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Newsletter for Landcare and Dunecare in Byron Shire

http://www.brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au/

July 2014

July 4 Nominations due for Bob Hawke Landcare Award (page 6) 5 Tree Planting Day at Suffolk Park (page 5) 7 Naidoc Week flag raising ceremony (page 4) 23 Vine Identification Workshop (page 3) 31 Early bird Registrations for the national Landcare Conference close (page 6) 31 Submissions to Landcare Crowd Funding Project due (page 2) August TBA Wild dog and fox control workshop Environmental Trust Grants Open (page 2)

World Environment Day Celebrations Twenty Byron High school students from years 8 to 10 planted trees with Suffolk Park Dunecare to celebrate World Environment Day on 3 June 2014. The event was organised by student and school captain David Krippner who has been working with Dunecare Group for last 3 years. Byron High students have planted over 1200 trees in the area many of which are now taller than the students themselves. The planting sites line the bike-path that crosses Tallow Creek and many students use this route on their way to school. This planting completes dune rebuilding where sand trapping was undertaken throughout 2013 Project (2013-14) involved extensive Bitou removal , revegetation and dune repair funded by Crown Lands. Thanks to Miles Shorten for photo and story.

Other World Environment Day Celebrations included Byron Shire Council’s awards evening (award winners pictured below). More details on page 5.

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Funding Opportunities

Landcare NSW updates on funding go to http://www.landcarensw.org.au/resources/funding

Landcare Australia more updates on funding: http://www.landcareonline.com.au/?page_id=91

Subscribe to federal funding information The Australian Government will be announcing new natural resource management programmes in 2014, with a focus on local solutions to national priorities. The Eco newsletter will keep you informed of opportunities to apply for funding, have your say or get involved in NRM projects. You can subscribe any time by visiting www.nrm.gov.au/news/subscribe.html

New South Wales Environmental Trust

The NSW Environmental Trust is an independent statutory body established by the NSW government to fund a broad range of organisations to undertake projects that enhance the environment of NSW. The Trust is empowered under the Environmental Trust Act 1998, and its main responsibility is to make and supervise the expenditure of grants. The Trust is administered by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Community Rehabilitation workshops are expected to open in August this year.

The aim of the Restoration and Rehabilitation (R&R) program is to facilitate projects to prevent or reduce pollution, the waste stream or environmental degradation of any kind, run by community organisations and State and Local government organisations. Through these projects, they also aim to improve the capacity of communities and organisations to protect, restore and enhance the environment.

Details online: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm

Crowd Funding Opportunity for Landcare Groups. Pozible is a crowd funding platform which is hosting a project to assist landcare groups. You can apply to be one of 25 projects to feature in The Landcare Environment Collection at the launch during Landcare Week at the National Landcare Conference in September 2014. These 25 environmental crowd funding campaigns will receive significant publicity and support. The 25 chosen projects will feature in the Collection during September, before it becomes open to all environment projects in October 2014. Details and application for are online at: http://www.pozible.com/landcare . Submissions close 31 July 2014.

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VINES: identification skills workshop

This workshop will teach you skills to identify both native and weedy vines. It is aimed at beginners and people with intermediate level identification skills.

Trainer: Heidi Lunn Date: Wednesday 23 July 2014 Time: 9:15 am – 1:00 pm Location: Conference Room Byron Shire Council Offices Station Street Mullumbimby Bookings Essential: 6626 7028 (Wed and Thurs) Email: wendy.gibney@byron.nsw.gov.au Please bring the following along to the workshop

• Pen and or pencil and note book. • Any vine samples you would like to identify. Please bring a large

sample not just one leaf. • A copy of Rainforest Climbing Plants A field Guide to their

identification by Gwen harden, Bill McDonald and John Williams. identification (If you do not have a copy of the book we will have copies available to borrow)

• A hand lens 10x magnification (If you do not have one we will have some available to borrow or purchase at the workshop $10.00 each)

• If you wish to purchase or borrow a lens or book please let us know when you book.

Morning tea will be provided.

This project is supported by Brunswick Valley Landcare through funding from the Australian Government.

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World Environment Day Celebrations (from front page) Eleven local organisations and individuals took centre stage at Byron Shire Council’s World Environment Day awards night on 5 June 2014. Brunswick Valley Landcare and Friends of the Koala were joint winners of the Conservation and Land Management Award. Ocean Shores Country Club won the Green business award. The Club has carried out erosion control and regeneration of Marshall’s Creek riparian areas, with 3500 native trees and shrubs planted, improving 1200m2 of Marshall’s Creek riparian areas and have also improved fish passage in Marshall’s Creek through control of invasive weeds. They have also installed a 75kWh solar system reducing carbon emissions by 80 tonnes per annum. Byron Community College won the Group award for education and training; they have run hundreds of sustainability courses. Dr Arne Rubinstein who has been running Rite of Passage programs in the Byron Shire for the last 20 years won the individual education award. Arne has built an eco friendly campsite on his Land for Wildlife property and has ongoing bush regeneration and koala corridor programs in place - these are now part of the camps that run on the land. Jeanette Martin won the individual sustainable food award. Jeanette’s passionate dedication to coordinating the Mullumbimby Community Garden has created a well functioning and welcoming atmosphere for many people to contribute their skills and take part in a learning process focussed on growing, harvesting, preparing and enjoying organic food. Congratulations to all of the winners. To celebrate the winners there will be a community tree planting at Suffolk Park this Saturday.

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Celebrating 25 Years of Landcare this September. This year marks 25 years since Landcare began. In September there will be events all around Australia to celebrate. We would like to put together an event to celebrate Landcare and Dunecare in Byron Shire. Our idea is to provide an opportunity for lots of landcarers to get together and share their Landcare stories. Also we would love to have some old photographs of landcarers working over the past 25 years. If you are interested in contributing a short presentation or helping to organise this event please contact me, Wendy Gibney 6626 7028 Email: wendy.gibney@byron.nsw.gov.au . (Note that I will be out of the office until 15 July 2014.)

Bob Hawke Landcare Award The Bob Hawke Landcare Award celebrates an individual who has been involved in championing the Landcare ethic and inspiring others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. This award acknowledges an individual who has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to caring for the land; champions better practices; and gives their time to share knowledge with others so that they too can prosper. The award acknowledges the role that former Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, played in elevating Landcare from a grass-roots community initiative to a national movement with strong government support. The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded with a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management and Landcare. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be actively involved in Landcare or sustainable agriculture and be willing to promote the Landcare ethos. Website http://www.bobhawkelandcareaward.com.au/about.php Enter now. Nominations due 4th July 2014.

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The Role of Fungi in Rainforest Regeneration: working with Fungi in restoring Habitat. Rita de Heer Brunswick Valley Landcare hosted a Fungi workshop on 6 June 2014. This workshop was presented by Dr Frances Guard, President of the Queensland Mycology Society and we thank her for an interesting and informative afternoon. Dr Guard’s slide presentation began with a discussion of the life cycle of a rainforest. Slides showed site preparation by clearing woody weeds and then slides of the different types of fungi that help rot down the woody rubbish piled in wind-rows and heaps. Heaps and long rows of piled rubbish are very attractive to wood-rotting fungi. This was borne out to me a few weeks ago when Lower Mullum Creek Landcare group weeded at Saltwater Creek. Even though the weather was rather dry, moisture under logs and branches supported more than half a dozen different wood rotting fungi species. Saprophytes decompose lantana privet and other weeds by enzymes that attack cellulose (white) and lignin (brown). Camphor laurels contain natural insecticides and herbicides which need to be leached out (a year or so of lying around in the weather) before fungi can begin their work on them. Wood rotters that attack lignin leave white detritus, they are called white rotters. Brown rotters attack cellulose. “Fungal parasites are police of biodiversity”, they prevent monocultures and are one of the reasons we plant a variety of tree seedlings. Small fungi not only break down forest litter but also bind twigs and leaves together. This helps to maintain moisture on the forest floor as well as helping prevent erosion. Photographs Top: These bunches of hyphae have glued sticks and seeds to the branch Photo taken at Salt Water Creek. Second from top: A white “rotter” from Heritage Park. Right: Little brown shelving. Blow left: Underside of photo number two. Below right: “Agaric” sort on heap of woody litter (below).

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Rainforest tree and shrub identification: a great practical workshop. Bela Allen The Rainforest Plant and Shrub Identification workshop held on 16th June at Byron Shire Council Conference room attracted participants from as far a field as Banora Point, Tweed Heads and Goonellabah as well as many local residents. Ngulingah Aboriginal Land Council bush regeneration team were well represented at the workshop and a representative of the Byrangery Grass Reserve Trust attended. The instructor, Justin Mallee, outlined the variety of rainforest types such as subtropical, littoral and

cool temperate and supplied freshly-picked plant specimens from each of the plant groups within the field guide used for identification. Participants helped each other to identify characteristic plant features such as leaf shape, leaf arrangement, domatia and oil dots and to follow the key supplied in the field guide to correctly identify the plant specimens. Encouragement was given as rainforest plant identification is a skill learned over many years and the variety of rainforest plant species can make the task initially daunting. The workshop was sponsored by Brunswick Valley Landcare through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Community Environment Grant. (Logs:-BVL, Aust Govt.)

Big Scrub Day Invitation to Landcare Groups to Participate This is a non-profit event and its success relies entirely upon the support of the organisations and community who value environmental conservation and the promotion of ecosystem conservation and repair. In years gone past, the Big Scrub Rainforest Day has hosted some of Australia’s leading ecologists, bush regenerators, naturalists and other scientists who have provided walks, talks and presentations on flora and fauna and the latest conservation techniques. We are putting together the program for the Rous Water Open Day incorporating the Big Scrub Rainforest Day and are seeking expressions of interest from individuals or organisations that would like to participate. Perhaps you would you like to:

• Facilitate a workshop • Provide a presentation followed by Q&A • Lead a walk & talk • Attend with your organisations information display or stall • Provide acoustic entertainment (music or roving performer)

Please email Rous Water’s Catchment Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Shannon Greenfields on Shannon.greenfields@rouswater.nsw.gov.au if you would like to participate in this event.

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NSW Landcare Gateway The Landcare NSW Support team have been working hard to encourage groups to list their group contact details along with upcoming events and news items on the NSW Landcare Gateway since it's launch at the NSW Landcare and Catchment Management Forum in Newcastle September 2013. To date there are over 600 groups registered and using the NSW Landcare gateway site. That means we have about one third of NSW Landcare groups listed which is great but also means that we still have lots of groups to get onto the Gateway. What's in it for your group? Listing your group on the Gateway is a great way to make your group and their activities visible across the Landcare and broader community - we have already had stories of groups being contacted through their NSW Landcare Gateway listings. Listing on the Gateway is free - so no website hosting or domain name fees. You also have technical support to make sure that you get the most out of your Landcare group’s page. On your Gateway page you can publish details of your current projects, upcoming events, news items and photos - making a great dynamic page for your group. We have been showcasing groups that are listed on the gateway on our Facebook page so pop over and have a look there. You can also get some ideas of just what is possible with your own page on the Gateway by exploring listings of groups already on the NSW Landcare Gateway. Here are a few groups to get you started:

• South West Rocks Dunecare • Central West NRM Working Group • Shortland to Wallsend Landcare

Interested in joining the NSW Landcare Gateway? If you are interested in joining the growing number of groups listed on the NSW Landcare Gateway visit our Helpful Hint on joining the Gateway or contact John Perrott directly.

Thanks to OLD & GOLD Brunswick Valley Landcare would like to thank the organisers of the Brunswick Heads Old and Gold for the opportunity to have a Landcare display on Saturday 7 June. The lovely fine weather this year attracted lots of visitors and it was a great opportunity to inform people about Landcare.

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Livestock Health Newsletter from North Coast Local Land Services Livestock Health News is a regular newsletter produced by North Coast Local Land Services specifically for livestock owners and managers. The newsletter aims to update livestock owners and managers on important animal health, biosecurity and agricultural production issues. In each edition you’ll be informed of diseases, conditions and parasites that have been recently prevalent. There will also be tips on how to prepare for the coming season and an outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology. Extract from Livestock Health News Winter 2014:: ������������� �Parasites • Lice tend to be seen more frequently in the cooler months. Cattle affected by lice will show signs of

irritation and rubbing. Nutrition • The quality of our summer active grasses declines considerably in winter, and frost affected summer

pastures are low in both energy and protein. Options include reducing stock numbers, planting winter active pastures or supplementary feeding.

Plant Poisonings • As feed quality and quantity declines we are more likely to see cattle eat poisonous plants. Hungry stock

and new introductions are most at risk. Do you know what potentially poisonous plants are growing on your property?

Agistment • If you are thinking about sending stock away on agistment you should make enquiries as to the disease

status of the property, as well as the presence of potentially poisonous plants. Diseases • As the weather cools down we are likely to start seeing some cases of Yersinia (or Flood Mud Scours)

particular if we receive rain. Animals with Yersinia get watery diarrhoea and deaths can occur. Early treatment is essential.

Want to receive future editions? If you were previously on the North Coast LHPA or the Mid Coast LHPA mailing list for Livestock Health News, you’ll continue to receive it via email. If you are not currently on the distribution list please send your contact details to admin.northcoast@lls.nsw.gov.au to receive issues direct.

Byron Shire Vegetation Mapping review 2014 Byron Council has commenced a review of the shire wide vegetation mapping. Landholders who are willing for Council to assess the vegetation occurring on their land via a site inspection are invited to register their interest. Interested landholders can register by sending an email to biodiversity@byron.nsw.gov.au and provide the following information: Name; Lot/DP and contact details. Council is particularly interested in rural properties on the coastal floodplain, and red soil areas in the hinterland, however landholders from across the shire are invited to register. The register will be used when identifying properties to be included in the field inspection process, however being on the register will not guarantee that a site inspection will occur. The mapping will involve aerial photo interpretation using the most recent high resolution imagery as well as field inspections to verify the vegetation communities present. Vegetation mapping is used by Council to identify high conservation value vegetation, identify priority areas for conservation programs and land use planning. Council will contact landholders prior to site inspection to organise a suitable time to attend the property. It is anticipated site inspections will be occurring during June and July.

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LINKS • Arakwal http://arakwal.com.au/ • Border Rangers Alliance http://www.greateasternranges.org.au/border-ranges/overview/overview • Bangalow River and Landcare http://www.bangalowlandcare.org.au/ • Big Scrub Landcare https://www.bigscrubrainforest.org.au/ • Brunswick Valley Landcare http://www.brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au/ • Byron Bird Buddies http://www.byronbirdbuddies.com.au/ • Byron Community College http://www.byroncollege.org.au/ • Byron Shire Council http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ • EnviTE www.envite.org.au • Environmental Trust http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm • Ewingsdale Locality Group (BVL) http://ewingsdale.org.au/#/landcare/4532495308 • Far North Coast Weeds http://fncw.nsw.gov.au/ • Friends of the Koala http://www.friendsofthekoala.org/fok/ • Local land Services • Mullumbimby Community Gardens http://mullumcommunitygarden.wordpress.com/ • North Coast nature http://www.northcoastnature.org.au/ • Richmond Landcare Inc. http://www.richmondlandcare.org/ • Soilcare http://www.soilcare.org/index.htm • Tweed Landcare Inc. http://www.tweedlandcare.org.au/ • Wilson’s Creek Huonbrook Landcare http://wilsonscreeklandcare.mullum.com.au/ • Wetlandcare Australia http://www.wetlandcare.com.au/index.php

Landcare NSW Resources Landcare NSW has produced a number of resources, funded by the State Government Landcare Support Program:

• Introduction to Landcare • Factsheets for Landcare Groups • Landcare Policy Templates • Insurance • Sharing Our Successes • External Sourced Resources

This newsletter is funded by Local Land Services (previously the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority) and supported by Byron Shire Council. For further information about participating in local Landcare or other issues relating to natural resource management in the Byron Shire area, please contact: Wendy Gibney Community Support Officer (Byron) 6626 7028 (Wednesdays and Thursdays) Email: wendy.gibney@byron.nsw.gov.au

Contributions for newsletters welcome Please email: wendy.gibney@byron.nsw.gov.au