Monday, January 31, 2011

(5) Jan 2011 Fixing the dam wall at 3rd dam


January 2011

 Peter Hammond volunteered to fix the leaking dam wall

A coffer-dam was built from rocks
Clay soil was stamped down making it watertight


 The hole was cleaned out


15 wheelbarrows of cement were mixed


It was packed into the hole, and along the whole bottom area of the wall


Finished! Within three days the water had covered  the coffer-dam and the dam filling up.
Great job!!



Sunday, January 30, 2011

(4) November 2010 Bridges in Delta Park

During the year, with the heavy rains we experienced, there were a few places in the Park that were so wet we really couldn't walk and have dry feet and  dogs. The three areas were  --- at the top dam coming off the wall by the overflow: the river got deep and muddy; below the school in the lane - a stream or spring ran continually and  at the bottom of Bantam drive, just past the pedestrian gate it became a soggy swamp.
I wondered how these could be "bridged". One day driving down Standard Drive I noticed a cement wall being taken down and all the panels were just lying there. I asked the owner if we could have some and he said "help yourself!" Johnathan offered his truck and we collected and delivered what seemed to be the right amount to each place. Two workmen who helped clear the dam were happy to work again and a few days later we had the bridges done. However, my engeneering skills did not allow for a six hour cycle race over the bridges and there were many cracked and broken panels. A passing gentleman explained the panels were actually not very strong and instead of two support beams I needed five. A lady in ??? drive also offered panels so with Elizabeth's bakkie and my Golf we collect more heavy supports and started again. This time it has worked much better. A few have cracked,one panel has broken but we can walk there with dry feet and dogs. Now the rains have started in earnest we will see how successful they are.

Cheers
Shirley

Below are six photos of the bridges and walkways.

Making the bridge at top dam


Five supports should be better. 


Bridge at top dam finished.


The "foundations" for the walkway in the lane below the school


The walkway ready for use. Hard to remember this area was water and mud last year



The beginning of the long walkway across the marshy area going down towards the river

                                                                
All ready for the rains!!

(3) August 2010 and Jan 2011 Removing blackjacks below the school


AUGUST 2010

The earth bank below the school was full of dried blackjacks


Two workers hand-pulled them out, much tidier!

 

JANUARY 2011

The rains arrived and the blackjack seeds grew into thriving plants


We knew how to deal with them nd a few hours with a brush cutter had the bank all tidy again


At the other end of the bank blackjacks  and other alien plants were growing fast


But the brush cutter soon had it all sorted out.


We will probably have to do this again about March to cut the inevitable regrowth!