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Issue 4: April 2008 Welcome to the April edition of Catchment News, the newsletter of the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA). Previous editions of this newsletter are available on the CMA website. What's happening around the catchments?
The latest technology and some of the best minds in the field have been enlisted to map the various marine habitats up and down the NSW coast to learn more about the habitats we have in our marine environment, the condition they're in and the biodiversity associated with those habitats. The project is a partnership of the coastal Catchment Management Authorities, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and Department of Primary Industries, the Australian Government and researchers from a number of universities, and is being supported by over $2 million of Australian and NSW Government funding. Digital video and still camera imagery will be combined with the latest swath acoustic methods, to give a more accurate picture of the seabed. Community groups along the NSW coast will play an important part in the project, including the divers in the Terrigal Underwater Group who have commenced baseline monitoring in their 'blue backyard' with help from the University of Newcastle, Crowne Plaza Terrigal and the CMA.
Rehabilitation works have now commenced on the Pages River in Murrurundi as part of the implementation of the Upper Pages River Management Plan, which will improve the health of the Upper Pages River above Camerons Gorge over three years of coordinated river rehabilitation activities. The plan has been prepared by the Upper Pages River Working Group, including representatives of the Murrurundi Landcare Group, Murrurundi Development Association, the Upper Hunter Shire Council, the CMA and community members. The works phase is being implemented with interested landholders throughout the project area, and involves around 50 km of river with over 100 landholders. The initial phase will include control of giant bamboo reed, willows and privet in the river at Murrurundi, with native vegetation being planted on riverbanks to replace the exotic vegetation. Eroding areas will be stabilised through revegetation, stock management and, in some areas, installation of rock protection on the stream bed and the lower part of the stream bank.
A new postcard campaign that aims to raise awareness of the problems caused by Indian Mynas has been launched in the Manning. The campaign, which is being run by Manning Landcare, builds on the work of Hallidays Point Tidy Towns, who with support from the CMA have been working to control the spread of the invasive pest. Project partners include Hasting Landcare and Greater Taree City and Great Lakes councils. For more information on the Indian Myna and what you can do to control its impact on our natural biodiversity go to www.indianmyna.org.
Over the next six months ten young people, working within the Green Corps program, will acquire skills and work experience, while working to improve the ecology and visitor facilities at the CMA's Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project. Green Corps, Young Australians for the Environment, is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training program for young people aged between 17 and 20 years. It provides young people with the opportunity to volunteer their time and effort to conserve, preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The Green Corps team will be carrying out revegetation works, upgrading pathways and building bridges, which will contribute to the long term ecological benefits and facilities of the site.
Bitou Bush was first recorded in New South Wales in 1908 near Newcastle, and between 1946 and 1968 was planted for dune stabilisation following sand mining at a number of locations along the New South Wales coastline. It is now found strangling native vegetation along 80 per cent of the NSW coastline. The CMA last year granted $40,000 to Great Lakes Council to fight the pest in a number of key locations including Cellito, Blueys and Boomerang Beaches and various headlands. At Blueys and Boomerang Beach, Dunecare groups have been working tirelessly to regenerate sections of the dunes back to a natural system; while at Cellito Beach, recent regeneration work carried out by Smiths Lake Landcare in conjunction with Great Lakes Council and CMA staff, has led to up to 80 per cent of the weed being removed. If you're in the Great Lakes area and are interested in helping to rehabilitate your local bushland, contact Isabelle Strachan at Great Lakes Council on 6591 7301.
At least a dozen local landholders from a range of backgrounds had a chance to hear from Rob and Maree Goodear on March 25 about the changes they've made to their grazing management on their Merriwa property 'Illogan' and how they have led to greater productivity, enabling them to increase their stocking rate, improve the range of feed and native grasses they can produce, while improving soil health and carbon content. Lake Macquarie - Our Coast Our Stories Budding photographers in the Lake Macquarie area were given a chance to show off their talents and some of the region's finest landscapes in a photography competition called Our Coast Our Stories: Photographic Competition and Exhibition. The competition is part of the Communities Learning About Marine Shorelines (CLAMS) project being undertaken by Lake Macquarie Council with support from the CMA. The exhibition of photos will be on display until May 2008 at various libraries in the Lake Macquarie area. For more information contact Lake Macquarie Council's CLAMS Project Officer on 4921 0458.
Students and teachers of St Mary's High School in Lake Macquarie have taken an important step in their local creek's future by securing funding from the CMA and support and advice from various local environmental and government agencies to regenerate Kennedy Creek, saving it from a history of neglect. On 12 March students and teachers from St Mary's High School and St Paul's Primary School at Gateshead were joined by members of Trees In Newcastle and Galgabba Landcare Group for their first planting day, where they planted up to 800 native trees and shrubs along Kennedy Creek, as part of the 1.5 ha regeneration project.
Tony and Jane Hegarty of Cassilis have generously invited over 200 students from high schools and TAFE colleges in the Upper Hunter to their property 'Belvedere' for the inaugural Hunter-Central Rivers Property Planning Competition and Field Day on Friday 9 May. The inter-school competition provides senior agriculture and primary industry students with the chance to study sustainable farm practices on a family property and then put their knowledge and skills to work to develop their own property plan. The competition and field day are being coordinated by Merriwa Landcare Group with funding and support from the CMA. Support is also being provided at the field day by representatives from the Rural Lands Protection Board, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, local farmers and agronomists. As part of the day local farmers are invited to participate in a presentation on Carbon monitoring on the farm and a demonstration of the new satellite imagery technology called Pastures from Space. For more information contact Heidi Inder on 6548 5100 or email rockwell@hunterlink.net.au. Dates for the calendar
Armed with a pot of dye and a computer, oceanographer Dr Rob Brander from the University of New South Wales has been setting about trying to educate beach goers about the science of our surf. His mission is to reduce the number of deaths from drowning each year on Australia's beaches caused by dangerous rips. Dr Brander is bringing his fascinating Science of the Surf program to Newcastle, Wyong and Terrigal in April as part of the Marine Discovery Series. His presentation will also include a look at how beaches are formed and eroded, the effects of sea level rises, and the impact of storms on our fragile coast. Further sessions are planned up the coast at Old Bar, Taree and Forster on the 8-10 May (see details further down). The details for the April sessions are Thursday 10th April: 6.30-8.30 pm at Nobbys SLSC,
Newcastle; Friday 11 April: 6.30-8.30
pm at The Entrance North SLSC, Wyong; and Saturday 12 April: 2.30-4.30
pm at Terrigal SLSC, Terrigal. No bookings are required, however if you'd like
more information contact the CMA's Joel Tyndall on 4337 1204 or 0428 117 914. The CMA will hold the final
workshop for the Black Creek Salinity Monitoring Program with project volunteers and other interested landholders at Greta
Community Hall. The key findings of the program will be presented and discussed,
and participants will have a chance to contribute their observations and
comments to the evaluation of the project. Future directions for the project
will also be discussed. The workshop will run from 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm, with light
refreshments provided. Contact Project Officer Rodney Hardwick on 4938 4941 or
email rodney.hardwick@cma.nsw.gov.au
to confirm your attendance. The CMA, in conjunction with the Community Environment Network (CEN), is currently offering incentive funding to landholders to help enhance and extend bushland corridors in the Wallis, Four Mile and Fishery Creeks catchments. Landholders with rural properties in the Mulbring Richmondvale and Elrington areas are being invited to apply for funding to conduct bush regeneration, weed removal, revegetation and fencing works. Funding for the project is being contributed by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landholders in these areas are invited to attend a free information day on 19 April at Mulbring Hall (corner of Stone and Palmer Streets), at 10.00 am. A free sausage sizzle for lunch will be provided. For further details contact CEN project Officer Nicola Booth on 4349 4754 or email wildlife@cccen.org.au by 15 April. 19 April - What does your garden grow? This hands-on workshop will help you with weed identification and provide information on how to deal with weeds in your garden as well as the local area of Nelson Bay. Contact Melinda Anderson on 4980 0251 or email melinda.anderson@portstephens.nsw.gov.au for details. 19 April - Wyong Bigger Backyard Tumbi Bushcare will be continuing their work on the control of crofton weed in Wyong as part of a CMA Small Grant and Envirofund project. Contact Wyong Community Support Officer Rebecca Young on 4350 5444 or email Rebecca.Young@wyong.nsw.gov.au if you're interested in lending a hand. 19 April - Gaia Open House featuring chooks and waterwise gardening If you're in the Newcastle area go along to 16 Tinobah Place, Maryland (2.00 pm - 4.00 pm) to see this energy and water efficient home in practice. Experts on keeping chooks and waterwise gardening will be on hand to answer any questions. No bookings required. Enquiries 4974 2848 or amartin@ncc.nsw.gov.au. 20 April - Kooragang planting day On Sunday 20 April from 9.30 am the Koora Gang volunteers will be
doing some planting at Hexham Swamp. To register your interest contact Peg, Rob or Sue at the Kooragang Wetlands Office on 4964 9308. Go to the
Kooragang website
to learn more about the work that is being done through the CMA's Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project. The ANPC and Mount Annan Botanic Garden are inviting registrations to a conference on threatening processes in plant conservation and appropriate responses. The conference is aimed at scientists, conservation managers, on-ground practitioners and community volunteers. Field trips will cover a variety of plant conservation topics using Western Sydney examples. For further information and registration go to www.anpc.asn.au/conferences. 23 April - Autumn Bug Survey For a great school holiday activity, get the kids involved in discovering the fascinating water bugs in the local creeks in Blue Gum Hills. Activities will be run at Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi. No bookings required. Enquiries 4974 2863 or smorley@ncc.nsw.gov.au.
The CMA is inviting landholders living along the Hunter River near Singleton to an information session about the Hunter River and its tributaries. A number of landholders with properties on the river suffered damage as a result of the June 2007 flood. This session will provide some information and advice for mitigating issues such as riverbank erosion. The session will cover basic river processes and features and will review the changes that have occurred over time in river rehabilitation and recovery in the Hunter. Footage from a helicopter survey of the river following the June 2007 flood and comparisons of photos from this and previous floods will also feature as part of the presentation. For further details on the workshop please contact the CMA's Singleton Community Support Officer Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346 or 0428 414 258. 29 April - Field visit to Slatey and Burkes Creek - West Wallsend Field Day As part of a comprehensive series of field visits in Lake Macquarie, landcarers and interested members of the community are invited along on a tour of Landcare projects being undertaken at Slatey and Burkes Creek that are addressing issues relating to treating weeds and protecting and rehabilitating wetlands. The field visits are supported by Lake Macquarie City Council and the CMA as part of the Lake Macquarie Landcare Community Support Program. For a seat on the bus contact the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office on 4959 5080. 29 April - Master Tree Growers courses Annabel Kater from Australian Sustainable Timbers will deliver the second of two Master Tree Growers courses in the Hunter on 29 April. Annabel is well qualified in forest management having recently completed Forestry Stewardship Council certification for a group of native forest farmers. For information contact Pierre Louys by phone 0447 418 348 or email Pierre.louys@cma.nsw.gov.au.
The CMA is once again proud to be a major sponsor of the Tocal Field Days, which seems to be drawing bigger and bigger crowds each year. The CMA is coordinating the Land Management Area and has provided free display space for eight local community groups who are involved in some way in protecting our natural resources. In 2008 Tocal Field Days will celebrate 25 years of promoting sustainable agriculture. To mark the historic anniversary, the theme for this year's event is Then and Now and will make a feature of old and new equipment, machinery and livestock demonstrations; highlighting how much progress has occurred in the farming sector. For more information on the event stay tuned to the event website at www.tocalfielddays.com. 3 May - Green Energy and Renewable Alternatives Head to Carrington in Newcastle to find out what green energy and renewable energy alternatives are available and what costs and rebates there are for installation in your home. Bookings essential. Enquiries 4974 2848 or amartin@ncc.nsw.gov.au. 5 May - 11 June - Farm Water Supply Workshops A series of workshops are being offered in the Hunter to help landholders identify farm water supply requirements and options for improvements. The workshops consist of two days, over two weeks and are being held in Gundy, Murrurundi, Denman and Merriwa through May and Glendon Brook and Glennies Creek in June. Places are limited. To find out more and express your interest in participating in the workshops, contact Jon Thorne on 6542 4426 or 0437 376 080 for the May sessions and Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346 or 0428 414 258 for the June sessions. 6-8 May - Free workshops on applying for and managing grants Hunter Area Consultative Committee is conducting free workshops in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and Muswellbrook to assist community groups, government and businesses in developing projects, writing submissions and managing grants. These particular sessions in 2008 will also be used by the Hunter ACC to gather the views of participants on current regional needs and issues. Contact Martin McKenzie on 4961 2600 or email martin.mckenzie@hacc.org.au before the end of April to register. 8 May - Glendon Brook Salinity Monitoring workshop The final workshop for the Glendon Brook Salinity Monitoring Program will be held at Mitchells Flat Hall. The key findings of the program will be presented and discussed, and participants will have a chance to contribute their observations and comments to the evaluation of the project. Future directions for the project will also be discussed. The workshop will run from 9.00 am - 2.00 pm, with light refreshments provided. Contact Project Officer Rodney Hardwick on 4938 4941 or email rodney.hardwick@cma.nsw.gov.au to confirm your attendance. 8 May - Marine Discovery Series Dave Harasti brings his amazing underwater photography and his astounding knowledge of seahorses to Toowoon Bay SLSC, Wyong (6.30-8.30 pm) as part of the Marine Discovery Series. Contact Joel Tyndall on 4337 1204 or 0428 117 914 for more details. 8-10 May - Discovering the Science of the Surf Dr Rob Brander continues his series of presentations on the Science of the Surf (see full details under April 10 listing): Thursday 8 May: 6.30 - 8.00 pm at Tomaree Library and Community Centre, Salamander; Friday 9 May: 6.30 - 8.00 pm at Old Bar SLSC, Old Bar; and Saturday 10 May: 6.30 - 8.00 pm at Cape Hawke SLSC, Forster. No bookings are required, however if you'd like more information contact the CMA's Brian Hughes on 6551 8994 or 0428 293 021. 9 May - 2008 Hunter-Central Rivers Property Planning Competition and Field Day As part of the Property Planning Competition and Field Day being held at the
Hegartys' 'Belvedere' property (Darkwood Road, Cassilis), local farmers are invited to attend
a presentation on Carbon monitoring on the farm and participate in a
demonstration of the new satellite imagery technology called Pastures from
Space. For more information contact Heidi Inder on 6548 5100 or email rockwell@hunterlink.net.au. Visit a household on a mission to reduce energy use and combat climate change and find out how you can do the same. This is your chance to see a working Photovoltaic Solar Electricity Generator, a Solar Hot Water System and Rainwater tank in an average Nelson Bay home. Contact Melinda Anderson on 4980 0251 or email melinda.anderson@portstephens.nsw.gov.au for details. 15 May - Marine Discovery Series Dave Harasti brings his amazing underwater photography and his
astounding knowledge of seahorses to Nobbys SLSC, Newcastle (6.30-8.30 pm) as
part of the Marine Discovery Series. Contact Joel Tyndall on 4337 1204 or 0428 117 914
for more details. Come to Raymond Terrace and get some ideas on native garden design and plant selection for gardens of all sizes, including
tips on attracting birds and providing wildlife habitat. Each participant will
receive a Nature Watch Diary.
Contact Melinda Anderson on 4980 0251 or email melinda.anderson@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
for details. Learn how to utilise your organic waste from around the home with an introduction to composting and worm
farming in
Raymond Terrace.
Contact Melinda Anderson on 4980 0251 or email melinda.anderson@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
for details. The CMA is planning two community workshops in the Wollombi Brook catchment in Bulga on Tuesday 27 May and Broke on Thursday 29 May to discuss a range of natural resource issues relevant to the community. Further details can be obtained from the CMA's Community Support Officer for Singleton, Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346 or 0428 414 258. 31 May - Lake Macquarie Field Day Continuing the series of field visits in Lake Macquarie, a tour of Landcare projects being undertaken at Little Flaggy Creek to better manage urban stormwater and nutrient run-off will take place on 31 May. For a seat on the bus contact the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office on 4959 5080. Support available for natural resource management activities Australian Government Funding for Natural Resource Management The Australian Government has announced its new program for investing in the future of Australia's environment and natural resources. The Caring for our Country Program will begin on 1 July 2008 and will integrate all existing Commonwealth Government programs including the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Landcare Program, and the Working on Country Indigenous land and environmental programs. The new program will also remove demarcations between national, regional and local funding and will give non-government organisations, regional bodies, Local Government and State, Territory and Commonwealth government agencies the chance to access funding to achieve national priorities. The CMA, as one of these organisations, will be required to apply for all future Australian Government funding. Until the rules of the program are known, it is unclear as to what activities the CMA will be able to fund next year, however further details will be communicated once we have more information. In the meantime if you need some help managing a natural resource issue on your property or in your catchment - or you're interested in a Property Vegetation Plan - contact your nearest CMA office or complete a Registration of Interest form from the CMA website. Other NRM funding programs Community conservation groups are invited to apply for up to $50,000 in Round 11 of the Threatened Species Network Community Grants program, which opened on 28 March and will close on 30 May 2008. Guidelines and Application Forms can be downloaded from www.wwf.org.au/tsn or by calling 1800 032 551. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority supporting the community in managing our natural resources
The CMA Board meets each month to inspect and discuss natural resource management issues at different locations around the CMA region. The April Board meeting and inspections will take place at Merriwa. The members of the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA Board are Dr WEJ Paradice (Chairman), Neil Rose (Deputy Chairman), John Weate, Julia Imrie, Arthur Burns, John Asquith, and Chris Scott. The General Manager is Glenn Evans. For more information on any of the stories in this edition of Catchment News, contact Hunter-Central Rivers CMA Community Education Manager Tiffany La Gerche on 4930 1030. For all other inquiries contact your local CMA office:
CMA Gosford Office
CMA Muswellbrook Office
CMA Taree Office For inquiries relating to the CMA's Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation
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Mapping
for marine biodiversity
Upper Pages River Management Works Underway
Indian Mynas
on most wanted list in the Manning
Youth engaged in environmental training at Kooragang Wetlands
Doing battle with Bitou Bush
Illogan Field Day
Students become local
environmental heroes
Property
planning competition
10-12 April - Discovering the Science of the Surf
15 April - Black Creek Salinity Monitoring Program
24 April - River Management Workshop at
Whittingham
2-4 May - Tocal Field Days 2008: 25 years
The Hunter-Central Rivers CMA is working with private landholders, local
government and industry to better understand and manage our local catchments,
while providing funding and expertise to implement natural resource
management activities in line with the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Action
Plan (CAP).