Welcome to the Present NV Landcare Projects Page

Current Projects  

Australian Government Funding

Nambucca Valley Vegetation and Planting Guide 2nd Edition

Our Community Grants Caring for our Country application for $15k to reprint the Nambucca Valley Vegetation and Planting Guide has been successful.

NVL produced the 1st edition of the Nambucca Valley Vegetation and Planting Guide in 2007 in response to public demand. The 1st edition relied on an enormous effort and in kind contribution from NVL and volunteers. 1000 b& w copies were distributed within a year and our website statistics show more downloads than any other resource This project will enable NVL to be responsive to community feedback to improve on the guide by adding new sections and encouraging the thoughtful management and planting of native vegetation throughout the Nambucca Valley and neighbouring areas. From community feedback, the team will write new chapters on riparian sp, fire retardant sp., wind break sp. wetland sp. and more about present and potential weeds in the valley. The 2nd edition will be a more valuable, easy to use educational and awareness raising resource with the addition of a few well chosen colour photos. NVL will organise for the printing, distribution, publicity and launch of the guide. The outcome of the project will be 5000 guides printed and distributed as an educational resource available to urban, rural and peri-urban landholders that will include native trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers, a guide to selection and planting natives, special plantings i.e. gardens, under power lines, riparian, wetlands, wind breaks etc. There will also be chapters on legislation, rare and threatened populations, protected species, weed ID, obligations under law, replacement natives and potential weed species There will be a contact list and ways to extend knowledge. The old guide will continue to be posted on NVL web site until the new edition is finalised.

Caring for the Nambucca Coastline and Estuary

NVL also secured $50,000 as part of a Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority’s (NRCMA) State wide project under the Caring for our Country funding. This project will focus on the Coastal area of the Nambucca enhancing the littoral rainforest and weeding bitou bush, lantana and salvinia currently threatening coastal habitats and the health of the estuary. Sites have been identified in the Nambucca Estuary Management Plan. The community awareness, education/training component will deliver workshops on coastal management, focussing on littoral rainforest value awareness and weed control, and indigenous cultural awareness. There will also be a component of small grants to landholders and community groups for on-ground works in the estuary to protect coastal habitats and water quality. There are 4 landholders willing to do riparian works and LMA’s have been drawn up.Two off the 4 sites have been finished and looking good, one is under way and one I’m not sure about at present.

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority Funding

Nambucca Community Support and Capacity Building 2010-11
NVL has received $65,900 from the NRCMA for the Community Capacity Building contract for the Nambucca for 2009-10. This project covers the entire Nambucca Valley catchment. The Project will support existing landcare networks, engage the community in sustainable agriculture, deliver capacity building to the wider community, assist with implementation of NRCMA projects and provide a focal point for the community to obtain information about and assistance with NRM/sustainable agriculture issues. The project for the Nambucca will also increase the uptake of sustainable farming practices, particularly in the horticulture, dairy and oyster industries, within the project area, through the development of partnerships and projects with rural industries and individuals. Free Workshops are offered on a regular basis to the community on many NRM topics such as plant identification, weed control and ID, soils, riparian management, river restoration, bush regeneration, propogation and more. The Landcare office and shopfront is open 5 days/wk in High St Bowraville where educational materials and information can be accessed. The Community Support Officer is available to visit your property at request for advice.
Lindy Brown is back as our CMA contact, so all is well.
This year our funding is $74,420 (inc $9000 for running incentive program)

Project Outcomes:
The following Outcomes should be delivered within the project area, through implementation of the Project Work Plan
1. Increased community awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, NRM and the role of the NRCMA and Australian Government in sustainable agriculture and NRM
2. Community attitudes to sustainable agriculture issues and NRM influenced
3. Increased community skills and knowledge of sustainable agriculture practices and NRM
4. Increased community involvement, collaboration and partnerships in sustainable agriculture and NRM
5. Increased financial capacity of rural industries and landholders to undertake sustainable agriculture and NRM

River Reach Plans River Reach Plans (RRP)

River Reach Plans River Reach Plans (RRP) are the main mechanism to apply for funding; particularly in the fresh water reaches of the catchment. There are a number of parameters that the reach must be matched before the reach is eligible. Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and NVL will develop 3 River reach plans across the valley and will be posted on the website when completed.

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority- The Nambucca Valley Borefields

This project will place 1 bed control in the Nambucca River below the Bowraville Borefields. The project will be a tool for community education and deliver vital on-ground outputs. The project will address bed lowering and fish passage on the Nambucca River and Missabotti Creek and the consequential lowering of the aquifer that supplies the water for the whole of the Nambucca Valley. This reach of the Nambucca River and Bowraville aquifer is of enormous importance to the Valley. This is not only about bank erosion and fish passage; it is about improving river function and the ecological health of a shared asset. The relationship between river bed level and aquifer level has been established in the Nambucca and the cause of bed lowering determined. Construction of bed controls to maintain bed level have proved to be highly successful in the Nambucca over the past 10 years,
Bed controls have the dual affect of improving the health and management whilst improving the quantity and quality of the Nambucca Valley's water supply.
Northern Rivers CMA, Nambucca Shire Council, Department of Water and Energy, Fisheries and DECC will be partners in the project and will be reliant on the generosity of landowners.

Environmental Trust Funding State Government NSW

Estuary Health Officer 2008-2011

With funding of $100,000 over 3 years from Environmental Trust, NVL is managing an Estuary Health project which is a collaboration to improve water quality of the Nambucca River estuary oyster harvest zone. A partnership between Nambucca Shire Council, Oyster growers, NVL and DECC has been established to manage the project. The employed Estuary Health Officer is measuring the quality of the water entering the estuary after storm events in order to address problems impacting on estuary health and the local oyster industry. When these are identified, priority sub-catchments will be selected and funding for on-ground works supplied.

River Health Officer: Damon Telfer
Damon submitted a progress report we are in our last year of the project. The water samplers are in place in Gumma and Watt Cr as recommended by the project. Damon has also identified a wetland that will surpass the on ground proponent of the project. Again I must congratulate Damon on a sterling job.

Mid north coast Indian Myna Control Program 2009-2011

NVL, in partnership with Coffs and Bellingen Landcare and with Coffs, Bellingen and Nambucca Shire Councils and NPWS/DECC, have received $100,000 over 2 years to run an Indian Myna Control Program across the 3 shires. The Program involves research, raising the awareness of the community to the presence of these pest birds and training the community to trap and euthanase to control their numbers. The employed officer will also do some trapping in public areas, which is often where the birds will congregate. It will be important to get a good base of volunteers trained and enthusiastic to carry on the project after the funding ceases. If anyone wishes to be involved in this project or borrow a trap please contact the Indian Myna Control Officer on 0438 218 261. Visit the website www.indianmynaproject.com.au

The Indian Myna Control Project
Because of the outstanding success of the project, NVL applied to the Environmental Trust for a 3 year extension. The application was successful with NSW Environmental Trust funding another 3 years of control with a Project Officer 2 days/wk. NVL is proud of the on- ground achievements and community involvement that the project generated. NVL appreciates the financial support from the NSW government and excellent project coordination by Tien Pham.
Brief summary- from April 09 to Jan 2011:
No of trappers – 281
No of trapped Indian Mynas – 2127 (597 in Nambucca)
No of volunteers engaged as active participants – 1056
No of workshops – 29
No of volunteers trained – 752
In this 2nd year Tien is employed for 2 days/wk only, and is finding it difficult to fit all the work required in to those days.
The website has been much improved, with some funding from NPWS.