Community Connect Issue 47

HEALTHY WATERWAYS RESTORING HEALTHY RIPARIAN CORRIDORS

Six hectares of nationally threatened Big Scrub Lowland Subtropical Rainforest have recently been restored along Marom Creek and Chilcotts Creek.

Ballina Shire Council worked in partnership with Bushland Restoration Services, five local landholders, and with funding from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust, to complete the three-year rehabilitation project between 2019 – 2022.

Project activities included:

• Development of site plans for 6 hectares of creek front land at five privately owned properties.

• Targeted weed control.

• Planting 37 species of native plants with over 7,500 individual plants.

• Stock exclusion fencing to protect new plantings and riparian areas.

Private landholders contributed enormously to this project with support from their friends and family. Landholders undertook weed control, watering, and maintenance of fencing, contributing more than 1,270 combined volunteer hours over the life of the project.

This voluntary work has greatly assisted in the high survival rate of plantings at 95% and weed cover being reduced by 90% over the five sites.

The successful outcome of this project will enable positive ongoing environmental effects such as bank stabilisation, improved water quality throughout the catchment, increased habitat for two threatened species (the koala and Alberts’ Lyrebird), and enhanced connectivity of native vegetation corridors.

For more information visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/ HealthyWaterways