Project summaries – community and government combined
Australian River Restoration Centre
Rivers of Carbon – Crookwell – $99,470
Rivers of Carbon – Crookwell, builds on the work of the successful large-scale Rivers of Carbon Program, a proven model that focuses on connecting and linking ongoing and new riparian rehabilitation sites with remnant vegetation to provide many ecological and social benefits. The region of Crookwell is a key area of connectivity in the southern tablelands. This project is being developed in response to a strong community desire to act. Project activities will include fencing and revegetating riparian areas, strategic small-scale erosion control works to improve water quality, and linking habitat to form contiguous wildlife corridors. The project will be carried out in partnership with Landcare and farmers.
Bangalow Koalas Inc
Bangalow koalas community wildlife corridor – East Coraki – $87,348
The project aims to enhance, protect, and conserve habitat for threatened species and ecological communities including the koala and the critically endangered Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia. The project seeks to strengthen connection between the community and wildlife by enhancing koala habitat/rainforest remnants in a wildlife corridor on floodplain connecting agricultural landscape, currently existing in a cleared matrix. Landholders and the broader community will be supported to restore habitat to benefit plant and animal communities, providing connectivity by creating stepping stones for koalas to move safely across farmland and supporting the existing koala population with an enhanced network of koala feed trees.
Bathurst Regional Council
Wetlands enhancement – Bathurst Brick Pits – $100,000
This project is the first stage of an innovative ecological project to enhance habitat for migratory and wetland birds at the Brick Pit Wetlands in Bathurst. Stage one of a multi-stage project will start with works to excavate a deeper, open-water habitat zone and revegetation, reinstating a significant site of wetland habitat in the Macquarie River floodplain, and improving habitat for migratory and threatened bird species that are already known to use the Brick Pit Wetlands in suitable conditions. This will be an important first step towards the creation of swampy meadow and shallow marsh zones to provide a greater diversity of habitats. Trust funds will be used to carry out the excavation works, conduct erosion and sediment and top-soil control works, and for planting of adjacent areas with native wetland species, as well as terrestrial species in the fringing vegetation areas. Community planting days will be held to assist with revegetation works and provide education on the benefits of wetlands.
Big Scrub Landcare
Restoring critically endangered Lowland subtropical rainforest – $100,000
This project will contribute to the long-term program to save endangered lowland subtropical rainforest from extinction. The 48 remnants of endangered lowland subtropical rainforest in the Big Scrub are part of the iconic rainforest area that was 99% cleared following European settlement. In this project, Big Scrub Landcare will start works on 19 sites containing two lowland rainforest endangered ecological communities.
A major long-term threat to the survival of these endangered rainforests is a lack of genetic diversity in many key species. The project will begin activities that work towards the establishment of a 4.5 hectare seed plantation area to produce genetically diverse seed of 23 key rainforest structural species to provide planting stock for restoration plantings. This work will start by enhancing soil fertility and quality before the planting of genetically diverse seed to support future restoration works.
Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare Network
Kyogle koala corridors – $98,732
This project will restore and increase connectivity of koala habitat areas across the north of the Kyogle Local Government Area and invigorate local communities to become proactive in supporting the recovery of threatened koala populations. Koala habitat rehabilitation activities will include weeding across 28 hectares, planting of 1000 koala food trees, and installation of fencing to protect sensitive koala habitat. Restoration and education activities will serve to lessen the impact from fire on the already dwindling state/national koala population. Landholders will be supported throughout the project to build the skills, knowledge and capacity to maintain works undertaken within the project and extend works into the future.
Central Tablelands Landcare Inc
Riparian restoration through revegetation – $98,836
This project will repair and restore up to five kilometres of riparian habitat in the Central Tablelands District through stock exclusion with fauna friendly fencing on up to 10 properties, and revegetation of 20 hectares with locally grown plants endemic to the region. The project will promote riparian management techniques through a series of directed workshops about water management, erosion control, landscape rehydration, weed and feral animal control, and revegetation techniques, resulting in connected habitats for biodiversity, and landscape health. The project will restore connectivity along riparian areas across the Central Tablelands Landcare District.
EnviTE
Restoring and connecting rainforest habitat in Wanganui Gorge Stage 2 – $100,000
Bush regenerators will assess, plan and implement ecological restoration works to restore critically endangered lowland rainforest at Wanganui Gorge in Nightcap National Park over the remaining 22 hectares in the northern section of the 78 hectares Gorge. Fires have burned through over 6300 hectares in the adjoining Nightcap National Park with spot fires in the Gorge. Assessment by a restoration ecologist will be undertaken with bush regeneration works implemented in line with an updated restoration plan to control dense lantana and other weeds. This will help regeneration of rainforest in place of weeds in habitat for 28 threatened species. Field days will showcase restoration works and develop community awareness and capacity.
Federal Landcare Group Incorporated
Restoring federal and hinterland koala habitats, corridors and waterways – $100,000
The project will restore 13.9 hectares of high conservation value subtropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest through assisted natural regeneration techniques. Works will improve habitat value for 16 threatened flora species, 15 threatened fauna species, one ecologically endangered community and in riparian zones along Stoney Creek and Wilson’s River. Nine village properties, eight hinterland properties, a council community park and a travelling stock reserve site will be regenerated. Strategic plantings and weed control will enhance and increase koala habitat and lowland subtropical rainforest sites. Weed control, strategic plantings and improved linkages will support conservation of the regionally significant federal koala population. A program of five workshops will engage and support the community in restoration efforts.
Fingal Head Coastcare Incorporated
Restoring and protecting Fingal Headland Themeda Grasslands and significant bird habitats – $79,962
Fingal Head Coastcare will work with Tweed Shire Council, the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council and the local community to restore and extend degraded Themeda Grasslands and enhance bird habitats on Fingal Headland. This critically endangered ecological community has been severely impacted by constant foot traffic of visitors. A detailed plan will be developed to guide the implementation of restoration and revegetation and installation of walking trails. The works will restrict foot traffic to the walking trails and the impacted areas will be revegetated with Themeda triandra and associated species. The project will raise community knowledge and awareness of Themeda Grasslands through participation in regeneration activities, interpretive signage and media coverage.
GLENRAC Inc
GLENRAC – protecting and enhancing biodiversity – $97,988
This project will increase the extent of native habitat through planting more than 19,000 native species trees and shrubs on 12 privately managed farming properties across the Glen Innes district. The 35 project sites will plant species known to be present in two threatened ecological communities:
- New England Peppermint grassy woodlands
- White box-Yellow Box-Blakely's red gum grassy woodlands.
These new plantings will assist in providing habitat for flora and fauna species in a fragmented landscape, featuring extensive areas of cleared land adjoining areas of National Reserve.
Goonengerry Landcare Group
Goonengerry Landcare Group Restoration and Rehabilitation Project 2020 – $93,852
This project will convert bushland dominated by lantana and camphor laurel into a diverse lowland subtropical rainforest. Project outcomes will include protecting, enhancing and expanding mapped wildlife corridors, improving instream water quality by reversing land degradation, and creating habitat for 48 local threatened species of plants and animals. Goonengerry Landcare will work with property owners to reduce the negative impacts of livestock in these fragile ecosystems, and encourage the uptake of regenerative farming activities, thereby acting as model sites for other landholders in the area.
Holbrook Landcare Network
Upper Murray Creek and Gully Woodlands – $95,987
The Upper Murray has a range of riparian woodland vegetation types. These include Broadleaf/Black Sallee along creek lines and swamps, River Red Gum next to the Murray River Corridor and some unique Snow Gum Woodlands in pockets in the Rosewood and Mannus area. Building on past projects, the Holbrook Landcare Network will encourage private landholders in the region to manage remnants and restore these vegetation types for conservation and protection of species using the high rainfall refuge, and work to maintain the water quality in the upper catchment. Activities will include fencing and revegetation to protect 30 hectares of riparian and adjacent areas for conservation purposes.
Hovells Creek Landcare Group Inc
Hovells Creek Catchment erosion control and habitat rehabilitation – $99,833
This project addresses active gully erosion in eight category one and two watercourses in the Hovells Creek/Lachlan River catchment which are contributing to catchment dehydration, higher rates of run-off, river siltation and poor water quality in the Lachlan River system. This erosion results in the death of paddock trees, loss of terrestrial habitat for rare and endangered species, siltation of deep creek/river holes, loss of riverine habitat and higher water treatment costs for downstream communities. To protect these important environmental assets, Hovells Landcare Group in collaboration with the NSW Soil Conservation Service and South East Local Land Services will carry out erosion control works on eight properties. Works will include fencing and revegetation through planting and direct seeding, systems to better manage water run-off and keep water in the landscape, and community education about the importance of managing erosion.
Mackellar Range Landcare Inc
Mackellar Range corridor restoration – $96,320
The Mackellar Ranges Landcare group will work with five landholders to enhance condition and connectivity across the Mackellar Range Corridor between Bungabee National Park and the Border Ranges National Park. This project will improve native vegetation condition and resilience and habitat for native fauna across 7.3 hectares through control of invasive weeds, assisted natural regeneration and implementation of ecological burning. The project will also build local awareness of the values of this regionally significant corridor and management methodologies in this landscape.
Macleay Landcare Network Inc
Building biodiversity outcomes into the Macleay Land for Wildlife program – $91,799
This project will provide support to help Land for Wildlife landholders in the Macleay valley achieve improved outcomes for biodiversity on their properties. It will focus on both environmental and social outcomes to build the program from a base of 53 existing Land for Wildlife properties. A comprehensive and structured program will integrate engagement, educational, planning, and on-ground support activities over two years. As a result, the project seeks to generate new participation, encourage networking, increase activity, and improve outcomes for Land for Wildlife members and the biodiversity assets on their properties. Project activities in 20 properties selected through an advertised an expression of interest process will include treatment of weeds and fencing and development of detailed site management plans for the protection of land for conservation purposes.
Mid Coast Council
Burgess Cape Hawke Seal Rocks Cliff Top Littoral Rainforest Restoration Project – $100,000
Exposed headland littoral rainforest stands comprise 36% of the 930 hectares of littoral rainforest mapped in the Mid Coast Local Government region. Key threats currently affecting exposed headland littoral rainforest include clearing of native vegetation, weed invasion, the effects of fragmentation and visitor disturbance. This project endeavours to tackle these threats, to minimise the disturbance to, or loss of exposed headland littoral rainforest due to predicted climate change and associate sea level rise. Activities will include planting, weed treatment, and community engagement to increase awareness of the importance of exposed headland littoral rainforest vegetation.
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Rehabilitation of Muscle Creek for community and environmental benefit – $73,766
This proposed project involves the restoration of a one hectare section of Muscle Creek. This work continues the work of Muswellbrook Shire Council and grant funding partners in restoring the Hunter River Redgum endangered ecological community, and involves measures such as the control and eradication of weeds, erosion control on steep banks and the establishment of native vegetation connectivity through native tree plantings. The project also involves increasing awareness within the community about the environmental and social benefits of restoring native habitat. This includes providing information about the environmental assets of Muscle Creek to a wide range of community members.
Mutawintji Board of Management
Mutawintji Country Repair: Paliirra Pantji, Paliirra Marnti – $99,400
'Paliirra Pantji, Paliirra Marnti' translates from Wiimpatja Parlku to English as 'good creeks and good soils'. This project will address soil erosion in part of Homestead Creek sub-catchment. Historic erosion has gullied out creeks, eroded floodplains, degraded riparian woodlands, harmed cultural and natural values, and damaged tracks. A range of light, medium and heavy erosion repair structures will be installed, including low porous barriers on slopes, porous log structures in the creek bed, a gully headwall control structure, and upgrading of a track that currently causes erosion of woodland. The environmental outcomes of this work will be to slow the movement of water and minimise erosion, rehydrate soils, encourage the growth of vegetation, improve biodiversity and repair ecological function.
Nangarin Landcare
Cumberland Plain Woodland Restoration Stage 2 – $27,700
A 6.52 hectare area of remnant Cumberland Plain Woodland provides an important wildlife corridor across the Nangarin Vineyard Estate at Picton. The sustainability of this unique and important ecosystem is threatened by lantana and many other invasive weeds. Restoration work commenced in 2016 as a two-stage project, with stage 1 (3.58 hectares) completed in 2018. This project will implement Stage 2 (2.94 hectares) of the original plan to rehabilitate and stabilise the steeper slopes by treating mature lantana and, if necessary, planting endemic grasses where short-term regeneration is unlikely. Project outcomes are jointly delivered by the Nangarin Landcare Team working closely with a specialist bush regeneration contractor.
North Coast Local Land Services
Rehabilitating Upper Richmond River riparian zones – $100,000
The project will expand on existing strategic initiatives to improve geomorphic and riparian vegetation condition in the Upper Richmond River catchment. By September 2022, and in conjunction with four local farmers and Landcare, the project will stabilise 1300 metres of eroded stream bank and rehabilitate approximately three hectares of riparian zone vegetation along the degraded, but recoverable Roseberry Creek and Richmond River, near Rukenvale, northern NSW. The project complements existing two and five-year projects aiming to improve water quality by reducing the amount of diffuse-source pollutants entering waterways.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services
Protecting the conservation values of travelling stock reserves in the Northern Tablelands – $97,600
The community values travelling stock reserves for their biodiversity, indigenous culture and recreational components. In the Northern Tablelands region, travelling stock reserves contain some of the last remaining bush remnants in a generally over-cleared landscape. They provide valuable wildlife refuges for threatened species such as the koala and regent honeyeater and contain endangered yellow box and ribbon gum communities. The project will involve re-establishing local native species in patch plantings which will act as stepping stones, controlling invasive woody weeds which are competing with native plants, and working with Aboriginal people to implement cultural burning, using fire as a land management tool.
Orana Joint Organisation of Councils
Creating homes for threatened species – $100,000
The world is currently facing a tree hollow crisis due to past and continuing land clearing. Within New South Wales alone, 40 listed threatened species need tree hollows for nesting and shelter, with many of these species continuing to decline in numbers. For our native hollow specialists, they cannot wait a century or more for hollows to form naturally. This project will utilise the best available, current science to create 500 chainsaw hollows in standing trees that are specifically tailored to the needs of threatened species, engage the community through tree planting events, and disseminate project results through scientific literature, chainsaw hollows guide booklet and a forum event.
Petaurus Education Group Inc
Continuing squirrel glider landscape connectivity work in the Burrumbuttock area – squirrel glider Local Area Management Plan – $100,000
The squirrel glider Land and Management Plan project is focused on securing a local landscape (within 10-kilometre radius of Burrumbuttock) that will support a long-term squirrel glider population. This project will double the current population by enhancing existing vegetation, connecting existing patches of currently fragmented habitat, and protecting hollow bearing trees. The majority of on-ground work occurs on local farms and this project continues to build on the community momentum of over 20 years of squirrel glider focused activities. Work will focus on an area with a 10-kilometre radius of Burrumbuttock and build on previous projects.
Shoalhaven Landcare Association
Restoring and enhancing ecological functioning in remnant vegetation in the Northern Shoalhaven – $97,221
The project will restore the ecological functioning of native vegetation remnants at 10 sites covering 28h hectares in the northern Shoalhaven, through an integrated program of weed control, training, flora and fauna monitoring, pest control and habitat enhancement. First, woody weeds will be removed from in and around these remnants, creating space to allow remnant vegetation to re-colonise the site, become competitive and increase the size of the remnant. All sites have active Landcare involvement. The project will train landowners and volunteers, monitor and enhance the ecological functioning of the remnants, undertake feral pest control and promote to other landowners.
Skillset Ltd
Rockley Mount koala corridors – connecting community through conservation – $100,000
Rockley Mount has been identified as supporting significant koala habitat, and has been earmarked as one of the most important climate change refugia in New South Wales for this species. Remnant vegetation on-site supports a breeding population of koala. Local landholders, environmental organisations and the wider community acknowledge the significance and current threats (roads, habitat fragmentation and predation) to this iconic species in the area. Through collaborative community engagement, this project will establish 5.4 kilometres of corridors and increase local knowledge and awareness, through planting more than 6000 trees, controlling targeted weed treatment, installing 2.1 kilometres of fencing, hosting five community field days involving several local schools, and installing three sets of koala road signs.
South East Local Land Services
Collaborating for effective feral pig management, Kybean – $99,500
This project will be the mechanism to understand the value of community collective action towards feral animal management for the protection of significant biodiversity values. The Kybean Valley, east of Cooma in New South Wales is an area where primary production and biodiversity conservation is managed hand in hand. It is an area where damage by feral pigs is a common challenge towards effective grazing and biodiversity conservation management alike. The project will assist private and public land managers understand the potential impact landscape scale feral pig control can have on local primary production and threatened species values. The project will investigate a range of methods to establish effective best practice for effective local management.
St Ives High School P and C
St Ives High School regeneration for Sydney Turpentine and Ironbark Forest – $14,456
The Sydney Turpentine and Ironbark forest is important to both the school and local community. Looking after this endangered ecological area for local fauna and flora is vital to the region since so much of it has been lost to land clearing. As it has been declared nationally as an endangered community, reducing weed infestation and degradation is extremely important. The school community and local council have a shared interest in looking after this remnant forest and to educate the local community of its importance. This can be achieved by collaborating with teaching staff, students and school community to care for and monitor its health. The area will be rehabilitated in joint action by professional contractors and the community for conservation.
Sutherland Shire Council
Protection and enhancement of endangered ecological communities and supporting habitat within the Woronora River Catchment – $36,090
Estuarine Saltmarsh and Estuarine Swamp Oak Forest endangered ecological communities in the Woronora River Catchment are under threat from invasive weeds. Ecological restoration activities and habitat enhancement works are needed in the riparian zones of Burnum Burnum Sanctuary along the Woronora River to reduce weed threats posed by exotic vines and scramblers such as balloon vine and moth vine, and buffalo grass, Asparagus aethiopicus, Lantana camara and ochna. Removal of these weeds will increase the available habitat of Estuarine Saltmarsh species, and improve the condition of fish habitat in Burnum Burnum Sanctuary and along the Woronora River. Project activities will include protective fencing of the area undergoing regeneration.
Threatened Species Conservancy
Harrow Wattle Recovery Program – $99,897
Harrow wattle (Acacia acanthoclada subsp. acanthoclada) is a threatened shrub, listed as Endangered under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The Threatened Species Conservancy will work with the support of the Mothers Ancestral Guardians Indigenous Corporation and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to establish the first herbivore-protected population of harrow wattle on public land managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Rick Farley Soil Conservation Reserve. Core activities include harrow wattle seed collection and storage; preparation of a harrow wattle translocation plan; installation of a 300m x 300m rabbit/goat/kangaroo proof exclusion zone to protect the area under management from predation; and establishment of a new harrow wattle population through direct seeding.
Tilligerry Community Association
Koala habitat improvement at Big Swan Bay – $76,000
The project will improve koala habitat over 50 hectares on the Tilligerry peninsula at Big Swan Bay. This significant patch of bushland forms part of Tilligerry State Conservation Area and is critical to the future of the local koala population. It contains old growth swamp mahogany trees, forms part of a greater wildlife corridor, and is the important release site for Port Stephens Koalas joeys. Patches of the site were subjected to sand mining and extraction and need rehabilitation. Tilligerry Landcare has the support of National Parks and Wildlife and adjacent landholders to control the invasive pine trees, lantana and exotic grasses and replant approximately 500 trees to restore this habitat.
Tweed Landcare Inc
Filling the biodiversity gaps connecting Tweed Coast to Border Ranges – Stage 6 – $100,000
This is Stage 6 of the very successful Filling Biodiversity Gaps connecting Tweed Coast to Border Ranges program which aims to improve and protect high conservation value vegetation to connect, expand and maintain habitat for the Tweed's diverse flora and fauna, including threatened species. Properties will be selected based on location within a mapped corridor and/or links to national parks estate and presence of threatened species and must have engaged and supportive landholders. Training and awareness activities will increase landholder’s skills and broader community understanding of the importance of landscape connectivity. The project will be delivered with the support of key partners including Tweed Shire Council and the Biodiversity Conservation Trust.
Upper Snowy Landcare Network
A demonstration site for land restoration on the Monaro – Phase 1: Replacing the dieback trees – $99,955
In this project, Upper Snowy Landcare Network will establish ways to speed up the rate of replacement of ribbon gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) recently lost to dieback across an area the size of the ACT. In replicated controlled experiments on public land with significant biodiversity and heritage value, a range of methodologies for enhancing natural regeneration and planting success will be trialled. Outcomes will be measured by tree establishment, survival and growth rates. Results will be disseminated to landholders via field days and a publication to promote scale-up of tree regeneration practices across the Monaro dieback zone.
Western Landcare NSW Inc
Seed collection/dispersal nurseries for Rangelands rehabilitation – $100,000
There are currently no seed nurseries or accessible seed collection sites in the rangelands area of far western NSW to support local conservation work. Local provenance seed is important biologically for native species in local landscape rehabilitation. This project will establish seed nurseries, fenced to protect them from predation, on properties in the Western Region involved with Ecosystem Management Understanding – broadscale rangelands rehabilitation and rehydration. These properties based around White Cliffs and Packsaddle incorporate several different landscapes, including habitat for the critically endangered thick-billed grass wren. Seed nurseries will be built so landholders may collect locally endemic seed to spread in areas of rehabilitation works – ponding and ripping or use them as a dispersal centre.
Western Local Land Services
Rangeland Restoration for Grey Range thick-billed grasswren – $99,750
This project will implement on-ground works to improve the known habitat of the Critically Endangered Grey Range thick-billed grasswren (north-west NSW subspecies Amytornis modestus obscurior). This grasswren has been identified in the national list of 20 species at greatest risk of extinction in the next 20 years. Western Local Land Services (LLS) will work with landholders and environmental experts to improve the condition of known grasswren habitat (chenopod shrublands). Complementary soil rehabilitation works will be used to aid the rehydration of the landscape, reduce soil erosion and aid natural regeneration of habitat. Total grazing pressure control fencing will also be a feature for this project.
Wilsons River Landcare Group Inc
Wilsons River Schools Riparian Education and Biodiversity Restoration Project – $100,000
Seven government and non-government organisations will work together to promote environmental awareness and restoration in seven supportive primary and secondary schools with riparian areas on the Wilsons River and tributaries in Lismore. Two programs will be run in each of the seven schools over three years, where staff and student groups take part in environmental activities on school grounds showcasing best practice ecological rehabilitation techniques. Activities will include walks and talks on ecology, bush regeneration and restoration, monitoring, koala and frog ecology, catchment health, and wildlife awareness. Central to the programs are the on-ground works to restore degraded riparian areas for schools to utilise outdoor classrooms and ecological restoration demonstration sites building community capacity.