News and Updates | Tamboon Peachtree As

Newsletter December 2023

The entrance is open and has been for the last few months with good tidal flow in and out.

Tamboon rainfall total for 2023 was 1115 mm. December total, was 289mm.

Total rainfall for 2022 was 1434 mm.

DEECA and Warren Fenner and his crew from Eastern Vegetation Management completed mulching of the firebreak around Tamboon community on 20th December.

Project Updates:

Fireguard Shed extension.

This project is funded by the Australian Government, through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants.

First aid store and toilet complete.
Painting of all areas in extension complete.
Cupboards and draw units and bench top installed.
Toilet, basin and sink fitted and plumbing completed.
New electrical sub board fitted and power and lighting complete.
Air conditioning installed and commissioned.

A big shout out to Jono Roach (builder), Mal Duncan (plumber), Gary & Zach Cough (electricians), and James Archer (plaster) for making this happen.

Tractor and flail mower

This equipment has been funded by East Gippsland Community Foundation

Kioti RX6030 Tractor was delivered on 5th May and has been used to push up and burn tree heads and logs and used for rolling and positioning logs for cutting up for fire wood.

The tractor was returned to Elders in November for oil leak repair and returned to Tamboon on 11th December.

Oil leak was caused by fracture in cover plate caused by incorrect bolt, (too long), used on front end loader mount.

Telstra small cell mobile phone tower

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants.

Site visits have been carried out by Telstra engineer and surveyor has marked out proposed site of tower.
Draft of lease has been prepared that includes Telstra using solar power from the Fireguard Shed, and installing a backup diesel generator.
TPA have engaged a solicitor from Warren Graham and Murphy, to review and advise on the final licence agreement.
Telstra Licence with TPA has been agreed and we are waiting on electronic copy to complete signing.
First milestone payment of 30% of project carried out on 28th June.

Camping ground upgrade, floating jetty and boat ramp.

The floating jetty is a Parks Vic project funded by VTHC, in conjunction with the Peachtree Creek Camping ground upgrade, funded by the Vic Gov Great Outdoors.

On 26th October a group, of community members meet with Grant McCarthy, Parks Victoria Senior Project Manager and Dr Arash Asadi SMEC engineer and local Parks Victoria rangers at the Peachtree Creek jetty and campground to review status of project.

Some of the issues discussed included:

The history of the project, including a summary of different funding sources
The current problems experienced at the site particularly with the car park, boat ramp and jetty. Issues with the car park relate to the popularity of the site and often overcrowding, making vehicle and trailer movements difficult. Issues relating to the boat ramp and jetty related to the differing water levels due to tides and also higher water levels when the ocean inlet is closed.
The amount of cultural heritage located at the site and the potential for some current scope items within the campground needing to be removed from scope. Local residents also mentioned that the site also had a lot of European heritage present within the campgrounds with old fisherman huts.
Alternative locations for excess vehicle parking. Although not possible to be achieved in this scope of works, the TPA may potentially investigate these alternative options separately (noting that other parking areas may be located on DEECA managed land).
Alternative locations for the boat ramp and jetty that may provide easier access and egress into the water. A number of different options were discussed, however generally due to constraints with the cultural heritage, unknown land tenures and overall project budget, it would likely be unachievable to move the jetty boat ramp locations from their current position.
The ongoing management difficulties of the site due to the heavy use, with both residents and PV Rangers providing examples of some of the problems that occur.
PV Rangers also raised the need for the firepits needing to be replaced, but their preference is for a round fire pit design to be utilised.

From the discussion the key take away points included:

A review of the current design layout for the car park area is needed. The current layout of parking would not allow for vehicles towing boats to adequately drive into the area forwards, turn and reverse their bota into the water. It is recommended that the layout be such that cars and trailers park forward facing South East (not South West as shown on current plans), with an allowance for the last space to the south of the car park to be left free from parking as the turn in bay to reverse down to the water.
Parks Victoria to investigate the option of removing 2 campsites from the campgrounds (1 north of Peachtree Creek and 1 south of Peachtree Creek). This may have the benefits of providing an unconstructed alternative emergency launching area for boats from the south of Peachtree Creek, but also reduce the potential number of vehicles needing to park in the car park area.
Investigate the possibility of Tea Trees being removed on the north side of the car park area (as circled in blue on the image above)
Adjustments to boat ramp design to be investigated by SMEC design team, particularly if the height of the head of the ramp can be raised higher than the current design. This review can be in line with previous report prepared for TPA, which Frank Herbert provided to Dr Arash from SMEC to review.

Metal Lyrebird Sculpture for Cann River Community.

Funded by Fire to Flourish through East Gippsland Community Foundation

Following a working Bee on Oct 21st, interested community members meet with Sara Mathews and Scott Campbell Smith to learn more about the Fire to Flourish program and the opportunity to source funds for projects that have a wellbeing benefit to the community and district.
Various potential projects were identified and after some discussion it was moved and agreed that TPA would endeavour to gain funding from Fire to Flourish, (F2F), to purchase a metal Lyrebird sculpture form Neil Findley, and place it in Cann River, as a thank you to CVDRG and Cann Valley and to further increase tourism, business, and wellbeing.
EGCF advised on 13th December our funding application to Fire to Flourish was approved by the Fire to Flourish & East Gippsland Community Foundation assessment panel.
EGSC land manager consent for the Lyre Bird statue installation in Cann River approved on 19th December.
On 21st December $31K was deposited into TPA CBA bank account.

Other Fireguard Shed and Property Works.

Super Maxx bollards installed to front of shed.
Treated pine bollards and rope installed along rock retaining walls.
Wash sink installed at rear of Fireguard Shed.

Fire Fighting Equipment.

Peter Terry and Joe Deluca completed preseason, servicing and testing firefighting equipment and green tagging equipment that is ready for service on 20th November, Slip-on No. 1 was found to be not operational.
Slip-on No. 1 repaired and returned to service on 26th November, carburetor required cleaning.

OHS, Insurance and liability.

To ensure we comply with our OHS obligations, insurance and liabilities, those who use the firefighting equipment must be trained in the use and operation of the equipment.

TPA training at Fireguard Shed.

Tamboon Fireguard firefighting equipment training and skills maintenance days were carried out on 2nd and 16th December. This included starting slip-ons and firefighting trailers, spraying water with fog and jet.

Trained in safe use of pallet lifter, lifting and installing Slip-Ons onto Ute, setting up and using big fill pump, (takes 30-40 secs to fill 400 lt Slip-On).

Upcoming activities:

AGM Saturday April 27th 2024

Working bee. (Date to be advised)

Prepare and pour slab at back of shed.
To remove wooded garden shed

FOR CURRENT PHOTOS SEE GALLERY