Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation 2019 grants awarded and project summaries

Armidale Tree Group

Habitat and Haven – $59,940

The Habitat and Haven project will restore and revegetate 2 threatened ecological communities and a riparian area. A habitat planting will be established on Salisbury Waters to provide food and shelter for threatened and declining woodland birds. Remnants of New England peppermint woodland and ribbon gum grassy woodland will be restored through revegetation and bush regeneration. The project aims to create a haven for wildlife, and a place for people to observe and learn about landscape connectivity and habitat restoration.

Australian River Restoration Centre Limited

Rivers of Carbon Grabben Gullen – $96,620

Rivers of Carbon Grabben Gullen builds on the work of the successful large-scale Rivers of Carbon Program (www.riversofcarbon.org.au), a proven model that focuses on connecting and linking ongoing and new riparian rehabilitation sites with remnant vegetation to provide multiple ecological and social benefits. The region of Grabben Gullen is a key connectivity gap in the southern tablelands and this project is being developed in response to a strong community desire to restore connectivity. Activities will include fencing and revegetating riparian areas, strategic small-scale erosion control works to improve water quality, and linking habitat to form contiguous wildlife corridors. The project will be carried out in partnership with Landcare and farmers.

Bangalow Koalas Inc

Bangalow koalas community wildlife corridor – $99,650

The Bangalow koalas community wildlife corridor project will enhance, protect, and conserve habitat for threatened species and ecological communities including the koala and the critically endangered lowland rainforest of subtropical Australia. The project will strengthen the connection between the community and wildlife by enhancing koala habitat and rainforest remnants in a wildlife corridor. Landholders and the broader community will be supported to restore habitat to benefit plant and animal communities, providing connectivity between rural plantings by creating 'stepping stones' for koalas to move safely across farmland and supporting the existing koala population with an enhanced network of koala feed trees.

Bangalow Land and Rivercare

Bandongrove Creek riparian restoration – $54,867

This project will restore a lowland subtropical rainforest riparian zone along Bandongrove Creek in the Byron Shire Hinterland. This site is located within a gazetted wildlife refuge and is a listed endemism priority area and climate change corridor. Project activities will include the planting of 2500 native trees and shrubs, monitoring their survival and growth over 3 years and intensive weed management. The project will assist in restoring ecological integrity and biodiversity, increase the amount of available habitat, create a wildlife corridor and improve landscape connectivity.

Bellinger Landcare Inc.

Urunga coastal wetlands rehabilitation program – Stage One – $99,950

This project focuses on the restoration of a number of endangered ecological communities (EECs) in the Urunga Wetlands, including swamp sclerophyll forest on coastal floodplain, freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplain and littoral rainforest. This wetland complex, a known nesting site of the black-necked stork, is located on the edge of the Urunga residential area and is threatened by invasive weeds and dumping of garden waste. Bush regeneration, community partnerships, education and interpretive signage will ensure continued protection and resilience of these environmentally significant EECs, alleviating community concerns about weed invasion in an area popular for its passive recreation values, including walking and bird watching.

Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc.

Ridge to River: Mooibal Spur Corridor Restoration Stage 1 – $99,873

Ridge to River Stage 1 will restore 2.2 kilometres of the Mooibal Spur ridge line. Mooibal Spur is an important connection between the ridges of Mount Jerusalem National Park and the main arm of the Brunswick River and Cape Byron Marine Park. The project aims to improve the condition and connectivity of locally significant ecological links through an area of High Environmental Value North Coast wet sclerophyll threatened flora and fauna habitat. A total of 7.2 hectares will be restored through 2.2 hectares of native species planting and 5 hectares of regeneration. The habitat will be enhanced through nest box installation and monitoring. The local community will be engaged through field days, workshops working bees, educational resources and signage.

Bundanon Trust

Restoring River flat eucalyptus forest – Stage 1 – $96,110

This project seeks to restore river flat eucalypt forest (EEC) at Haunted Point on the heritage-listed Bundanon Trust estate. The site is managed in perpetuity specifically for conservation and provides core habitat for many native species in the region. The transition from grazing has seen the establishment of weeds and regeneration has been very low. The Trust aims to restore resilience to this EEC using a variety of techniques including cultural burning, supplementary planting, manual and chemical weed control and exclusion fencing to protect the cultural and environmental values of this landscape.

Central Tablelands Landcare Inc

Restoring remnants with regeneration – landscapes and people – $97,521

Central Tablelands Landcare's Restoring remnants with regeneration builds on a series of successful vegetation projects delivered by the Landcare group over the last 8 years. This project will protect important remnant vegetation through stock exclusion fencing and long-term management. The project will protect 20 hectares of EEC and reach the broader community through an education program focusing on the importance of remnants, connectivity, and ongoing management. Landholders will be engaged in site assessments, fauna friendly fencing workshops, and weed and pest animal control programs. In response to drought natural regeneration will be the focus of the project rather than active revegetation. The outcome will be healthy connected remnants in a healthy connected community.

Clarence Environment Centre

Regenerating Shannon Creek Dam's threatened species and endangered ecological communities – $93,680

The Shannon Creek Dam restoration and rehabilitation project will focus on weed control and regeneration of 142 hectares of bushland in upper Black Swamp and Boiling Down Creek in the Clarence Valley. The project area contains plants, vegetation communities and animals of statewide significance, and is an exceptional regional wildlife corridor and habitat refuge area. The bushland regeneration will enhance habitat structure and ecological function, reduce the impact of frequent wildfires which has been exacerbated by weed growth, and reduce erosion arising from wildfires.

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc.

Rehabilitating old banana lands – $92,970

This project will restore the weed-infested areas of old banana lands where agricultural production has ceased and is not intended to resume due to the severe soil loss and steep landform. The project will include old banana properties which have been purchased for their scenic and residential values and where owners have an interest in biodiversity and habitat restoration. Work undertaken on properties will be prioritised according to their location in relation to wildlife corridors and koala habitat and the owners' commitment and contributions to the project.

Community Environment Network Inc.

Bateau Bay swift parrot habitat restoration project – $76,903

This project aims to improve a section of the Stepping Stones Landcare site, located adjacent to the playing fields at Bateau Bay, over a 3-year period. The rehabilitation area (approximately 5.1 hectares) will include weed control in established vegetation and building the capacity of local residents by instigating annual tree planting days. Plantings and regeneration activities as well as community participation in bird surveys and revegetation will result in a local community which is informed about the importance of large old trees of species that provide important food resources for the swift parrot and other threatened species found in the Stepping Stones Corridor.

EnviTE Inc.

Community Conservation of the emu in the Bungawalbin Stage 2 – $100,000

The Bungawalbin catchment is habitat for one of 2 endangered emu populations of the NSW North Coast. The project will reduce threats to emus through monitoring and direct conservation actions to enhance emu habitat and movement in critical corridors. Cross tenure vertebrate pest control of feral predators will be implemented. On-ground activities will be complemented by community capacity building and training in threat control. This project will scale up existing partnerships and on-ground conservation work.

Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve

Friends improving koala habitat and connectivity on the Tweed Coast – $99,294

Friends will work with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Tweed Shire Council, koala care groups and the local community to help create new, and restore degraded koala habitat, swamp sclerophyll and lowland rainforest on floodplain EEC and high environmental value bushland in part of a recent 100 hectares addition to the Cudgen Nature Reserve at Pottsville. A habitat restoration plan will be developed and guide implementation of restoration and revegetation actions. The project will also raise the profile of Cudgen Nature Reserve and its conservation values, promote participation in Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve activities and result in increased active membership of the group.

Geomancia Pty Ltd

Habitat restoration on Barooga Karrai – $99,820

This project will restore riparian habitat and rehabilitate remnant native vegetation connecting biodiversity conservation sites along 2 watercourses that support the endangered coolabah – black box community on the Barooga Karrai property, located west of Condobolin in the Lachlan River Catchment.

GLENRAC Inc.

Protecting and enhancing catchment headwaters – Glen Innes – $99,784

This project will deliver a range of activities that seek to enhance and improve water quality, riparian stability, and increase biodiversity across a number of sites in the Glen Innes district. The project will address issues of stream bank and gully erosion and biodiversity loss through on groundworks including streambank stabilisation, removal of willow trees, fencing and revegetation with native trees and shrubs. The project results will be used to engage other landholders in undertaking similar works to improve water quality in the headwaters of the Clarence and Severn Rivers.

Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council

Bringing Back Country – Restoring our Bangalay Sand Forest – $93,852

This project aims to rehabilitate approximately 4 hectares of the Endangered Ecological Community Bangalay Sand Forest at Perkins Dunes, Primbee, NSW. This ecological community is an important stand of forest in a fragmented coastal landscape and the project aims to restore it to good health as part of the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council's Bringing Back Country program. The objective of this program is to employ, educate and empower local Aboriginal people to regenerate and look after Country.

Mulgoa Valley Landcare Group

Cats claw creeper control – an integrated management strategy for Mulgoa Creek – $95,600

The Mulgoa Valley Landcare Group will reduce the ecological impacts of cats claw creeper – a key threatening process to biodiversity within the alluvial bushland areas of the Mulgoa Creek sub catchment. Using chemical treatment at 3 sites and biological control agents at 3 different sites, the extent and spread of this weed will be reduced within the critically endangered vegetation community of the riparian corridor along Mulgoa Creek in Western Sydney.

Nambucca Valley Landcare Inc.

Connecting Bowraville EECs – Stage 2 – $98,117

This project seeks to connect fragmented lowland subtropical rainforest EEC and control severe river erosion through bank protection works, native planting, riparian fencing and community capacity building. The project builds on the existing Bowraville Connections partnerships between landholders, community groups, the Nambucca Shire Council, the Australian Government, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the North Coast Local Land Services.

South West Rocks (SWR) Community Dune Care Group

Protection of riparian vegetation and littoral rainforest by removal of emerging invasive weeds – $66,300

This project involves controlling recently found sicklethorn (Asparagus falcatus) around Spencers Creek, Jerseyville. Controlling this highly invasive, emerging weed species while it is still relatively discrete will prevent it colonising nearby areas including littoral rainforest which have been treated for weeds over the past 20 years and are now relatively weed free. The project also involves treating a 1.6-hectare area on the edge of Saltwater Creek in South West Rocks which is heavily infested with invasive weeds. Treatment will prevent them spreading to the littoral rainforest and dunal system across the creek.

Southern New England Landcare Ltd

Re-connecting Thunderbolt Country for threatened New England woodland and wetland biodiversity – $99,996

This project will help restore habitat connectivity for threatened fauna and flora in Thunderbolt Country around Uralla, Kentucky and Salisbury Plains on southern New England Tableland. A lack of viable habitat and poor condition of existing vegetation is jeopardising the survival and impeding movement of 19 key threatened fauna and 7 key threatened plant species. Landholders will plant 36 hectares of new habitat with 12,000 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Remnant native woodland and wetland (18 hectares) will be protected. Monitoring and education will improve landholder capacity to build knowledge and better manage threats.

The Mulloon Institute Limited

Restoration of Mulloon Catchment to protect its ecosystems – Phase 2 – $100,000

Once a system of interconnected ponds and wetlands, Mulloon Creek and its tributaries are now deeply eroded and lacking complex, interlinked habitat mosaics, a past feature of this landscape. Building on earlier success and working with the catchment community, Government and the research sector, this United Nations recognised project will extend works to recreate complex habitat for native flora and fauna, including at least 11 rare, declining or threatened bird species and 2 threatened frog species. This project will improve the creek condition and functionality (habitat quality, water quality and flow) and habitat connectivity throughout Mulloon linking Tallaganda National Park and Reedy Creek State Protected lands.

Tuntable Creek Landcare Incorporated

Nightcap Connector – $100,000

The Nightcap Connector project occurs within a region recognised as one of 15 national biodiversity hotspots (DECC, 2014) and is the most biologically diverse hotspot in NSW. The project will target high conservation value sites in the upper Richmond River catchment which includes the headwaters of 5 tributary creeks which feed into the Richmond River which is one of the most polluted rivers in NSW (UNE Ecohealth Report, 2014). The project will target rainforest regeneration, riparian works and threatened species habitat enhancement with an objective of empowering the community to participate in restoring and caring for the environment.

Tweed Landcare Inc.

Filling biodiversity gaps connecting Tweed Coast – Border Ranges Stage 5 – $100,000

This is Stage 5 of the Filling Biodiversity Gaps program which aims to improve and protect high conservation value vegetation to connect, expand and maintain habitat for the Tweed's diverse flora and fauna, including threatened species. Properties are selected based on location within a mapped corridor and/or links to national parks estate and must have engaged and supportive landholders. Training and awareness activities increase landholders' skills and broader community understanding of the importance of landscape connectivity.

Upper Kangaroo Valley Landcare Group Incorporated

Eradicate mandevilla laxa – $16,500

This project is designed to enable the continuation of follow-up works to eradicate mandevilla laxa from a site where it has primarily been removed. Mandevilla laxa has been identified as an emerging weed in the Upper Kangaroo River (Valley) region and has spread to 4 other sites. Constant follow-up days by experienced and certified contractors are required over the next 5 years to eradicate the seedlings, maintain the control and to ensure that the initial money, time and efforts provide a positive outcome for the eradication of mandevilla laxa in the area.

Wilsons Creek Huonbrook Landcare Inc.

Upper Wilsons and Coopers Creek Catchments: Linkages in the Headwaters 2019 – $99,700

Located in the Byron Shire hinterland, North East NSW, the project will consolidate connectivity of lowland subtropical rainforests surrounding 3 national parks and enhance river connections from the hinterland towards the coast. Exotic species will be controlled and 16.04 hectares of native forest regenerated by encouraging seed bank germination. Long-term, forests of EEC status that support more than 40 threatened species of flora and fauna will be viable and self-maintaining. Community celebration of our biodiversity hotspot environment will be a theme of project communications which will showcase the koala, Albert's Lyrebird and platypus.

Bathurst Regional Council

Queen Charlotte Vale Creek – royal rehabilitation treatment – $86,820

Council has recently acquired land along Queen Charlotte Vale Creek in Bathurst, which has created a unique opportunity to rehabilitate 700 metres of this important waterway. As part of the project the creek line will be fenced to exclude stock and target weeds will be controlled to reduce impacts on vegetation condition. The riparian zone will be revegetated with native species to provide habitat and stabilise the banks. This section of the creek is of high conservation value as it is approximately 1 kilometre upstream from the confluence with the Macquarie River.

Bega Valley Shire Council

Green Shoots – Tathra community bushfire recovery – $84,560

This project focuses on the importance of environmental restoration for a community's social and psychological recovery from a natural disaster. Building on the momentum of initial environmental rehabilitation and protection works undertaken in 2018, this project will target restoration works for high profile key public reserve areas within Tathra that were badly damaged or destroyed in the Tathra Bushfire. The project will include restoration works for the endangered ecological community littoral rainforest.

Clarence Valley Council

Connecting Maclean's Landscapes Through Regeneration – $97,138

On the north coast of NSW, the Maclean landscape holds a variety of vegetation types, including endangered lowland rainforest and sclerophyll forest which provide important corridors between public reserves. Maclean landscapes are culturally important and support a recognised grey headed flying-fox camp. Currently degraded due to heavy weed infestation, bush regeneration actions by Yaegl bush regenerators and other contractors will see the restoration of these important areas.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Wollondilly River restoration – willows and blackberry removal – $81,850

This project will restore a section of the Wollondilly River degraded by willow and blackberry infestation. The Wollondilly River is an important green space and aquatic area for the City of Goulburn. The rejuvenation of this section of river will produce environmental and community benefits while opening access to the river. This project complements the construction of Stage 2 of the popular Wollondilly Walking Track (work on this section of the track is currently underway).

Hilltops Council

Currawong Creek rehabilitation, Murrumburrah, NSW – $75,000

Habitat rehabilitation of the severely degraded section of Currawong Creek at Murrumburrah and the removal of an in-stream barrier to provide continuous fish passage. Piping of creek flows under the Neill Street causeway has resulted in erosion, bed-level drop and loss of riparian vegetation. This project will rehabilitate the creek, while providing environmental educational linkages utilising the skills of the local Aboriginal community.

Hunter Water Corporation

Crawchie Creek restoration and rehabilitation – $70,150

The lower reaches of Crawchie Creek are heavily degraded and pose a risk to downstream endangered ecological communities and the Hunter Wetlands National Park through the proliferation of weeds and transport of nutrients and sediment. This project will remove substantial weed infestations within the riparian zone and revegetate endangered ecological communities to improve habitat quality, buffer the sensitive downstream environment and provide connectivity with Hunter Wetlands National Park.

Lord Howe Island Board

Sallywood Swamp Forest Project on Lord Howe Island – Phase 1 – $99,548

This is phase one of a 2 phase project. Phase one will restore 1.3 hectares of grazing land to Sallywood Swamp Forest, a critically endangered ecological community unique to Lord Howe Island, and form a corridor between existing patches of significant native vegetation. The restored forest will double the current extent of Sallywood Swamp Forest on Lord Howe Island. The restored Sallywood Swamp Forest will provide habitat for threatened species including the Lord Howe Placostylus, Lord Howe Woodhen, Lord Howe currawong, Lord Howe silvereye, Lord Howe golden whistler and Lord Howe gecko. Phase 2 of the project will restore another 1 hectare of Sallywood Swamp Forest downstream of, but connected to, the Phase 1 project site.

Mid Coast Council

Beyond the Shed Stage 2 – $100,000

This project will implement actions from the Karuah River Catchment Management Plan to improve the capacity of the local poultry industry to mitigate risks to water quality associated with the storage and application of poultry litter. Council in collaboration with Hunter Local Land Services and 5 local poultry farmers has conducted a pilot project focusing on nutrient management targeting what happens 'Beyond the Shed'. The project has been highly successful, resulting in change to management practices mitigating nutrient risks to waterways and improving farm production methods. The proposed project will expand the pilot throughout the local industry to implement best practice nutrient management.

Murray Local Land Services

Superb parrot flyways and foraging habitat restoration project – $99,694

The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) is listed as vulnerable in NSW and Australia mainly due to the loss of its breeding and foraging habitat including the loss of hollow-bearing trees. This project will work with landholders to restore foraging habitat and flyways for superb parrots in the mid-Murray region of NSW. Key on-ground works will include the establishment of revegetated flight paths between areas of foraging habitat and the enhancement of foraging habitat via revegetation, weed control, pest control, fencing and the retention of hollow-bearing trees.

Muswellbrook Shire Council

Muswellbrook urban riparian restoration – $37,815

This project will progress the Muswellbrook Urban Riparian Landcare Master Plan. Activities will include bush regeneration, weed management, revegetation and erosion control.

North Coast Local Land Services

Yaegl Cultural Burning Project – $100,000

The Yaegl Cultural Burning Project aims to support Yaegl cultural knowledge, practice and aspirations to care for their Country. In partnership Yaegl Registered Native Title Body Corporation and North Coast Local Land Services will undertake cultural fire planning, assessment, mentoring and knowledge sharing to support relationships and capacity build. The project will also implement cultural fire regimes to protect, restore, enhance and manage Country.

Penrith City Council

Preserving Cumberland Plain threatened species in Penrith LGA through education and weed management – $84,552

This project focuses on the indicative flora species of the Cumberland Plain Woodland. Working with community groups and volunteers the project focuses on increasing and diversifying the knowledge of the local community on threatened species populations that occur over 8 bushland sites within the local government area (LGA). The project will deliver over 80 educational work days across 8 sites including interpretive walks and bush regeneration works over a 3-year period. These will be targeted at protecting the threatened species populations within the critically endangered ecological community of Cumberland Plain Woodland.

Port Stephens Council

Birubi Headland sand dune restoration – $99,100

This project proposes to systematically reduce the impact of Bitou Bush from the Birubi Headland, which is threatening the headlands natural biodiversity, cultural significance, and the Port Stephens tourism industry. Using foliar herbicide application, designed to mitigate the potential for disruption of Aboriginal middens, the sand dunes exposed due to the treatment of bitou bush will be sustained using jute matting, coir logs and hydro mulch as to mitigate sand drift and erosion, prior to being revegetated utilising native species endemic to the area, as well as plants of cultural significance.

Riverina Local Land Services

Safeguarding the Serpentinite – $58,460

Safeguarding the Serpentinite brings to together the expertise of researchers, land managers, indigenous custodians and relevant authorities to protect and restore 150 hectares of the Coolac-Tumut Serpentinite shrubby woodland. This threatened ecological community is restricted to the South West slopes of NSW. Through this collaborative project the key threats to the woodland will be strategically addressed. As this woodland has recently been listed as a TEC, a key component of the project is educating landholders and the wider community of the features and management actions needed to restore its viability and secure its long-term survival.

South East Local Land Services

Collaring feral pig impacts in the Palerang – $99,050

This project aims to engage and motivate the local community, uniting them to improve the way they address the feral pig issues in the Palerang area. The South East Local Land Services currently support local landholders with feral animal management, however, recent drought conditions have increased the difficulty that landholders face in successful management of these pests with their movements becoming unpredictable and traditional methods of control via trapping being unsuccessful. The project will assist the community to understand the movement and ecology of pigs and guide the development of 'best practice' control techniques for the local area to reduce the impact of feral pigs on the local environment.

Tenterfield Shire Council

Creek Corridors – community restoration of Tenterfield Creek – $48,140

Tenterfield Shire Council and community partners OzFish, The Bird Watching Institute and Moombahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council will work together to improve the health of Tenterfield Creek. The project aims to restore the natural values of the creek to support native fish, platypus, fishing, indigenous values, tourism and education. The project will see 3 kilometres of Tenterfield Creek bank and surrounding park land improved through bank stabilisation, revegetation, weed control and prevention of excess sedimentation. The project will be used as an educational tool, engaging the local community and visitors.

The Hills Shire Council

Restoration of Castle Hill Heritage Park blue gum high forest – $81,030

Castle Hill Heritage Park, a 21-hectare community space which incorporates critically endangered blue gum high forest and a significant site of Australia's colonial history. The Restoration project of Castle Hill Heritage Park blue gum high forest will focus on restoring the ecological values of 2.8 hectares of blue gum high forest while maintaining its heritage significance. This will be achieved by working with one of the Shire's largest Bushcare volunteer group and using best practice bushland restoration processes.

Western Local Land Services

Rehabilitating habitat for the grey range thick-billed grasswren – $97,776

This project will implement on-ground works to improve the known habitat of the critically endangered grey range thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus obscurior). This Grasswren has been identified in the national list of 20 species at greatest risk of extinction in the next 20 years. By working with landholders, Western Local Land Services will work with landholders to implement total grazing pressure management and fencing to ensure that the condition of habitat (chenopod shrublands) is improved. Complementary soil rehabilitation works will be used to aid the re-hydration of the landscape, reduce soil erosion and aid natural regeneration of habitat.

Western Local Land Services

Improving regent parrot forage habitat – $97,000

The project will improve a movement corridor of forage habitat (constructed of continuous vegetation or stepping stones) for regent parrots in a key management area identified by the Saving our Species program. During the breeding season, regent parrots nest in river red gums and forage in mallee habitat up to 20 kilometres distance; they may make these trips several times a day. Remnant mallee vegetation patches close to roosting habitat will be fenced and pest herbivores controlled, allowing for natural regeneration and the improvement of forage habitat. Reducing movement distance to food sources will improve regent parrot viability.