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Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP)

A future regional botanic garden, education and ecosystem recovery centre for the Southern Tablelands

STEP stands for the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park.

STEP aims are to establish:

• A botanic garden representing all ecosystems of the Southern Tablelands;
• A significant conservation corridor linked with the Conservation Management Networks this region;
• An extension program to provide eco-services support to community and government agencies in this region;
• A field station for biodiversity research projects;
• Education projects in restoration and conservation at primary, secondary and tertiary levels;
• Community training programs in conservation and restoration;
• A strategy and planning program by agreement with key stakeholders in this region;
• A conference centre with backpacker-style accommodation;
• A cultural and social centre for visitors displaying a rich and interactive biodiversity experience of the ecosystems of this region; and
• A connection service for all community and government agencies operating in this region.

STEP's sponsors so far:

STEP commenced its development with two organisations as its parents: the Australian Native Plants Society Canberra Region and Friends of Grasslands. It was incorporated as an association under ACT legislation in July 2003.

The Office bearers' for STEP are: President: Cathy Robertson; Vice President: Shirley Pipitone; Treasurer: Warren Saunders; Secretary: Andrew Russell;

Committee Members:

Geoff Robertson, Jo Walker, Paul Jansens Ross Wissing, Jean Gueue, Alan Ford and Gywn Clarke.

A number of organisations are members of STEP:

• the Australian National Botanic Gardens,
• the Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens,
• Queanbeyan City Council,
• the Southern Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife Service and
• Environment ACT.

We had a very successful launch for the association on 22 May 2002. Work is continuing to establish STEP with as wide a base of stakeholders as possible. Currently we have 40 individual members.

STEP membership is open to anyone who is in sympathy with our vision. There are both organisational and individual levels of membership as follows:

• $100 for organisations
• $25 associate organisations who have less than 100 members
• $10 for individuals /families of affiliated organisations
• $20 for all other family/individual membership

Projects

STEP is engaged in a number of projects:

• Project leaders are Jo Walker and Gwyn Clarke for the publication of a series of posters displaying wildflowers and grasses of the Southern Tablelands;
• Project leader: Geoff Robertson for .a publication on Plant Ecology of the Southern Tablelands.
• Project leader: Shirley Pipitone for preparation of a submission to ACT government for meeting the requirements for a grant of land at Amaroo for STEP.

Want to get involved?

STEP meets monthly at ANBG

Visit the STEP Website: www.step.asn.au

For further information contact: Cathy Robertson, Telephone 02 62571951
or by email at info@step.asn.au

Cathy Robertson (August 2003)