Bush to Beach. Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc. President s Report. Important Dates: In this issue. Bush to Beach News: ISSUE 50 Supported by:

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1 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc. ISSUE 50 Summer 2011 Bush to Beach News Important Dates: Korora Funbee: 20 th Nov 2011 Mullawarra Funbee: 3 rd Dec 2011 CHRL Executive Meeting: 7 th Dec 2011 CHRL General Meeting: 8 th Feb 2012 Bush Regeneration Training Session: Feb 2012 TBC In this issue Native Vegetation Regulation Review p.2 Funbees p.3 Durrunda Wajaar Update p.3 LandcareLearn p.4 NRCMA CAP Review p.4 New Resources p.5 $8m for bush regeneration projects p.6 Monitoring and Evaluation p.6 CHCC Environmental Levy p.7 Community Action Grants p.7 Carbon Farming Initiative p.8 CHCC Carbon Farming Opportunities p.8 Worksite Updates p.9 President s Report The new executive has hit the deck running, making sure the organisation continues to operate in a professional manner. We re field testing the draft Volunteer Manual that contains a new reporting system to see what the end users think of it before hopefully releasing it to all groups early next year. We will also embark on the preparation of a strategic plan for the organisation to set a direction and purpose for the future. The business is also tracking well against our budget. Before I go too much further, it was really fantastic that this year s Eileen Moody Award went to Steve Clemesha, just reward for 30-something years of dedication to environmental activism and stewardship on behalf of the Coffs Harbour community. It would also be remiss of me not to thank Jude and the team for again organising a great get-together at Park Beach. Thanks also to Ashley Love, a guest presenter, and all of you came along to help with the working bee and brought food along for everyone to share, and thanks to our master of BBQs for another stunning effort. Coffs Harbour City Council is undertaking a review of the Environmental Levy (EL) Program, so until that s been undertaken, we re unable to call for expressions of interest for the Landcare submission for ongoing funding into 2012/2013. Keep an eye out for any publicity about any proposed reforms to the current system, and make sure you comment on the review if possible, otherwise more EL funds may be consumed on council core business items and not be distributed to the community as has been the case since the EL s inception. As you know, the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority is undertaking a review of the Catchment Action Plan background information (CAP). They are compiling as to the achievements of the current CAP and working on the technical data required by the State and Federal Governments before embarking on conversations with the community. I am on the NRCMA Board and attended a great meeting here in Coffs with the Federal Government in October to develop a shared understanding of the Australian Government s requirements for regional plans (CAPs) to be climate ready and to share information on how CAP2 may be climate ready. We also held a joint meeting with the Border Rivers CMA to facilitate better co-operation with the CAP process along a joint border. 1 P a g e

2 The most important thing to remember is that the CAP is not the CMA s Plan it s the community s plan, so make sure you have your say. The opportunities paper, survey, and other CAP-related material including Frequently Asked Questions are available from the new CAP engagement website at As always, I ve been buzzing around everywhere. I ve recently been to Canberra to sit on the Caring for our Country (C4oC) National Moderation Panel for the latest round of Community Action Grants which the Minister will announce soon. I also know that there is funding and time for one more round before the current C4oC program ends in 2013, and the intention is to encourage groups who have thus far been unsuccessful in obtaining funding to reapply. It s expected the new round will be advertised early next year. I ve just spent the week at the 20th NSW Coastal Conference, which was held at Coolangatta this year. There was the usual mix of inspirational keynote coastal expert speakers from Australia and overseas to stimulate the mind, plus countless concurrent sessions with topics ranging from the scuttling of the HMAS Adelaide as an artificial reef and dive site to Assessing the Tsunami risk along the NSW Coast. The field trip I went on turned out to be a real wake-up call. Standing in front of the Kingscliff Surf Life Saving Club on what remains of its beach is a vivid reminder of the magnitude of issues facing coastal communities into the future, except this is happening here and now! community are working on solutions but each of them will require a huge investment (they hope of public funds). That really needs to be very carefully considered given the magnitude of the problem, when the nation is faced with the possibility of nearly 700,000 properties being inundated by On that happy note, it s time again to wish you all a very happy, safe Christmas holiday and a Happy New Landcare Year. Native Vegetation Regulation Review initial consultation at Grafton The NSW Government is undertaking a review of the regulation that underpins the Native Vegetation Act and is holding a series of public information sessions across the State to explain the review and to seek ideas on how the regulations could operate more effectively. A public information session will be held in Grafton on 25th November, 2011 at 9:30am at South Grafton Ex-Services Club, 2 Wharf St., South Grafton. It is being hosted by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA). The free information session is the first stage of consultation on the Regulation and those impacted by the regulations are invited to attend. Anyone interested in attending should contact Janelle Ellem from the NRCMA on or via janelle.ellem@cma.nsw.gov.au. The session will provide background about the native vegetation regulations, the scope of the review and what willl happen as the review progresses. The Tweed Council managed to place geotech bags to form a temporary protection wall about 3m in front of the club, otherwise who knows where the erosion would have stopped? The wall is about 3m high and disappears into about 2m of water, and there is no beach left at all, not even at low tide. The council and When: 25 th Nov 9:30am Services Club 12:00, South Grafton Ex- More info call Janelle Ellem NRCMA or via northern@cma.nsw.gov.au 2 P a g e

3 YOUTH SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED TO LANDCARE!* THE SKIES THE LIMIT FOR NEW DARRUNDA WAJAARR TEAM The upgrade of Coffs Harbour s Sealy Lookout viewing platform has been a high priority leading into this years Christmas holidays and is nearing the end of completion. This has been a huge reflection of the great work ethic and dedication shown by the new recruits of Coffs Harbour s Darrunda Wajaarr Green Team. Funbees (aka as Working Bees, but fun) organised by Project Officer Alastair Maple have continued throughout this year. These are part of the Northern Rivers CMA-funded project Keeping up the Good Work. I was keen to get some younger people involved in Landcare, said Alastair. It was suggested at a couple of state and regional Landcare forums, that in Coffs, we should recruit backpackers. In early October, Backpackers from the Aussitel Backpackers in Harbour Drive came down to Jetty Dunecare to help Jane, Desnee and Judy, with a beach clean-up and some lantana removal. It s good to do something for the nature when you re in a nice place like Coffs, said Steffen Ingram, from Germany. Steffen stayed several weeks and also did some blueberry picking. With the continued support shown from the NRCMA the Darrunda Wajaarr Team (meaning-repair Country Team) has been a driving force in implementing sustainable Natural Resource Management practices throughout the central area of the Northern Rivers region. They have been an integral part in the NRCMA s commitment in providing opportunities and engaging local Aboriginal communities to manage their Natural Resources. The new recruits are employed by the Coffs Harbours Local Aboriginal Land Council who has received a number of contracts through the Community Contracts from the NRCMA. Whilst being members of the Darrunda Wajaarr team, they are currently studying a Certificate III in Land and Conservation management including numerous qualifications throughout their employment. The group who helped were also delighted to have seen whales off the shore while working on the beach. For Jetty Dunecare stalwart Jane Ireland, there was an added bonus. She met a descendant of her ancestors, who immigrated to Australia from the same small village, and share the same family name of backpacker Elaine. A further Funbee was held on 5th November with Bundagen Landcarers, with others planned at Korora Bay and Mullawarra headland. * We got youth, even if we had to import them! -PO Alastair Darrunda Wajaarr Green Team Members Back left Tina Powell with team leader Lisa White, Front left Leo Mercy, Wayne Brown and Tim Kennedy 3 P a g e

4 LandcareLearnn 2011 LandcareLearn, a joint project of Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare and Bellinger Landcare, opened its gates to close to 2000 people at the Bellingen Showgrounds on the 3 rd of September. The event ran in conjunction with the Bellingen Energy Fair and delivered 8 short workshop sessions on topics ranging from farm planning to the eucalypt ID. There were also additional presentations and displays on Biochar, Indian Mynas, soil health and environmental weeds, as well as displays by WetlandCare, Community Gardens and the Biodynamic Farmers Association. All of the day s sessions were well attended with more than 160 people attending the structured workshop sessions. The LandcareLearn event was developed as a way of targeting part-time farmers or landholders who may find it difficult to attend a traditional full day workshop on a single topic. While the day took considerable time to prepare, the ability to spread this workload across two Landcare networks made the event achievable and enjoyable. Funding for LandcareLearn came from two separate Australian Government Caring for our Country Community Action Grants managed by Coffs Harbour and Bellinger Landcare. Next year s funding has already been secured and we are hoping that LandcareLearn will become a regular part of the local event calendar. As many of you are now aware, the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority has commenced planning for a new Catchment Action Plan (CAP) for the Northern Rivers region a strategic, whole of government, whole of community plan that will span The new plan will replace the existing CAP and continue to guide investment for regional natural resource management (NRM) activities. The review process is an important opportunity for the community to help set NRM priorities for the future. As an initial step in the process, an achievements and opportunities discussion paper has been prepared that highlights some of the regional achievements in NRM over the past five years since the introduction of the first CAP and opportunities for the new CAP. An accompanying survey invites those who have been involved in NRM during implementation of the existing CAP to provide feedback on the existing CAP and future directions for the new CAP. For more information go to: A second survey will soon be open to the public seeking insight into the environments that people value, the NRM issues they see as important, and what people think the major influences are that will shape our environment in the future. Other opportunities for community involvement in the development of the new CAP will be offered throughout the review process and will be advised through the NRCMAs web site, regular tweets, and monthly e-news publication. We are also still encouraging all stakeholders to register their interest in the process by ing CAPreview_northern@cma.nsw.gov.au Allan Coates from the Woolongbar TAFE discussing soil health and the benefits of soil aeration at LandcareLearn. Those wishing to provide plans, priorities, information and additional data or evidence to assist in ensuring the new CAP is based on best available information and is inclusive the broad range of environmental priorities within the region are encouraged to do so by contacting the Central Area Coordinator, Simon Proust on P a g e

5 NEW RESOURCES AUSTRALIAN DUNG BEETLE WEBSITE This website has been set up to promote sustainable grazing systems. Dung Beetles are a very important part of the Australian grazing economy and are at last being recognised by governments across the nation. The website has had support from the Lucyvale Landcare Group, The Springwater (Taroom) Beef/ landcare group and many other groups and individuals who support the environmental integrity of Australian Beef. Data and projects from every state of Australia are available on this key website as well as contacts to government based programs involving dung beetles. If you are a grazier who wants to know more about which livestock parasite chemicals (parasiticide) you could be using to do the least damage to your dung beetles, then go to the livestock tab on the website. Remember, all products which are excreted via the dung of cattle will have varying degrees of affect on dung beetles. For more information do your research at ALL THE DIRT SPRING EDITION In this edition we have some local insights into the recent carbon conference in Dubbo and the CFI. Theree has been a lot of activity in the publications area too, with a books and papers covering soil health and climate change, biochar and soil biology and a new book from The American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science, Soil management: building a stable base for agriculture. Also take a look into info on the web via Youtube and the OEH soils webpage. You can even contribute yourselves via wikipedia or panoramio. Happy reading to you all! Available from: /publications_ brochures.php GETTINGG THE DRIFT Want to know which pesticides could be sprayed near where you live, and what you can do about it? If you live in the NSW Northern Rivers, this booklet will help you find out. New, expanded edition published in September 2011 includes updated data, more crops, more case studiess and a new section called What are my rights? Available from: _edo.php MY NATIVE LOCAL GARDEN While this guide was developed for the far-north coast there is still a fair amount of overlap with local plant communities and species. The booklet challenges readers to consider the multitude of unique and attractive native plants when designing their garden. If you are unsure of whether a particular plant listed in the guide occurs locally talk to a reputable supplier of native tube-stock or call the CHRL office. Available for download from: df 5 P a g e

6 Monitoring why bother? $8 million for bush regeneration projects Community groups are invited to apply for funding for large-scale scale bush regeneration projects under a new Environmental Trust program. NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker said the $8 million Community Bush Regeneration Large Project Stream is offering grants of between $200,000 and $250,000 for projects which will run for up to six years. This new program fulfils our promise to provide additional funding to protect the natural environment and support local bush regeneration initiatives, These new grants will resource local community organisations, like Landcare and bushcare groups, to deliver and maintain projects which protect, restore and enhance the natural environment, Ms Parker said. The new funding ng stream has been established, and will be administered, under the Trust s existing Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Program. Applications are invited for projects that: Regenerate degraded natural areas, including bushland, riverbanks, degraded ded waterways and rare and endangered ecosystems. Improve the ongoing health and improve resilience of important ecosystems and habitats of rare and endangered flora and fauna. Improve ecological connectivity within and between natural areas. Improve the capacity apacity of, and resource local community groups to protect, restore and enhance the environment by strengthening local community organisations whose primary purpose is to undertake dertake environmental works in their local area. Applications for projects which include clude partnerships, collaboration, other funding sources and in-kind in contributions are encouraged. Applications close on 31 January For more details, go to: nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrus t.htm First of all, what is it? - Monitoring is the repeated collection and analysis of observations. It provides information about changes and achievements over time. We use monitoring to tell us: What we have done. How we have done it. Whether our method was successful. What we have achieved. What it cost. Monitoring allows us to learn about the effectiveness of our actions and it can be used to support funding applications and project designs. There are three levels of investigation that can be applied to monitoring Standard, Advanced and Research, and they require different levels of skills and time applied to the techniques. All levels include mapping, the establishment of photo points, observational ervational data and recording of weed control or revegetation work and monitoring the responses to those. For the volunteer landcarer we would like to achieve a basic level of annual monitoring for each work site. This should include: A base map (aerial photograph supplied by CHRL) Photo points for each worksite or each zone within a worksite. Some observational data of weed / native plant density. So, if you would like to know, for instance, if you should bother to pull out all these farmers friends ends plants, you could leave them within your monitoring plot and observe over time, if they actually inhibit the (cont.. cont..) 6 Page

7 regeneration within the plot. If you find that they don t, you can save yourself a lot of time. When you chose a photo point, keep in i mind that you may lose the view of the photograph when the trees grow tall. And it is good practice to include a reference point into you photo a tree in one part of the picture, a sign or a seat which will stay there. As you take a series of photos over ov time, the changes that occur are in reference to the constant and are easy to observe. The observational plot shall be the same for each occasion for monitoring. This is chosen as representative of the area you are working in. It is permanently marked with ith stakes or similar and is either rectangular, (2 x 20m) or round (5 m radius). At the same time of every year, the vegetation within the plot is observed in terms of the percentage of the area taken up by the particular species that you choose to observe. e. This could be weeds and/or natives. If you are interested in starting to monitor your work site, call into the Landcare office and pick up some instructions or phone up to have them sent to you. Pia Dollmann COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS ANNOUNCED The Australian Government has approved 365 projects worth $7 million through the Caring for our Country Community Action Grants program to support community groups to sustainably manage and protect our environment and natural resources. Coffs Harbour was well represented among these projects with a total of 5 projects funded within the LGA. These included: Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc. CHCC Environmental Levy During November and December we would normally be asking for groups to submit Expressions of Interest for inclusion in the CHRL CHCC Environmental Levy application. The process has been delayed this year due to the review of the Environment Levy that council is currently undertaking. undertaking This review aims to re-assess assess the programs aims, goals and objectives and should be completed by late 2011 or early Although this review will delay the call for submissions groups should still be thinking about potential projects on their t site. Developing a project plan in advance will increase your likelihood of securing funding and will allow your groups to submit an application to other funding programs that may arise in the meantime. If you would like to discuss your plans please call the CHRL office on Review the popular wee weeds booklet "Attack of The Killer Weeds" & produce a new publication. Arrawarra Littoral Rainforest and Dunal Revegetation project. Coffs Coast Aboriginal NRM Network Group Group. Establishing Community Awareness Aboriginal Cultural Values to NRM. Orara Valley lley Committee. RiverCare Groups Management Orara Valley Primary Schools Regeneration & Bush Tucker Gardens Gardens. Bush Cochrans Pool Urumbilum RiverCare Group Inc Inc. Rehabilitating the West Bank of the Two Bridges Reserve. This funding represents an investment of $87,000 in NRM works within the Coffs Harbour region. Congratulations to everyone who put in applications. More details on the funded projects is available at: of 7 Page

8 Extension and Outreach ($64 million) Carbon Farming The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) is a carbon offsets scheme that will enable farmers and other land managers to access carbon markets. Farmers and land managers will be able to generate carbon credits for taking action to reduce emissions and store tore carbon. These credits can be sold to other businesses and individuals wanting to offset their carbon pollution. The Carbon Farming Futures program complements the CFI by funding research, development and on-ground ground demonstration of innovative ways of reducing emissions and storing carbon while improving farm sustainability. The program will also support extension and outreach activities to help farmers and land managers benefit from carbon farming. Extending the benefits of carbon farming The Carbon Farming Futures program has four components, which will be delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Filling the Research Gap ($201 million) The government will invest in new and innovative ways for Australian land managers to reduce emissions or store carbon. This will include funding to engage scientists and independent experts to investigate ways of improving soil carbon. Converting research rch into methodologies ($20 million) This research will be converted into estimation methodologies for use in the CFI. This will include the development of practical, low cost estimation and reporting tools for farmers and land managers that store or reduce ce carbon across various landscapes and production zones. The program will enable information and support to be provided directly to land managers to help them integrate emissions abatement and carbon management into land and farm planning. The program will fund additional extension officers. Funding will also be available for a range of extension and outreach activities, including workshops and field days, to be delivered through existing extension networks across Australia. Action on the Ground ($99 million) New research findings will be tested and demonstrated on-farm, farm, ensuring that laboratory results can be replicated in real farming situations. Regional land managers and research, industry and farming organisations ons will be able to access grants to implement innovative management practices to reduce emissions and store carbon, including demonstrating new ways of increasing soil carbon. This measure includes support for conservation tillage farming. Farmers will be e able to claim a 15 per cent refundable tax offset for new eligible conservation tillage equipment installed and ready for use between 1 July 2012 and 30 June Participants in the scheme will have to assist in soil carbon research. Where does Landc Landcare fit in? These programs provide a range of opportunities for Landcare groups and landholders landholders. In particular projects that focus on implementing sustainable agricultural practices, or developing and delivering workshops and field days aimed at improvin improving carbon management on farm will most likely fit under these new programs. In effect this is just an extension of what we already do. There will also be opportunities for landholders to receive funding for biodiversity focused carbon sequestration projects. ts. In the Coffs Harbour LGA landholders are also likely to benefit for the Carbon Farming Opportunities Project being developed by Coffs Harbour City Council, in collaboration with the NRCMA and Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare. Although little information tion is currently available on the nuts and bolts of these programs these will develop rapidly over the coming months. Watch this space.. For more information go to: 8 Page

9 Worksite orksite Updates Arrawarra Coastcare Site:: Volunteers working monthly on littoral rainforest at the southern end of Corindi Beach Bakker Drive: Working one Saturday a month removing Privet and Camphor from the reserve at the end of Bakker Drive. Contact Geoff Cohen on for more information. Bundagen Landcare: A new sub-group group has just started in the Bundageree village who will be focusing on revegetating the creek that passes through the village. Crystal Waters Landcare Site: Volunteers are now working working with National Parks in Coffs Coast Regional Park at Sapphire maintaining the dunes and the headland White Bluff. On site 1st Sunday of the month. Contact: Tim and Jennie Eastern Dorrigo Landcare Site: The group continues to work on riparian zones, both on public & private land. The group will assist local landowners who were successful in gaining funds from CMA. Friends of Coffs Creek: Meet fortnightly on Saturdays & weekly on Mondays. Ph Elisabeth Ed Edwards for more information Jetty Dunecare Group Inc: Are continuing their bush regeneration work in the Jetty area. Volunteers meet Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7.30am. Ph Jane Ireland for more information Karangi Landcare Group: Are meeting monthly to weed areas around the Cemetery.Contact: Ron Smith, Karangi Public School: Karangi School student continue to work along Karangi creek each fortnight. Korora Basin Landcare Site: Have taken on new volunteers and are meeting meeting monthly, contact Kris Hely, Mullawarra Dunecare Site: Meeting on the last Saturday of the month. Contact Roger Jennings, Nana Glen Landcare Group: Have commenced work on a NRCMA bio-grants bio grants project in conjunction with Nana Glen School Park Beach Dunecare Site: Volunteers work individually on a regular basis to remove noxious and environmental weeds. Safety Beach Dunecare Site: The group is having monthly working bees and working closely with National Parks staff. Sapphire Reserve Landcare Group: A new group just starting out more to come. Sawtell Community Bushcare: A couple of new members have joined this site. The Council is hoping the volunteers will assist with the approved works in the adopted Dolmans Point Action Plan. Sawtell Dunecare: Continue to remove weeds, plant local natives & remove man man-made rubbish from the beach. Serenity Landcare: Volunteers are working along Serenity Beach and Look at me now Headland. Woolgoolga Main Beach Dunecare: Are continuing their good work with working bees carried out every Monday and Wednesday from 8am to 12 on the dunes. Woolgoolga Back Beach Dunecare: Working bees are held on the second Sunday of each month, 8 811am, meeting at the back beach picnic area at the end of High St. Ph: Alex Alex Groot, Woolgoolga High School: Another new group that are in the process of forming more news to come soon. Please note: The information about dates for group activities is sourced from your membership & group activities ies forms, if it is not correct please let CHRL know, phone or chrl@westnet.com.au 9 Page

10 10 P a g e Contacts Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc Suites 1-3/ West High St PO Box 1730 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 Phone: Fax: chrl@westnet.com.au CHRL President: Rod McKelvey CHRL CSO: Craig Stehn (Tue Fri) CHRL Accounts & Admin: Jude Turner (Mon, Wed & Thurs) Aboriginal Extension Project Officer: Jay Skinner Northern Rivers CMA: Coffs Harbour City Council, Recreational Services Operational Technical Officer: Jeff Holmes OEH Coffs Coast Regional Park: David Nalder Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc. Bush to Beach News Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc. PO Box 1730, Coffs Harbour, 2450 POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA