Cradle to Coastlines - March 2021

Page 14

Protecting and enhancing our region’s natural resources

Restore, repair and prepare the ground between crops

March 2021

cradle to coastlines

cradle to coastlines in this issue Page 3 Aboriginal Heritage Awareness training Page 4 Saltmarsh Page 5 Saltmarsh field day Smithton Page 6 Clean Up Australia Day Page 7 Mitchell Weatherill

4

Page 8 Ramsar Convention

6

Page 9 Spring active dung beetles Page 10 Mount Roland Rivercare Page 10 FeralScan Page 11 BandiCUTES! Page 11 Giant Freshwater Crayfish field tour Page 12 Dead wood as habitat Page 14 Lets stop the spread

12

14

16

Page 16 Virtual fencing Page 17 Rubicon Rice Grass project update Page 18 Little Penguin Toolkit Page 19 Microchipping your pet Page 20 Soil carbon Page 22 Weed Action Fund Page 23 Spanish Heath

18 Front cover: Ali Dugand checking cover crop emergence.

1-3 Spring St, Burnie Tasmania 7320 03 6433 8400 www.cradlecoast.com www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/

23

Aboriginal Heritage Awareness Training

Hut depressions are examples of Aboriginal heritage, images from Aboriginal Heritage Awareness Training video.

The palawa/pakana people are the traditional owners and custodians of lutruwita (Tasmania). This land is full of tangible and intangible Aboriginal heritage which is central to the identity of Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and demonstrates the connection between people and landscapes that has been in place for many thousands of years.

A new online resource is now available to raise awareness of Aboriginal cultural heritage, particularly in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The online training also teaches users to identify and report discoveries of Aboriginal heritage.

The training is delivered through beautifully shot video and text-based learning along with self-check exercises. The training takes about one hour to complete and is an important resource for all Tasmanians, especially those planning to undertake any on-ground works.

The online Aboriginal Heritage Awareness Training can be found here: www.aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au/learn/aw areness/introduction-public.html

p. 3

Saltmarsh - Do you have it in your backyard?

Many people do not recognise areas of saltmarsh, particularly along our coastal fringe in north-west Tasmania. Saltmarsh wetlands are unique habitats where salt-tolerant plants such as succulents, herbs, grasses and low shrubs grow. They are areas that are flooded regularly or occasionally.

Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes occupy the shallow upper intertidal areas starting below the mean high-water mark and extend inland

Coastal saltmarsh provides a nursery for many fish species, it provides a buffer against wave energy, provides protection from floods and storms, and both saltmarsh and sea grass habitats hold vast amounts of carbon.

Threats to saltmarsh include drainage works such as levee banks and paddock drains, weed invasion particularly from weeds like Rice Grass, rubbish dumping and washed up marine debris, livestock grazing and trampling, nutrient run-off and off-road vehicles.

to the extent of storm tide flooding. The low saltmarsh areas are dominated by glasswort (Sarcocornia spp or Tecticornia arbuscula), grasses and rushes. Mid marshes are mainly shrubs often mixed with sedges. The high marsh is dominated by grasses and bordered by swamp forest.

Coastal saltmarsh is listed as a Threatened Ecological

Community

under

federal

legislation.

Low saltmarsh area dominated by glasswort and grasses.

Cradle Coast Authority NRM is currently running a saltmarsh project in the Circular Head area. The project involves providing funding to the Circular Head Landcare Group to undertake Rice Grass control, and working with landholders who have saltmarsh on their privately-owned land to protect and enhance this valuable ecosystem.

So next time you are wandering along the shoreline, keep an eye out for those unique coastal saltmarsh plants.

From the mid marsh to the fringe vegetation of shrubs and paperbark swamp forest in the high marsh area.

p. 4

R E G IS T E R YOUR INTEREST

Saltmarsh dominated by reeds and sedges with the occasional shrub and fringing vegetation.

Saltmarsh Field DaySmithton, 'Conservation of Circular Head Coastal Saltmarsh'

Saturday 13 March Hall of Fame, Circular Head Community Recreation Centre, 72 – 98 Nelson Street, Smithton

Come along and learn more about the important coastal saltmarsh habitats of the Circular Head region. Hear about why this saltmarsh is so valuable and the work being done to try to protect it.

This field day is organised by Conservation Landholders Tasmania (CLT) in collaboration with Cradle Coast Authority and Tasmanian Land Conservancy.

This is a full-day event with morning tea and lunch included in a $25 participant fee. Payment can be made by direct deposit or cash on the day of the event.

ALL WELCOME!

p. 5

Please register to attend this event by email to gaildennett@gmail.com

by Monday 8th of March.

Clean Up Australia Day 2021Sunday, 7 March

Clean-up Australia Day is not what is used to be. Yes, it’s a chance to rally together on 7 March and head out to clean-up your local area (register or join a local event- check out all the resources here: www.cleanup.org.au/community).

But it is also much more than that… it is an annual reminder for us to “step up” and support solutions to the huge problem of waste generation and management.

Clean-Up Australia Day have produced some great resources on the many waste challenges we face and ways that you can take small steps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill and in our environment each year. Learn more about fast fashion, food waste, packaging, e-waste, container deposit schemes, soft plastics, batteries, and about how you can be part of the solution: www.cleanup.org.au/the-issues

p. 6

Introducing Mitchell Weatherill The initiative is part of our commitment to the Aboriginal community to offer an opportunity to local Aboriginal community members to have access to and gain valuable work experience and knowledge in natural resource management, and to better understand cultural landscapes, places and materials in the Cradle Coast region.

Securing a recognised qualification and gaining practical, hands-on experience in areas such as wildlife habitat and natural area restoration, weed and pest control and Aboriginal land management practices, will hopefully provide Mitchell with the foundations for a future career in the conservation and land management sector.

CCA CEO Daryl Connelly (left) and Mitchell Weatherill.

Cradle

Coast

Authority

are

pleased

This initiative is supported by the Cradle Coast Authority with funding from Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

to

announce a new addition to the team.

Young Waratah resident, Mitchell Weatherill, is

employed

as

part

of

our

I’m so excited to work with the NRM team here at Cradle Coast Authority and will enjoy every second of it.

Aboriginal

Traineeship Program, securing a position as a school-based apprentice. Mitchell is currently in Year 12 at Hellyer College and will assist the NRM team in a range of conservation and land

management

activities

while

- Mitchell Weatherill

completing a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management.

p. 7

50th Anniversary of the Ramsar Convention World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971. So this year is extra special: it’s the 50th Anniversary of the Ramsar Convention!

Wetlands are often ecological communities

The Ramsar Convention's broad aims are to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain.

wetlands are recognised for their values and

that

are

threatened

development

for

by

urban

drainage or

and

agricultural

development. There are many wetlands in the Cradle Coast region which are critically important but not currently listed under the Ramsar Convention, so it is important that all protected, regardless of their formal status.

This requires international cooperation, policy making, capacity building and technology transfer.

Wetlands play an important role in our Cradle Coast region, providing clean water, carbon storage, storm protection, fish nurseries, biodiversity conservation, supporting sustainable livelihoods and jobs and ecosystem resilience.

We have one Ramsar listed wetland in the Cradle Coast region, the Lavinia State Reserve on King Island. The site contains a highly significant and diverse set of ecosystems and is one of few largely unaltered areas of King Island.

The reserve is over 7000 hectares including major wetlands of saltmarsh, coastal lagoons, perched lakes, swamp forests and numerous smaller seasonally-inundated wetland areas. It is hugely important for resident and migratory birds including threatened species like the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot and King Island Scrubtit.

Lavinia Ramsar Site, Lavinia Character Description 2012

Ramsar

Ecological

For more information on World Wetland Day and the Ramsar Convention visit:

www.worldwetlandsday.org

p. 8

Spring active dung beetles New colonies of dung beetles at Red Cow Organics

During the spring of 2019, Cradle Coast Authority Natural Resource Management (NRM) team became involved in supporting the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers (DBEE) project.

This national project has the goal of introducing new species of dung beetles across southern Australia, to provide dung beetle activity year-round for grazing systems.

Tunnelling dung beetles provide a range of benefits to livestock producers as well as the environment. One gap in dung beetle activity in Tasmania is spring, and so in 2019 nursery colonies of Onthophagus vacca, a spring active species of dung beetle, were established in 21 locations across southern Australia.

Cradle Coast Authority provided support in setting up and caring for the nursery colony in our region, as well as collecting data on the reproductive rate of this species in Tasmania.

The result was a 6-fold increase in the first generation of O. vacca beetles bred in Tasmania, a great result.

Following this early success from the first field site near Burnie, the next phase was to spread O. vacca nursery colonies across additional grazing districts. Survival of the first couple of generations of a new species such as this is crucial to ensure establishment and proliferation, so aspects of site selection for new nursery colonies had to be carefully considered.

With a portion of O. vacca’s lifecycle occurring in summer, irrigated or higher rainfall cattle grazing properties were one such criteria. Irrigated dairy farms in Tasmania play a crucial role in survival of dung beetles which are active in the warmer months, essentially providing a stronghold for them by maintaining a level of soil moisture. Organic or lower input grazing enterprises were another desired element, providing a higher likelihood of dung beetle survival.

After much consideration, a second nursery colony was established during the 2019-20 summer on a commercial farm near Burnie. A further four nursery colonies were set up during the spring of 2020 on organic and lower input dairy and beef farms.

Two of the four newer colonies were established at Oldina, one at Mawbanna, and one at Cressy.

So far we can say with confidence that O. vacca can increase its population by at least 6-fold each generation in the temperate climate of north-west Tasmania, and that to date six nursery colonies have been established on farms by the Cradle Coast Authority. When more beetles are available to distribute, the intention is to build on this and set up more colonies each year across grazing districts and get more of these useful beetles working for farmers.

This project is supported by Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

p. 9

Mount Roland Rivercare Happy Birthday FeralScan!

Mount Roland Rivercare Catchment Inc (MRRCI) are a group of farmers and landholders who have been working on river restoration projects together since 1999. In that time, they have achieved some remarkable successes, improving river health, riparian habitat and bank stability on many stream sections around the Kentish municipality.

Recently, MRRCI have also been involved in feral animal monitoring. The MRRCI Feral Animal Project began in June 2020 and has been tracking well despite COVID disruptions.

The popular feral animal tracking app, FeralScan, is ten years old.

In that time FeralScan has grown from a simple citizen science project in NSW to an Australia-wide community-led monitoring and management program with more than a quarter of a million pest animal records.

FeralScan allows users to enter sightings of 27 different invasive animal species. The observations are mapped and freely available, and the dataset is used by hundreds of community groups, NRM groups and government agencies carrying out strategic pest management.

The aim was to identify as many species of feral vertebrates in the area around Mount Roland and the Minnow River catchment as possible. This was achieved by volunteers conducting foot surveys looking for scats, tracks and other signs of feral animal activity, as well as direct sightings.

Additionally, six trail cameras have been stationed at various locations and across land tenures. From this project, it is anticipated that the group will gain a more comprehensive understanding of what feral species are present, from which there can be further study on populations and control measures.

Stay tuned for a community presentation and report later this year.

In Tasmania, FeralScan records are incorporated into the Natural Values Atlas and will show up on LISTmap, giving everyone an indication of feral animal hot spots.

Sign up today on any smart phone and get into FeralScan.

Wild dog and feral cat (Photos: MRRCI)

p. 10

BandiCUTES!

Field tour

Giant Freshwater Crayfish Wednesday, 24 March 2021 9.30am - 12:30pm Bus and lunch provided Free of charge RS ess VP's ent ial

Eastern Barred Bandicoot (image: Margot Oorebeek)

Have you seen Hobart City Council’s Backyard Bandicoots project? It’s a great initiative to raise awareness about these gorgeous native marsupials, the threats they face, and how we can help them.

Visit two sites - Inglis River and

We have two species in Tasmania, the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the threatened (EPBC-listed) Eastern Barred Bandicoot. They are quite common all over the Cradle Coast, where residents often see their distinctive nose-shaped holes in lawns and pasture. Bandicoots are seen as a farmer’s friend, since some of their favourite snacks are corby grubs and cockchafers.

Big threats to bandicoots are cats (roaming domestic cats as well as feral), dogs, people driving cars, snail pellets, harvest machinery and loss of suitable habitat.

We can help them by keeping cats indoors and dogs on leashes. Bandicoots love to shelter in prickly native shrubs, and rely on native grasses and other bushy cover for nesting sites. Think about bandicoots when you plant and seek advice. Perhaps some sections of your garden could escape the mower and grow long grass? And you could encourage invertebrates (i.e. bandicoot food) with some dead wood enrichment!

Lapoinya.

Discuss benefits of rehabilitation.

View live Giant Freshwater Crayfish.

Best-practice river management.

Hear from crayfish expert Todd Walsh.

Discuss Conservation covenants with Tasmanian Land Conservancy.

For more info or to RSVP, contact: Fiona Marshall Agriculture Project Coordinator P: 0413 382 390 E: fmarshall@cradlecoast.com

by Monday, 15 March 2021.

This project is supported by Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

p. 11

Providing dead wood as habitat In the last edition of Cradle to Coastlines, we introduced you to tree hollows and their importance as habitat for many Tasmanian species. There’s another resource with hidden environmental benefits that you might have on your property too: dead wood.

Dead wood shelters seedlings, encouraging regeneration in places of high herbivore pressure. Without dead wood on the ground, woodland ecosystems can transform into paddocks with isolated standing trees.

Trees that fall naturally or need to be thinned can become habitat for a huge range of organisms if you leave them in place. This dead wood (or woody debris) is then contributing to your property’s biodiversity, hosting beneficial insects and fungi, providing shelter for threatened species like bandicoots and bettongs, and eventually breaking down to contribute organic matter to the soil.

Dead wood and standing dead trees are so important to biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, that NSW lists “removal of dead wood and dead trees” as a Key Threatening Process under their Threatened Species Conservation Act. Firewood collection there (as it is in Tasmania) is a big part of the problem.

p. 12

Did you know there is a type of habitat restoration called “dead wood enrichment”?

Practitioners lay out logs and branches from different tree species, and then treat them in different ways – some sun-exposed, some shaded, some wet. This is a great option away from houses and densely populated areas where fuel management is less of a concern. It results in huge increases in invertebrate diversity from the forest floor to the canopy. Where you have more invertebrates, you inevitably find more birds, reptiles, frogs and mammals… and that’s the aim of the game.

p. 13

Let’s stop the spread (of topsoil) The constant push for agricultural production puts pressure on primary producers, who often have little time to restore, repair and prepare the ground between crops.

Typically, during the summer

Large, fast, heavy farm equipment is a great time saver, but can damage valuable soil structure leaving it compacted, stripped of organic matter and with reduced water infiltration capacity.

closure; this leaves topsoil

season,

there

is

exposed

ground as vegetable crops are

at

various

stages

growth

without

full

of row

vulnerable. The recent ~100 mm rainfall event in early February caught many by surprise, and highlighted the issue.

Onion crop a few weeks away from harvest – February 2021.

p.14

One solution is planting a short-term Autumn cover crop to provide protection from erosion between cash crops. Above ground, cover crop plants reduce rain splash impact, and this increases with increasing plant height. Below ground, the roots bind the soil, reducing the potential for erosion.

Other benefits include improved soil structure provided by decaying plant matter leaving spaces for infiltration and improved water holding capacity. Valuable soil organisms increase that improve soil biology; more nutrients are retained. Weed suppression can be achieved and with improved plant health and disease pressure reduces.

Prior to the next cash crop, remember to: Reduce the crop (by either herbicide or mulching) when it

Key management considerations Cover crops can help protect steep paddocks during times of expected high rainfall, Planning for cover crops should include identifying suitable species, when to plant, how and when to deal with plant residue, Cover crops cost approximately $140/ha.

This has been estimated as one tenth of the value of soil potentially lost due to erosion if no erosion control is used – $1,000/ha for soils left fallow in autumn and winter.

Longer term cost savings include reduced fertiliser, chemicals, fuel and irrigation requirements.

The NRM team at Cradle Coast Authority have recently completed various trials on steep terrain in north-west Tasmania, where seasonal cover crops were used to protect bare fallow autumn and winter soils from erosion. The results from road-testing on a commercial scale, together with crop growth stage monitoring display, has provided a robust guide for future implementation. Many producers are getting on board.

is just below knee height or at the first sign of flowering.

Cover crop growth stage monitoring display (note greater root depth down to 600 mm, compared to above ground height of ~300 mm) – August.

Please get in touch to learn more about the program and how it can complement your cropping regime.

Contact project coordinator Ali Dugand at adugand@cradlecoast.com.

This project is supported by the Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Cover crop trial species Tic beans, peas, lupins and oats, prior to termination – August.

p. 15

Virtual fencing to protect Tasmanian Devils Waratah-Wynyard Council has worked with the Sisters Beach Community Association to install “virtual fencing” along the road through Rocky Cape National Park into Sisters Beach, with the aim of preventing Tasmanian Devils from becoming road-kill.

One hundred high-tech ‘beepers’ spaced fifty metres apart have been staggered along both sides of the road. Car headlights activate the units which then make a loud noise to alert animals that traffic is approaching. They act like a fence to reduce the number of animals on the road.

Near Arthur River on the west coast, a threeyear trial of virtual fencing was carried out between 2014 and 2017. Researchers from the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program estimated that road-kill was reduced by half in areas with the fencing installed, compared to areas without.

Unless you are driving slower than 40 km/hr (which is advised between dusk and dawn on some roads due to the high incidence of road-kill), animals don’t have time to hear your car coming and get out the way.

Hopefully the devils, quolls and other wildlife Display planter box at 14 days post seeding. of Rocky Cape NP now have more of a chance.

To find out more visit the Waratah Wynyard Council website: www.warwyn.tas.gov.au

Two images of beepers in headlights

p. 16

Rubicon Rice Grass project update Rice Grass is a threat to the health of the Rubicon estuary. It spreads rapidly and is a troublesome aquatic weed. Rice Grass can prevent boat access for fishing, recreation and aquaculture. It has impacts on fish and shorebird habitat, traps sediment and restricts tidal flow.

Weed contractors have started spraying Rice Grass on the eastern side of the Rubicon estuary. Follow-up weed treatment is complete at Narawntapu National Park. Initial weed treatment is continuing in a southerly direction at North East Arm and Brown’s Creek towards the Rice Grass containment line at Eagle Point.

Rice Grass control has been delayed due to wet and windy weather. Spraying can only be done at low tide and in light wind conditions.

The next stage of the works plan is to start Rice Grass treatment on the western side of the estuary at Port Sorell and Squeaking Point in February and March 2021. We are hoping for suitable weather conditions at low tides to complete this season’s works program.

If you would like more information about the Rubicon Rice Grass project or the Coastal Saltmarsh Recovery project at Circular Head, contact Anna Wind, Environment Project Coordinator, Cradle Coast Authority by email awind@cradlecoast.com or call 0429 804 449.

Look out for these Rice Grass signs that will be installed soon at Port Sorell, Squeaking Point, Narawntapu National Park and Smithton.

p. 17

CCA launches new toolkit to help protect Little Penguins A new citizen science-based toolkit was recently launched by Minister for Primary Industries and Water, the Hon. Guy Barnett, and Cradle Coast Authority CEO, Daryl Connelly.

Funded by the Tasmanian Government and developed by CCA’s NRM team, the toolkit will help land managers and community groups monitor Tasmania’s Little Penguin populations and manage threats to their colonies. The toolkit provides guidance on survey methods that community groups can use to monitor changes to penguin populations in their local area. It also provides methods to assess the Little Penguin habitat potential of an area, as well as ways to effectively assess current and future threats to colonies.

Data collected using these methods can be provided to the Tasmanian Government through a dedicated email address to improve knowledge of Little Penguin populations and distribution around the state.

CCA CEO, Daryl Connelly, said that Cradle Coast Authority and its Member Councils are committed to improving the environment.

“Like many of our NRM projects, this project is all about taking care of our region’s unique wildlife. Not only is it the right thing to do, but healthy Little Penguin populations also contribute to our region’s tourism appeal and our ‘clean, green’ image.” said Mr Connelly.

(L-R): Daryl Connelly, CEO CCA, Dr Perviz Marker, Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group and CCA NRM Committee member; Felix Ellis, MP; Anna Wind, Environment Project Coordinator, CCA: Robbie Walsh, Mayor, Waratah Wynyard Council and the Hon. Guy Barnett, MP.

Mr Connelly said that everybody can do their bit. “Slow down at night, keep your dog on a leash where necessary, keep your cat inside and stay off those parts of the beach where penguins may be nesting,” he said.

CCA would like to thank the many community groups, other organisations and volunteers who made this project a success, as well as the Tasmanian Government for their financial and other support. The toolkit, which is endorsed by the Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group and has been reviewed by DPIPWE wildlife experts, is available at www.cradlecoast.com/cradle-coast-littlepenguin-toolkit/ Display planter box at 14 days post seeding.

If your community group is working in penguin habitat and would like to get involved in LIttle Penguin surveys, contact Hannah Sadler, NRM Engagement Officer hsadler@cradlecoast.com

p. 18

Microchipping your pets

A vet microchips a kitten.

In February, the West Coast Council and RSPCA partnered up and provided a discounted microchipping day in Queenstown. It was great to see so many owners bringing in both dogs and cats.

Microchipping is already mandatory for dogs and with the recent changes to the Cat Management Act it will soon be mandatory for cats.

Having your pet microchipped is very important as it provides them with permanent identification if they ever lose their collar and ID tag. Whether your dog gets out of your yard, runs away during a walk or your cat gets lost, having them microchipped can be a lifesaver. Councils, vets and cat management facilities can scan your pet and let you know they have been found and are safe.

Microchipping your cat will also help them if they get trapped during a cat control project. Councils can immediately scan your cat for a microchip, identify them as an owned pet cat and release them on the spot.

This will eliminate the chance that your cat will be taken to a cat management facility.

If you haven’t already microchipped your pet, get in touch with your local vet and make an appointment. It is a very quick, safe and easy procedure.

p. 19

Soil carbon in the news Recent policy announcements about "soil organic carbon" have got farmers talking.

What opportunities are out there?

In fact, there are already mechanisms available for farmers to earn carbon credits (translating to cash) from soil carbon and tree carbon storage offset projects (as well as via other methods such as herd methane reduction). There are several grower groups (e.g.

Regenerative Agriculture Network Tasmania and Farmers for Climate Action) and companies like Carbon Farmers of Australia set up to consult and advise about these types of projects. There are plenty of resources available about the techniques that could store more carbon in the soil.

In Australia, agriculture currently accounts for around 15% of our greenhouse emissions, but with projected growth in farm gate output this could well increase.

At the same time, we are aiming for our overall emissions to reach net zero by 2050, and the government’s emissions reduction Technology Investment Roadmap highlights carbon sequestration in agricultural soils as a significant part of this strategy, suggesting that improving land management practices on agricultural land could capture and sequester up to 90 million tonnes of CO2 per annum (or 17% of our total annual emissions).

If that doesn’t sound good enough, there are also emerging incentives at the market end of the production line: consumers who care about the climate impacts of their dietary choices.

For example, Sam and Stephanie Tretheway from Deloraine recently launched their “climate-friendly” beef products, packaged in home-compostable plastic-free bags, and produced on a property where the management practices are regenerative, aiming to draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil.

Increasing the soil carbon concentration (in the form of organic material) can improve farm productivity and crop yields through better nutrient and water retention, and boost resilience to drought and erosion.

p. 20

So why isn’t everyone doing it?

This boils down to two problems: permanence and measurement.

Criticism of soil carbon storage as a climate change solution has focused on the fact that weather events can very quickly remove soil carbon that may have built up over years.

There are microbial processes at work in healthy soil that are tricky to understand and can result in release of nitrous oxide (another greenhouse gas). And there are off-farm and lifecycle impacts that sometimes aren’t calculated.

The biggest barrier is accurate measurement Display planter box at 14 days post seeding. of changes to soil carbon. New technologies are emerging, such as affordable hand-held soil probes and remote sensing of regenerative practices, but current methods are complex and cost-prohibitive. The government aims to reduce the cost of soil carbon testing from $30 per hectare to $3 per hectare.

With all this research, policy, market, industry and community action, it seems certain that soil carbon storage will increasingly be in the spotlight.

p. 21

Weed Action Fund The Tasmanian Government’s $5 million Weeds Action Fund has announced 26 successful applicants for projects to be funded in its latest $200,000 small grants round, including one project led by Central Coast Council, which will bring five north-west Councils together to work collaboratively on the management of Spanish Heath across municipalities.

The Tasmanian Weeds Action Fund is a Tasmanian Government initiative, funded for five years from 2018-19. The funds are invested by farmers and other community organisations to tackle weeds that are impacting valuable agricultural and environmental assets. Cradle Coast Authority is supporting NRM North, NRM South and Biosecurity Tasmania in delivering this project.

Another grant round for multiyear, landscape-scale projects for weed containment and eradication is currently being finalised for release this autumn. To register your interest in future rounds, follow this link or contact Hannah Sadler hsadler@cradlecoast.com. www.nrmnorth.org.au/land/weeds-actionfund/

Serrated Tussock, King Island

p. 22

SPANISH HEATH (Erica lusitanica)we need your help The project will map Spanish Heath across these five north-west council areas, with the intent of following up with strategic onground weed control.

NRM staff at these Councils would appreciate support from the community in identifying known Spanish Heath locations within these municipalities as first step before systematic mapping begins.

Spanish Heath

If you live in the municipalities of Devonport, Central Coast, Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard or Circular Head, we would love your help in mapping local infestations of Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica).

Spanish Heath is an invasive and extremely combustible weed growing along nature strips, open areas and disturbed ground. It is a small to medium sized evergreen woody shrub which can grow up to 2.5 m tall in suitable conditions. Leaves are small, fine and pine like, 4-7 mm long. Young stems have unbranched hairs 1 mm long. It usually grows as a dense multi-stemmed bush, however Display planter box at 14 days post seeding. inappropriate slashing can thicken it up so that can becomes more hedge-like. It can even grow and flower as a prostrate plant in response to slashing. Each plant can produce millions of small seeds which can be dispersed by wind, water, animals, slashing equipment and farm machinery, vehicle tyres or shoes.

Please report known locations of Spanish Heath via email to Sonya Stallbaum at Central Coast Council sonya.stallbaum@centralcoast.tas.gov.au.

Please note the location of the weed (either GPS location or accurate description of municipality, road name and location on it), the extent of the infestation (single plant or area of infestation and % cover of that area).

For information about weeds and weed control methods: dpipwe.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/weeds

Central Coast Council, in conjunction with Devonport, Central Coast, Burnie, WaratahWynyard and Circular Head Councils, has been successful in receiving a small grant from the Tasmanian Government's $5 million Weeds Action Fund.

p. 23

Events and activities what

Who and more info

when

Clean Up Australia Day

www.cleanup.org.au/community

Saturday, 7 March 2021

Saltmarsh Field Day 'Conservation of Circular Head Coastal Saltmarsh'

A full-day event with morning tea and lunch included.

Location: Hall of Fame, Circular Head Community Recreation Centre, 72 – 98 Nelson Street, Smithton Cost: $25 per person Please register to attend this event by email to gaildennett@gmail.com by Monday 8th of March.

Saturday, 13 March 2021

Are You Bogged Mate?

Helping Rural Tasmania talk about mental health and suicide while spreading awareness about depression in the bush.

Cost: FREE (tickets essential) Visit www.bootsonthegroundtas.org for tickets and more info.

Mount Hicks 16 March 2021 Forth 16 March 2021 Forest 17 March 2021

Devonport Electrikhana

Your chance to ride in, or even drive, an electric vehicle!

Location: Devonport CBD, Multilevel Carpark For more information visit www.aeva.asn.au/events/157/

Saturday, 21 March 2021 10am - 4pm

Giant Freshwater Crayfish and their habitat, Field Tour

Location: Meet at Moorleah Hall, 720 Preolenna Road, Moorleah.

Cost: Free (RSVP essential) For more info or to RSVP, contact Fiona Marshall on 0413 382 390 or fmarshall@cradlecoast.com

Wednesday, 24 March 2021 9.30am - 12.30pm

Ecofest 2021 'A new vision'

Location: Ulverstone For more information contact the North West Environment Centre - secretary@nwec.org.au

Saturday, 10 April 2021

Ag Innovation Expo; Soil health, Machinery, Virtual Reality in Ag

Location: Hagley Farm School For more information contact Terry Brient, TAPG terry.brient@gmail.com

Wednesday, 14 April 2021

1-3 Spring St, Burnie, Tasmania, 7320 03 6433 8400 www.cradlecoast.com www.facebook.com/CradleCoastNRM/