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Issue 15: March 2009 Welcome to the March 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?
The Hunter-Central Rivers region received a visit from the CMA's Minister, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the Honorable Carmel Tebbutt last week, who was keen to learn about some current CMA initiatives. The Deputy Premier travelled to the Central Coast to the site of a Property Vegetation Plan (PVP) at Glenning Valley. Wyong Council worked with the CMA to develop the PVP in 2007 to protect 294 hectares of bushland on ten sites in the Glenning Valley (west of Berkeley Vale), with funding from the Australian Government. As part of the PVP agreement, lantana and other invasive weeds have been removed from 210 hectares, which has allowed the local native species to recover. Wyong Council are now maintaining the sites in their improved condition so that they can continue to provide much needed habitat for vulnerable species such as the Wallum froglet, Yellow-bellied glider and Little bent-wing bat. The Deputy Premier then visited the CMA’s Tocal office to meet with some of the project staff before conducting an inspection of works being carried out at Maitland to maintain the Lower Hunter Flood Mitigation Scheme.
A lot of fun was had across our region in early February celebrating World Wetlands Day 2009. World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February each year and marks the anniversary of the signing in Iran in 1971 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The international theme for 2009 was ‘Upstream-Downstream: Wetlands Connect Us All’, and was focused on river basins and their management. In the Hunter Estuary a range of activities took place over two days at Kooragang Wetlands on Ash Island, at the Hunter Wetlands Centre at Shortland and at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens at Heatherbrae. At the CMA’s Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project, visitors took part in a fishing clinic, horse and wagon rides, and talks and guided tours on the history, birdlife and Aboriginal cultural heritage of the islands of the Hunter Estuary. Meanwhile around 100 participants took part in a Breakfast with the Birds at Pioneer Dairy in Tuggerah, with bird watching, dip-netting, plant give-aways, nest boxes and books for sale. The event was coordinated by the Community Environment Network and Central Coast Waterwatch with support from the CMA and other partners.
More than 40 landholders from Maitland and surrounding areas attended a free information day on 1 March to learn more about the financial and environmental reasons to plant native trees and shrubs on their properties. It’s hard to believe today but the banks of the Hunter river through Maitland, were once covered in dense forests of towering gum trees, cedars and figs, and were home to an abundance of native fauna. On a visit to Maitland in the 1830s, Lieutenant William Breton, recorded that behind the town of Maitland, where the vegetation remained uncleared, thick vine scrubs or rainforest could be found. In this area, he wrote ‘…there is one of the thickest vine brushes in New South Wales, so that it is difficult to penetrate even a few yards.’ (Breton, in Sokoloff 1976c:207) Today less than 10% of the original native vegetation of Maitland Shire remains, with four unique vegetation communities lost entirely from the landscape. Maitland is one of the fastest growing areas in NSW and plans for further development will put existing vegetation communities under even greater pressure. The information day provided landholders with some information on a few of the financial incentives and innovative technologies currently available for private landholders wanting to re-establish locally grown native vegetation on their properties. Presentations were given by a number of speakers on options including carbon accounting, biobanking, the production and use of char, farm forestry, and financial incentives available through the CMA. If you missed the information day and would like to know more contact the CMA’s Community Support Officer for Maitland and Cessnock, Grahame Price on 4930 1030.
Gloucester High School Year 10 agriculture students have embarked on a project that will see their school farm receive a much-needed boost. With funding and support from the CMA and the Australian Government the students are undertaking to develop and implement a property plan for the school farm to tackle some current environmental issues and ensure that it remains healthy and productive for future generations of students. An initial assessment of the school farm revealed there were few trees and obvious erosion problems, but the students are already formulating ideas to address these, including fencing to keep cattle out of gullies and using gravel and planting grasses to stop erosion. The CMA’s Gloucester Community Support Officer Albert Mullen is providing support and expertise to the project and will accompany the students to a number of CMA-funded projects on local properties so they can see what can be achieved through sustainable farming practices and good long-term planning and get some inspiration for developing their own property plan. The project has great support from the school community. P&C chairperson Tony Kingston is proud that Gloucester has been chosen to pilot the project: ‘Most of the dairy farmers in our area know about farm planning and have been working with the CMA to better manage their natural resources and improve their productivity but now our students are being given the opportunity to get involved and they’ll be pioneers in that regard. Hopefully the scheme will extend to other schools in the region.’ A steering committee has been set up to guide the project. If you are part of the Gloucester community and are interested in getting involved contact Albert Mullen on 6558 2304.
The main priorities for the Australian Government’s investment in natural resource management (NRM) under the new Caring for our Country (CFOC) program were outlined in a Business Plan in October 2008. From July 2008 to June 2013 the Australian Government will invest $2.25 billion in NRM initiatives that will deliver outcomes against these priority areas. Investment proposals are currently being sought from regional natural resource management groups, local, state and territory governments, Indigenous groups, industry bodies, land managers, landcare groups and other community groups, and non-government organisations. The CMA has been looking to join forces with other NRM organisations in our region to develop strong partnership proposals for the CFOC program. The CMA will submit a range of proposals in early April for consideration for a share in the competitive CFOC funds to be allocated across the country. In the meantime the CMA has been notified by the Australian Government that it has been allocated secure baseline funding for the next four years, however it must still outline an investment program to demonstrate how its investment of this funding will deliver against CFOC targets. The CMA is currently awaiting advice on what its allocation will be under the NSW Government's Catchment Action NSW Program so as to develop a complete investment program for the next twelve months and beyond.
You mightn’t have noticed them before but there are literally thousands of tiny water bugs living in our waterways, and their presence or absence reveals much about the health of our catchments. Water bugs, or aquatic macroinvertebrates, are tiny creatures that live in our lakes, creeks and rivers. Like all of us they need specific conditions to survive. Some need clean water and are quite sensitive to changes in water quality, while others are very resilient. The Mayfly Nymph, for example, is very sensitive to chemical pollution and low levels of oxygen in the water. They prefer sheltered shady spots in cool water bodies like streams and lakes and are a popular snack for freshwater fish, including trout. At the other end of the spectrum are mosquito larvae, which like stagnant waters. Often called ‘wrigglers’, mosquito larvae hang upside down, suspended by the surface tension of the water, twisting and squirming as they suck oxygen from the air through snorkels in their tail. The Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch team are conducting their biannual survey of water bugs in March (see dates for the calendar) to get a snapshot of catchment health across our region. Water Bug Surveys are undertaken by registered Waterwatch groups (in addition to their regular monitoring), every Autumn and Spring to assess the health of sites across NSW. Find out more at the NSW Water Bug Survey website or for more information on the Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch program go to the CMA website or call 4930 1030.
The CMA has been approaching schools, community groups and landholders in the Upper Hunter to be the first to participate in a new environmental monitoring program called VegWatch. VegWatch is a bit like Waterwatch, but instead of monitoring water quality, VegWatch provides a range of hands-on activities for all sectors of the community to undertake monitoring on the condition and benefits of their local native vegetation communities. Some of the activities in the program include identifying and studying plants, surveying invertebrates (bugs) and vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles), recording seasonal observations, and monitoring weather patterns. Groups and individuals who participate in the program will be asked to conduct basic monitoring on a seasonal basis four times during the year but groups that are interested in doing more can undertake a number of additional activities. Participants will receive training and a VegWatch kit, containing all of the required equipment, including activity sheets, reference books, ID guides, binoculars, and survey equipment. The program, which is being coordinated by the CMA and funded by the Australian Government, is being trialled in the Scone and Merriwa areas in 2009, with the hope of extending it to other areas in 2010. If you’d like more information on the VegWatch program, please contact Jon Thorne at the CMA’s Muswellbrook office on 6542 4426.
The Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch team are setting their sights on a priority target area for aquatic health in our region. In the coming months, a number of community events are being planned in an effort to improve community awareness and action in protecting the fragile ecosystem of Tilligerry Creek in Port Stephens. Port Stephens Council are working with the CMA to support landholders on the Tilligerry peninsula in rehabilitating their land and improving their land management techniques to ensure the sustainability of the creek and its inhabitants. CMA Community Support Officer Philippa Lloyd is working on an itinerary for a bus tour in May of some local projects to demonstrate some of the successful strategies to other local landholders. Meanwhile Waterwatch Coordinator Amanda Gregory is planning a Catchment Tour for local schools, which will incorporate water quality testing, bug surveys, tree planting, habitat surveys and presentations from some local experts. The schools will also contribute to an art competition and exhibition, inspired by the environmental issues facing Tilligerry Creek. The artworks will be exhibited in several public locations and will be accompanied by an information display explaining the importance of the creek and the management techniques currently being implemented. For more information on these projects contact Philippa Lloyd on 4980 0279.
Michael and Wendy Fraser admit they were probably a bit ambitious planting 800 trees in one season, while also running their dairy operation on their 500 acre property ‘Yarrawonga’ in the Avon Valley (south of Gloucester), but the challenge hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm for future plantings. Concerned about the loss of habitat in the region, in particular the decline in the number of small insect eating birds, with support from the CMA the Frasers are working to create wildlife corridors by extending and connecting forested areas on the ridgelines surrounding their property. The new trees, currently covering around 2.2 hectares, will enhance existing wildlife habitat while also providing much-needed shade for cattle in the years ahead. In addition to the plantings, the couple have upgraded their stock watering system, installing four concrete water troughs to service existing paddocks. Strategic positioning of water troughs means cattle are drawn away from sensitive waterways, while the installation of two kilometres of fencing ensures the young trees are protected. With funding from the Australian Government, the CMA is supporting landowners like the Frasers to implement a wide variety of sustainable farming practices to protect and enhance our natural resources while also improving production. For more information contact the CMA on 4930 1030.
Community Support Officer Philippa Lloyd accompanied a group of 22 Port Stephens landholders to the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project’s City Farm in February to have a look at property planning in action, and City Farm Manager Rob Henderson was only too happy to share his 25 years of farming experience with the group. Kooragang City Farm is a unique demonstration of floodplain farming and since its inception in 1993, it has been the subject of extensive planning and management towards the overarching goal of achieving optimal long-term productivity and ecological function from the land. The City Farm has served as a valuable testing ground for practices that private landholders might not have had the resources to trial themselves. And visitors can see the results for themselves; Kooragang City Farm has been able to produce more beef from less land without overgrazing, and it has consistently produced high quality animals with an improved feed value, whilst maintaining and improving areas of high conservation value. If you’d like to know more about the Kooragang City Farm contact Rob Henderson on 4964 9308 or go to the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project website.
The Hunter River at Singleton is receiving some much needed attention through the combined efforts of Xstrata Coal, Singleton Council, Singleton Landcare and the CMA, who are working together to target key natural resource management issues, such as invasive weeds, stream bank erosion and lack of native vegetation along the river from the railway bridge at Cook Park to Redbournberry Bridge. Throughout January a team of volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) got stuck into some weeding and replanting along the river near Bridgman Road. Some had travelled from places as far away as Korea, the USA and Germany as part of the CVA’s international recruitment of volunteers who come to see Australia and get involved in conservation activities while they're here. On Sunday 5 April, a Community River Day is being held to raise awareness of the work that’s being done and to encourage Singleton residents to get involved and learn more about their river. As part of the event there’ll be fly fishing demonstrations, water quality testing and water bug surveys, tree planting, information displays from Hunter Bird Observers, National Parks, the CMA and DPI Fisheries and the Hunter Region Landcare Network will be entertaining kids and adults alike with their popular puppet show. For more information about the Hunter Community River Day contact Singleton Community Support Officer Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346.
The Hunter Community Reference Group (CRG) held their quarterly meeting at the Hunter Wetlands Centre at Shortland in February. Shortland Wetlands and Kooragang Nature Reserve are jointly listed as the Hunter Estuary Ramsar Wetlands. Members of the CRG were taken on a guided tour by Site Manager Boyd Carney, who provided an insight into some of the successes and challenges of managing the community-owned wetlands. Of particular interest to the group were the centre’s achievements over the past 20 years in establishing habitat for a diverse range of animals. The threatened Freckled Duck and Magpie Goose are among the 213 bird species that have found a home at Shortland Wetlands. Although abundant in the northern regions of Australia, numbers of Magpie Geese have been in decline in the south and habitat loss and hunting actually resulted in its local extinction in the Hunter. In 1987 the Hunter Wetlands Centre initiated a re-introduction program with 41 juvenile geese from Serendip Wildlife Research Station in Victoria. The Magpie Geese bred in the wild at the Hunter Wetlands Centre for the first time in 1992, and new goslings have been arriving each season. Today they can be observed on a daily basis foraging and roosting on ‘Gilligan's Island’ on the BHP Billiton Pond adjacent to the visitors centre. Vistors to Shortland Wetlands can enjoy a unique educational experience with a range of activities including guided or self-guided tours along extensive boardwalks and sensory trails, and canoe or kayak tours of Ironbark Creek. For more information go to the Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia website. Dates for the calendar2 March – 2009 Champions of the Catchments Awards open for nominations The CMA and the Hunter Region Landcare Network are calling groups and individuals in the Hunter-Central Rivers region with a passion for sustainable natural resource management and environmental conservation to share their achievements and nominate for the 2009 Champions of the Catchments Awards. Information on the awards and the nomination form are available from the CMA website or by calling 4930 1030. 4 March – Project Aware in Port Stephens If you're interested in learning about the fascinating marine life of Port Stephens get along to Tomaree Library and Community Centre at 6.30 pm for an information session on the upcoming Project Aware Course commencing in late March 2009. Contact Melinda Anderson at Port Stephens Council on 4980 0251 to book ahead as places are limited. 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. All are welcome. Contact Peggy Svoboda on 4964 9308 for further details. 12 March and 19 March - Nursery Know How workshop with TIN Learn from the experts how to set up a best practice nursery. TIN's Parry Street nursery in Newcastle will be the real-life example for study as they look to expand their operations. To book your place at one of the one-day workshops call 4969 1500. 16-20 March - Autumn Bug Surveys Give your local catchment a health check and take part in the Autumn Bug Survey. The Waterwatch crew will be surveying bugs at Croudace Bay (Lake Macquarie), Denman and Merriwa, Dungog, at the Hunter Wetlands Centre (Newcastle), and at Salamander Bay (Port Stephens). Contact Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch Coordinator Ingrid Berthold on 4930 1030 by 5.00 pm on 13 February 2009. 27 March - Hands On How to build a Frog Pond workshop with TIN Get along to Figtree Community Gardens in Wickham and learn how to construct your own frog pond. You'll learn about required materials, plant placement and other tips to get your pond croaking. Call TIN on 4969 1500 at least a week ahead to book your place as numbers are limited. 5 April – Hunter River Day at Singleton Get involved and find out what you can do to help improve the Hunter River at Singleton. Take part in fly fishing demonstrations, water quality testing, water bug surveys, and tree planting. Representatives from Hunter Bird Observers, National Parks, the CMA, DPI Fisheries and the Hunter Region Landcare Network will be there with information. For more information contact Singleton Community Support Officer Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346. 5 April – Canoeing on Ironbark Creek For a different perspective on Ironbark Creek, drop in at the Hunter Wetlands Centre for a canoe ride. Experienced guides will accompany paddlers along the canoe trail before stopping off for a guided walk through the remnant coastal rainforest area. Fees apply and bookings are essential. Contact the Hunter Wetlands Centre on 4951 6466. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
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VIP checks out
PVP
World Wetlands Day celebrations
What if money did grow on trees?
Students mapping a sustainable future
Caring for our Country in 2009
Who’s
living in your local waterway?
Keeping an eye on our local native vegetation
Touring
the Tilligerry Peninsular
Agents for tree change
Floodplain farming at Kooragang City Farm
Community fun on the Hunter River
Community Reference Group
at the Hunter Wetlands Centre