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Issue 17: May 2009 Welcome to the May 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?
Following the success of the Hunter Stream Salinity Monitoring program in the Glendon Brook and Black Creek catchments, the CMA’s Rod Hardwick has been focusing his efforts on involving the local community in the Goorangoola Creek catchment in monitoring salinity and other issues to improve the health of their catchment. Since October 2008, Rod has been sampling with local residents at various sites along the creek and in March this year he made a surprising discovery. While sampling macroinvertebrates collected from the stream, Rod noticed a tiny native freshwater fish. On closer inspection it appeared to be a Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon, which is actually listed as an endangered species under the NSW Fisheries Management Act. Once common in the Murray-Darling Basin, the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon is now extremely rare in inland NSW, due to competition and predation by introduced species, increased salinity and loss of habitat. It is usually found in areas with good cover of cobble and rocks, or aquatic vegetation, and in slow moving or still waters of creeks, rivers, wetlands and billabongs. After consulting with NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) and the Australian Museum, a survey was undertaken in the area and a further 20 individual fish were collected from four other localities in the Goorangoola Creek catchment. The Goorangoola population markedly extends the known distribution of this fish along the coast, which until now has been north of the Clarence River. It’s understood that this is also the first freshwater fish species that is recognised as endangered to be found in the Hunter Catchment. Further research will be conducted in the coming months to assess its distribution, population size and genetic relationships with other known populations. For more information on the Goorangoola Creek Salinity Monitoring program contact the CMA’s Rod Hardwick on 4930 1030.
Back by popular demand, horse expert Jane Myers will be hosting two one-day workshops in our region in June, with funding through the CMA. Jane’s popular workshops cover important issues relating to horse management, including property planning and design, protection and efficient use of water, the role of trees and plants, pasture establishment, grazing management, and the benefits of responsible horse management for the broader community. Free workshops are being offered on the Central Coast on Friday 12 June and in Scone on Saturday 13 June. Places are limited so get in quickly to secure your place. Contact Vanessa Malicia at the CMA’s Gosford Office on 4337 1202 to attend the Central Coast workshop, or contact Jon Thorne in the CMA’s Muswellbrook office on 6542 4426 for the Scone workshop.
Centennial Coal's Mandalong Mine is located in Lake Macquarie’s Dora Creek catchment, a priority area in the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Action Plan. Mandalong Mine’s Environment Coordinator Alan Blakeney has been working with the CMA, with support from the Australian Government, to rehabilitate a four hectare site along Moran’s Creek. The land was being leased for cattle grazing and was eroding at a rapid rate. With only a handful of scattered native trees, and cattle accessing the creek banks, kikuyu was able to proliferate. Alan knew that action needed to be taken or more of the paddocks would disappear into the creek. The first step was stabilising the ever-deepening and widening creek banks and creek beds. Over two kilometres of fencing was installed, allowing a buffer of 15-20 metres from the creek’s edge, and an off-stream stock watering system was put in to provide cattle with fresh drinking water. Kikuyu grass was sprayed and 1300 native trees replanted, replacing the lost riparian and coastal river red gum vegetation communities, and by linking the site with areas upstream to provide habitat and passage for native wildlife along the creek’s riparian areas. You can visit this project as part of the CMA’s Open Project day on Sunday 14 June 2009. The Open Project Day offers the chance to learn about three fantastic CMA-funded projects on the Central Coast: Avondale College in Cooranbong, Centennial Coal’s Mandalong Mine on Moran’s Creek and Yula-Punaal Healing Sanctuary in Mandalong. For more information contact Education Project Officer Vanessa Malicia on phone 4337 1202 (Mon, Wed, Fri) or email vanessa.malicia@cma.nsw.gov.au.
These days most people would be a little surprised to see cattle being herded across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but the Bradfield Highway is actually a designated Travelling Stock Route. Stretching 3 million hectares across Eastern Australia, the Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves (TSR) network historically allowed for the movement of sheep, cattle and other stock from location to location. Today the network contains some of the best remaining wildlife corridors in the country and a new partnership between the CMA, Livestock Health and Pest Authority (formerly the Rural Lands Protection Board) and the NSW Department of Lands aims to identify possibilities for formal conservation of some of the reserves within the TSR network. Over the past few months native vegetation officers from the CMA’s Upper Hunter team have joined other stakeholders in a number of field visits to assess reserves in the Pages, Isis and Dart Brook catchments. One particular visit resulted in a sighting of what is thought to be the rare grass, Dichanthium setosum, which is currently awaiting verification by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. For more information on the Travelling Stock Reserves contact Jon Thorne at the CMA’s Muswellbrook Office on 6542 4426.
Throsby Creek runs through the suburbs of Mayfield and Islington in Newcastle and is an important resource for local residents, including two schools: St Columbans Primary School and Islington Public School. Students at these two schools have identified Throsby creek as a valuable asset and plan to be involved in improving its health on behalf of their communities. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 at Islington Public School are using Throsby Creek as the basis for a Service Learning project, which involves students learning through addressing a genuine community need. To kick off their project Islington Public School joined the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA’s Waterwatch team on a Stormwater Scamper on 6 May. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 ‘scampered’ their way through a section of Throsby Creek, identifying and documenting possible issues that are challenging the health of the creek or threaten to in the future. The students collected rubbish, tested water quality, went on a mangrove boardwalk tour, investigated different stormwater drains and observed the changes in the creek as it flows toward the estuary. The next steps for the students involve consulting with the local community and investigating their needs, conducting further research on the creek, analysing water quality, pollutants and rubbish (and sources of these) and creating a project plan for cleaning up the creek. Information from the project will be shared with Newcastle City Council, the CMA and local residents. Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch is urging any other schools or community groups that are interested in participating in a project like this to contact them at the CMA on 4930 1030.
Coolatai grass is a perennial tussock forming grass that was originally introduced in northern NSW to stabilise soil. It is now abundant on the north western slopes of NSW and adjacent areas in Queensland but has been spreading further south. Often seen growing along roadsides where it displaces other grasses and herbs, Coolatai Grass can quickly invade pastures, out competing other groundcovers and grasses to form a dense monoculture. Stock tend to avoid it, preferring other pasture species, allowing Coolatai grass to expand its reach even further. Singleton Council is taking a proactive approach to controlling infestations in the Singleton Local Government Area (LGA) through a Coolatai Grass management and education program. The program, which is being funded by the Australian Government through the CMA, involves updating maps of current infestations in the LGA, trialing control measures on Council-owned reserves and roadsides, and communicating the results through landholder field days and information on effective control methods. For more information on Coolatai Grass go to the Weeds CRC website or to find out more about its management in the Singleton area contact CMA Community Support Officer Steve Clarkson on 6578 7346.
Listed as an Endangered Ecological Community since 2004, coastal saltmarsh communities exist in the tidal flats of estuaries and coastal lagoons throughout NSW and form the foundation of the estuarine food chain. Saltmarsh communities include succulent herbs and salt-tolerant grasses and sedges and provide habitat for crabs, molluscs, fish and snails, while bats, kangaroos and birds—including the critically endangered Orange-Bellied Parrot—depend on the saltmarsh for their food supply. Other important functions saltmarsh provide include trapping sediments and recycling nutrients. Rotary Toronto, Lake Macquarie City Council and Lake Macquarie Landcare Network have been working, with the support of the CMA, to restore saltmarsh communities in five locations on the western side of Lake Macquarie. It is hoped that by establishing dense plantings of native species as a buffer around the saltmarsh areas, damage from vehicle and mowing activities can be minimised and saltmarsh will be given the chance to naturally regenerate. If you live in the Wyee Point, Bonnells Bay, Dora Creek, Blackalls Park or Booragul areas and would like to know more about this project please contact the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office on phone 4921 0392. Adapted from ‘A case study of Saltmarsh Restoration in Lake Macquarie’ produced by the Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Office, March 2009.
Training is now underway for schools participating in the CMA’s VegWatch pilot program. This month CMA staff are visiting Belltrees Primary School, Scone High School and Cassilis Primary School to help get students and staff up and running with their activities. The main VegWatch activities that will be undertaken by the groups include an annual vegetation health assessment and seasonal observations on flowering plants, fungi, insects and animals in their site. Students are also being encouraged to take photos, create artworks and write stories or poems about things they see at their site, which will be displayed in an exhibition at the end of the program. For more information on the VegWatch program contact Lorna Adlem at the CMA’s Tocal office on 4930 1030.
Louise Thomas and Rodney Harrison received a Small Project Grant from the CMA to make some improvements on their Killabakh property, and their local catchment is reaping the benefits. Louise and Rodney were keen to limit the impacts caused by run-off from their property on nearby Killabakh Creek. Working with the CMA, the couple developed a plan to reduce gully erosion and slow the run-off leaving their property by establishing a natural filter system of native grasses. Sensitive gully areas are being fenced off to protect them from grazing horses, and 500 native trees are being planted to assist the regeneration of native vegetation in the area. The grant also covers an extensive weeding program targeting lantana, camphor laurel and privet. Louise and Rodney are looking forward to sharing what they’ve learnt with their neighbours and have been discussing the possibility of hosting field days at the property, which is adjacent to the Alfred Road Reserve, where Killabakh and Lower Cedar Party Landcare Groups are making significant progress in restoring native vegetation. In the last round of CMA funding more than 20 landowners across the Hunter-Central Rivers region received small grants of up to $10,000 to carry out projects involving actions such as installing off-stream water points, fencing off sensitive riparian areas from stock access, weed control, and regeneration of native vegetation.
In August 2008 a group of landholders in the Dooralong and Jilliby areas on the Central Coast formed their own Waterwatch group. Since that time they’ve been doing monthly monitoring of water quality at four different sites in Jilliby and Little Jilliby Creek. In March this year they were joined by students from Dooralong Public School who are now testing their own site on Jilliby Creek. Local schools and landholders in the Jilliby Creek catchment are being invited on a Catchment Crawl on 30 May to visit some of these sites, to find out what’s involved in testing water quality and to talk to the landholders about the results they’ve collected. Participants will also visit landholders who have received funding from the CMA to improve or protect Jilliby Creek and will have a chance to see first hand how these works are making a difference. Full details are provided under Dates for the calendar.
The dry open forests and woodlands around Kurri Kurri and Cessnock support a great diversity of birds, including many species that are listed as threatened or in serious decline in NSW. Many species within these forests and woodlands are at their eastern limit and are uncommon elsewhere in NSW, east of the Great Divide. For this reason, populations of threatened and declining woodland birds around Kurri and Cessnock are extremely significant. The Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC), in partnership with the CMA, is conducting a free guided walk of some of these woodland habitats on Sunday 14 June. To register your interest in the walk contact Mick Roderick on 0421 761 237 or mickhhb@yahoo.com.au.
Each Thursday morning dedicated Waterwatcher John Sievers rises with the sun and travels to Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia (HWCA) at Shortland where, surrounded by water birds, he tests the water quality in the wetland ponds. John began monitoring eight sites a week in 2005 as a volunteer at HWCA and is now testing at eleven sites around the wetlands. An extraordinary Waterwatch volunteer, John has been consistently monitoring on a weekly basis for almost four years and has collected more data than any other group in the region. “I really enjoy getting out in the fresh air and into the wetlands, and I find it interesting and satisfying to be involved in monitoring water quality in my local area” said John. Hunter Water Corporation recently donated $500, through Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch, to replace chemicals and consumables in John’s Waterwatch kit. This will be enough to keep him monitoring at HWCA for another 12 months. Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch would like to thank Hunter Water for their continued support. If you or your organisation would like to contribute towards keeping community Waterwatchers in our region active in their water quality monitoring activities, contact Ingrid Berthold at the CMA’s Tocal office on 4930 1030.
The southern end of Budgewoi Beach is in need of repair after suffering the effects of mining, sand extraction, weed invasion and public access. Budgewoi Beach Dunecare group is launching a project this month to rehabilitate 13 hectares of the area. With the support of project partners, Wyong Shire Council, WyCare and the Rural Fire Service, Budgewoi Dunecare will undertake weed control, a hazard reduction burn to promote native plant growth, minor reshaping, replanting with 5,000 endemic tubestock, and seeding. The rehabilitated area will be fenced off from public access and signs installed to educate visitors on appropriate use of the area. This project is being funded by Community Coastcare, an initiative of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. For more information on this project contact Rebecca Dugan at Wyong Council on 4350 5444.
A big thanks to everyone who visited the CMA display at Tocal Field Days on the weekend. CMA staff were kept busy across the three days with a good number of enquiries about a range of catchment management issues. The field days seems to grow a bit each year, with 28,000 people passing through the gates in 2009, reinforcing its place as one of the region’s biggest annual events. The CMA’s display, which incorporated the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project and Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch, received the award for best exhibit in the Land Management Area; while the lucky winner of the CMA’s Catchment Competition was Mark Pearce from Lochinvar. Just by answering a few easy questions, Mark has won a fantastic environmental prize pack worth $500, including books, DVDs, games and educational activities for the whole family. CMA Chairman honoured CMA Chairman WEJ Paradice AM has been honoured by the University of Newcastle with an honorary doctorate. Dr Paradice received his Doctor of Letters form the University Chancellor, Professor Trevor Waring AM at the graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Business and Law in April. Dr Paradice was acknowledged by the Chancellor as “a highly valued member of the community who demonstrates every day his commitment to a strong future for the Region.” Dates for the calendar14 May – Tilligerry Schools Catchment Crawl Students from Bobs Farm, Salt Ash and Tanilba Bay Public Schools will participate in a Catchment Crawl, where they’ll find out about environmental issues surrounding creek and have the chance to interview local people who are involved in looking after this vital waterway. Contact the Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch on 4930 1030 for more details. 16 May – Celebrate Volunteers Day Come along to Speers Point Park (10am – 4pm) and help celebrate the efforts of our volunteers, and learn what you can do to help your community. There’ll be activities for the kids, special guests, a free BBQ lunch and drinks, a jumping castle, entertainment, giveaways and prizes. For further information contact Toni Foot on 4969 9408 or email toni.foot@tafe.nsw.edu.au. 17 May - Tilligerry Landholders Catchment Tour For more details and to register for the tour contact Philippa Hill on 49 800 279 or philippa.lloyd@portstephens.nsw.gov.au. 17 May – Upper Allyn River Field Day Eccleston The CMA is holding a field day on the Upper Allyn River near Eccleston to discuss some of the issues affecting landholders in this area. For more information contact the CMA's Lower Hunter Project Officer Nick Staheyeff on 4930 1030. 19 May – Vineyards Field Day Tamburlaine Organic Wines Grape growers and vineyard operators in the Lower Hunter are invited to Tamburlaine Organic Wines in Pokolbin to find out about the benefits for sustainable production of improved soil health and water quality, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), energy and water savings, and managing for Climate Change. Information on applicable government incentive schemes for the viticulture industry will also be available. The day will commence with a sustainability breakfast at 8.00 am, hosted by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. For more information contact the CMA’s Grahame Price on 4930 1030 or email grahame.price@cma.nsw.gov.au. 24 May - ‘Web of Life’: Forest Habitats Eco Tour Departing from Ourimbah, tour guide Jeannie Lawson will take participants on a tour of forest habitats at some of the most scenic places on the Central Coast, stopping to meet with expert guest speakers along the way. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided and participants are invited to bring their own lunch for a light bush walk. Don’t forget your camera! Places are limited, book yours by phoning the Community Environment Network on 4349 4756. 26 May - Fireweed workshop If you have fireweed on your property and you’re interested in learning how to control it, you’re invited to a free workshop in Somersby, with guest speaker Craig Muir, NSW DPI Agronomist and Fireweed Project Officer. Please RSVP by Friday 22 May by contacting Carolyn Jenkinson at NSW DPI Gosford on 4348 1979 or carolyn.jenkinson@dpi.nsw.gov.au. 30 May – Jilliby Creek Catchment Crawl Local schools and landholders in the Jilliby Creek catchment are invited to a Catchment Crawl. Participants will travel by bus, exploring the native fauna and flora along the creek, conducting water quality testing and visiting landholders who have completed projects with CMA funding to improve or protect Jilliby Creek. For more information or to register contact Samantha on 4349 4757 or email: waterwatch@cen.org.au. Bookings are essential and should be made before 25 May. 30 May – Hunter Region Landcare Forum and Muster Local People - Local Stories is the theme of this year’s Landcare Forum, which will be held at the EA Hunt Hall at Tocal Agricultural Centre. As well as a packed program of workshops and presentations for landcarers across the region, the forum will also feature a screening of PlaceStories entries for the 2009 Champions of the Catchments Awards. The winners in each category will be announced and forum participants will have the chance to vote for the People‘s Choice Award. For more information contact Hunter Region Landcare Network on 4934 8110 or email hrln@hunterlink.net.au. 31 May – Help make Black Neds Bay bitou-free With support from the CMA, a team of bush regenerators from Conservation Volunteers Australia has been removing bitou bush and other weeds from the dunes and sand islands at Black Neds Bay. A ‘bitou bash’ is being held to revisit the areas cleared by CVA and remove any regrowth before it sets seed. To register your interest or find out more phone Symon on 4921 0393. 31 May - Nature Watching Come along to Balickera (1.00-3.30 pm) and learn how to observe and record what's happening in your natural environment. Get to know when and why things are happening around your place and what it means. Each participant will receive a free Nature Watch Diary. Phone 4980 0251 or email melinda.anderson@portstephens.nsw.gov.au to book your place. 3 June - Birds of the Lower Hunter Chris Herbert from the Hunter Bird Observers Club will provide a fascinating pictorial presentation on the birds of the Lower Hunter at an information session on Wednesday evening 3 June between 5.00-7.30 pm at the at the Uniting Church Hall in Rutherford, near Maitland. A free BBQ dinner will be provided for participants. The event is being coordinated by the Community Environment Network, in partnership with the CMA and the Environmental Trust. Come and find out how you can assist in maintaining habitat for a wide range of local and migratory birds and other species in your local area. The session will outline current and upcoming funding opportunities available to maintain and enhance identified biodiversity corridors from Wentworth Swamp to the Watagans. Please RSVP to Tony Wells, CEN Project Officer on 4349 4754 or 0423 528 685 or Trevor Cameron at the CMA on 4938 4937. 12-13 June Horse workshops Back by popular demand, horse expert Jane Myers will be hosting two one-day workshops in our region in June, with funding through the CMA. Free workshops are being offered on the Central Coast on Friday 12 June and in Scone on Saturday 13 June. Places are limited so get in quickly to secure your place. Contact Vanessa Malicia at the CMA’s Gosford Office on 4337 1202 to attend the Central Coast workshop, or contact Jon Thorne in the CMA’s Muswellbrook office on 6542 4426 for the Scone workshop. 14 June - Open Project day The Open Project Day offers the chance to learn about three fantastic CMA-funded projects on the Central Coast - Avondale College in Cooranbong, Centennial Coal’s Mandalong Mine on Moran’s Creek and Yula-Punaal Healing Sanctuary in Mandalong. For more information contact Education Project Officer Vanessa Malicia on phone 4337 1202 (Mon, Wed, Fri) or email vanessa.malicia@cma.nsw.gov.au. 14 June – Guided walk of the woodlands of Kurri Kurri The Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC), in partnership with the CMA, is conducting a free guided walk of woodland habitats in Kurri Kurri and Cessnock. To register your interest or find out more, contact Mick Roderick on 0421 761 237 or mickhhb@yahoo.com.au. Grants and AssistanceFarmReady Reimburesement Grants Eligible participants are able to claim up to $1500 per financial year from the Australian Government to attend FarmReady approved courses, with additional funding available for associated reasonable travel, accommodation and childcare expenses. Approved courses will focus on areas designed to equip primary producers with the tools to manage and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Water Conservation Planning and Planning for Stock and Domestic Water Supply, have now been assessed and approved under the FarmReady Reimbursement Grants Program for delivery nationally. Go to www.farmready.gov.au for more information. Environmental Trust The NSW Government's Environmental Trust is offering a range of competitive grant programs in 2009 up to a value of $6.75 million. All programs open from 21 March 2009 but closing dates differ between programs. For information on funding currently available through the Environmental Trust go to: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
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Great find in Goorangoola Creek
Jane Myers Managing Horses on Small Properties
Open project scheme – Saving Moran’s Creek in Mandalong
Treasures in the Travelling Stock Routes
Stormwater Scamper
Keeping on top of Coolatai Grass in Singleton
Restoring Coastal Saltmarsh in Lake Macquarie
VegWatchers underway
Catchment benefits from small grants
Jilliby Creek Catchment Crawl
Woodland birds
Wetlands Waterwatcher
Budgewoi Beach Dunecare
Tocal Field Days