Our volunteers 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.

See the Volunteer Support policy at https://heysentrail.asn.au/friends/policy/volunteer-support-policy/ for information on recognition of volunteers as well as reimbursement of expenses.  For more information, and to register your interest in any of these events, please see the Walks Page on the Friends of the Heysen Trail web site.

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.

February
Thurs 20th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 27th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
March
Thurs 5th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 12th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 19th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 26th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
April
Thurs 2nd	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 9th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 16th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 16th to Sun 19th	Eyre Depot Arden Creek Maintenance Trip
Fri 17th to Sun 19th	Marschalls Hut project supported by E2E11
Thurs 23rd	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 30th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
May
Mon 11th to Fri 15th	Hiskey Hut
Fri 15th to Sat 16th	Remark trail – Buckaringa North to Willochra Creek

Date to be confirmed – Black Jack toilet rebuild

SECTION NEWS:

Eyre Depot Recce – Julian Monfries

With a trip looming in April to install a toilet, replace a tank and realign the route around the notorious Mt Arden waterfall, a group of volunteers ventured to Eyre Depot on February 7^th and 8^th to undertake a recce.

Lead by Simon Cameron, the section leader for the area, along with Colin Edwards and Julian Monfries a hurried trip north was undertaken.

Heavy rain the previous week made the drive to Wilkatana a bit hairy, with deep washaways, mud and clay to contend with.

Luckily, despite some damage to the access tracks on the drive from the Old Leigh Creek Road and the good graces of Andrew Smart, the manager of Wilkatana, in grading the roads, we got into Eyre Depot without too much anxiety.

The first task was to assess the route around the waterfall up Mount Arden Creek to avoid the steep, slippery descent above the waterfall heading north.

It was decided that a better alignment of the track higher up the ridge with a safer descent into the creek, beyond the waterfall, would be suitable for north walkers and the current route be used for south walkers.

The plan is to mark this in April this year with a team of volunteers (see following item).

Having established a plan to realign the Trail there, it was back to Eyre Depot to sort out access to the current tank and campsite for trailer and vehicles. The problem has been a deep washaway between the Eyre Depot gate and the current tank/campsite. Luckily, a short walk towards the range, a suitable path for vehicles and loaded trailers was found, requiring minimal effort to get to the worksite.

The tank at Eyre Depot had been reported as empty an inspection proved this was correct, and the culprit was determined to be a 2 cm hole in the base. This was especially disappointing as inspection in April last year showed it was full and the heavy rain the previous week which should have topped it up.

A site for the toilet was located and preparatory digging started as the soil was soft. It was remarkable how far the moisture has penetrated auguring well for final installation in April.

Having completed the recce the team headed home.

 

Eyre Depot Arden Creek Maintenance Trip April 16th to 19th 2020  – Julian Monfries

Team Leader – Simon Cameron

Where – Eyre Depot staying at Wilkatana Shearers Quarters  – will need sleeping bags.

When – Thursday 16^th April to Sunday 19^th April

Inclusions – Evening meals each night

Exclusions – breakfast, lunches, nibbles and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and international air travel.

Plan   

Thursday        Drive up with two vehicles and two trailers carrying the new toilet, a replacement tank and a platform.  The loaded trailers will be collected from Cobblers Creek that morning.

Drive into Eyre Depot and deliver the trailers to the work site and if possible, install the tank, or the platform, or both. Some track work may be needed to access the site.

Friday            Split into track realignment team, and infrastructure team

The track realignment will take one 4WD to access the Trail up Arden Creek and walk in.

They will remark the Trail over the waterfall, with a new northern alignment, retaining the current route for southern walkers and mark appropriately.

The infrastructure team will complete the site work for installation of  the toilet, which includes completing the long drop excavation and installing the toilet frame etc.

Saturday          Complete the installation of the toilet, wall cladding, roofing, install a “modesty screen” and toilet tank.

Sunday             Drive home

Cudlee Creek Fire – Colin Edwards

We have been advised by Forestry SA (Andrew Moylan) that the recent bushfire at Cudlee Creek has left a significant number of trees near the Trail in a dangerous state, with the possibility of falling on windy days. FSA have requested that the trail south of Holland Creek Road be temporarily rerouted.

The reroute around this area has not as yet been agreed on. Temporary marking will be needed. As we have found in the past this will be in place certainly for the 2020 walking season. A call for volunteers will be posted on the web site to do the marking as soon as possible.

Actual damage to the trail is minimal with the main damage being to the tank shelter frame which will probably require a new structure. The new platform recently installed was not damaged.

Cobbler Creek Shed – Colin Edwards

Projects undertaken during 2019, the cabin renovation and installation at Black Jack, several long bench seats and other furniture required working mainly with timber. This year will be a change to mainly working with steel, needing cutting, grinding, welding etc. This is due to the expense and supply of timber, and, it is environmentally more acceptable.

For this work we will be using a mig welder which will mean tuition and supervision for the start of the year. This should not be too challenging. It is worth noting that our most proficient arc welder last year was a female and she supplied great cakes.

The 2020 work started at the shed on Feb 6^th and will continue as before – every Thursday from 9am to 2pm as posted on the FOHT Walking Program.

2020 Projects – Colin Edwards

• Complete and modify two toilet frames
• Manufacture four tank shelters
• Fence stiles in future will be steel frame. Manufacture ten for stock
• Platforms are being redesigned but could be a mix of steel and timber. We  have budgeted to manufacture ten units

 Thanks,
Trail Development Committee

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

An update on recent new trail infrastructure and trail maintenance work undertaken by our vital volunteers. Below is a schedule of maintenance events – new volunteers welcome,

Our volunteers 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. 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.

With the completion of the Black Jack Hut project, Colin is now restocking our timber supplies and cutting lengths to make marker posts and stile steps and uprights. We are also testing the production of a new metal stile design. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to weld – now is your chance.

Please register by clicking on the link for the event below or by contacting the Office. Registration helps us anticipate numbers and also to plan jobs.

October
Thurs 3rd	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 10th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 17th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Thurs 24th	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
Fri 25th – Sun 27th	E2E Maintenance Greenock to Huppatz Hut The major work will be to install and upgrade stiles across recently installed fencing between Greenock & Kapunda. We will also be marking a minor reroute of the trail through the township of Kapunda. Other jobs will include installing assist poles at a series of stiles along a road reserve between Gerkie & Webb Gaps. Volunteers able to attend on only some days are welcome. The event will be based at Riverton. An accommodation subsidy for Friday and Saturday night and a fuel subsidy will be provided by the Friends. See further information in the item below.
Thurs 31st	The Friends Shed Maintenance Day – Cobbler Creek
November
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

End to End Maintenance – Greenock to Huppatz Hut

Please note the change of date – Friday October 25 to Sunday October 27.

Dom Henschke will be leading the next event on our End to End Trail Maintenance program and is looking for volunteers to assist.  All volunteers will be welcome.

The event continues the work on this section that was commenced in October last year – keeping the trail in good nick is a never-ending job, so we need help for this trip. The major work will be to install and upgrade stiles across recently erected fencing between Greenock & Kapunda that was identified by the E2E13 walking group. Other jobs will include installing assist poles at a series of stiles along a road reserve between Gerkie & Webb Gaps.

We expect that the work will be completed by early afternoon on Sunday. Volunteers able to attend on only some days are welcome.

The event will be based at Riverton. The Friends will be hiring a 4WD vehicle, but you will need transport to get to Greenock/Riverton. However, if that is a problem, we may be able to arrange transport as well.

Suggested accommodation options are the Riverton Caravan Park (bookings have been made for 2 cabins), or the Riverton Hotel. There is no cost to attend an E2EM event and there will be a complimentary dinner arranged for Saturday night. An accommodation subsidy for Friday and Saturday night and a fuel subsidy will be provided by the Friends.

If you register, Dom will contact you via email with details of accommodation reservations, the meeting location and times for each day.

SECTION NEWS

Grandpa’s Camp gets a platform – Julian Monfries

Following the recent realignment of the Trail over Little Mount Crawford, the crew moved south to Grandpa’s Camp, near Cudlee Creek.

The team, consisting of apprentices, Colin Edwards, Dom Henschke, Paul Bond and Julian Monfries and true workers, Adam Matthews, Mark Curtis, Neil Rivett, Peter Fosdike and Robin Sharland. After some faffing around to get levels correct, installed the platform beside the existing shelter.

The team also examined the water tank. They found the water to be good, however the gutter was desperately in need of a clean, the gutter guard having failed gloriously.To top it off, they submitted a new report about the tank on the Cudlee Creek North/Grandpas camp site listing on the Accommodation page.

More platform rollouts are programmed with two to be installed very soon at Stony Creek and Wilmington, along with a replacement of the tank at Stony Creek, due to the water being fouled.

Platform installed at Marschalls Hut – Dom Henschke

As part of the preparation for the October End to End Maintenance trip, a small team of volunteers visited Marschall’s Hut last week.

As well as checking on the rainwater tank, the team installed a walker’s platform in front of the hut – see the picture to the right.

Thanks to Colin Rozman, Rick Price and Martin Chapman who did most of the work on the day. You can see they had sloping ground to contend with, but the assistance of our dumpy level , they made sure you won’t roll off the edge. Well done, team.

 

Updating the Heysen Trail Interactive Map & the website gpx file – Dom Henschke

The Department of Environment & Water has advised us that the stock of Heysen Trail Sheet Maps is running low. So the maps are being revised and will be reprinted soon.

We would like the new maps to be as accurate and as up to date as possible, so we are working on a project to update the HT Interactive Map and the website gpx file. This were last revised on 7 July 2016 there are a number of new re-routes to be catalogued. We have collated most of them but we are missing a gpx file for the following section:

• Walk 40 – Wirrabara to Block 9 Road. This walk contains a minor reroute along the Sheep yard Track that was established in July 2015.

If you have a track of your walk along that section, please send it by email to the Trail Development Committee at the Office

Thanks to walkers submitting campsite & tank reports – Dom Henschke

In late July we published a website news item ‘Tanks – an unreliable water source for walkers’ (and sent an email to Trail Development subscribers) asking for your help.

Thanks to the many walkers who have responded to the call. We have received nearly 50 comments on a wide range of campsites and tanks, particularly those in the more remote northern section of the trail. These comments have been published on the website Accommodation list and form a valuable resource to intending walkers and our Office volunteers.

Check the More info including Interactive Map section at the bottom of each location.

Do you have the time to help keep our website up to date?

As you can see from the last 2 items, not all of the Trail Development work is done ‘out on the trail’.

The Friends website provides a great deal of information for our members doing End to End walks as well as walkers from interstate and overseas. The Office often gets news of trail closures,  re-routes, changes to fire danger seasons and requests for updates to the accommodation list.  It takes a bit of effort to keep this information up to date.

If you have an interest in helping us in this work, there are a number of jobs that you can do at home in your own time.  If you would like to help, we’d like to hear from you. Simply send an email to the Office and we will find a job to suit you. We can provide training in WordPress, the publishing software that we use on the website. It isn’t too difficult to use.

Our next issue

The next meeting of the Trail Development Committee will be held on October 14th. Keep your eye out for the next issue of the Trail Development News sometime after that. Remember – if you have ideas or comments please send them through to the Office.

Trail Development volunteers at work improving facilities on the Heysen Trail.

While the fire danger season limits the Friends’ of the Heysen Trail walking activities, over summer Trail Development volunteers have been putting your walk fees to work.

The Trail Development Committee has been planning and undertaking a range of projects along the trail to improve facilities and add to your walking experiences. This necessary work was undertaken by volunteers using funds raised from the Friends’ membership subscriptions and walk fees.

Makeover of the Hallett Railway Station Hut

Peter Simons (Trail Infastructure Co-ordinator) and a dedicated team of volunteers have recently completed a major project at Hallett.

A year or so ago the ceiling of the hut was collapsing and the hut was in need of lot of work. As you can see from the photo above, the ceiling has been replaced, a new combustion heater has been fitted, a stainless steel sink has been installed and the hut has been repainted.

Toilet installed at Bundaleer Weir campsite

In March another group under the direction of Colin Edwards (Trail Development Co-ordinator) and Peter Simons installed a new toilet at the Bundaleer Weir campsite.

We were very fortunate to have had assistance from Mr Rob Hammat the landowner on the adjoining property. Without the use of his digger, the working party may still be there digging holes – the earth was rock hard!.

It is great to get assistance such as that from Mr Hammat (as we also do from many other enthusiastic landholders).

This is the first of three toilets constructed at the Cobbler Creek shed. We expect Bundaleer Weir will be a popular stopover for independent walkers and also our End to End groups. Plans are underway to install the other two toilets. More news on that later

Camping benches/platforms installed at Wandallah and Webb Gap campsites.

In February the first two of ten camping benches that have been constructed at Cobbler Creek were also installed.

The benches are for sitting, sorting and cheffing!

For day walkers a nice place to sit for morning tea or lunch.

For through walkers a place off the ground to spread and sort their gear and cook.

The benches make for a bit of comfort along the trail – as you can see, there wasn’t a lot else nearby to choose from.

They are not meant as a sleeping platform.

 

Are you interested in assisting with Trail Development?

If you want to assist with any Trail Development activities including the Friends’ Shed Days or upcoming ‘End to End’ Trail Maintenance trips, you can check the events listed on the Friends Walk Calendar