Waratah project

Work undertaken included: 

• installing song meters to listen for koala activity
• working with universities to undertake leaf sampling and drone monitoring of koalas
• drone spraying and remote mulching trials targeting weeds
• installing 73km of boundary fencing to help neighbouring livestock management and support native wildlife
• supporting aboriginal groups to complete over 190km of surveys to protect cultural heritage. 

Since July, multiple contractors have been working hard to prepare and install over 46km of new fence lines and access tracks throughout the sites. By the end of August, earthworks contractors successfully completed line and track clearing, grading and gravel carting at all Breeza sites. 

Like most landholders and contractors, Local Land Services is also dealing with the love-hate relationship between wet weather and heavy machinery. Getting bogged has been a daily occurrence for the last couple of months and credit goes to all the contractors who have persevered and continued to get the job done. 

To date, over 36km of formed access tracks, easements, and new fence line clearing between neighbours and public roads has been completed to improve access and ongoing management at Breeza. By the end of August 13.2km of new fencing had been installed to stock-proof a large portion of the revegetation area where preparation works will begin soon. 

Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys have recently been completed at the Tambar Springs site in preparation for line clearing and fencing commencement towards the end of 2022. Our North West Aboriginal Ranger program participants have also been helping on site spending a couple of days being mentored by our fencing contractor team. 

It's a bad time of year for an African boxthorn. Woody weed control at Mount Watermark has commenced and we have a remote-controlled mulcher and drones coming onto the site from the 19th of September to help with woody weed control where terrain is unable to be accessed or unsafe to undertake with our current ground control operators. 

Behind the scenes initial planning is underway to set up a process for community members to access sites for cultural activities now tracks and access from public roads have improved. We are also prepping for spring and early summer weed and pest control activities with some large-scale active management being proposed. 

The Waratah Project sites have been identified as having suitable and in-demand biodiversity credits. Local Land Services is working closely with the Credit Supply Taskforce to progress a biodiversity assessment over the holdings by an accredited assessor to consider biodiversity credit supply options. 

Drier weather conditions toward the end of 2022 and early 2023 have proved favourable to contractors working on fencing, earthworks, revegetation, pest and weed control programs and the timing of March rainfall has been welcomed by all. 

The construction of over 60km of boundary fences is wrapping up in March /April, with a large shoutout to the contractor who has managed to deliver the project in a timely manner considering wet weather, floods and supply issues. Earthworks have continued and remain on-going to ensure sound access throughout our Breeza and Tambar Spring sites. 

To date, over 119km of formed access tracks, easements, and new fence line clearing between neighbours and public roads has been completed to improve access and ongoing management at Breeza and Tambar Springs. Preparation has begun for part of 78ha of revegetation planned for Breeza to connect Long Mountain to Breeza State Forest. 

Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys have recently been completed at the Tambar Springs site in preparation for line clearing and access tracks. Local high school students from Gunnedah accompanied local community leaders in a cultural knowledge day along with Wally Hammond and North West Aboriginal Ranger participants. An interim process is now in place for community members to access sites by contacting staff listed below. 

Woody weed control ramped up in early summer where over 2500ha of St John’s Wort was controlled at Tambar Springs. In follow up to the previous newsletter, drone and remote-controlled mulchers were used on African boxthorn with great results. Preparation for autumn weed control activities is underway with some exciting plans to control African Olive in steep country. 

Two aerial programs targeting pest animals were completed in November/December 2022 and March 2023 with results across the 2 sites indicating a decline in numbers and 1 site showing steady numbers present. Since Local Land Services has taken over management in January 2022 over 2578 pest animals have been eradicated. Our pest animal program is continuing and currently underway using varying on-ground control measures. 

The Waratah Project sites have been identified as having suitable and in-demand biodiversity credits. Local Land Services is working closely with the Credit Supply Taskforce with initial biodiversity assessments being completed over the holdings by an accredited assessor to consider biodiversity credit supply options. 

In the first 6 months, Local Land Services has completed over 1500 hectares of weed control targeting African box thorn, prickly pear, tiger pear, tree pear, mother-of-millions and honey locust. Aerial pest animal controls have also been conducted across all sites culling 814 pest animals. 

A total of 55km of Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys were also conducted in preparation for fencing and access track construction to ensure the protection of culturally significant sites and objects. 

Since January, 17 local businesses have been engaged to implement work activities across all sites, providing work for over 20 local contractors. 

July has also seen the commencement of fencing and earthworks contractors on site. They have been forming access tracks, easements, and new fence lines between neighbours and public roads to improve access and ongoing management. 

The 78ha of planned revegetation activities are due to commence in September 2022. This corridor will connect Long Mountain to Breeza State Forest, which will improve koala habitat and connectivity across the landscape, as well as provide direct habitat connectivity to over 5900 ha of remnant vegetation.