Karkarook Park is a recreational and environmental 40 hectare oasis available for the community to enjoy. Revegetated with indigenous plants, it has wetlands which improve water quality by filtering storm water as it flows on to Port Phillip Bay. The 15 hectare lake was previously a sand mine, but now provides a home for many water birds as well as opportunities to sail a man-powered boat or fish. Visitors can enjoy walking tracks, picnic facilities and a lake lookout.
Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) is an environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community. Since 2002, CITO has helped preserve the natural beauty of cache-friendly spaces. At CITO events, geocachers and community groups work together to improve parks and other outdoor environments. They clean up litter, plant trees, remove invasive species, build trails, and more.
Geocaching Victoria, in conjunction with Parks Victoria have identified some work that is required at Karkarook Park to ensure the sites are ready for future activities planned there on World Environment Day and National Tree Day. The work that is involved includes
- Painting of toilet block.
- Sign Stenciling on trails.
- Litter pick up.
- Plantation edging and mulching.
- Trail Maintenance.
So on the 21st of July Geocaching Victoria and Parks Victoria are organizing this CITO for geocachers from everywhere to show their support of the Parks Vic people and to lend a hand to get Karkarook Park back up to scratch in readiness for these two important upcoming days.
Geocaching’s relationship with this park stretches back to 2004 when daks Emu Mob placed the first cache here (GCHV76 – Dragonfly). One of the early events was held at this location (GCQZV3 – The Great Aussie Christmas BBQ 2005 – Vic) and one of the first wherigos to appear in Victoria was here (GC28WC3 – Der Urmelschatz). It has been a popular park for night caches over the years and there are still a number of traditional still located in the park.
This CITO will run between 9am at 1pm and you are welcome to come along at any time during the event to sign the log book and claim a smiley. There will be a breakfast of bacon and eggs put on from 9am to 10am. At 10am there will be a safety briefing by the Parks Vic park ranger and then work will begin. It must be remembered that if you would like to be involved with any of the work on the day, Parks Victoria has asked to make sure you attend the safety briefing session at 10am and to sign your attendance on the form provided by Parks Victoria.
Parks Victoria and Geocaching Victoria will provide all the necessary tools that are required for this work.
Volunteers are responsible to:
- Work in a safe manner and to be mindful of the safety of other volunteers and park visitors.
- Ensure that they are physically able to participate in the activity.
- Refrain from activities that may impact on a pre-existing medical or physical condition.
- Register their attendance on the form provided by Parks Victoria.
Parks Victoria recommends that volunteers bring the following items to the activity:
- Sufficient drinking water and food
- A broad-brimmed hat and sunscreen
- Suitable clothing for the activity/weather
- Solid, enclosed footwear
- Work or gardening gloves
- Eye protection
- Insect repellent
- Mobile phone for communications
- Personal First Aid Kit
We look forward to seeing as many people as possible on the day to help this very worthwhile cause.