Improving Natural Resource Values through Revegetation

Watershed received $24,700 from the NHT Envirofund for this project which was carried out on a number of properties throughout the Mudgee/Rylstone region. The aim of the project was to increase biodiversity, provide habitat for native animals and shelter for stock. 30% of the plantings were used to enhance completed revegetation projects by replacing plants that were lost in the 2002 drought. The remainder was used to increase the area of vegetation corridors existing on the properties of the landholders. Approximately 10,000 native grasses, shrubs and trees from local seed were planted. In total 10 kms of fencing was erected to protect the plantings. A Field Day was held at Munghorn Nature Reserve to teach species identification and the importance of native vegetation

Habitat Improvement and Riparian Restoration on the Cudgegong River

Watershed applied for this Envirofund Grant on behalf of the Cudgegong Catchment Committee. [The Cudgegong Catchment Committee (CCC) is a 355 Committee of Council that has been carrying out a large willow control project on the Cudgegong River.] The Willow Control Project aims to improve and enhance riparian biodiversity and habitat through revegetation and willow eradication through stem injection on the Cudgegong River. The wider project aims include to improve water quality, improve long term management of the riparian zone, and increase wider community awareness. The $27,141 (GST excl) grant provided funds for: - Stem injection of Willow species along a 6 km stretch of the Cudgegong; - Revegetation with native species along the Cudgegong River. The revegetation process, using local seed collected from native remnants, involved planting1890 trees as well as vastly increasing the severely depleted shrub component of the ecosystem by planting 4910 understorey species; and - 5km of fencing along the Cudgegong River, to provide protection of the river and revegetation works from stock.

Restoration and Willow Management on Lawson's Creek

This was another grant that Watershed applied for on behalf of the Cudgegong Catchment Committee. $14588 was obtained from Envirofund, with another $6800 contributed by MWRC for stem injection. This project aims to improve and enhance riparian biodiversity and habitat through revegetation and willow eradication along a 14 km stretch of Lawsons Creek. In total 3300 trees and shrubs were planted (grown from local seed collected from nearby remnants) and 4 kms of fencing erected to protect the riparian habitat corridor. This should result in improved water quality, native vegetation connectivity and biodiversity, as well as the prevention of accelerated stream bank erosion and improved long term management of the riparian zone, and increased wider community awareness.

Other completed projects:

• 04/05 NLP – Improved Grazing Management for Salinity and Erosion Control ($278 050)
• 05/06 Environmental Trust - Creating Environmental Capacity in the Cudgegong (Lawson Creek) ($100 100)
• 2006 Community Water Grant Round 2 – Restoration & Revegetation along Redbank Creek ($12 272)
• 2007 Community Water Grant Round 3 – Restabilising Redbank/Oakey Creeks ($49 320)
• 2007 Central West CMA Round 5 – Best Practice Environmental Management in the Upper Catchment ($357 673)
• 08/09 Central West CMA – Supporting Landcare Staff Program ($57 959)
• 08/09 Central West CMA – Small Grants for Community Groups ($1 595), purchased a microscope for Microscope Club