Big Scrub Rainforest Day

Sunday 12 October, Rocky Creek Dam NORTH COAST LOCAL LAND SERVICES STAGE - TENT 2

RAINFOREST RESERVE All Day Activities

10:00 – 10:45

THE CATCHMENT MODEL FLAG MAKING FOR A HEALTHY CATCHMENT THE WATER WISE HOUSE STATIC WEEDS DISPLAY HANDS ON H2O WATER LAB

Creatures of the Forest Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Meet some amazing creatures that live in our local rainforest. Learn about their important role in maintaining and regenerating forest to keep it in a healthy NORTH COASTourLOCAL LAND condition.

RAINFOREST 7:00 – 8:50RESERVE Bird Walk

All Day Activities

Dave Charley & David Milledge THE CATCHMENT MODEL BYO Binoculars andMAKING join this early morning bird walkCATCHMENT to FLAG FOR A HEALTHY identify birds around Rocky Creek Dam.

9:00 – 9:50

THE WATER WISE HOUSE STATIC WEEDS DISPLAY 9:00 – 10:30 HANDS ON H2O WATER LAB

Plant use at Rocky Creek Dam

McKenzie 7:00Tamlin – 8:50

Big Scrub Planting & Regeneration

Darren Bayley & Carl Sanderson A walk and talk about assisted natural BirdCome Walkwith the Dorroughby regeneration and restoration Education Centre and DaveEnvironmental Charley & David Milledge planting methodology. discover the many uses of various BYO Binoculars and join thisCreek early morning bird walk to plants around Rocky Dam identify birds around Rocky Creek Dam. using iPads provided. All ages.

Northern rivers locals with an SERVICES STAGE - TENTenvironment, 2 interest in the 12:00 – 12:45 10:00region’s – 10:45 our drinking water or Rainforest Seed Collection & Plant Propagation Creatures of the Forest Phil Murray & Paul Nelson rainforests and restoration Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Learn from professional seed collectors with 25 years of Meet some amazing creatures that live in our local experience about germination techniques should getcollection, along theandBig rainforest. Learn about their important role to in maintaining storage of over 200 species of rainforest species of the far and regenerating our forest to keep it in a healthy north coast. condition.

Scrub Rainforest Day 2014 on 12:45 – 1:15 Sunday 12 October.

12:00 – 12:45 Nest Boxes Rainforest Seed Collection & Plant Propagation Angus & Underwood – Byron Shire Council Phil Murray Paul Nelson

Big Scrub Rainforest Day is25wildlife an annual ways to provide habitats for LearnLearn from professional seedmore collectors with years of at yourabout place,collection, by installing nest boxestechniques for marsupials, experience germination and the natural 9:00 – 9:50 celebration of our rainforests and 9:00 – 10:30 birds and bees. storage of over 200 species of rainforest species of the far 10:00 11:00Creek Dam Big Scrub 10:00Planting – 3:00 & Regeneration Plant use at–Rocky north coast. environment where we live.

Cabinet Timber Tour Tour Nightcap Water Treatment Darren Bayley & Carl Sanderson Tamlin McKenzie 1:15 – 1:45 The Big Scrub was once the largest expanse of Doland Nichols Plant A walk and talk about assisted natural Come with the Dorroughby 12:45 – 1:15 Subtropical Farm Centre and Environmental Laws forin Landholders regeneration and restoration Environmental Education Rous Water subtropical rainforest Australia and covered Forestry Association/SCU NestNina Boxes planting methodology. discover the many uses of various Lucas - EDO Do you know what you are drinking? plantsCome around Creek a roughly circular area of 75,000 hectares where onRocky the tour of aDam cabinet timber Angus Underwood – Byron Shire Council Jump on the free bus to the Nightcap Learn about the legal protections for plants and animals, usingplantation, iPads provided.

All ages. consisting of native options and you can do about Learnprivate ways toconservation provide more habitats forwhat wildlife presently Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and rainforest trees established as at your place, by clearing. installing nest boxes for marsupials, All ages. illegal land early as 1990. birds and bees.

Mullumbimby are situated.

Today, less than TOURS RUNNING ALL DAY. 10:00 – 11:00 10:00 – 3:00 BOOK AT INFO TENT Cabinet Timber Tour one per Tour Nightcap Water Treatment 2:00cent – 2:45of the original Big Scrub remains.

1:15Creatures –fragmented 1:45 of the Forest Doland Nichols Plant These pockets of subtropical 1:45 -Farm 3:00 Subtropical Environmental LawsSanctuary for Landholders Rous Water Currumbin Wildlife Forestry Association/SCU rainforests are special places. More species of Rainforest Restoration Walk Do you know what you are drinking?

NinaMeet Lucas - EDO some amazing creatures that live in our local ComeJesse on theVandenbosch tour of a cabinet-timber the free- bus to the Nightcap Rous WaterJump & IanonStyche EnviTE about theirare important roleanimals, in here maintaining Learnrainforest. about the Learn legal protections for plants and plants and animals found than in any plantation, consisting of native and regenerating our forest keep it acan healthy condition. private conservation options and to what you do about Come on aestablished Rainforest Restoration walk and discuss successive years of rainforest trees as other ecosystem in NSW. All ages. illegal land clearing. early ecological as 1990. restoration in Rous Water’s Operational Area.

TOURS RUNNING ALL DAY. THIS IS A LONG WALK NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN Now in its sixteenth year Big Scrub Rainforest BOOK AT INFO TENT 2:00is– Australia’s 2:45 Day largest annual landcare, 2:30 – 3:00 Creatures of the Forest WATER Gratitude Ceremony 1:45 - 3:00 environment and community event providing Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Sally Amber and friends Rainforest Restoration Walk a focus for community involvement through Meet some amazing creatures that live in our local Join us and participate in our closing ceremony on the dam wall.

Jesse Vandenbosch - Rous Water & Ian Styche - EnviTE rainforest. Learn about their important role in maintaining education in a festival environment and this and regenerating our forest to keep it a healthy condition.

Come on a Rainforest Restoration walk and discuss successive years of ecological restoration in Rous Water’s Operational Area. year incorporates the Rous Water Open Day THIS IS A LONG WALK NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN at Rocky Creek Dam. It has a strong learning, 2:30 – 3:00 social and family context.

WATER Gratitude Ceremony This year’s event is about promoting catchment Sally Amber and friends health, restoring the Big Scrub Rainforest and Join us and participate in our closing ceremony on the dam wall. protecting our region’s drinking water. The program features guided bird and rainforest walks, talks and workshops from some of Australia’s leading ecologists, tours of the Nightcap Water Treatment Plant, food, entertainment, stalls and environmental activities for the whole family.

The 2014 event is presented RAINFOREST RESERVE by the Big Scrub Landcare All Day Activities Group THE CATCHMENT MODELand Rous Water FLAG MAKING FOR A HEALTHY CATCHMENT with the assistance THE WATER WISE HOUSE of local and regional STATIC WEEDS DISPLAY HANDS ON H2Ocommunity WATER LAB organisations and individuals. It has 7:00 – 8:50 Bird Walk wide support from Dave Charley & David Milledge many landcare groups, BYO Binoculars and join this early morning bird walk to identify birds around Rocky Creek Dam. local government, local businesses 9:00 – 9:50 9:00 – 10:30 and state government Plant use at Rocky Creek Dam Big Scrub Plantingagencies. & Regeneration Darren Bayley & Landcare Carl Sanderson Tamlin McKenzie Big Scrub A walk and talk about assisted natural Come with the Dorroughby and Rous Water wish regeneration and restoration Environmental Education Centre and planting methodology. discover the many uses of various to acknowledge the plants around Rocky Creek Dam using iPads provided. All ages. contribution of the wonderful presenters, 10:00 – 11:00 10:00 – 3:00 stallNightcap holders, sponsors Cabinet Timber Tour Tour Water Treatment and supporters of this Doland Nichols Plant Subtropical Farm Rous Waterevent, and a special year’s Forestry Association/SCU Do you know what you are drinking?

Come on the tour of a cabinet timber thankyou toto the the major Jump on the free bus Nightcap plantation, consisting of native sponsors, Rainforest Rescue rainforest trees established as All ages. early as 1990. andRUNNING North Local Land TOURS ALLCoast DAY. BOOK AT INFO TENT Services.

Everyone is welcome. Entry 1:45 - 3:00 Rainforest Restoration Walk is by gold coin donation.

Jesse Vandenbosch - Rous Water & IanFor Styche - EnviTEinformation visit more Come on a Rainforest Restoration walk and discuss successive years of bigscrubrainforest.org.au. ecological restoration in Rous Water’s Operational Area.

RAINFOREST RESCUE STAGE - TENT 1

10:00 – 10:20

Threatened Species David Milledge Find out about Threatened rainforest species and communities in relation to current legislation and the threats posed by government policies.

RAINFOREST RESCUE STAGE - TENT 1 10:20 – 10:40 Rural Landholder Initiative

10:00 – 10:20 Theresa Adams – Lismore City Council Threatened Hear aboutSpecies Lismore City Council’s

developed David Milledgewith Southern Cross University, and how the initiative aims to assist biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Find out aboutlandholders Threatenedmanage rainforest species and communities in relation to current legislation and the threats posed by government 10:40 – 11:00 policies.

Linking remnants across the Big Scrub

10:20 –O’Connor 10:40 - EnviTE Paul

Rural Landholder Initiative Hear about opportunities to become involved in a Landcare project

to convert mixed rainforest/Camphor Theresa Adams – Lismore City CouncilLaurel stands into regenerating subtropical rainforest to improve connectivity across the Big Scrub.

Hear about Lismore City Council’s developed with Southern Cross University, and how the initiative aims to assist landholders manage biodiversity and ecosystem services.

11:00 – 11:10 Official Opening 10:40 – 11:00

Welcome to Country.

Linking remnants across the Big Scrub

Message from Rous Water & Big Scrub Landcare.

Paul O’Connor - EnviTE Hear about opportunities to become involved in a Landcare project 11:10 – 11:50 to convert mixed rainforest/Camphor Laurel stands into regenerating Keynote Address - Our Scienceacross Future subtropical rainforest to improve connectivity the Big Scrub.

Robyn Williams – ABC Radio

11:00 – 11:10 12:00 - 12:20 Official Opening

Geology of the Big Scrub Welcome to Country.

Message from Rous Water– &Rous Big Scrub Landcare.

Rodney Holland Water Learn about our regions geology and how it shaped our landscape and

11:10 – 11:50 vegetation.

Keynote Address - Our Science Future

12:20-12:40 Robyn Williams – ABC Radio

The Big Scrub – A Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem

Isaac Santos - Southern Cross University 12:00 - 12:20

Hear about hydrogeology of the Big Scrub, groundwater dependent Geology of the Big Scrub ecosystems, interaction of Big Scrub rainforest remnants with Rodney Holland and – Rous Water for groundwater/landscape groundwater implications Learnmanagement. about our regions geology and how it shaped our landscape and vegetation.

12:40 – 1:00 12:20-12:40 Future Water Strategy

The Rob Big Cawley Scrub ––ARous Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Water IsaacHear Santos - Southern Cross University about Rous Water’s strategy to maintain a safe and sustainable water hydrogeology supply until 2060.

Hear about of the Big Scrub, groundwater dependent ecosystems, interaction of Big Scrub rainforest remnants with groundwater and implications for groundwater/landscape 1:00 – 1:40 management.

Birds & Australia’s Ecological Evolution

12:40 1:00 Tim–Low – Biologist & Author Future Water Strategy 1:40 – 2:00

Rob Cawley – Rous Water Species Selection for Rainforest Revegetation Hear about Rous Water’s strategy to maintain a safe and sustainable waterJohn supplyLeedom– until 2060.Byron Shire Council Learn what rainforest plants to use when planning and undertaking revegetation projects. The right plant in the right place will increase 1:00success – 1:40 of your plantings.

Birds & Australia’s Ecological Evolution Tim Low – Biologist & Author

2:00 – 2:20 & CSG 1:40Groundwater – 2:00

Species for Rainforest Revegetation IsaacSelection Santos - Southern Cross University overviewByron of groundwater-related JohnAn Leedom– Shire Council risks associated with coal extraction, the for baseline data with respect to Learnseam what gas rainforest plants toneed use when planning and undertaking groundwater hydrology and water quality, anwill overview of the revegetation projects.

The right plant in the rightand place increase Northern Rivers groundwater monitoring project being undertaken success of your plantings.

by Southern Cross University.

2:00 – 2:20

Groundwater & CSG

NORTH COASTCross LOCAL LAND Isaac Santos - Southern University SERVICES STAGE - TENT 2 An overview of groundwater-related risks associated with coal seam gas extraction, the need for baseline data with respect to groundwater 10:00 –hydrology 10:45and water quality, and an overview of the Northern Rivers groundwater monitoring project being undertaken Creatures the Forest

by Southern Crossof University.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Meet some amazing creatures that live in our local rainforest. Learn about their important role in maintaining and regenerating our forest to keep it in a healthy condition.

12:00 – 12:45

Rainforest Seed Collection & Plant Propagation Phil Murray & Paul Nelson Learn from professional seed collectors with 25 years of experience about collection, germination techniques and storage of over 200 species of rainforest species of the far north coast.

12:45 – 1:15 Nest Boxes

Angus Underwood – Byron Shire Council Learn ways to provide more habitats for wildlife at your place, by installing nest boxes for marsupials, birds and bees.

1:15 – 1:45

Environmental Laws for Landholders Nina Lucas - EDO Learn about the legal protections for plants and animals, private conservation options and what you can do about illegal land clearing.

2:00 – 2:45

Creatures of the Forest Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Meet some amazing creatures that live in our local rainforest. Learn about their important role in maintaining and regenerating our forest to keep it a healthy condition.

THIS IS A LONG WALK NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN

18 October 7, 2014 The Byron Shire Echo

2:30 – 3:00

WATER Gratitude Ceremony Sally Amber and friends

Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au

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Join us to help protect rainforests forever. rainforestrescue.org.au or call 1300 763 611 donations are tax-deductible

The Big Scrub Rainforest Day was the 1999 brainchild of Tony Parkes and Kelvin Davies.

Tony was (and still is) the president of Big Scrub Landcare. He and Kelvin had founded Rainforest Rescue in that year and decided that the two organisation should put on an event that would be a celebration of the Big Scrub and would enhance the community’s awareness of the local Big Scrub rainforest, its beauty, its rich biodiversity, its tragic history and the need for the community to take the lead in restoration.

The Booyong Recreation and Flora Reserve was selected as the venue for the first Big Scrub Day. Tony and Kel were able to get together a group of top ecologists who gave several presentations and led walks through the Booyong remnant.

One marquee and several tents were erected on the cricket oval, as well as several stalls.

The toilet facilities beside the cricket ground were very primitive and Tony still has vivid recollections of his wife on her hands and knees with a bucket and scrubbing brush trying to clean them up.

The walks through the rainforest were a huge success. As one aim of the event was to raise money for Big Scrub Landcare’s on-ground rainforest restoration program that had been launched the previous year, Tony and Kel decided to charge for the walks. However, the numbers overwhelmed the organisation and most people got in free! That was the first and the last time any charge was levied for Big Scrub Day activity.

Ecologists leading the walks that day included Alex Floyd, the widely respected author of definitive reference works on Australia’s rainforests, and Rob Kooyman, who has since become one of Australia’s leading rainforest researchers. The Big Scrub Day has since that first event been blessed by the willingness of top rainforest ecologists and biologists as well as leading bush regenerators to volunteer their time and share their expertise with the community at the Big Scrub Day. From the outset it has been a family day and National Parks people put on some children’s

I think think... therefore I plant...

proud to be a major sponsor of the Big Scrub Rainforest Day Come and meet us at our information stall rainforestrescue.org.au

Leunig

A creature of the forest to meet and touch at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s show. activities at the first event that were very popular.

About 400 people attended that first Big Scrub Day, including landholders, students, rainforest professionals and other community members interested to learn about our magnificent local rainforest. Reflecting increasing community and landholder interest, the attendance at subsequent Big Scrub Days soared. The event was moved to Rocky Creek Dam in 2001, which proved very popular, and attendance reached more than 4,500 in 2005.

This turned out to be the record attendance.

The Big Scrub Day was to some extent a victim of its own success. The event and other activities of Big Scrub Landcare succeeded in raising community awareness of the Big Scrub and its restoration and as a consequence the attendance at the event started to fall away.

Different venues were trialled but the decline was inexorable.

Another issue common to most community organisations was volunteer exhaustion. It takes a huge amount of volunteer time and energy to run an event like the Big Scrub Day and unfortunately the same old faces tend to turn up year after year. Nine months ago, when the future of the event looked terminal, Rous Water came to the rescue. It was decided to merge the Big Scrub Day with Rous’s Open Day at Rocky Creek Dam. Rous generously provided excellent help with the event’s administration, which injected new energy into the organisation of what promises to be a great 16th Big Scrub Rainforest Day.

Join us to help protect rainforests forever. rainforestrescue.org.au or call 1300 763 611

or call 1300 763 611 donations are tax-deductible

donations are tax-deductible

Proud sponsors of

Covering the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore City, Richmond Valley and Kyogle shires.

Far North Coast Weeds Rous Water Centre, Level 4, 218-232 Molesworth Street, Lismore NSW 2480

www.fncw.nsw.gov.au

GeoLINK Helping to create a sustainable North Coast for over 20 years

Ecology | Natural Resource Management | Planning Environmental Monitoring | Landscape Design | Engineering For help with your next project visit us online at www.geolink.net.au PO Box 119 LENNOX HEAD NSW 2478

02 6687 7666

“proud supporter of the Big Scrub Rainforest Day”

quality solutions sustainable future

EnviTE Environment WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BIG SCUB LANDCARE FOR 21 YEARS

ECOLOGICAL REStORATION SERVICES ON-GROUND RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANNING, ASSESSMENT MAPPING & GIS TRAINING & MENTORING MONITORING & EVALUATION

LandhoLders wanted!

We are looking for landholders to register an expression of interest to be part of restoration and habitat rehabilitation projects on their property. We are looking for people who have rainforest vegetation or waterways on their land.

We wish to work with these landholders to create better habitat for threatened species and protect our local rainforests, which are essential to healthy biodiversity in our region.

We are currently building a database of landholders to draw from when grant opportunities arise. It only takes a quick phone call to sign up.

Phone us on 1300 87 83 87

Producer of gourmet macadamia products

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH : • PRIVATE & PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS • INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES • LANDCARE, DUNECARE & OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS • LOCAL COUNCILS • STATE GOVERNMENT • AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT • PARKS & FORESTRY

VISIT OUR STALL AT

BIG SCRUB DAY PHONE 6627 2800

WWW.ENVITE.ORG.AU/ENVIRONMENT

North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au

The Byron Shire Echo October 7, 2014 19