Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation 2016-2017 grants awarded and project summaries

Organisation	Project title	Amount $
Albury City Council	Wagirra Trail Murray River restoration project	100,000
Ballina Shire Council	Reinstating coastal EEC and protecting a cultural site, East Ballina	98,500
Bellingen Shire Council	Restoring public reserves of the Never Never, Gleniffer - Stage 1	100,000
Blayney Shire Council	Revive 2:  Rehabilitation of the Belubula River - Danvers Street Carcoar	54,265
Byron Shire Council	Byron habitat corridors - ensuring a future for threatened fauna	99,850
Canterbury-Bankstown Council	Post-flooding restoration in Deepwater Park	61,860
Fairfield City Council	Creating habitat corridors along Green Valley Creek, Mount Pritchard	86,750
Federation University	Enhancing habitat values for threatened species on Nanya Station	99,804
Hunter Councils Inc.	Conservation of Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland Stage 2	79,230
Hunter Councils Inc.	Valleys Wildlife Corridor Project in the Upper Hunter Stage 1	97,178
Ku-ring-gai Council	Duffys Forest endangered ecological community remnant consolidation	63,500
Ku-ring-gai Council	Restoration of Warrimoo Coastal upland swamp endangered ecological community	69,043
Lane Cove Municipal Council	Batten Reserve: restore endangered vegetation and create habitat	91,255
Lismore City Council	Assisting rural landholders to restore high conservation value areas	100,000
Mid-Coast Council	Restore the core: littoral rainforest endangered ecological community restoration project	69,212
Mid-Coast Council	Protecting and enhancing squirrel glider habitat in urban Forster	92,800
Mid-Western Regional Council	Putta Bucca wetlands extension	89,250
Murray Local Land Services	Habitat enhancement for threatened squirrel gliders in Burrumbuttock	99,500
Murray Local Land Services	Protecting the riparian zones of the Edward-Wakool river system	99,300
Northern Beaches Council	Restoring our coastal headland ecosystems - Stage 2	100,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council	Keeping an eye on Ox-eye Daisy in South East NSW	88,300
Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust	Western Sydney rainforest rescue	99,500
Sutherland Shire Council	Track closure and rehabilitation - Lucas Heights conservation area	40,000
Sydney Opera House Trust	Rehabilitation of marine biodiversity at Bennelong Point	86,442
Western Local Land Services*	Lower Darling River riparian rehabilitation - Tandou Station*	100,000*
Wingecarribee Shire Council	Three creeks (north bank) rehabilitation project	100,000
Wollongong City Council	Restoring the ecological integrity of Wollongong's dune systems	100,000
	27 projects totalling	$2,365,539

* This funding has been withdrawn/declined.

Albury City Council

Wagirra Trail Murray River restoration project – $100,000

Wagirra is a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘to step on the ground’. The Wagirra Trail Murray River Restoration Project will connect the Albury community, local Aboriginal community and visitors to the region both physically and metaphorically with the Murray River. Construction of the 14-kilometre Wagirra Trail (a walking and cycling trail) will coincide with exclusion of livestock from 12 kilometres of Murray River frontage. Weed control and re-vegetation activities will provide major improvement to water quality in the Murray River. This work will be conducted by the Wagirra Trail Team who are an all Aboriginal land management and construction team.

Ballina Shire Council

Reinstating coastal EEC and protecting a cultural site, East Ballina – $98,500

The project will reinstate 2.8 hectares of coastal endangered ecological communities (EEC) on previously cleared and degraded Ballina Council land adjacent to North Creek Estuary. These restoration works will also improve the cultural values associated with East Ballina registered Aboriginal Place. Revegetation will reinstate 1.2 hectares of swamp oak forest and subtropical lowland rainforest’ and 1.6 hectares of surrounding remnant coastal EEC will be restored through bush regeneration. The project will engage Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, volunteers and the wider community in on-ground works to raise awareness of coastal EEC conservation and the cultural values of the region.

Bellingen Shire Council

Restoring public reserves of the Never Never, Gleniffer: stage 1 – $100,000

Bellingen Shire Council and Never Never Catchment Group will work in partnership to protect and enhance 1.6 hectares of riparian zone within Earl Preston Reserve adjacent to the Never Never River and Timboon Road, Gleniffer. Vegetation includes an endangered ecological community, which is threatened by invasive plants, as well as compaction from stock and vehicle access. Mature weed trees will be removed and mulched, juvenile weeds will be managed and the width of the riparian zone will be increased by revegetation and fencing. This will improve the stability of the eroding river bank and complement rehabilitation on the opposite river bank. Stock and vehicle access will be controlled by fencing and large rocks. Community working bees, interpretive signs and media articles will provide an opportunity to involve the local community and to raise awareness of local environmental assets, riparian rehabilitation techniques and priorities in Council’s Gleniffer Reserves Master Plan.

Blayney Shire Council

Revive 2: rehabilitation of the Belubula River at Danvers Street, Carcoar – $54,265

This project aims to improve the riparian environment of the Belubula River at Danvers Street, Carcoar. The river is completely choked with debris from willow and poplar tree species. There is significant weed infestation of the other reaches of the river tributaries of willow, privet and blackberry. A log jam of exotic timber is causing the river to divert from the natural water course: at times of heavy flow the river damages surrounding properties and infrastructure, including roads, and the downstream environment. Blayney Shire Council, Carcoar Show Society and the Carcoar Urban Landcare Group are partnering to improve both the riparian and in stream habitats by clearing weeds that are choking the river with exotic debris. Introduced species such as willow that are altering the amount of organic debris in the river will be removed. Community groups will work together to clear the instream debris and plant native timber snags, remove woody weeds from the banks and replant appropriate native and endemic riparian species. Nest boxes will be placed in established trees, increasing the biodiversity of the area and encouraging native wildlife back to the river environs.

Byron Shire Council

Byron habitat corridors: ensuring a future for threatened fauna – $99,850

This project will link 10 hectares of native habitat to form a corridor for threatened fauna across the Byron Shire landscape. The project will focus on rebuilding sclerophyll forest ecosystems for koalas following the newly adopted Byron Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management. Landscape-scale connections between existing forest patches will be a focus for the restoration using riparian areas, wetlands and creek lines to provide habitat for the many species using these natural environments. This project follows the model of the successful Tweed Byron Koala Connections project. A strong focus of the project is inclusion of landowners who are keen to manage their land for long term threatened species protection leading by example. Through a partnership with the Homeward Bound team the project will provide workshops to build strong environmental leadership in the community.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council

Post-flooding restoration in Deepwater Park – $61,860

Deepwater Reserve is a major conservation node along the Georges River biodiversity corridor with at least 3 endangered ecological communities and a population of Acacia pubescens (vulnerable). Recent flooding had major impacts including the spread of weed propagules into previously healthy areas and the death of groundcovers in low-lying areas where inundation persisted, leaving bare areas prone to weed colonisation. This project will protect the areas richest in species diversity by removing these colonisers to prevent them becoming established and reduce threats at degraded edges. In low-lying areas, native species tolerant of periodic flooding will be re-established and maintained.

Fairfield City Council

Creating habitat corridors along Green Valley Creek, Mount Pritchard – $86,750

Cumberland Plain woodland is listed as a critically endangered vegetation community with only 8% of the original cover left in the Sydney Bioregion. This project will be focus on improving the biodiversity and connectivity within a section of Green Valley Creek which forms part of the Cumberland Plain. The project will rehabilitate 5 hectares of the upper reaches of Green Valley Creek that have been impacted by dense urban development near waterways. Work will be carried out to improve and enhance in-stream geomorphic diversity, riparian corridor biodiversity and improve the water quality within and entering the water course. Infestations of woody and environmental weeds will be removed, riparian frontage planted and the banks stabilised, and 35,000 new native plants will be established to contribute to improving the micro-climates for fauna diversity. Opportunities for community education and participation will be provided through educational workshops and implementation in a vegetation monitoring program.

Federation University

Enhancing habitat values for threatened species on Nanya Station – $99,804

The project will address threats to vulnerable communities and species on Nanya Station. Rehabilitation strategies will include: reduction of total grazing pressure through closure of water points and rabbit/goat control; control of fox/cat populations; increasing tree and shrub cover though seeding and ripping to promote suckering; retention of litter, log debris, understorey shrubs and healthy Triodia; application of suitable fire management plans; determining ecological requirements of species with regard to fire. Public awareness will be raised through workshops, volunteerism and guides to assist neighbours to undertake actions to enhance habitat. Federation University is well placed to undertake this program with ecological expertise and a record of successful conservation management through ownership of Nanya and Euston Stations. Monitoring will assess improvements in values through the project.

Hunter Councils Inc.

Conservation of Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland Stage 2 – $79,230

In collaboration with Singleton Council, state agencies, land owners, and community groups, the project will deliver on ground restoration works in the Jerry’s Plains area to consolidate, protect, expand and improve connectivity between fragmented, remnant populations of federally-listed critically endangered Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland. This will include weed control and fencing to encourage natural regeneration and reduce the impact of key threatening processes. The location of newly identified remnants will be mapped and a management strategy developed for the Upper Hunter to drive long-term collaborative efforts to conserve this community across the diverse locations and land tenures on which it is located, directly contributing to the delivery of the Hunter Valley Weeping Myall National Recovery Plan.

Hunter Councils Inc.

Valleys wildlife corridor project in the Upper Hunter, stage 1 – $97,178

Through long-term partnerships and collaboration with Martindale Landcare, state agencies, land owners, and local council, the project will deliver part of a broader 10-year strategic objective to establish fauna habitat linkages, protect and enhance critical biodiversity values across the Giants Creek to Jerry’s Plains corridor. This aims to reduce the threat of habitat degradation and fragmentation by improving regional interconnectedness, create and maintain important retreat and movement corridors for threatened species including the speckled warbler, hooded robin, squirrel gliders and brush-tailed rock wallabies ensuring long-term survival. Stage 1 project activities will be undertaken in the Martindale Valley to improve connectivity of fragmented habitats through restoration planting, fencing and weed control. This will encourage an increase in the number of potential connections and inter linkages to contiguous bushland areas.

Ku-ring-gai Council

Duffys Forest endangered ecological community remnant consolidation – $63,500

This project seeks to restore, consolidate and connect 1.3 hectares of fragmented and degraded Duffy Forest endangered ecological community (DFEC) remnants at the St Ives Showground, in partnership with the Australian Native Plant Society, STEP and the St Ives Showground Trust. The St Ives Showground area contains one of the largest northern most extents of DFEC outside the reserve system and adjoins bushland that is contiguous with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. This rare oxide-rich soil derived ridge-top community is fast disappearing from its highly restricted distribution. This project will seek to increase awareness by providing environmental interpretation to the more than 180,000 people who visit the St Ives Showgrounds each year.

Ku-ring-gai Council

Restoration of Warrimoo Coastal upland swamp endangered ecological community – $69,043

Restoration of Warrimoo Coastal Upland Swamp endangered ecological community will involve a series of works at the former Warrimoo downhill mountain biking track to restore the Coastal Upland Swamp endangered ecological community. These works will include fencing of tracks to prevent access to sensitive areas, removal of unauthorised mountain bike infrastructure and rehabilitation of tracks, management of runoff from nearby council infrastructure, weeding and regeneration works, community education and monitoring.

Lane Cove Municipal Council

Batten Reserve: restore endangered vegetation and create habitat – $91,255

The aim of this project is to protect and restore the endangered ecological communities and enhance the integrity of Batten Reserve as a wildlife corridor through bush regeneration and habitat-creation works. These bush regeneration works will support the Stringybark Creek Bushcare group which was established in 1994. Several wildlife boxes will be installed to protect and enhance habitat (such as hollow-bearing trees and understorey species). Work will commence in the Coastal Escarpment Littoral Rainforest endangered ecological community along the creek line and eastern end, then working upslope towards the weed infested edges behind the houses that back onto Batten Reserve. This will improve the health of the vegetation communities by allowing them to colonise from the edges, and reduce the weed source from higher on the slopes.

Lismore City Council

Assisting rural landholders to restore high conservation value areas – $100,000

This project will expand on a highly successful pilot of council’s Rural Landholder Initiative, which is a rural landholder capacity building project aimed at enhancing and protecting areas of high conservation value on private rural land. The 12-month pilot, run in 2015–16, combined on-ground environmental restoration, field days and development of key education materials. This project will expand on this by engaging 40 new landholders in major rural land-uses to restore sites that demonstrate high conversation value. Funding will deliver on-ground works and 10 capacity building field days at the restoration sites utilising educational resources developed during the pilot and providing expert advice from industry professionals.

Mid-Coast Council

Restore the core: littoral rainforest endangered ecological community restoration project – $69,212

This project addresses degradation of sensitive littoral rainforest endangered ecological communities (EEC) of the Mid-Coast Council local-government area coastline. This degradation is a direct result of established and emerging invasive weed threats. The systems include the Blackhead/Redhead Headland and Diamond Beach Littoral Rainforest EEC. The target weeds include Weeds of National Significance (bitou bush, asparagus species, lantana, madeira vine) and other invasive weeds (mother of millions, passionfruit vine, Easter cassia, Brazilian nightshade and cape ivy).

Mid-Coast Council

Protecting and enhancing squirrel glider habitat in urban Forster – $92,800

This project aims to protect and enhance 53 hectares of core squirrel glider habitat in Forster, on the mid north coast of NSW. These urban bushland reserves support a genetically unique and geographically isolated population of squirrel gliders, and at least 5 other threatened animal species, 3 threatened plant species and 2 endangered ecological communities. The program will deliver strategic and targeted on-ground actions to mitigate key threats, such as weed invasion, predation and habitat degradation. A comprehensive community engagement program will supplement on-ground works with a vision to use the squirrel glider as a flagship species for forest conservation.

Mid-Western Regional Council

Putta Bucca wetlands extension – $89,250

This project involves the rehabilitation on a decommissioned landfill site and sewerage treatment plant outlet pond to extend Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve, an extremely valuable wetland located on the outskirts of Mudgee. The project will involve remediation of the outlet pond and installation of drainage, and revegetation with wetland and endangered ecological community vegetation. The project will also involve weed control, construction of a further one kilometre of walking track and installation of interpretative signs.

Murray Local Land Services

Habitat enhancement for threatened squirrel gliders in Burrumbuttock – $99,500

Squirrel gliders are classed as vulnerable in NSW due to habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. The loss of large old trees, which provide nesting hollows and important food resources, is of particular concern. Burrumbuttock Squirrel Gliders have been identified as a significant population for conservation. Murray Local Land Service is delivering the Burrumbuttock Squirrel Glider Local Area Management Plan (LAMP) in collaboration with agency and community partners, to secure the long-term viability of this population. This proposal adds value to the LAMP, aiming to enhance grassy box woodland habitat patches to improve suitability for squirrel gliders and other woodland fauna by installing nest boxes, planting and/or installation of tree guards to protect paddock trees, pruning and ecological thinning of historical revegetation sites and selective introduction of individual food resource trees to existing remnants or revegetation sites.

Murray Local Land Services

Protecting the riparian zones of the Edward-Wakool river system – $99,300

The project will work with local landholders, community groups and relevant government agencies to construct permanent stock proof fencing to protect and enhance the aquatic flora and riparian vegetation and in-stream habitat within the permanent creeks and rivers of the Edward-Wakool system. The long-term objective is to increase system bio-diversity and native fish populations. Site selection will be strategically planned to enhance continuity of riparian vegetation, build on past works and add-value to environmental watering of these streams. Land managers will commit to 10-year management agreements to secure long-term outcomes.

Northern Beaches Council

Restoring our coastal headland ecosystems – Stage 2 – $100,000

This project will increase, sustain and expand further on previous ecological restoration of 5 connected headland reserves that include 2 endangered ecological communities (EECs). Northern Beaches Council will apply assisted restoration and natural regeneration attention to the headlands’ bushland vegetation, particularly to Themeda Grassland EEC and Littoral Rainforest EEC which will effectively strengthen and bolster their respective distribution. These works will lessen the effects of fragmentation and link fragments to a major corridor. This project aims to restore additional areas and link those already under restoration from previous works funded by the Environmental Trust, and keep these iconic headland ecosystems healthy and viable, well into the future.

Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council

Keeping an eye on Ox-eye Daisy in South East NSW – $88,300

Ox-eye Daisy (OED) is a serious environmental weed in 40 countries worldwide. A major outbreak of this weed in Kosciuszko National Park recently has focused attention on OED in South East NSW, where isolated infestations have increased noticeably over the past few years. Because OED is a recognised ornamental plant, its weed status is not well known. However, massive seed production, high germination rates and an ability to establish in relatively pristine natural environments and quality pasture mark OED as a high risk weed. This project aims to:

• increase awareness of the risk posed by OED to threatened snow gum woodland and other native vegetation communities
• trial and promote effective control measures
• promote the concept of general biosecurity duty required under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015.

Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust

Western Sydney rainforest rescue – $99,500

The project will ensure the conservation of species diversity from the endangered Western Sydney Dry Rainforest (WSDR) through the establishment of an additional regional conservation reserve and management zone at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan. The project will build on existing naturally regenerating WSDR remnants with the collection and incorporation of regionally significant WSDR species from western Sydney which are currently under direct threat of African olive invasion. WSDR species are poorly understood and this project will draw on and contribute to scientific research into seed biology and propagation techniques for WSDR species. This project will combine the ecological management and rainforest plant expertise at the Australian PlantBank to assist the regeneration of these WSDR remnants to create a secure management zone/regional conservation reserve for this EEC where African olive is controlled, and provide a source of seed held at PlantBank for local restoration projects.

Sutherland Shire Council

Track closure and rehabilitation, Lucas Heights conservation area – $40,000

The track closure and rehabilitation project will close and rehabilitate 500 metres of 4WD track in the 100-hectare Lucas Heights conservation area. The track is heavily degraded through prior unauthorised use by 4WD vehicles and motorbikes. The track traverses the habitat of the Environmental Protection of Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 listed Deane’s Paperbark Melaleuca deanei and the closure and rehabilitation will see that threats to this species are reduced.

Sydney Opera House Trust

Rehabilitation of marine biodiversity at Bennelong Point – $86,442

The Opera House is a building inspired by the harbour setting and nature’s forms, functions and colour. The Opera House’s granite podiums reflect the rocky headlands of Sydney Harbour. Knowledge about the design of artificial headlands to promote and support marine biodiversity has progressed greatly since the building opened over 40 years ago. The Opera House, supported by the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney, will trial the installation of an underwater hanging fish reef underneath the site to rehabilitate marine biodiversity. This project will implement current research and contribute to the existing research base, improving marine habitat and increasing the number and species of fish around the Opera House. A key component of this project will be community education on the importance of healthy marine ecosystems, and key threats to marine biodiversity. This project is underpinned by the Opera House’s Environmental Sustainability Plan’s objective to enhance and connect to nature.

Western Local Land Services

Lower Darling River riparian rehabilitation: Tandou Station – $100,000

This funding has been withdrawn/declined.

Wingecarribee Shire Council

Three creeks (north bank) rehabilitation project – $100,000

The project will rehabilitate riparian land adjoining the northern side of Gibbergunyah Creek from the old Hume Highway past the Chinamans Creek confluence down to the Ironmines Creek confluence, and a small unnamed tributary. This riparian corridor is Crown waterway adjoining Mt Alexandra Reserve, which is Crown land under council’s care, control and management. Control of the woody weeds (privets and willows) and viny weeds (Japanese honeysuckle and English ivy) infesting the site will help reduce weed seed spread downstream into the Nattai River. The project will also seek to engage landholders adjoining the southern bank in complimentary rehabilitation works.

Wollongong City Council

Restoring the ecological integrity of Wollongong’s dune systems – $100,000

The project seeks to restore and enhance the dune vegetation of seven beaches in the Wollongong local government area. The project will involve management of invasive weeds and installation of native plants to rehabilitate an area of 10 hectares with the aim to restore the natural biodiversity zonation of these dunes and improve their ecological value. A volunteer DuneCare program will develop strong links in the community to improve the general public’s understanding of the role of dunes and vegetation in the coastal environment, and to contribute to the long-term on-going restoration of the dune environment, particularly with Surf Life Saving clubs.