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Project summaries - 2004 Restoration and Rehabilitation - state and local government grants

2004 Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation - state and local government grants
Organisation	Project title	Amount $
Ballina Shire Council	Ballina Shire lineal reserve management project	84,294
Bathurst Regional Council	Saving Brooke Moore woodland	23,525
Blue Mountains City Council	North Katoomba Catchment private land riparian	22,774
Byron Shire Council	Regeneration of dunes in the Byron Shire	100,000
Cessnock City Council	Resources at Kurri and Stanford Methyr	61,450
Clarence Valley Council - Floodplain Services	Returning the tides stage II - Poverty Creek	73,172
Department of Environment and Conservation (Coffs Harbour)	Bell Miner dieback restoration	99,425
Department of Environment and Conservation (Hurstville)	Reconstruction of native vegetation on coastal floodplains	78,775
Dubbo City Council	Talbragar River willow eradication project	50,000
Fairfield City Council	Kookaburra Park Catchment works and community education project	100,000
Gosford City Council	Tumbi Road Creek restoration project	82,400
Great Lakes Council	Darawakh Creek/Frogalla Swamp wetland system	99,835
Greater Hume Shire Council	Gum Swamp Reserve restoration project	42,823
Greater Taree City Council (Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee)	Macleay Valley riparian vine weeds project	100,000
Greater Taree City Council	Wingham Reserve riparian "stepping stone" restoration	99,870
Ku-ring-gai Council	Integrated catchment restoration along Rocky Creek St Ives	86,000
Lake Macquarie City Council	Restoring a damaged riparian corridor	99,313
Maitland City Council	Tenambit Wetlands rehabilitation stage 2	53,070
Newcastle City Council	Creeks alive community support project	92,879
Newcastle City Council	Viney Creek restoration and wetland rehabilitation, Beresfield	100,000
North Ridge Reserve Committee	Rehabilitation of degraded creek flat	7,370
North Sydney Council	Building bridges to Boorowa	34,800
PDC Landcare (Periodic Detention Centre)	Constructing and placing wooden habitat boxes for native avian fauna	9,000
Pittwater Council	Littoral rainforest restoration project in Pittwater	98,550
Port Stephens Council	Port Stephens coastal biodiversity project	99,818
Richmond Valley Council	Removal of fish obstructions - Norco Weir, Richmond River	24,000
Richmond Valley Council	Protection and restoration of Oxyleyan Pygmy Perch habitat	77,900
Southern Councils Group	Coral tree removal in the Jamberoo Valley	80,050
Sutherland Shire Council	Control of bitou bush in Kurnell Dune Forest at Kurnell	24,000
TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute Ryde College	Restoring Florences Hideaway - blue gum forest at Ryde Hospital	10,000
Tweed Shire Council	Byrrill Creek riparian restoration project	100,000
University of Ballarat	Communities and species on Nanya Station	14,018
Waverley Council	Habitat corridor of Waverley Council	96,266
Wingecarribee Shire Council	Communities and remnant vegetation	90,000
Wollongong City Council	Removal of willow and coral trees and riparian rehabilitation	60,000
35 projects	TOTAL	$2,375,377

Ballina Shire Council
Ballina Shire lineal reserve management project
Grant: $84,294

Ballina Shire Council and the community aim to improve the management and maintenance of its lineal reserves through sound planning and improved environmentally sustainable practices. This will be achieved through development of a roadside vegetation management plan targeting council construction and maintenance workers, Landcare groups, service providers and adjoining individual landowners resulting in changed sustainable roadside vegetation management practices. Roadsides are often where the only native vegetation in an area remains and where environmental and noxious weed corridors exist. The biodiversity and habitat for locally and nationally threatened species of flora and fauna provided by these lineal reserves warrant their inclusion in active management and protection. Remnant vegetation throughout Ballina Shire is constantly under threat from weeds along roadsides and bad practices. Effective planning, weed control strategies and vegetation protection will enable this project to succeed.

Bathurst Regional Council
Saving Brooke Moore woodland
Grant: $23,525

The Brooke Moore woodland is a 2 hectare remnant of native vegetation within urban Bathurst. The site satisfies the definition of a threatened ecological community as determined by the NSW Scientific Committee's (2002) criteria for White Box/Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland. The remnant is subject to a number of threats including rubbish dumping and associated weed dispersal, firewood collection and erosion. This project will double the size of the remnant by fencing a 4 hectare area, remove an access track, enhance the quality of the remnant and provide on-site signage and an interpretive brochure. A number of understorey planting plots will be established to introduce local provenance species to the site. A communication plan and community involvement will promote the values of this and other Box Woodland sites to the community.

Blue Mountains City Council
North Katoomba Catchment private land riparian
Grant: $22,774

The North Katoomba private land rehabilitation project will target identified priority lands in private ownership within the catchment to provide property management plans, fencing in revegetation of riparian corridors and targeted weed control. Landowners will be encouraged to participate by the offer of financial assistance to purchase materials (erosion controls, fencing and plants), on-site training in bush regeneration principles and techniques and volunteer labour where appropriate. The on ground works will be supported by a series of expert workshops and by long term technical support from Council's Weeds Extension Officer. The Katoomba Creek Weed Management Plan (K-C WMP) (BMCC, 2004) has identified key private lands as the source of major sedimentation and related weed infestations on public land downstream. This project is taking a whole of catchment approach to minimise reinfestation of weeds on the public lands, improve water quality and strengthen habitat links throughout the catchment. The outcomes of this project will be used as a model for similar projects in other catchments in the local government areas.

Byron Shire Council
Regeneration of dunes in the Byron Shire
Grant: $100,000

Council will undertake a comprehensive weed control and ecological restoration project for the Byron Shire coast and estuaries. Sand mining has significantly altered the local coastal landscape and much of the original biodiversity has been lost or simplified. Compounding degradation, Bitou bush planted after mining to control erosion has proliferated resulting in near monoculture conditions in many areas. While local Dunecare groups and Non Government Organisation's have contributed significantly to certain sites much of the Byron coastline has yet to be addressed. Byron Shire Council will play a more proactive role in assisting volunteers and ensure long-term implementation of recently completed management plans and strategies.

Cessnock City Council
Resources at Kurri and Stanford Methyr
Grant: $61,450

This project will regenerate the Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland, Lower Hunter Spotted Gum - Ironbark Forest and Swamp Mahogany - Paperbark Swamp Woodland in a portion of the Cessnock local government area (LGA) bounded by the townships of Kurri Kurri, Stanford Methyr and Heddon Greta. The site has a small but dedicated band of history, mining and environmental enthusiasts' intent on preserving this areas history. This project aims to assist that community effort by upgrading the heritage walkway, as well as rehabilitating, regeneration and protection of the above mentioned vegetation communities. In the Cessnock LGA, native vegetation has been cleared or modified for agriculture, forestry and development purposes over the past 200 years. Recent vegetation modelling undertaken as part of the LHCCREMS indicates that our LGA has lost approximately 28% of its original vegetation cover - this project aims to reverse this process.

Clarence Valley Council
Returning the tides stage II - Poverty Creek
Grant: $73,172

The project will return natural tidal exchange to Poverty Creek, a natural coastal floodplain creek and wetland system that has been blocked off from the Clarence River by an earth block and floodgate. It will improve water quality, reduce algae and waterweeds and provide passage for fish and other aquatic fauna. A tidally operated floodgate will be installed, and six side drain structures modified or constructed to prevent inundation of low lying adjacent cane lands by high tides. The project has the support of all adjoining landholders and other key stakeholders in the Clarence Valley.

Department of Environment and Conservation (Coffs Harbour)
Bell Miner dieback restoration
Grant: $99,425

Bell Miner associated dieback (BMAD) is a complex forest health problem leading to the widespread death of mature eucalypt trees. BMAD currently affects a minimum of 20,000 hectares in the Border Ranges/Kyogle area and has the potential to affect 2.5 million hectares of sclerophyll forest across eastern NSW. This project aims to complete the development of remote sensing and GIS techniques and apply these to mapping the extent of BMAD across north east NSW; and initiate adaptive management trials across all tenures to prevent, control, and remediate BMAD across affected and at-risk forests in north east NSW.

Department of Environment and Conservation (Hurstville)
Reconstruction of native vegetation on coastal floodplains
Grant: $78,775

Coastal floodplains with rich alluvial soils are the most transformed landscapes of south-eastern Australia. The remaining native vegetation is scarce, fragmented and highly modified. Consequently, several ecological communities of the floodplains have preliminary or final determinations under the Threatened Species Act. The aim of this project is to produce an inventory based on a reconstruction of native vegetation communities on the major floodplains of coastal NSW. The reconstruction will integrate historical portion plans and journal observations with new and existing biodiversity survey data on remnants using advanced modelling techniques that will be checked with ground-truthing. The inventory will be a valuable resource for education and a guide for practitioners in local government, community groups and land management agencies in setting priorities and approaches for restoration of floodplain vegetation.

Dubbo City Council
Talbragar River willow eradication project
Grant: $50,000

Willow infestations have been mapped throughout Dubbo City Council and two tributary streams of the Macquarie River, the Talbragar and Little Rivers have been identified with isolated and treatable infestations. The infestations in the Talbragar are isolated and scattered along the entire 44 kilometres of stream, which this project will treat. Willows will be stem injected and left in situ, the Talbragar contains a healthy riparian vegetation community including a considerable population of Casuarina cunningamiana, which will readily colonise areas left vacant by willows through this project. Water quality and volume available in the Talbragar are severely compromised by the current population of willows. Lower stream flows (as a direct result of the willows presence) further concentrates already saline water within the river (the Talbragar is one of the prime contributors of salt to the mid Macquarie). By removing willows stream volume will increase, salinity concentrations will decrease, dissolved oxygen levels will increase, in-stream habitat will be improved and riparian vegetation habitat will be enhanced.

Fairfield City Council
Kookaburra Park Catchment works and community education project
Grant: $100,000

The project aims to improve water quality in Orphan School Creek and the receiving waters of George's River and improve the natural capacity of the creek to manage water quality and quantity and restore riparian vegetation. The project involves a series of treatments designed to enhance and improve the Orphan School Creek open space area (Kookaburra Park) including two stormwater quality improvement devices (SQID), creek restoration, and riparian zone landscaping and community education campaign. Council will work with local community leaders to raise community awareness about stormwater issues, particularly the link between littering and sedimentation from the Cabramatta and Canley Vale Town Centre and the impacts on receiving waterways. Information will be expressed in meaningful and relevant ways for the culturally diverse community. This project will add value to the series of projects already completed by Council at the site contributing to the restoration of Orphan School Creek's aquatic and terrestrial environment. This project will continue to enhance the recreational and visual aesthetics of the creek line and park area.

Gosford City Council
Tumbi Road Creek restoration project
Grant: $82,400

The Tumbi Road Creek is an intermittent creek that receives stormwater derived from the Aldinga Drive Catchment Area off Tumbi Road and drains into the Wamberal Lagoon. The creek suffers severe scour and gully erosion particularly in its lower reaches. This project aims to design and implement scour protection/restoration measures for the creek.

Great Lakes Council
Darawakh Creek/Frogalla Swamp wetland system
Grant: $99,835

This project will rehabilitate the Darawakh Creek/Frogalla Swamp wetland and conserve the land within the public estate. This wetland is underlain by acid sulfate soils and has been identified as the primary source of acid sulfate runoff to Wallamba River and Wallis Lake. Past construction of floodgates and drainage lines of 27 kilometres, combined with installation of lift pumps have lowered the groundwater sufficiently to generate the production and release of severely acid water during rainfall events. Wallis Lake has been recognised by the Independent Inquiry into Coastal Lakes as having high conservation value, a high degree of sensitivity but with the potential for rehabilitation of modified systems. Ecosystem impacts of acid runoff from this wetland have been demonstrated by death of oysters and observations of "red-spot disease" in fish in Wallamba River. This project addresses acid runoff, vegetation corridors and wetland biodiversity by revegetating strategic land, removing levees and infilling drains to restore the natural hydrological regime and prevent oxidation of acid sulfate soils then transferring the land into the public estate.

Greater Hume Shire Council
Gum Swamp Reserve restoration project
Grant: $42,823

The project aims to restore a middle storey of vegetation to the Grassy Box Woodlands located within the swamp. This is to help reintroduce small, insectivorous birds back into the reserve as a way of controlling pest insects. The project also aims to remove some of the dense Red Gum regrowth that has become established as a result of the drought in order to reopen the interior of the swamp, returning it to the natural state that makes it an ideal habitat for many bird and mammal species, including the threatened Fishing Bat, Squirrel Glider, Grey Crowned Babbler, White Bellied Sea Eagle and Brown Treecreeper. The project is to be completed with considerable collaboration and contribution from the community group that has been established specifically for the management of the Gum Swamp. This group consists of local landowners, the Rural Fire Service, Environmental Group Representatives, local Schools, the Hume RLPB and the Greater Hume Shire Council.

Greater Taree City Council (Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee)
Macleay Valley riparian vine weeds project
Grant: $100,000

This project aims to enhance remnant riparian vegetation communities, including high conservation value ecosystems, along the Macleay River, through control of the riparian vine weeds Macfadyena unguis-cati (Cats Claw Creeper) and Andredera cordifolia (Madeira Vine or Potato Vine). These two emerging weeds have the capacity to completely over-run native vegetation if left unchecked. Both the North Coast and Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committees list them as regionally significant environmental weeds. As both species are primarily spread by water, the project takes a catchment approach to their control, working downriver from the most up-stream source of infestations, which occur on land owned by the Bellbrook Aboriginal Community. It builds on an existing project that the Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee (MNCWAC) is undertaking between March 2004 and February 2005. This proposal will extend control downstream into new reaches of river, with the target to clean up all current infestations to the river mouth.

Greater Taree City Council
Wingham Reserve riparian "stepping stone" restoration
Grant: $99,870

The project aims to extend the native vegetation of an environmentally significant area in the riparian zone of the Manning River at Wingham. It will contribute to the protection of Wingham Brush Nature Reserve and increase the area of lowland floodplain rainforest along the Manning River. This project will extend the revegetation area and species composition in existing areas and include a heritage walk to increase community participation. The first stage has involved weed removal and planting with fast growing and frost tolerant species to protect the area during flood and establish nurturing conditions for the next phase of planting. The second stage of the rehabilitation of this area is propagation (with local provenance seed) and enrichment planting with a species selection representative of the adjacent Wingham Brush Nature Reserve. This project is significant as there is limited public ownership of riverfront land in the Greater Taree local government area, and therefore limited opportunities to participate in riparian restoration projects that will benefit the community.

Ku-ring-gai Council
Integrated catchment restoration along Rocky Creek St Ives
Grant: $86,000

The project will develop and implement strategies to rehabilitate and enhance an endangered ecological community around the headwaters of Rocky Creek, St Ives and harvest and clean stormwater for use on Barra Brui Oval. The stormwater harvesting project will treat, store and use up to 250,000 litres of nutrient rich runoff for irrigation and managed other overland flows from the site to reduce the impact of this water on Garrigal National Park and onwards to Middle Harbour. Coupled with this initiative, this project will regenerate the existing woody weed plume downstream of the oval and adjacent to the headwaters of Rocky Creek that has formed as a consequence of this nutrient water. Some armouring of the creek beds to stabilise the riparian systems and reduce the flux of in-stream sediment will also be undertaken.

Lake Macquarie City Council
Restoring a damaged riparian corridor
Grant: $99,313

"Naturalising Flaggy Creek" will repair and restore 500 metres (approx 10 hectares) of riparian corridor in the top of a remnant natural catchment that flows into a state conservation area and coastal lagoon. It combines soft engineering and revegetation to manage bed and bank erosion, bush regeneration to restore the environmental function of riparian bushland, and community education to change damaging behaviours and involve local residents. It will integrate with a program of stormwater improvements concurrently carried out by Lake Macquarie City Council, and improvements to the Great North Walk by Department of Lands. Future maintenance and sustainability is ensured by a high level of participation by Landcare and local residents, and by community education to instil 'natural good habits'. The finished project will provide a best practice showcase for on-ground works and behavioural change to manage natural remnants in urban catchments.

Maitland City Council
Tenambit Wetlands rehabilitation stage 2
Grant: $53,070

The Tenambit Wetlands rehabilitation stage 2 project is the second stage of the "From Melaleuca to Tenambit Wetlands project initiated by council in 2003. The focus of stage 1 was to establish and enhance native vegetation within the wetlands site and to foster and develop partnerships with surrounding land users and stakeholders. This project will involve the continued enhancement of the native vegetation established during stage 1, with a specific focus on the use on understorey species to enhance both the structural and species diversity of the vegetation and habitats at the site, and also to extend revegetation into other areas of the site. Additionally, this project aims to continue to build upon the strong links and to further enhance and support the works of project partners. Overall the Tenambit Wetlands rehabilitation stage 2 project is an essential aspect of council's long-term aim of re-establishing a viable ecosystem within Tenambit Wetlands.

Newcastle City Council
Creeks Alive community support project
Grant: $92,879

Newcastle City Council (NCC) has developed a group of programs and techniques called collectively Creeks Alive, to assist in reconnecting local communities and their urban creeks. Within these programs, creek and riparian zone rehabilitation has been identified as an area that communities are generally enthusiastic to be involved in. Local community groups have proved an effective mechanism for increasing sustainable ecological outcomes as well as community ownership of areas requiring rehabilitation. The Creeks Alive community support project aims to facilitate this process by the support and development of community groups to undertake riparian rehabilitation works in priority catchment "hotspots", including provision of appropriate training and resources. In addition, this project will also deliver documentation of the resource needs of groups, and development of sustainable delivery mechanisms for NCC's Community Greening Centre (CGC) so that the program can be incorporated into council's core business following the completion of the project.

Newcastle City Council
Viney Creek restoration and wetland rehabilitation, Beresfield
Grant: $100,000

Council has consulted environmental stakeholders and the community regarding this site over a 2 year period. Reversing years of environmental 'misunderstanding' is now fundamental to this site. Council aspires to bring environmental repair to the forefront as a driver in all future improvements and management of this site. The project will rehabilitate creek and degraded wetland, minimise further environmental damage to adjacent SEPP 14 Woodberry Wetland, utilise recently completed 'Water Sensitive Urban Design Solutions For Catchments Above Wetlands' Planning Guidelines (WSUD, Hunter Councils Inc), deliver an environmental resource for three local primary schools and the local community, commence habitat link between Hexham Swamp and downstream SEPP 14 Woodberry Wetlands, and be designed, constructed and managed according to The Constructed Wetland Manual (DLWC).

North Ridge Reserve Committee
Rehabilitation of degraded creek flat
Grant: $7,370

This project will complete stage two of restoration works of the Cooma Creek corridor within the North Ridge Reserve reversing 50 years of degradation on a creek flat site. Stage one of the project stabilised the earth works and removed the standing crop of weeds. Restoring an ecologically sound ecosystem in congruence with its surrounds is now of prime importance and will involve revegetating the site by a mix of tubestock plantings, direct seeding, mulching, weed control including selective control of willows and natural regeneration. Once completed, the project area will improve catchment health, water quality and in-stream habitat, prevent further spread of weeds and will increase biodiversity. There are approximately 1.5 hectares of the total reserve of 124 hectares.

North Sydney Council
Building bridges to Boorowa
Grant: $34,800

Building bridges to Boorowa has been an annual event for North Sydney Bushcare volunteers for the past four years. Working with Landcare and Boorowa Shire Council, North Sydney Council organises 20 enthusiastic Bushcare volunteers from North Sydney to travel to Boorowa to plant corridors of indigenous flora on farms and council land. The aim is to restore the habitat of the endangered superb parrot and reduce the effects of soil salinity, effecting both the environment and agriculture. North Sydney Council wishes to expand this project to other councils and double the number of volunteers going and to increase the support given to Boorowa Shire Council and Landcare/Catchment Management Authorities.

PDC Landcare
Constructing and placing wooden habitat boxes for native avian fauna
Grant: $9,000

There has been marked reduction of habitat for native avian fauna in the Sydney Metropolitan Area due to the spread of urban development and at sites where weed removal has taken place and habitats need to be artificially provided. In this project Landcare will help address the loss of mature trees that would normally provide nesting hollows by constructing and placing 50 wooden nesting boxes constructed as per NPWS and zoo specifications at strategic sites selected in consultation with NPWS, zoo and local Landcare groups. The project will operate in partnership with local schools and Landcare groups across the Sydney Metropolitan Area, mainly in the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Area and Toongabbie Creek where habitat loss has been documented and local volunteers can and report on the projects progress.

Pittwater Council
Littoral rainforest restoration project in Pittwater
Grant: $98,550

This project will protect and restore core areas of the endangered littoral rainforest community in the Pittwater local government area: Reducing and controlling invasive weed species; providing professional on-ground bush regeneration; providing buffer zones to the littoral rainforest core; supporting the work of community Bushcare groups; conserving and enhancing the habitat for fauna dependent upon littoral rainforest areas; assisting and recording wildlife activity within the grant areas enhancing biodiversity through protection of appropriate habitat types; continuing noxious weed inspectorial programs with educational and technical advice on best management practices for protecting remnant flora and fauna; mitigating stormwater impacts and providing low impact pollination control basins or gross pollutant traps where possible.

Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens coastal biodiversity project
Grant: $99,818

Bitou Bush is widespread throughout the Port Stephens local government area and threatens the biodiversity of the coastline from Newcastle to Nelson Bay. This project aims to control the spread of Bitou Bush in Port Stephens and to enhance the biodiversity of the Port Stephens coastline. The goals of the project will be achieved in partnership with the local community, NSW NPWS, Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Port Stephens Council. Activities to control bitou bush will include the use of contractors to spray and revegetate coastal vegetation communities, support of local community groups currently working on bitou bush control, following the guidelines set out Bitou Bush Management Plan adopted by Port Stephens Council in March 2003.

Richmond Valley Council
Removal of fish obstructions - Norco Weir, Richmond River
Grant: $24,000

This project is a partnership between Richmond Valley Council and Department Primary Industries - Fisheries (DPI Fisheries) to remove Norco Weir, on the Richmond River, as part of the State Weirs Policy. The project has been developed in coordination with DPI Fisheries. The weir has been identified as obstructing fish passage in the Richmond River. The removal of the weir is a critical component in a longer-term strategy to improve fish passageway through the entire Richmond Valley via a process of weir removal, fishways, and improving road crossings. The project will restore a degraded environmental resource and restore habitat to native fish species in the Richmond River. The project will also implement findings from a community survey and education program conducted by Richmond Valley Council and NSW Fisheries in 2001, which supported the removal of the weir, and implement recommendations from the State Weirs Policy.

Richmond Valley Council
Protection and restoration of Oxyleyan Pygmy Perch habitat
Grant: $77,900

The Oxyleyan Pygmy Perch (OPP) is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act and NSW Fisheries Management Act. A Recovery Plan has been prepared by NSW Fisheries. This plan, and previous studies, has identified urban drainage as impacting on OPP habitat. Urban drainage modifies the species normal habitat through vegetation removal and elevates nutrient, sediment and velocities beyond the environmental tolerances of the species. Evans Head is one of the last areas of known OPP populations. This project will involve the implementation of measures to restore and protect OPP habitat in Evans Head. This will involve improving the habitat features and water quality of urban trunk drainage discharging into OPP habitat. The project will involve the planting of riparian species along major, degraded drainage lines and the implementation of water sensitive urban design features to improve water quality, reduce flows and improve habitat value. These works will be undertaken with Department Primary Industries - Fisheries and NPWS as part of the recovery plan for the OPP.

Southern Councils Group
Coral tree removal in the Jamberoo Valley
Grant: $88,050

This project will rehabilitate riparian areas along Fountaindale and Hyams Creeks within the Upper Minnamurra River Catchment - addressing the issue of managing the highly invasive environmental weed, coral trees, from a substantial length of each stream. The project will actively engage private landholders and assist them with the removal of coral tree and other woody weeds fencing stream banks where appropriate to allow for better stock management in these vulnerable areas and revegetating bare stream banks with native tube stock to encourage stability and connectivity of habitat corridors.

Sutherland Shire Council
Control of Bitou bush in Kurnell Dune Forest at Kurnell
Grant: $24,000

The project aims to provide control of the noxious weed bitou bush in a portion of endangered ecological community (EEC) - Kurnell Dune Forest (KDF) on the Kurnell Peninsula that has not previously been extensively treated. Funding will permit localised spraying and hand removal of bitou bush in a section of public reserve (R85250) known as the Calsil Dune to complement previous works in adjacent areas. Mapping of other weed species will also occur during the project in order to assess the need for future weed control programs.

TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute Ryde College
Restoring Florences Hideaway - blue gum forest at Ryde Hospital
Grant: $10,000

This project aims to protect a remnant of approximately 5 hectares of Blue Gum High Forest - an endangered ecological community listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995 as amended) - located at the rear of Ryde Hospital, Ryde. This remnant is currently under threat from weed invasion due to edge disturbance and impacts from stormwater. Blue Gum High Forest remnants in North and North Western Sydney are extremely important for the conservation of this community type within the Sydney region. The project involves a partnership between staff and students from Ryde TAFE, Ryde Hospital, and Ryde Council to remove weeds threatening forest values, restore natural regeneration processes, and promote awareness of Blue Gum High Forest values.

Tweed Shire Council
Byrrill Creek riparian restoration project
Grant: $100,000

Byrrill Creek is one of the upper most tributaries of the Tweed River. A recent investigation (Riparian Restoration Prioritisation Report - Ecosure 2003) has shown that this sub-catchment contains a large number of high conservation value riparian vegetation sites (15), and that these sites are highest priority with the upper Tweed for riparian restoration and threat abatement works. The aim of this project will therefore be to implement works that will protect and enhance (primarily through weed and cattle management) the biodiversity and habitat values represented by these existing (identified and ranked) high conservation value riparian remnants. Additionally, Byrrill Creek is a component of the Tweed Shire potable water supply catchment. A joint investment in the project by Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed River Committee (TRC) will go towards rehabilitation of strategically selected stream reaches to achieve additional gains in water quality and stream health, and the creation of riparian corridor linkages. The project is a joint venture between Tweed Shire Council, Tweed Landcare Inc., Caldera Environment Centre, the Northern Rivers Catchment Authority, Landcare groups and landholders.

University of Ballarat
Communities and species on Nanya Station
Grant: $14,018

Nanya Station, purchased by the University of Ballarat for conservation and ecological research, contains a number of endangered plant communities and species listed under the Threatened Species Act and communities associated with the Scotia Discharge Complex (unique in NSW and in the process of being listed). These are described in a paper published in the National Herbarium Journal, Cunninghamia. Along with many arid zone communities they are threatened by lack of regeneration of perennials through a long history of elevated grazing pressure. A combination of a high rainfall event and low grazing pressure is needed for regeneration - conditions not fulfilled since settlement. Despite removal of stock in 2004 there is still elevated grazing pressure from kangaroos and goats. It is proposed to establish total exclusion areas around significant vegetation to give the best chance of natural regeneration following a rainfall event and to complement this by direct seedling establishment from seed collected on site. Regeneration of the endangered Dodonaea stenozyga and Cratystylis conocephala (restricted distribution) will be similarly addressed.

Waverley Council
Habitat corridor of Waverley Council
Grant: $96,266

This project proposes to rehabilitate and revegetate three urban bushland sites containing remnant coastal heath vegetation along the Federation Cliff Walk. Waverley Council will produce a vegetation management plan for the reserves to help hide future Bushcare activities and extend their current Bushcare program. The contract works will complement the Bushcare activities by providing professional supervision and contractors to assist groups by working in the difficult terrain. The aim is to increase the habitat potential of the corridor and the visual amenity of this majestic coastline.

Wingecarribee Shire Council
Communities and remnant vegetation
Grant: $90,000

This project will enable the implementation of conservation incentives on private land, to accelerate the recovery and preservation of endangered ecological communities and significant wetlands. This project will fund the cost of materials for landholders to undertake works to manage grazing in riparian zones and remnants, control weeds, revegetate to establish corridors between remnants and training to increase the current knowledge base of landholders. This project is vital for the ongoing development and implementation of conservation incentives and the consequent preservation of endangered ecological communities, remnant bushland and significant wetlands within the Shire.

Wollongong City Council
Removal of willow and coral trees and riparian rehabilitation
Grant: $60,000

Fifty six major watercourses, with a total length of about 232km, occur in the Wollongong local government area. Many of these watercourses are degraded due to weed species such as willow and coral trees. During periods of high flow, such as in August 1998, extensive flooding resulting in extensive property damage has occurred. One of the major causes of the flooding was that almost every pipe and culvert crossing over the watercourses were blocked by vegetation and other debris. Much of this debris originated from weed trees growing in and along the watercourses. The proposed project will involve removal of weed species such as willow and coral trees at priority sites in riparian corridors in the Wollongong local government area. Following removal of the weed species, appropriate native species will be planted to help rehabilitate the sites. Removal of weed species at a number of priority sites and rehabilitation of riparian corridors have been identified as strategies in the Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans that have been prepared by council, and the Riparian Corridor Management Study that has been prepared by Department Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources for catchments in the local government area.

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