In the photo with John and Sandra, Kevin is in the white shirt and Richard is in the blue shirt with his back to the camera.
In the background you can see Sandra and Johns home.
John and Sandra are able to stay on site from now to ConFest, and hope to remain untill clean up is completed. This will be their first ConFest
The map shows the current thoughts on site layout.
The aim has been to concentrate the ConFest on the Northern side of the site, but have Gypsy spill over onto the southside arround the creek.
The "finger" of land looped by the creek on the north east of the site seems to suit carfree. The front gate could be near the north boundary in the start of the treed area at the Highway end of the property. ConFesters would drive onto the property through the stockyards at the north end of the Cobb highway frontage.
The planned position for the bore is close to mains electricity. There is talk of putting our 22 thousand litre tank on the top of the "hill" near the house. The bore will supply long term water for the house, and possibly replace the pumping of water from the Gulpa into the dam as a house supply.
There is a plan to run a 2" water main from the bore and/or water tank, to central spot near the creek frontage. Water supply would then fan out from there.
It would seem practical to bury this pipe for long term use.
The unit attaches to the three point linkage on the tractor. The pipe is fed into the tube in the upper pictures, and comes out the tube in the lower left picture. The ripper plade in the lower left picture, cuts its way into the soil, and the pipe is buried in the soil through the tube behind it. This unit rents for $20 per day, but there are serious difficulties using it.
Another other option is to use a trenching machine.
Please email any comments, suggestion, questions, or any thing you think could be included on this page to :-
;Email David Cruise
The following is an article from Don Royal that did not fit in the November/December newsletter.
CONFEST WITH CARE
Supporters of ConFest are excited about our new land and the opportunities it presents to use LAND with CARE. Many are expressing the need and desire to buy more and more, not only for the conduct of ConFest, but also for the protection and regeneration of land itself. With 70% of the Australian continent now under the thumb of unsustainable usage based on introduced species and land degradation we must take up the challenge to use our land with care.
Our new site is relatively pristine when compared with its neighbouring blocks. Previous owner/s, through neglect probably, have it left mostly alone. The single most degrading thing that will happen to it will be ConFest. How can we learn to be kinder to the bush? How can we start to evolve ConFest into a bush regeneration and not degeneration festival?
With the help, resources, advice and labour from you dear ConFesters - you! The land and the bush need your help. Firstly, let us accept - no, demand - that ConFest and the way it has been set up and run must change. Lets get the market (with its vehicles, debris and tramping feet) out of the shadiest spots and onto an already trashed area, such as our front 100 acres (as David Cruise wants). Accept that parking and gypsy must also be out of the bush, even if it means being 2 kilometres from the water. Insist that beaches, workshops, toilets and other high use areas be located not for shade or convenience, but with an eye to where the least harm will be done. Place your tent (and campfire if you really must have one) away from sensitive areas. Bring your own shade instead of flattening under trees. Anyway, tree shade moves and trees drop limbs. It's a long way off yet, but wouldn't it be great to place all parts of our festivals on already degraded land? To leave sites better off than we found it them, after say, having planted a few thousand local native trees?
Able and knowledgeable people are needed to present workshops on all aspects of environmental care. Most of us need to know more about owning LAND with CARE. Could we have environment patrols? Sort of ecological First Aid teams patrolling to stop damage?
Help is needed with flora and fauna surveys. List of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles that might be at Bylands have already been prepared. Reference material will be available at either Information or First Aid. ConFestors can go out on their own sorties of discovery. A central record of sightings will be kept. Anybody with skills in this area would be most welcome, perhaps to conduct workshops.
There is much work to be done on our new block in non-festival times. Boundary fences are either down or in a poor state. Weeds are invading and spreading while foxes and cats are eating away at our wildlife. There is need for seed collection, propagation, weed control, surveys and general maintenance at varying times of the year. Work is needed on the house water supply and there will be house and building repairs. There is a huge amount to do. People are wanted for work after/before coming festivals to have a go at the most urgent jobs.
It is important for the bush and ConFest that we make a reality out of our dreams of owning and protecting land. We must try to turn around the galloping loss of our natural heritage - at least on the areas we own. Its not just a matter of wallets and a few heads, but the gift of many, many willing hands as well.
Folk are justifiably excited about our new land and the prospects of more to come. Now we have real incentive and opportunity to focus DTE and ConFest onto land care.
Don Royal, December,2002