Land Manager Grants Program

LAND MANAGER GRANTS PROGRAM

August 2013

A grants program open to public land managers was delivered in the Cradle Coast region to engage communities in natural resource management projects through on-ground works, training and events.

Councils and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service were invited to apply for coastal and biodiversity funds and deliver innovative projects involving local communities. The grants were awarded by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Governmentâ€&#x;s Caring for our Country initiative.

INTRODUCTION Between 2011 to 2013, Cradle Coast NRM trialled a pilot project that provided funding through Land Manager Community Partnership Grants for 18 coastal and biodiversity projects.

Spreyton Primary School students plant at Fonterra, Spreyton with Phil Murray, Devonport City Council

Seven Councils and five Parks and Wildlife field centres and offices were successful in receiving funds totalling $67,902.

1,475 people (593 adults and 874 students) took part in 66 activities.

Projects included Stanley and King Island penguin protection and habitat management; community education, bird workshop and weed management at Sykes Sanctuary; improving biodiversity at Cooee Creek; burrowing crayfish education at Clayton Reserve; protecting coastal vegetation at Bicentennial Park; planting understorey species at Fonterra; community participation in Inglis River rehabilitation and many others.

3,380 native species were planted, 18 hectares of weeds controlled, plus there was the

installation of interpretation signs and the production of brochures, banners and postcards.

Participating councils were Burnie, Central Coast, Devonport, Kentish, King Island, Waratah Wynyard and West Coast. PWS field centres and offices that received project funds were Arthur River, Hobart, King Island, Stanley and Ulverstone.

The program provided public land managers with the incentive to rehabilitate, restore and protect priority areas and work with local communities to increase knowledge and skills.

This proved to be a collaborative approach that generated a very successful outcome.

INFORMATION LAND MANAGER GRANTS

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LAND MANAGER GRANTS PROGRAM

CASE STUDY Penguin Habitat Project Stanley Nut—$4,000 funded to the Parks and Wildlife Service The slopes of the Nut State Reserve in Stanley are home to a Little penguin colony. The area required rehabilitation with native plantings to provide more natural nesting sites at this special location.

Under the guidance of the Stanley Penguin Management Plan, the Parks and Wildlife Service enlisted the help of the Stanley Primary School to rejuvenate the area.

The Little penguins have been known to build burrows in private gardens adjacent to the Reserve and under near-by buildings. To encourage a happy co-existence the project enlisted the help of students from the Stanley Primary School to construct10 artificial nesting burrows and help with the plantings.

A Discovery Ranger provided information to students about Little penguins. A brochure was developed to share penguin facts and tips on living near penguins, having penguins nesting in gardens and on viewing penguins.

To raise awareness, free plants were given away to locals at an open day at the Stanley Nut. Information on creating appealing nesting alternatives for the Little penguins and the native plants they preferred was provided to the community.

Parks and Wildlife Rangers at Stanley hope to work with the school again next year to do some revegetation works on top of the Stanley Nut.

“The children have taken a real sense of ownership of the site now and come down regularly to see how their trees are going”. Tina Alderson, Parks and Reserves Manager, PWS

Top: Stanley Primary School and Parks & Wildlife Service—Stanley Nut Centre: Penguin Burrow Bottom: Stanley Primary School Students planting at Stanley Nut

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INFORMATION SHEET

CASE STUDY

Volunteers hard at work clearing weeds. Photo Ana Pimenta

King Island Wharf Road Bush Restoration—$3,918 funded to the King Island Council.

in identification of coastal weeds and rehabilitation using native species. The area has now been revegetated with 160 local provenance plants, the planning for which was undertaken with the community volunteers‟ help.

The King Island Wharf Road Bush Restoration project has made significant progress towards ridding the area of Boxthorn.

Near the Currie Wharf and close to the centre of town, this latest project site on Wharf Road was infested with large-thorned African Boxthorn bushes and Coprosma (Mirror Bush).

In the early days of settlement, Boxthorn was commonly used in Tasmania as a hedge plant to create a natural and effective `boundary fence.‟ Boxthorn is a native species of South Africa, is an aggressive invader and is a Weed of National Significance.

Boxthorn seeds can be easily distributed by birds, animals and garden clippings, making it a particularly persistent weed on the Island.

Three field days were held to improve the community‟s skills and knowledge

An additional $1000 was contributed by the King Island Council to ensure that a successful outcome was achieved.

Project coordinator Eve Woolmore said those who attended the first field day were keen to continue to work on the site to eventually create a recreational space in the adjacent gully.

Check first: Little penguins like to burrow under Boxthorn bushes, safe from canine and feline predators, so check for signs of penguins (eg: scats and signs of activity) before clearing.

“This is the best project I’ve been involved in regards to community participation, interest, being visible to the community and getting feedback.” Eve Woolmore, Project Coordinator, King Island NRM Group

CASE STUDY Zeehan Cemetery Rejuvenation— $4,000 funded to the West Coast Council This project produced two diverse outcomes: looking after our region‟s pioneer heritage and the environment.

The Zeehan cemetery is an important historical link to the pioneers of the West Coast and features elaborate, carved huon pine and simple headstones and wrought iron grave fences.

Historical records of the West Coast pioneers are sought by descendants from all around Australia.

Owing to its remote location, the cemetery had become overgrown with weeds, including some impenetrable gorse bushes, and had fallen into neglect.

away unexpectedly in March.

He was honoured in a community memorial service at the site.

The gorse was controlled, the surrounding area replanted to enhance the historical and natural values of the site. The community learnt more about weeds and native plants.

Cr Allen Rose was the driver of the Pioneer Cemetery rejuvenation project within the Zeehan community before he passed

Pioneer graves at the Zeehan Cemetery. Photo: Anna Wind

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LAND MANAGER GRANTS PROGRAM

CASE STUDY Burrowing Crayfish Community Education— $3,650 funded to the Devonport City Council A planned road upgrade in Spreyton uncovered threatened burrowing crayfish directly in the path of earthworks.

The Devonport City Council devised a plan to carefully relocate over 200 of the endangered crayfish to the newly created Clayton Reserve.

The Reserve was dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Central North Burrowing Crayfish, Engaeus granulatus. A number of crayfish were already living along the creek and in soaks.

This species can only be found in the Devonport, Latrobe and Kentish municipalities and grows to 75-100mm long. All species build characteristic „chimneys‟ from mud.

Cradle Coast NRM funded interpretation signs, a Community Field Day and transport for students to attend educational activities at the site.

Seventy-three community members, including adjacent property owners turned out to see the works . Students learnt about the biology and habitat needs of burrowing crayfish from DPIPWE zoologists and local expert Joanna Lyall who show-cased a live burrowing crayfish.

Friends of Don Reserve, Rotary, Mersey Estuary Group, Coca Cola Amatil, Mission Australia, Scouts and primary school‟s in Devonport, East Devonport and Hillcrest all participated in education and hands-on planting activities to learn about burrowing crayfish.

Council introduced an environmentally responsible approach to the management of this threatened species and a unique “translocation” process. This kind of project is a first for Local government and a credit to Council, Phil Murray and the Project Management Team.

Below is the species: Engaeus granulatus

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATI ON To view the list of successful Land Manager Grants, go to the Cradle Coast NRM website: www.cradlecoastnrm.com/Our Work

A C K N O WL E D G E M E N T Thank you to the following Land Managers for their support in the delivery of these projects.

PO Box 338 1-3 Spring Street Burnie Tasmania 7320

These projects were supported by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) through funding from the Australian Governmentâ€&#x;s Caring for our Country.

Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: nrm@cradlecoast.com www.cradlecoastnrm.com.