Teacher guide to Namoi ‘special place’
Visiting the site
Site 2: Carinda Road Travelling Stock Route, Walgett
This document provides information for an excursion to Carinda Road Travelling Stock Route
(TSR). It covers safety aspects, getting to the location, accessing the trail through the reserve,
and the stopping points for various activities. Choose some activities from the education
package. Make sure you leave time for free exploring; all the tasks are suitable for inclusion
in a field trip to Carinda Road TSR.
2.1
Safety in the bush
Safety concerns for Carinda Road TSR, and potential remedies, are listed in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 Potential hazards and remedies
Potential hazard
Traffic (where activities are undertaken close to the road)
Snake bite
Biting and stinging insects
Thorny plants, e.g. cactus such as Prickly Pear
Falling branches
Trips and falls
Sun exposure
Dehydration (no water is available)
Remedy
Exercise caution near roads
Bandages
Anti-bite cream
Antiseptic cream, pliers
Exercise caution during windy periods
First aid kit
Sun protection (e.g. hats, sunscreen)
Carry sufficient water
Wear appropriate clothing: wearing proper footwear and long pants in the bush lessens the
chance of injury from bites and falls, and can even help limit the amount of venom entering
the body in the event of snake bite.
The Rural Lands Protection Amendment Act, 1998 permits general public and educational
activities within TSRs; therefore, the Carinda Road TSR can be accessed without a permit or
official permission. As with any field visit, minimise your impact within the area (i.e. no
littering, collecting of plants or animals, or damaging or removing wood or rocks) and
implement proper fire safety.
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2.2
Tracking, travel and amenities
Tracking
Download the Carinda TSR.kmz file to your smart device (see Task 1.1 in Activity 1 for
instructions for using Google Earth). Use your smart device to track your location as you
approach the TSR and undertake the activities (the Carinda TSR.kmz file includes relevant
map locations).
When you set out, set the device to locate your position. On the journey, pass the device to a
student and ask the student to navigate to your first stop.
Internet access may not be available in all the locations at the site, so take a printed copy
of this document on the field trip, and refer to Table 2.2 for information about stops (S),
points of interest (POIs) and suggested activities or tasks.
Directions and parking


From Walgett, take the Carinda–Walgett Road south for about 5 km.
Carinda Road TSR is on the left side of the road.
Figure 2.1
Google map of directions to drive from Walgett to Carinda Road TSR
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Safe parking (in dry conditions) is available on the verge of the tar roadside adjacent to S1.
Use your smart device to see an overview of the parking areas and stops. Since Carinda Road
TSR is located on low-lying land with a cracking-clay soil, wet conditions are likely to make
the site extremely boggy and inaccessible. Parking on the road verge could also pose a risk if
there is rainfall.
Getting to the study site
Two study areas are included within the Carinda Road TSR, located at the western end of the
TSR, close to the Carinda–Walgett Road. It is best to walk between the two study areas and
back to the pickup point (S1 – S2 – POI1 – S3 pickup point). However, in dry conditions, it
may be possible to drive on a track along the northern boundary. Check these locations on
your smart device and plan your trip based on your pre-excursion visit.
Amenities
There are no amenities at Carinda Road TSR. The closest public toilets are located within the
Rotary Park on the southern outskirts of Walgett (refer to Carinda TSR.kmz file). Bring plenty
of water – no water is available at Carinda Road TSR.
2.3
Undertaking activities
During the trip to the TSR, heading south along the Carinda–Walgett Road, note the sparse
roadside vegetation within a cleared agricultural landscape. The TSR between Walgett and the
Carinda Road TSR is narrow (~ 60 m). Consider driving a few kilometres past S1 as the TSR
is much wider (~ 500 m) at this point. Observe the difference in vegetation.
Carinda Road TSR is relatively weed free; however, the roadsides around Walgett are
generally dominated by weeds. During the trip to the survey site look for weeds such as
noogoora burr (along wet areas and drains), buffel grass (naturalised pasture grass), African
lovegrass, and African boxthorn.
Question 2.1: How might weeds disperse into the native vegetation?
Answer: Water, wind, animals, vehicles, roadside slashing and illegal dumping.
Question 2.2: Where are most of the weeds concentrated and why?
Answer: Weeds mostly occur along the edges of the areas of native vegetation. They are
easily dispersed from disturbed areas, being deposited along tracks from vehicles or
illegally dumped along tracks.
Question 2.3: What can you do to help stop the spread of weeds?
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Answer: Identify and report any sightings to your local council, and keep your vehicles
clean to avoid spreading weed seeds.
Question 2.4: Why are Shield Shrimps sometimes called living fossils?
Answer: Similar species have been found in rocks dating back 300 million years
Question 2.5: What evidence is there that traditional Aboriginal life had a lower impact on
the land than modern day land use methods? What was the key tool of the Aboriginal
people?
Answer: Scar trees are a result of where a traditional tool, shield, canoe etc was harvested
from a tree. The tree is left in place to continue to live to provide other environmental
services, from shade to fire wood and even oxygen to breathe. Modern European land use
contrasts greatly in that vegetation is removed or greatly altered to provide a landscape
suitable for purposes such as agriculture. Aboriginal knowledge of the landscape, seasons
and bush food provided tremendous advantage for survival.
Teacher note: The control and management of weeds could be part of a class discussion after the visit.
Table 2.2
Stop (S) or
point of
interest (POI)
Carinda Road TSR stops and points of interest
Location
Activities and tasks
Parking area on road verge adjacent to S2a and
S2b
S1
S2a
S2b
Check your position on your smart device or printed
copy
Walk 30 m south-east to the weeping myall woodland
EEC transect area (S2)
Presently the labelled plants are limited to the
transects, we can get back there and label those
along the main track, probably pointless labelling
randomly between transects.
The GPS waypoints provided locate the white pegs
for the beginning and end of each of the transects:
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General discussion about the weeping
myall woodland EEC and its protected
status. Reinforce the difference in
vegetation on the roadside here (i.e.
more trees) compared to the other
areas of roadside vegetation, pointing
out that this is due to the existence of
the wider roadside TSR.
Start activities:
• 1 (Task 1.5) random meander. Start
completing the Random meander
observation datasheet from Activity 1
– Record sheet; identify weeds and
native plants using the pictorial
guides and look for plants with labels
(blue = exotic, yellow = native).
• 6 (Task 6.6)
Answer Question 2.4.
Weeping myall woodland EEC
Set up the transect between the posts.
Start activities:
• 2 (Task 2.2)
• 3 (Tasks 3.3,
3.4)
Begin Transect 1 (peg)
End Transect 1 (peg)
Walk about 500 m to S3
• 4 (Tasks 4.2,
4.3)
• 5 (Tasks 5.2,
5.3)
• 6 (Task 6.5).
Potential site for Activity 7 (Tasks 7.3,
7.4) (Bird listening/‘Quiet’ site);
however, complete this activity before
setting up any transects, to minimise
disturbance.
S3a
S3b
The GPS waypoints provided locate the white pegs
for the beginning and end of each of the transects:
Begin Transect 1 (peg)
End Transect 1 (peg)
General discussion about the
coolibah–black box woodland EEC
and its protected status. Look for the
differences between the coolibah and
black box trees.
Continue
activities:
• 1 (Task 1.5)
• 2 (Task 2.2)
• 3 (Tasks 3.3,
Walk 450 m to POI1
3.4)
• 4 (Tasks 4.2,
4.3)
• 5 (Tasks 5.2,
5.3)
• 6 (Task 6.5,
6.6).
Potential site for Activity 7 (Tasks 7.3,
7.4) (Bird listening/‘quiet’ site).
POI1
Scar tree
Walk 700 m along the track running parallel with
the boundary fence to S4
General observation
Complete the ‘Traditional use of plants
by Aboriginal Australians’ section of
the Random meander datasheet.
Continue activities:
• 1 (Task 1.5)
• 6 (Task 6.6).
S4
Complete Activity 1 (Task 1.5) and
Activity 6 (Task 6.6).
Pick up point
Notes: The stops and points of interest are marked on the Google Earth file Carinda Road TSR.kmz. Continue to use your
smart device to track to your activity sites.
Question 2.6: Are there benefits to having a wider vegetated area?
Answer: Yes, these benefits include increased potential habitat and a greater ability to
buffer impacts from outside (e.g. weeds); also, edge vegetation traps road dust.
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