Demonstrations Site – Gully Restoration

This site is all about restoring the vegetation in a steep gully that runs through a grazing property in the upper catchment of Flynn’s Creek and contains some remnant vegetation. The steep gully land has relatively low productivity; given its difficulty to manage and access it is also an area of the property that is vulnerable to erosion and weed infestations.  Fencing to exclude stock and re-vegetation of the cleared areas will have multiple environmental benefits and provide a valuable habitat link for scattered patches of remnant forest. The total area involves 1.3 ha and 2000 indigenous tube-stock plants are being used for the re-vegetation. It is anticipated that stock exclusion will also allow natural regeneration of plants from the pockets of remaining vegetation contained in the gully as well as from the newly planted species when they are established enough to start reproducing. Other native species will also be re-introduced to the site via movement of seed and spores.  There is a narrow stock crossing across the site where access can be gained to the other side of the gully; this will allow access for maintenance of the boundary fence-line and for weed control.

Demonstration Site – Dam/Wetland Restoration.

Two farm dams on this property are being fenced out and restored as wetland habitats.  Some supplementary planting of tube-stock will occur to increase plant diversity and the exclusion of stock should also enable remnant indigenous species present on the site to reproduce. The project aims to provide improved water quality and valuable habitat for local frogs and waterbirds. It will also provide valuable cover for other local fauna moving from the surrounding forest to drink in the sheltered environment.  A link to adjoining areas of native forest will also be incorporated into the project, to encourage and allow safe movement of species as well as being of benefit for the stock and pastures on the property by acting as a shelterbelt, providing shade and filtering the winds.

This dam is being converted into valuable habitat by fencing out stock and allowing natural regneration with carefully chosen supplementary indigneous plants species to achieve a range of benefits for wildife and water quality.

This is the second dam on this property being improved for its wildlife habitat. It has had some recent repair work and there is less topsoil for new plants to grow in, but the long term aim is to also improve its habitat value.

Both wetland restoration sites willl link to the adjoining forest area via a corridor that will be established by a mixture of fencing out existing remnant vegetation and replanting. This will provide a safe passage for wildlife looking to use the wetland habitat as well as act as a shelterbelt, protecting livestock from the weather.

Demonstration Site – Landslip

Landslip demonstration site – dead burnt trees and high rainfall have contributed to a significant soil erosion event.

As part of this community environmental action project we are setting up demonstation sites to highlight some best practice action that community members can make. This project example involves stabilising a significant Landslip, which occurred on an area of steep grazing land, the only woody vegetation on the site was some large wattle trees that were killed in the fires and have not regenerated.  The slip occurred after some heavy winter rain fell on the fire damage landscape and the mass movement of soil move the landholder’s boundary fence out of alignment and caused the temporary closure of the adjacent road. Plantings of 1200 carefully selected native species and fencing of the site to exclude stock are actions taken to rehabilitate the site and stop further slippage and mass movement of the soil.

Landslip after planting – this landslip also occured on similar volcanic red soil, close to the other site. The picture was taken soon after it was fenced and planted out.