Project summaries - 2006 Restoration & Rehabilitation - community grants
| 2006 Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation - community grants |
|---|
| Organisation | Project title | Amount $ |
|---|
| Australian Bush Heritage Fund | K2C - building a landscape bridge | 99,750 |
| Australasian Native Orchard Society Inc | Improved methods of predicting threatened species preferred habitat | 19,800 |
| Bellinger Landcare Inc | Restoration of Bielsdown riverbank, Dorrigo township | 41,315 |
| Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group | Big Scrub Rainforest remnant rehabilitation | 99,970 |
| Bush Habitat Restoration Cooperative Ltd | Ropes Creek bushland restoration and community participation | 25,855 |
| Bush Habitat RestorationCooperative Ltd | Northern Illawarra Themeda grassland restoration project | 25,450 |
| Cape Byron Headland Reserve Trust | Cape Byron Headland restoration project | 25,652 |
| Cape Byron Headland Reserve Trust | Wategos Beach restoration project | 15,121 |
| Community Environment Network Inc | Entrance to Bateau Bay 'stepping stones' wildlife corridor | 86,500 |
| Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation | Restoration of native vegetation at Coomaditchie Lagoon Reserve | 80,000 |
| Daroo Orange Urban Landcare Group | Restoring rehabilitation Wentworth Reserve Yellow Box Woodland | 13,975 |
| Environmental Training and Employment Inc | Littoral rainforest and Themeda grassland restoration at Broken Head | 99,653 |
| Foxground Landcare Group Incorporated | Regeneration of rainforest and eucalypt communities in Foxground - completion | 17,380 |
| Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc | Foreshore restoration of surrendered derelict oyster leases | 15,000 |
| Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia (Shortland Wetlands Centre) | Biodiversity enhancement of Shortland Wetlands Ramsar and EEC site | 98,598 |
| Jetty Dunecare Group Inc | Coffs Coast State Park - Boambee Beach rehabilitation stage 1 | 84,477 |
| Kurri Weston Greening Group assisted by Kurri Kurri Landcare | The rehabilitation and restoration of Swamp Creek in Weston
(Project not proceeding) | 58,450 |
| Millards Creek Bushcare Group | Millards Creek environmental rehabilitation project | 37,000 |
| Muscle Creek Landcare | Muscling in on weeds at Muscle Creek, Muswellbrook NSW | 92,295 |
| Pelican Blacksmiths Landcare | Protection of rainforest and swamp forest at Soldiers Road Reserve | 43,966 |
| Riverhaven Bushcare Group | Rehabilitation of swamp oak forest on the foreshore of Oyster Bay | 12,600 |
| Shoalhaven Bushcare Volunteer Community Nursery | Expansion of Shoalhaven Bushcare volunteer community nursery | 12,692 |
| Tabourie Bushcare | Tabourie dune stabilisation and habitat restoration | 6,500 |
| Tenterfield Naturalists Incorporated | Rehabilitation and protection of Tenterfield biodiversity area | 40,608 |
| Tumbarumba Golf Club | Pound Creek willow removal, Tumbarumba Golf Club | 15,030 |
| Upper Clarence Combined Landcare | Tooloom Creek riparian restoration, Muli Aboriginal Community Woodenbong | 59,348 |
| Victory Row Landcare | Toronto Bay foreshore restoration stabilisation and revegetation | 62,127 |
| WetlandCare Australia | Upper Richmond and Clarence Rivers wetland rehabilitation | 99,965 |
| Wilson's River Landcare Group Inc | Restoration of lowland rainforest on floodplain at Boatharbour | 93,789 |
| 29 projects | TOTAL | $1,482,866 |
Australian Bush Heritage Fund
K2C - building a landscape bridge
Grant: $99,750
The K2C - building a landscape bridge project will undertake to restore, recover then preserve in perpetuity, vegetation communities and fauna species listed as threatened and vulnerable on a 1328 hectare property, to be purchased by the Australian Bush Heritage Fund as part of the proposed Koscuiszko to the Coast (K2C) conservation corridor. Its purchase is a strategic undertaking supported by state government and community groups to link the alpine and eastern escarpment corridors. The property's significant high fertility remnant natural temperate grassland and grassy box-gum woodlands require immediate restoration to migrate the impacts of poor land management processes and invasive weeds. Successful recovery of these ecological communitites will offer methodologies to reserve their decline in the wider K2C region.
Testing the hypothesis posed in a published paper by Clark, deLacey and Chamberlain (see Appendix 1). The current proposal will refine the original model, and aims to address the widespread loss of known and potential habitat for cryptic threatened plant species arising from the lack of consideration of such species during the development assessment process. The model will be refined and adapted to include three additional, similary cryptic and threatened orchids species. An educational workshop will be delivered and will provide significantly better conservation outcomes for threatened cryptic species and their habitats, especially where threats are posed by development proposals.
The Bielsdown River provides water to the township of Dorrigo. The Dorrigo Recreation Reserve has 700 metre frontage with the river in the centre of town. The riparian zone has little native vegetation and has been planted with exotic trees in the past, that have high weed potential, including paulownia, pine, board-leaved privet, willow, bamboo and Chinese cedar. The project will remove these weeds, revegetate the riparian zone with locally indigenous plants and repair three bank erosion sites. The project will demonstrate appropriate restoration techniques to the local community and involve the Dorrigo Recreation Ground Committee, the Dorrigo High School Landcare Group, as well as neighboring landholders and any other interested memebers of the community. There will be educational as well as significant water quality and habitat outcomes to the project.
This project is part of the BSRLG's long term Big Scrub Rainforest Program (BSRRP) which won the 2001 NSW Landcare Gold Award for Nature Conservation, and has been strongly supported by the NSW Environmental Trust, the Natural Heritage Trust and the community. It continues the vitally important and successful rehabilitation of remnants of the Big Scrub, which prior to clearing was Australia's largest lowland subtropical rainforest. The focus of this project is primary and follow-up weed control. It targets 16 remnants, including four new remnants. The project will be run in parallel with the Big Scrub component of the NRCMA's High conservation vegetation restoration project, which involves a consortium established by the BSRLG that includes the Lismore and Ballina Councils, Rous Water and EnviTE, which manages the project. This project also involves community capacity building via the Big Scrub Rainforest Day (BSRD) and field days.
This project encompasses 2 sites of Themeda grassland (a recently gazetted EEC) of about 1000 square metres each at Clifton and Austinmer in the Northern Illawarra. The area of intact remnant at Clifton will be extended, threatening kikuyu and blackberry will be controlled and an informative, interpretive sign installed at this high profile lookout. The better condition Austinmer site will be protected from encroaching lantana and kikuyu, site workshops will be conducted to attract members to the local bushcare group and we hope to rekindle community interest in the relatively resilient beachside vegetation communities contiguous with the site.
To consolidate bush regeneration in this most important bushland corridor which links some of the most important remnants of Cumberland Plain Woodland and Sydney Coastal Riverflat community in Western Sydney - involving local councils, catchment management, schools, parents and the local community bushcare group. Penrith Council and Greening Australia will be requested to facilitate planting under power lines to strengthen native vegetation and provide fauna habitat. Dialogue will be ongoing with the company in charge of the powerlines. We propose to explore and promote the building of a narrow footbridge and track to assist children and other local residents moving between North St Marys and Mt Druitt. Local children in particular are crossing the creek to go to school on a daily basis. Assistance will also be sought from local businesses and the St Marys Leagues Club.
This project site is located on the slopes above Wategos Beach in Byron Bay. Dense infestations of serious environmental weeds including lantana, bitou bush and mother of millions are degrading littoral rainforest and Themeda grassland vegetation communities. Littoral rainforest and Themeda grassland have been gazetted as endangered ecological communities under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995. The site also hosts ROTAP - listed flora species. Trained, qualified bush regenerators will be assisted by volunteers to carry out bush regeneration, restoring the structural and floristic diversity of the site and improving habitat values for threatened fauna. Terracing will be installed on steep, erosion-prone slopes proir to weed removal and trees will be planted in areas of low resilience to supplement natural regeneration.
Dense infestations of weeds including madeira vine, lantana and bitou bush, are smothering native vegetation and suppressing regeneration on the dunes in a high profile beachfront area. The affected area connects with littoral rainforest to the east and themeda grassland to the west, both of which are endangered ecological communitites. Bitou bush has been declared a key threatening process to littoral rainforest under the Threatened Species Conservation Act. Trained, qualified bush regenerators will be assisted by volunteers to carry out bush regeneration, restoring the structural and floristic diversity of the site and improving habitat values. Terracing will be installed on eroded areas proir to regeneration and beach access will be formalised to prevent further erosion.
Grant: $86,500
The strip of land along Tuggerah Lake from The Entrance to Long Jetty and then along Saltwater Creek to Bateau Bay and Crackneck Lookout was identified as an important north south corridor for wildlife. Sections of the corridor have high recreational usage while other parts are rarely disturbed. The term 'stepping stone corridor' was first used in 2000 to describe the patchy nature of the remnant vegetation that comprises the six kilometre wildlife corridor. The corridor has had regeneration and planting work carried out since the early 1980s. This has included substantial plantings and bush regeneration by CEN, Bateau Bay Bushcare, volunteers and Wyong Council. While the activity has been uncoordinated it has been successful in that there are a variety of vegetation 'steps' in place. A report has ben prepared by CEN for rehabilitation of the corridor by coordinating new and existing volunteer groups, waterwatch and council into one activity.
This will be a joint community development project between Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation, Port Kembla Community Development Project and Wollongong City Council. The project will involve restoration of native vegetation along the southern edge of Coomaditchie Lagoon. The area has Aboriginal cultural significance. A bush tucker trail, managed by the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation, runs through the area. The native vegetation has been destroyed by recent fires. There has been little regeneration of native species and there is a potential for significant weed invasion. A period of 36 months will be necessary to undertake primary weeding and planting and to allow follow-up maintenance. The initial stage of the project will be to prepare a revegetation strategy detailing the procedures, timeframe and fire management strategy, to be used in the restoration of the site.
The project is to restore and rehabilitate an area of 3.45 hectares of remnant vegetation of grassy box woodland, a threatened ecological community, in Wentworth Reserve, Orange NSW. The project employs the principles of bush regeneration to ensure the least amount of disturbance to the site. Habitat values are retained by spacing the removal of environmental weeds, and selectively replanting with local species of the original woodland understorey. Provenance grass seed is harvested to propagate in our shadehouse and use in re-establishing native grasses in key areas. Monitoring is ongoing and photographically recorded. Other community organisations participate in group activites.
The project will employ professional bush regenerators to restore and rehabilitate significant, high profile areas of littoral rainforest and Themeda grassland on seacliff and coastal headlands (endangered ecological communities) at the Two Sisters' Walking Track at Broken Head Nature Reserve, in partnership with DEC and the Arakwal Aboriginal Community. A vegetation restoration plan will be developed including site assessment, mapping, recommendations for stategic restoration works over five years and monitoring and evaluation and growth of native species. Earlier work on the site revealed a high level of resilience in the seed bank and strong recruitment of littoral rainforest species. Systematic bush regeneration works will be undertaken over three years aimed at achieving sustainable environmental outcomes for the site.
This application is to continue the work of the previously funded project (reference above). The work has been largely successful (see reports lodged 31.03.05 and 30.04.06). The 2003 project was mainly aimed at primary weeding in order to create a platform for individual landholders and the group to continue with secondary weeding. The ring site (03 on map) still requires primary weeding for madeira vine in some parts of the creek. Eradication of this major infestation would complete the project as originally planned. This application also seeks to have the contractor revisit sites of previous madeira vine infestations.
Foreshore restoration for the removal of abandoned roof tiles, concrete slabs, previously used for oyster spat farming, now surrendered oyster leases, along the foreshore of Hardys Bay Parade, Killcare. All material to be removed by hand at low tide into a barge and floated ashore at high tide. This will be used as backfill for stage two roadworks along Hardys Bay Parade. No debris removal is required in the pneumatophore area. Access to the area will be via areas clear of pneumatophores, and placement of rocks on the road reserve will not be in areas that are colonised by mangroves. Environmental benefits will be achieved by removal of the debris which will allow posidonia and zostera seagrass beds to regenerate and provide protective habitat for small marine life. Improved tidal flow will be achieved.
This project aims to enhance the biodiversity of Shortland Wetlands, a 45 hectare property which is Ramsar listed. The site contains endangered ecological communities and is visited by over 40,000 people each year. This project seeks to provide funding to complete quality and long term on-ground works at Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia (HWCA) specifically targeted at threatened species and water quality improvement and monitoring. The project is situated within the Hunter Centre Rivers CMA and Newcastle City Council LGA and is consistent with the priorities in their CAP and LEP respectively. This project has been identified as a priority in the Ramsar Ecological Character Report and Management Plan 2004-09 for the site to ensure the on-going protection of this significant wetlands complex, and improvement of habitat values for the threatened species which exist on site.
This project will rehabilitate 18ha of dunal vegetation containing littoral rainforest, banksia forest and wetlands from Dung Hill, along the hind dunes to the deep sea release outfall at Boambee Beach. An adjoining area of vegetation of Dung Hill has been rehabilitated with the assistance of an Envirofund grant and the group would like to continue removing weeds in this area to increase habitat value and biodiversity, and to prevent the spread or re-infestation of weeds into rehabilitated areas. Volunteers are not permitted to spray on public land and so are reliant upon contractors to remove weeds difficult to remove by hand such as glory lily, spiny burr grass, seratro, johnson's grass, rhodes grass, broad-leaved paspalum and other invasive grasses. Following this spraying, the group will use hand removal, cut and paint techniques and herbicide to remove reemerging weeds. Natural regeneration of native plants will occur following the removal of weeds.
Swamp Creek is a creek that is part of the Wallis and Fishery catchment. The creek traverses through the town of Weston in the Cessnock LGA. The creek suffers from urban encroachment due to being in the centre of the town. It is 2.5 kilometres in length and is chocked with weeds. This project is aiming at revegetating the creek by undertaking the following: the removal of giant reed, removal of blackberry, camphor, lantana and mother of millions. Following this, the removal of rubbish from the site will occur. Estimated rubbish in the creek is about 40 tonnes including tyres, cement and building materials. The creek will also have a number of natives planted on the banks to bring back natives to the area. This project is in a highly visible area and will create a lot of feedback in the town.
The urban development surrounding Millards Creek in Ulladulla places great strains on this unique riparian corridor. The biodiversity of the site is evident with over 80 bird species and diverse reptile and plant populations recorded. Problems include sediment from urban development, exotic plant invasion via dumping of garden refuse, aquatic weed infestations, illegal mowing and residential encroachment. This project aims to improve the water quality of Millards Creek, and conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the riparian zone, by reducing the weed infestations along the main corridor and tributaries, revegetating denuded areas and formalising pedestrian access across the creek onto the pathway leading to the CBD and to reduce erosion and water siltation. Ongoing works by volunteer bushcarers will be complimented and enhanced by contracted bush regeneration works, foot bridge construction and a community education program.
Two kilometres of Muscle Creek, a tributary of the Hunter River, is showing signs of environmental degradation due to urban runoff and extensive weed invasion from garden escapees. This project will include the removal of environmental weeds such as willows (Salix sp.), privet (Ligustrum sp.) and balloon vine (Cardiospermum sp.), as well as revegetation of local indigenous species and earthworks to control erosion and improve access for community based recreation. The project aims to protect existing habitat, eg: Hunter River Red Gums, increasing biodiversity, removal of environmental weeds and enhancing an existing wetland. This project aims to develop partnerships and raise awareness of NRM issues within the local Muswellbrook community.
This project will protect two endangered ecological communities Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Central Coast Floodplains and Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, remnants of a third 'littoral rainforest' and a threatened species Syzigium paniculatum through sensitive bush regeneration techniques. Volunteers from the local community, supported by Lake Macquarie City Council and the Environmental Trust, will work along-side professional bush regenerators to ensure this 7.5 hectare site remains in a healthy and robust condition. This investment will see the riparian zone of an unamed watercourse restored, improving water quality entering Swansea Channel and Lake Macquarie. Also, biodiversity, natural habitat and connectivity will be enhanced while providing improved visual amenity and social benefits to local residents and visitors to the site.
The project involves the rehabilitation and restoration of Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest at the head of Coronation Bay on the Georges River. The plant community is being degraded by weed species especially vines and woody weeds which are having a detrimental effect on the canopy species. Bush regeneration techniques will be employed to maximise the regeneration potential of the site. This reserve provides an important wildlife habitat corridor in council's Greenweb. Our Bushcare group is only small and this work is beyond the capabilities of our group. Funding will help protect the plant community before it becomes more degraded.
To upgrade the capacity of the present community based plant propagation facility, to increase the capacity of the group to provide provenence plant stock to volunteer Bushcare groups, whose work is aimed at strategically targeting revegetation and rehabilitation projects in endangered ecological communities on public land throughout the Shoalhaven LGA. The project will provide a training facility for community members and groups in the skills of native plant propagation, identification and bush regeneration techniques. The expanded facility will encourage 'care' groups and the wider community to share the experience of seed collection, native plant propagation and the value of restoration and revegetation projects. The value of restoring and maintaining the ecological health of endangered species and communities is a key factor in the overall project. The project incorporates water saving devices in sympathy with nursery manangement.
Tabourie Lake is regarded as a significant ecological site. The high dunes adjacent to the lake opening protect the lake and the township from the open ocean. The dunes support a variety of vegetation communities that contribute to the biodiversity of the area, and provide important habitat. This includes several remnant stands of Allocasuarina littorals which are vital for the local glossy black cockatoo population (listed species). The vegetation communities also play a significant role in stabilising the dunes. However, the vegetation is currently impacted upon by trampling and associated erosion and weed invasion, as visitors utilise a network of informal tracks to access a vantage point with ocean views. Therefore, the aim of this project is to stabilise the dune formation via regeneration and revegetation with endemic species, fencing, and the definition of a formal pedestrian viewpoint.
This is stage 2 of an ongoing project to protect and enhance remnants of the Blakey's Red Gum Woodlands community and provide habitat for fauna. The project aims to oversee rehabilitation and revegetation and restoration of habitat features. The work will add to our continuing efforts to create linkages and corridors between remnant vegetation and in addressing the biodiversity decline within the rural landscape.
This grant application is to remove unwanted willow trees and revegetate with locally native and indigenous species, over 1.5 kilometre stretch of Pound Creek. The project aims to remove and control these willows and thus lead to erosion control, provision of a buffer strip along the creek from sediment, nutrient and chemical run-off and improve water quality and stream health. The project also aims to improve the aesthetics of the course and safety for users. As well as regrowth of Mountain Swamp Gums, the planting of locally native and indigenous species will be encouraged in order to control erosion and stabilise the water course.
This project will rehabilitate the 2.4 kilometre (14.4 hectare) Tooloom Creek riparian zone by undertaking primary weed control along 2.1 kilometres, secondary control along 300 metres, and replanting along 2.4 kilometres. A major aim is to encourage natural regeneration by controlling dense privet infestations and other environmental weeds (camphor, peach and senna) and to stabilise banks by replanting with native understorey species, Lomandra longifolia. A recently trained local Aboriginal contract team of bush-regenerators will be employed for 56 days (year 1), 12 days (year 2) and four days (year 3) to use best practice (stem inject, cut/paint, spot hand spraying) using Glyphosate. 5000 locally sourced seedlings will be propagated and replanted along the toe, mid and upper banks, targeting unstable and eroded areas. Professional works will be supported by in-kind volunteer labour, materials and provision of equipment. The project will be reported through local media and progress recorded using digital photography.
Volunteers from the local community, supported by Lake Macquarie City Council, Office of the Lake Macquarie Catchment Coordinator and the Environmental Trust, will work together to reinstate functional aquatic habitat at the foreshore of Toronto Bay. This investment will see improvements to water quality, improvements to the cycling of sea grasses and provision of aquatic habitat suitable for a range of aquatic fauna. Also biodiversity, natural habitat and connectivity will be enhanced while providing improved visual amenity and social benefits to local residents and visitors to the site and Lake Macquarie.
The Upper Richmond and Clarence Rivers wetland rehabilitation project will restore priority wetlands in the Upper Richmond and Clarence catchments that have not previously been targeted for wetland rehabilitation. Priority wetland sites have been identified, assessed and prioritised using the decision support system database created, tested and currently used for the sustainable wetlands on NSW coastal landscapes project funded by HCRCMA, NRCMA and NHT. The project will promote wetlands and will also provide extension to landholders through education, management plans and technical assistance with onground works; facilitating the conservation and protection of these vital ecosystems.
The project will employ professional bush regenerators to rehabilitate significant riparian vegetation (endangered ecological community - Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain) on the Wilsons River at Boatharbour. The project area covers one kilometre of riverbank (vegetation on average 40 metres wide, four hectare area) of DEC estate (Boatharbour Nature Reserve) and two adjoining private properties. Major weed species degrading riparian vegetation include asparagus fern, madeira and small-leaved privet. In recent years cattle have been removed from both DEC and private land. Systematic restoration works are timely to stem the spread of weeds and encourage natural regeneration. A restoration action plan will be prepared to guide on-ground works. Alligator weed, one of the worlds worst aquatic and terrestrial weeds has recently been found upstream of the site at Boatharbour. The area will be monitored for any outbreaks.
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Page last updated: 20 June 2011
