News items

More funding successes for Brunswick Valley Landcare
BVL is to receive $199,210 from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust for two major projects.

The first, ‘Protecting Biodiversity in a Coastal Development Hotspot ’ is an innovative three-year community education program aimed at developing awareness of biodiversity issues in the Byron Shire. The Trust will provide funding of $99,650 over three years.

The program will include events at this year’s Brunswick Valley Nature Festival which has conserving biodiversity as its main theme.

The second project to receive Environmental Trust funding is Reconnecting Lowland Riparian Corridors on the Brunswick River. The project, which will receive funding of $99,605 over three years, has been developed by the Mullumbimby Creek Locality Group and will extend work undertaken with a 05-08 Environmental Trust grant.

The project will concentrate on Mullumbimby township riparian sites.

The latest funding successes for BVL follow the allocation of two EnviroFund grants last year - $100,000 for sites on Mullumbimby Creek and riparian sites on the middle/lower Brunswick River, and $25,300 for ongoing work in the Yalakool Reserve at Ocean Shores [See story below].

These grants ensure financial stability for BVL – at least in the short term – and will allow for continuing on-ground works to be carried out. It will also mean that we can continue to employ a project officer.

The education program was one of only eleven community education projects funded by the Environmental Trust from a total budget of $510,000. The Mullumbimby project is one of 22 environmental restoration and rehabilitation projects funded from a total budget of $1.5 million.

500 new rainforest trees for Mullumbimby Creek


Brunswick Valley Landcare's Mullumbimby Locality group held a successful planting day on Sunday 2nd March. Around 30 people attended the day to plant 500 trees.

The site, in Mullumbimby near the pool, is of ecological significance as it expands a very narrow strip of subtropical rainforest that is of High Conservation Value and contains threatened species such as Marblewood and Fragrant myrtle. The planting is restoring a small peninsula that separates Mullumbimby Creek from Saltwater Creek that just recently has been fenced off from cattle.

BVL has received NSW Environmental Trust funding which will allow for woody weed control in the area. Everyone was very satisfied with the achievement on the day and are looking forward to
extending the planting next year. The day was only possible due to assistance from Environmental Trust, Rainforest Rescue, The Murrays, and the efforts of volunteers (including the providers of a great morning tea!)

Landcare's Dave Rawlins, who organised the planting, gives Wren McLean from Rainforest Rescue a thankyou hug for providing the trees.

$250 offer to BVL locality groups
BVL recently received money due from the wind-up of the now defunct Tweed Brunswick Care Coordinating Committee (TBCCC).

This money is now available for use by locality groups in the form of one-off, small equipment grants up to a maximum of $250 per group. These can be used for equipment, plants, or other needed items.

The grants will be subject to BVL committee approval and applications should provide detail of how the money will be used. For audit purposes, groups receiving the grants will be asked to provide invoices or other substantiation showing how the money has been spent.

Preferences will be given to groups that have not received recent funding from other sources, but all reasonable applications will be considered.

Requests for grants should be sent to
The Secretary,
Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc
PO Box 6
Brunswick Heads 2483
or by email to brunsvalley@optusnet.com.au

For more information call Judy 6684 5390 or Adrian 6685 1287.

Getting rid of camphor laurels

A report by Griffith University Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies, supported by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, summarises the costs and outcomes of converting stands of camphor laurel into rainforest. To read or download a pdf version, use the link below:

Converting camphor laurel into rainforest

More funding for BVL High Conservation Value Vegetation sites

BVL has received $6000 from the 'NRCMA 07/08 program, Maintaining Biodiversity Outcomes & Investment at priority sites. The money will be spent on three BVL sites at Blindmouth [Main Arm] and the Upper Pocket. They are in close proximity, have High Conservation Value vegetation, are adjacent to the Inner Pocket Nature Reserve and fall within a regional wildlife corridor. Site works commenced in late July 07 and the project will finish in June 08.

The NRCMA has acknowledged the need for maintenance on one year funded sites such as these recognising that landholders need assistance in being able to carry out the necessary follow-up work to ensure the best site outcomes.

In 2006 the eleventh known colony of the extremely rare Hairy Quandong [Eleaocarpus williamsianus] was discovered on one of Blindmouth sites.The current maintenance funding has allowed for further bush regeneration works to ensure its longer term survival.

In the original 05/06 project BVL partnered with Byron Shire Council and Wilsons Creek/ Huonbrook Landcare. This partnership continues with BSC sponsoring the current project.

Landcare NSW Inc formed

The State’s 47,000 community landcarers now have a unified voice following the inaugural meeting of Landcare NSW Incorporated in Sydney. The new group comprises Landcare representatives from across NSW.

Interim co-convenor of Landcare NSW, David Walker, Executive Officer of the Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee, said the inaugural meeting was the culmination of many months of consultation and planning.

“A community reference group, which is truly representative of the State’s grass roots landcarers has been on the drawing board in the NSW Landcare movement for many years,” David Walker said.

“A carefully developed proposal to establish a NSW Landcare Community Reference Group was finally ratified at the NSW Landcare Muster held in Tamworth late October.

“This week’s inaugural meeting saw members from across coastal and inland NSW reaffirm the group’s aim to be a strong representative body to work for grassroots community-driven natural resource management in NSW. Landcare NSW will be truly representative, with its members to be endorsed by local Landcare Networks and Landcare Groups.”

One of the first tasks of the new group was to establish both Membership and Terms-of-Reference sub-committees to look at the issues of representation, identifying key activities and legal issues such as the draft constitution.

Chris Scott, Chairman of the NSW Landcare Committee, and co-convenor of the new group, said the formation of Landcare NSW was the finalisation of a long-standing intention to have a community reference group to back up the NSW Landcare Committee.

“Essentially the new group will make the connection and facilitate communication between community Landcarers and the NSW Landcare Committee, the small advisory body appointed by the NSW Government.

“We have needed this linkage between the landcare community and the State Government for a long time. The landcare movement in NSW is active and growing, this new body will ensure that our voice is heard and our achievements acknowledged,“ Chris Scott said.

“The formation of a state wide, representative body for Landcare will do much to ensure the contribution of the 47,000 landcarers across NSW is properly valued.”

The next meeting of the new group will be held in early February.

There are plans for incorporated North Coast Landcare bodies to be represented at NSW Landcare Inc through a new group, North Coast Landcare, which will send two delegates to the new State body.

DECC targets misuse of pesticides

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is putting pesticide users on notice – its regional officers across the state are targeting people, organisations and companies who misuse pesticides, risking harm to the rest of the community and the environment.

DECC Executive Director of Operations Joe Woodward said pesticide offences are a major target for the rest of the year.

"We keep detailed information on incidents where pesticides are causing problems for other members of the public and will be concentrating our efforts on the biggest problem areas," he said.

"Pesticides undergo a rigorous assessment process before they are released for use in Australia. It is against the law to use any pesticide other than in accordance with the instructions on the label. This is a case where more is not better.

"Regulations also require record keeping and notification in some situations as well as appropriate training for pesticide users.

"Pesticides are an important part of agriculture and hundreds of people across the state use pesticides in their daily work. Fortunately most do the right thing. It's the small minority who misuse or mishandle pesticides that can pose a danger to themselves and others.

"One example is the use of 1080 baiting - a common poison used to kill foxes and rabbits. Unfortunately regular use can cause complacency, so we want people to remember they are using a potentially dangerous substance.

"1080 use will be one of the targets of the campaign, as will spray drift, which is a real issue for agricultural areas.

"The campaigns will check compliance with various sections of the pesticides legislation, including record keeping and training requirements," Mr Woodward said.

BVL wins $90,000 Envirofund grants

BVL has won two Envirofund grants worth a total of $90,000 for the restoration of riparian vegetation at ten sites in the Brunswick Valley.

The two grants, each worth $45,000, are for :

• Riparian Restoration of the Brunswick River, Main Arm, Middle/Estuarine Sub-Catchment which will restore riparian vegetation on five sites in the middle catchment of the Brunswick River. Activities to be undertaken include 220m of fencing to exclude stock from the riparian zone, planting 3,525 trees, weed control and an installation of an interpretive sign.

Outcomes will be reduced erosion leading to improved downstream water quality and the enhancement of natural habitat within the project area.

• Riparian Restoration of the Brunswick River, Upper Mullumbimby Creek Sub-Catchment to restore riparian vegetation and ecological balance on five sites in the upper catchments of the Brunswick River on Mullumbimby Creek. Activities to be undertaken include revegetation with 600 native trees and bush regeneration in the riparian zone. A training day will also be conducted to demonstrate riparian restoration methods and interpretive signage will be erected.

Outcomes will be enhanced natural habitat within the project area and increased community understanding of biodiversity protection in riparian areas.

Envirofund was introduced in 2002 as the local action component of the Australian Government's $5.1 billion Natural Heritage Trust. It helps community groups and individuals undertake small projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable natural resource use.

The latest grants are from Round 9 of Envirofund which attracted a record 2,159 applications seeking more than $47 million. The available funding for Round 9 was $20 million.

Yallakool locality group at Ocean Shores has been awarded $20,900 in funding from Round 10 of the Envirofund grants for a project that will implement a management plan developed for the area in 2005.

There are four key parts to the project: restoration and linking of 1ha of vegetation through 252 hours of bush regeneration and revegetation with 200 native plants; establishment of an educational 'bush tucker' garden; construction of a walking track with bridges and lookout points to reduce human impact upon the area; and a labelling system of significant plants will be developed.

An Educational open day plus skill building seminars will educate the community with members of Landcare present to answer any questions. Outcomes will include enhanced natural habitat in the project area and heightened community awareness of local environmental issues