KZA 356 - Marine Ecology - Maria Island Field Trip
April 9- 14, 2009 (Thursday to Tuesday of the Easter week break)
This field trip runs over Easter.
There is minimum preparation time so students should not delay in nominating themselves for a project.
Project sign up deadline
Sign up on the sheet in the 3rd year Zoology laboratory (Rm # 320) by 3:00 pm on the first Thursday of Semester I (i.e. Feb 26 th in week 1). projects - 2009 |
The field trip will be held on Maria Island, on the east coast of Tasmania. This is a national park, and we are there as guests of the Park. Respect for the flora, fauna, and buildings and especially for other visitors is required of all participants. We will be there over Easter, which is a busy time for the rangers, and facilities are stretched to their limit.
Transport to Maria Island
The University does not provide transport to the Ferry departure at Triabunna; please arrange to carpool with classmates. Students unable to arrange transport must let Prof. Johnson know -tba.
Students are free to book the commecial ferry to Maria Island (if there are sufficient students interested we can arrange the booking on your behalf). Morning departures are at 9:00 am, so you will need to arrive in Triabunna for loading by 8:30 am. Expect the drive to take ~1 hour from Hobart Airport to Triabunna.
However, note that the ferry fare is expensive (it has recently increased to $50 round trip) and there are additional charges for transport of bikes and any bags / boxes beyond the allowance of 2 per person. Zoology will endeavour to arrange alternative transport for both people and luggage at a lower rate.
Irrespective of which boat you travel on, be prepared to depart from Triabunna- 9.00am Thursday 9th April.
NOTE: Loading and unloading of project equipment at Triabunna and on the island is a team effort. Please do more than just carry your own gear to the campsite. The Zoology staff are not there as slaves! 
Costs
At the time of preparation of this manual, the ferry charge is $50.00 per person round trip, plus $8.00 for each bike and $10.00 per bag / box beyond 2 bags / boxes per person. We will attempt to arrange alternative transport on Zoology boats at lower cost. Camping fees are currently $4.40 per night and must be paid on the Island (amounting to a $22 camping fee for the trip). Note that Parks & Wildlife staff kindly waive the Park Entry Fee for participants in the excursion. Showers are $2.00; a decent wash requires $4.00! Costs are subject to change without notice.
Map of Darlington (Parks and Wildlife Service website)
Facilities at Darlington
There are no shops on the island. Just to the right of the jetty is the island's oldest building, the stone Commissariat Store. This provides visitor reception, displays and information. A ranger's office and public pay phone are situated close to the center of the Darlington settlement. Just behind the sand dunes of Darlington Bay is a large open-sided shelter with free gas barb
Students will camp in the campground at Darlington .This large open camping area is close to the creek and has plenty of level sites, some with fireplaces, but cooking on gas stoves is strongly recommended. Toilet and laundry facilities are nearby.
Above all, please be aware that Easter is the busiest few days of the year at Maria Is., and that we share the island with many members of the public. Please respect the needs of other campers (e.g. no late-night noise), and ensure that you do your bit as good ambassadors of the University (e.g. take time to answer questions from the public who are likely to visit the Mess Hall and be interested in what you are up to).
Gas operated hot showers are available in the amenities block near the barbeque shelter. They are a long walk from the camping area and require $2.00 (more like $4.00) for each shower. Water and gas are limited so please minimize the length of your showers. A week with no shower is fine if you swim in the ocean!
Our ‘common' room is the Mess Hall at the Penitentiary. This is where we will process samples, analyze data and have evening seminars and slide shows. This room has lights, electricity and a small freezer for keeping a limited amount of food frozen.
Water, fires and firewood.
Water is supplied from roof tanks and the old convict-built reservoir. Frequent dry weather and high seasonal demand make water a precious resource. Please use it sparingly. Fireplaces and some firewood are provided in the camping ground. Light fires only in fireplaces. Wood for use in the penitentiary heaters is supplied to the wood room at the end of the building.
This information is sourced from: Visitors Guide to Tasmania's National Parks - Maria Island
Suggested gear list
The clever camper and project group will arrange food and camping together. This is actually an enjoyable part of the 
experience. Please don't bring "out loud" music players.
- Notebook and pencil
- Basic dissecting kits
- Field guides
- Tent
- Sleeping bag and mat, pillow if you are soft
- Food for six days (lunches that can be carried and not cooked are best)
- BBQ meal for the last night
- Esky for keeping food cool
- Daypack for field trips each day
- Torch
- Gas cooker
- Swimwear
- Walking shoes
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Warm clothes
- Wet weather gear (e.g. raincoat and waterproof trousers)
- Easter eggs
- Camera
- Wetsuit/fins/mask/snorkel for qualified students
- Medications...
TUFSS - Tasmanian University Field Safety System
Personnel Registration
(NB: the site must be accessed from within the University network unless you have special access permissions):
Student excursions undoubtedly enhance the educational experience. For safety sake the School follows strict procedures for all field activities
....Field Trip - Registration and Safety
New students.
All new students must complete a Personnel Registration form on TUFSS before they will be permitted to participate in field classes.
If previously registered, update your Personnel information on the new TUFSS system.
If you have registered on this system previously (during 1st or 2nd year), you should still log onto the site and update your registration, as a new version of the system has been implemented which will require some extra information. Log in and fill in the new 'Statement of Understanding' (SOU) tab. Whilst there, check and update your details. They may have changed since you first registered (e.g. medical issues, address details etc) or you may now wish to add further details (e.g. for snorkel or scuba diving permission).
Field Project Registration - Marine Ecology trip
To help in identifying risks inherent in the particular fieldwork you will be undertaking, and to implement risk control mechanisms if required , an essential part of the project for each group will involve your group putting together a Risk Assessment and Field Project Registration for their particular operation. Once your TUFSS Personnel Registration has been approved, Project forms are accessible from menus on your TUFSS home page. This will be YOUR responsibility though you can seek advice from Simon Talbot who will conduct a Risk Assessment session during a class early in the semester. Field Project Registrations and Risk Assessments MUST be completed to a satisfactory standard prior to the excursion. |
