The Friends of Mound Springs (FOMS) group has enjoyed a good working relationship with the Arabana people over many years. Examples of cooperative programs have been the spring burning trials conducted on Finniss Springs in 2016 and the fencing of Levi Springs in 2019.
This relationship has received a major boost through the establishment of the Arabana Ranger Programme in 2019 with funding through the Australian Government. This program has provided for the employment of a team of (currently) five under the leadership of Head Ranger Micheal (Mick) Stuart. At this stage the program is funded to 30 June 2021. The team has a relatively broad brief to help care for natural resources in Arabana country and the conservation and management of mound springs is an important objective.
In January 2020, FOMS representatives met with the Arabana Ranger team at Port Augusta to discuss areas of common interest and scope for joint programs aimed at improved conservation and management of mound springs.
Following that meeting, plans were developed for a joint field program in 2020. This program was interrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with FOMS volunteers unable to travel to the region until late May. In the meantime, the Arabana Ranger team was able to work in the region, and undertook fence maintenance work and vegetation monitoring at several springs fenced by the State Environment agency in the 1980s, as well as Levi Springs.
With some easing of COVID-19 restrictions towards the end of May, FOMS volunteers were able to join with the Arabana Rangers in further field work and a revised fieldwork program was developed. FOMS volunteers and the Arabana Rangers joined forces in two field trips during 2020.
The first trip took place from 31 May to 6 June. FOMS volunteers Bruce Gotch, Colin Harris, Bernice Cohen and Simon Lewis joined with the Arabana team in inspections of Bopeechee and Beatrice Springs on Finniss Springs (see separate item in this newsletter) and in maintenance of the walking trails at Strangways Springs and Freeling Springs / Peake Overland Telegraph site. While at the Peake Overland Telegraph site, the Arabana Rangers installed five recycled plastic bollards at the carpark to replace deteriorating timber bollards.
The second joint springs visit occurred in late August. The group inspected several springs and artesian bores on Finniss Springs – Bopeechee and Beatrice Springs, the now extinct Venable Spring and Charles Angas, Cooryabbie and Venable bores. The group also visited Gosse and McLachlan Springs, on the Stuart Creek pastoral lease, where feral horses have had severe impact in recent months. More information on these matters is included elsewhere in this newsletter.
These field inspections provided an excellent opportunity for the Arabana Ranger team and FOMS volunteers to work together to assist the conservation of mound springs and to develop a rapport that will provide a sound basis for ongoing cooperative activities. The Arabana Ranger team is making a very significant contribution in the conservation and management of mound springs and FOMS welcomes the opportunity to be associated with the program.
