Bring on 2020!
The next generation of Landcarers at Hospital Hill Landcare
Left to Right: Olive-Jane Firestone, Asha Pahlow, Lorenzo Pahlow,
Leo Egan and Hazel Egan
Tweed Landcare is looking forward to an exciting and productive 2020 working on projects that have a positive outcome for the climate, farmers and nature. We will be working with the 20 or so Care Groups across the Shire, ensuring they have what they need to do what they do best and working on our many projects including the Bush Skills program, Filling the Biodiversity Gaps (Stages 4 and 5), and the Mid-Oxley Cats Claw Creeper control project.
At the end of 2019 we submitted an application for funding with the Australian Government for a Carbon Farming project based on the success of the Soilkee Renovator, developed in Victoria, which is a demonstrated technique for sequestering carbon, improving pasture yields, increasing soil water holding capacity and generating an income for farmers. We plan to set up demonstration sites in the Tweed Shire to trial the success of the Soilkee and winter and summer pasture and potentially register the properties for carbon credits under the Australian Government Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
The Soilkee Renovator
More recently, Tweed Landcare worked with Tweed Shire Council to submit an application for a project to try and prevent the establishment of feral deer in the Northern Rivers region. This ambitious, strategic project brings stakeholders from local government, Landcare, government agencies and the community together to prevent the establishment of feral deer on the NSW Northern Rivers. Feral deer are highly invasive and once established the control options are costly and largely ineffective. An opportunity exists to undertake actions to protect grazing land, crops, orchards, World Heritage Areas, motorists and cultural and social values from the impacts of feral deer. In 2019, on the tablelands, deer were reported to show resilience during the drought, dispersing into new areas and competing with cattle and sheep for pastures.
Fallow deer buck. Photo: Peter Jesser
Other TLI news!
Ian Walker and Chunli Wang have been restoring Council land at Cudgenbil Waterhole (on the Tweed River near Braeside Drive, Uki) for several years. To date restoration has been undertaken in their own time and with funds from Tweed Shire Council River Health Grants.The restoration of the site has been guided by the principles of the Bradley Method which merges science and intuition
They would now like to form Friends of Cudgenbil Waterhole group to train volunteers in the Bradley Method so site restoration can continue into the future. There are 8 volunteer places available. Volunteers will need to be available fortnightly on a Thursday morning (9am til 11am). Volunteers will be split into two groups of up to 4 volunteers. Each group will meet fortnightly - Ian and Chunli will be there every Thursday. Volunteers who complete one year of fortnightly volunteering, study and apply the various methods of encouraging seeds to sprout will be issued a Certificate of Competency in Bradley Bush Regeneration.
If you are interested please contact Ian Walker on 02 6679 1832 or at iantwalker@bigpond.com
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Meet the TLI Committee
Corinne Jackson
What position do you hold on the TLI Committee? Committee Member
How long have you been on the TLI Committee? I have just joined, just over a month
Who/what inspired you to nominate for the TLI Committee? Having a chat with Amalia after a TLI event inspired me to join the committee. I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to put some of my current knowledge and ideas into practice, while learning from a wider circle of people who have had various roles and experience with caring for our land. Taking the inspiration, wisdom and enthusiasm of these people to help rehabilitate our beautiful Australian land, I would like to help in reaching out to younger generations. Now in a time of environmental need, many people are starting to understand climate change and the importance of Australian flora and fauna, and want to be involved in something but aren’t sure what to do or how to begin.
How long have you been a member of Tweed Landcare Inc.? Just recently, over a month.
Who/what inspired you to join Landcare? In my first year of uni I was learning the fundamental units of Environmental Science and I joined a Wetlandcare group, as I was interested in plant ID and plants in general. Whilst learning about the resilience of ecosystems and watching the little sites we worked on flourish and change, I grew my interest and continued to be a part of Landcare.
Which of the many skills that you’ve developed throughout your life do you think are most beneficial to your role as a TLI Committee member? My environmental awareness and enthusiasm to share my knowledge and techniques with people, and communicating ideas are beneficial skills because there are sometimes situations where everyone will need to motivate each other, especially when the weather is hot and the projects are long term. My knowledge has grown from my degree in Environmental Science, volunteer projects including Landcare and my job as a professional bush regenerator.
What are your passions in life? I am passionate about a lot of things involving our land and sea. I love hiking, camping, diving, exploring and finding interesting plants and landscapes. My job as a bush regenerator can be very rewarding too. And food, I’m definitely passionate about produce, cooking and eating.
What is one thing you’d like to do/achieve in your lifetime? I have a goal to successfully encourage people who are interested to help the environment through creative project ideas and see our beautiful natural ecosystems flourish.
What do you enjoy most about being a TLI Committee member? I am new here but I look forward to understanding TLI on a more complex level and be able to engage in the development of the committee over time. So far, I have learnt of some of the passion and dedication that goes into TLI, which is very inspiring. I can’t wait to find out more about TLI and people already involved, and eventually begin to contribute.
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Catch-up over a Cuppa
The TLI Group of the Month is
Upper Duroby Landcare!
(formerly Tumbulgum Action Group)
The picturesque Upper Duroby Creek
Where is/are the site(s) located? On several private properties along Upper Duroby Creek
Who is/are the group coordinator(s)? Jan Sinclair & Lee Perkins
What year did the group form? 1998
How many were in the group when it formed? 20-30 would regularly come to tree plantings which were social events with a barbeque at the end
How many are in the group now? Five or six
How often does the group meet? Once a month on the 2nd Sunday from 2 til 4 pm
What has been the group’s single greatest achievement, to date? Fencing and planting the creek. Since we started we have collected local native seeds, grew plants, planted a forest …. then the birds came (including new species) and now the birds are the regenerating the area by spreading seed
What is the group’s single greatest challenge, at the moment? Cat’s Claw Creeper
What would the group most like to achieve? Control of mature Camphor Laurels and Cat’s Claw Creeper
Meet the Group Coordinator… Jan Sinclair
Who/What inspired you to join Landcare/Dunecare? Hogan’s Scrub
What takes up too much of your time? Housework
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Reading, propagating seed and spend more time with my family
What hobby would you do if time and money weren’t an issue? More painting and drawing
What place would you most like to go? And why? Darwin to visit close friends
What job would you be terrible at? Anything to do with computers
What skill would you like to master? Nothing- happy with dabbling achieved
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for? Patience (not the card game)
What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Work with children with disabilities
What is one small thing that always makes your day better? Seeing new types of fruit, flowers, leaves and butterflies
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The horrendous bushfires
A message from Landcare NSW
As reports come in from the devastating bushfires that have impacted so many of our communities, words cannot fully express how saddened our entire Landcare community is for the losses so many of our groups are experiencing.
The statistics are staggering. Nearly 5 million hectares of land being burnt in the state’s bushfires, 800 million animals killed and 2,000 homes lost in NSW – including those of our own Landcarers – the process back to recovery will be long. In our thoughts during these times are the families and individuals affected, as well as those who are volunteering their time to fight fires, protect homes and help recover injured wildlife.
In the coming months and years as our state begins to recover, we know with certainty that our NSW Landcare community is strong, resilient and resourceful, and we will be there to help rebuild communities and landscapes, and ensure wildlife will recover.
We will do this by working with one another to support all our communities together.
Sincerely,
Adrian Zammit and Steph Cameron
Landcare NSW CEO and Landcare NSW Chair
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Friends improving koala habitat and connectivity on the Tweed Coast
Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve Landcare are planting over 3000 trees over three years on a site behind Koala Beach, Pottsville. The group has obtained a NSW Environmental Trust grant to carry out the plantings, along with associated preparation and regeneration projects. The specific purpose of the planting is to provide habitat for Koalas. The planting site adjoins the site of the proposed Koala rehabilitation centre.
The next work morning will be on Saturday February 15th. This will involve site inspection and a general tidy up after the initial planting last October. Over 60 volunteers attended on this day, and approximately 1500 trees were planted. Interested Landcarers are welcome to come along on Saturday to view the project and to discuss future plans. The entrance to the site is at the end of Lomandra Ave, Koala Beach. Sign on is at 8am. Please wear appropriate protective clothing and footwear, and bring your insect repellent and water. For further details, ring Chris on 0407762108.
1500 trees in the ground, 1500 to go |
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Fish Kill on the Oxley River
by Peter Baker, Eungella Farmer
Some of the dead fish collected from the fish kill. Photo P. Baker
On the 15th of January, I was notified of a fish kill above Sharps Rd bridge. I have never seen a fish kill first hand so loaded my canoe and went to investigate. Due to the unusually dry conditions the river was heavily weeded up, dead fish were strewn around the surface and beginning to decay.
I proceeded to remove the fish one by one tallying 126 mullet, 9 catfish, 6 bass and 5 bullrouts.
My take on the kill is that it was due to excessive plant growth and extreme low flow conditions, also a run of dull days, which resulted in the consumption of oxygen exceeding production from the plants. Progressive removal of dissolved oxygen from the water resulted. Dissolved oxygen levels will generally reach a minimum before dawn. Calm weather was also present which restricted re-oxygenation from wind rippling. Thus resulting in the kill.
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Turtle 'watchers' required for
Tweed and Byron beaches
by Holly West- NSW TurtleWatch Project Officer
Upcoming Free NSW TurtleWatch Information Session
When: Saturday 15th February, 10am – 12pm.
Where: Kingscliff Community Hall, 81 Marine Parade, Kingscliff.
 
Hatchlings from Boambee Beach on the Coffs Coast, 2018.
Photo credit: Bryce Forrest Media
Sea turtle hatchlings are coming and we need your help to ensure as many hatchlings make it to the ocean as possible. Sea turtle hatchlings begin to emerge on our beaches anytime in January and continue through until May. Hatchlings can be affected by light pollution, marine debris, predators and coastal erosion.
Tweed Shire Council is partnering with NSW TurtleWatch program to bring you this free event about how to keep our beaches safe for sea turtles. Staff from the program will be giving an update on the current nesting numbers in NSW and share some of the successful sea turtle rehabilitation stories from Australian Seabird Rescue. Come learn what important information we are collecting from these nests, even after they hatch.
The NSW TurtleWatch program has been developed by Australian Seabird Rescue to train volunteers to monitor beaches for nesting sea turtles, identify sea turtle tracks and record potential threats to help protect these threatened species. Successful turtle nests have been found in NSW from the Queensland border all the way to Forster/Tuncurry. Tweed and Byron areas have had the highest number and density of nests over the last 20 years.
NSW offers turtle nesting beaches with cooler sand temperatures and minimal disturbance from urban development. The temperature of a nest can influence the gender of hatchlings and the hatch success. With increasing global temperatures, sea turtle populations may become female biased, so the cooler sand temperatures found in NSW could return some male hatchlings into the population.
The estimate is that only 1 out of 1,000 hatchlings survive to reach maturity so every hatchling we can assist into the ocean can help to make a difference. Sea turtles have been around for over 100 million years, lets act now to ensure they survive the 21st century.
One of the nests being relocated by NPWS staff from Sydney to the Coffs Coast.
Photo credit: Bryce Forrest Media
This project is supported by the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program. #savingourspecies. Please visit here for more information about the NSW Turtlewatch program. For more information contact turtlewatchnsw@gmail.com or visit our social media pages @NSWTurtleWatch or Facebook.
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Spectacled Monarch
(Symposiachrus trivirgatus)
A Spectacled Monarch near Thornton Beach, Daintree, Queensland.
Photo: www.jjharrison.com.au
The Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus) is a species of 'flycatcher' bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Spectacled Monarch is blue-grey above, with a black face mask that extends across both eyes in a 'clover-leaf' pattern, rufous (red-orange) breast, white underparts and a black tail with white outer tips. Immature birds lack the black face and have a grey throat. The north Queensland subspecies albiventris has a rufous upper breast sharply defined from more extensive white underparts.
The species has an EPBC Act Listing Status of 'migratory' as it is at least partially migratory, wintering to southern New Guinea (Trans-Fly) and Torres Strait Islands. Vocal differences among them seem pronounced; moreover, all Australian populations have a song not shared with any taxa in rest of species’ range.
The Spectacled Monarch feeds on insects, foraging mostly below the canopy in foliage and on tree trunks or vines. They build a small cup nest of fine bark, plant fibres, moss and spider web in a tree fork or in hanging vines, 1 - 6 m above the ground, often near water.
A Spectacled Monarch nest in the rainforest of Limpinwood. Made from moss and spider web with huntsmen egg case decorations. Photo: Mark Kingston |
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Brown Kurrajong (Snow in Summer)
(Commersonia bartramia)
A 3 year old Brown Kurrajong tree, creating, shade habitat and nectar
A fantastic local pioneer species, from the family Malvaceae, is the Brown Kurrajong. It is sometimes called 'Snow in Summer' due to the masses of flowers in summertime time that weigh down the horizontal branches. Flowering is followed by chestnut-like spiky seed capsules. The leaves are strongly discolorous (the top and bottom of the leaves are different colours) -dark, glossy green above and pale whitish below. The leaf shape and size is ovate to broad-ovate mostly 6–15 cm long, 4–10 cm wide, and either entirely toothed or with 4–6 teeth per cm. As a pioneer plant species it grows very quickly, often after disturbance, in open spaces or on the edge of rainforest shading out many weed species and providing shade for sun sensitive rainforest species.
Alex Floyd's book, Rainforest Trees of South-eastern Australia, reports the distribution from north of the Bellinger River in northern NSW to Cape York and Malaysia. Floyd notes the fibrous bark was used by Australian aborigines to make nets for catching kangaroos and fish. Usually found along creek lines, Brown Kurrajong prefers a moist position in full sun or partial shade. They will usually only grow to 10m full height, but can reach 25m. It will provide a quick canopy or windbreak in regeneration sites.
Close up of the masses of flowers |
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What’s Great and Seasonal in February!
by Sue Beckinsale (Market Manager)
 
Yellow Oyster Mushrooms and Watermelon
What’s NEW at the Markets
Summer vegies abound helped along by the recent rain and showers since. Jumping Red Ant has a wide range of capsicum and tomatoes from the very popular Grappa tomatoes to their Tommy Toe or cherry tomatoes. Bio Organic Farm and Sylva Lining Organics both have a great selection of tomatoes too and Summit Organics has cherry tomatoes.
Have you ever tried a watermelon and tomato gazpacho with feta? Inspired by Sydney caterer Leila of Hot Plates Catering who purchased an Everest Farm watermelon and posted a photo of Will cutting it and then shared how they enjoyed it.
Gazpacho is a Spanish-style soup, served cold and made by blending tomatoes with a variety of vegetables. Summer and watermelon go hand-in-hand so we’ve turned our usual tomato gazpacho into a watermelon spectacular that’s perfect as an appetizer or as a light lunch, even a snack.
https://12tomatoes.com/watermelon-tomato-gazpacho/
Gary at Wollumbin Gourmet Mushrooms has lots of delicious yellow oyster mushrooms this week too so check these out and you might decide to pick up some fresh pasta from Fabian and Jodie of Woodland Valley Farm for a pasta and mushroom meal.
Have a wonderful month!
Murwillumbah Farmers’ Market
Murwillumbah Farmers’ Market Facebook
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Nature Conservation Council’s 2020 Bushfire Conference
Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th May
Field Day Thursday 21st May
NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, Sydney
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is proud to present it's 12th biennial Bushfire Conference Cool, Warm, Hot: the burning questions.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean - will provide an opening address
- Emeritus Professor Bill Gammage - author of the 'The Biggest Estate on Earth'
- Professor Phil Gibbons - ecological restoration, land management and impact assessment specialist from ANU
- Professor Leslie Hughes - member of The Climate Council, WWF and Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
Tickets to go on sale by the end of January
This multi-disciplinary conference will explore how different fire intensities can influence ecosystems and communities in a changing climate. Presentations will investigate the effects of low, medium and high intensity fires on the four sub-themes: climate change; fire ecology; ferals, weeds and restoration; and community resilience. The conference will examine how cool, warm and hot fires can be applied in fire management as part of an optimal fire regime to achieve multiple objectives for biodiversity and cultural values, hazard reduction objectives and community resilience.
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Report a Tosser- butt heads starting wildfires
From the NSW EPA
- For anyone impacted by Bushfire they can find Community Recovery information here
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Recruitment of local board chairs and members
Local Land Services is seeking skilled, motivated and experienced individuals to join our local boards to help grow our organisation and connect with the community!
Our board members understand local needs and are the voice of the communities and landholders they represent. They play a key role in identifying and delivering services that are relevant to the regions they serve.
The North Coast LLS board are seeking - 1 board member and 1 chair
The closing date is 5.00pm, Friday 13 December 2019. Applications can be emailed to: ceo@lls.nsw.gov.au
See here for more information https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/about/governance/board-election-2020
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Independent review of the EPBC Act
An independent review of Australia’s primary national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), is currently underway. A discussion paper has been released. Submissions are invited and are due on the 17 April 2020.
Click here for further details:
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It is that time of the year to stop and take a look around your local area, find those rubbish hotspots that need attention and register a Tweed site for Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1 March 2020.
You have the opportunity to create or join a clean-up site. Areas could include places such as a park, beach, bushland or creek area that needs a clean-up or join an existing Clean Up Site near you. You can register as an individual, community group, business or school.
All you have to do is follow the steps to register and the Clean Up Australia Day team will send you a free clean up kit including bags, gloves, information and promotional materials. Council’s resource recovery team may be able can collect your bagged rubbish & recycling. To get involved please go to http://www.leanupaustraliaday.org.au/register/
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The Southern Cross Credit Union are providing 3 x $5,000 grants to help support local organisations, community groups and teams.
Through this Community Grants initiative they provide funding for organisations working on a project or event that benefits our local communities in one of the following areas:
- -Art and culture;
- -Education;
- -Sport and recreation;
- -Environment; and
- -Health and well-being.
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Small Environmental Grant Scheme
Do you have a project that needs funding around flora and fauna conservation and/or threatened mammal conservation? The Wettenhall Small Environmental Grant Scheme grant round for November
Opens on 1st October
See here for more details https://wettenhall.org.au/grants/small-environmental-grants/
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*** NOW OPEN ***
 Biodiversity Conservation Trust
funding for private land conservation
The BCT is now offering fixed price conservation management payments ($/ha/year) for landholders in priority investment areas who are willing to manage part of their land for conservation under a voluntary agreement.
** Conservation Partners Program **
The BCT has also commenced its Conservation Partners Program. This program is for landholders wishing to enter into either a Wildlife Refuge Agreement or an in-perpetuity Conservation Agreement to protect and manage biodiversity on their land. It is available for landholders who are not seeking or are ineligible for conservation management payments. Eligible properties will be offered in-perpetuity Conservation Agreements or Wildlife Refuge Agreements at no cost to the landholder.
** Conservation Partners Grants **
Conservation Partners Grants are now available on an ongoing basis. All existing BCT agreement holders that do not receive annual conservation management payments are eligible to apply for grants.
Grants can assist landholders to maintain the ecological values of their properties. For example, a landholder may need funding to manage a weed outbreak or repair a fence to exclude stock. The grants are also available to those participating in the Community Environment Network’s (CEN) Land for Wildlife or Humane Society International’s (HSI) Wildlife Land Trust programs.
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"You’re the voice try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear"
John Farnham
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Where & when you'll find our Tweed Care Groups
Bilambil Landcare
Contact: Gary Austin - 0427 269 486
Every Tuesday 9am
Meet at the junction of Bilambil Road and Biral Close, Bilambil
Byrrill Creek Landcare
Contact: Joanna Gardner - 02 6679 7039
Second Sunday 9am–1pm
Meet at Pretty Gully, 564 Byrrill Creek Rd, Byrrill Creek.
Cabarita Beach Dunecare
Contact: Faye Nash - 02 6676 2331
1st Saturday 8:30–11am, 2nd Wednesday 9–10:30am
Meet at shipping container just south of the Primary School.
Contact: Annie Pollard - 0415 896 949
3rd Tuesday 1–3pm
Meet at the Cabarita Sports and Bowls Club (nursery)
Casuarina Beach Dunecare
Contact: Ross Pierce - 02 6674 2788
Generally weekly but no specific day/time.
Working from track 1 south.
Chillingham Landcare
Contact: Judy White - 02 6679 1467 or 0488 693 852
4th Sunday 8.30am–10.30am
Fingal Head Coastcare
Contact: Kay Bolton - 0402 839 479
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8–11am, Saturday 9am–12 noon
Meet at Coastcare nursery off the lighthouse track.
Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve
Contact: Chris Core - 0407 762 108 or John McDonagh - 0421 657 960
Second Saturday 8–10am
Meet at Sliprails Rd or Clothiers Creek Rd
Friends of Travis on the Oxley
Contact: Kim Stephan - 0418 692 442 or Tanya Fountain - 02 6670 2587
Third Saturday 3-5pm
Meet at southern side of Travis Campbell Park, on the riverbank
Friends of Wollumbin
Contact: Roland - 0417 253 767 or Ian - 02 6679 5441
1st Saturday 8am–12 noon
Kyogle Road, Byangum, 3 km south of Byangum bridge, at the green container on Tweed River.
3rd Thursday 8am–12 noon
Kyogle Road, Byangum, 1 km south of Byangum bridge on the new planting site.
Hastings Point Dunecare
Contact: Arthur Good (Goody) - 02 6676 0880 or 0428 760 000
Every Tuesday and Thursday 7–9am
Meet at shipping container on Tweed Coast Road just north of North Star Holiday Park
Hospital Hill Landcare
Contact: Nola Firth - 0419 200 971
1st Saturday 8.30–10.30am.
Meet at parking area near old quarry, Karramul St, Murwillumbah.
Island Drive Landcare
Contact: Clare Alchin - 0438 559 049
1st Thursday 8.30–10.30am.
Meet at first carpark, Keith Curran Reserve, Island Drive, Tweed Heads.
Kingscliff Community Dunecare
Contact: Peter Langley - 02 6674 5362 or Caz McDougall - 02 6674 2104
Tuesday and Thursday 8–10am
Currently meeting on south side of Cudgen Creek, near the Toilet Block. This changes as worksite moves.
Pottsville Community Dunecare
Contact: Bill Hoskins - 0431 712 726
Every Monday 7–9am (except April)
Mooball Beach dunes - exact location determined Wednesday before.
Smiths Creek Landcare
Contact: Justine Stratton - 02 6679 5019
Upper Duroby Landcare
Contact: Jan Sinclair - 07 5590 9826 or Lee Perkins 0410 430 923
2nd Sunday 2–4pm
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Tweed Landcare Inc. acknowledges Australian Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People as the first inhabitants of the nation. We also acknowledge the elders, past and present, of the Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and volunteers work.
 
This newsletter is supported by Tweed Shire Council.
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