Discovering restoration at rare sandhill woodlands near Deniliquin

The riverine sandhills of the Deniliquin district are ancient landforms shaped by wind and water over thousands of years. Despite their sandy appearance, they support rich and highly specialised woodland and shrubland communities and are recognised as local biodiversity hotspots.

The sandhill ecosystem at Zara Station, north of Deniliquin, is one of the best‑known and most intact examples of sandhill woodland in the area, offering a rare glimpse at what much of the Murray region’s sandhill country looked like before widespread clearing and disturbance.

The privately managed site is now formally protected under a NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust conservation agreement, and along with sandhills on public land and reserves is benefiting from ongoing conservation efforts.

Local landholders, community members and land management professionals recently came together to learn how the region’s unique sandhill woodlands are being protected and restored at a field day hosted by Landcare and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

The sandhill ecosystems visited by the field day’s attendees are examples of how degraded landscapes could recover over time when restoration work such as rabbit control, removal of invasive weeds such as African boxthorn are combined with ongoing conservation management.

Local ornithologist Phil Maher spoke about his involvement in more than 20 years of sandhill restoration work across the region.  

He said hundreds of volunteer days had been invested in planting, watering, weeding and controlling feral rabbits, foxes and cats.

"At one site, where 25 years ago only a single emu bush survived, thousands of trees now stand, supporting a rich diversity of bird and reptile life,” Phil said.

"An artificial nesting wall, created by digging into the side of a sandhill, is a great illustration of that work. Within 2 months, white‑backed woodswallows began nesting there, showing that when habitat conditions improve, wildlife quickly responds."  

At another sandhill site the deliberate introduction of mistletoe has led to a resurgence in honeyeater and mistleoebird numbers with increased supply of nectar food resource at crucial times of the year.

"Once established, birds dispersed the mistletoe naturally, demonstrating how targeted interventions can accelerate recovery," Phil said.

“We can also see prolific growth of quandong and emu bush which is the result of careful seed collection and propagation.”

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust senior landholder support officer Nigel Jones said the field day highlighted the value of collaboration.

"It’s a great way to showcase what can be achieved on the ground and we hope it will empower participants to restore and protect their own patches of this rare ecosystem," Nigel said.  

“Some of these sandhills are the last few jewels left in the landscape.  With ongoing threats from land use change, weeds and feral animals, it is most important that we target our restoration efforts, and support long‑term stewardship and collaboration between landholders, experts and conservation agencies.

“It’s so inspiring to hear and learn from local experts who can pass on knowledge to other landholders and managers.   Field days such as these with Landcare can leave you with a great feeling of optimism.  With enough time, knowledge, resources and commitment, these iconic sandhill woodlands can be restored and protected for future generations,” he said.