Noxious Weeds Management Field Day - Hassall Park, O'Connell

The Upper Macquarie County Council, Oberon Council and Environment & Waterways Alliance will be hosting a Noxious Weeds Field Day for land owners and managers at Hassall Park O’Connell (on the Oberon side of the Fish River Bridge) on Friday 22 July 2016 at 10.30 am.

The purpose of the field day is to help land managers identify and control noxious weeds that occur in the Oberon and Bathurst areas with a particular focus on Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana) a Weed of National Significance.  Chilean Needle Grass is a highly invasive plant.  Infestations have been identified in both sown pastures and native grass lands within the Fish River Catchment area particularly along waterways.

Heavy infestations of Chilean needle grass can decrease productivity of pastures by as much as 50% during summer. It also causes injury to stock and downgrades wool, skins and hides with its long sharp seeds.

Seeds of Chilean Needle Grass can be spread along roadsides and other grassy areas by use of mowing and earth moving equipment, livestock, vehicles and floodwaters.

Chemical application alone will not control Chilean Needle Grass.  Oberon Council has established a demonstration control site at Hassall Park, O'Connell using a combination of chemical spraying, deep mulching and revegetation.  The field day will provide land holders with information about the importance of site specific strategies and management practices relevant to controlling this weed in pastures that may include the use of crop rotations, pasture sowing, herbicide control and grazing management.

Identification of Chilean Needle Grass is not easy as it is often confused with other Nassella species and native spear grasses.  Land managers need to know how to identify it and take prompt action if it is discovered.

The field day will also provide local land managers with the opportunity to discuss the identification and management of other noxious weeds including willows over morning tea with staff from the Upper Macquarie County Council.

For more information about the field day please contact Gillian Salmon at Oberon Council on 6329 8145or for information regarding Chilean Needle Grass contact Jill O’Grady - Weeds Officer UMCC on 0437 766 626.

This Noxious Weeds Field Day is part of the Fish River Rehabilitation project supported by Central Tablelands Local Land Services and the Environment & Waterways Alliance.

Chainsaws Assisting in Superb Parrot Recovery

The sound of chainsaws reverberating around the region is often bad news for many of our threatened species, but over the next month the roar of chainsaws tearing into timber will be the sound of good news for Superb Parrots.

Central Tablelands Local Land Services has partnered with the Environment & Waterways Alliance to engage an arborist to create around 200 hollows in standing trees across our region.  This is being done using the hollow augmentation technique, a method where hollows are cut into standing trees to create habitat.

The Project Support Officer for the Environment & Waterways Alliance, Mr Mick Callan, says that this technique creates a much more natural hollow structure than traditional nest boxes.

“What we see with nest boxes is that many species of hollow dependent fauna choose not to use them for a variety of reasons.  The hollow augmentation technique provides a much more natural hollow structure for hollow users with better insulative properties, a more natural appearance and the absence of unnatural square edges and manufactured materials not found in natural hollows.”

The hollow augmentation technique was first introduced to this region in April at a Hollows for Habitat Forum held in Orange.  Prior to this event the options for creating habitat for animals that require hollows for breeding or shelter was the installation of nest boxes or simply waiting for hollows to form naturally.

“It takes around 100 years for a small hollow to form naturally in our woodland communities and around 200 to 300 years for large hollows to develop that can support large animals such as cockatoos and owls” explained Mr Callan.

“Due to historic land clearing and in many cases the absence of old, mature trees in our landscape we are witnessing a decline in the numbers and distribution of many hollow dependent species.  Creating these hollows utilising the hollow augmentation technique allows us to create a solution to habitat loss in the medium to long term while revegetation plantings mature and begin to generate hollows naturally.”

The Superb Parrot project will see hollows created in the Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra and Orange Local Government Areas with all of these Councils partnering in the project.  In coming weeks these Councils, as well as Local Land Services offices across the region, will be distributing educational materials relating to the Superb Parrot including stickers and brochures.

Additionally, revegetation works will be happening with trees being planted across the project region in the aim of creating habitat in the long term. 

“Trees selected for this project are known hollow bearing species that are used by the Superb Parrot” said Land Services Officer, Miss Clare Kerr of Central Tablelands Local Land Services.

“As the project manager for the Planning for Climate Change project at Central Tablelands Local Land Services, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of these trees being planted in current areas of Superb Parrot distribution, but also to the east of their current range to account for climate change projections over the period in which these trees will mature.”

This project is supported by the NSW Government through their Catchment Action Program and is addressing listed threats to the Superb Parrot including:

·        Loss of living and dead hollow bearing trees

·        Loss of breeding and foraging habitat

·        Poor regeneration of nesting trees and food resources

·        Feeding on grain spills and subsequently being struck by vehicles

If you have seen Superb Parrots in your area and would like to become involved in a Citizen Science project, please visit the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage website: https://engage.environment.nsw.gov.au/superb-parrot

Illegal Firewood Collecting on Travelling Stock Reserves Under the Spotlight

Central West Local Land Services is giving people notice that they are closely monitoring travelling stock reserves (TSRs) for illegal firewood collection.

Fines of up to $5,500 can apply to people caught carrying out illegal activity on TSRs under the Local Land Services Act 2013.

People using TSRs legally for such things as bushwalking and birdwatching are also being encouraged to report any suspicious activity.

Local Land Services is responsible for maintaining these public assets and protecting them from illegal activities, Central West Local Land Services Team Leader Peta Holcombe said.

“We are closely watching a number of TSRs in our region and will be taking legal action against anyone found removing firewood, dumping rubbish and dirt bike riding,” Ms Holcombe said.

Local Land Services is using surveillance cameras, staff inspections and public reports to identify and fine offenders.

“TSRs have social, grazing, ecological and cultural heritage value and can be easily damaged through removing timber and other illegal activities.”

People can report any illegal activity to Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or their local police station.

“We encourage everyone to report suspicious behaviour on TSRs and to record as much detail as possible," Ms Holcombe said.

“Information such as registration numbers, descriptions, locations and dates will help us fine those responsible.

“We encourage all users of TSRs to take steps to protect these valuable public assets.”

Special use permits are available from your Local Land Services Office for a range of non-destructive recreational activities. Camping on TSRs is prohibited at all times unless you are with travelling stock.

People can collect firewood from selected state forests with a firewood permit. For more information, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au

For more information on TSRs visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 795 299.