Over 120 hectares of sensitive riparian land now has a bright future thanks to the Central Tablelands Local Land Services Ecosystem Improvement project. Riparian lands in the Central Tablelands are critical for the movement of wildlife, improvement of water quality and health of waterways.
Funded by the National Landcare Programme and Catchment Action NSW, the project works closely with landholders on high agricultural value land to create continuous tracts of native vegetation for species habitat and dispersal. Land managers are given the resources to improve their management of riparian areas on their properties. This includes financial and technical support to undertake activities such as restoring understory diversity and protecting waterways by managing the impact of grazing, pest animals and invasive weeds.
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- Reach of Heylands Creek protected by Ecosystem Improvement project
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- Reach of the Turon River protected under the Ecosystem Improvment project
Land managers are given priority based on the condition of riparian zones and streams (including geomorphology, aquatic habitat, and riparian condition) on their property, with funding calculated for a site based on an environmental assessment carried out by project officers.
To date, the Ecosystem Improvement project has
- protected 120 ha of riparian land with a 10 year contract to ensure improved land management;
- completed 20km of fencing to manage stock access, thereby reducing impact on banks and water quality;
- constructed 10 alternative water points to provide off-stream watering of stock;
- protected 18km of creeks and rivers under contract; and
- ensured pests and weeds will be managed under contract, reducing weed impact in downstream areas.
Additional information:
http://centraltablelands.lls.nsw.gov.au/
Project partners/stakeholders:
Central Tablelands Local Land Services
NSW Fisheries
For more information, please contact:
Bruce Christie
Senior Land Services Officer
(02) 6378 1712 or 0429 986434
bruce.j.christie@lls.nsw.gov.au
