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Issue 14: February 2009 Welcome to the February 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. To subscribe to Catchment News or make changes to your subscription details please send an email to hcr@cma.nsw.gov.au. Click here to view large text format | Click here for print-friendly version What's happening around the catchments?
After many years in contention, a team of young environmentalists from Dungog High School has taken out the NSW Envirothon Challenge. Dungog is the first school in the Hunter-Central Rivers region to win the prestigious title. Envirothon is an annual event coordinated by the NSW Department of Education and Training. It involves teams of secondary school students from across the state competing against each other in a series of environmental challenges. Dungog High School took out the Hunter Envirothon in 2008 and went on to compete with nine other schools from NSW in the state final in December. The NSW Challenge had students completing activities on mapping, fauna, soil, habitat, water and Aboriginal culture and then developing recommendations for managing real life environmental issues. The standard of competition in 2008 was exceptional and Dungog High School deserved winners. Here's hoping for another great result for our region in the 2009 NSW Envirothon Challenge.
According to respected horse expert Jane Myers, there are many simple changes horse owners can make to improve the health of their horses and their environment. These were shared with participants in the Central Coast at a series of workshops in December, coordinated by the CMA and presented by Jane Myers. The workshops and field day provided participants with a wealth of practical and cost-effective options for improving the way they manage their horses and horse properties. For example, dung beetles can help minimise manure loads in paddocks, reducing the risk of worm infestation to horses, while also limiting nutrient run-off into local waterways; planting native trees and shrubs along fence lines provides shade and shelter for horses while also creating valuable habitat for native animals; and designing paddocks to encourage movement can reduce the soil erosion and compaction that result from fence walking. If you'd like to attend future workshops or find out more about improved management of your property contact the CMA Gosford office on 4324 3844 or for horse management tips visit Jane Myers' website www.equiculture.com.au.
A former resident of Sydney, Jane Scott now relishes the rural life on her 410-hectare property north-west of Gloucester, where she runs 80 head of beef cattle. The property includes a large forested area that forms part of an important wildlife corridor from the World Heritage Barrington Tops through to Woko National Park. Jane recently applied to the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA for a Property Vegetation Plan (PVP) to set aside two thirds of her property for conservation, ensuring it will be protected forever from clearing or degradation. Her application was successful, which means Jane will receive a cash incentive to protect the area from threats and impacts, such as livestock, weeds, pests and fire. She also plans to use some of the funds from the PVP to improve the productive area of her property. PVPs have proven to be an attractive option for primary producers as a viable alternative to logging and grazing. According to CMA vegetation officer Andrew Paget, the number of people bidding for Incentive PVPs has increased from 8-10 in a year, to about 40 in the Lower North Coast alone. A critical step in the process of applying for an Incentive PVP is having the native vegetation assessed by a qualified CMA staff member. As it is a competitive process, there are no guarantees of success, but the bids that represent the best value for money and deliver the best environmental outcomes, have a good chance. For more information on Incentive PVPs contact the CMA on 4930 1030.
Over 200 hectares of littoral rainforest, swamp sclerophyll forest and saltmarsh on the Central Coast are being enhanced through the efforts of the Department of Environment and Climate Change with support from three community bushcare groups, as part of the CMA's Coast Estuary and Marine Partnership Program, with funding from the Australian Government. With support and coordination from local National Parks and Wildlife staff and a team of professional bush regenerators, volunteers from Wamberal Lagoon, Rileys Island and Bouddi Bushcare groups have been steadily removing Lantana, Bitou, Asparagus Fern, Privet and Honeysuckle from four reserves in the Lakes and Gosford Districts on the Central Coast. The CMA has provided $80,000 in support of the work, which covers Wamberal Lagoon and Rileys Island Nature Reserves, Bouddi National Park and North Wyrrabalong National Park.
Following the success of their 2008 program Project Aware on the Rocks, Great Lakes City Council are keen to register some participants for the 2009 Project Aware course in March. Enrolments are being invited throughout February for the 2009 course, which will consist of at least four evening seminars, one rockpool excursion and a snorkelling trip. At the end of the course participants will be required to develop their own education project to pass on what they've learnt about rocky shores and marine conservation to their community. For more information contact Coastcare Community Support Officer Isabelle Strachan at Great Lakes Council on 6591 7301.
Constructing fences, planting trees, and installing water supply systems are some of the more common activities being undertaken by rural landholders in our region, and with around $3.5 million of CMA investment going into on-ground projects in the 2008-09 financial year, the need to be able to provide clients with reliable advice and reasonably priced materials is a big priority for the CMA. Since 2005, the CMA has provided clients of its grants programs with a list of suppliers who are able to offer high quality, cost-effective, provenance tubestock for revegetation projects. The CMA has now extended this approach to suppliers of stock watering and fencing materials. The preferred suppliers list, which is available on the CMA website, includes 20 suppliers from across the Hunter-Central Rivers region that can provide CMA clients with a range of products at predominantly discounted prices. Most suppliers offer additional services and will be demonstrating the proper installation of their products at future CMA training events, field days and workshops. For more information go the CMA website or contact your local CMA office.
A new partnership has been forged between the CMA and DECC to monitor changes in the condition of native vegetation at CMA investment sites across the region. A total of 30 CMA-funded projects will be surveyed to assess the current condition of native vegetation, with the same sites being revisited in 3-5 years to record the changes that have occurred. In the coming months, field officers will be out recording all the plant species found at the sites, including trees, shrubs and groundcovers, while also collecting information on land use history. Project sites, where CMA investment has occurred, will be compared to adjacent control sites where no intervention has occurred to quantify the effects of CMA investment activities. The projects that will be monitored through the program cover a broad spectrum of CMA investment activities, from Property Vegetation Plans that are protecting good quality native vegetation, through to soil erosion repair works where sites are currently denuded but are being revegetated. The CMA is hoping to expand this approach of monitoring to a greater number of project sites each year. If you'd like more information on this project please contact Gavin Doyle at the CMA's Tocal office on 4938 4938. Photo courtesy of John Baker and the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
A new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW is now available. The guide, which was last reprinted by the Environmental Defenders Office in 2006, is a valuable tool for landholders in understanding their legal obligations with regards to the management of vegetation, fire and water, protected species, construction and development, pollution, agricultural chemicals, crops and stock, mining and quarrying, heritage protection, conservation on private land and trading and offsetting agreements. To obtain your free copy of the guide send an email to education@edo.org.au or phone 9262 6989. Copies will also be available through the CMA.
In 2007 the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA in partnership with the Hunter Region Landcare Network held the inaugural Champions of the Catchments Awards, with the winners progressing to the 2007 State Landcare Awards and 2008 National Landcare Awards, where Wyong Creek Public School took out the Peoples' Choice Award. The awards recognised achievements across the full spectrum of the community, with categories for community groups, local government, primary producers, Aboriginal communities, and school groups. In 2009 the CMA is again in search of dedicated groups and individuals who have a passion for sustainable natural resource management to share their stories and be recognised as Champions of the Catchments. There are of course some attractive prizes on offer, but as well as that participants will have the chance to participate in some valuable training to assist them in telling their stories. Nominations will open on 2 March 2009, so if you know someone who deserves some recognition for their amazing efforts in caring for our catchments, now is the chance to dob them in-just make sure you have their permission first! Further details will be provided in the coming weeks on the CMA website or you can contact the CMA on 4930 1030.
Burgess Beach Coastcare is a band of five dedicated volunteers who meet each Monday to remove weeds from the reserve at Burgess Beach in the Great Lakes area. The group formed in 2008 and are battling to control in excess of 60 weed species in the Burgess Beach Foreshore area. The most problematic being the climbing weeds: German Ivy, Morning Glory and Cape Ivy; the ground covers: Asparagus Fern and Trad; and the woody weeds: Lantana and Senna. Another challenge for the group is the ongoing problem of green waste being dumped in the reserve, which is a primary source of new weed infestations. The assistance of Great Lakes Council and some welcome grant funding from the Australian Government's Envirofund provide the group with a qualified bush regenerator, plants, tools and fencing materials, but the band of five are also looking for new volunteers to assist them with the task that lies ahead. If you'd like to learn more about the special reserve at Burgess Beach and in particular its significance to the local Worimi people, while also getting a chance to meet the volunteers who are looking after it, there is a free community field day being organised by Great Lakes Council on Wednesday 4 February. Contact Coastcare Community Support Officer Isabelle Strachan at Great Lakes Council on 6591 7301 for more information.
On 19 December the first of the eight floodgates on Ironbark Creek was opened, marking a significant milestone in returning tidal flows to Hexham Swamp. The gate was kept closed as a precaution over the Christmas period and during the January king tides. As part of the rigorous environmental assessment conditions for opening the floodgates, thorough monitoring is being undertaken and changes in the quality and level of the water coming through the gates are being recorded. The results so far are looking promising with discernible improvements in the quality of the water behind the gates. More information on the Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project is available on the CMA website.
Waterwatch is one of the largest community monitoring programs in the country, but it now looks to be expanding even further as it moves into the saltwater environment of our estuaries. A pilot project set up by Lake Macquarie City Council in conjunction with Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch, with funding from the CMA and the Australian Government, has seen the initial development of estuarine monitoring procedures, worksheets and identification guides. Just like the freshwater Waterwatch program, students and community groups will now be able to measure and track the health of their local estuarine waterways while improving their knowledge and understanding of estuarine water quality issues and marine biodiversity. The program covers water testing, assessing foreshore health, and discovering the importance of mangroves, saltmarsh, seagrass and seagrass wrack as habitat for fish, crabs, and other marine animals. The Lake Macquarie pilot is providing a valuable contribution to the development by NSW Waterwatch of a water quality monitoring manual for estuarine areas, which will be released in 2009. For more information about the Lake Macquarie pilot project please contact Margo Smith at Lake Macquarie City Council on phone 4921 0702, or for more information about the Waterwatch program contact the CMA on phone 4930 1030. Dates for the calendar4 February - Burgess Beach Field Day Find out about the cultural heritage and traditions of the local Worimi people, and the natural heritage of this beautiful part of the Great Lakes. Please call Isabelle Strachan at Great Lakes Council on 65917301 for more information. 15 February - Planting Day at Kooragang Wetlands The monthly planting day at the CMA's Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project on Ash Island will commence at 8.30 am and morning tea will be provided. Everyone is welcome. For further details contact Peggy Svoboda on 4964 9308. 21 February - Habitat for Wildlife Wildlife Wonders workshop Get involved in restoring urban landscapes for wildlife habitat (as well as human). Call CEN on 4349 4491 for more information on this workshop. 21 February - Seal Rocks Weed Warriors working bee Join the Seal Rocks Weed Warriors (featured in this newsletter) as they do battle with Bitou on the headland between No.1 Beach and Boat Beach in an effort to keep on top of the invasive weed and save the area's littoral rainforest. Meet at Seal Rocks Shop 9:30 am. Contact Rachel Kempers on 6591 0302 for more information. 23-26 February - NTS Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture workshop in Taree Manning Landcare are offering subsidised training in Sustainable Agriculture. The four-day NTS Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture includes presentations and hands-on workshops with key presenter Graeme Sait. To book a place contact Manning Landcare on 6557 0244. 1 March - What if money did grow on trees? Find out the facts about planting native vegetation for financial and environmental benefit at a free information day in Maitland. The CMA is inviting landholders in the Maitland LGA who have acreage or larger land holdings to come along and hear about some current issues, technologies, financial incentives and legislation surrounding the planting of native vegetation on private land. Contact Community Support Officer Grahame Price on 4930 1030 for more information. 1 March - Clean Up Australia Day Clean Up Australia Day turns 20 this year and every year more people are getting involved. If you'd like to volunteer or register a clean up site, visit the Clean Up Australia website or call 1800 282 329. 2 March - Carbon Myth Busters seminar at Central Mangrove David Waters, Soil Scientist with NSW Department of Primary Industries, presents 'Carbon Myth Busters', a free seminar developed by leading soil scientists to help farmers respond to the soil carbon debate. The seminar is being coordinated by the Hawkesbury Nepean CMA with support from NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Please RSVP by 26 February to Carolyn Jenkinson on 4348 1979 or 0419 627 972. 15 March - SOFAR 7th Annual Frog and Reptile Expo The Society of Frogs and Reptiles are hosting their Annual Frog and Reptile Expo for amphibian and reptile enthusiasts. Live frogs and reptiles on display at the Newcastle Jocky Club Broadmeadow. Contact SOFAR Expo Coordinator Tammy Bazley on 0416 421 455 for details. 15 March - Planting Day at Kooragang Wetlands The monthly planting day at the CMA's Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project on Ash Island will commence at 9.30 am and a BBQ lunch will be provided. Everyone is welcome. For further details contact Peggy Svoboda on 4964 9308. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
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Dungog
High wins prestigious Envirothon title 
Good
for horses, good for the land
Protecting
our precious bushland 
Community
effort for community benefit 
Discovering
our fascinating rocky shores 
Recommending
rural suppliers 
Monitoring
native vegetation 
Getting to grips
with environmental laws
Calling
all champions 
A brave
bunch at Burgess Beach
Turning
the tide on Ironbark Creek
Waterwatch
gets salty