Eurobodalla Landcare Newsletter Winter 2021

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Eurobodalla Landcare Newsletter

Winter 2021

We've got lots of events on offer through winter that are open to our wider Landcare community. Perhaps you feel like trying your hand at something new, meeting more people or just having a change of scenery. Whatever your motivation, please feel free to join us at any of the advertised activities or get in touch if you think your local group could benefit with having some outside assistance! We're pretty good at putting on morning teas too :-)

Thank you to all of the group Coordinators that got in touch with articles, invites or photos for this edition of the ELN newsletter. Its great to share our news with each other and makes the job of collating the newsletter a real joy.

Sea Solutions on the Clyde (Bhundoo) and celebrate World Oceans Day on the 8^th June

In the Eurobodalla we are doing our best to protect our waterways, we work across sections of our community to better protect our natural habitats. We invite you to come to the Batemans Bay Foreshore Reserve, Clyde Street, Batemans Bay (grassed area next to town toilet block) to learn about some of the things we are doing.

Come and see how marine debris solutions have been put in place on the Clyde River and see how Council, community groups, businesses and schools are working together to reduce single-use plastics and stop litter at its source.

Learn about the Little Penguin colony on Snapper Island and see what our local school students are doing to protect the Clyde and ocean beyond. Come and chat to Senior Scientist with the Department of Planning, Industry and Development and Penguin expert Nicholas Carlile who has been assisting with the Snapper Island penguin colony over the past year.

The event kicks off at 9.30am and runs till 1pm, just look for our council’s education trailer which will be parked near the toilet block.

https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/whats-on/events/2021/sea-solutions-on-the-clyde-bhundoo-batemans-bay

Narooma Landcare - clean up 21st June

Narooma Landcare have held fortnightly working bees in the Bill Smythe Oval reserve since their group reformed last year. They've been steadily getting on top of weeds including Asparagus Fern, Cassia, Honeysuckle, Ginger Lily and Lantana but, during their weeding sessions, have uncovered a large amount of litter. The group will be hosting a clean up and could do with a few extra helping hands. If you could spare and hour or so on Monday 21st of June It'd be great to have you along. Meet 10am at Bill Smythe Oval, Tennis Club car park and bring your hat and gloves.

Morning tea will be provided so please RSVP emma.patyus@esc.nsw.gov.au if you're able to join us. Many hands make light work!

Broulee Mossy Point Dunecare
Consider the Lilies

As usual summer heralded an outbreak of Formosan lilies Lilium formosanum. These lilies are a declared weed in NSW and were first collected from the north coast of NSW in 1963. By 1968 they had become established on the south coast near Batemans Bay (National Herbarium of NSW).

Landcare has been trying to reduce the spread for over 10 years on work days, employing the Green Army and contractors. Unfortunately each flower capsule contains hundreds of small winged seeds which are dispersed by the wind. Digging out the roots and bulbs is difficult as they can be up to 25 cm deep and at right angles to the main stem. Bulbs resprout in following seasons, so removing the plant by pulling reduces the opportunity for seeding and reduces the photosynthetic area of the plant which will eventually exhaust the bulbs over time. Landcarers have a long row to hoe!!!!

The abundance of lilies along roadsides strongly suggests some dispersal through road working machinery or materials (Weeds Australia Profiles. Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment).

The lilies are abundant amongst the coastal vegetation at Broulee and have been spreading into the endangered Bangalay Sand Forest particularly along the track through the Bengello Bangalay Sand Forest.

See before and after photos of a sustained BMP Dunecare attack. Many thanks to all the Landcarers who have diligently pulled lilies over the years. Such a wet year has enticed more to flower! But we will not give up!

With thanks to Lynn Bain, Broulee/Mossy Point Dunecare, for this article

Moruya Heads Landcare - time to get dirty!

Over the past 12 months there have been several enquiries from Moruya South Heads residents wishing to get involved in Landcare type activities in this area. With this in mind Eurobodalla Landcare will be hosting a planting day on Tuesday 20th of July from 10am at the Moruya Surf Club car park.

This event is open to all interested volunteers, whether you live locally or come from further afield. We hope to chat to as many people as possible and hear about any areas of concern in the Moruya Heads locality. Morning tea will be included so please RSVP emma.patyus@esc.nsw.gov.au if you'd like to come along to help kick start this new group.

More planting in the Water Gardens – and a surprise visit!

Thanks so much to all the wonderful land carers who came to the last Water Gardens planting/ Flying-fox talk. Since then we’ve had another small planting session to fill up the area near the stairs on the eastern side and now would like to do one more - to plant around the water’s edge on the grassy western side. This plant-in will be held on Tue 15 June, starting at 10 am and finishing around 11.30. It will be an easy job on flat space and in the sun (assuming blue skies).

While the grey-headed flying-fox talk was held in their absence, a few days later 500 chose to return to their camp at the Water Gardens! True to their unpredictable nature, the bats then left again after only a few weeks of residence. So far as I know they have not yet returned. But who knows, they could be back on our planting day, so I will bring binoculars just in case. And if they do remain absent, there are now some informative and visually impressive new signs up along the boardwalk, featuring the flying foxes and the water birds for people to enjoy .

If you would like to come along to the next planting and help out we would love to have you along. Just bring yourself and your planting clothes, hat and covered shoes, we will provide the rest including a cuppa and a snack. If you could RSVP this will help towards organising catering Natalie.foster@esc.nsw.gov.au

Clean up Surf Beach Creek - Tuesday 22nd June, all welcome

A lot of litter has found its way into waterways after all of the recent rain and Surf Beach Creek is one that is ready for a little 'tidy up'. Last year we removed a skip load of rubbish from this Creek with local and nearby Landcare members and we will be heading back to remove anything that has arrived since. Come along on Tuesday 22^nd June at 10am to lend a helping hand. We will meet in the Pony club reserve (off Surf Beach Avenue).

Please RSVP emma.patyus@esc.nsw.gov.au if you would like to join in and bring your hat and gloves on the day :-)

Plants thrive on Pretty Point

Pretty Point Landcare have been checking on their autumn plantings. The natives that have survived lack of rain, too much rain, horrendous winds north east and south and hail (!!!) are doing great😊. Old guards were replaced, makeshift windbreaks built, weeds and creepers cleared back and ground re tilled around them. The group also planted the final lot of Banksia ,Eucalyptus and Westringia. Lots of the vegetation out on the point is out of whack due to the fires and it is hoped, with a change of season, things will slowly settle down and they will all find their niche in the environment.

Weed spraying will be carried out again and this will take out some of the more dominant interlopers. Work to make the track a little more accessible has also been tackled by the Landcare group who have whipper snipped the long grass and pruned back encroaching branches so that visitors to the site can enjoy a pleasant walk.

Parthenium weed – Biodiversity Risk

Council’s Invasive Species Officers were recently seconded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries to assist in an emergency response for Parthenium Weed, found in the Gerringong area. This serious weed is declared prohibited matter in NSW and has been spread in contaminated organic chicken feed from Queensland. It presents a very high-level threat to agriculture, and human and animal health.

The emergency response provided staff with an opportunity to identify and control the weed. The property in question is under a biosecurity order, and no Parthenium was found off the infested site over the two days of inspections. Eurobodalla Shire Council was, in July 2020, notified of a landholder in the south of the shire, who had also purchased this particular chicken feed. The property has been inspected several times over spring and summer with no identified Parthenium and will be subject to future inspections.

Inspections will continue and a media push to inform residents who have chickens, to be on the lookout for this plant. A recent article can be found: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-17/parthenium-weed-gerringong-triggers-emergency-response/13162262

Al Fresco ELN committee meeting

Thanks to those that represented their groups at the last Eurobodalla Landcare Network Committee meeting. We chose an outdoor venue at Riverside Park, to allow as much social distancing to occur as possible, and somehow managed to squeeze our meeting in between heavy rain showers! It was great to see representatives from a range of groups and to have some new faces come along too.

The next committee meeting is 10am Wednesday 14th July and will be held in the meeting room at the rear of Moruya Library. We always manage some lovely informal chats in amongst the business and provide a yummy morning tea so please feel free to join us next time.

Rain didn’t dampen enthusiasm at Eurobodalla Schools Environment camp

Students from four of the Eurobodalla secondary schools attended a residential sustainability camp at “The Crossing” from 16-19 March. The camp is sponsored by Eurobodalla Council and the preselected attendees are expected to return to their school inspired with fresh ideas on how to make their school more sustainable and take a leadership role in environmental projects and initiatives at school and in the greater community.

Council’s sustainability education officer Gillian Kearney says that the students were interviewed prior to attending, to gauge what environmental issues are foremost on their minds. “Climate change, waste and litter and managing our resources sustainably, so that we have enough for the future were recurring themes.

The camp is designed to provide a forum for the students to discuss and work through solutions. They also experience living sustainably at “The Crossing” a purpose built, off the grid farm stay and residential environmental education camp. These students will be interviewed early in term 2 to discuss and follow up with their school environment projects.”

Young environmental leaders join forces | Eurobodalla Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)

18 Million pieces of litter - and counting!

The 18 millionth item entered into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database goes to... **DRUMROLL**
...members of the Eurobodalla Marine Debris Working Group, Eurobodalla Landcare and South Head residents! More than 45kg of marine debris was removed by the team from Moruya’s Shelly Beach after heavy rains washed rubbish into local waterways.

It took the AMDI 11 years to achieve the first 5 million item milestone, and now we’re struggling to keep up with you all! This incredible growth is testimony to how much the community believes in creating change through data collection.

Thank you to all our AMDI partners and volunteers for their contributions to the AMDI Database - this evidence is used at all levels of government, industry and community to push for change that stops rubbish at the source.

https://www.facebook.com/437724219617236/posts/3961304123925877/?d=n

South Rosedale Landcare - keeping up the good work

A combined approach to weed and pest animal control has left bushland in South Rosedale looking pretty! Over the past few months Rosedale Landcare has had the assistance of the Rosedale Community Association at several of their working bees adjoining the car park reserve. There have been mountains of mulch to be moved, weeds to be sprayed or hand removed, revegetation and rabbit monitoring.

Rosedale Landcare have also conducted sprays elsewhere in the suburb with particular emphasis on weeds popping up in 'Banksia Flat' reserve (off Cooks Crs) and in the escarpment at the rear of the North Rosedale boat sheds. These sites have been on the radar for local Landcarers for over 15 years so it is a testament to the locals that they are still able to summon the will and passion required to revisit these sites and keep them looking ship shape. Huge thanks to Jane Enright who has continued to rally for Rosedale Landcare works, Katy Hamilton who has been an enthusiastic conduit between Landcare and the Community Association and to all of the locals residents that turn up to each of the working bees.

South East Landcare Muster Braidwood

May saw the first face to face gathering of the South East Landcare region representatives since 2019. South East Landcare (SEL) is a federation of 12 Landcare Networks, stretching from Hovells Creek & Boorowa in the north west, Illawarra in the north, through Shoalhaven, Upper Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Far South Coast, Upper Snowy, Upper Murrumbidgee and Snowy River Interstate - which reaches across our southern border into Victoria. South East Landcare works across the south east corner of NSW to support these Landcare networks, comprising approximately 350 groups, and the Eurobodalla Landcare Network is grateful to be a part of this big happy family.

It was great to catch up with other Local Landcare Coordinators and volunteers from across our region and hear about some of the great work that our neighbors are conducting. If you ever have an issue that you would like raised at a Regional level please feel free to get in touch with myself or with your committee members and we can circulate this with our Regional Community of Practice (RCOP).

Solar for low income households trial program

The Eurobodalla Shire has been selected as a pilot site where the NSW Government is trialling a new way to help people on low incomes reduce their electricity bills and access affordable clean energy by offering free three kilowatt solar systems.

To qualify you must hold a valid pensioner concession card or Department of Veterans Affairs’ Gold Card and be in receipt of the Low Income Household Rebate on your current energy bill. To find out more and apply, go to Solar for Low Income Households Trial Program.

Here's a lovely parting shot taken by drone of the Lilli Pilli/Malua Bay Landcare group at their May working bee. The group often work in bushland surrounding Lilli Pilli Beach and gather afterwards for a delicious morning tea in the picnic area on the 3rd Saturday of the month. You may be able to see them gathered on the grass in this picture! What a beautiful location to conduct their work.

If you've missed any of our previous newsletters you can check out the archives HERE

We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Eurobodalla Landcare Newsletter. To contribute to the next edition please send your articles and image to emma.patyus@esc.nsw.gov.au prior to 30 August 2021.

Copyright © 2017 Eurobodalla Landcare Network Inc. All rights reserved

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Eurobodalla Landcare · PO Box 99 · Moruya, Nsw 2537 · Australia