Project overview
Strong Culture–Healthy Country is a First Nations led project that focuses on caring for woodlands and turtles on Country in the Northern Tablelands region.
Project works include:
- cultural burns
- pest animal and weed control
- land management
- revegetation.
Project background
This project builds on ongoing work to improve box gum grassy woodland (BGGW) and preserve endangered species, including the Bell's turtle (Wollumbinia bellii) and the critically endangered regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia). It also builds on past projects by applying traditional Aboriginal practices like cultural burns.
Cultural burns are important to:
- help seeds of native plant species to germinate
- remove fire-prone weeds
- reduce fuel load, which can make the woodland vulnerable to uncontrolled (hot) bushfires
- create mosaics of groundcover that provide habitat for animals, which supports their survival.
Project objectives
The Strong Culture–Healthy Country project will:
- improve the condition and extent of the critically endangered box gum grassy woodland (BGGW) ecological community, which is vital to the survival of a diverse range of species
- boost the juvenile Bell’s turtle population
- investigate for pockets of the critically endangered regent honeyeater population following reported sightings
- regenerate the landscape and increase plant and bird species within it
- support local Aboriginal communities to continue their connection with, and cultural practices on, Country.
The outcome of this multi-pronged approach is particularly important for the ageing Bell’s turtle population. It will help boost the juvenile population to support long-term survival of the species.
Project delivery
Local Land Services (LLS) is working closely with First Nations communities, private landholders, Landcare groups and species experts.
Work includes:
- 40 ha of strategic cultural burning in the critically endangered BGGW
- 250 ha of fox control to protect turtle nesting areas
- 24 km of stream banks being surveyed to locate and protect Bell’s turtle nests
- revegetation of the BGGW community by planting seedlings of appropriate species and shrubs
- nest protection measures for the endangered Bell's turtle
- location mapping for the critically endangered regent honeyeater, which has been seen during migratory periods in the region.
LLS' Strong Culture–Healthy Country project supports First Nations communities to:
- apply their cultural practices and responsibilities
- learn and share traditional ecological knowledge through cultural burns and revegetation.
Project timeline
2023–24:
- three cultural burns and knowledge sharing
- consultation with Aboriginal communities for proposed works
- fence installation to protect the significant Tukka Tukka Road Aboriginal midden site near Toomelah, NSW.
2024–28:
- cultural burns and knowledge sharing
- Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (VPIT) for Aboriginal rangers
- location mapping for regent honeyeater
- protection of Bell’s turtle nests and associated fox control
- plant seedlings of indigenous species and shrubs in the BGGW TEC
- pest animal control
- invasive weed removal
- project close (30 June 2028) and outcomes reporting.
Work underway
- 5 cultural burns completed across 14 ha of the region.
- Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (VPIT) underway to support Aboriginal rangers with their maintenance work on Country.
- 10 temporary electrified fox deterrent fences installed to protect priority Bell’s turtle nesting areas.
- 2 ha revegetation completed to restore box gum grassy woodland endangered ecological community.
- Investigation work following regent honeyeater sightings.
How to get involved
You can learn more about helping to restore ecological habitats on your own property by accessing information and resources from our regional web pages, or subscribing to your regional newsletter.
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Funding and partnerships
Local Land Services' key delivery partners helping to preserve these ecological communities are:
- Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Ashford Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Banbai Rangers*
- Edgerton–Kwiembal Environmental, Heritage and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation
- Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Land Council*
- Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council*
- Mooki and Bassendean Association*
- Moombahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council
- ecological consultants
- University of New England*
- private landholders.
*Involved in the Bell’s turtle work
This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
For more information about the Strong culture - Healthy Country project, contact:
Marty Dillon
Email: martin.dillon@lls.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0427 412 675
Bridget Newman
Email: bridget.newman@lls.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0419 331 712
Contact Local Land Services NSW
Our team welcome your enquiries, feedback and comments.
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