Huge grant for local habitat restoration project
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and dedicated local volunteer groups have been awarded a $129,333 grant to continue habitat regeneration work in the Dunbogan-Crowdy Bay National Park habitat corridor.
NPWS Hastings Macleay Area Manager Shane Robinson said the habitat corridor had been impacted by the prolonged drought, and while record rainfall in the early part of this year helped to regenerate the landscape, it also boosted weed growth.
"This grant from the NSW Environmental Trust will enable local volunteer groups and contractors to continue the removal of exotic vines and scramblers, tobacco bush and other weeds that have proliferated through the corridor," said Mr Robinson.
"It'll also facilitate the planting of several thousand native tree seedlings across the Dunbogan peninsula, and in the Kylies Beach to Diamond Head area," said Mr Robinson.
Works will be undertaken by local contractors and volunteers from the National Parks Association, Dunbogan Bushcare and Friends of Kattang. NPWS will also continue to undertake a strategic program of weed control activities across Crowdy Bay National Park and Kattang Nature Reserve.
"It's been 42 years since the bush regeneration project began in Crowdy Bay National Park. Local volunteers put in more than 1000 hours of work each year and we're so grateful for their support," said Mr Robinson.
"Crowdy Bay National Park is home to some of the last remaining stands of littoral rainforest in New South Wales and provides valuable habitat for a range of threatened faunaspecies, including the Rose-crowned fruit dove and the Wompoo Fruit Dove.
"The positive impact the incredible volunteers have on these precious threatened species and ecological communities cannot be overstated," said Mr Robinson.
This is the third grant that the Dunbogan-Crowdy Bay project has received from the NSW Environmental Trust since 2007. Previous grants have funded the control of bitou bush and other invasive weeds in southern sections of Crowdy Bay National Park.
Individuals interested in contributing to habitat restoration in the Dunbogan-Crowdy Bay National Park habitat corridor through volunteering should contact Dunbogan Bushcare on 6559 7134 or Friends of Kattang on 0412 743 883.
The NSW Environmental Trust is an independent body chaired by the NSW Minister for Energy and Environment. It funds projects that enhance the environment, including community recycling centres, recycling innovations, environmental research and education and protection of culturally important places.
