As for the organising committee – haven’t a clue. But as to the venue – oh yes! The site is still inaccessible and there has been significant damage to the lower sections of the facilities with retaining walls being washed away. Please see quotes from emails that I have been having with the Duckadang lions club rep:
Hi David,
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
The road is certainly well washed away at all 3 causeways. Bill and Anne received a food drop last Friday, fortunately they had purchased quite a bit of stock for an incoming camp to no avail, Power went out on Sunday 9th and is still out, not sure when roads will be restored.
Bill and Anne are out and taking a well-earned break.
I understand that they have some photographs but they lost their video camera with a lot of video on it.
I am going up on Sunday to survey the road damage and take some pictures.
Cheers
Doug Evans
Treasurer
Following on from this Doug sent me some images of the first river crossing. Not too sure how things will go from here for access and the camps recovery. Note it didn’t affect the main facilities – just the power and access
Wow, with everything thats been going on i didnt even think of Astrofest. Still 5 months to go so hopefully the camp is back up to speed. I imagine the bookings might be all over the shop though. I wonder if there is a plan B.
Looks bad. Surely they'll have to have temp causeway crossing in place over coming months and power for locals?
Awful lot of damage about! I agree there'll probably be something, but the road crews are going to be busy. The pictures of the Blackbutt Range road are incredible and that road carries far more traffic than the causeway to Camp Duckadang - its all going to be based on priorities...
The Presidents of the combined Socs will be meeting soon to firm up the 2011 committee and kick everything off.
The whole thing runs as business as usual starting about now, but I guess that we are going to have to sweat this one out hoping that the Duckadang access will be fixed in time.
I would think a new venue would be unlikely - we book years in advance to ensure the right slots. Anyway, at time like these we need to get right behind our friends at the Lions Club and make it work...
No bridge Jonathon, but I hear that big wide walkway that's sitting on Nudgee Beach is pretty sturdy and isn't going anywhere soon. Maybe we could borrow it for a week.
The Presidents of the combined Socs will be meeting soon to firm up the 2011 committee and kick everything off.
The whole thing runs as business as usual starting about now, but I guess that we are going to have to sweat this one out hoping that the Duckadang access will be fixed in time.
I would think a new venue would be unlikely - we book years in advance to ensure the right slots. Anyway, at time like these we need to get right behind our friends at the Lions Club and make it work...
Anyone got a spare bridge?!
might be very prudent to organise for a generator this year to guarantee power supply for the camp - just in case? good to know that there is some movement with this - and given whats happened probably acting now may help before the normal time
I think after last year, it would be sensible for astrophotographers to come much better equiped in power terms. It just takes one dodgy piece of equipment to send the grid down as we discovered. We can put in curcuit breakers to minimise the disruption overall, but I wouldn't be plugging my sensitive stuff into the mains (and I didn't - I always use batteries!)
After all the complaints regarding the tiny price increase last year, I can just see the furor at a standby genny levvy but I entirely agree with the sentiment and will ensure that it is considered (along with any welcome feedback that IIS'ers wish to make)
A good UPS has saved me a lot of dramas over the past two years. I'll likely bring a good deep cycle battery as well this year and trickle charge it as I'm drawing of it.
If AF doe goes ahead this year, it might be worth while including that suggestion in the booklet that is sent out. People know now that there are problems and they need to take responsibility for their own gear. I'm not surprised there are problems just looking at how much the imaging field has grown in the past 5 years.
A generator would be good incase the main power supply to the camp drops out, but it won't fix the issues that we had last year.
The issues last year were due to far too much load on 1 circuit. There needs to be additional curcuits added to the existing site grid.
It would cost money, but the way to fix the issue would be to add an additional 3 circuits to the existing power system.
1 dedicated circuit (with suitable size main breaker) for each obs field with no other power drain. Each circuit outlet could be installed onto the wall of an adjacent building with an all-weather outlet.
Each outlet could be connected to a weather proof distribution board with multiple outlets.
Large weatherproof distribution boards are available for hire (17 x 240v outlets per board) , BUT they need to be fed by 3 phase.
could we organize a weekend to get up there and help where we can? I have never been there so I dont know the roads well but would it be possible to band together and get them sorted?
Surely we know someone with a bobcat or a sparky etc?
Thats a nice idea Steve. I recon they will have things underway already - most of the damage seems to have been done to public roads leading to the site and other properties. If I do find out that they need our support, then we should certainly give ours.
Fortunately, the gabions held the embankment in place so no damage to the river bank or pool.
It is only the lower two retaining walls in the section immediately below Hamilton Hall so won't be too much problem. We recently put a 3 tier wall on the other side of the steps leading down to the courts and they survived o'k.
Power was restored last Friday week not sure about communication as yet.
Road is still only passable to high 4wd but not over the causeway near the camp.
A generator would be good incase the main power supply to the camp drops out, but it won't fix the issues that we had last year.
The issues last year were due to far too much load on 1 circuit. There needs to be additional curcuits added to the existing site grid.
It would cost money, but the way to fix the issue would be to add an additional 3 circuits to the existing power system.
1 dedicated circuit (with suitable size main breaker) for each obs field with no other power drain. Each circuit outlet could be installed onto the wall of an adjacent building with an all-weather outlet.
Each outlet could be connected to a weather proof distribution board with multiple outlets.
Large weatherproof distribution boards are available for hire (17 x 240v outlets per board) , BUT they need to be fed by 3 phase.
Can't disagree with what you're saying, but is it reasonable to expect the Lions to put in such infrastructure to cater for one camp per year? Unless the camp already has 3 phase power, it would be horrendously expensive to install (it was an extra $1-2000 to be installed during construction of my house in suburban Brisbane). Some country areas don't have 3 phase power available.
I'm sure that the noise of generators would upset many - even the quiet Hondas. I agree with Paul's suggestion that a UPS is the way to go - they're less than the cost of a decent eyepiece (although astrophotographers have little use for eyepieces!) The current draw of an astrophotgraphy rig (excluding dewheaters) is quite low, so a small UPS will power the system for a reasonable period of time.
It's just a bit low..
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but I entirely agree with the sentiment and will ensure that it is considered (along with any welcome feedback that IIS'ers wish to make)
