Milang

The Milang Snipe Sanctuary (the Sanctuary) is a unique fringing wetland of Lake Alexandrina that is fed predominantly by stormwater. The Sanctuary is special as the rare Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) return there each year during spring and summer.

Snipe need to feed and rapidly increase their body fat to be able to make the return journey to their breeding grounds in the Northern hemisphere. Birds that leave here in good condition are more likely to be successful breeders.

As the Sanctuary relies on stormwater to maintain water levels, dry summers result in no foraging habitat for snipe.

Snipe numbers have been excellent since their arrival in August 2017, up to fourteen individuals in one sighting, however they will need to move to find suitable foraging areas as the wetland has dried.

Together with Nature Foundation SA (NFSA) and Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning (GWLAP), Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin have an exciting opportunity to deliver a small volume of water via pumping to the south basin of the Sanctuary to provide suitable foraging habitat for migratory waders, particularly snipe.

This water will inundate low lying shrublands and sedgelands in the south basin of the Sanctuary to an average water level depth of ten centimetres across approximately 40% of the wetland in the very southern area near Pobbybonk Point (see map).

The proposal is to trial a small four-inch pump to deliver approximately 4 mega litres over 3 days with 2-3 smaller top-up volumes a few weeks apart.
The small pump is portable and would be run only between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm and not on weekends or public holidays.

If successful, the trial will provide rich foraging areas for snipe and other birds that prefer the shelter of samphire and low sedges such as another threatened species, the Australasian bittern.

Kate Mason
Wetlands Management Officer

The Milang Railway Station Museum, Milang Historical Society and the MOSHCC are combining to organise an event for this year’s History Month in May.

On Sunday 7th May and 21 May, there will be guided bus tours of the pioneers, places, machines and transportation systems that made Milang the busiest inland port in Australia from 1854 to 1880. It will stop for short presentations at the Butter Factory, the Milang Museum and the Railway Station.

The bus will leave from the Railway Station at 10 am, noon and 2 pm on both days. Cost will be $6 per person. Bookings can be made at the MOSHCC during office hours.

For further information contact the Secretary of the Port Milang Historic Railway Museum on 0414 232 060.

Gerry Thompson

Milang and District Community Association Inc is excited to offer an extension of the current Community Care service into the higher level Home Care Packages being offered by My Aged Care.
There is a significant need to provide our older residents with this level of home care and we will ensure that there are support services in place to assist you to remain independent at home for as long as you wish.

We are proud of our community collaboration and following several focus groups held in Clayton Bay and Milang we have the services in place that you have told us you want.
Our trained and professional staff  are committed and caring locals who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure our service is second to none.

If you require further assistance understanding the new system or how to access Home Care Packages, please telephone Fiona, at MOSH on 8537 0687 to have a confidential conversation about how we can help you.

Fiona Pitcairn

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office has released a factsheet—“Hypoxic blackwater events and water quality”—that describes a natural phenomenon now underway in the Murray-Darling Basin after heavy rains in the catchment: an inflow into the river system of tannins and other organic material. A resultant black appearance of water is caused by dissolved carbon compounds that rapidly deplete the volume of dissolved oxygen available to sustain fish and other living organisms.

Likely effects within Lake Alexandrina are not detailed but the advice does include: “Risks to human health are low if direct contact with blackwater is avoided. Thorough cleansing is advised after any contact with affected water and discoloured or dead fish should not be eaten because of possible health risks.”

Click here for a copy of the factsheet. The event is not expected to have a significant impact on our foreshore but residents should take note of any relevant advice in local media.

Chris Bagley,

Community Advisory Panel, DEWNR

I recently came across a very positive review of the delights of fishing and camping at Milang on the Camping South Australia website, including a rather nice video.

You can check it out here.

Congratulations to all those involved in the  production of “Murray the Musical” which was presented in the  Institute this weekend.

As you may realize the Milang website is being given a new look. This coincides with a change in hosting arrangements and a different content management system which also applies to other websites of the Milang and Districts Community Association.

It will take a while to redo some of the features of the old website and introduce some new ones so I would ask you to be patient if you can’t find what you are looking for.

I would welcome your comments and suggestions.

Alex