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Issue 18: June 2009 Welcome to the June 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?
Around 60 landcarers from the Hunter-Central Rivers region gathered at Tocal Agricultural Centre on Saturday 30 May for the annual Hunter Region Landcare Forum and Muster, where the winners of the 2009 Hunter-Central Rivers Champions of the Catchments Awards were announced. The Champions of the Catchments Awards are coordinated as a partnership between the CMA and the Hunter Region Landcare Network and recognise the achievements of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to protect and enhance our natural environment. This year, in order to showcase and share the unique stories of our region, nominees were asked to submit their nominations as digital stories using a new program called PlaceStories, developed by Queensland based group Feral Arts in partnership with Landcare NSW. Thirty three nominations were received for the awards and the winners were: Mid Coast Dairy Advancement Group for Rural NRM Community Group; Mambo Wanda Wetland Reserve and Landcare Committee for the Urban Community NRM Group; Conservation Volunteers Australia and Karuah First Green Team for Aboriginal Landcare, Chris and Sally Maslen near Gloucester were our Primary Producer winners; Hunter Councils Environment Division won the Education category; Bea Brooks of the Kooragang Landcare Volunteers was named as the Landcare Legend (over 18 years); and the Kooragang Landcare Volunteers won the Nature Conservation category; and Coastcare The Entrance North were recognised in the Coastcare category. Also highly commended were: Abermain Landcare for the community benefit of their work, Taree Indigenous Development and Employment Corporation for the social and economic benefits of their program, Kerrie Patterson for her inspirational work in involving Aboriginal communities in Landcare and NRM, and Shortland to Wallsend Landcare for their project regenerating Crawchie Creek. Junior Landcarers Jarrah and Wyatt Cain also received a certificate of encouragement. The CMA and the Hunter Region Landcare Network congratulate all of the nominees for their achievements and the quality of their nominations. Nominees in the Champions of the Catchments Awards are encouraged to represent our region by entering the NSW Landcare Awards. The closing date for nominations for these awards is Friday 10 July 2009 and they will be announced in Port Macquarie in September 2009. Find out how to nominate at www.landcareheroes.com. Those wishing to nominate for these awards can contact the CMA for assistance with their nomination.
Livestock grazier Ben Crowe lives with his wife Sallina and their three children on an 880 ha property near Timor, on the edge of the Liverpool Range. The Crowes have lived on the property for 17 years, and were attracted by the natural beauty of the area, the good rainfall and fertile soils. One of the things Ben and Sallina regularly like to do is take their young daughters up in the hills to look for wildlife; echidnas, sugar gliders and spotted quolls are among the many discoveries they’ve made over the years. In 2008, inspired by his desire to ensure his kids would always be able to enjoy this natural wonderland, Ben applied to the CMA to conserve in perpetuity 409 ha of significant Box Woodland on the property through a Property Vegetation Plan (PVP). The PVP will protect this important area of bushland and also—through long-term planning and improved management—contribute to a more sustainable future for the property. In developing the PVP agreement, the CMA’s Paul Melehan and Steve Lewer from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) conducted a survey of the native vegetation on the property and discovered 79 individual plant species in just one 20 by 20 metre quadrat. On a previous visit Paul found what he claims to be the world’s longest gum leaf, a 58 cm leaf from a Large Leaf Box (Eucalyptus nortonii). The property has been selected as one of 30 CMA-funded projects that will be monitored by DECC, in partnership with the CMA, at intervals of 3-5 years to record changes in the native vegetation condition.
Groundwater monitoring bores are currently being installed in a number of locations on private land in the Glendon Brook and Glennies Creek catchments as part of ongoing salinity management activities. In 2007-08, the CMA’s Ben Harris and Ron Sandell, based in Muswellbrook, commenced a program of on-ground works to remediate and manage salt affected areas in these catchments. Works that have been carried out on several properties include earthworks and reshaping affected gullies, improving the fertility of soils by top dressing reshaped areas with recycled organics (or mulch), spreading grass seed, and replanting with salt tolerant species. Remediated areas are also being fenced off and managed under sustainable grazing regimes. The groundwater bores that are now being installed will allow the CMA to monitor groundwater levels and salinity. The data will improve understanding of salinity processes at these locations and enable evaluation of the remediation works carried out to date, both in terms of quantifying changes and time frames in which they’ve occurred. The CMA will be able to use this knowledge to refine remediation techniques and improve the future management of saline sites in the catchment.
An innovative approach is being taken to rehabilitate a stretch of the Hunter River at Aberdeen. A critical issue facing many of our region’s rivers and streams is the lack of riverbank vegetation and in-stream logs. Vegetation and logs create roughness in the channel, slow damaging floodwaters and protect the stream bed and banks. They also provide critical habitat for native fish and other fauna. As part of a major project initiated by the CMA, in partnership with Department of Primary Industries (DPI), a large number of logs (or engineered log jams) are currently being installed on Hunter River frontage owned by AngloCoal Dartbrook Mine. The log structures are a mixture of deflector jams, which stabilise the stream at strategic points, and ‘hotels’ or habitat snags for native in-stream fauna like Australian Bass and mullet. A total of 1200 logs will be installed through the project, which is planned over a number of stages. Stage 1 is currently underway and local mine operators are being approached to supply logs for stages 2 and 3 from trees being cleared on land to be mined. The engineered log jams are one of a number of coordinated strategic actions to stabilise and rehabilitate the Hunter River. The project builds on an existing partnership between AngloCoal and the CMA that has achieved great results on other sites at AngloCoal Dartbrook, including extensive revegetation, weed control, stock management and the regeneration of an endangered population of River Red Gums. For more information on this project contact the CMA’s Peter Ainsworth on 4930 1030.
Ironbark Creek is attracting a lot of attention at the moment. In December the first of eight floodgates was opened to begin the process of allowing tidal flows back into Hexham Swamp. Since then regular monitoring has been undertaken to determine changes in water levels, salt levels, water quality and changes in vegetation in preparation for the second gate to be opened this year (subject to planning approval). In the meantime school students living in the Ironbark Creek catchment have been conducting some investigations of their own. On 28 May, 35 students from Callaghan College, Lambton High School, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Minmi Public School, St Patricks Primary School and Glendore Public School travelled to a number of sites along the creek to find out about some of the issues and solutions around its management. Students saw how the creek changed from the top to the bottom of the catchment from Hasluck Dr Reserve Rankin Park to Elermore Vale Shopping Centre to Wallsend Park, Hexham Floodgates, and the Kooragang Wetlands on Ash Island. They also had a chance to interview representatives from local Landcare groups, Newcastle Council, Elermore Vale Shopping Centre, the CMA, Hunter Water and the Hunter Wetlands Centre. Water samples were collected by participants at each site to get a ‘snap-shot’ of the catchment’s water quality. Results showed that the pH and turbidity levels remained similar throughout the catchment, while nutrient levels varied and salinity levels increased (as expected) heading downstream towards the estuary. The students also had the chance to do their bit to improve the health of the catchment by collecting litter and stencilling stormwater drains, to remind their neighbours that everything that goes down the drain ends up in the Hunter River and on Newcastle’s beaches. The Ironbark Creek Catchment Crawl was an initiative of Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch and was supported by the CMA, Hunter Water Corporation, Newcastle Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. For more information on the Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch program go to www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au or call 4930 1030.
Yula-Punaal Healing Sanctuary near Cooranbong, sits at the foothills of the Watagan Mountains, an area of special significance to local Aboriginal communities. Kurinbong (Cooranbong) was a clan group of the Awabarkarl (Awabakal) people and the area was used as a meeting place for many neighbouring clans and a site for important ceremonies such as corroborees. ‘Yula meaning rain (the cleansing of life) and Punaal meaning sun (the giver of life) in Gamilaroi language is once again becoming a special place for Aboriginal people,’ says Deborah Swan of the Mirring Aboriginal Corporation. In 2001 a native bush tucker forest was established at Yula-Punaal by the Yulawirri Nurai Indigenous Association, under the guidance of Deborah Swan and Tammy Wright, working with Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Community Development Employment Program. Today, the Yulawirri Nurai and Mirring Aboriginal Corporation (Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council’s women’s group), with support from the CMA and the Australian Government, are working in partnership with Equilibrium Eco Services to significantly expand the bush tucker forest using a natural farming system. The system aims to create a self-maintaining and resilient ecosystem by carefully observing natural interactions unique to each site. The list of edible species in the forest is extensive and includes the tasty scrub cherry, the tart native tamarind and flavoursome black plum. Other trees such as swamp mahogany are being incorporated to attract a range of bird and animal species that assist with pollination and pest control, to provide habitat for migrating bird species, and for medicinal purposes. ‘We hope to produce and market a range of native bush tucker, bush medicine, bush flower essence and essential oils. The bush tucker forest will provide opportunities for our women to learn land management, horticulture, Aboriginal cultural and marketing skills, and transfer this into the wider community—both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal,’ said Ms Swan. A unique opportunity has been generously provided by the Yula-Panaal Healing Sanctuary for visitors to come and experience the bush tucker forest for themselves as part of the CMA’s Open Project Day on Sunday 14 June. For more information contact Vanessa Malicia at the CMA’s Gosford office on 4337 1202 or go to www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au.
Revegetating creek banks can be problematic in estuarine areas, with tides, floods, droughts, and waves all making it difficult for new plants to get established. In Cockle Creek, as part of the rehabilitation of Cockle, Cocked Hat and Brush creeks in Teralba in Lake Macquarie, rock ‘fillets’ are being used to provide protection to revegetated areas. The site supports a remnant of Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplain, an Endangered Ecological Community, and over 10,000 native plants have been established in the riparian zone to stabilise the banks, improve water quality, and provide habitat for native animals and birds including Latham’s Snipe which visits from Japan. Constructed approximately one to two metres off the eroding creek bank at approximately the same height as the high water level, the rock fillets serve two purposes: they reduce wave energy against the creek banks, effectively reducing soil erosion; and they create a still-water area between the fillets and the bank that allows sediments and mangrove seeds to accumulate. Six months after construction, the Cockle Creek rock fillets are proving their worth with many mangrove seedlings now germinating and establishing on the creek banks behind the fillets. Once established, the mangroves will help to further stabilise the creek banks. The project is a partnership between The Office of the Lake Macquarie and Catchment Coordinator, Lake Macquarie City Council, Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office, Lake Macquarie Landcare Network and the CMA. Sourced from ‘A case study of Cockle Creek Rehabilitation Project’ prepared by the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office, December 2008.
Making efficient use of resources on dairy farms is the aim of a new project underway across the Mid North Coast of NSW. The EWEN project is an initiative of the Mid Coast Dairy Advancement Group (DAGs), which supports more that 155 dairy farms in the region. The EWEN project commenced in late 2008 and builds on the success of the Farmer Targets for Change program, which was recognised recently through the Hunter-Central Rivers Champions of the Catchments Awards. Baseline information for the EWEN project is currently being gathered through audits of water and energy use on dairy farms across the region. The information will be analysed and opportunities for improvements identified. Nick Bullock is a technical specialist for the EWEN project and says that farmers are really keen to be involved: 'Although they have a reasonable handle on their water and energy consumption, it isn’t until we do a thorough audit that the real figures come to light' Mr Bullock said. 'Comparing an individual farm to the whole group helps farmers identify if the use of a resource is higher than average, and if it’s increasing productivity or just being wasted.' 'Every farm is unique', Mr Bullock explains. 'We need to give farmers the tools they need to work out the best options for efficient water and energy use on their own farms. We’re currently setting up trials of new technologies on several dairy farms that should make significant water and energy savings.' The EWEN project is being funded through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. Worth over $700,000, the two year project relies heavily on input from partner organisations including Mid Coast Water, NSW DPI, the CMA, Greater Taree City Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council and Dairy Farmers Cooperative.
With seed pods of up to 20 cm containing as many as 30 seeds each, Honey Locust has spread rapidly in dense thickets along watercourses on the central coast, western slopes and tablelands of northern NSW and in south eastern Queensland. The tough spines of the honey locust tree are creating a formidable barrier along a number of waterways in the Gloucester area, but the Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee is fighting back. With support from the CMA and funding from the Australian Government, the committee is working to control honey locust infestations along Waukivory Creek and the Gloucester River as part of a larger partnership project with local councils targeting riparian weeds in the Manning, Great Lakes and Gloucester catchments. Chairman of the Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee Wayne Deer believes the project will have far-reaching benefits, not only environmental but also social and economic through the training and employment of local Aboriginal people, who will carry out the majority of the work. Other weeds targeted as part of the project will be blue periwinkle along the Upper Bowman River; bridal creeper along Gloucester River and Copeland Creek; cockspur coral tree along the Manning River and its tributaries; and mysore thorn and black locust along the Karuah River and Port Stephens catchments. For more information on this project contact Andrew Paget at the CMA’s Taree office on 6551 8994.
White sharks (also known as white pointers or great white sharks) are the largest predatory fish in the sea and have become popular subjects of coffee-table books, documentaries, folklore and pub stories, but what do we really know about them? Advances in tagging technology over the last decade have enabled scientists to follow white sharks using various electronic devices, including satellite tracking and acoustic tags. This work has revealed some big surprises about the movements of white sharks and how they behave. Barry Bruce is a senior research scientist with CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research in Hobart, Tasmania. Barry and his colleagues have been studying the movements and ecology of white sharks in Australian waters for 20 years. They have tagged and tracked white sharks ranging in size from less than two to greater than five metres in length, in waters ranging from Queensland around the southern Australian coast to Western Australia. Some of their recent research has focussed on the movements and behaviour of juvenile white sharks in near shore environments - particularly in the Port Stephens region of NSW. Barry will be discussing the findings of this work and other research on white sharks at a number of public talks in our region this month as part of the Marine Discovery Series (see Dates for the calendar below). Content and photo courtesy of Barry Bruce CSIRO.
On Sunday 19 June 1949 a great wave of flood water rushed through Oakhampton to Maitland inundating over 80% of the town including the central business district, Horseshoe Bend, South Maitland and Louth Park. The flooding was so sudden that many people had to run to escape the flood wave, leaving their Sunday roast dinners on the kitchen table. The CMA is inviting the community to join a free Walk & Talk tour in Maitland on 21 June to learn about the historically significant floods of 1949 and 1889. The guided tour will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the June 1949 flood and the 120th anniversary of the May 1889 flood and the two floods will be compared, with reference to historic photos and maps dating back to the mid 1800s. The tour is part of an ongoing flood education program for the Lower Hunter, which is a partnership between the CMA and the SES that aims to increase awareness and preparedness in the community for future flood events. The tour will be led by knowledgeable local Peter Bogan, who will talk about the impacts of these major flood events at significant sites in Horseshoe Bend. To book a place on the tour, contact the flood education officer at the CMA on 4938 4958. Photo courtesy of Peter Bogan.
Landcare and Coastcare groups are being invited by Landcare Australia to share their experiences, challenges, needs and actions through the 2009 Landcare and Coastcare groups survey. The results of the survey will help Landcare Australia plan new initiatives, funding opportunities and campaigns over the coming 12 months. The survey takes around 10 minutes and only needs to be completed by one member of each group. Everyone who completes the survey goes into the draw to win a SONY data projector. There are also 20 Landcare and 20 Coastcare wide-brim hats available for interested survey participants—take the Landcare and Coastcare survey. Dates for the calendar10 June - Discover your blue backyard Award winning photographer and marine scientist Dave Harasti will take you on a stunning visual journey into the underwater world of some of his most interesting subjects. Attendance is free and no booking is required, just turn up at Harrington Pub at 6.30 pm. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Brian Hughes on 6551 8994 (ex: 222). 12 June – Managing Horses on Small Properties in Morisset The environment in which your horse lives greatly effects their (and your) health and well being. This workshop will show you how following good land management practices reduces illness and injury for your horse, reduces feed bills, increases the value of your property and improves the environment. Please call Vanessa Malicia at the CMA’s Gosford office on 4324 3844 to register your interest. 13 June - Managing Horses on Small Properties in Scone The same workshop being held in Morisset will also be held in Scone on the following day. Please call Jon Thorne at the CMA’s Muswellbrook office on 6542 4426 to register for this event. 14 June – Open Project Day on the Central Coast Three special CMA projects on the Central Coast will be open for inspection for one day only. Concurrent information sessions will be held at each site at 9.00 am, 11.30 am and 2.00 pm at Avondale College in Cooranbong, Mandalong Mine and Yula-Punaal Healing Sanctuary in Mandalong. There is no fee to attend but bookings are essential and can be made by contacting Vanessa Malicia at the CMA’s Gosford office on 4324 3844. 16-18 June – Marine Discovery Series: Demystifying white sharks CSIRO Senior Research Scientist Barry Bruce will provide his gripping presentation demystifying the behaviour of Great White Sharks. On Tuesday 16 June Bruce will be at The Crowne Plaza in Terrigal; on Wednesday 17 June at 6.00 pm he'll be at at Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club in Forster and on Thursday 18 June at 6.30 pm, he'll be at Tomaree Library and Community Centre, Salamander Bay, where he'll be joined by David Harasti who'll give a short presentation on the results of black cod surveys undertaken within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. For full details contact Brian Hughes on 6551 8994 (ex 222). 21 June – Planting on Ash Island Join the Koora Gang volunteers for their regular planting at 9.30 am at Ash Island. This month they'll be planting in the entrance area. Lunch will be provided. Contact Tiffany on 4964 9308. 21 June – Walk & Talk tour in Maitland Join a free Walk & Talk tour with local Peter Bogan, and learn about the historically significant floods of 1949 and 1889, visiting significant sites in Horseshoe Bend. To book your place, please contact the flood education officer at the CMA on 4938 4958. 3-4 July – 2009 Mountains to the Dunes Landcare Forum Find out what's happening in Landcare in the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie regions and hear from keynote speakers Phil Watson from the Department of Environment and Climate Change, and Andrew Campbell, Australia's first National Landcare Facilitator. Register online at www.wycare.com.au. Early bird rates are available until 19 June 2009. 10 July - Closing date for NSW Landcare Awards The Natural Resources Advisory Council (NRAC) is hosting the 2009 NSW Landcare Awards in partnership with Landcare Australia Limited, NSW Catchment Management Authorities, the NSW Landcare Committee and the Department of Environment and Climate Change. There are 10 categories to nominate in and nominations close 10 July 2009. The winners will be announced and the achievements of the past 20 years of Landcare acknowledged at the awards ceremony and dinner on 10 September 2009 at the NSW Landcare Forum at Panthers in Port Macquarie. To nominate for the awards go to: www.landcareheroes.com or call the NSW Landcare Awards Coordinator on (02) 6627 0225. 19 July – Planting on Ash Island Join the Koora Gang volunteers for their regular planting at 9.30 am at Ash Island. This month they'll be planting around the Schoolmaster's House. Lunch will be provided. Contact Tiffany on 4964 9308. 24 July – Nominations close for AAEE Environmental Educators Awards The NSW Chapter of the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) is inviting nominations for outstanding contributions to environmental education in New South Wales. Formal educators, and educators in government and non-government sectors are encouraged to apply. An overall award will be given to the NSW Environmental Educator of the Year 2009 from the winners of each category. Email treasurer@aaeensw.org.au for a nomination form and criteria. Nominations close 24 July 2009. Support available for natural resource management activitiesCMA funding programs for 2009/10 The CMA provides ongoing support and advice to public and private landholders to undertake natural resource management (NRM) projects to improve the health of our catchments. In 2009/10, the CMA is offering three separate funding programs to support NRM activities and projects. Funding for these programs is being provided through the Australian Government's Caring for our Country program, the NSW Government's Catchment Action NSW program and Hunter Catchment Contributions. Applications for funding through these programs must address specific NRM targets, issues and priority areas. $240,000 is available in 2009/10 through the CMA's Communities Caring for Catchments program to local government authorities and non-government organisations responsible for natural resource management within the Hunter-Central Rivers region for projects that integrate capacity building and education activities with on-ground actions to contribute towards management targets in the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Action Plan (CAP). Proposals for the Communities Caring for Catchments program are being received up until 15 June 2009. $1.4 million is available in 2009/10 through the CMA's Incentives Program to assist landholders and land managers in the Hunter-Central Rivers region to address natural resource management (NRM) priorities on private and public lands. The key targets for funding through this program are vegetation and biodiversity, soils and salinity, aquatic health and sustainable farming. Applications are now being invited for the Incentives Program until 21 August 2009. $782,000 is available in 2009/10 through the CMA's Partnerships Program for local government authorities, NSW Government agencies and non-government organisations responsible for natural resource management within the Hunter-Central Rivers region for projects delivering on-ground actions for specific management targets in the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Action Plan (CAP). The key targets for funding through this program are aquatic health, coast, estuary and marine, wetlands, and vegetation and biodiversity. Proposals for the Partnerships program will open 8 June and will be received up until 3 August 2009. Information on all three programs, including guidelines and funding priorities is available at www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au. Paddy Pallin Foundation Grants The Paddy Pallin Foundation is offering $50,000 of grants for holders of Conservation Covenanted land within New South Wales for works to improve habitat or species conservation on their land. Grants can be for $500 to $3000 per year to a maximum of three years. These grants are offered in conjunction with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife (FNPW), the Humane Society International (HSI), Diversicon Environmental Foundation, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) and The Nature Conservation Trust of NSW. For details go to the Paddy Pallin Foundation website. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
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Cheering our Champions 
Protecting their patch for fauna and family
Groundwater monitoring in Glendon Brook and Glennies Creek
Roughing
up the Hunter River
Crawling Ironbark Creek 
Bush
tucker in balance
Rehabilitating Cockle Creek
Farmer
setting new targets for change
Teaming up to tackle a prickly pest
Demystifying white sharks
Commemorating historic Maitland floods
2009 Landcare and Coastcare groups survey