We welcome new volunteers to help us undertake installation of infrastructure and trail maintenance work.

All equipment, including personal protection equipment, is provided by The Friends. Volunteers will be allocated tasks to match their level of competence and confidence. If required, specific training can be arranged.

Refer to the Volunteer Support Policy for information on recognition of volunteers as well as reimbursement of expenses.

Below is a schedule of maintenance events.  To register your interest in any of these events, please click on the hyper link in the Calendar of Maintenance events below or look for Maintenance events listed in the Walk Calendar on our website.

Calendar of Maintenance Events

Regular Shed Maintenance days are held on Thursdays at our Cobbler Creek facility, off Bridge Road Salisbury East in Cobbler Creek Recreation Park.

You don’t have to be an expert handy person to join in.

Much of our work for the coming months will be manufacturing steelwork items requiring a different skill set including welding light steel sections. Much of our efforts will be learning and welding.

The training day on Nov 3^rd is open to all who are interested in site work and camp locations.

October
Thurs 31st	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
November
Sun 3rd	Training for TDC members, Section Leaders and volunteers to erect platform and tank shelter at Black Joes Road, Kapunda
Thurs 7th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 14th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 21st	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 28th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
December
Thurs 5th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 12th	Xmas breakup lunch for our hard working shed volunteers.

SECTION NEWS:

 

Re-route at Mt. Crawford – Colin Edwards

A new re-route at Mount Crawford, Chalks Road has been mapped and is being marked by Forestry. This will go on our website when completed.

Water tanks – Colin Edwards

This year’s dry weather has caused many tanks to run dry or get contaminated (stagnant) especially north of Spalding. Several tanks are replaced and brought back for cleaning and sterilizing. Please let the Office know of any problems and water levels.

Trail Development Committee Chairman comment – Colin Edwards

The following article by Julian Monfries illustrates the large amount of work and planning that is needed for some of our more extensive site trips. Much of the work to be done requires a fair amount of travel, which consequently means planning for material and equipment is essential.

Flinders Ranges maintenance Trip September 2019 – Julian Monfries

Early in September a small crew, consisting of Carl Greenstreet, Adrian Rodgers and Julian Monfries headed off to the Southern Flinders to undertake remedial work at Stony Creek, investigate a possible placement for a platform at Wilmington, and repair the roof at Mount Elm Campsite.

Thursday morning saw us at Cobblers Creek, where Colin and his team had loaded the trailer with the makings of two platforms and a new tank for Stony Creek. The existing tank had been reported as contaminated.

The team arrived at Wilmington, via the obligatory bakery, and met local farmer and E2E 10 walker, Peter Noll. They proceeded to Stony Creek campsite which lies at the northern end of Mount Remarkable National Park.

Fixing the tank

The tank was indeed foul, so disappointingly we had to drain a tank that was over 50% full.   As it was draining the team proceeded to dig the

holes for the platform and install that quickly.

The old tank was removed, but in the process the rusted gutter and downpipe were destroyed.

That left a new tank, however with no gutter or downpipe to facilitate filling! Damn.

A through walker happened by, heading south unfortunately he’d missed the turn up towards Lavender Peak. We put him right and relieved him of the 3 litres of water he was carrying in shopping bags (he had heard the water at Stoney Creek to be bad). We promised to deliver it just off Alligator Gorge Road after our work was done. And this we did.

With Peter Noll in tow, we then moved on to survey a site on his land for another platform, choosing one that had a great view towards Horrocks Pass.

Again, this went in pretty quickly, as the hole digging was relatively easy!

Time now getting on, we farewelled Peter and headed to Hawker, our digs for the night, a pub meal and a beer.

Heading further north

On Friday, we went out to Mount Elm, via the Oaks to say hello to John Rowe. Here a sheet of iron had parted company with the roof and simply disappeared. Carl, our tallest volunteer fitted the new tin and stabilised other sheets that were trying to make an escape. Another north/south through walker came past as we were at work. She confessed to missing human company, which prompted Adrian to give her a hug. It was much appreciated – well at least by Adrian!

With that job complete, we were off to Arkaba Station to meet the new managers Bradley and Charlie. Both are strapping young men, who listened to our Red Range toilet options with interest.

Then out to Red Range to check the toilet, which though not foul was full!! Exploratory digs suggested the ground may be suitable for a 10 metre sullage trench.

That task complete, we headed off to Wilpena to investigate a realignment of the Trail past the Information Centre and shop, rather than its current route circuiting around the campground, effectively missing both. Currently, there are marked trails linking to Info Centre and the Heysen as it exits Wilpena Pound, so it should be a no-brainer really. We simply await approval from the local managers.

Mayo Hut was then checked and found to be in good condition and the tanks about 50% full, however one is getting a bit old and rust is getting into the water. This is a job for another time.

Back to Stony Creek

Saturday, we headed home, however disappointed at our inability to complete the tank install at Stony Creek, and gutter. We called into Wilmington Hardware and managed to procure the readies to redeem ourselves, partly.

Subsequently, we managed to install a gutter and downpipe on the tank, however missed the overnight rain, and the piece we were given, free, was only 75% the length we needed! Otherwise we would have had to buy a 3 metre length!

A broken stile near Horrocks Pass was inspected and repaired as best we could, considering the limited materials available to us.

On our way south, we called into Melrose and undertook a realignment of the Trail, now taking it past the LARGE gum and the old brewery.  Additionally, at Kapunda we also did some tweaking to the Trail though the town.

With all that done, the trailer went back to Cobblers Creek, and another successful trip was had –  thanks to Adrian, Rodger and Carl Greenstreet.

Future Training Opportunities – Paul Bond

Paul Bond is currently investigating training opportunities for early next year with the aim of providing more information in the next issue. Watch this space.

Thanks,
Trail Development Committee