Habitat Action Grant​
Project on-ground start - April 2020
Proposing this be deleted
Project Title:
Restoring Wetland and Riparian Vegetation on High Conservation Value Property to Improve Diverse Fish Habitat in Emigrant Creek
Support: Habitat Action Grant with OzFish
With the assistance of the amazing team at OzFish Unlimited Ballina, we were fortunate enough to secure a Department of Primary Industries Habitat Action Grant in late 2019, with the on-ground work commencing April 2020.
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The site for this grant covers approximately 5ha and includes approximately 800m of Emigrant creek riparian zone.
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Also within the site is a beautiful melaleuca wetland area which was heavily degraded with unrestricted cattle access.
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Goal: Restore wetland and riparian vegetation along Emigrant Creek
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Map in here showing the grant area??
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Objective 1:
Exclude cattle access from creek and grant area
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The first step in the project was to exclude cattle access which was done with the installation of an electric fence. This had an immediate effect and watching the wetland area in particular recover rapidly once the grazing pressure from the cattle was removed was an exciting process!
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The riparian zone had immediate positive results also with the rapid return of the riparian grasses, reeds and sedges that the cattle had been eating and squashing for many years.
Objective 2:
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Weed control and planting prep work.
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A contractor was then engaged for the weed control and site planting prep work and we chose our friends at Bushland Restoration Services to undertake this work. Their years of experience and amazing knowledge were a great asset for the project.
Objective 3:
Plant 4000 trees for the grant, of which 1500 would be wetland species of Broad leaf paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and Swamp oak (Casuarina glauca) around the margins of the wetland with the remaining being a diverse mix of local rainforest species.
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Habitat Action Grant - The End Result​
The end result ...
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pictures of wetland and trees, wetland grasses.
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Put stakes in the ground for future photos.
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Removing cattle.
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This had an immediate effect and watching the wetland area in particular recover rapidly once the grazing pressure from the cattle was removed was an exciting process!
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Weed control and plant prep
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We chose our friends at Bushland Restoration Services to undertake this work. Their years of experience and amazing knowledge were a great asset for the project.
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Planting
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With the aid of a group of wonderful OzFish volunteers and BRS, 4000 trees were planted providing diversity in the environment and aid to the wetland area.
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The end result is an amazing wetland area that is thriving with native grasses and many more melaleucas naturally regenerating.
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Ongoing work required ...
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Struggling with ipanema in parts after the 2022 floods​
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"Thank you" to our project partners ...
