HiCUB helped Guyra, Uralla and Walcha Shire Councils apply for funding through the grant program, and all three applications were successful. This funding was made available:

• to allow for the protection, revegetation and regeneration of large areas of linear reserves across the State;
• to improve environmental condition and enhance ecological corridors in NSW;
• to provide funds to regional councils and help regional economies; and
• to add value to a considerable investment already made by the Environmental Trust which funded councils to prepare RVMPs in 2005.

Project descriptions:

Guyra The road corridor between Tingha and Ebor (via Guyra) on the Northern Tablelands is a wildlife corridor of national significance as it has nearly continuous vegetation and crosses a major altitudinal and rainfall gradient making it important for climate change adaptation. The vegetation on the roadside is threatened by invasive exotic grasses including Coolatai grass, Grader Grass and African Love-grass. This project will control these weeds in Endangered Ecological Communities on the road and install signage to assist Guyra Shire Council Staff better manage the biodiversity values of this corridor.

Uralla ’The Golden Mile’ will enhance and improve the biodiversity value of the vegetation reserve on the junction of Linfield – Enmore road. A recognised reserve of high conservation value due to the presence of the critically endangered New England Peppermint Grassy Woodland (EPBC 1999). Partnering with Landcare, and surrounding land managers (including land owners) the project will identify the extent of the community and aims to enhance, protect and preserve its remnants within the reserve and on adjacent land.

Walcha The Apsley River divides the town of Walcha in half. On both sides of the river are bushland remnants, which are habitat for koalas, other arboreal mammals, woodland birds and plants. This project will use existing roadsides and road reserves to create a corridor to link these urban remnants, and to link the river corridor with these bushland remnants. The project will allow easy movement for fauna across the eastern boundary of the town and protect areas of Endangered Ecological Communities.

The Morning

8:00am Namoi CMA and SNELC Ltd will meet landholders and interested

parties at the Bendemeer Tourist Park, 19 Vannah Street Bendemeer NSW

2355.  Join us for a cooked brekky and meet local botanists Dorothy

Bell and Nic Cobcroft for meet and greet. Introductions on local area

from all participants and tell of your interest and observations of

the area.

8:40 Group travel to sites for Field Observations hosted by Botanists.

Cover topics including what characterises a New England Upland

Wetland, and defining features. Why are they important and why are

they endangered? Why is the condition of them important? What can be

done to enhance and protect upland wetlands, and how do we measure our

success?

11:00am Namoi CMA and SNELC to discuss the funding program.

11:30am Attendee surveys completed and Field Excursion concludes.

Bookings Essential.

Phone SNELC on 02 6772 9123.

• Apsley River and Walcha Woodlands project riparian engineering works and revegetation,
• Urandangie Creek earthworks and revegetation,
• Dumaresq Ck rock revetment and revegetation,
• Uralla Ck – Mt Mutton rock flume and revegetation,
• Interpretive signage for urban bushland sites,
• Ebor town common revegetation,
• South Guyra TSR bush regeneration and blackberry control,
• Uralla Ck –The Glen gully erosion control works,
• Uralla Ck – woody weed removal,
• Apsley River and Walcha Woodlands project blackberry control, and
• Armidale woodlands broom, wormwood and blackberry control.

This is following up on the first survey, and is extremely important for us to determine the impact of our project over the past seven months. Share with anyone you know in Armidale, Uralla, Walcha or Guyra!