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It ’ s time to head out into the light . Having cracked the 80 per cent second dose mark , and with the vast majority now committed to being among the vaccinated , November is looking like normal once again .
As we head into summer , the opportunities for fun on farms and food at farmers ’ markets are opening up - the weather and nature will be glorious , the effects of drought , fires and floods fading away .
Having been deprived of much of what the trails offer over the last eighteen months , we ’ ll have good reason to see our bountiful backyard in a new light , and with renewed gratitude for its role in the quality of life we will again get to enjoy .
The delights for this time of year are stone fruits and berries . Yellow
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and white fleshed varieties of peach and nectarine are picking now , as are avocados . Plum varieties and cherries will be available late November and early December , along with blueberries and strawberries , figs , and Valencia and Seville oranges .
Pear varieties begin in December . Of course , Harvest ’ s Trails and Markets are great places to find artisan fare for a very special Christmas gift , or stocking-stuffer . Breads and bakery , jams and conserves , pickles and fermented products , small goods of every imaginable kind and quality , complimented by a growing range of ciders , wine , spirits and specialty brewery products .
We even have well-established Australian native food producers for that absolutely unique gift fit for the gourmand or gastronome in your life , or a home-sick loved one overseas . With this kind of line-up in your backyard , the ‘ light ’ just got a whole lot more de-lightful !
For more info go to www . harvesttrailsandmarkets . com . au .
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by Lachlan Turner
Prior to local council re-zoning this structure was in The Hills Shire Council but is now the responsibility of Parramatta City Council . It was completed in 1996 and is on the lower reaches of Darling Mills Creek - it is sometimes called the North Rocks Dam .
It is designed to reduce the flow of flood waters following heavy rain in the upper catchment .
During normal conditions access past ( through ) this 30m concrete wall is through a tunnel which , during times of flooding , restricts the amount of water flowing downstream to populated areas below towards North Parramatta .
Regrettably the building has become a paradise for graffiti artists who have exhibited their misguided skills as far up as they can reach .
The basin can be reached in a few ways . The first one , and probably the most convenient , is at the end of Loyalty Road , North Rocks , along a sealed but fairly steep road to begin with , ( walkers and cyclists only ), that leads to the bottom of the valley in which the wall is constructed .
Secondly , via the Murri-Yanna Track from Hazel Ryan Reserve downstream of the basin , or , thirdly , accessing other entry points that connect with the Murri-Yanna Track upstream from the basin near Bidjigal Reserve .
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All these access tracks pass through interesting bushland along numerous watercourses .
There are several vantage points further up the hillside which allow a greater appreciation of the magnitude of this structure , as well as a couple of viewing platforms with protective railings .
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