of Robertsons Transport who transported the rocks and positioned them on site.
Our volunteers have been busy constructing and installing two new picnic tables and seating in this reserve, and we hope to see future development of this area possibly to include barbecue facilities and playground to create a complete family recreational facility.
Progress in 2010
This year has seen further good progress along the trail, particularly at Leopold. A rock garden development is now underway in the Christies Road reserve adjacent to the car park and amenities block area (refer article and photos above).
Several new plantations have been created along the section between Christies Road and Kensington Road, which with mulching and some follow up rains in recent months has created an attractive tree/shrub lined avenue along most of this section.
Barwon Water has continued to allow us the use of the Barwon Water Community Nursery in South Geelong , to propagate new seedlings direct from seed or cuttings for use in future plantings. With the coming of the rains, we expect to be able to plant some thousands of seedlings during the winter and spring months.
We have been pleased to welcome several new volunteers into our ranks this year, and we extend a warm welcome to others who may be interested in joining with us in this continuing revegetation project along the Bellarine Rail Trail. Our volunteers come from far and wide – Newcomb, Geelong West, Leopold, South Geelong , Whittington, Wallington, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Bellarine, Portarlington and Ocean Grove - and all enjoy the teamwork involved and the camaraderie generated. Environment Day Award
The Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail volunteer group has been recognised by the City of Greater Geelong for their work along the trail, work which benefits all of the Bellarine community.
The presentation of an Environment Day Award was made on Friday 5 June 2009 by Mayor John Mitchell and Environment Portfolio holder Councillor John Doull, to key members of the group including Alistair Macintosh of Newcomb, and Fred Cook and Trevor Jennings both of Leopold. The award reads "In recognition of outstanding services to the environment".
The group has committed many hours to revegetation of the 16 kilometre section of the trail between South Geelong and Drysdale since beginning in 2002, and the results of this effort are now obvious. Despite the drought, vigorous growth has transformed many areas along the old rail corridor, much of which had been almost bare of vegetation for years since the rail service was closed, or overgrown with weeds. This work has required careful planning and determined effort on the part of the volunteers not only to plant many thousands of native trees and grasses, but also to follow up with mulching, weeding and watering to ensure a high retention rate.
Two areas which have changed dramatically are at the site of the former Curlewis rail station adjacent to Portarlington Road , and in the Leopold area between Christies Road and Kensington Road . This latter area has been the site of intensive effort particularly over the last two years with the planting of more than 4000 trees and grasses, whilst council has arranged and helped finance the sealing of this section of the trail together with the provision of a shelter and toilet block.
The Friends group has installed several seats and tables in this and other locations to provide an attractive place for both local residents and visitors to walk or ride for fitness, and to commune with nature over a cup of tea and perhaps a picnic lunch. Several bird nesting boxes have also been installed to encourage native bird life.
Youth Environment Awareness
Our group is committed to the encouragement of environmental awareness across the community, but especially among young people. Today most young people are aware of the importance of revegetating areas which have been degraded over many years, and they also appreciate the opportunity for some hands-on training which our experienced group are keen to provide. We have recently had several youth groups working with us in revegetation work along the trail.
We welcome enquiries from other schools or groups who may wish to participate similarly.
Bellarine Secondary College
20 senior students from Bellarine Secondary College, accompanied by teacher Leeanne Hearn, took part in a working bee with the Friends group on Wednesday 23 June, assisting with the development of further new plantations on the section of the trail close to Jetty Road, Clifton Springs. Considerable revegetation work has taken place along this section in the last three years, now added to by a further 250 new plantings of a wide range of indigenous shrubs and trees as a result of the student's efforts. This area is gradually being transformed as these plantings develop and grow despite some losses due to drought conditions.
Students undertaking year 11 Agriculture Horticulture studies undertook this work using local indigenous plants. These plants help to provide habitat for local fauna, decrease erosion,and bind the soil to prevent nutrient and sediment runoff into catchments. Matt Crawley, Bellarine Landcare Coastcare Coordinator - who co-ordinated this joint activity, says this links in with other revegetation and habitat restoration projects on the Bellarine. Barely 5% of the original indigenous vegetation remains on the Bellarine and projects like this and others help to restore a much-needed balance.
On Sunday 30 August 2009 members of the Leopold Scout Group joined us in plantings at Leopold between Christies and Kensington Roads. This area provides a very convenient and attractive recreational facility for the growing Leopold community, particularly since the trail surface was recently sealed by Council. Revegetation with thousands of native plants has created an indigenous garden environment for the use and enjoyment of all, and we are very pleased to have the involvement of local young people in the further development and maintenance of this natural asset in the heart of Leopold.
 
Our involvement with the Nelson Park Special School - year 11 & 12 composite class consisting of 14students, together with 3 teachers- took place over 3 separate Fridays, all 2 weeks apart, to suit the school's outdoor learning program.
One of our members attended the special school at North Geelong and gave a talk about the work of our group, followed by instruction in the theory of planting and how to maintain a plantation. The students were then involved in practical work by planting some 60 trees /shrubs / grasses close to their classroom - plants which our group donated. They did a great job in creating their own garden, complete with mulch and plant guards. They also accessed our web-page from the classroom, a learning activity which familiarised them with the Railtrail, its history and its many natural features.
 
A second Friday was spent on the Railtrail at Whitehorse Road - where students were involved in practical work planting understory plants, with watering and mulching also taking place.
The third Friday was again spent on location at Whitehorse Road for more planting & mulching, plus removal of obsolete sticks and plastics from the old beds. Fred Cook and Trevor Jennings joined with the students for lunch at the Christies Rd Heritage Shelter, followed by a visit to the historic railway station site at Curlewis to see the transformation of that area resulting from our revegetation program, and to pick up rubbish.
Our members found the students great to work with, and we look forward to this activity becoming a regular feature in future years.
Trail Improvements
Due to the provision of funding by council and the state government the following major improvements have now been completed, with the Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail carrying out the required revegetation work:-
* Resurfacing of the trail between Melaluka and Christies Roads, Leopold
*A new heritage shelter, restrooms and car park at Christies Road
*Two heritage shelters along the rail trail at Curlewis Road and Moolap Station Road respectively
*Provision of a new car park at Curlewis Road
The following is an extract from "The Mayor's Column" in the Bellarine Times newspaper of 26 August 2008:-
"Thanks must go to the Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail for helping out with the landscaping works, among many other things. The Bellarine Rail Trail is a popular recreation area for locals and tourists alike and we are lucky to have such a passionate group of residents putting in so much time and effort to enhance this important community asset."
City of Greater Geelong has recently installed interpretative signage adjacent to the shelters at Curlewis, Moolap Station Road and at Christies Road Leopold. Each of these locations is rich in history which is briefly explained on each of the signs.
This photo, taken at the Christies Rd car park site, shows some members of the volunteer group, together with Annette Laidlaw and Tim Solly from Barwon Water who have provided assistance with propagation of seedlings used in this project.
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