Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) inside · 2004. 1. 20. · role as Director General of the new Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). This Department has

1Bush Matters - Summer 2003

No 2/2003

N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e C o n s e r v a t i o n P a r t n e r s P r o g r a m I S S N 1 4 4 6 - 8 4 4 1N a t i o n a l P a r k s & W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e - p a r t o f t h eD e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a n d C o n s e r v a t i o n ( N S W )

CONTENTSPhotos .......................1

From the DirectorGeneral........................2

New Book; North CoastProject.................... ..2

Biodiversity Project inWestern NSW...............3

Wetlands on the NorthernTablelands................. . ..4

An endangered ecologicalcommunity - Fungi inLane Cove BushlandPark............................ 6

Fungimap.....................7

Special places forAboriginal Placedeclaration .................8

Hornsby Council and theLand for Wildlifeprogram.....................10

Bush regenerationguidelines for theCumberland Plain .......11

Geoheritage! Geo what?......................12

Using Herbicide...........14

What’s on ...................16

inside......

Hanging Rock and the cliffs of the Grose Valley in the WorldHeritage Blue Mountains - our Geoheritage.

Dangars Lagoon Wildlife Refuge - one of the wetlands in the NewEngland region of NSW, which are listed as an endangeredcommunity.

2 Bush Matters - Summer 2003

It is a pleasure for me to take on therole as Director General of the newDepartment of Environment andConservation (DEC). ThisDepartment has been formed bybringing together those agenciesworking in a number of environmentand conservation fields, being the

‘Threatened Species of the New EnglandTablelands and North West Slopes ofNew South Wales’ NPWS (2003).

The region covered by this book extendsfrom Tenterfield in the north, to Nundle inthe south and west to Warialda, Manilla andQuirindi. The region is highly diverse.However, due to the high level ofmodification large areas of habitat havebeen lost.

This book features profiles of threatenedspecies (mammals, amphibians, fish, andplants) and communities, together withactions which will help protect them.

If you live inthis area andhave a WildlifeRefuge orVCA, call usto get a copy.Otherwise callDepartment ofEnvironmentand Conser-vation on 1300361 967

New Book

... from the Director GeneralNational Parks and Wildlife Service, theEnvironment Protection Authority,Resources NSW and the RoyalBotanic Gardens.

This consolidation brings together arange of skills, knowledge andexperience to better manage andregulate environmental, natural andcultural heritage assets of NSW inpartnership with the community. Staffthoughout the new department areworking with enthusiasm to bringabout a smooth change, and arelooking forward to the advantagesthis new arrangement offers. Thiswill result in an agency better ableto support the community in theircontributions to look after our uniqueliving environment and heritage.

Programs such as the ConservationPartners Program are a vital aspectof our work. This Program willoperate as part of the Parks ServiceDivision of DEC and will continue toprovide services a state level and atyour local Parks Service office to allVoluntary Conservation Agreement,Wildlife Refuge, Land for Wildlife andProperty Registration landholders.

Landholders not only look after floraand fauna but care for other attributesof the landscape which we value. Inthis issue of Bush Matters, the topicsof geoheritage and fungi are covered.These aspects of our environmentare becoming better understood andappreciated by all of us.

LISA CORBYNDirector GeneralDepartment of Environmentand Conservation

New project on the North CoastSome of our readers on the northcoast are Land for Wildlifers,who signed up as part of a projectrun through Upper ClarenceCombined Landcare via a numberof local councils.

As part of the project, over 150owners have joined Land forWildlife, registering over 4,000hectares.

This project has now finished and theregistered Land for Wildlifers continue to be supportedthrough the NPWS Conservation Partners Program. This includesreceiving the Bush Matters newsletter, fact sheets and otherassistance. If you know of a Land for Wildlifer who has not receivedany copies of Bush Matters, maybe we do not have their correctcontact details. They can give us a call (Sally on 9585 6040 orLouise on 9585 6671).

In the Upper North Coast Catchment Board Area, GreeningAustralia will be running a project to provide assistance tolandholders to maintain biodiversity on their properties. Part of thiswill be the opportunity to join Land for Wildlife. If you are in thisCatchment Board area, and would like more information, give us acall.


Biodiversity and voluntary conservation in western NSWA new project to support landholders with Wildlife Refuges in western NSW .

In September 2003 the NSWDepartment of Environment andConservation and the Royal BotanicGardens, commenced a project withlandholders who have Wildlife Refugesin western NSW, with fundingassistance from the NSWEnvironmental Trust. Recently theprogram’s Community ConservationOfficer, Laura Kelly, with LeighMoses, a Discovery Ranger, headedout into the vast expanse that iswestern NSW to visit two WildlifeRefuges. The project will initially focuson existing Wildlife Refuges, in theDarling Riverine Plains (DRP)bioregion, stretching from Dubbo,north to Moree and down to Menindee.

Many of these Wildlife Refuges havebeen in place for over 30 years, andthis project presents an excitingopportunity for landholders to talkabout how they are managing theirrefuges, find out how they arecontributing to conservation, and howthey can access resources andexpertise to assist them achieve theirindividual goals for conservation ontheir property. The two propertiesvisited by Laura and Leigh, presenteda diversity of enterprises, landholderinterests and habitats, providing anexciting start to the project.

Tandou is a 4000 hectare property onthe lower Darling River between LakePamamaroo and Lake Menindee.Wildlife Refuge status was granted in1977 to part of the property (thennamed North Mine Park), and at thattime the landholders made the decisionto remove stock from the property.Tandou Ltd purchased the property in1998, and retained the Wildlife Refugestatus. Following trials in 1993 150hawas developed for horticulture/viticulture including Chardonnay winegrapes, apples and apricots. Soiltesting has indicated around 1000 haof non-contiguous areas couldpotentially be developed forhorticulture, given available water.The remaining 3000ha between andsurrounding the orchard areas will be

retained in its current state for wildlife.Vegetation types conserved will includebluebush (Mariena sp.) shrublandsin the swales between sand dunes, andextensive areas of lignum(Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii) andblack box (Eucalyptus largiflorens)woodlands on the Darling Riverfloodplain. These areas haveregenerated since grazing wasremoved and remain largely uncleared.Tandou will focus management inthese areas oncontrolling feralanimal species andnoxious weeds.According toTandou’s manager,Bob Smith,waterbirds arefrequent visitors tothe lakes surroundingthe property. Tandouaims to demonstrate with appropriateplanning and management thatintensive agriculture can be integratedsuccessfully to maintain a balance withthe natural environment.

The second visit was to part ofTundulya Wildlife Refuge, a 20,000 haproperty near Louth, gazetted as aWildlife Refuge in 1980. This propertyboasts a variety of different habitattypes from sandhills, to ridge countryand floodplains. Mulga (Acaciaaneura) is the dominant vegetationtype, with Bimble Box (Eucalyptuspopulnea subsp. bimbil) dominant indrainage areas – but it also supports avariety of other vegetation types. Themain enterprise on Tundulya ismanagement of the goat population onthe property, including some cross-breeding with Boer billies. In the fivehours spent driving around theproperty more than 20 bird specieswere identified, an unidentified lizarddashed across a sandy road in frontof the vehicle and a frog was heardcalling from the edge of an earthendam – and this was all during thehottest part of the day!! Tundulya’sowner Steve Cahir is a keen observerof wildlife, and spoke of catching

glimpses of unidentified smallmammals and regular sightings oflegless lizards around the houses.

Both landholders indicated an interestin participating in plant and animalsurveys to learn more about thewildlife on Tandou and Tundulya,using the data as a basis to determineappropriate management and formonitoring change. Given the varietyof habitats and vegetation, there willbe many new things to learn about!

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All owners in the Darling RiverinePlains Bioregion were sent an invitationto participate in the program, and todate ten owners have expressed theirinterest. The program will run overtwelve months, and depending oninterest, will involve around twentylandholders, including some RuralLands Protection Boards. The projectis flexible, designed to take intoaccount the landholder’s own interestsand conservation managementpriorities, and adapt the process ofgathering and providing information tomeet these priorities. Participants willbe offered plant, animal and culturalheritage surveys, habitat/vegetationassessments, and other availableadvice and support appropriate to theirneeds. Each landholder will receive anindividual property report, providingthe results of any surveys and otherrelevant information to support theirconservation efforts and propertyplanning.

For more information contact LauraKelly, Community ConservationOfficer, at NSW Department ofEnvironment and Conservation, Tel: 026841 9202 Fax: 02 6841 9222

Tundulya Wildlife Refuge


Looking after WetlandsOn the Northern Tablelands, wetlands are listed as an endangered ecologicalcommunity. Partnerships between the Parks Service, landholders and thecommunity help to protect these.

Dangars Lagoon and RacecourseLagoon, near Uralla on the NorthernTablelands, are part of a uniquesystem of about thirty wetlandsknown as the New England Lagoons.They are shallow, temporary uplandlagoons and are important links in thechain of wetlands used by residentand migrating waterbirds.

These lagoons were originally formedby glacial action, followed by gradualsedimentation over thousands ofyears. Being on the top of the GreatDivide, they have very limitedcatchments and as a result are notalways full.

This system of wetlands arelisted under the ThreatenedSpecies Conservation Act1995 as an ‘endangeredecological community’(Upland Wetlands of theDrainage Divide of the NewEnglandTableland Bioregion).Billy Bung, Little Llangothlinand Mother of Ducks Lagoonsare within Nature Reserves.The protection andmanagement of Dangars Lagoon andRacecourse Lagoon is carried out bythe landowners in partnership withthe Parks Service.

Dangars Lagoon is one of the fewlocal lagoons that holds water mostof the time and is an importantwetland on the Northern Tablelandsbecause it caters for a wealth of birdlife. There have been 110 bird speciesrecorded there over the years, rangingfrom sea eagles to robins, swans toswifts. Obviously the water level inthe lagoon is an important factor inthe life it supports. In a wet year itcan be guaranteed to be a haven foran amazing variety of Australianbirds.

Dangars Lagoon was substantiallymodified by Chinese labour during thegold rushes to provide an increasedwater supply and additional grazing,especially in time of drought. It laterbecame a Travelling Stock Reservemanaged by the Armidale RuralLands Protection Board.

In 1972 the Board agreed to havethe lagoon dedicated as a WildlifeRefuge, in recognition of itsimportance as waterfowl habitat. TheDepartment of Environment andConservation assists themanagement of this lagoon throughfunding for facilities such asobservation hides and educationaldisplays.

Blue billed duck, an endangeredspecies, on Dangars Lagoon

An ecological community is a groupof species or organisms occurring inan area. The Threatened SpeciesConservation Act, 1995 (TSC Act)provides for the listing of ecologicalcommunities as ‘endangered’. Thisoccurs if the community is consideredlikely to become extinct in NSWunless threats causing its decline aremanaged.

By listing an ecological community asendangered, its status is highlighted,and funds are available so that positiveconservation measures may beimplemented. There are around 59communities listed at present. TheTSC Act is administered by theDepartment of Environment andConservation. Threatened aquaticspecies are listed under the FisheriesManagement Act 1994, which isadministered by NSW Fisheries.There are two aquatic endangeredecological communities currentlylisted.

Ecological communities may beendangered because they only covera small area.

Others become endangered due toclearing of vegetation for housing,infrastructure and agriculture.However some threats may be theimpacts of adjacent use and alsomore widespread problems such asweed invasion. Some locations suchas river flats, where humans like tosettle or areas suitable for agriculture,are cleared extensively and are oftenthe locations of endangeredecological communities.

Some communities are also listed as‘endangered’ in theCommonwealth’s EndangeredSpecies Protection Act 1992indicating the ecological communityis endangered nationally. Of these afew are found in NSW, including theCumberland Plain Woodlands, andGrassy White Box Woodlands.

What is an endangered ecological community?


Racecourse Lagoon is situated ina natural amphitheatre a kilometrefrom Dangars Lagoon and is unusualin that it has a granite base and largegranite boulders and outcrops in andaround the lagoon.

In 1999, Uralla Shire Council signeda Voluntary Conservation Agreementto ensure the protection andpreservation of this natural lagoon andits range of plants and animal life - asignificant step for a wetland in publicownership.

This Voluntary ConservationAgreement (VCA) is a voluntaryagreement between the Uralla ShireCouncil and the NSW Minister forthe Environment which recognisesthe Racecourse Lagoon as anationally significant wetland andreserves it for public recreation andas a conservation area.

This VCA has an accompanying Planof Management which enables thelocal community and the wetlands’owners to manage the land for itsscientific, conservation and educationvalues.

Robert Bell, Director of EngineeringServices at Uralla Shire Council said“The VCA was set up becauseRacecourse Lagoon could no longerbe used as a racetrack.”

Are you managinga wetland?

An excellent new resource isavailable. Managing Wetlands onyour property - guidelines andresources for inland NSW,wasproduced by the NSW State WetlandAdvisory Committee and DIPNR(formerly DLWC). The guidelinesdescribe the proces of developing amanagement plan, with tips and casestudies. There is also a section withhelpful background information.

We have some copies available tolandowners in our programs whomanage wetlands.Contact Louise (02) 9585 6671 orSally (02) 9585 6040.

“The value of the agreement toCouncil is that it makes clear to theUralla community that thisconservation area has the backing ofLocal Government and the NationalParks and Wildlife Service.”

“This has encouraged the UrallaRocky River Landcare Group and alocal business, Fields Tree Nursery,to take a very positive interest inongoing tree planting.”

Ranger Don Hardman of the ParksService said “the benefit of thisagreement from the NPWS point ofview is that it will ensure long-termconservation management of thelagoon and the surrounding habitat.”

“It supports a number of threatenedspecies listed on Schedule 2 as‘vulnerable’ under the ThreatenedSpecies Conservation Act 1995,including the blue-billed duck and thepainted snipe.”

Don indicated that the conservationmanagement of Dangars Lagoon isnot as straightforward because it wasdeclared as part of the TravellingStock Reserve and is not covered bya conservation agreement. Howeverthe level of goodwill from surroundinglandholders is very encouraging. TheHarman Landcare Group alsoenthusiastically support themanagement of the lagoon. Theyhave taken on ownership of the tree-

planting project and done a significantamount of native tree planting.

The aim of current work at DangarsLagoon is to try and regenerate thesurrounding bushland. It has beensubject to the removal of tree coverand grazing for 150 years andsuffered significant dieback in the1980s and 1990s. Don says that “weare pinning our hopes on planting anunderstorey shrub layer. The shrubswill support a native bird populationthat will then have some chance ofprotecting the trees from the annualassault of leaf-eating Christmasbeetles. We are also trying topreserve wildlife corridors betweenlagoons while keeping down rabbits,foxes and weeds”.

Apart from managing areas for thewildlife habitat, landowners and thecommunity can simply enjoy theareas for its scenic appeal. “How niceit is to visit these lagoons and see thebeauty and variety of birds in aharmonious natural setting and knowthat their preservation is a permanentthing. In the long run it is the qualityof life that is the important thing thatwe hand on to our kids,” Mr Bellsaid.

Racecourse Lagoon VCA on the Northern Tablelands,easily overlooked but vital to the conservation of local and migratory birds.


FUNGI - an unusual type of communityFungi are often overlooked when talking about our natural environment. At LaneCove, in northern Sydney, the fungal community has been recognised nationally.

Close to the centre of Sydney, abushland reserve is home to anunusual ‘endangered ecologicalcommunity’. Collaboration by Rayand Elma Kearney with Dr TonyYoung resulted in national and staterecognition of fungi found in thisbushland reserve.

Lane Cove Bushland Park is hometo this endangered ecologicalcommunity. If you look at the list ofendangered ecological communities,under the NSW Threatened SpeciesConservation Act 1995, it isdominated by words such as‘woodland’, ‘grassland’, ‘vine’ andother terms which we use todescribe plant communities.However, the words ‘HygrocybeaeCommunity of Lane Cove BushlandPark’ are also on the list and thisrecognises that fungi are also underthreat.

The bushland park, owned by LaneCove Municipal Council, has longbeen recognised for its bushland andhabitat values. Local community ac-tion resulted in the protection of thearea from development in 1972. Itwas proclaimed as a Wildlife Ref-uge in September 1979. The park

covers around ninehectares, seven ofwhich are includedin the Wildlife Ref-uge. The park sur-rounds the maintributary of GoreCreek on the north-ern side of Sydney.Sheltered areas ofrainforest speciessuch as lilly pilly(Acmena smithii),grey myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia)and coachwood (Ceratopetalumapetalum) are found along the creek.Upslope the more typical Sydneybushland is seen with trees such asSydney red gum (Angophoracostata) and turpentine (Syncarpiaglomulifera).

The park was lucky to be visited bymembers of the Sydney FungalStudies Group (SFSG) who recordeda diverse range of fungal species,including many in the genusHygrocybe. However, most of thelater species were unclassified,although photographic and fieldrecords were made. Members ofSFSG included amateur mycologistsRay Kearney, his wife Elma, and Van

Klaphake, a former BushRegenerator with Lane CoveCouncil. By 1997, Ray and Elma hadalso documented photographicallymore than 20 different species ofHygrocybe.

Another lucky circumstance oc-curred when, in 1998, Dr TonyYoungreceived grants from the AustralianBiological Resources Study (ABRS)to undertake studies onHygrophoraceae along the easternseaboard of Australia, including Tas-mania. The records kept for LaneCove Bushland Park attracted hisattention and he set about the formalidentification and classification of thecollections from the park and laterpublished the results. (Young, A.M.(1999). The Hygrocybeae (Fungi,Basidiomycota, Agaricales,Hygrophoraceae) of the Lane CoveBushland Park, New South Wales.Austrobaileya, 5; 535-564.

It was exciting for Dr Young, ablyassisted by Ray and Elma, to find thatthe number of species would easilyexceed 20 and possibly reach 30.This collaboration between amateurmycology enthusiasts and aprofessional taxonomic mycologist,of international reputation, proved ofgreat value in providing the

Photo: R. Kearney

Lane Cove Bushland Park showing the sheltered gully along the creekPhoto: R. Kearney


background information and theimpetus to highlight the importanceof these fungi. The fungal communitywas first recognised by the listing ofthe community as an endangeredecological community under theNSW Threatened SpeciesConservation Act 1995, in March2000.

In listing the fungal community theScientific Committee found that thebushland park was home to acommunity of more than 20 speciesof fungi from the Hygrocybeaefamily, and such a community is notknown to occur outside of Lane CoveCouncil area. Holotypes are thespecimens used for the originaldescription of a species; nine holotypespecies of Hygrocybe were in fact

collected from the community at LaneCove. Five are declared endangeredand found only in this bushland. Onespecies is aptly named Hygrocybelanecovensis.

Further recognition of the value ofthe bushland park, and of fungi, wasgained in November 2000 when thepark was listed on the Register of theNational Estate. The AustralianNational Estate which has more than11,000 entries is made up of culturaland natural heritage places whichhave special value. Whilst themycological component of theapplication was its major section, theLane Cove Council, in its nominationincluded certain botanical andzoological features unique to LaneCove Bushland Park.

Fungimap

Do you want to find out more aboutfungi in your area?

A good start is the website http://fungimap.rbg.vic.gov.au. Fungimap isa collaborative project betweenprofessional and amateurmycologists and naturalists to gatherinformation about the distribution offungi throughout Australia. It beganas a project to map the distributionof eight easily identifiable species,however this list of the target specieshas now expanded to 100.Information and photos of thesespecies are shown on the website.The project currently has around 700volunteers across Australia, and over10,000 records of sightings of these100 species.

Of course a park such as this in themiddle of an urban area is subject tomany pressures which can quicklydegrade bushland - weed invasion,ongoing repair of a sewerage systemthat was constructed in the park in1929, and changed fire patterns.Council and the local community areworking together to minimise theseimpacts. To date, work by bushregenerators has kept weed invasionat bay, especially privet which is aprevalent weed in Sydney creeklines.In addition, stormwater drainageworks have been undertaken toreduce impacts which degradebushland. Any reserve whererecreational use occurs requiresmanagement approaches to reducethe pressure on native flora andfauna. This is currently beingachieved by directing users toformally constructed walking tracks.

In addition, all sorts of informationcan be found. An interesting page onthe site is ‘Strange Facts’ where welearn the truth about Santa Claus andhis leaping reindeers!

The detailed descriptions and photosare now also available on theFungimap CD. This resource is forboth expert and beginner alike. It haskeys to cap colour, gill colour andshape, spore colour and shape,whether the fungus has pores, gills,teeth or spines, whether it is a puffballor a jelly fungus.Cost: $15.00 (GST inclusive) plus$3.00 postage = $18.00

A good reference book is A FieldCompanion to Australian Fungi byBruce Fuhrer (Revised edition 2001).

This features photos of 138 speciesof fungi and brief notes with eachphoto. (Costs $24.95).

You can order books and otherresources from Fungimap bysending a cheque or money ordermade out to “Fungimap”.

Contact details are:FungimapRoyal Botanic GardensMelbourneBirdwood AvenueSouth Yarra VIC 3141All enquiries should be addressedto the Fungimap Coordinator,Gudrun Evans:Telephone: (03) 9252 2374(Monday - Thursday)E-mail: [email protected]


When we talk about landscape andconservation, to many people thismeans looking after the native floraand fauna which live in that landscape.There are other things in thelandscape which we also considerimportant. The Aboriginal culture ofAustralia has evolved with thelandscape over many thousands ofyears, and exists throughout the landsand waters of Australia. We are luckyto have this as a unique, irreplaceablepart of Australia’s heritage.

An Aboriginal Place declarationprovides a formal means for the NSWGovernment to recognise thesignificance of an area to Aboriginalculture. Under Section 84 of theNational Parks and Wildlife Act,1974 an Aboriginal Place may bedeclared on any land in NSW if, inthe opinion of the Minister for theEnvironment, the area ‘is or was ofspecial significance to Aboriginalculture’.

Aboriginal Place declarations haveinvolved many landholders throughoutNSW including private landholders,shire councils and governmentdepartments. The declarationsacknowledge and respect Aboriginalpeople’s attachment to particularareas and identify and conserve theseplaces which are potentially ofeducational value for current andfuture generations of Aboriginal andnon Aboriginal people. Landholdersare able to provide appropriateprotection to ensure that thesignificance of the place is notdamaged or destroyed.

Aboriginal places which have beendeclared are diverse, and each onehas a unique story.

Special Places for Aboriginal communities - Aboriginal places which tell us stories.

Landholders Shirley and Michael Mitchell discussing the Aboriginal Placedeclaration with aboriginal community members and Parks Service officers.

Mt Drysdale Station 30 kilometresnorth of Cobar, holds exceptionalcultural values for the Aboriginalcommunities of Western NSW.The traditional cultural significanceof Mt Drysdale derives from itsconnection to other significant placeswithin the region linked through thedreamtime journey of the creationhero Biaime, who is considered oneof the most important ancestralfigures for Aboriginal people in southeastern Australia today. Biaimetravelled the landscape leavingphysical manifestations of hispresence. At Mt Drysdale he thrusthis spear into the ground which leftholes in the rocks. He also leftfootprints and later lay down to restat Mt Billigoe. Places at Mt Drysdalehave been identified as specificmen’s and women’s areas.

An oral history account describes amassacre of Aboriginal people in the1880s at Mt Drysdale, which at thetime was a thriving mining town of5000 residents. After this period MtDrysdale Station became a haven forAboriginal people, and a specialfriendship was established between

Mt Drysdale Aboriginal Place

the Aboriginal community and thelandholders. Mt Drysdale’s presentlandholder Shirley Mitchell adescendant, has maintained thisfriendship with the local Aboriginalcommunity. Today Mt Drysdale isviewed as a teaching place forpresent and future generations ofAboriginal people. The Mitchellfamily in collaboration with theAboriginal community conductcultural tours of Mt Drysdale forvisitors to the Cobar area.

The Mitchell family at Mount Drysdale, north of Cobar, has joined a number oflandholders who acknowledge the unique cultural heritage of their property with anAboriginal Place declaration.

with

Elaine and Sharron Ohlsen and BradSteadman (local aboriginal commu-nity members) at Mt Drysdale wherethe creation hero Biaime thrust hisspear into the ground to get waterbefore he lay down to rest.

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Aboriginal Placedeclaration

The Aboriginal Places processinvolves DEC workingcollaboratively with the Aboriginalcommunity and landholders. Theywork together to pursue a practicaloutcome to document, manage andprotect a nominated place ofsignificance. The declaration ofthese areas has highlighted thatplaces in the landscape throughoutNSW are areas where European andAboriginal history have oftenoverlapped and that this social andcultural history is shared.

What type of places can anAboriginal Place declarationprotect?

The only requirement for adeclaration is that the place is or wasof special significance to Aboriginalculture. Such places may include:• Land containing Aboriginal

burials.• Places that are identified by

Aboriginal stories or celebratedby ceremony.

• Land which was once AboriginalReserve, Mission or other post-settlement living areas.

• Land, known from archival orhistorical records whereimportant historical events tookplace, such as reconciliation ormassacre sites.

• Areas which contain one or moreAboriginal ‘relic’ or a combinationof cultural landscape featuresincluding culturally importantplant and animal species.

• Archaeological sites where theimportance to Aboriginal peoplerequires special recognition and/or which are regarded byAboriginal people as being ofimportance to Aboriginal culture.

• Land, buildings or placessignificant to Aboriginal cultureafter 1788.

Hannibal Hamilton Grave Aboriginal PlaceHannibal Hamilton’s grave site is located on the property of Westwood Park,south of the town of Tumut. The site has both historic and cultural significance.Hannibal Hamilton was at the time of his death respected by both theAboriginal and non Aboriginal community of Tumut. A particular incidentconcerning him relates to his involvment in the locating and rescue of akidnapped baby. He was viewed at the time as an important mediator inresolving inter-cultural conflicts between Aboriginal people and Europeans.The grave site consists of a large earth mound and a fully matured Englishelm marks the burial. The tree was planted at the time of the burial in 1865to mark the site. The landholder, the Tumut Aboriginal community and theDepartment of the Environment and Conservation have agreed to a bufferzone to keep cattle off the grave.

Stories by Jo Erskine DEC.

Farquar Park is a public camping and recreation area south of Taree managedby the Greater Taree City Council. Farquar Park is culturally significant forits areas that relate to men’s and women’s ceremonial business. Aboriginalpeople have camped and fished at Farquar Park from before European contactup until the 1970s when the access road was closed. The Park is culturallylinked to the other places within the region including the Saltwater area located5 kilometres to the south of Farquar Park which was declared an AboriginalPlace in 1986. The Farquar Park Aboriginal Place declaration will not alterthe current use of the park as a recreation area. The Aboriginal community,the Greater Taree City Council, stakeholder groups and the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation have agreed to protect the areas of culturalsignificance andmaintain its currentcamping andrecreational use.

Photos: WarrenMayers Aboriginalsites conservationofficer, Hunterregion, NPWS.

Farquar Park Aboriginal Place


Land for Wildlife PartnershipsHornsby Council in Sydney is the first council to sign the third partyagreement with NPWS to run the national Land for Wildlife programin their rural areas. This is one of a range of council programs — an exciting opportunity for landholders.

When landholder Barry Leespurchased his 2 hectare property heknew he had a lot of work ahead ofhim. The result of his efforts only fouryears later is an amazingtransformation from a weed-infestedproperty to one of 90 per cent naturalhabitat cover. Just past his lovelyornamental garden and chook yardlies a relatively large section ofregenerating native bushlandcomplete with frog ponds down to thecreek. The property is part of awildlife corridor linking privatelyowned remnant bushland to theBerowra Valley Regional Park on thenorthern edge of Sydney. This is oneof the reasons why Mr Lees is luckyenough to see such a wide array ofnative fauna in his backyard includingbandicoots, echidnas, wallabies,diamond pythons, many bird species,and he has even heard the threatenedGreen and Golden Bell Frog.

Mr Lees, who is also an enthusiasticmember of both his local Bushcaregroup and more recently the Land for

Wildlife scheme, has even more plansfor his property. While he continuesto regenerate the remaining weedyareas there are a number of futurerestoration activities yet to come.This will include silt fencing belowareas needing regeneration, stripplanting to soak up nutrients from theadjacent property, and propagatinglocal plants from seed to replacelantana.

Having tackled some of the bigproblem areas, he now continues tostrategically regenerate smaller areasthat require ongoing work. Thisincludes the creek lines and thesection of his property that has beenimpacted upon by adjacenthorticultural activities. Runoff fromthis area has contributed to the spreadof weeds downhill, especially in andaround the creek. Mr Lees has alsoused clever ideas to slow downstormwater runoff and stop erosionin other areas of the property bybuilding ponds that provide additionalhabitat, particularly for frogs.

Mr Lees says that in some cases ithas been a matter of trial and errorwhen it came to restoring andregenerating the area. One exampleis the spraying of Trad (Tradescantiafluminensis) along the creek lineswhich effectively removed the weed.However, because of the low rainfallin the past year, very little nativeregeneration occurred. This left thecreek banks more exposed andvulnerable to erosion. Mr Leeswonders if there may have been abetter way of treating the problem,but it is likely that the positive resultshe achieved in the surrounding areawill help buffer any negative effectscaused by the temporary lack ofvegetation.

Barry Lees’ work has been assistedby Hornsby Shire Council’s RuralLand Incentives Program (RLIP).This program has been developed byCouncil to support landholders inconserving and maintaining bushlandon their properties. The programenables landholders to accessinformation and workshops on topicssuch as plant identification, pest plantand animal control, and importantly,how to develop a propertymanagement plan. A two-dayworkshop for rural landholders waspresented earlier this year by NPWSbased on the latest Planning forBiodiversity Management Kit. Theworkshop is designed to assistlandholders with the skills to prepareproperty management plans for theirproperties. Other incentives in theprogram included an initial site visit

Barry Lees demonstrating the work on his creekline which slowswater flow and provides habitat on his Land for Wildlife property.


and assessment, subsidised materialsand indigenous plants, on-groundworks by Green Corps teams andBiodiversity Credits.

This program is now linked to theNSW Land for Wildlife Scheme,which was recently launched in theHornsby Shire. Mr Lees was thefirst landholder to sign up and thelaunch was held on his property onthe 30th September this year. Landfor Wildlife recognises thecontribution of landholders who haveor woul dlike to improve good, healthynative biodiversity on their properties,and would like to be part of a networkof similarly minded landholders. Thescheme which is community driven,voluntary and non-statutory, alsorepresents an important partnershipbetween Hornsby Shire Council andthe Parks Service. This agreementwas significant and unique in that,while other councils have beeninvolved with other Land for WildlifePrograms around the state, HornsbyCouncil is the first to sign a third partyagreement with the Service in its ownright.

The Land for Wildlife Program willalso tie in with Council’s BiodiversityConservation Strategy andcomplement its role in the

management of over 6,000 hectaresof public bushland. The Shire in facthas around 69% bushland cover withsome areas of very high conservationsignificance that are protected underthe Threatened SpeciesConservation Act 1995 whichinclude:- 5 endangered ecological

communities,- 3 endangered populations- 27 threatened fauna,- 25 threatened floraand 1 threatened aquaticspecies(under the FisheriesManagement Act 1994), the AdamsEmerald Dragonfly.

Hornsby Shire Council, like manyother councils on the east coast ofNSW, has to manage the complexissues arising from increasing urbanexpansion and development.Bushland remnants, particularlysmaller ones, have become veryvulnerable to the impacts ofdevelopment that include weedinvasion, changes to water andnutrient cycles as well as soil erosion.Council recognises this and hasshowed it is committed to activemanagement that includes bushregeneration, noxious weed control,native revegetation and supportingcommunity involvement in programssuch as Bushcare, the RLIP, andnow Land for Wildlife.

Landholders like Barry Lees areprovided with valuable and muchneeded support to continue theirbush regeneration and rehabilitationworks under such programs.Partnerships are vital to managingboth public and private lands, and toachieving effective conservationoutcomes across the naturallandscape.

- story by Sarah Kamarudin, DEC

NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLEFROM DEC.

“Planning for Biodiversitymanagement—includingBiodiversity in PropertyManagement Planning”

This kit provides a completepackage for trainers for thedelivery of two Biodiversity

Planning workshops forlandholders, to assist in manag-

ing for biodiversity on theirproperties.

If you are interested in obtainingthis resource, please contact

Sally Ash at DEC on 9585 6040

“Bringing the Bush Back toWestern Sydney - BestPractice Guidelines for

Bush Regeneration on theCumberland Plain”

This is a new publication which hasbeen produced by DIPNR incollaboration with AABR (TheAustralian Association of BushRegenerators).

The guidelines are a result ofcombining the experience andknowledge of a number of bushregeneration practitioners who haveworked in this area. The publicationcontains a wealth of information onvegetation restoration in degradedwoodland in western Sydney. Theguidelines aim to be of practicalassistance to those managing orundertaking the restoration of theendangered ecological communities inthis part of NSW.

Although primarily about theCumberland Plain the information isof value to anyone planning to restoreareas of native vegetation.Information on a variety of techniquesis given, including reduction ofdisturbances, weed management,revegetation methods and how tostimulate natural regeneration.

The term ‘bush regeneration’ is oftenassociated with work in Sydneysandstone bushland, coastalecosystems and in rainforests. Whilethe principles of restoration remain thesame, the differences in history oflanduse and ongoing impacts maymean different strategies are requiredto restoration of vegetation in thesewoodland areas.

Copies areavailable forConservationP a r t n e r s :phoneSally on 95856040 orLouise on9585 6671.


Three new words are enteringconservation language. Geoheritage,Geodiversity and Geoconservation.So what do they mean exactly?Geology is the study of the historyof the earth through what we see inrocks, and these terms simply covereverything about geology and thegeological features that we seebefore us every day. Every day welook at geodiversity, some days wesee geoheritage and every day wecan practise geoconservation.

GeodiversityGeodiversity is the landscape at anyscale, from mountains to valleyfloors, from massive boulders to thetiny pebbles, from waterfalls torockpools, from exposed cliff facesto hidden caves, from soil in theoutback to sand near the ocean.

GeoheritageGeoheritage consists ofextraordinary examples ofgeodiversity. Geoheritage includesancient volcanos, glacial formations,rock formations created by millionsof years of weathering, fossils,gemstones, limestone caves. Somewell known examples of geoheritageinclude Uluru, the Three Sisters,Jenolan Caves and Mt Warning.

GeoconservationGeological features take millions ofyears to form, but are quickly lost.Some current impacts on geoheritageinclude building and construction,amateur collection of gemstones,excavation, recreation (rockclimbing,abseiling), grazing, soil acidification,erosion and sedimentation.

Therefore, geoconservation aims toconserve and manage geologicalfeatures by minimising the impactsof these activities.

Native flora and fauna andtheir connection toGeodiversity.Our current landscape has takenmillions of years to create.Earthquakes, volcanos, glaciermovements, heavy rains, floods,rockfalls, landslides, droughts andextensive weathering havecontributed to the development of ourextraordinary geodiversity. Duringthe last 96 million years, whenAustralia separated from Antarctica,the isolated development of ourcontinent has contributed to theevolution of many unique species offlora and fauna.

Geodiversity is a term that hasevolved to complement biodiversity– it gives us a holistic view of thelandscape. Changes in vegetation.reflect geodiversity. Different rocktypes give rise to different soils, andthese soils will support differentvegtetation. Of course there areother influences on vegetation as wellsuch as climate.

Geodiversity is the platform on whichall life and culture exists and soprotecting rocky outcrops willinevitably protect native flora andfauna. For example, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)is the second largest carnivorousmarsupial in Australia after theTasmanian devil. During the day thespotted-tailed quoll shelters in caves,rock crevices or hollow logs.Destruction of these habitats hasgreatly reduced their numbers.

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby(Petrogale penicillata) has declinedsignificantly in the west and southof its former range, and populationshave become more fragmentedthroughout. The species has becomeincreasingly restricted to isolatedcliffs scattered throughout parts ofits former range. Habitats occupiedby this species tend to take one ofthree forms: loose piles of largeboulders containing a maze ofsubterranean holes andpassageways; cliffs (usually over 15metres high) with many mid-levelledges and with some caves and/orledges cover by overhangs; andisolated rock stacks, usually sheersided and often girdled with fallenboulders. Competition from feralgoats for caves used to shelter fromthe heat and the increase ofurbanisation is two of the threateningprocesses that are contributing to thedecline in brush-tailed rock-wallabynumbers.

Geoheritage! Geo what?Leigh Moses, a Discovery Ranger with the Parks Service tells us what it is.

Rock formations provide the ideal habitatfor the aptly named rock wallaby.

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The broad-headed snake(Hoplocephalus bungaroides)occupies sandstone habitats in theSydney basin. Once quite commonin the area, the broad-headed snakeis listed as ‘endangered’ in NewSouth Wales and ‘vulnerable’ underCommonwealth legislation. Habitatis being lost through increasingurbanisation. It is also under threatfrom the removal of bush rock forlandscaping. This impacts onsheltering and foraging sites for thesnake and also loss of habitat for itspreferred prey, the gecko.

There are many more species thatrely on geodiversity for their survival.Animals shelter in rock crevices andoverhangs. Many plants can onlygrow in rocky areas that protectthem from harsh weather conditionsor in extremely exposed conditions,like cliff faces and arid rockyoutcrops. Rocks and headlands alongthe coast provide habitat for a widerange of aquatic animals.

GEOHERITAGEAT A GLANCE

Geoheritage can also be ofcultural importance. Theinternational geoheritage

icon of the Three Sisters isimportant to all Australians,as one of our most visited

tourism destination.

Importantly they are part ofthe Seven Sisters -

Muggadah Dreaming, andare of traditional

significance to indigenousAustralians.

Aboriginal stories connectpeople and places, and the

Seven Sisters storyconnects indigenouspeoples across the

Australian continent. TheSeven Sisters story is told

in many languages andlocations in Australia,traditionally always

referring to theconstellation Pleiades.

This Aboriginal Women’ssite in the Blue Mountains

site extends from theSeven Sisters to Sublime

Point.Image of the Three Sisters atKatoomba, courtesy of Dave Noble,Ranger and text courtesy of Steve Alton,Interpretations Officer, NPWS BlueMountains.

Our connections withGeoheritageGeoheritage is an integral part of theNSW landscape and is also a part ofour cultural heritage; there are richhistories and stories to share aboutthe role of geoheritage in Aboriginalculture and non-Aboriginal culture.

Looking at Geoheritage onyour property

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Learn more about thebones of our continent.The NSW NPWS DiscoveryProgram provides walks, talks andtours to help discover the delightsof National Parks. These cancover a variety of topics, but oftenfocus on a particular aspect.During this coming year,Discovery will be focusing onGeoheritage. During an activitywith a Discovery Ranger thatrelates to Geoheritage, you willsee anything that has to do withgeology, ie, soil, sand, pebbles,boulders, cliffs, waterfalls, riverbeds, gorges, mountains, naturallakes, peaks, coal, road cuttings,fossils, caves, overhangs and ofcourse ROCKS!

Contact your local NPWS officeand join a guided activity to findout more about your amazing geo-logical heritage!!Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby

Your property may have obviousgeological features, such as rocks andcliffs. You can observe how differentplants and animals use these areas.You may be lucky enough to haveareas where fossils can be seen.

Some geoheritage features can belost by destruction or erosion. If youhave fragile geological areas, you cantake the following action to protectthem:• control livestock to prevent

compaction and trampling.• minimise erosion by keeping an

area of bush around the site.• direct tracks around fragile areas

and keep to them.


Natural components of ourenvironment include plants, insects,bacteria, fungi and other organisms.Some of these are beneficial, somemay be considered pests andlandholders may need or want tocontrol them.

You can choose from many differentmethods to control a pest, and inBush Matters No2/2002 we talkedabout integrated weed managementas an approach to selecting methodsfor weed control. One method is touse a pesticide. While some thingsabout using these substances areclearly described on labels andinstruction leaflets, there are a lot ofother confusing things which canconfront someone doing a bit of weedcontrol.

Herbicides; or is it Pesticides?

It is easy to be confused about allthe terms for these substances whichhelp us control pests. In NSW, wehave the Pesticides Act 1999 whichgives the correct definition. The term‘pesticide’ does, in fact, coverherbicides, insecticides, fungicides,rodenticides and many other typesof substances. ThePesticides Act covers theuse of all these substances.

A pesticide is any substanceor mixture of substancesused to destroy, suppress oralter the life cycle of anypest. A pesticide can be anaturally derived orsynthetically producedsubstance. A pesticide canalso be an organism.

Who determines how apesticide can be used?

In Australia, before beingsold, pesticide products,which include herbicides,

Technical Tips: Using HerbicidesMany landholders use herbicides to control weeds in native vegetation. Rules and regulationsassist in ensuring safe use of these substances.

the label instructions on a registeredpesticide. You need to read the entirelabel (not just how to apply thepesticide) and carefully follow all theinstructions on the label. Or you canget someone to read it to you.

The label details the approved uses,and will describe the weeds to becontrolled and the rate of application.

Exception to what is on the label

People involved in bush regenerationshould know all about this. At thisstage the state controls what happensas, once sold, pesticides are regulatedby individual State legislation. Thisincludes how these products can beused other than the way specified onthe approved label (known as ‘off-label’ use). Each state may differ inhow this is done.

In NSW, there are only twoexceptions for using a pesticide in adifferent way to what is on the label:

• you have an APVMA permitdescribing such use and youcomply with the permit; or

• you use a lower application ratethan recommended on the label,unless the label instructions or anEPA pesticide control orderspecifically prohibits use at lowerrates. (this ‘lower than label rate’exception is a new feature of theact. This will help reduce pesticiderisk by allowing less pesticide to beapplied, where appropriate.

For more information on use ofpesticides look at the Department ofEnvironment and Conservationwebsite :www.dec.nsw.gov.au//topics.htmor contact:DEC Pesticides Unit02 9995 5799

must be approved and registered bythe Australian Pesticides andVeterinary Medicines Authority(APVMA), which was formerly theNational Registration Authority forAgricultural and VeterinaryChemicals (NRA).

If the product is registered it will havebeen assessed for the potentialimpacts of the pesticide on theenvironment, human health and trade.Tests will also be carried out todetermine the likely effectiveness ofthe pesticide for its proposed uses.When a pesticide contains an activeconstituent not previously used inAustralia, the APVMA must seekpublic comment before registering theproduct.

The registration includes approval oflabel directions, which describe how,and under which circumstances, thepesticide may be used to treat therelevant target pest or pests. Labelsalso give directions on cleanup,storage and disposal, and personal andenvironmental safety.

How do I know the right way toapply a pesticide?

The first rule is to read the label. Infact, in NSW it is illegal to disregard


Bush regeneration andherbicide use.

As most bush regenerators know,herbicide is often used in ways whichare not described on the label. Sohow do new regenerators learn aboutthese ways and ensure that they areusing it legally? Luckily there are anumber of people and organisationswho have ensured that off-label usesare covered by permits.

While some of the APVMA permitsare for specific circumstances andgroups of people, there are a fewwhich cover general use. Details ofthese can be found on the APVMAwebsite at www.nra.gov.au

Permit 4169 was given to NSWAgriculture for general use ofglyphosate based herbicides onweeds. This permit lists the relevantproducts containing glyphosate as theactive ingredient and also has a listof a wide range of bushland weedsand methods and rate of herbicideapplication. A source of greatinformation on controlling theseweeds.

Permit 4793 was obtained by a bushregenerator who did a lot of workon the control of ground asparagusfern (Protasparagus aethiopicus)and climbing asparagus fern(Protasparagus plumosus), usinga slurry of Glyphosate &Metsulfuron-methyl herbicides. Thepermit allows general use of thisslurry on these weeds and describesthe method of application.

Permit 5457 is for the control ofCoolatai grass (Hyparrheniahirta) in non-crop bushland,forests and reserves. This permitallows spot spraying of smallpatches of Coolatai grass withglyphosate.

TrainingNew rules that make training inthe use of pesticides compulsorycommenced on 1 September2003. The new regulation requiresall people who use pesticides intheir job or business to achievea specific level of competency inpesticide use. In most cases thetraining involves a two-daycourse, based on the NationalAgriculture and HorticultureTraining Packages.

For information on how thisaccreditation can be obtained,contact the following trainers:

ChemCert (NSW)LtdTel 61 (02) 9387 4714Fax 61 (02) 9387 4746www.chemcert.org.auEmail: [email protected]

Smartrain

www.lg.tafensw.edu.au/smarttrainUnder ‘Smartrain’, NSWAgriculture and TAFE NSW nowoffer a range of chemical trainingcourses for agricultural, horticultural,nursery, local government,environmental and domesticsituations. Courses are conducted atNSW Agriculture colleges and othermajor centres and at TAFE collegesthroughout the State.

NSW Agriculture Phone: (02)6391 3317TAFE NSW; Phone: (02) 6393 5900

New Course:In 2004, a new training course willbe available.Called “Using Chemicals Safely”, itis designed for people using lowhazard chemicals under supervisionand those who do not require thehigher level of training as part oftheir job or business. This is a 1 daycourse (AQF Level 2)

Contact Chemcert (details above)

Stemscraping is used for controllinggrowth of vines in bushland, underPermit 4169.Illustration V.Bear. From National TrustBush Regenerators Handbook (1999)

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Tree Injection


WHAT’S ON

Bush Matters is the Newsletter of the Conservation Partners Program of the NSWNational Parks & Wildlife Service and is produced twice yearly.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Department of Environmentand Conservation (NSW) - DEC.

Editor/ Layout: Louise Brodie. All photos, art work by DEC: L. Brodie unless indicated.The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of DEC.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this newsletter

is accurate at the time of printing,DEC cannot acccept responsibility for errors or omissions.

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), PO Box 1967,HURSTVILLE NSW 1481 Phone 02 9686 6444

email: [email protected]; www.dec.nsw.gov.au

Murrakool Wildlife Survey Book Launch

World Wetlands Day - 2 February 2004World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on the 2nd of February. It

marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands(Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2nd February 1971.

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2004 iswater for wetlands — water for life.

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Do you live in the Bega Valley Shire and have aConservation Agreement or a Wildlife Refuge?

Then mark the following in your diary.

Conservation Partners Gathering.Date: Saturday 6th March 200410am (for morning tea) to 3pm

Hobart Beach camping area shelter shed, BourndaNational Park.

Meet and talk with other landowners and DEC officers; bringphotos and plans and talk about your experiences, both thesuccessful and not so successful, in managing your land.Listen and talk about other issues eg. fire management.

Information will be sent out in early 2004 to people in the BegaValley Shire. If your property is outside this area, and youwould like to particpate, register you interest with Sally

(02)9585 6040 or Louise (02) 9585 6671.

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Central Coast Gathering.

DEC and CCCEN will beholding a gathering for

landowners withConservation

Agreements, WildlifeRefuges and Land for

Wildlife Properties.

Date:21st February 2004.

Information will be sent tolandowners who live in

Gosford and Wyong Shiresand Lake Macquarie City.

The Murrakool Wildlife survey (See Bush Matters No1/2003) was a year-long study, to look at wildlife anddetermine what can be done to help prevent local extinctions.

A booklet summarising the results of the year-long study will be launched in February 2004.There will be two slide shows to launch the booklet —one in/near Barham, one in/near Swan Hill/Goodnight.

For details contact: Matt Herring, [email protected], 0428 236 563

Documents

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) inside · 2004. 1. 20. · role as Director General of the new Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). This Department has