Supported and Connected Communities Deliver Great OutcomesThe Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative - Systems and Tools to achieve capacity

Chris McCulloch – NSW Landcare Program Manager | Local Land ServicesNatasha English – NSW State Landcare Coordinator | Landcare NSWLucinda Chapman – Communications Manager | Landcare NSW

• Effective partnerships• Delivering outcomes• Sustainable support• Recognised and valued• Capable to deliver• Community goals• Investor priorities

Partnership supporting outcomes

The NSW Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative

• $17.2 Million over 4 years• 72 part time Coordinators• Statewide Community of Practice• Telling the story of Landcare in NSW• Sustainable central support

Community of Practice in Landcare • increase activity and effectiveness• provide a consistent approach to building

capacity• building on the existing channels

Landcarers sharing information, learn, communicate, network, collate data, access training, develop case studies and tell stories.

Landcare NSW Gateway WebsiteA home for all things Landcare in NSWwww.landcare.nsw.gov.au

The issue

Whilst there was anecdotal evidence of the existence of species such as Koalas and

Black Stripe Wallabies inhabiting the Gwydir Shire, no official reports had been

made, making the task of sourcing funding and generating community support for

these Threatened communities more challenging. Further community education was required to help those species - for instance

informing residents of the necessity of providing a water supply during dry times

and planting more habitat trees if a landholder identifies Koalas on their property. The solution Northern Slopes Landcare Association was granted funding through the Regional

Landcare Facilitator Small Grants program (National Landcare Program) to

conduct two surveys in the Gwydir Region. The first of these surveys, a Koala survey, saw the University of the Sunshine Coast's

Detection Dogs for Conservation team visit the Shire. Search sites were chosen

based on reported Koala sightings in the areas and one day spent in each locale

searching for Koala scat. At the conclusion of the survey, a Threatened species day

was held in Bingara and Delungra with the assistance of Northern Tablelands Local

Land Services' Cool Country Koalas project, where survey results were discussed.

Additionally other presenters detailed findings from other surveys which had been

carried out in the area. A survey was also carried out by Ecologist Alex Dudley in the Conservation area in

Bingara. This survey involved Alex spending a period of five days surveying three

separate sites using several surveying methods including camera traps, as well as

incidental sightings and spotlighting.

The impact

Whilst we were unable to locate evidence of koala scat in Bingara on the day,

Warialda proved to be far more successful, with Koala scat and a Female koala and

joey located. Koala scat was found at nearly every location where a sighting had

been reported, even in the middle of town! The survey of the Conservation area located five Threatened species - Squirrel

Gliders, Speckled Warbler, Masked owl, Border Thick-tailed Gecko, and the Yellow

Bellied Sheathtailed Bat. The media coverage of the project has resulted in several sightings being reported

to Northern Slopes Landcare. We have now had several confirmed Koala sightings

in Bingara, along with sightings being reported in Delungra and Warialda.

Additionally, cameras were loaned out to a Bingara landholder who was able to

capture photos and video footage of a mob of Black Stripe Wallabies including a

Joey.

Making a Difference

Seeking data on the existence and distribution ofVulnerable species in the Gwydir Shire.

LLCI022-006Dogs Camera Action!

Northern Slopes Landcare Association

Key facts

• Raising awareness of Threatenedspecies can help those speciesthrough more people taking actionto protect them and improve theirhabitats

• The more information we have onThreatened species and theirdistribution, habitats andmovements, the more we can do toensure their survival

Project Partners

03 Oct, 2018

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