As we leave Gagabaligu, marked by the blooming of Silky Oaks, we enter Moogerahmbu — the Storm Season. Black Bean flowers burst across the landscape as evening thunderstorms and steamy days replace the dry early spring.
For First Nations communities, this season signals abundance. Fruits ripen, bush turkeys, pigeons and doves are plentiful, while flathead, mud crabs, and prawns flourish along the coast.
As forest stewards, we advance our projects, preparing to maintain and expand sites as rains and growth accelerate. While enjoying the season's vibrancy, we ready ourselves for Yirrimbu, the wet season, when nurturing and enriching our sites takes centre stage.
Learn more about the six-season cultural calendar here.
Round 11 Projects
Since July 2024, our Round 11 projects have been in various stages of progress. Whether your site is already underway or plans are being finalised with your contractor, we welcome you to the Rural Landholder Initiative.
We’re thrilled to extend our program with additional funding from Rous County Council’s Watershed Initiative, enabling support for six more sites beyond the 12 funded by our recurrent program. This funding helps us cater to both modest plans and larger projects requiring longer-term engagement. For landowners with extensive disturbed native vegetation, we’re excited to provide three-year support to ensure crucial follow-up and maintenance for long-term success.
It’s a joy to see new projects take shape, and I look forward to watching them thrive in the years ahead.
Its all smiles as our project partners from Holistic Habitats - Journey (left) and Tristan (right) - prepare to tackle our new RLI project at Julien Pearce’s (centre) property at Rosebank.
Round 10 Projects
Our Round 10 projects, which began in July 2023, are progressing well. Despite an extended wet period in Autumn 2024, most sites have completed primary works and remain on track for completion by June 2025.
With over 30 projects funded by various sources, it’s been a challenge to visit every site. However, as the heavy lifting winds down and we enter the second growing season, I hope to connect with landholders and witness their progress first-hand.
If there’s a specific time that works for a visit, contact our Environmental Strategies Officer (Rural Landowner Initiative) David Dreher on 0447 554 072 or email david.dreher@lismore.nsw.gov.au.
Brad Green of BaaMoo Farm in Goolmangar has transformed his property from a rundown cattle farm into a shining example of rural production harmonising with environmental values. With his background as a native plant nursery owner, Brad used the pandemic period to create a habitat dam, fence his property and rehabilitate Terania Creek’s riparian zone.
Managing over 30,000 native plants, Brad describes this as a “peak maintenance period,” requiring constant attention. His strategic approach — choosing battles with invasive species like Giant Devil’s Fig and Hairy Commelina — ensures sustainable progress.
It was inspiring to see how Brad integrates environmental improvement into his vision for a thriving rural lifestyle property.
Sunny skies graced our Boatharbour Field Day, where we celebrated community restoration efforts. Highlights included learning about the endangered Pink Underwing Moth from Envite’s Georgina and Maree and seeing the landowner’s progress in recreating Lowland Subtropical Rainforest.
The day culminated in a walk through remnant vegetation, featuring majestic strangling figs and hoop pines. It was a beautiful reminder of the rich biodiversity within Big Scrub remnants.
Our 2023/24 workshop program delivered engaging sessions for rural landholders, covering key topics like property planning, environmental restoration, and sustainable farming. Brad Green shared his inspiring journey of transforming underutilised grazing land into a productive, habitat-rich farm, while Stuart Andrews from Tarwyn Park Training introduced Landscape Hydration principles, highlighting Natural Sequence Farming’s role in enhancing both productivity and environmental health.
In May, we partnered with Friends of the Koala for the “Koala Conversations” program at Koonorigan Hall, offering practical advice on creating and restoring Koala habitats. Attendees explored site management techniques, visited an active project showcasing diverse vegetation strategies, and gained valuable insights into sclerophyll forest communities.
Discussions at Koonorigan also addressed Bell Minor Associated Dieback (BMAD), an emerging issue in the Lismore area. A dedicated session planned for early 2025 will focus on understanding BMAD and developing strategies to manage affected forests and discourage harmful Bell Minor populations.
Building on April’s workshop on landscape hydration, we’ll explore practical, small-scale strategies to “slow the flow” and boost production across Northern Rivers properties.
In February, we visited John Allen’s Blue Knob property for an informal field walk, sparking valuable community conversations. These casual gatherings are a wonderful way to share achievements and inspire action. If you’d like to host a similar event, we can assist with logistics, catering, and promotion.
We look forward to expanding our program, building knowledge, and fostering meaningful connections across our rural communities.
The Tatham Koala Fence Project focuses on reducing road strikes along a 12km corridor on the floodplain, a crucial route for local koalas. Learn how this initiative is safeguarding one of Lismore’s most important wildlife habitats.
See more in our projects section.
The Urban Green Corridors Plan (UGCP), a key action from Lismore City Council's Biodiversity Management Strategy 2017, is being reviewed to ensure its effectiveness in conserving urban biodiversity and improving green spaces in Lismore. Covering six interconnected sections of bushland, the UGCP aims to enhance wildlife corridors, boost biodiversity, and build climate resilience.
The outcomes of a review will inform the continued development and delivery of works to 2034, addressing gaps in budgeting, service delivery, and monitoring while adapting the plan to evolving environmental challenges. Internal and external stakeholders, including Landcare and First Nations groups, have been consulted, with findings consolidated into a discussion paper for community input.
Community consultation will open via the YourSay platform in mid-February 2025, alongside other engagement efforts like Council’s Facebook, Local Matters and newsletters. Feedback will shape the revised UGCP, which will guide the future management of Lismore’s green spaces through funding from the Biodiversity Management Strategy, Bushland Reserves Management, and external grants.
Join Bangalow Koalas for an evening of laughter on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, from 6:30pm to 10:00pm AEDT at the Bangalow A&I Hall in Bangalow, NSW.
Headliners include Many Nolan, Jimeoin and Harley Breen plus more. This event aims to raise awareness and funds for koala conservation efforts in the region. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a night of comedy while contributing to a worthy cause.
For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit the event page on TicketLeap.
Sincere thanks are extended to David Dreher for his invaluable contributions to this edition of the newsletter.