Project summaries - 2006 Restoration and Rehabilitation - state and local government grants
| 2006 Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation - state and local government grants |
|---|
| Organisation | Project title | Amount $ |
|---|
| Albury City Council | Restoration of endangered ecological community - Nail Can Hil | 31,000 |
| Bankstown City Council | Caring for Carysfield | 96,188 |
| Blue Mountains City Council | Remediation of upland swamps in the Blue Mountains | 98,688 |
| Blacktown City Council | Restoring the hidden jewel of Nurragingy - stage 3 | 26,000 |
| Byron Shire Council | Getting a grip on Cane Toads in Byron and the NSW far north coast | 59,062 |
| Byron Shire Council | Restoring Byron's high conservation value vegetation and corridors | 99,802 |
| Central Mangrove Public School | Restoration of bushland within Central Mangrove Public School | 15,070 |
| City of Canada Bay Council | Yaralla bush rehabilitation project | 65,165 |
| Clarence Valley Council | Protection of EEC's on 3 Clarence Valley Council reserves | 75,789 |
| Department of Environment and Conservation | Managing a catchment to minimise the impact of a plant pathogen | 75,000 |
| Department of Environment and Conservation | Community bush regeneration in high conservation and culturally diverse sites | 96,000 |
| Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority | Wallis and Fishery Creek catchments biodiversity corridors project | 78,600 |
| Hunters Hill Council | Sediment control and mangrove and saltmarsh rehabilitation | 99,940 |
| Lismore City Council | Critical koala habitat restoration in Lismore's south east | 82,906 |
| Maitland City Council | Revitalisation of Woodberry Swamp | 83,660 |
| Newcastle City Council | Newcastle Glenrock to Blackbutt green corridor | 90,492 |
| Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority | Nymboida River riparian rehabilitation project | 87,499 |
| Penrith City Council | Rehabilitation of a section of Jamison Creek: Huntington Reserve | 58,000 |
| Pittwater Council | Foreshore restoration works at Rowland Reserve, Bayview | 100,000 |
| Port Macquarie - Hastings Council | Lower Wilson river reach-based rehabilitation works | 100,000 |
| Sutherland Shire Council | Rehabilitation of Charlotte Breen Reserve, Kurnell - stage 3 | 28,000 |
| Sutherland Shire Council | Rehabilitation of endangered swamp and river-flat forest at Sylvania | 25,000 |
| Warringah Council | Manly Dam Creek restoration and rehabilitation project stage 3 | 45,000 |
| Wollongong City Council | Riparian vegetation restoration along Byarong Creek, Figtree | 79,450 |
| Wyong Shire Council | Tuggerah Lakes saltmarsh regeneration project | 31,238 |
25 projects | TOTAL | $1,727,549 |
This project aims to restore and protect an area of the endangered ecological community 'White Box, Yellow Box and Blakely's Red Gum Woodland', as listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Environmental weeds are posing a significant threat to this high conservation value bushland area. Bushland regeneration principles will be applied to remove environmental weeds and encourage natural regeneration. Isolated clumps and individuals will be targeted to prevent further spread and contain larger infestations. Albury City Council has developed a prioritised works program based on a conservation value assessment of roadsides, waterways and natural areas. This project will enable on ground works identified in this program to be implemented. Target species will include cape broom, tree lucerne, privet, cotoneaster, celtis and Cootamundra wattle.
Carysfield Park is an important ecological and recreational asset for the local community. The park has a creek system surrounded by Cooks River/Castlereagh ironbark forest, which is under threat from BMX riders, vegetation clearing, dumping of waste, weed invasion, creek bank slumping and erosion. The restoration of Carysfield Park will provide strategies to enhance water quality, implement bank stabilisation and erosion control measures, rehabilitate riparian zones, manage and restore the surrounding remnant bushland, improve habitat connectivity with other reserves in the LGA, while engaging the local community to encourage future recreation and a sense of community ownership of the site to prevent further degradation.
The upland swamps of the Blue Mountains (an endangered ecological community) provide invaluable ecosystem services by maintaining baseflows to downstream reaches, moderating peakflow events, filtration of pollutants, and provision of habitat for a range of nationally endangered species. This project aims to ameliorate the impacts of urbanisation that have adversely affected the ecological functioning and integrity of the swamps by
- implementing a range of soft engineering techniques successfully implemented by NPWS
- removing invasive weeds and restoring endangered species' critical habitat
- working with private landholders and the nature based recreation community to mitigate their impact on the swamps.
The project aims to restore and preserve bushland areas of Nurragingy Reserve. The project will undertake bush regeneration works in Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside, specifically Lorikeet and Cockatoo picnic areas. The project aims to attack woody weeds such as Ligustrum lucidum (large-leaf privet), Ligustrum sinense (small-leaf privet) and Olea europaea subsp. Africana (African olive), which are smothering native vegetation.
The invasion and establishment of Cane Toads threatens the biodiversity of the NSW far north coast. This project will support current effective means of reducing toad numbers by manual removal, trapping and reducing access to breeding areas. A network of community volunteers will be engaged for Cane Toad collection at priority sites during the toad's breeding season. Collection will occur on consecutive evenings at each site as individual adult toads are not active every night. A purpose-built trailer will provide the means of handling and humanely euthanasing a large number of toads on site. Education materials on Cane Toads, their habitat requirements and related biodiversity issues will be provided during these Cane Toad musters. Monitoring of toad numbers and biodiversity responses will be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the project. The project will compliment the Cane Toad Action Plan currently being drafted by DEC.
To protect, restore and enhance high conservation value (HCV) vegetation and habitats, key wildlife corridors and habitat for threatened species (including endangered ecological communities), by implementing on-ground ecological restoration works at high priority sites on council lands in accordance with the award winning Byron Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS). The project will revegetate a two kilometre break in a regional wildlife corridor, to link coastal plain habitats with upland hinterland habitats, protect at least four EEC's as well as undertaking restoration of HCV vegetation and habitats at various high priority council sites across the shire. Works are to include development of restoration plans and implementation of works in at least seven EEC's and known habitat for at least 60 threatened species. Works will include the control of environmental weeds, implementation of bush regeneration actions, revegetation and fencing off riparian areas.
This project is to protect and restore the remnant vegetation at Central Mangrove Public School. This will involve the contracting of a bush regeneration company who will undertake weed removal and bush regeneration along the edge of the woodland and throughout the heathland area adjacent to the cleared school grounds. It also involves planting out an area of 100 square metres around a 'habitat' tree (Angophora costata) that has been retained in the school grounds. The students will plant the tubestock to gain ownership of the project. This will be supported by teaching sessions prior to the planting, during establishment and as an ongoing resource.
The City of Canada Bay contains a number of small, highly valuable remnants of the endangered ecological community 'Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest' (STIF). This vegetation community, which forms part of the Cumberland Plain woodland complex, occurs at it's eastern-most limit in the City of Canada Bay. The most intact and floristically diverse example of STIF is found on the Department of Health owned Yaralla Estate in Concord West. However, the site is in a poor condition due to weed infestation, grazing pressure from horses on adjacent paddocks and an absence of bushfire. The proposed project will result in the recovery of this important piece of Concord's natural heritage through the implementation of a long-term bush regeneration project, which will involve the re-establishment of an appropriate fire regime to trigger the site's natural resilience, increasing biodiversity and improving it's habitat value for local native fauna.
The Clarence Valley Council through the NSW Environmental Trust grants program aims to protect ecological endangered communities and threatened species on 3 Coastal Crown Land reserves in the Clarence Valley local government area. The objective of this project is to carry out environmental protection restoration and rehabilitation works identified as high priorities in the plans of management for each reserve. Works include protection of saltmarsh communities on Wooli Peninsula and Hickey Island Reserves and protection of the newly listed ecological endangered community; 'Kangaroo grass community on coastal escarpments' at Minnie Water Foreshore Reserve. Weed control and restoration is also a priority, reducing the threatening process of bitou bush and associated environmental weed infestations in each reserve.
The plant pathogen Plytophthora cinnamomi can have severe detrimental effects on native vegetation. Successful management of the pathogen on a catchment basis has not been achieved. The pathogen has recently been found causing dieback in the endangered Wollemi Pine. Control of the pathogen on the Wollemi Pine offers an opportunity to test catchment wide control and highlight how this may best be done. The project involves an integration of field sampling of the extent of the pathogen, application of control measures; development of strategies to minimise the risk of spread in the catchment or further introductions and community consultation raising awareness of the risk of the pathogen.
The Hunter Region of the Parks and Wildlife Division of DEC supports eight community bush regeneration groups undertaking rehabilitation programs in areas of high conservation and cultural landscape importance. This project will support these groups by providing assistance in the implementation for regeneration works. The community groups undertake programs in sites with threatened flora, fauna and endangered ecological communities. In addition a number of sites are important cultural heritage sites and landscapes to the Aboriginal community. The community groups include Friends of Booti Booti NP (littoral rainforest), The Bush Ticks (littoral rainforest - Seal Rocks), Friends of Blue Gum Hills and in Glenrock SCA, the Bahai Group, Trees in Newcastle, Friends of Glenrock (FROG) and Leggy Point Boardriders (Themeda grassland, littoral rainforest heath) and Friends of Tomaree (Themeda grassland).
To establish corridors linking remnant vegetation in order to increase the connectivity from the Watagan Forest in the south to the centre of the valley floor near Maitland in the north. Development of these corridors will ensure greater flora and fauna biodiversity, with increased habitat and migration routes from the top to the bottom of the Wallis and Fishery Creek catchments. The project will help to address issues of declining quality and quantity of remnant vegetation, including several ecologically endangered communities (EEC) such as the Quorrobolong scribbly gum, Lower Hunter spotted gum ironbark forest and Kurri sand swamp woodland. The project will also address issues of declining habitat for local fauna, including endangered species such as brush tailed Phascogale, yellow bellied glider and the bush-tailed rock-wallaby.
Due to erosion and stormwater runoff, sediments are being deposited and are accumulating over parts of the mangrove and saltmarsh communities at three sites in Hunters Hill and Lane Cove LGAs. This allows weed species to colonise, trap more sediment and the health of the estuarine flora and fauna to deteriorate. Coastal saltmarsh communities are listed as an endangered ecological community (TSC Act 1995). This project seeks to:
- set up sediment monitoring from top of catchment (established urban environment) down slope to estuaries, to gauge source and timescale of sediment movement
- measure health of mangroves (Pulkownik, Bent UTS)
- remove terrestrial weeds to improve tidal flush and the health and habitat values of the estuary
- plant sedges on bank edges to stabilise disturbed areas
- install sediment trapping devices
- use data to ascertain locations for stormwater mitigation devices top of catchment in future data transferable to LGAs.
Professional bush regenerators and supervised Work for the Dole teams will work alongside landowners to undertake weed control, tree planting and fencing on prioritised private properties in the critical koala habitat area of Lismore's south east. Works will be undertaken in accordance with koala habitat restoration plans (in progress - Maps 2 and 3) with tree planting only where natural regeneration potential is low. The project will implement the unfunded on-ground works component of the Lismore koala restoration extension and education project. Landowners will be trained in restoration techniques and site maintenance and a range of conservation agreement and rezoning options will be negotiated with landowners. Field days to promote koala habitat restoration will be widely advertised and undertaken in partnership with Friends of the Koala and Richmond Landcare Services. Demonstration sites will be established for wider community education.
Revitalising SEPP 14 Woodberry Swamp will involve the rehabilitation of this presently degraded area. The revegetation of drainage and riparian zones within the wetland will assist in the re-establishment of a viable ecosystem. The project also involves detailed and site specific weed mapping and the development of a targeted plan for the management and eradication of weed species. Archaelogical surveys/studies will be conducted to determine in greater detail the history of the site. Proposed works will complement recent activities undertaken in the adjacent LGA of Newcastle and will further contribute to the development of a local vegetation link with Beresfield Golf Course and beyond. Activities undertaken throughout this project will positively impact upon key environmental issues relevant to the freshwater wetland system (loss of habitat and biodiversity, water quality and weed infestation). Woodberry Swamp will again become a thriving ecosystem.
The Newcastle Green Corridor Plan 2005 identified key habitats in the city and defined a series of buffers and corridors to surround, connect and protect these habitats. The purpose of this grant is to support implementation of the Glenrock - blackbutt corridor. Funds are being sought for: Revegetation projects at six sites within the corridor; community-based dune stabilisation and bush regeneration at Merewether Beach; weed control (morning glory), and bush regeneration at a high value bushland reserve. These projects will complement two major on-ground projects funded by council. The community will be engaged through bush regeneration supported by a Council CSO, the Good Bushland Neighbours Education Program and Green Schools Green City, all funded by council.
NRCMA and Clarence Landcare developed a Riparian Management Plan (2004/05) for the Nymboida River involving 25 landholders with landholdings extending over 65 kilometres of bank downstream from Nymboi-Binderay NP. Land use is beef, timber and conservation. Riparian weeds and stock are impacting upon riparian vegetation. Landholders have reduced stock impacts through destocking, alternative shade and watering points, paddock rotation and fencing. In the first year of plan implementation, NRCMA funded Clarence Landcare to coordinate the protection and rehabilitation of 17 hectares of quality riparian vegetation along eight kilometres of river. This project proposes to coordinate and implement a further 12 hectares.
Rehabilitation works will address management strategies in the draft plan of management for Jamison Creek riparian corridor. These include conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem function in accordance with best practice consistent with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Riverbank Management Program, the Draft 6 Recovery Plan for the Cumberland Plain endangered ecological communities, Best Practice Guidelines for Bush Regeneration on the Cumberland Plain and AABR. The plan recommends protecting and managing this community asset and its key values on a sustainable basis. A restoration strategy will be implemented which focuses on the recovery, recruitment, long-term durability and expansion of fragmented remnant species and populations whilst identifying and monitoring key threatening processes.
Pittwater Council
Foreshore restoration works at Rowland Reserve Bayview
Grant: $100,000
The north foreshore of Rowland Reserve, Bayview is exposed to long fetch wave corrosion. Over the past 15 years this foreshore area has eroded by approximately 20 metres resulting in increased sediment load into Pittwater estuary, lack of riparian edge on Pittwater of approximately 4,500 square metres and a reduction in deep water channels for recreational boating adjacent to the two regional boat ramps at Rowland Reserve, which are provided by Pittwater Council. Stabilisation of 150 lineal metres of badly eroded foreshore. The stabilisation will be achieved by regrading the existing batter, reclaiming eroded material where possible and armouring the batter with graded river stones and geotextile fabrics, interspace endemic plant species into batter recreating estuarine foreshore vegetation which will include Juncus krausii. Recreate riparian zone of 750 square metres by replanting endemic plants, of all vegetation strata - low, mid and canopy species including salt- marsh habitat.
Port Macquarie - Hastings Council
Lower Wilson river reach-based rehabilitation works
Grant: $100,000
The project will undertake a series of strategic in-stream works and riparian revegetation on private land on three riffle zones within a 1 kilometre reach of the Wilson River as determined by a recently commissioned planning and assessment report by the Northern Rivers CMA. Remedial works are detailed further in the attached locality plan. These works aim to firstly stop the active head cut erosion from moving further upstream thus protecting 26 kilometres of intact river habitat and riparian vegetation from future head cut-induced erosion. Secondly, remedial works will prevent further erosion and protect extant riparian vegetation at the site of the active head cut. The project will be undertaken by a collaborative team consisting of the NRCMA, Port Macquarie - Hasting Council, University of New England, Hastings Landcare, Waterwise, and GECO Environmental.
The project involves the rehabilitation and restoration of the endangered ecological community, Kurnell Dune Forest in Charlotte Breen Reserve, Kurnell. The plant community is being degraded by a range of woody weed species and vines which are having a detrimental effect on the native species. This project is stage 3 in a plan to rehabilitate the whole reserve and is timed over a two year period. Bush regeneration techniques will be employed to maximise the regeneration potential of the site. Some natural regeneration will occur but more degraded areas near the roadside will be revegetated. This reserve provides an important wildlife habitat corridor in council's greenweb.
The project involves the rehabilitation and restoration of swamp forest vegetation comprising two endangered ecological communities. The plant communities are being degraded by weed invasion. Bush regeneration techniques will be employed to maximise the regeneration potential of the site. Some natural regeneration will occur but more degraded areas will be revegetated. This reserve provides an important wildlife habitat corridor in council's greenweb. The project may help to get a bushcare group established in the reserve.
Manly Warringah War Memorial Park, better known as Manly Dam, is flanked by urban development and light industry. Management problems include water quality, catchment issues and weed invasion. This project focuses on a major creekline feeding the lake, receiving runoff from a large proportion of the suburb of Allambie Heights through high capacity stormwater outlets. The project's objective is to manage the impacts of these processes using bush regeneration, the redefining of drainage lines, dense revegetation and the construction of sediment retention basins to restore native vegetation communities. This process will be taken to a level where minimal ongoing maintenance is required and can be covered by both professional staff and local community volunteers. The educational component will convey the importance of personal responsibility and behaviour by the community, to better care for the creek and surrounding catchment.
This project will continue a program of riparian restoration and regeneration work along a stretch of approximately 700 metres of Byarong Creek, Figtree. This area is degraded and experiencing stream bank erosion. Woody weeds such as coral and willow trees have been removed from the creek and work is required to remove other invasive weeds including turkey rhubarb, asparagus fern, morning glory, madeira vine, moth vine and cassia that are threatening the remaining native vegetation. A vegetation management plan (VMP) prepared in 2005 for the area found a total of 95 weed species present. A period of 36 months will be necessary to undertake the initial weeding, planting and erosion control techniques and to allow follow-up maintenance weeding. Restoration techniques to be used will be as recommended in the VMP that was prepared in 2005 for the site and which council has commenced implementing.
The project will restore and regenerate saltmarsh communities and improve water quality in the Tuggerah Lakes system. Maintained practices will be altered to protect significant saltmarsh and encourage passive regeneration where possible. Mowing, beach cleaning and wrack harvesting will be discontinued and replaced by a programme of weeding, particularly targeting introduced grasses and noxious wees (eg alligator weed). Foreshore areas in each location will be fenced to discourage trampling and delineate areas of management modification. Sediment inflow will be reduced and quality of water, habitat and diversity will improve. The project will include a program of community information and participation.
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Page last updated: 27 February 2011
