Welcome to the latest edition of our Biodiversity Newsletter! We are thrilled to share with you some exciting updates, events and important news about our Rural Landholder Initiative. We’ll also share some koala news from our mates at Friends of the Koala (FOK).
With the arrival of colder weather, we have an opportunity to get ahead of the weeds on Country. As winter sets in, it is a perfect time to take proactive steps in managing weed growth while growth slows down. Be sure to watch the video on weed removal techniques in this newsletter for hot tips.
We hope this edition of our Biodiversity Newsletter leaves you informed, inspired and motivated to take action in preserving our region’s natural wonders. Happy reading!
The Richmond Catchment plays a crucial role in supporting our communities. It serves as a primary source of drinking water, irrigation for agricultural activities and habitat for numerous plant and animal species.
These waterways are of cultural significance to the people of the Bundjalung nation. The health and well-being of the catchment directly impacts the quality of life and livelihoods of the residents in the region.
By researching the community's connection to rivers within the catchment, we can gain insights into the values, attitudes and behaviours of the people who rely on these waterways for various purposes.
Southern Cross University is conducting a research project focused on understanding and improving the health of waterways in the Richmond River Catchment. This project aims to shed light on the vital role these waterways play in the community and explore future plans for their preservation and enhancement.
The research project represents a significant step towards understanding and safeguarding these precious waterways. Participating in this project allows individuals to contribute their perspectives and aspirations, ensuring a collaborative approach that aligns scientific research with community values.
Survey submissions close on 6 August. A series of community workshops will be held throughout July on the catchment health. Please refer to the poster below for event times and dates.
Each year, Council actively participates in The Aussie Bird Count, a community science initiative organised by BirdLife Australia.
BirdLife Australia has been at the forefront of preserving native bird species and promoting biodiversity for over 120 years, making it an integral part of the nation's bird conservation efforts.
The Aussie Bird Count initiative serves as a platform for individuals to become citizen scientists by contributing to the collection of critical data on bird populations and distribution. These observations play a vital role in informing conservation strategies and management decisions.
By encouraging participants to explore urban environments and connect with nature, the event promotes a sense of responsibility towards preserving birdlife and biodiversity.
Count summary for the Lismore 2022 survey The count ran from 17–23 October 2022. The following statistics summarise the results of the 2022 Aussie Bird Count for the Lismore local government area.
- 432 observers participated in the Bird Count, submitting 659 counts.
- Participants recorded a total of 18,477 individual birds during Bird Week.
- 160 bird species were recorded
Access the full report and read more about what you can do to help our birds.
Boatharbour Landcare4lifestylers
Council’s Environmental Strategies staff participated in the Landcare4Lifestylers event, which took place on 20 May at a private property in Boatharbour. This event was specifically tailored for smaller acreage landholders who sought support in community connections, grant opportunities and regeneration strategies focused on wildlife habitat.
The venue, a formerly overcleaned parcel of land, has undergone a remarkable transformation through reforestation efforts. Now, a flourishing 12-year-old forest, it stands as a testament to the power of restoration.
Guests were guided through the forest by Jesse Vandenbosch from Big Scrub Bush Regeneration. Jesse shared the site's history and provided valuable insights and strategies for those interested in embarking on their own bush regeneration projects.
The event also featured engaging talks from various speakers representing the region. One particularly noteworthy topic centred around growing food in our backyards, inspiring attendees to explore sustainable food production methods within their own properties.
Additionally, there was a special focus on native bee habitats, with informative displays and practical tips to create an environment that supports these vital pollinators.
Landcare4Lifestylers proved to be an invaluable platform for landholders to connect with like-minded individuals and learn effective strategies for regenerating their land for the benefit of wildlife habitat.
Thank you to the organisers, speakers and all those involved in making Landcare4Lifestylers a successful event.
For more information, reach out to Boatharbour Landcare at boatharbourlandcare@gmail.com or for other areas, visit Richmond Landcare to connect to your local group.
Uncle Gilbert Laurie leading the Welcome to Country.
Attendees at Landcare4Lifestylers.
Landcare4Lifestylers.
Tim Low’s Birdsong event was finally made possible thanks to the generous seed funding provided by Inspiring Australia through the Northern Rivers Science Hub, with co-contribution from Council, Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy and Richmond Landcare.
Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy Vice president Mark Dunphy opened the talk by outlining the impact on birds in our region since European settlement. Mark touched on the great proliferation of Camphor Laurels within our region as a food source for bird species but also the return of our rainforests thanks to restoration works of the last 40 years.
Renowned bird researcher, Tim Low, led an in-depth talk during this event on bird behaviour across the globe.
Tim’s talk focused on unravelling the fascinating world of bird populations, with particular emphasis on the remarkable significance of Australia in the study of birdlife. Tim, a leading expert in the field, highlighted our region as the epicentre of birdsong evolution, highlighting the diversity and uniqueness of Australian avian species.
During his presentation, Tim shed light on the Lyrebird which he described as one of the world's best songbirds. He delved into the intricacies of the Lyrebird's song, exploring its complexity, range, and its ability to mimic various sounds found in its natural environment. The Lyrebird's remarkable vocal capabilities serve as a testament to the rich avian biodiversity found in Australia.
The Birdsong event successfully generated a greater appreciation for Australian birdlife, while highlighting the region's vital role in the study of birdsong evolution and preservation.
Banyula Farm was the venue for an agricultural and educational event on Friday, 16 June, which drew a crowd of more than 250 attendees. The proceedings commenced with a warm Eelcome to Country delivered by Mindy Woods, a Bundjalung woman and renowned local chef. Mindy's culinary skills continued to impress throughout the day as she delighted guests with delicious food.
The event featured a series of talks in the morning, with Damon Gameau serving as the Master of Ceremonies. This session included presentations from various soil specialists including Dr Lukas Van Zwieten, Senior Principal Research Scientist, DPI. Lorraine Gordon, a regenerative farmer from Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, also shared her farming journey and experiences.
Banyula co-owner Richard Schweger and Banyula farm manager Matt Bleakley also took the opportunity to provide their personal touch to the event, sharing their own experiences and journey with the farm.
Attendees also had the chance to hear from ReForest Now CEO and co-founder Maximo Bottaro, who led the planting of over 250,000 trees on the farm. His presentation shed light on the impressive reforestation efforts taking place onsite. The afternoon was filled with a variety of tours around the farm, showcasing the work in action.
A highlight of the event was the opportunity to hear from early adopters who have successfully implemented sustainable practices on their farms. These individuals shared their journeys, detailing the challenges they faced and the transformative outcomes they achieved.
Banyula Farm.
MC Damon Gameau providing an introduction into regenerative farming.
The Environmental Strategies team enjoying the day.
This community tree planting day will take place on the riverbank near Trinity Sports Fields on Saturday, 29 July.
Join us as we aim to plant 1000 new plants on the riverbank, linking previous plantings and creating a corridor for our wildlife. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on our environment and create a sustainable habitat for our local flora and fauna.
All are welcome to be a part of this amazing initiative. The event will commence at 10am with a Welcome to Country.
For any inquiries or more information about the event, please feel free to reach out to Wilsons River Landcare at wilsonsriverlandcare@gmail.com.
Lismore City Council and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are proud to present a special recovery event for primary producers, their families and other rural landholders affected by the 2022 natural disaster. A range of services and initiatives will be presented at the event including Council’s Rural Landholder Initiative and the DPI Rural Recovery Support Services.
Rose Wright from Regionality will also discuss ways for primary producers/landholders to diversify their businesses.
Enjoy a delicious meal courtesy of Junkyard BBQ and end the night on a high note with the hilarious award-winning comedian Jenny Wynter.
Farmers Night Out will take place on Friday, 30 June from 5.30pm at Rock Valley Hall. This is a free event, however bookings are essential. To secure your spot go to https://farmers-night-out.eventbrite.com.au or call Council on 6625 0500.
Friends of the Koala are assisting a group of researchers from various universities by getting a survey out to our Northern Rivers landholders.
The survey explores factors that may motivate or prevent landholders from participating in conservation agreements on their land, focusing on whether extreme weather events such as drought and bushfires could influence these decisions.
The research aims to learn more about what landholders think about these agreements and their reasons for adopting them. This large-scale survey is being sent out to private landholders all across NSW. Access the survey
By Maria Matthes & Ina Egermann - Friends of the Koala
Friends of the Koala is excited to have received a grant from the Australian Government to support its “Hanging out at East Coraki: koalas thriving in an agricultural landscape” project.
The area is being overpopulated with so many koalas living in the East Coraki area, and not enough koala food trees to sustain the local sub-population. It is an area where Friends of the Koala rescued several koalas with extremely poor body condition, often as a result of not enough quality leaf available.
The project includes weed control in koala habitat along the river and tree planting koala habitat on several properties, as well as koala habitat assessment and monitoring of the koalas. Many of the favourite food trees suffered during the drought, and then many of the smaller trees were hammered by the flood.
These riparian areas are critically important to the koalas during dry times, with more koalas moving for water. FOK will be doing all it can to create an environment where the koalas will be able to not just survive but thrive.
FOK has been doing the habitat assessments and has been quite shocked at seeing trees regenerating after being affected by the flood, and the koalas are eating all the reshooting leaves they can reach, over and over.
We can't get more trees in the ground quick enough. We are so appreciative of the great support from the landholders to having more koala trees and koalas on their properties.
If anyone in East Coraki or elsewhere would like to help our koalas by supporting our project, including planting some trees, controlling weeds, or assisting with health checks, habitat assessment and monitoring, we would love to hear from you. Keep an eye out on our social media for our future community planting days.
For more information contact Maria (0467 855 990) or Ina (0413 710 917) at Friends of the Koala or email Ina at ina@friendsofthekoala.org.
Introducing LCC’s newest team member: David Dreher
I'd like to introduce myself as the new Environmental Strategies Officer at Lismore City Council. I will be filling the esteemed boots of Kate Steel who has advanced to a more managerial position in our team.
I am looking forward to rolling out a new suite of Rural Landowner Initiative projects in the next few months and partnering with landowners to work towards improving environmental values across our council area.
I come from a background of on-ground environmental works and have been involved in the Bushland Regeneration industry for the past 25 years. I have worked in various positions, including running my own business for several years. It has been a rewarding job that has allowed me to see positive improvements in landscapes far and wide, such as the Blue Mountains, Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and extensively in the Northern Rivers region.
I hope my field experience and knowledge can be of benefit to the residents and landowners of the LGA as we work together on our valuable projects.
As I familiarise myself with the new role, I am aiming to hit the ground running rolling out our new projects for round 10 of the RLI for the 2023 to 2025 financial years. It's an exciting time to get an overview of the many projects we will be partnering in representing the great diversity of landowners, landscapes and land uses that we see in the region.
I'm looking forward to being able to watch our sites and region grow through the Rural Landowner Initiative and working with you all.
Round 11 of the Council’s Rural Landholder Initiative grant will open in November 2023.
The RLI is a small grant program delivered by the Environmental Strategies team at Council for landholders wishing to undertake bush regeneration on their property and improve the biodiversity outcomes within the local area. Areas such as Koala habitat, riverbanks and remnant vegetation take priority.
Assistance provided is up to $5000 for primary works and initial maintenance in the first year, with complex restoration projects eligible for second-year funds up to $2500. Sites along floodplain riverbanks can apply for up to $10,000 if works include fencing and off-stream watering.
To find out more about the RLI and eligibility requirements, visit Lismore City Council’s website.
This informative video is produced by RegenTV, Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (AABR) online repository of ecological restoration case studies. It serves as a valuable reminder of best practices for bush regeneration techniques, focusing particularly on post-fire recovery. While the content specifically addresses the aftermath of a fire, the principles and methods discussed remain relevant and applicable in various situations. Your feedback and suggestions We’d love to hear from you if you have feedback on the content of this newsletter or ideas on what you’d like to hear about. If you’d like to chat to a member of the Environmental Strategies team, phone us on 6625 0500.