Edition 4 - 2013 Spring Newsletter Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority In this edition: Message from the Chair Coming Up Flying Fox Clean Up Bingara Living Classroom Salinity Problems Return MoB Landcare Win NAIDOC Public Speaking Challenge Nullamanna Station and Sustainable Land Management Cooking Up a Class in a Kitchen Garden NAIDOC Celebrations New CMA Team Leader Koala Carers LLS to Retain Industry Expertise Message from the Chair, Hans Hietbrink As we head into our final months in operation as the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority (prior to the transition to Local Land Services), it’s very pleasing to report yet another feather in the cap of our dedicated CMA staff. The Natural Resources Commission recently released a report analysing and rating the Catchment Action Plans (CAPs) that have been prepared for regions across NSW. The Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Action Plan for natural resource management was one of only three CAPs across the State to receive an A rating. Our Board and staff members were committed from the outset to widespread consultation and thorough analysis of local issues. Our A grade certainly reflects the skill, hard work and dedication of the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA team. When Local Land Services commences operation in January 2014 the CAP will continue to serve as a crucial planning and decision making tool with regard to natural resource management. The new organisation will bring together LHPA, CMA and DPI advisory services, making it easier to work together to achieve even better outcomes for landholders, key partners, and community and industry groups. The NSW Parliament passed the Local Land Services Bill 2013 on June 27th, officially confirming the changes to come. www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au A key objective outlined by the LLS Bill is to “encourage collaboration and shared responsibility by involving communities, industries and non-government organisations in making the best use of local knowledge and expertise in relation to the provision of local land services”. The Bill also states that LLS will “communicate, consult and engage with the community, including the Aboriginal community, to encourage participation in relation to the delivery of local land services”. In this spirit we will be listening to community and landholder feedback about landscape priorities and how we can work collaboratively to deliver solutions to local challenges. As can be seen in the following pages, the CMA’s commitment to helping local communities look after their land, balancing production and conservation, continues in earnest and there are many CMA projects that will progress under the LLS banner. For more information about any of the projects highlighted in this Newsletter, please contact your local CMA office contact details are listed on the back page. Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 Coming Up... October SPRING BIRD WATCH & WALK WITH A BOTANIST Saturday, October 12 ‘Five Corners’, Halls Lane, Nullamanna. Contact Shirley Handy for details on 02 6723 2251. GROW IT LOCAL NATIVE CUISINE Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 October Moree, Boggabilla, and Mungindi: The Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA is hosting a series of native cuisine events to highlight the abundance of native food plants that grow in the local landscape. Come along and meet renowned Aboriginal Chef, the Black Olive, and find out how you can cook and cultivate these plants in your own backyard. Contact Annabelle Monie for more information on 02 6728 8032. GRAVESEND CARP MUSTER Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October Essy’s Crossing, Gwydir Highway, Gravesend: Junior and Senior prizes for the most carp caught, longest carp, and smallest carp. The Carp Muster is hosted by the Warialda Anglers Club and the Upper Gwydir Landcare Association, and supported by the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Program. Log on to the UGLA website for details at www.ugla.com.au or phone 02 6724 2052. PINK RIBBON EVENT Wednesday 23 October, 10:30 am Pop into the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA’s Inverell office for a cuppa and help raise funds for breast cancer research. RSVP to Annabelle Monie on 02 6728 8032. CMA and Inverell Shire Clean Up Following Flying Fox Frenzy The Inverell Shire Council and the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA have joined forces to restore a key stretch of the Macintyre River badly degraded by a colony of flying foxes that overstayed their welcome. Little Red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) have been present for many years in trees and shrubs that line a popular riverside walking trail in Inverell. However in 2012, thousands of new flying foxes took up residence in an area behind the Inverell Bowling Club. The mass infestation tipped the normal environmental balance and caused significant damage to vegetation. “Many local people and visitors to town use the riverside trail for cycling, jogging and other recreational activities, and they were distressed at the denuded landscape and dying trees,” reported Inverell Shire General Manager, Paul Henry. “We had hoped the bats would have moved on sooner, but they seemed to take quite a liking to Inverell and unfortunately they proved to be very destructive riverbank campers.” After many months the bats finally did depart, and now the Macintyre River Urban Rehabilitation Project has started revegetating the area with native riparian species. Willows and other exotic weeds will be removed to improve natural habitat. Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Catchment Officer, Andrew Walsh is keen for the public to get involved in the project. “We hope to engage community interest in the benefits of riparian vegetation in the landscape and within the urban environment,” said Mr Walsh. Local individuals or groups interested in assisting with tree planting should contact the Inverell Shire Council on 02 6728 8206. November PASTURE UPDATE Friday 8 November 2013 Bingara: Tropical and temperate pasture species update. Contact DPI Pastures Specialist, Lester McCormick for details on 0427 401 542. January LOCAL LAND SERVICES 1 January 2014 The new Local Land Services commences operation. Catchment Management Authorities, Livestock Health & Pest Authorities, and Agriculture NSW advisory services will officially become Local Land Services on the 1st of January. 2 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au Damaged vegetation along Macintyre River walking path in Inverell. Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 Planting trees on ‘The Living Classroom’ site. Salinity damage on a paddock at Bundarra. Bingara Living Classroom to showcase Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks Salinity Problems Return The Gwydir Shire Council and the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA have joined forces to create an important new landscape corridor as part of the Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks project. The Living Classroom was once a degraded town Common on the edge of Bingara. The Gwydir Shire has developed this 150 hectare area into a research centre and showcase for the future of sustainable agriculture. With funding from the Australian Government’s Biodiversity Fund (through the Clean Energy Future Initiative) new paddock trees and patches of bushland will be established, shelter belts will create protection from harsh winds, roadside plantings will fill in vegetation gaps and increase connectivity, and mid paddock tree clumps will provide shade, shelter, and rest stops for wildlife. The Living Classroom is an ideal partnership for the Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks project which aims to restore bush corridors and reconnect farmland with the beneficial services supplied free to agriculture by the natural environment. The project also aligns with the Bingara and District Vision 20/20 plan and the local community’s focus on regeneration. “The Living Classroom site is just the sort of landscape we’re targeting under the Biolinks project. It offers an ideal location for a wildlife corridor to be planted, linking the predominantly cleared valley floor landscape with remnant biodiversity in the surrounding hills,” explained CMA Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks Project Coordinator, Marty Dillon. 3 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au While we might be experiencing a dry patch so far this Spring, after a series of wetter seasons salinity has increased across the catchment, so the Border Rivers Gwydir CMA has been working with local landholders to tackle the problem. Salinity Consultant, George Truman, was engaged to advise landholders on salinity management. During the long years of drought, water tables dropped and salinity levels declined. However with a return to wetter years the effects of salinity are again becoming evident. Landholders have reported problems in known saline areas have re-emerged, and new salinity outbreaks have occurred. “Although salinity has not been in the headlines for many years, the salt has not gone away. The dry climatic conditions over the past decade have simply meant there has been less water in the system and therefore the salt has not been as mobile within the soil or water systems,” said Mr Truman. “Management of salinity is not only about the discharge areas, or scald sites, it’s also about managing the recharge areas associated with hill tops and slopes.” “On ground works to reduce salinity include fencing off areas to stop over grazing, and re-establishment with salt tolerant grasses and pastures.” “In cropping areas there has been a greater awareness of avoiding long-fallow and undertaking response cropping to utilise water in the profile to reduce salt mobilisation within the root zone of crops.” For more information and advice on controlling salinity, phone Lauren Wilson at the CMA’s Inverell office on 02 6728 8029. Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 MoB wins NSW Landcare Award An outstanding partnership between the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, the Mungindi Local Aboriginal Land Council, NSW TAFE, and the Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation has been named the State winner of the 2013 NSW Landcare Indigenous Innovation Award. A highlight of the Murries on Barwon project has been the establishment of an eight kilometre long wildlife corridor that now connects biodiversity from the Boomi River to the Barwon River on the Mungindi Local Aboriginal Land Council owned property, Glanville. Aboriginal Trainees employed through the MoB project harvested and propagated local provenance native seed for revegetation of the corridor, erected fencing, and then strategically planted thousands of seedlings to create shelter and habitat for native species. The MoB land and river conservation and rehabilitation project was funded through the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative, but the project was not just aimed at environmental gains. It was also designed to build employment skills in the local Aboriginal community. CMA Strategic Land Services Team Leader Luc Farago says the scale of the project was impressive, and so was the growth in self confidence and skill amongst the trainees. “The quality of the planting work was phenomenal, they achieved some of the best tubestock planting I’ve ever seen, evidenced by a great strike rate and excellent growth.” “It was even more exciting to see how the trainees had gone from being shy and reserved, to being keen to ask questions, readily engaging with others, and showing great enthusiasm for the job they’d taken on,” said Mr Farago. Building on the Murries on Barwon legacy, Murdi Paaki has retained several of the trainees to continue with ongoing revegetation and land management works. left to right: Mark Duncan (MoB trainee), Harry White (Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA MoB Project Leader), Daniel Downton & Leroy Charles (MoB trainees). 4 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au Luc Farago and MoB trainees inspect a newly planted wildlife corridor on Glanville. NAIDOC Public Speaking Exhibition Showcases Tomorrow’s Community Leaders Each year there is intense competition between senior Aboriginal students from Macintyre and Inverell High Schools as they vie for the honour of winning the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA’s NAIDOC Public Speaking Challenge. Alex Jeffery, Ebony Adams and Jack Jeffery were the winning team for Inverell High School, while Macintyre High School was admirably represented by speakers Jasmine James, Lea Jerrard and Jessica Loftus, with support from Miranda Boney and Tarnia Jerrard. Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Chair Hans Hietbrink and the Manager of Inverell Library Services Sonya Lange presented the Public Speaking Challenge Trophy. “All of the students did a really good job of researching this year’s NAIDOC theme, (‘We value the vision: YIRRKALA BARK PETITIONS 1963’), describing how important the bark petitions had been as part of the struggle for Native Title. The students spoke confidently and it was clear they had a high level of interest and engagement in the topic,” reported Ms Lange. The NAIDOC Public Speaking Challenge is supported by the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA through the CMA’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Program. Jack Jeffery addresses the annual NAIDOC Public Speaking Challenge. Back row (left to right): Hans Hietbrink, Ebony Adams, Jack Jeffery, Alex Jeffery, Sonya Lange. Front row: Lea Jerrard, Jasmine James and Jessica Loftus. Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 CMA Inspires Teachers to Cook up a Class in a Kitchen Garden Twenty teachers from across the New England recently took part in a Creating Kitchen Gardens in Schools workshop held at the Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre in Armidale and supported by the Border RiversGwydir CMA. Mark and Peter Lane on Nullamanna Station. Nullamanna Station and the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Partners in Sustainable Land Management Inverell farmers Peter and Mark Lane have developed a strong working relationship with the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA over the last five years, and are looking forward to continuing that partnership as CMAs make the transition to the new Local Land Services structure in 2014. The Lane family’s property, Nullamanna Station, has been used as a demonstration farm to showcase the benefits of fencing to soil type and land capability for better land management. “We have been able to separate our grazing and cropping country, so we can treat these land use areas very differently and fully control grazing impact. Laneways have been established that connect every paddock to the cattle yards, simplifying stock movement and making stock management much less stressful for both animals and handlers,” explained Peter Lane. The Lanes also worked with the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA in 2012 to establish a small irrigation project that utilises effluent water from their cattle feedlot. “Before the irrigation project was set up, we had used evaporation ponds to dispose of waste water. This new system has turned that waste product into a useful resource,” said Mr Lane. Additionally Nullamanna Station has been the site of CMA supported fertiliser trial demonstration days, looking at the role of phosphorous and sulphur applications to improve native grasses and legumes. With the cooperation and enthusiasm of the Lanes, Nullamanna Station has become an important demonstration site for sustainable farm management, providing the CMA and Landcare with a working model to inspire other land managers. For more information about Farm Planning and how CMA staff can assist in the implementation of sustainable farm management techniques on your property, contact your local Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA office (contact details are listed on the back page of this newsletter). 5 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au Three expert horticulturalists from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney joined local Thalgarrah staff to present professional learning sessions on organic gardening methods and techniques for natural pest and disease control, explaining the benefits for the protection of biodiversity and water quality. There was also discussion on keeping chooks at school, visual arts in the food garden and how to link gardening to the school curriculum. Julie Kennelly from the Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre believes getting kids involved in gardening creates real ‘back to basics’ learning skills. “The practice of composting and worm farming builds an understanding of the value of soil and the need to keep it healthy. Similarly, using water wisely to grow food, demonstrates the value of water and water conservation,” said Ms Kennelly. For more information about creating kitchen gardens in schools, contact the Thalgarrah Education Centre at Armidale on 02 6775 1736. Kitchen garden at the Thalgarrah Education Centre. School teachers taking part in a CMA inspired Kitchen Garden workshop at the Thalgarrah Education Centre. Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 NAIDOC Celebrations The Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA proudly took part in this year’s NAIDOC events at Victoria Park in Inverell to celebrate local Indigenous history, culture and achievements. The CMA hosted a display of Aboriginal artefacts featuring iconic items such as clap sticks, woomeras, bullroarers and coolamons on loan from a private collection. CMA Chair Hans Hietbrink also presented the annual Inverell and District NAIDOC awards honouring Aboriginal Community Achievement. Amongst the many worthy winners was our own Harry White, CMA Catchment Officer – Aboriginal Support, who was honoured for his commitment and dedication towards Aboriginal services in the community. Patrina Connors, Dereck Clarke, Yoorana Whitby, and Harry White receive awards from CMA Board Chair Hans Hietbrink, with commentary from James Sheather on the microphone. New CMA Team Leader Lauren Wilson, the new Team Leader (Works and Services) at the Border RiversGwydir CMA, will bring a wealth of experience in working with landholders and agricultural issues to the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services when the LLS commences operations in January 2014. Lauren Wilson has a Degree in Land Management and Conservation, and particular expertise in soil conservation, erosion control and salinity management. Before joining the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, Lauren was employed as a Catchment Coordinator with the Namoi CMA where she managed key projects involving precision agriculture, increasing ground cover, the Namoi Biolinks project and the Namoi CMA - Cotton CRDC partnership. At the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Lauren has taken charge of the Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks project and sustainable agriculture projects dealing directly with landholders across the Northern Tablelands. Lauren will also oversee LLS agricultural extension officers including new LLS Livestock Officer Jason Siddell. Recruitment is currently underway for a Mixed Farming and Pastures Officer to join the LLS team. Lauren Wilson inspects some of the key state corridors that the Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks will help to reconnect. 6 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 Alaine Anderson cares for sick and injured koalas on her Croppa Creek property. This koala was nursed back to health after being found with a bullet wound at Milguy. Here he’s being fed a specially formulated milk supplement to regain his strength. CMA Helps Fund Koala Carers The Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA is working with local koala advocates, Alaine Anderson and Maria Morton, to support the ongoing health and survival of our local koala population. There are many koala colonies living right here in our back yard in Northern NSW, but animals are sometimes found sick and injured and in need of care. Dog attacks and road collisions are common causes of injury. The CMA has given support to Alaine Anderson and Maria Morton to train at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to hone their expertise in koala care. Maria and Alaine are also receiving assistance to build their own koala gunyahs, specially designed enclosures to house and protect recuperating koalas. Alaine is a passionate wildlife carer who has nursed many koalas back to health. She was also a finalist in the Border Rivers-Gwydir Regional Landcare Primary Producer Awards, in recognition of her work to protect and expand koala habitat on her property ‘Strangford’ at Croppa Creek. “There’s been a renewed interest in koalas locally, particularly thanks to the support we’ve received from the CMA to bring experts from the Australian Koala Foundation and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to Moree to address forums and workshops,” stated Alaine. Fellow koala advocate, Maria Morton, says she has a soft spot for native animals, especially the koala. “Every time I come across a koala on our property it still gives me a huge thrill to see them in their natural environment,” said Maria. “They’re just a beautiful, special animal. I would like to see more of them around the bush and I think we will regret it if we let their numbers continue to decline.” If you already have koalas on your property, or you’d like to expand or improve their habitat, the Office of Environment and Heritage has special funding available to plant and to protect food and shelter trees for koalas. For more information contact Leah MacKinnon at the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Moree office on 02 6757 2559 or email: [email protected] 7 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au Spring Newsletter Edition 4 - 2013 LLS to Retain Industry Expertise The Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA has welcomed the appointment of Jason Siddell as Senior Land Services Officer (Livestock) working on the NSW Northern Tablelands. Over the past 3 years Mr Siddell has been employed as a District Livestock Officer (Beef Products) with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. His skills have now been secured for the Local Land Services (LLS) restructure, ensuring the ongoing provision of technical assistance for livestock producers in the Northern Tablelands region. “I really enjoy working with livestock producers, running workshops and field days and talking to people providing technical advice that can help make their businesses more productive and sustainable,” said Mr Siddell. “It’s very satisfying to work with the producers to find solutions to production problems and to provide people with locally relevant, independent advice when they’re looking for information.” The Northern Tablelands Local Land Services will officially commence operation in January 2014, servicing the region covered by the Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Guyra, Inverell, Armidale, and Uralla Shires. Jason Siddell’s services are currently available to sheep and cattle producers through the Glen Innes Agriculture and Advisory Station. For advice and information on livestock phone Jason on: 0459 162 295 or email: [email protected] Our Office Locations Inverell Moree Armidale Glen Innes Goondiwindi 15 Vivian Street INVERELL NSW 2360 Phone: 02 6728 8020 Fax: 02 6728 8098 66-68 Frome Street MOREE NSW 2400 Phone: 02 6757 2550 Fax: 02 6757 2570 Trevenna Road ARMIDALE NSW 2350 Phone: 02 6773 5270 Fax: 02 6773 5288 68 Church Street Glen Innes NSW 2370 Phone: 02 6732 2998 Fax: 02 6732 5995 Waggamba Square Brooke Street Goondiwindi QLD 4390 Phone: 07 4671 0518 If you’d like to keep in touch online with what’s happening at the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, you can receive an email snap shot of this newsletter complete with online links to instantly access further information. Sign up to automatically receive new editions of our online newsletter by emailing: [email protected] or visit our website and click subscribe www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au 8 www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au