Post by L Roebuck on Sept 26, 2006 9:49:22 GMT -5
Hidden treasures of our limestone caves
Tuesday, 26 September 2006
By Doug Booth
CAVES in the Macleay Valley are some of the most significant in NSW and need to be effectively managed and protected for future generations.
And born-and-bred Kempsey conservationist Stephen Meehan is playing a key role in making sure this commitment is recognised nationally.
Stephen is the manager of the newly created Karst Conservation Unit with the Department of Environment and Conservation in Bathurst.
Karst is the generic term used to describe landforms, predominantly limestone, which are formed by the dissolving action of water and which typically consist of caves.
On his recent inspection of Mid North Coast karst environments, Stephen visited Yessabah and Willi Willi caves.
He places these caves as of equal conservation significance to the better-known caves at Jenolan, which attract more than 250,000 visitors a year.
"Caves found in the Macleay catchment provide critical habitat for a number of bat species, many of which are regarded as threatened under relevant State Government legislation," Stephen told The Argus.
"Moreover, the alkaline soils of the Macleay karst provide the basis for a diverse range of vegetation, which in turn, provides habitat for a variety of fauna including what is believed to be the highest density (per area square) of land-based snails in the State.
"The karst of the Macleay catchment is also significant in that it exhibits a range of landforms not typical of other areas."
Stephen said the Macleay caves vary in size from 5m to 30m.
"The Macleay caves have spectacular geological formations and make up a network of caves," he said.
The caves at Yessabah are part of this link, providing migratory bats with opportunities to live and breed along the Mid North Coast.
Stephen said the unit was also keen to gather further data about the role the caves have played in local Aboriginal culture.
"Not a lot of research has been done in this area," said Stephen, who added that the caves are in remote areas, surrounded by thick bush.
"Access to the Willi Will caves is not easy," he said.
"You have to navigate through a couple of kilometres of thick bush and you really need to be an intrepid bush walker, caver and naturalist to get there."
Stephen said karst conservation was a much-maligned area of science but effective management and education was slowly changing people's thinking.
Stephen has returned to work with the karst conservation unit, based in Bathurst, after successful stints with the Phillip Island Penguin Reserve in Victoria; the Department of Defence; Toowoomba and Hervey Bay councils and the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.
Stephen, with other unit members, is responsible for developing plans, policies and operational guidelines for all karst environments located on lands managed by the Department, including the nationally and internationally renowned Jenolan Caves, and other caves such as those found within the Macleay catchment.
His current responsibilities are in stark contrast to that of previous positions, which saw him tending to penguins and koalas while based at Phillip Island, mitigating the environmental impacts of defence training activities at the Australian Heli- copter School in Oakey, Queensland and managing parks and coastlines while employed by Too- womba and Hervey Bay councils.
Stephen says his job would be much more difficult without the efforts of local departmental staff and speleological (caving) groups in protecting and managing the Macleay's karst environments.
"In particular, I want to acknowledge the work of the Kempsey Speleological Society, which has an important role in identifying, surveying and documenting many of the area's caves and karst environments," he said.
The majority of his visit "back home" was spent talking to stakeholders and collecting data, but he also had the good fortune to inspect a number of caves which, because of their specific management requirements and remote locality, are not accessible to the general public.
While the adventurer in him was clearly satisfied with this opportunity, it was equally apparent that the on-going protection and conservation of these beautiful, if not under-valued environments, remains his key mission.
Stephen's inspection of the State's karst environments will next take him to the northern tablelands which takes in the Ashford Caves (on the NSW-Queensland border), and closer to home, the Kunderang Brook caves, in Werrikimbe National Park.
Those wishing to learn more about the Macleay's unique karst environments can contact the Arakoon office of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Article
Tuesday, 26 September 2006
By Doug Booth
CAVES in the Macleay Valley are some of the most significant in NSW and need to be effectively managed and protected for future generations.
And born-and-bred Kempsey conservationist Stephen Meehan is playing a key role in making sure this commitment is recognised nationally.
Stephen is the manager of the newly created Karst Conservation Unit with the Department of Environment and Conservation in Bathurst.
Karst is the generic term used to describe landforms, predominantly limestone, which are formed by the dissolving action of water and which typically consist of caves.
On his recent inspection of Mid North Coast karst environments, Stephen visited Yessabah and Willi Willi caves.
He places these caves as of equal conservation significance to the better-known caves at Jenolan, which attract more than 250,000 visitors a year.
"Caves found in the Macleay catchment provide critical habitat for a number of bat species, many of which are regarded as threatened under relevant State Government legislation," Stephen told The Argus.
"Moreover, the alkaline soils of the Macleay karst provide the basis for a diverse range of vegetation, which in turn, provides habitat for a variety of fauna including what is believed to be the highest density (per area square) of land-based snails in the State.
"The karst of the Macleay catchment is also significant in that it exhibits a range of landforms not typical of other areas."
Stephen said the Macleay caves vary in size from 5m to 30m.
"The Macleay caves have spectacular geological formations and make up a network of caves," he said.
The caves at Yessabah are part of this link, providing migratory bats with opportunities to live and breed along the Mid North Coast.
Stephen said the unit was also keen to gather further data about the role the caves have played in local Aboriginal culture.
"Not a lot of research has been done in this area," said Stephen, who added that the caves are in remote areas, surrounded by thick bush.
"Access to the Willi Will caves is not easy," he said.
"You have to navigate through a couple of kilometres of thick bush and you really need to be an intrepid bush walker, caver and naturalist to get there."
Stephen said karst conservation was a much-maligned area of science but effective management and education was slowly changing people's thinking.
Stephen has returned to work with the karst conservation unit, based in Bathurst, after successful stints with the Phillip Island Penguin Reserve in Victoria; the Department of Defence; Toowoomba and Hervey Bay councils and the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.
Stephen, with other unit members, is responsible for developing plans, policies and operational guidelines for all karst environments located on lands managed by the Department, including the nationally and internationally renowned Jenolan Caves, and other caves such as those found within the Macleay catchment.
His current responsibilities are in stark contrast to that of previous positions, which saw him tending to penguins and koalas while based at Phillip Island, mitigating the environmental impacts of defence training activities at the Australian Heli- copter School in Oakey, Queensland and managing parks and coastlines while employed by Too- womba and Hervey Bay councils.
Stephen says his job would be much more difficult without the efforts of local departmental staff and speleological (caving) groups in protecting and managing the Macleay's karst environments.
"In particular, I want to acknowledge the work of the Kempsey Speleological Society, which has an important role in identifying, surveying and documenting many of the area's caves and karst environments," he said.
The majority of his visit "back home" was spent talking to stakeholders and collecting data, but he also had the good fortune to inspect a number of caves which, because of their specific management requirements and remote locality, are not accessible to the general public.
While the adventurer in him was clearly satisfied with this opportunity, it was equally apparent that the on-going protection and conservation of these beautiful, if not under-valued environments, remains his key mission.
Stephen's inspection of the State's karst environments will next take him to the northern tablelands which takes in the Ashford Caves (on the NSW-Queensland border), and closer to home, the Kunderang Brook caves, in Werrikimbe National Park.
Those wishing to learn more about the Macleay's unique karst environments can contact the Arakoon office of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Article