Posts – Page 51 – Paluma – our village in the mist

TMR Range Road Update for March 2021

Rainforest Tree of the Month, February 2021 – Syzygium australe

This attractive rainforest tree, a member of the Myrtaceae family, has many common names, including, brush cherry, scrub cherry, creek lilly-pilly, creek satin-ash and watergum. It grows mostly along water courses in rainforests and gallery forests at altitudes up to 1300 metres.

Worldwide, there are more than 1000 species of Syzygium ranging across PNG, the Pacific islands, Malaysia, SE Asia, India, Africa and Australia. Australia has 57 species, with 47 of them in tropical Queensland. Some species, easily recognisable are Paperbark satin-ash (Syzygium paparaceum with its purple fruit; Powder-puff lilly-pilly, (Syzygium wilsonii), with small purple fruit and a sub-species noted for its large magenta powder-puff flowers and lush creamy white fruit.

It is easy to understand how various Syzygium species, along with many other native Australian flowers, inspired May Gibbs to create her delightful bush babies. Who could forget the movie magnate’s daughter, Lilly Pilly with her skirt, beret and muff made of lilly-pilly berries.

Although Syzygium australe can grow to 35 metres with a trunk diameter of 60 cm, it is a popular plant in ornamental gardens as it can be shaped and pruned into hedges. It is a fast-growing tree and can grow 2 metres in a year.

The ovate leaves are simple, opposite and approximately 30×100 x 10-40 mm. Young leaves are bronze, turning to a deep, glossy green as they mature. They form dense foliage on this shapely tree.

Flowering can occur at any time of year. Flowers are clustered in axillary or terminal racemes. They are tiny, with white petals and numerous white stamens which give the flowers the appearance of delicate powder-puffs. Flowering can be sparse, hiding amongst the leaves, or abundant, giving a dense cover of white. Flowers are followed by a profusion of red fruit – berries. These are 14-23 mm long with one or two seeds surrounded by crisp flesh similar to apple in texture. The fruit is edible, although can be tart. It makes excellent jam and can be used as a base and flavouring for jellies, cakes and wine.

Some species of Syzygium were previously classified in the genus Acmena and others in the genus Eugenia. The species known formerly as Eugenia Australis is now regarded as two separate species: Syzygium australe and Syzygium paniculatum.

There are many examples of Syzygium australe in Paluma. A very old tree which usually bears fruit in profusion is outside No 75 Mount Spec Road, another, is outside the High Ropes course. Two more may be seen outside No 17 Mount Spec Road.

Text and photos (unless indicated) by Colwyn Campbell

Reminder: Chinese New Year Social this Saturday

Ni hao (pronounced “nee haow”)!

Don’t forget this Saturday evening Paluma will celebrate Chinese New Year with a Social at the Community Hall. Festivities begin at 6.30 PM.

Please bring a dish to share with your friends and neighbours – savoury or sweet. Your best Chinese-inspired delicacy would be most appreciated!

And don’t forget to bring your spare change to purchase a few beverages from our Barman Les.

See You There!

What’s Flowering on the Range Road?

On the way up the range road yesterday, Peter and Jan Cooke saw several examples of one of our truly spectacular native flowers, the Native Rosella or Marsh Mallow, Abelmoschatus moschatus tuberosus. The flowers look very much like a Hibiscus (they share the same plant family) and only last for a day or so. They favour drier coastal areas so you will probably not see them around the village. But they are certainly worth looking out for as you drive to Paluma.

The plant grows along the ground or can be partially upright. It dies back to an underground tuber in the dry season. The tubers, as well as the leaves and seeds are edible and were eaten by local aborigines.

TMR Range Road Update: ROAD CLOSURE TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the preferred temporary day closure of Mt Spec Road for the retrieval of the light tower trailer.

Please be advised that the temporary closure will be on Tuesday 16 February 2021 from 10am to 2.30pm.

During this time a full closure of Mt Spec Road will be in place from Little Crystal Creek bridge to McClennand’s Lookout. Road users may seek an alternative route via Hervey Range Road. In an emergency that requires Queensland Emergency Services to travel to Paluma Village, access will be provided by the contractor.

I will shortly send through a flyer with further details of the changed dates for the ongoing Mt Spec Road Geotechnical Investigations.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information regarding this advice.

Kind regards

Meghan

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Whats Flowering in Paluma? Mistletoe

Mistletoes are a group of parasitic plants belonging to the Order Santalales. Australia has a high diversity of mistletoes (over 85 species) with the majority in the family Loranthaceae.

Mistletoe (Amylotheca dictyophleba) in the cutting on Mt Spec Road

When we think of parasites we often envisage small or microscopic animals that can make you sick, or even kill you, but this way of living (where one organism harms another by using it for nourishment or other vital need) is widespread in all branches of life. In vascular plants parasitism has evolved at least 12 times, with the mistletoe form having evolved 5 separate times within the Order Santalales.

Mistletoes are considered to be obligate hemiparasites because they cannot grow independently of their host plant (the relationship is obligatory) and because they still have their own leaves that can provide a significant proportion of their energy needs through photosynthesis (hemi=half). A spectacular mistletoe in Western Australia looks more like a tree (it parasitises roots rather than tree branches) and is said to be the largest parasite in the world.

Mistletoe (Amylotheca subumbellata) Top left photo taken opposite the high ropes course (sth side of the road). Other photos taken on the cutting looking towards Whaley Cr.

Paluma hosts several mistletoe species and one, with beautifully shaped and gaudily coloured flowers is currently in bloom along the roadsides of the village. Its scientific name is a bit of a tongue-twister: Amylotheca subumbellata and it, unfortunately, doesn’t have a common name other than the generic “Mistletoe”. A. subumbellata has a restricted distribution (northeast Qld) with the majority of records from the Paluma region. Its clusters of small torpedo-shaped flowers with orange/red bases and yellow-green tips are very distinctive. Its leaves are also very distinctive, being narrow, strap-shaped and grey-green. One related and more widespread species that is also common around the village is the Bush Mistletoe (Amylotheca dictyophleba) has almost identical flowers, but its leaves are glossy green and ovate. It has very similar flowers (around the village they are more uniformly red), but they differ markedly from A. subumbellata in the shape and colour of their leaves, which are oval glossy green.

The Bush Mistletoe (Amylotheca dictyophleba) has very different leaves and more uniformly red flowers. Fallen mistletoe flowers (probably A. dictyophleba) are a common site in Dec-Feb on the ground along village walking tracks.

The name mistletoe is thought to be derived from two Anglo-Saxon words: “mist or mistel” meaning dung; and “tan” meaning twig. This “dung on a twig” name is quite apt. Mistletoe fruit is a favourite food for the mistletoe bird (a common Paluma resident) but the seed in the fruit is surrounded by a very sticky substance that resists digestion. When a mistletoe bird sits on a branch and tries to defecate, the sticky mass containing the seed just hangs off the birds rear end forcing the bird to wipe its bottom on the branch or twig. The seed is now exactly where it needs to be in order to germinate and infest a new host tree. David Attenborough came to Australia years ago to film this process and the result is a delightful sequence, well worth watching here.

The best places to see both of the mistletoe species discussed here are in the trees on the north side of the road cutting from 27-21 Mt Spec Road, and on either side of the road opposite the High Ropes Course.

Text and photos by Jamie Oliver

TMR Range Road Update – February 2021

Good afternoon all

As Meghan is currently away from the office, I am looking after community engagement for works along Mt Spec Road and have some important information to share.

Geotechnical investigations (night closures) rescheduled

Geotechnical investigations on Mt Spec Road, initially scheduled to occur nightly from 8-17 February 2021, will be rescheduled. The works have been impacted by wet weather and the project team has made the decision to reschedule the works to a later date. At this time, TMR is proposing to recommence the nightly geotechnical investigations on 6pm Monday 22 February, continuing until 6am Saturday 6 March 2020 (weather permitting). During these works, road closure times will remain the same as for previous works – 6pm to 6am Monday to Thursday, and 7pm to 7am Friday. An updated information flyer is attached and Meghan will send a reminder closer to the works recommencement date.

Temporary day road closure required next week

Due to wet weather conditions on site earlier this week, an incident occurred at Mountain Creek which resulted in a light tower trailer (being used for the night works) slipping off the roadway and falling down the slope. The incident resulted in minor vegetation damage only and the fallen light tower is not posing a safety risk to traffic or people. However, a crane will be required to remove the light tower as crews are unable to drag it up the slope due to the risk of damaging the heritage stone wall at this location. To ensure the safety of both workers and motorists, the retrieval will need to be undertaken during daylight hours and will require a temporary road closure of 4-5 hours when the crane is on site and operating.

To undertake these works, TMR is proposing to implement a temporary day closure of Mt Spec Road on either Tuesday (16/2) OR Wednesday (17/2) next week, from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

I am seeking your feedback on these proposed closure times before anything further is confirmed. If you have any concerns with the proposed dates or times of the day closure, please let me know by reply email. While we recognise these works will have an impact on the Mt Spec community and we may not be able to accommodate everyone’s travel requirements, the objective is to minimise these impacts and obtain a general consensus from the majority of residents and stakeholders on the suitability of proposed closure times. Subject to community feedback, TMR will confirm closure times with the contractor and further information will be sent out from Meghan early next week.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as TMR completes essential works along Mt Spec Road.

Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone on 4421 8970 should you wish to discuss anything further.

Kind regards

Kelly Stolz

Customer and Stakeholder Management
Northern District | Department of Transport and Main Roads

Paluma Social Events for 2021

Dear Members of the PDCA, Paluma Residents, Friends & Neighbours,

Please note that your PDCA has a newly formed sub-committee known as the ‘Social Committee’ (or perhaps more aptly termed the ‘Any Excuse for a Get-Together Sub-Committee’!!).

Your new Social Committee Members are:- Lynn Hyland, Les Hyland, Colwyn Campbell, Lynda Radbone and Michele Bird.

The inaugural meeting of this new sub-committee was held just recently and we have set about in planning an array of Social Events over the coming year. We hope there will be plenty of opportunities in 2021 for you to get out of the house, dust off your best outfit, catch up with friends and neighbours and also dress up and be a bit silly on the odd occasion, should you feel inclined…..!

We do encourage all Paluma residents and PDCA Members to contact us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback on upcoming and future Social Events. We are sure many of you have some great ideas for future Social Events and we would love to hear from you.

A working list of the planned Social Events for 2021 is outlined below and regular posts will be added to the website to remind you of upcoming events. Please join us to support your PDCA, to share some great food, good company, good humour and the odd beverage. All are very welcome.

The exciting events to come are:-

Saturday 20 February Chinese New Year Social (Evening)

Saturday 20 March St. Patricks Day Social (Evening)

Sunday 4 April PDCA Paluma Markets

Saturday 24 April PDCA Annual General Meeting with BBQ (Lunch)

Saturday 15 May Petanque (Bocce) and Nibbles on the Green (Afternoon)

Saturday 12 June Les Hyland’s 90th Birthday Party (Evening)

Saturday 26 June Bush Dance – Wattle n Gum

Sunday 27 June Paluma PDCA Markets

Saturday 17 July Paluma Push Bike Race (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 7 August International Night Social (Evening)

Saturday 11 September Back to the 70’s Social (Evening)

Sunday 3 October PDCA Paluma Markets

Saturday 9 October ‘Paluma-Fest’ Social – BBQ, Beer and Bonfire Night

Sunday 24 October Community Hall 20th Anniversary (Morning Tea)

Sunday 31 October Paluma Trail Run (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 6 November Return of the Monsters & Mayhem on the Mountain

Saturday 11 December Tropical BBQ Social (Evening)

Cleaner position at PEEC

CLEANER

Permanent Part-Time 9.75 hours per week

Paluma Environmental Education Centre

Ref : PEEC 2021-01

Position based at the Centre at 53 Mount Spec Road, Paluma, 4816

Application package available from the Business Manager, phone 07 4772 9555 or 4750 8528.

Successful applicant will be required to hold a current suitability card (Blue Card) from Blue Card Services before they commence work.

The prospective employee is responsible for the cost of the Blue Card Check and the subsequent issue of the suitability card. Please check the Blue Card Services website for current fees.

The successful applicant will also be required to undertake a Criminal History Check prior to commencement.

Successful applicant may be subject to a probationary period

Applications close 4:00pm Friday, 19 February 2021

Community Centre Garden Beds now completed

On Sunday, with the enthusiastic help of several volunteers, the project to enhance the appearance of our Community Centre with new garden beds and a selection of native plants provided by the Townsville City Council was finally completed. Last year saw the construction of some the garden beds using black wattle logs sourced from Ann Bruyeres’ property, and the sourcing of a large selection of native plants courtesy of a grant from the Council. Ann played a key role in selecting the plants and getting them up to Paluma, where we kept them in a well-watered location until we could finish preparing the remaining garden beds and find a suitable time after the rains had set in to undertake the planting-out.

Working in the rain turned out to be much more pleasant than toiling in the blazing sun!

Anne provided much needed guidance in assigning a suitable spot for each plant, while the rest of us (Colin, Jill, Don, Michele and Jamie) dug the holes. Even now, the Centre and surrounds look much improved, and with a continued good wet season the plants will all take hold and begin to fourish and further transform the site. It’s good to have some pictures from the start so that we can record the changes as the plants grow over the next 5-10 years.

Thanks again to Megan Taylor (TCC) and Councilor Margie Ryder for their support in getting the plants for this project.

The finished product