Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation 2015-2016 grants awarded and project summaries

Armidale Urban Rivercare Group

Centennial Avenue rehabilitation of Dumaresq Creek – $83,700

This project will add significantly to the revegetation of riparian zones in Armidale. This in turn will add to the connectivity of wildlife corridors throughout Armidale. Native vegetation is almost non-existent in this section of the creek lands, but the project will link previously completed well established showcase plantings to the east with extensive stepping stone plantings towards the centre of Armidale. In our well-established plantings the number of birds and species variation have increased dramatically over the last few years. Our previous plantings in Armidale have been well received by the Community of Armidale and are now used as area for having lunch and picnics. We even have politicians having their photos next to them. The species we are reintroducing along the creeks in Armidale are indigenous to the local area and occur along creeks nearby, but have largely disappeared from the urban area. AURG have a proven track record delivering what they promise and on time.

Australian River Restoration Centre

Rivers of Carbon: Breadalbane biodiversity linkages – $99,950

Rivers of Carbon: Breadalbane biodiversity linkages builds on the work of the successful large-scale Rivers of Carbon project, a proven model that focuses on connecting and linking riparian rehabilitation projects (undertaken over the past 20 years by various groups) and remnant vegetation. Rivers of Carbon: Breadalbane is being developed in response to a community identified need to address loss of biodiversity, fragmentation of remnant vegetation and sedimentation of waterways in the District. Activities will include fencing and revegetating riparian areas, strategic erosion control works to improve water quality, and linking habitat to form contiguous wildlife corridors. The project will be carried out in partnership with Upper Lachlan Landcare, Greening Australia, landholders, Local Land Services, and the broader community.

Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group Inc.

Saving critically endangered lowland subtropical rainforest – $100,000

This project continues the long-term program led by Big Scrub Landcare to rehabilitate remnants of critically endangered lowland subtropical rainforest, and engage with landholders and the community to adapt for changing landscape and climate. The project will focus on the 99% cleared Big Scrub, which was the largest area of critically endangered lowland subtropical rainforest in Australia. On-ground work will involve strategic control of weeds that present the greatest immediate threat to subtropical rainforest, and its resilience. Works will be undertaken on 40 sites identified as priority repair sites in the Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan.

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc.

Green Bluff to South Moonee: restoring key habitat and connectivity – $77,330

The project will protect, increase and restore key habitat for 47 threatened plant and animal species and five endangered ecological communities linking Green Bluff with South Moonee Forest on the NSW north coast. This is part of a key regional wildlife corridor that connects forested hills with endangered coastal vegetation. It is one of the last remaining major wildlife links north of Coffs Harbour and is pressured by urban development. Working with OEH, DPI, Coffs Harbour City Council and local communities we will regenerate 7 hectares and establish one hectare of new native vegetation, build critical community capacity and monitor indicator fauna.

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Restoring coastal EECs and threatened species habitat at Glenrock – $99,330

Glenrock State Conservation Area covers 534 hectares of coast between Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. We will work with partners to eradicate Weeds of National Significance from 86,000 square metres of Littoral Rainforest endangered ecological community, and plant 3000 endemic rainforest plants. The project will restore natural succession and improve habitat value for 3 Saving our Species threatened animal species and two Threatened Species listed plants. An annual BioBlitz will confirm and map historic reports of these threatened species. We will educate neighbours and school students about the value of littoral rainforest for threatened species, the impact of weeds and how to prevent infestation by reducing backyard escapes and stormwater nutrients. Support will be provided to community volunteer groups active in the reserve, building their capacity to maintain project outcomes.

EnviTE Inc.

Restoration of Fleay’s Barred Frog habitat in Nightcap National Park – $100,000

Threats to the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) will be reduced through control of weeds, including mistflower, at known breeding sites at Terania Creek in Nightcap National Park. Mistflower changes breeding habitat structure, clogging up gravel beds and reducing space. Actions (implementing hygiene protocols) will be taken to minimise the spread of chytrid fungal disease. Cane toads are a threat to the frog, competing for food and habitat. Awareness and capacity to control cane toads will be raised through educational events and project promotions with school children, Landcare groups and the community. Project activities align with recovery strategies developed under the Saving Our Species program. The project will contribute to securing the species at the site and ensuring the population’s viability in the long term.

EnviTE Inc.

Restoring the natural values of the Yuraygir coastline – $100,000

Coastal ecosystems along 6 kilometres of coast in Yuraygir National Park, including threatened species habitat and endangered ecological communities, will be restored through control of coastal weeds. Over 3 years, bush regeneration contractors will ensure that regenerating native plants come to dominate the coastline through systematic control of weeds either regrowing, germinating or missed by aerial spraying provided by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Angourie Dunecare, Diggers Camp Dunecare, Minnie Waters Community Nursery and local communities will be engaged through field days and working alongside contract bush regenerators. This will build community capacity to maintain and extend restoration works in the future.

Friends of the Koala Incorporated

Enhancing Lismore wildlife refuges and corridors for threatened species – $99,200

The project will create partnerships with land managers from state and local government as well as educational and community groups. Professional bush regenerators will be engaged to restore the conservation values of remnants in East Lismore creating links within the urban fringe. Threatened species are at risk due to the stresses placed on them by fragmentation of habitat. Restoration work will serve to strengthen species migration pathways and create fauna refuges while re-establishing linear corridors that allow unrestricted movement. Environmental weeds dominate in reserves; community education events and mailbox drops will focus on weed identification, native plant alternatives and garden waste dumping.

Greening Australia – National Office

Glossy Black-Cockatoo connections - $96,730

Glossy Black Cockatoo habitat restoration has been the motivation behind the planting of 15,000 trees on 36 properties in ACT and NSW southern tablelands over the past 3 years through partnerships coordinated by Greening Australia. Community interest in the projects has grown to the point where landholders are on a waiting list due to a lack of current funding. This project aims to continue the successful model of connecting the community to the project and connecting habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo. The project will plant 5000 trees on 15 properties, and conduct community seed collection and planting events and bird identification workshops.

Holbrook Landcare Group

Habitat restoration for the southern pygmy perch – $98,771

The southern pygmy perch is an endangered species with only three known populations in the Murray catchment in NSW. One of these populations is known to be in Mountain Creek Woomargama, which requires rehabilitation actions to maintain a viable population of SPP. This project is targeting streams in the catchment that require bank erosion repairs or prevention. Erosion is leading to increased sediment in streams which is reducing water quality and aquatic habitat for southern pygmy perch and other aquatic organisms. This is also an opportunity to improve landholder understanding of landscape processes through demonstration of on-ground works.

Hovells Creek Landcare Group Inc.

Habitat restoration at the Grassy Box Gum – K2W Flyways Interface – $89,990

This project is the next phase of work undertaken in partnership with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative to restore corridors and woodland habitat for threatened species. The project will geographically focus upon the western sector of the Kanangra–Boyd to Wyangala Link (K2W) east-west flyway and its interface with the north–south flyways comprising the endangered box-gum woodland ecological community. Fifteen hundred paddock trees will be planted to connect remnant vegetation and recently planted clusters of trees and shrubs on ten farm properties within a regional project area of 60,000 hectares. It builds on work with OEH to identify threatened mobile fauna species, their critical habitats and to define areas of significant connectivity for protection and restoration.

Macleay Landcare Network Inc.

Protecting and connecting coastal habitat corridors at Mt Yarrahapinni – $99,848

Located on a key regional wildlife corridor and linking with two National Parks, this NSW mid-north coast project aims to support up to 10 private land owners to rehabilitate forest, wetland and riparian coastal habitats and raise awareness of the suite of threatened species in the biodiverse area including squirrel and yellow-bellied gliders, koalas, quolls, phascogales and owls. On-ground activities include bush regeneration, hybridised dog and fox control, nest box installation and property planning through the Land for Wildlife program. The project aims to also enhance 4 endangered ecological communities. A program of capacity-building events will increase the local community’s awareness of threatened species and their habitat needs so that wild dogs and foxes are controlled, motorists are cautious, pets are controlled at night and properties are better managed for long term habitat outcomes. Additionally, students and their families from 2 local primary schools will be engaged in the 3-year project.

Manning Landcare Inc.

Browns Creek Restoration, phase 2 – $99,595

This project builds on phase 1 and will restore the riparian vegetation communities along both sides of 1.5 kilometres of Brown’s Creek. This partly tidal creek runs through the town draining approximately 730 hectares and is highly visible to the community. Brown’s Creek supports a wide range of habitats from estuarine seagrass beds to Koala habitat. Sixteen animal species and 2 plant species listed in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 have been recorded (Brown’s Creek Estuary and Catchment Management Plan 2006, GTCC). There is strong community awareness of the need for action to improve the creek and strong appreciation of the achievements of phase 1 of the project. Removing environmental weeds will allow the regeneration of native vegetation, improve terrestrial and aquatic habitat, benefit water quality and improve the amenity of the creek. Two thousand native tubestock plants will fill gaps and extend edges.

Murrumbidgee Landcare Association Incorporated

Caring for paddock sentinels – $99,490

Scattered paddock trees are keystone structures, performing numerous important ecological functions at both local and landscape scales. However, these critical assets are being rapidly lost, and research has found that they could be lost in as little as 40 years unless we begin actively protecting them and managing for their survival and regeneration. This project will work with landholders in the Riverina to protect and enhance paddock trees, manage for their succession, and increase habitat connectivity. It will also involve the wider community, to increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of paddock trees, and provide motivation for their protection.

National Parks Association of NSW Inc.

Bringing the buzz back to the Cumberland Plain Woodland – $98,965

Land clearing in Western Sydney has reduced Cumberland Plain Woodland to 10% of its original distribution. Considerable effort has gone into restoring this fragmented endangered ecological community. Pollinators are rarely included in management plans even though they are a key to the longevity of the ecosystem. This project aims to bring the buzz back to the Cumberland Plain Woodland by installing nesting sites, doing bush regeneration and planting appropriately sourced species for native pollinators (bees and butterflies). At community working bees we will build skills of local residents to support native pollinators in their backyards to help pollinators move through the landscape.

Nimbin Rocks Cooperative Landcare Group

Restoring high conservation value habitat in the Nimbin Rocks area – $100,000

Bush regenerators will restore lowland rainforest and wet schlerophyll forest at Nimbin Rocks and 6 other sites in the wider Nimbin area, working alongside Landcare and community members. Improved condition and connectivity of ecosystems and habitat for threatened species will result. Ecological restoration work will implement management actions for threatened species including Hastings River Mouse. Cattle-exclusion fencing will protect biodiversity in the Voluntary Conservation Area at Nimbin Rocks. Nimbin Rocks Landcare and private landholders will work with bush regenerators to control and limit the spread of weeds. Community awareness and capacity to restore ecosystems will be increased. School based workshops and community field days will demonstrate restoration techniques, develop capacity to restore ecosystems and raise awareness of threatened species and their habitat in the Nimbin area.

Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium

Protecting and restoring Toonumbar from bell-miner-associated dieback – $99,800

This project aims to conserve and protect the ecological significance of the Toonumbar Valley and enhance restoration work already undertaken. The desired outcomes are the recovery of native vegetation and the reduction in the extent of lantana and forest affected by bell-miner-associated dieback (BMAD). The project will use the splatter-gun method, and also use fire as an ecological management tool. This project will create one of the largest BMAD treated areas on the north coast and will be used as a case study to inspire others.

Southern New England Landcare Ltd

Closing the gap: functional habitat for threatened New England fauna – $99,998

This project aims to help close a key gap in habitat connectivity for threatened woodland birds and other fauna south of Armidale to Uralla on the southern New England Tableland. The movement of 15 threatened fauna species across this area is being impeded or prevented by a lack of functional habitat. Landholders will plant 30 hectares of new habitat stepping stones and linkages with 14,200 local native trees, shrubs and groundcovers and improve the condition of 13 hectares of remnant woodland in the gap area. Monitoring and education will develop capacity to understand and share knowledge and experience, and better manage key threats to woodland fauna.

Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)

Large-scale restoration of underwater forests in Sydney – $94,947

Underwater forests of the habitat-forming seaweed Phyllospora comosa (crayweed) have gone extinct along the Sydney metropolitan coastline, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Building on ecological research on the factors influencing the re-establishment of this species, Sydney Institute of Marine Science will scale up and restore populations of these missing forests along the Sydney coastline, enhancing the diversity of fish and other marine organisms. This project will engage the local community and stakeholders. The project plan aligns with multiple national, state and local plans to protect our natural environment, restore key habitat and conserve biodiversity. This project is a first for underwater Australian forests.

The Mulloon Institute Limited

Restoration of Mulloon catchment to protect its ecosystems – $100,000

Once a landscape of interconnected wetland systems, Mulloon Creek now bears eroded gullies. Working collaboratively, this project recreates wetland ecosystems, providing restored habitat for threatened native flora and fauna species. The project aims to improve habitat quality, water quality and water flow, resulting in improved creek condition and functionality. These works will also improve the condition of aquatic and terrestrial areas including gullies and tributaries, and will create wildlife corridors and vegetation linkages, providing habitat and food sources for local flora and fauna.

Tilba District Landcare

Saving our warty zieria – Zieria tuberculata protection project – $98,854

This project will protect the vulnerable warty zieria (Zieria tuberculata) of which there are less than 3000 remaining wild plants. The project will target three management sites around Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba, South Coast NSW, and involve the managers of land tenure where the species persists. Data from existing studies will be used to re-visit known populations of warty zieria and guide the development and implementation of work plans to save the warty zieria populations. Activities will include monitoring, weed control, and landholder and community engagement. The project will build the skills, resources and support networks needed by land managers to continue weed control and conservation of warty zieria into the future.

Tweed Landcare

Filling biodiversity gaps connecting Tweed Coast to Border Ranges: stage 2 – $100,000

Filling biodiversity gaps is a continuing project which aims to connect, expand and maintain the high diversity of flora and fauna, including threatened species within Tweed Shire. The project selects strategically located properties, with motivated landowners that link the NPWS reserve system from the Tweed Coast to the Border Ranges. The project builds on the corridors/sub-catchment planning and implementation begun in 2009 by NCLLS and supported by NPWS, Tweed Council, Landcare and the community.

WetlandCare Australia Pty Ltd

Restoring threatened species habitat at Belmont Wetlands State Park – $99,608

Belmont Wetlands State Park protects 549 hectares, including 4.5 kilometres of coast between Redhead and Belmont to the east of Lake Macquarie. It features three State Environmental Planning Policy no. 14 (SEPP14) wetlands, 12 vegetation types, 3 endangered ecological communities, and habitat for 9 threatened species. The site was declared a Crown Reserve and State Park by the NSW Government in 2006, and this project will support implementation of the Plan of Management. In stage 1 of the project, professional bush regenerators will undertake weed control in a high-value priority area to promote natural succession and improve biodiversity. In stage 2, a team from Conservation Volunteers Australia will work alongside the Landcare group to plant 2000 forage trees for threatened species and maintain stage 1 outcomes.

Wolli Creek Preservation Society NSW Inc.

Paperbark Creek: restoration of a neglected catchment: phase 3 – $63,423

This project aims to restore a natural catchment between a stormwater exit and Wolli Creek. Paperbark Creek is the largest tributary of Wolli Creek on its northern side and the stormwater pipe drains an area of 21.3 hectares. Areas within the project site that have had primary treatment show excellent resilience and similar results are expected when the worked areas are expanded. Banks are quite steep and an important part of the work will be to ensure stabilisation in the interval between weed removal and native regeneration. The actual junction between Paperbark Creek and Wolli Creek currently remains impenetrable.

Bellingen Shire Council

Newry Island foreshore rehabilitation stage 1: Kalang River estuary – $100,000

The project seeks to rehabilitate a priority erosion site in the Kalang River estuary and improve adjacent riparian and foreshore habitats. Riverbank stabilisation works will include rock revetment and rock and timber fillets incorporating re-used root balls and timber pins (tree trunks) from Pacific Highway upgrade clearing. This will provide a demonstrated example of best-practice resource recovery enabled by excellent community engagement. The proposed works are expected to transform bank stability against flood flows, boat and wind wash and encourage mangrove recruitment and regeneration and improve foreshore habitat and benthic complexity. A 10-metre-wide riparian zone will be fenced and revegetated using a mix of local native species. A stand of mapped Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest will be rehabilitated through weed control.

Byron Shire Council

Bangalow Weir remediation works – $100,000

Bangalow Pool Weir is listed as a high-priority (Class 1) fish barrier in the NSW Fisheries fish-barrier database within the Byron Creek subcatchment of the Wilsons River. The weir structure has failed. The proposed project will remove the weir and return the creek to a more natural condition that supports fish passage, by creating a series of rock pools that slow water flow and allow fish to rest in each pool as they travel upstream. Works will include riparian planting to stabilise river banks and improve water quality, weed removal and community education through interpretive signage.

Campbelltown City Council

Protecting, restoring and enhancing threatened species habitat for the Green and Golden Bell Frog – $83,600

Biodiversity values are often displaced in strategic planning systems, and effective land use planning is considered key to the future conservation of threatened species in the area. A number of confirmed observations of the Green and Golden Bell Frog (GGBF) have been reported from the suburb of Blair Athol and outside of this, little is known about the population in the Campbelltown local government area. The project will undertake habitat assessments and targeted surveys in the Blair Athol locality to study the demographics and dynamics of the sub-population in this area. The project will also target a number of key threats to the species including removal, degradation and fragmentation of habitat, and predation by exotic fish such as Gambusia. Key GGBF habitat locales will be restored, and bait trapping of Gambusia at infested ponds will be carried out. The project will also engage local schools and increase community interest in GGBF by developing awareness of the species through a series of educational workshops on creating frog habitat in urban backyards.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council

Reconnecting and Restoring Wolli Creek Riparian Corridor: stages 1 and 2 – $99,050

Coastal saltmarsh is an essential component of healthy estuaries; however, it is endangered ecological community and faces a very high risk of extinction in NSW. Bank stabilisation is needed around Waterworth Park to halt the progression of severe erosion and the depositing of sediment in the waterway, and to improve habitat for a range of terrestrial and aquatic species. The project will implement stage 1 and 2 of riparian corridor plans to connect and restore endangered saltmarsh and riparian habitat along the confluence of Cooks River and Wolli Creek, giving further biodiversity value to this site, and preventing erosion of undercut banks. Works will include the restoration of saltmarsh and riparian planting with species endemic to the Cooks River Valley swamp-oak floodplain forest. To halt erosion, pedestrian access will be moved further away from the saltmarsh.

Central Coast Council

Mt Alison reserve rehabilitation and management – $97,500

Mt Alison forms part of a strategic wildlife corridor within Wyong Shire, offering known habitat for threatened species. The property totals 126 hectares, of which 63 hectares is conserved in perpetuity under Property Vegetation Plans. Surrounded by semi-rural development, the site suffers significant edge effects resulting in on-going management problems. A planned integrated management approach will protect habitat, limit further degradation and improve the ecological integrity and resilience of the site in turn protecting a number of threatened species. Works will include revegetation, fencing, treatment of weed infestations, and erosion control.

Coffs Harbour City Council

Maintaining diversity on Coffs Coast Themeda coastal headlands – $100,000

The project seeks to bring together key partners to implement a program of culturally appropriate prescribed burning, comprehensive monitoring and targeted weed control. This will improve the condition and species diversity of the endangered Themeda grassland community on 5 coastal headlands within the Coffs Harbour local government area. Key partners include National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour District Aboriginal Land Council, Rural Fire Service and North Coast Local Land Services. The project will examine the role of fire in maintaining species diversity within the coastal headland Themeda grasslands and assess its effectiveness in managing invasive native shrubs and weed species. The project will build capacity among traditional custodians to participate in the management of culturally important sites, targeting invasive weeds and shrubs across the 5 sites.

Georges River Council

Restoring Riverwood Wetlands – $81,800

Riverwood Wetlands is both a locally and regionally significant natural area. Unfortunately, sediment accumulation and weed infestation due to urban impacts and stormwater runoff over the past 15 years has reduced the functionality of the wetlands. The aim of this project is to restore the wetlands, by removing sediment and improving flows, removing weeds and replanting the area with local native species. These works will provide a system that will work more effectively to remove contaminants, improve habitat and improve the quality of water entering Salt Pan Creek. Community education is a key component of these works to help reduce future pollutant loads.

Hunter Councils Inc.

Improving condition and resilience of Lower Hunter dry rainforest – $99,618

Hunter River Reserve is one of the last remaining forests of its kind in the Lower Hunter. The reserve is highly valuable, containing one of the few examples of intact native vegetation along the Hunter River. The project is needed to protect remnant vegetation from widespread weed infestations within two gullies and reduce erosion along the steeper sections. Bush regeneration and targeted weed control works will be carried out to improve the condition and resilience of Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest as well as 2 endangered ecological communities within the Hunter River Reserve, Greta and adjacent properties in the Lower Hunter. This project provides the opportunity for extensive partnership and collaboration with local councils, agencies and landowners to significantly reduce the weed infestations.

Inverell Shire Council

Containing the spread of harrisia cactus in the Border rivers – $69,517

The project will focus on reducing threats to 3 endangered ecological communities (EECs) in the Border rivers catchment by containing invasive species, harrisia cactus. The project focuses on EECs under threat from harrisia cactus: these include Brigalow, natural grassland on basalt and finely textured alluvial plains of Northern NSW, and Weeping Myall Woodlands. Thirty-two holdings have been identified for control in Inverell local government area (LGA). The project will include on-ground control (with 50% landholder contributions), the distribution of educational materials, and awareness-raising events. The collaborative project has strong links to existing projects in neighbouring local-government areas in NSW and Queensland.

Lismore City Council

Koala habitat restoration in the northwest of Lismore local government area – $100,000

In partnership with landholders and community, koala habitat and corridors in the northwest of Lismore local government area will be rehabilitated through bush-regeneration works to control weeds over an area of 30 hectares. Weeds limit koala movement and restrict regeneration of koala habitat. Strategic revegetation in cleared areas will improve linkages between koala populations contributing to increased viability. Field days and media promotions will increase awareness and capacity to implement practical actions to conserve and expand koala habitat. This project builds on successful koala habitat restoration undertaken in the Lismore–Rosebank corridor.

Mid-Coast Council

Eradicating African olive towards regional/state containment lines – $92,425

African olive is a significant environmental weed in the Hunter Valley and the Greater Sydney basin. This project will establish a NSW northern containment line for African olive along the southern boundaries of Great Lakes Council and Gloucester Shire Council. All known African olive infestations north of the council boundaries (within Gloucester Shire, Great Lakes and Greater Taree City local government areas) will be targeted. Establishment of this containment line will assist strategies for control in the Hunter Valley. Aboriginal rangers employed by Taree Indigenous Development & Employment (TIDE) will participate in the on-ground control works. Participating councils will carry out an extensive program of landholder engagement and planting of replacement native ‘bird lolly’ trees.

Mid-Coast Council

Manning Valley lowland rainforest restoration project – $77,770

The project aims to restore three important lowland rainforest remnants in the Manning Valley: Wingham Foreshore Reserve, Manning Waters Reserve and Andrews Reserve. Key restoration activities undertaken in partnership with the local Landcare group include the control of a number of highly invasive weeds that threaten to overwhelm remnants, and the replanting of locally native rainforest plants for both habitat restoration and erosion control. Lowland Rainforest is the original vegetation type of these sites and is a particularly rare endangered ecological community in NSW that needs restoration.

Mid-Coast Council

Wetland and foreshore restoration – Lower Wallamba River – $91,349

This project seeks to restore over 165 hectares of highly significant wetland and foreshore habitat of the Lower Wallamba River, north of Tuncurry on the mid north coast of NSW. Primary on-ground actions will aim to protect, restore and enhance the condition, integrity and environmental function of important wetland and foreshore vegetation habitats. Project activities will enhance the condition and function of the management sites through targeted controls of damaging environmental weeds and feral pest animals as well as through facilitated natural regeneration and the enhancement of denning habitat for threatened fauna species. In addition, the project will contribute to the improvement of the Wallamba River and Wallis Lake estuary through the protection of an area that provides important ecosystem services.

Murray Local Land Services

Building the resilience and capacity of native seed production areas – $96,150

This project will enhance and increase the network of native seed production areas (SPAs) that have been established over the past 15 years in the Murray region to meet the demand for large volumes of high-quality seed for revegetation works. SPAs reduce the need to collect native seed from declining wild populations and increase collection efficiency. SPA seed production is declining due to the age of many plants and the need for maintenance and weed control. This project will establish two new SPAs on Travelling Stock Reserves where there are gaps in existing provenance and species available for collection. A targeted seed collection program will be instigated to ensure genetically diverse healthy seed. The project will also audit existing SPAs and increase SPA production that will ultimately contribute to increase the extent and quality of revegetation across the landscape.

Muswellbrook Shire Council

Club to club: Muscle Creek restoration – $100,000

Rehabilitation works on Muscle Creek between the Muswellbrook Golf Club and the Muswellbrook District Workers Club will be implemented to improve habitat and connectivity for threatened and endangered species. Muscle Creek has heavy weed infestations, and these exotic species smother the native vegetation along the creek. Native species will be planted to improve the riparian habitat and to provide linkages with existing communities such as the Hunter River Red Gum and White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland. These plantings will help to stabilise the creek banks, and improve water quality. The project also aims to improve community understanding of the importance of riparian ecosystem health.

New England Weeds Authority

Tackling Mexican water lily in the Oxley wild rivers catchment – Northern NSW – $53,470

This project will engage multiple stakeholders to combat the establishment of the highly invasive water weed Mexican water lily (Nymphaea mexicana) in the Gara River, a major tributary of the world heritage-listed Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Over 65 landholders, together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Armidale Dumaresq Council and New England Weeds Authority, will work together to map and control existing infestations along the 20 kilometres of waterway using remotely controlled aircraft, argo vehicles, on foot and kayaks.

Northern Tablelands Local Land Services

Protecting biodiversity on Travelling Stock Reserves in the Northern Tablelands region – $99,600

Travelling stock routes (TSRs) connect biodiversity hotspots of remnant vegetation that support a diversity of plants and animals in an over-cleared landscape. The long, linear nature of TSR remnants form the backbone of a network of corridors allowing wildlife to move through the landscape in times of crisis such as drought, fire, and flood. Protecting these corridors is critical for maintaining viable populations of flora and fauna. Weed invasion is a key threatening process affecting TSRs, with invasive ground covers and shrubs forming monocultures, outcompeting native plants and changing fauna habitat. Threatened species such as bluegrass, lobed bluegrass, five-clawed worm skink and border thick-tailed gecko are directly impacted by weed invasion. This proposal seeks to direct strategic on-ground weed control, and manage environmental weeds in high conservation value TSRs, and raise awareness of the value of TSRs in the community.

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Bringing back the snags to the Coldstream River on the Clarence – $99,804

Riparian snags provide a critical interface between our terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, offering habitat complexity that native ecosystems have evolved with over millennia. Snags, logs and debris directly enhance habitat values for fish, frogs and invertebrates, and provide perching spots for many bird and turtle species. While the issues associated with large scale snag removal are well documented for the Murray–Darling Basin, it remains less well known that de-snagging also occurred on our coastal river systems. In the early days of European colonisation these rivers were the only highways available to allow trade and commerce and by the early 1900s the coastal rivers were completely de-snagged to foster navigation. Complex and unclear approvals processes have hampered re-snagging projects in the past. This project aims to bring back over 100 snags to the Coldstream River in the Clarence estuary, and identify and promote a streamlined process for doing so.

Office of Environment and Heritage

Habitat enhancement and restoration of endangered woodland in Dananbilla – $96,350

Dananbilla Nature Reserve protects over 1500 hectares of white box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum woodland ecologically endangered community (EEC), the largest area within the National Reserve System. These woodlands, with those in Illunie and Koorawatha Nature Reserves, are highly diverse, although some areas lack species diversity and key habitat elements due to past clearing and grazing. The project will apply a series of best practice management activities that will significantly bolster habitat by restoring key habitat attributes, such as coarse woody debris, nesting and forage resources. It will increase patchiness and floristic diversity of ground and shrub layers, and meet the specific niche requirements of many threatened fauna reliant on this habitat. It will also build genetically viable populations of uncommon floristic components of the EEC.

Office of Environment and Heritage

Restoring Big Island seabird nesting habitat for burrowing birds – $100,000

Little Penguins, shearwaters and petrels are struggling to nest on Big Island due to extensive weeds entangling the birds and preventing access to their burrows. This project intends to restore the seabird habitat based on the successful work conducted on Montague Island Nature Reserve. Evidence from a trial established on Big Island in 2014 indicates that the removal of weeds and replanting of native seedlings will benefit internationally protected seabirds. A volunteer group called Friends of Five Islands with over 60 members is involved along with local Dharawal people and Berrim Nuru (the local indigenous environmental team).

Riverina Local Land Services

Protection and connectivity for endangered Wagga squirrel gliders – $90,562

Squirrel gliders of the Wagga Wagga local government area occur in highly fragmented and degraded habitat. This project will improve core breeding habitat where local populations are strong, and expand foraging habitat through planting of new native vegetation corridors linking remnant vegetation currently isolated by intensive agriculture. Habitat restoration and revegetation works will take place between the core habitat areas of Livingstone National Park to Nest Hill Nature Reserve. Revegetation corridors will contain a diverse mixture of native flora with species important for squirrel glider foraging and nesting, and where possible will include scattered paddock trees and small remnant patches. This will increase the potential dispersal range of squirrel gliders and provide stronger protection of core breeding areas.

Shoalhaven City Council

Heritage estates erosion control on public land – $100,000

Heritage Estates possesses extremely high conservation values and forms a significant part of the wildlife corridor linking Booderee National Park to Jervis Bay National Park and hinterland forests further west. Recreational use of vehicles and trail bikes has created an extensive network of informal tracks. The resulting erosion and land degradation is detrimental to the area’s biodiversity values and threatens the downstream environments of Worrowing waterway and St George’s Basin. The project aims to restore the degraded environment by managing uncontrolled runoff, repairing erosion sites and stabilising degraded land to reduce the risk of future environmental damage. Works will involve some reshaping of the most severely eroded areas, installation of diversion banks and drains to break up runoff flow paths, use of scour protection methods, soil improvement and revegetation. This will decrease the risk of sediment washing downslope into Worrowing waterway and St Georges Basin, and improve capacity to protect the landscape by addressing the sources of erosion.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council

Improve water quality and habitat value within Cooma waterways – $99,806

This project will improve the water quality and habitat value of Cooma township waterways through stem injection, and removal of large introduced trees (willows, poplars, etc.). Works will include bank stabilisation with large rocks on an actively eroding site, strategic placement of large rock within the watercourses to aerate the water and create a ripple effect, and strategic planting of native species. Interpretive signage will also be erected to facilitate educational outcomes. The project will actively involve local schools and conduct field days to educate the local community of the importance of water quality, and habitat for known species within the catchment, such as platypus, water rats, frogs and various bird species.

South East Local Land Services

Cutting the coral: core Improvements for the Minnamurra River – $98,930

This project will improve the connectivity and biodiversity condition of a recognised biodiversity corridor (Minnamurra River) through coral tree removal, weeding, fencing and revegetation in core investment areas. High priority biodiversity assets, such as Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 listed littoral rainforest, 4 ecologically endangered communities and the habitat and feeding grounds of the threatened Myotis macropus will be protected and improved. Local native seed collection for revegetation activities will allow future genetic transfer from individual plants of different provenance, diversifying the genetic make-up of future natural regeneration. Targeted workshops with schools and installation of bat boxes will increase the awareness of the ecological significance of the River, including threatened species, amongst the local community.

Tweed Shire Council

Rous River riparian restoration – $100,000

The Rous River Riparian Restoration Project aims to improve water quality and waterway health by working with private landowners to undertake a range of works to protect and restore riparian vegetation and mitigate river bank erosion. Project activities will involve stock exclusion fencing and off-stream watering points, riparian revegetation, weed control, threatened species management, and bank erosion management. A canoe trail will be established on the Rous River to provide public access, providing information on restoration sites and environmentally significant features.

Tweed Shire Council

Investing in the future of Pottsville’s koalas – $99,285

Pottsville Wetland is a unique environmental asset at the backdoor of the Pottsville community that provides critical habitat for the declining Tweed Coast koala population. The project will restore existing koala habitat and create new areas, reduce the risk of dog attack, and plan for bushfires. These actions will benefit a host of other threatened species and endangered ecological communities at this site and complement similar actions the council is undertaking across 268 hectares of its adjoining coastal koala-reserve system at Pottsville. Innovative community engagement will be used to encourage the active involvement of neighbours and the broader Tweed community, fostering a sense of custodianship towards the Pottsville Wetlands and its koalas.

Community heritage projects

State and local government heritage projects

Centennial Parklands Foundation

Saving an endangered ecological community: Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub – $88,550

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS) is an endangered plant community, and Centennial Parklands contains important ESBS bush remnants to be protected. The major threats to ESBS in the parklands are:

• weed invasion
• over shading
• infection by plant disease
• excessive pedestrian use
• the dumping of rubbish.

The project aims to prevent or reduce further impacts of weed invasion through bush regeneration, regular maintenance weeding and ongoing management of the ESBS sites to create a healthy native plant community.

Duffys Forest Residents Association Inc.

Rehabilitation of a heritage-listed icon at the home of Skippy – $98,062

Qualified bush-regeneration contractors will be engaged to assist the established volunteer program working towards restoring the park. Contractors will rehabilitate severely degraded areas of the site and riparian zones using revegetation methods where natural resilience has been shown to be absent. Works in these areas will focus on soil stability and prevent water quality degradation impacting the adjacent Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Cowan Creek catchment. The project will deliver educational interpretive signage to increase community awareness of plant species and the need to conserve them. The support of a professional bush regenerator will improve the capacity of the existing community volunteer program to protect restore and enhance the biodiversity across the site.

Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council

Restoring traditional Aboriginal yamfields along the Bundian Way – $100,000

This project will use traditional and scientific methods to restore and rehabilitate open grassy habitat that is associated with ecologically and culturally important yam species (geophytes – lilies, orchids and yam daisies). These areas are under threat due to exotic plant invasion, vegetation thickening, and the introduction of feral animals. The negative effects of these processes have been magnified by the removal of human management practices such as the burning and digging that were traditionally undertaken by Aboriginal women. We wish to reinstate the traditions of caring for traditional yam sites, whilst ecologically restoring the sites. We will undertake this project under the guidance of one of the very few Aboriginal women Elders who retains the traditional knowledge and cultural skills related to the ongoing survival of these important species. We will also seek expert scientific and ecological advice from leaders in this field.

Hungry Point Trust

Restoration of Hungry Point (Cronulla) Port Hacking remnant littoral rainforest – $64,520

The project will restore littoral rainforest and remove 25 tree pest species on the Hungry Point headland to prevent re-seeding and over-crowding of existing vegetation. These activities follow recommendations defined within the 2013 tree survey. Removal techniques to be used are appropriate to the site given the natural, Aboriginal and European heritage significance at Hungry Point. Propagation and planting of the vulnerable species Prostanthra densa is proposed in conjunction with Bushcare works to improve the condition of the littoral rainforest, which is listed as an endangered ecological community.

Hunters Hill Municipal Council

Habitat restoration along the lower Parramatta River estuary – $98,964

This project aims to strategically apply bush regeneration activities, particularly habitat restoration, at a landscape level along the lower reaches of the Parramatta River. Bushcare groups and bush regeneration contractors will be working across five reserves in the Hunter’s Hill local government area: Clarkes Point, Kelly’s Bush, Gladesville Reserve, Betts Park and Parramatta River Regional Park. Bush-regeneration works will improve ecological connectivity between Bushcare sites and restore coastal saltmarsh and swamp oak floodplain forest, both endangered ecological communities. The project will also engage the local community and increase volunteer numbers and community awareness and involvement.

Maitland City Council

Weed control and revegetation around an historical lake in Maitland – $82,900

Walka Water Works is a 64-hectare Crown land reserve containing State Heritage-listed infrastructure, a 16-hectare freshwater lake and approximately 20 hectares of Lower Hunter Spotted Gum–Ironbark Forest. This endangered ecological community (EEC) borders the extensive shoreline of the lake, forming essential foraging, shelter and breeding habitat for a host of common and threatened waterbirds, land birds, reptiles, kangaroos and other native wildlife. Weeds are now over-running this habitat and reducing its structure and function. This project will replace the weed growth with appropriate EEC species in order to conserve the indigenous habitat for local and migratory wildlife and bring historical, aesthetic and social benefits to the Walka site.