Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation 2014 grants awarded and project summaries

Ashford Local Aboriginal Land Council

Save the Severn – $99,260

This project will improve land management on the Severn River in riparian zones to prevent degradation and improve productivity through education, awareness, rehabilitation and restoration works. The project will:

• protect the habitat of identified native animals and ecosystems such as platypus, koala and Murray cod within the Severn River through restoration and rehabilitation works to increase habitation by 20%
• remove and prevent weeds which will allow fish to swim freely, spawn successfully and allow easy access to native animals
• reduce feral animals including pigs and foxes by 20% in a 5-kilometre buffer zone of the Severn River through an eradication program to prevent native animals being used as prey and damage to the riparian zone.

Dog, pig and fox baiting forms part of a holistic eradication program. Forty pig traps and 20-plus baiting stations will be produced and distributed to land managers, who will report regularly to show strategic use of the traps. Other eradication methods will be developed in consultation with landholders and feral-animal specialists.

We expect that, through education and awareness, we will be able to see a significant decline in feral animal numbers.

Australian River Restoration Centre

Rivers of Carbon: upper Murrumbidgee River – $99,520

This project will revegetate a 6-kilometre-long riparian corridor through the Bumbalong Valley which, although it has been modified and impacted due to past land use, shows a high potential for recovery. This will link the high-quality reaches of the upper Murrumbidgee River known as Bredbo and Colinton Gorges (a known habitat of Murray cod, Macquarie perch and trout cod) to effectively establishing a 40-kilometre-long, connected corridor of high-quality riparian vegetation. This will in turn protect and enhance aquatic habitat and facilitate both aquatic and terrestrial species movement. Additionally, this project will protect, enhance and connect a small remnant of ribbon-gum floodplain woodland, which is made up of trees estimated to be about 400 years old. Using the successful Rivers of Carbon approach, this project will facilitate maximum community and stakeholder engagement to complete river restoration activities, as well as build community capacity to ensure maintenance of outcomes in the long term. The River of carbon approach incorporates scientific monitoring and assessment, which will measure the effectiveness of the works.

Ballina Coast Care Incorporated

Chickiba Wetland: WoNS control in coastal cypress EEC remnant – $19,822

Through employment of a skilled and experienced contractor supported by volunteer work, this project will see nearly the complete removal (99%) of dense, mixed stands of 3 weeds of national significance: ground asparagus (A. aethiopicus), madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) and climbing cactus (Opuntia sp.) as well as other environmental weeds. The weeds currently infest a small, rich, old-growth stand of an endangered ecological community (coastal cypress pine, Callitris columellaris) on the far north coast. Their removal will complete the last stage of connectivity of a continuous coast cypress, wetland and littoral rainforest fauna–flora corridor through the eastern section of the Allawah Bushland Reserve and the surrounding Chickiba Wetlands. This is a site of great heritage significance for the Bundjalung people of Ballina. The primary weed control will be undertaken in year 1 with follow-up of regrowth during the project’s second year. Volunteer coast carers (the East Ballina Landcare team) will help the project as required, and then continue managing the area after contract weed control is completed.

Bungonia Park Trust

Woodwards Creek rehabilitation for water quality and habitat repair – $100,000

This project will implement a rehabilitation plan, prepared by Soil Conservation Services, that aims to halt stream bed and bank erosion and create stable in-stream habitat that can support a range of aquatic organisms. This will be done by creating a more varied and complex habitat and re-introducing wood, for carbon, into the stream. These works will also halt further degradation, promote channel recovery and enhance the habitat values of adjacent native vegetation, currently identified as a priority for protection (potentially endangered ecological communities – Tablelands Grassy Box Gum Woodland) and vulnerable due to the erosion.

The works are designed to encourage in channel storage of sediment which will then be colonised by native vegetation. As channel water velocity is slowed and water quality improves, the increased, more stable, bio-physical habitat provided will be colonised from adjacent bio-diverse zones. Species will find a restored link in the riparian chain to the other creek elements and Bungonia National Park. More clean water will be stored within the system, supporting biota in and around the watercourse and improving the quality of water going into the Sydney catchment. The project will create a rehabilitation area accessible to the public for recreational activities such as bushwalking, birdwatching and enjoying the natural environment.

Centennial Parklands Foundation

Centennial Park Ponds: improving the wetland environment – $48,853

The Centennial Parklands Pond restoration program aims to minimise the impact of stormwater pollution, improve wetland habitat and improve water quality. Two ponds that need environmental improvement (One More Shot Pond and Musgrave Pond) have been selected to reduce the amount of organic-matter pollutants in the system and provide improved habitat (aquatic plants – macrophytes) to filter dissolved pollutants such as phosphorus in the water. We will release native fish into the ponds to increase biodiversity and attract more birds to the Parklands.

Centennial Parklands Foundation

For our flying friends: protecting grey-headed flying fox habitat – $37,111

This project will rehabilitate Lachlan Wetland and develop a management plan for heat events, making the wetland a sustainable habitat for the grey-headed flying fox, a threatened species. Rehabilitation of Lachlan Wetland as habitat for flying foxes will increase the wetland’s longevity and viability, and increase the survival rate and fecundity of this species even during extreme heat events, resulting in a boost in population. Rehabilitation work will include addressing known factors of ecosystem degradation such as erosion and disturbance, as well as fencing, weeding and new plantings. All these actions will increase the viability of Lachlan Wetland as a habitat for grey-headed flying foxes.

Central Tablelands Landcare Inc.

Stepping stones through our endangered grassy woodlands – $99,535

This project will create a series of stepping-stone corridor plantings to build links between on farm remnant endangered ecological communities (EEC) with vegetation on nearby reserves. A total area of 20 hectares of EEC will be revegetated, with each project site incorporating remnant trees as habitat and being planted with a range of local native species from the upper storey, mid storey and ground layer. Locations will be selected across these stepping-stone patches for the installation of 10 nesting boxes that will be designed to provide additional habitat for some of the local threatened animal species (e.g. superb parrot, squirrel glider or bent-wing bat). Another critical part of this project will be to raise the public profile and awareness of these EECs and threatened species within the district. This will be achieved through the running of a series of field days on topics ranging from local plant identification and seed collection and revegetation techniques to wildlife in our EECs and best-practice corridor planting designs. This educational component will reinforce the importance of habitat, not only for the integrity of the remnant patches of EECs, but also for the threatened native animal species.

Chalkies Landcare

Restoring Chalky Beach ecosystems and improving volunteer capacity – $68,090

Chalkies Landcare and Chalkies South Landcare groups will target weeds of national significance (including bitou, lantana and asparagus fern) to allow Chalky Beach dunal and headland communities to regenerate. Removing these transformer weeds will reduce competition and the weed seed bank, thus improving regeneration and resilience of native communities including remnants of Themeda Grassland and Littoral Rainforest endangered ecological communities. The project will build the capacity of the Landcare group through training and strategic assistance (in densely weeded and areas that require splatter-gun use) by a professional bush regeneration crew. The project will extend the corridor of regenerated native-plant communities achieved in neighbouring Illawong Park.

Citizens Wildlife Corridors Armidale Inc.

Quality koala corridors and questions – $96,004

This project will rehabilitate and revegetate 18 sites on 11 properties in or next to the Dangars Falls/Mt Duval/University of New England koala corridor east and north of Armidale on the Northern Tablelands. We will establish 11,290 seedlings, include species of koala-feed trees, and build a fence 5.51 kilometres long to manage a total 28 hectares of re-vegetated corridor links. Plantings will be formed in wide (25–50 metres) corridors and stepping stones (compact rectangular patches). We will undertake koala and bird surveys, and use infrared cameras survey for quolls and other wildlife on participating properties. We will also create a reader-friendly publication on survey findings, contribute to workshops at the Frog Dreaming Schools Conference, and run a workshop on managing rural lands to support koalas and other native animals.

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Conserving koala corridors: Sydney to the Southern Highlands – $83,575

This project aims to engage the community in a program of bush re-generation and citizen science surveys to: (a) raise awareness within the communities of Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee local government areas (LGAs) of the vulnerable status of the koala; and (b) improve the condition of known koala habitat through volunteer bush regeneration across 11 hectares of council-owned land within the 3 local-government areas. The bush-regeneration work will include:

• removing invasive weed species from known koala habitat and plant 3000 natives
• community koala-survey days linked to The Great Koala Count, adding to the body of knowledge on koala distribution
• collating information to inform the development of regional and local-government-area koala management plans
• linking community volunteers with ongoing council, Bushcare and citizen-science programs, to improve the longevity of the project outcomes.

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Restoration of migratory shorebird habitat – Hunter Wetlands NP – $97,800

The project will secure and expand healthy saltmarsh habitat. The project will reverse the decline in habitats for EPBC listed migratory birds (17 species listed on the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995), Ramsar wetlands and state- and Commonwealth-listed endangered ecological communities. Primary aim of the works will be to:

• target weeds impacting saltmarsh – primarily Juncus acutus but also Baccharis halimifolia and Cortaderia selloana. Treat 3,800 hectares of the Hunter Wetlands National Park, treating 95% of targeted weeds over 2 years
• remove mangroves (Avicennia marina and Aegiceras corniculatum) encroaching on saltmarsh and key migratory bird habitat. The ongoing program will support Hunter Bird Observers Club and NPWS current mangrove program for annual seedling removal program.
• maintain engagement of Indigenous land management team
• engage the community through developed programs – for example, CVA Better Earth.

EnviTE Inc.

Bega Valley coastal habitats restoration and educational walking track – $100,000

The project aims to undertake 30 hectares of environmental weed control including 40 hectares of lantana control, 20 hectares of blackberry control and 2 hectares of bridal creeper/exotic grass control. Professional bush regenerators will assess the project area and develop an ecological restoration plan for the Coastal Walking track area. Supplemental planting of 2,000 plants is proposed in areas where regeneration is unlikely to occur. Four workshops will be delivered on plant identification (native and weed), weed control using best practice techniques and introduction to bush-regeneration techniques levels 1 and 2. During development of the restoration plan, identification of the key threat areas and consultation with stakeholders will determine suitable locations for interpretative signage. Preparation of the signage will be done in collaboration with stakeholders including members of the local Aboriginal community, identifying key values, describing threats to biodiversity and educating the community about how to reduce threats and enhance biodiversity values by behavioural change. This work will complement the recent coastal weeds program that reduced weed infestations of beach weeds within the shire and concentrate on adjacent estuary foreshores, estuary wetlands and hind dune forest.

EnviTE Inc.

Community based emu conservation in the Bungawalbin catchment – $100,000

Ecological restoration works across private and public land in the Bungawalbin will improve the condition and connectivity of emu habitat. Old fences no longer required are restricting emu movement and will be taken down. Implementation of strategies and priority actions for the recovery of emus will reduce identified threats and contribute to recovery of the emu on the NSW North Coast. Three of the private properties providing emu habitat are protected by Nature Conservation Trust of NSW conservation agreements. These properties have high conservation value vegetation communities providing habitat for other threatened species which will also be enhanced through the project. Bogal Local Aboriginal Land Council will be engaged in the project through monitoring programs and training related to the project.

Specialist contractors will be engaged to control dogs/foxes/pigs to reduce predation on eggs and chicks. Landowners will also be supported to undertake Local Land Services accredited VPIT training and to survey for emus, feral pigs and wild dogs through remote camera trapping. To enhance emu conservation, the project will interface with a number of multi-stakeholder groups such as the Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium and Bungawalbin Feral Pig Management Committee.

EnviTE Inc.

Partnership coastal habitat restoration at Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve – $100,000

Coastal ecosystems covering over 105 hectares in Bundjalung National Parks and Iluka Nature Reserve (including World Heritage listed littoral rainforest) will be restored through a partnership between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Bundjalung native title holders, Iluka Landcare and Dunecare Group and EnviTE Environment. NSW NPWS has already achieved control of major bitou bush infestations (to less than 1%) and Iluka Landcare and Dunecare Group is actively managing designated areas. EnviTE Environment has been restoring sites near Iluka with support from the Biodiversity Fund. This project will connect and extend restoration work implemented to date. It will include:

• controlling weeds, such as coastal morning glory, that have invaded following aerial spraying of bitou bush
• implementing recovery actions for threatened species
• providing mentoring and training in restoration to Bundjalung bush regenerators in northern areas
• working alongside Iluka Landcare and Dunecare Group in southern areas.

The project will achieve improvements to condition and connectivity of native vegetation communities. It will develop Bundjalung people and Landcare volunteer capacity to restore and maintain ecosystem health and increase community awareness of coastal restoration.

Grassy Head Dune Care

Rehabilitating significant coastal vegetation at Grassy Head – $93,280

The project aims to rehabilitate 3 endangered ecological communities (EEC) and State Environmental Planning Policy 14 (SEPP 14) coastal wetland vegetation in previously untreated areas through strategic weed control so that local volunteer groups can maintain the sites. We will remove bitou bush, lantana (both weeds of national significance), vine weeds (a key threatening process) torpedo grass, coral trees and asparagus vine from littoral rainforest, swamp oak forest and wetlands. Invasive weeds will be removed from Themeda Grasslands EEC. Gaps in vegetation will be filled with seedlings of local provenance raised by volunteers at the Grassy Head Nursery. Signs at beach access points will inform the local community and visitors of the special management requirements of the local vegetation; we will also launch Themeda Grassland identification book at a field day. The project will be showcased at four Landcare events. Vehicular access to the back beaches will be formalised to protect regenerating dune vegetation. The project will revise the existing management plan and extend its scope to include SEPP 14 and EEC vegetation. The project will result in a local community and a group of stakeholders who are actively involved in rehabilitating coastal vegetation, and who will be able to continue to do so long after the project funding ends.

Greening Australia – National Office

Revegetating threatened Riverina Sandhill woodland communities – $100,000

We can deliver on-ground work and secure community engagement. We have identified 4 actions that will use these capacities to bring positive change:

• address critical shortages of seed needed for revegetation. With diminished native seed reserves in situ there is no other option other than to reintroduce endemic species and rebuild seed reserves
• test a range of revegetation techniques on a combined 120 hectares of Sandhill Pine Woodland that will: (a) restore elementary components of Sandhill Pine Woodland structure, diversity and function; and (b) offer landholders effective management options by which they too can revegetate and stabilise their sandhills
• leverage capacity and expertise across research, land users and revegetation practitioners, building partnerships to challenge traditional technical, practical, cultural and economic thinking around revegetation for sandhill application
• deliver 3 field days and produce a revegetation guide factsheet to increase knowledge and skill in direct seeding, pest animal control and weed management practices.

Hastings Landcare Inc.

Post-fire recovery and gaps littoral rainforests: Dunbogan to Crowdy – $97,660

Hastings Landcare’s project aims to achieve:

• control of bitou bush along 13 kilometres of coastline (site 1, Kylies Beach)
• removal of post-fire flush of bitou bush seedlings (site 1, Kylies Beach)
• mapping and control of any other priority weed species identified within the fire area (there is currently no other significant weed infestation in the fire area of site 1)
• regeneration of 8 hectares of littoral rainforest (site 2, Dunbogan Rainforest)
• having the coastal corridor and community conservation initiative between Dunbogan and Crowdy Head adequately resourced for strategic post-fire control of weed species
• a resilient coastal corridor, with weed infestation managed to a point that there is no significant threat to natural ecosystem function or regeneration.

Hat Head Dune Care

Managing vegetation interface of Crown and private land (Hat Head) – $98,024

This collaborative partnership focuses on restoring degraded endangered ecological communities (EECs) by managing the interface between private property and recreation land and healthy bushland. Results from 10 monitoring sites in previously treated EECs to south of village show a 90% reduction in bitou bush and lantana and prolific recruitment of natives. This is a direct result of grant funding to employ bush regenerators and support volunteers. Following these successes, the monitoring program has been expanded to include 7 new sites in littoral rainforest remnants in the dunes and freshwater wetlands and saltmarsh to the north of the village. Here we hope to achieve a 90% reduction in bitou bush and lantana (and stop the spread of gloriosa, ipomea and asparagus into previously treated areas) on 125 hectares of publicly managed land on the interface between private property, the recreational zone and the bush. We will engage with residents and holiday-makers to actively manage that interface. We hope to grow an attitude of stewardship and pride for the biocentric value of the bush within the community. We will re-design village fire-control strategies to avoid impacts on saltmarsh and reduce risk to fire fighters. Extended work will be carried out by NPWS, council and Dunecare by continuing to implement the Korogoro Creek Estuary Management Plan.

Molongolo Catchment Group Inc.

Stringybark to Environa landcape link for small bush birds – $38,553

This project is part of a strategy to connect the Murrumbidgee to the Molonglo ridges in a belt extending from the escarpment east of Queanbeyan River and Googong in NSW to the Murrumbidgee south of Tharwa in the ACT. The targeted section for this project is the one with the least native vegetation cover, the area between Jerrabomberra and Tralee Hills in NSW. The goal for this section of the overall strategy is to fence out and restore a key 14.7-hectare patch of remnant woodland (Jasper’s Gorge) on the property Environa (centre of the targeted area) and to build local community ownership of the link in Jerrabomberra, particularly for the neighbourhood Queanbeyan City Council reserve land at the eastern end of the link. Jasper’s Gorge has good condition overstorey and the removal of grazing, along with weed management, will allow this area to re-establish mid and understorey plants to create a key habitat patch that is large enough for small birds to establish a home range and which will improve general connectivity across the region.

Nature Conservation Trust of NSW

Restoring threatened species habitats and corridors in the Tweed – $100,000

In a partnership between the Nature Conservation Trust (NCT) and landholders, professional bush regenerators will restore and enhance threatened species habitat and lowland rainforest endangered ecological communities on three properties protected by NCT Trust Agreements and adjoining NPWS estate in Mt Jerusalem National Park. At Limpinwood lowland rainforest, riparian forest and endangered flora are impacted by woody weeds. At Tyalgum, weeds are a problem for threatened flora and fauna, key habitat and the wildlife corridor. At Main Arm, old-growth eucalypt forest supporting threatened flora and fauna has an area of lantana that has arisen on a landslip. All landholders are committed to biodiversity conservation and site maintenance. The project will engage the broader community through training and field day events. School children will undertake environmental education activities related to threatened species and biodiversity conservation: they will learn about birds and weeds, and help to restore a riverbank. We will showcase project achievements and demonstrate restoration techniques at field days, developing skills and knowledge. We will also promote the project by developing a poster and having regular articles run in the Tweed Landcare Newsletter and local media.

Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium

Protecting the high ecological and cultural values of Busby’s Flat – $99,475

The aim of the project is to protect and enhance the ecological and cultural significance of four sites by undertaking on-ground bush regeneration work, planning and implementing appropriate fire management and community capacity building. Weed control will target cat’s claw creeper and lantana along 4.5 kilometres of creek to protect the habitat of threatened species such as the giant barred frog. Fire management planning, weed control and mosaic patch burning will be undertaken in 43 hectares to protect the habitat of threatened species such as yellow-bellied gliders and koalas from an intense wildfire and the threat of bell-miner-associated dieback (BMAD), a key threatening process. The desired outcomes are the recovery of 52 hectares of high conservation value native vegetation including the protection and enhancement of 10 threatened species and 3 endangered ecological communities. The reduction in the extent, density and number of environmental weed species, including Weeds of National Significance will be achieved. The risk of a wildfire and BMAD on ecological and cultural values is reduced. Land managers will be up-skilled in the tools and techniques of bush regeneration, monitoring and planning and implementing appropriate fire management for biodiversity.

Pikapene and Cherry Tree Environment Centre

Lower Dulgiggin Creek restoration – $5,500

The project aims to minimise and eradicate in some areas the rapid escalation of weed growth, preventing and reducing further environmental degradation within the riparian zone. Ongoing weed management and assisted natural regeneration will improve the stabilisation of the creek's banks. The eradication of a number of Weeds of National Significance will help ameliorate the area for fauna reliant on that section of the creek. Through field days, working bees and workshops, volunteers and land managers will be provided with training and skills to enable them to continue to expand the work on their properties, and on creeks and riparian zones in the Mid-Clarence that are affected by heavy weed invasion. It is envisaged that through this project the community will develop a greater awareness of why there is a need to continue and maintain weed eradication and learn through training and upskilling volunteers the necessary skills for the ongoing work.

Riverhaven Reserve and Farrer Place Bushcare

Enhancing the Coastal Saltmarsh and SOFF of Coronation Bay – $10,000

The proposed project will reduce the negative impacts of aggressive environmental weed species and enable the natural regeneration of coastal saltmarsh and swamp oak floodplain forest. The proposed works will:

• enhance existing stands of both endangered ecological communities by creating buffer zones through fencing and planting
• increase awareness of, and participation in Bushcare in Oyster Bay, specifically Coronation Bay
• increase and improve available habitat for the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), which is listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

South West Rocks (SWR) Community Dune Care Group

Restoration of two fragmented littoral rainforest communities at South West Rocks – $99,450

The aim of this 40-hectare weed-management project is to achieve the consolidation of 2 fragmented littoral rainforest communities, create weed-free buffers for long-term resilience and additionally stabilise 20 years of bush regeneration across a 13.6-kilometre corridor at South West Rocks. It will generate increased native plant diversity and canopy cover through natural regeneration, and so improve habitat for native animals. The project will generate increased community engagement and knowledge of environmental issues by using signs and educational resources, and strengthen ties with the local Indigenous population.

Tweed Landcare

Filling the biodiversity gaps connecting Tweed Coast to Border Ranges – $99,750

The longer-term vision is to achieve connectivity of good condition vegetation corridors linking from the Tweed Coast via the coastal National Parks and Nature Reserves through to the Border Ranges and escarpment National Parks and Nature Reserves. The linkages will provide habitat and movement corridors for a range of flora and fauna including threatened species and communities. The project has to date been highly successful in identifying private and public property to ‘fill in the gaps’. Like a jigsaw puzzle the pieces are being put into place to achieve this outcome. By using the mapping of the NCLLS projects combined with Tweed Shire Council, Landcare and other stakeholder projects enables the identification of target properties. The inclusion of five additional properties within the gaps will improve the critical corridor link by connecting the high biodiversity areas of Tweed Shire. The management of these properties will enhance the habitat of native flora and fauna including many threatened species. Landholders will improve their skills in managing native vegetation and controlling invasive plants on their properties. The restoration of the native vegetation communities will reduce further degradation and improve flora and fauna habitat value and connectivity.

Tweed Landcare

Mid Oxley River riparian restoration and connectivity, stage 1 – $99,650

The primary aim of the project is to improve the condition of native vegetation within the riparian corridor (that is, within 20 metres of the top of the riverbank). The objectives are to:

• control Weeds of National Significance and other invasive woody weeds which are damaging established native riparian vegetation and preventing recruitment of native species within remnant pockets of lowland subtropical rainforest on floodplain, an endangered ecological community
• undertake strategic plantings to stabilise eroding riparian areas; improve the habitat values on the riparian corridor; and expand and connect pockets of remnant rainforest vegetation
• educate local landowners, inform them of ecological values and processes and build community capacity to recognise and deal with threatening invasive species.

Upper Molong Creek Landcare Group

Riparian restoration of Upper Molong Creek, stage 2 – $55,250

This project involves the restoration and rehabilitation of a highly degraded length of the Upper Molong Creek in the NSW Central Tablelands located between 2 previously rehabilitated riparian zones. A total of 14 sites over 12 adjacent properties connecting 4,400 metres of creek frontage have been targeted for the systematic removal of Salix fragilis: this will be followed by the replanting of endemic plants and monitoring and eradication of willow regrowth. Stage 2 of the project will see 1,275 metres of crack willow cleared from the remaining willow-infested section followed, by rehabilitation and revegetation of a total of 3,275 metres of willow-cleared riparian zone. These initiatives are designed to improve water quality and aquatic habitat, increase water quantity and flow, provide greater erosion control, and re-establish an important wildlife corridor.

WetlandCare Australia

Restoring connected protected koala habitat and wetland – Cudgen Lake – $99,875

This project will create an another 2 hectares of core habitat for a regionally significant koala population protected within Cudgen Nature Reserve. Urban impacts will be remediated in 10 hectares of degraded swamp forest. Previously cleared areas within the reserve will be revegetated with a high proportion of koala food trees linking fragmented areas of existing remnant and recently revegetated habitat together and enhancing over 75 hectares of koala habitat. This project builds on previous successful revegetation of one hectare, and will continue effective partnerships between WetlandCare Australia, NPWS, Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve and Tweed Shire Council. The surrounding community will be engaged in on-ground works and education to minimise threats to the Cudgen koala population outside of the Reserve and the Cudgen Lake wetland complex.

WetlandCare Australia

Protecting and enhancing critical wetland EECs, Nambucca Estuary – $99,407

The project focuses on enhancing and protecting endangered ecological communities, wetland habitats across key sites in the lower Nambucca River catchment. Works will also restore and protect critical habitat for threatened species, including the endangered black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) and vulnerable brolga (Grus rubicunda) by implementing wetland rehabilitation works across a 1000-hectare connected landscape. On-ground works will centre on 3 kilometres of protective fencing, sustainable land management (including management of acid-sulphate soils and erosion), and 16 hectares of weed control (focusing on Weeds of National Significance: lantana, water hyacinth and salvinia). The project will build on existing partnerships with landholders and stakeholders. On-ground works will be strongly supported by extensive landholder capacity building, property planning and training activities. The project will focus on priority targets identified in the Saving Our Species threatened-species management actions and the Nambucca Estuary Management Plan, and on activities identified through extensive hydrology modelling and monitoring of acid discharge from soils.

Bathurst Regional Council

Rehabilitation of Sawpit Creek – $67,970

This project will stabilise and rehabilitate the lower reach of Sawpit Creek through the installation of an in-stream rock structure. It will improve fish habitat in Sawpit Creek by reducing sediment mobilisation from erosion, enhancing fish passage across Ophir Road and by improving in-stream and riparian vegetation in the lower Sawpit Creek catchment and the adjacent Macquarie River floodplain. The project will restore Casuarina Gallery Forest across 1.9 hectares of riparian land, enhancing habitat quality for a range of native fauna.

Coffs Harbour City Council

Roberts Hill koala corridor restoration – $91,250

When complete, this project will provide an additional 45,000 square metres of mapped primary koala habitat, and improve the ecological resilience of a further 190,000 square metres. As well as improving habitat values and long-term corridor linkages between the ranges and the coastal catchments for koalas, the works will benefit a range of other threatened species including arboreal mammals, flying foxes and micro bats. The targeted media campaign, community workshops, spotlighting evenings and the targeted school-based koala education program will raise community awareness of local issues facing koalas. This program aims to change community perception of the threats experienced by koalas in the coastal and urban environments. It will address the use of reserves, dog management, driving during hours of koala activity, and planting resources. Involving the community in workshops and on-ground activities will build community capacity and a sense of ownership of the reserves.

CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship

Community-based biological control program for crofton weed in NSW – $99,535

The project will enhance biological control of crofton weed through large-scale releases of a new highly host-specific agent – the rust fungus Baeodromus eupatorii (ex Mexico). The fungus attacks young leaves and stems of crofton weed and has great potential to reduce competitiveness, reproduction and spread of the weed. Partnership with the community will enable a large number of releases to be performed across crofton weed range in NSW. Natural spread of the fungus will ensure biocontrol is self-sustaining beyond the project and contributes to mitigating the threat that crofton weed poses to endemic flora in eastern NSW.

Eurobodalla Shire Council

Removing threats and improving resilience of Eurobodalla dunes – $99,981

This project will result in greater biodiversity, value and resilience in coast foredune scrub as a result of removal of invasive species and replacement with native vegetation. The mapping will allow for a strategic targeted approach to be developed for controlling and eradicating the isolated weed populations. Chances of natural regeneration of native species will be assessed and where necessary, sites will be revegetated with species that would have occurred before disturbance. Engagement of volunteer community groups, Local Aboriginal Land Council work crews and professional bush regeneration contractors will be sought and closely monitored to carry out on-ground weed control and revegetation. Progress will be monitored with botanical quadrats, incorporating photo points. Success will be measured by the above ground eradication of the targeted invasive species from Eurobodalla dunes and a more resilient natural dune system.

Great Lakes Council

Managing grassy headlands and littoral rainforest at Cellito Beach – $79,850

This program will draw on the expertise of 3 agencies – Great Lakes Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Rural Fire Service – and form a collaboration between them. The project will also engage the Forster Local Aboriginal Land Council in cultural management issues. The project aims to:

• develop a comprehensive bushfire management plan for Bald Head and implement a controlled ecological burn at the site together with comprehensive vegetation monitoring to establish the effect of fire on the endangered ecological community
• draft an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Plan to complement the Bushfire Management Plan
• engage Worimi people in the restoration and cultural management of the area
• monitor the effect of fire on the ecosystem and develop basic protocol on use of fire on headlands for ecological and cultural purposes in the Great Lakes Area
• regenerate adjacent rainforest to enhance biodiversity and resilience and reduce the threat of re-invasion of the headland from this area.

Greater Taree City Council

Dawson River coastal wetland rehabilitation project, Taree – $52,103

We will undertake weed-control works to promote the re-establishment of understorey native species to improve forest structural and ecological condition. Suitable native plant species will be planted where required, around the edges of the forest adjoining the Taree recreation grounds. Damage from foot traffic is to be controlled by establishing a walking trail through parts of the forest, permitting a greater appreciation for the urban fringing forest by the community. Project success will be the rehabilitation of 18 hectares of low-lying coastal wetland, swamp oak forest and saltmarsh to reduce the damaging impacts of invasive weed infestations and uncontrolled foot traffic through the site.

Hurstville City Council

Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands: bank restoration – $83,270

Lime Kiln Bay Wetland restoration works will involve engineering works to reinforce the creek banks feeding into the wetland. The works will help improve environmental outcomes for 2 endangered ecological communities (EEC) that form part of the wetland. The EECs are: Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains (0.4 hectares) and Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest (approximately one hectare). They are both downstream of the proposed work area. Another Sydney Management Catchment Authority vegetation data map shows these EECs as S_FrW06 Estuarine Reedland and S_FW03 Coastal Freshwater Reedland. The improved channels and embankments will more effectively deliver the stormwater through the treatment train (sediment ponds and constructed wetland) to ensure that the system can function optimally and deliver positive results for the local biodiversity and the Georges River downstream. Water-quality improvements will include increased dissolved oxygen, reduced nutrients and reduced suspended solids. Increased community awareness of local environmental issues and how the wetland functions is also an aim of the project.

Inverell Shire Council

Controlling cat’s claw creeper in the Dumaresq Catchment NSW – $34,930

This project will control cat’s claw creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati) along a 165-kilometre section of the Dumaresq River (420 hectares treated), which forms the NSW–Queensland state border. Due to the location of the infestation, cross-border collaboration is critical to addressing the issue. The project will establish a partnership with Queensland Murray Darling Commission (QMDC) and Inglewood–Texas Landcare Association, to ensure both sides of the river will be treated for cat’s claw creeper. Both have confirmed funding sources for on-ground control of the species on the Queensland side of the river, providing significant leverage for the project.

The project will build upon significant foundations for the project, including a QMDC commissioned aerial survey of the infestation, and eliminate constraints mentioned above. This will be achieved through securing project management agreements with 18 landholders to participate in the collaborative project: the agreements will oblige each landholder to co-fund the control of cat’s claw creeper. Landholder skills in monitoring and controlling this Weed of National Significance (WONS) will be addressed by distributing existing WONS and NSW Department of Primary Industries resources and hosting an awareness event with 24 landholders.

Kyogle Council

Kyogle fish habitat rehabilitation fish passage – $100,000

Council aim to improve access to existing high-quality fish habitat in the Richmond River Catchment. The proposed alteration to the weir incorporates both substantially lowering the weir height and installing a rock ramp fishway on the remaining lower barrier. These actions undertaken with appropriate and effective mitigation measures positively and permanently addresses key instream obstructions and other mechanisms that alter natural flow regimes of rivers and streams prohibiting access for migrating fish. Artificial barriers are a specific identified threat to the eastern freshwater cod (EFC). The proposal therefore is expected to have a positive impact upon the viability of any local population of this species, as well as the purple spotted gudgeon. Lowering the existing weir reduces the extent of the weir pool a habitat not considered favourable to native fish species. The action to improve fish passage at the weir makes available considerable sections of upstream habitat. Substantially reducing the impact of the weir barrier addresses a key threatening structure identified within the EFC recovery plan and as such is considered to contribute to an improvement in the long-term survival of the species.

Maitland City Council

Weed control within an historical cemetery and quarry in Maitland – $29,750

Under this project, we will eradicate weeds of ecological and cultural threat to this site (the main three being African olive, cat’s claw creeper and lantana) from the quarry precinct. This will leave more open space, sunlight and moisture to support the natural regeneration of the threatened ecological community. These weeds will also be removed from the cemetery boundaries to prevent further incursions. Some appropriate revegetation will then take place in the quarry to return species that are currently missing from this native ecosystem. As well as removing the threat posed to the ecosystem, cemetery monuments and surrounding landscape, the weed control will improve the scenic rural views from the site, enhancing its social value and contributing to broader community appeal.

Murray Local Land Services

Restoring biodiversity assets for connectivity: TSR in the Slopes to Summit area – $89,900

The Murray Local Land Services project aims to:

• select target travelling stock routes (TSR) by scoring the following criteria: presence of threatened species/ecosystems, linkages to other connectivity projects/protected areas (e.g. Slopes to Summit Bushlinks sites, covenanted properties, or sites under a Property Vegetation Plan), listed for relinquishment (i.e. no longer used for stock), identified as a key biodiversity asset in the NSW Murray Biodiversity Management Plan and/or are in a S2S priority area
• assess the extent of weed infestations on these TSR, to direct strategic on-ground weed control and allocate funds to sites where the greatest gains will be made
• manage environmental weeds on target TSR, to improve the condition of these stepping stones for connectivity and general biodiversity in the S2S area
• raise awareness of the value of TSR among the community, and build awareness of native vegetation and biodiversity in the S2S Albury Priority Area, through field days/workshops at key TSR.

Nambucca Shire Council

Coastal habitat management for endangered population at Scotts Head – $86,106

Council’s project will see the protection of 2 species of endangered communities, one of which is the only known population of Glycine clandestina (broad leaf form) through the creation of a section of weed-free bushland corridor from Scotts Head to Grassy Head to the south. This project ties in with the existing weed-management programs in Nambucca Shire and Kempsey Shire in the south, which will see a weed-free coastline corridor from ‘border to border’ (Grassy Head to Valla Beach).

Newcastle City Council

Reconnecting and restoring Ironbark Creek corridor – $99,850

This project will implement Stage 4 riparian rehabilitation plans, whereby council will deliver (in-kind) at least 275 metres of civil works to rebuild a natural, stable and attractive urban creek line. Funding will allow restoration of the habitat degradation and fragmentation by delivering at least 7150 square metres of weed control, bush regeneration to support existing native vegetation and restore the site by planting 42,650 additional endemic species across the riparian zone. This will be achieved through:

• mimicking vegetation structures found in reaches of similar fluvial geomorphology and floristic assemblage
• restoring landscape permeability along the riparian corridor for a variety of species, including threatened and migratory species
• promoting stewardship of the renewed riparian corridor and local creeks, through proven cultural and environmental education activities
• encouraging residents to prevent stormwater pollution and get practically involved in ongoing rehabilitation, building support for council’s ongoing investments in environmental rehabilitation and landcare and maintenance.

Capacity-building events will be held to expand the council’s own foundation to manage these sites and local Landcare participation in monitoring and maintenance.

The project will enable this award-winning team to work with regional partners to share tools and knowledge with other councils.

North Coast Local Land Services

Beating Byron’s bitou bush: stage 3 extension of a NNCZ – $100,000

This project will achieve:

• development of a project delivery plan to guide the immediate extension of the National Northern Containment Zone (NNCZ) into Byron Shire and then further south to an aspirational (10-year vision) boundary of the Clarence River
• reduction of bitou bush across 377 hectares of land across 4 tenures in Byron Shire (Stage 3)
• a total of 377 hectares of coastal vegetation enhanced and rehabilitated and the recovery of several threatened species, populations and ecological communities
• actions from 6 strategies implemented and new and existing partnerships strengthened
• containment and extension of the bitou bush NNCZ by an additional 20 kilometres (Stage 3)
• commencement of procedures and risk assessment to support the reclassification of bitou bush as a Class 3 weed in Byron Shire.

Office of Environment and Heritage

Historic precinct and EEF headland rehabilitation – $95,000

The project will control Weeds of National Significance (WONS) and protect habitat of threatened species and 2 endangered ecological communities (EECs) through:

• developing long-term, site-specific, cross-tenure management plans that will address weeds threats, prevent the spread of significant weed sources and reduce the range and density of weeds, including WONS that are impacting high conservation and biodiversity values. This will protect, enhance and restore the condition of the Myall Lakes National Park and neighbouring properties which contain Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Headland EECs
• restoring a natural and cultural landscape within the historic precinct of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
• building capacity within the community and neighbours to protect and enhance native vegetation, and to reduce impacts from invasive weeds species and unsuitable recreational activities
• providing opportunities through the Great Lakes Aboriginal Partners Group for Aboriginal people to care for country by undertaking mentoring, training and employment programs to restore native vegetation.

Office of Environment and Heritage

Everlasting swamp wetland restoration, Lawrence, North Coast NSW – $99,500

Natural hydrologic processes and fish passage will be restored to the last remnant natural area which occurs in Teal Lagoon. Teal Lagoon comprises approximately 38 hectares of the 2170-hectare Everlasting Swamp and is the logical starting point for restoration. The works will include restoration of a 3-kilometre-long tidal channel in the Sportsmans Creek estuary to allow re-flooding of the lagoon. This will be achieved by carrying out earthworks to restore hydraulic channels and manage inundation extent and duration through the manipulation of drainage infrastructure and pathways. The rehabilitated wetland will provide valuable habitat for a range of flora, fauna and fish species (including breeding habitat for prawns and finfish) and improve sustainability of recreational and commercial fishing in the Clarence River. Site restoration will provide long term and reliable habitat for iconic threatened species (black-necked stork, comb-crested jacana and brolga), and will also greatly increase the quantity and quality of foraging and breeding habitat for many other waterbird and fish species. By focusing on a core area, NPWS will be able to build future works around this site and extend rehabilitation to the remaining 2130 hectares of the reserve.

OEH, National Parks and Wildlife Service

Rehabilitation of coolabah woodland in the Macquarie Marshes – $33,486

This project aims to address issues of the slower rate of vegetation rehabilitation on the high floodplain sites and the lack of connecting vegetation corridors between the major watercourses on the reserve. It will use long-stem planting of 3000 coolabah trees and seeding with native grasses to increase structural complexity and ameliorate the extremes in temperature and soil moisture that currently limit floristic diversity and create vegetative corridors between Bulgeraga Creek and the Macquarie River. Local provenance coolabah seed will be collected from the Macquarie Marshes and grown at the Bilby Blooms Australian Native Nursery in Binnaway. Before planting, electromagnetic induction will be used to map soil moisture levels, to determine the most suitable sites. The project provides an opportunity for NPWS staff to work with local Aboriginal land care groups from the Wayilwan community in the planting and post-planting care of the plants. An important aim of the project will be to develop and rigorously assess a method of revegetation suitable for floodplain environments in semi-arid regions. Such methods may also then be applicable for other NPWS reserves in floodplain wetlands in the northwest of the state.

Pittwater Council

Cannes Reserve coastal littoral rainforest restoration project – $52,100

With the restoration of 2 endangered ecological communities, this project aims to restore the balance and ensure that both vegetation communities remain healthy and viable for the long term. The council hopes to increase the reserve’s resilience and implement intensive ecological restoration on degraded edges and within the core area itself where canopy collapse and vandalism has resulted in loss of canopy and has created gaps which now severely compromises the rainforest microclimate and allows weeds to colonise and alter the floristic structure, particularly that of the littoral rainforest. Incursions by aggressive weed species on edges also pose a significant threat to the reserve. The council hopes that this project will also heighten the public’s awareness of just how important coastal littoral rainforest plays in the overall landscape with a focus placed on the reserve’s role in providing essential habitat for wildlife and underlining the importance of the interrelations between both flora and fauna. The reserve is also an integral connection to the landscape for the general public; a place where aesthetics, recreation and overall appreciation of other lifeforms can be maintained.

Port Stephens Council

Tomaree Peninsula urban koala corridor enhancement planting project – $100,000

The reduction in viable koala habitat remnants due to development in recent years has reduced the network of connective corridors throughout the urban areas of the Tomaree Peninsula. This project proposes to increase specific koala habitat corridors in existing reserves by enrichment planting of koala food and habitat trees to create a substantial and more resilient koala habitat that will be utilised by the koala population for feeding and breeding opportunities. These corridors will allow isolated koalas to reach larger areas of habitat contained in nearby conservation areas and national parks. The newly created habitat will prevent over browsing in current remnants that will in turn prevent starvation and ecosystem damage. These connectivity remnants will help in preserving the integrity and help diversify the gene pool of the Tomaree koala population. Providing more habitats will ensure koalas have a refuge if they feel under threat from dogs and over enthusiastic members of the public. This project will also provide additional koala feed tree stocks from which wildlife carers can gather leaves to use when rehabilitating sick and injured koalas.

Rous Water

Wilsons River tidal pool riparian restoration – $99,960

The project aims to improve riparian vegetation condition, connectivity, extent, habitat for threatened species and water quality in the Wilsons River. Rous Water will work in partnership with landholders, Landcare, local council and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service along the Wilsons River tidal pool. This will extend riparian restoration work that Rous Water is currently engaged in. Rous Water’s long-term strategy is to link up existing restoration projects between Lismore and Boatharbour Nature Reserve, which is one of the last significant riparian remnants in the region of Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia (Critically Endangered Ecological Community, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). The project will protect riverbanks from erosion and improve biodiversity by enhancing riparian vegetation, undertake strategic weed control, exclude stock and ensure high-quality drinking water in the Wilsons River tidal pool. The project will raise community capacity to protect biodiversity in riparian areas and increase awareness of the importance of riparian vegetation and healthy catchments. The project will work on 8–10 sites, implementing bush regeneration and revegetation works over 15-plus hectares, including planting 6750 trees.

Shoalhaven City Council

Bomaderry Zieria recovery – $97,361

This project is addressing 2 of the 3 objectives of the National Recovery Plan. The first objective is to maintain the population of Zieria baeuerlenii in the Bomaderry Creek bushland. The second, to reduce and manage the following threats through:

• browsing from herbivores (including rabbits and macropods)
• weeds
• impacts from recreational users (trampling and trail bikes)
• fire regimes
• stochastic events – small size of populations.

Southern Councils Group

Milton Rocks: Restoring connectivity between escarpment and sea – $77,910

This project aims to:

• protect and revegetate 3 kilometres of riparian corridors within the Narrawallee Inlet and Burrill Lake catchments to improve water quality and riparian connectivity
• establish a minimum of 5000 locally grown tubestock within these riparian corridors
• support local Landcare nurseries to establish a sustainable seed collection program for the long-term propagation and supply of locally grown tubestock for on-going enhancement plantings within these corridors
• undertake faunal monitoring along key tributaries using remote cameras, building knowledge of local species on farms and increasing awareness of establishing and protecting riparian corridors. This will include uploading data to the OEH BioNet Atlas
• develop a range of local resources including a fauna list, local revegetation guide, and project signs to raise awareness of escarpment-to-sea connectivity and improved catchment-wide water-quality.

The Hills Shire Council

Restoration of Cumberland Plain Woodland at Bella Vista Farm Park – $39,500

This project will enhance the natural regeneration of critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest at Bella Vista Farm Park. This area has a history of disturbance: this occurred from European settlement to the late 1980s. The site is located at the top of the Castle Hill Creek catchment which flows into the Cattai Creek catchment. Weeds are currently suppressing native and regeneration, and removal of these weeds will facilitate the native regeneration. Assisted regeneration of the site will enhance floristic structure and diversity, while increasing the native habitat for local indigenous fauna. The project will also include measures to control pest species, and will seek to increase community awareness of the area’s natural values.

Tumut Shire Council

Tumut Common: Joint protection/rehabilitation, Wereboldera State Conservation Area – $83,500

This joint project of 4 stakeholders will:

• control the invasive spread of non-native woody weeds
• treat, remove and prevent spread of bridal creeper, mitigating the threat to the State Conservation Area.

The 2-year plan will see treatment of all blackberry and non-native weeds, (using an integrated chemical and manual strategy) and a concentrated effort to remove bridal creeper, the greatest threat to a unique conservation area habitat. A successful project will show little or no remaining blackberry and other woody weeds and the bridal creeper will have been effectively treated and manually removed.

Tweed Shire Council

Numinbah nature links – $99,951

Twenty-five hectares of key habitat in a climate-change linkage area at Numinbah will be restored. Ecological restoration will improve the condition, connectivity and resilience of endangered ecosystems and protect the habitat of 35 threatened species connecting several World Heritage-listed national parks and nature reserves. Target environments will become more resilient to climate change. The project will strengthen community capacity to manage weeds and protect and enhance sensitive areas supporting high biodiversity. Workshops and information sessions will assist and support private landholders whose land-management activities are critical for effective landscape-scale conservation.

Tweed Shire Council

Restoring the waterways of the Cudgen Plateau – $99,964

The project will engage the farming community to restore and rehabilitate 1.5 kilometres of waterways on the Cudgen plateau through sediment control works, revegetation and weed control. Riparian vegetation condition will be enhanced, resulting in a reduction in soil and nutrient runoff into Cudgen Creek providing greater protection for remnant vegetation, habitat for local flora and fauna, and increase connectivity between coastal vegetation communities. The project will ultimately build farming communities’ capacity to effectively manage riparian areas for greater productivity, biodiversity and water quality.

Tweed Shire Council

Working together to protect threatened fauna on Fingal Peninsula – $99,987

Tweed Council’s project will implement feral-animal control across multiple tenures, including Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council land, state managed Crown land and council-managed Crown land. Private landholders will also be invited to participate in practical on-ground management actions. We expect that this control program will reduce fox and cat predation on native fauna and that local populations of threatened fauna, including critically endangered shorebirds, will start to recover.

The project will also address the threat to native fauna of disturbance and predation by domestic pets, using a multi-faceted approach. A targeted education campaign will be run, ranger patrols will be increased, interpretive signage will be updated, and current dog-walking areas will be assessed for their suitability for purpose. The implementation of this project will result in multiple benefits for threatened fauna on the Fingal Peninsula, including increased breeding success and reduced disturbance during periods of foraging and roosting.

All the works included above are consistent with identified recovery actions for the 5 species of threatened shorebirds known from the Fingal Peninsula.

Warringah Council

Dee Why Lagoon wildlife refuge habitat restoration project – $87,500

The emphasis of the works will be in protecting and enhancing the existing endangered ecological communities (EECs) located in and around Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge by providing linkages to surrounding resilient bushland. The work will focus on targeting high-priority weeds for the Sydney region and Weeds of National Significance. Priority will be given to exotic vines and scramblers, listed as a Key Threatening Process under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Works will include the restoration of the swamp mahogany forest (swift parrot habitat) and coastal dune swamp (eastern pygmy possum habitat) – a form of the Sydney freshwater wetlands listed as endangered in NSW. Pest animal management (control of foxes, rabbits and cats) will be implemented to assist in the protection of local native animals and plant species. Community capacity building will include a threatened-species fauna fair and support to volunteer Bushcare groups, which will be ongoing to improve the environmental outcomes of the project and education of local residents.