7.4 Biodiversity Actions

4.01 Address 3 priority sites and/or re-connect 70 km of fish passage by removing or re-designing barriers identified in the audit by Fisheries.

Issues addressed Biodiversity loss

Priority areas Priorities in the estuary: barriers on main stem and tributaries of the Manning with proximity to the estuary Priority freshwater river subcatchments: Bretti Trail Road causeway on the Barnard River; Hicks Lane on the Cooplacurripa River; Duffys Forest Road and Cells River Road on Rowleys River

Lead agency MidCoast Council in partnership with DPI - Fisheries

4.02 Develop and implement cross-tenure integrated pest and weed control plans to protect priority natural assets within the Manning River and its catchment.

Issues addressed Biodiversity loss; loss and degradation of riparian vegetation

Lead agency Hunter Local Land Services (lead) with supporting agencies MCC, NPWS, Forestry Corporation

4.03 Implement recommendations of the Manning Catchment Refugia Study 2021, working in partnership with private landholders to assess, protect, restore and monitor hydrological refugia in 10 priority reaches in priority subcatchments.

Issues addressed Biodiversity loss

Priority areas Dingo Creek, Barnard River, Nowendoc

Lead agency MidCoast Council with support from MC2T Landcare and Manning River Turtle Steering Group.

THEME 5: ABORIGINAL CUSTODIANSHIP

Acknowledge and support Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual, social, customary and economic connection to the Manning River Catchment and its Estuary

“ Our country is bound by where the leaves touch the water from the mountains to the sea. We rely on the natural flow of the fresh to the salt for rebirth of all species and to keep the system clean.”

Joedie Lawler, CEO Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member ECMP Reference Group

Photo Credit Brett Dolson