$500,000 FOR LOCAL LANDCARE BUSHFIRE RECOVERY PROJECTS
Four local Landcare bushfire recovery projects have been selected to aid in the recovery of native wildlife and habitat in seven regions severely impacted by the Black Summer bushfires - part of a $14 million Government commitment.
Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network are co-ordinating the projects which include Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare, ALL Sustainable Futures, Hastings Landcare and Luskintyre Landcare Group.
“Our unique native plants and animals are already benefitting thanks to the on-the-ground efforts from Landcare and other community groups, but there is still work to be done.”
“These new projects will build on the broad range of recovery activities already being carried out by Landcare and other community groups in the wake of the fires,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Our Government is committed to the recovery of our wildlife and habitats – it is vitally important that we continue to do this work so that our native iconic species, can return to their natural environments and thrive.”
“Our local Landcare volunteers are perfectly placed to see the roll-out of this funding in our towns and villages that were affected during the Black Summer Bushfires,” Dr Gillespie said.
“These are part of more than 100 new projects that will not only directly support native species recovery, but also provide benefit for bushfire-affected communities and landholders.”
To date, the Morrison Government has committed $200 million for wildlife and habitat recovery through the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund. A list of the 111 Landcare grant projects can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery/activities-and-outcomes
$134,759 - Mid Coast Community Nursery Upgrades to increase regional Bushfire Recovery Capacity
Since early 2020, Mid Coast 2 Tops (MC2T) and Mid Coast Council (MCC) have delivered an ongoing partnership program, entitled our “Planting Giveaway for Bushfire Impacted Landholders”, providing free local providence plantings to impacted landholders.
This is achieved through Mid Coast Council’s community nursery space, which due to funding limitations, needs significant resources and infrastructure works to meet the demand for this and larger revegetation projects.
It is the intention of this project to increase the capacity and resilience of this nursery while providing increased volunteering opportunity to Landcarers. Works will include new storage, polytunnels, bench space, irrigation system and materials to meet increased demand, as well as workshops to engage volunteers.
By completing this work, Mid Coast 2 Tops will be able to undertake future large-scale revegetation project without the need for ongoing grant funding by utilising the outputs of this new facility.
$299,854 - Enhanced Resilience in Pappinbarra
The project aims to rehabilitate the Pappinbarra River Riparian Corridor by fencing the river – excluding livestock while allowing native animals to move across the landscape; carrying out erosion control measures to restore eroded river banks; collecting & growing local seed species; replanting riparian corridor with endemic species that support bank stabilisation, food and shelter for specific threatened species such as Platypus, Powerful Owl, Koalas; removing weed species to encourage native regeneration; capacity building current landholders to maintain riparian health via field days for landowners in the Pappinbarra, Hastings, Thone and Wilson rivers and developing electronic learning materials to foster commitment and skills in future land managers (Tocal College Agriculture students) to improve riparian health.
By completion, we will achieve a more resilient community with the skills and commitment to continue to improve riparian health for natural disaster mitigation. The riparian corridor will less eroded, and in a more resilient state.
$50,000 - Post Fire Threatened Species Habitat Recovery – Hollows in the Hastings
This project aims to install 190 nesting boxes and artificial hollows across nineteen properties in the Hastings Region. Boxes will cater specifically for threatened owl species and their prey. Species likely to use our boxes include powerful owl, masked owl and sooty owl.
The smaller ‘prey’ boxes and hollows have potential to help additional threatening species such as yellow-bellied glider, squirrel glider, greater glider and micro bat species.
We will choose 19 suitable properties post expression of interest. Nesting boxes will be monitored annually (via wireless nest box camera) by landholders who will then report to Landcare and Charles Sturt University. These results will influence our nesting box programs into the future.
Project partners include The Hastings Bird Watchers, Charles Sturt University and private landholders.
$36,219 - Luskintyre Wildlife Corridors
This grant will extend two existing wildlife corridors, revegetate around two water bodies, one of which is zoned E2 and create stepping stones across 9 farms, covering approximately 15 hectares.
Over 10,000 native plants including trees, understory and ground cover will be planted to increase habitat for all native species including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians that have been displaced by clearing or fires and rely on the diverse vegetation structure.
A full day revegetation workshop will be delivered by Hunter Region Landcare Network in late August to build capacity of the group to carry out the project and educate community.