Milestone Report 4 31 March 2011 - Tweed Shire Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Program Milestone...

Urban Sustainability Program

Urban Sustainability Major Project Grant

Milestone Report 4 – 31 March 2011

Tweed‐Byron

Project

Improving Urban and Peri-Urban Bushland Sustainability in Tweed and Byron Shires

REFERENCE NUMBER: 2008/USM/0037

GRANTEE: Tweed Shire Council (Lead Council), Byron Shire Council

PROJECT MANAGER: John Turnbull

Contact Details: Phone: 02 6670 2732

Fax: 02 66702557

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 0458 773470

SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 PROGRESS REPORT ......................................................................................................................................... 1 INTERIM EVALUATION OF WORKSHOPS FOR EXECUTIVE AND COUNCILORS.......................... 2

TWEED SHIRE ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 BYRON SHIRE ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

INTERIM EVALUATION OF ON-GROUND WORKS PROGRAM ............................................................ 7 BYRON SHIRE ...................................................................................................................................................... 7

Bush Regeneration on‐ground work progress ................................................................................................ 7 Nest Box program........................................................................................................................................... 9 Invasive Species Management ..................................................................................................................... 10 Invasive Species Community Awareness Raising Activities .......................................................................... 11

TWEED SHIRE .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Site Specific Progress .................................................................................................................................... 12 Other Site Work Outcomes........................................................................................................................... 15 New Work Sites ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Other Works ................................................................................................................................................. 16

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT..................................................................................................................... 17 Cane Toad Control ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Indian Myna Control..................................................................................................................................... 19 Rabbit Control .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Feral Poultry ................................................................................................................................................. 20

INTERIM EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS TRAINING PROGRAM .................................................... 21 INTERIM EVALUATION OF LANDCARE WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS ..................................... 23

BYRON SHIRE .................................................................................................................................................... 23 TWEED SHIRE .................................................................................................................................................... 23

Snake ID Workshop ...................................................................................................................................... 23

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 23 BYRON .............................................................................................................................................................. 23

My Native Garden ........................................................................................................................................ 23 TWEED .............................................................................................................................................................. 24

Care Group Procedures Manual ................................................................................................................... 24

COMMUNICATION/MEDIA UPDATE.......................................................................................................... 25 ADVERTISING IN BYRON AND TWEED SHIRE ECHO NEWSPAPERS...................................................................... 25 SITE SIGNS ........................................................................................................................................................ 25

RESOURCES AND FACT SHEETS ................................................................................................................ 26 INVASIVE SPECIES ............................................................................................................................................. 26 AUDIT REPORT CARDS ...................................................................................................................................... 26

FINAL EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABLE STREETS PROGRAM.......................................................... 27 FINANCIAL STATEMENT.............................................................................................................................. 28 AMENDED BUSINESS PLAN.......................................................................................................................... 30

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN UPDATES................................................................................................................... 30 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................................................... 43

Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Program Milestone Report 4 – 31 March 2011

1

Summary The Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project has met a number of milestone targets since the completion of the third milestone report on 31 November 2010 including:

• Completion of the Care Group Procedures Manual and training package to instruct and help manage volunteers working on public lands for each Shire;

• Completion of the Tweed Byron Bushland Audit which has facilitated the selection of suitable on‐ground works sites and the preparation of a Report card for a cluster of sites;

• Completion of the second round of the Sustainable Streets Program including delivery of all workshops to forty households and completion of household environment footprint reports;

• On‐going appointment of consultants and initiation of primary and maintenance on‐ground works at numerous sites across the Project Study Area;

• Continued delivery of Landcare workshops;

• Continued roll‐out of the Indigenous Training program

• Updates to the Communications, Education and Community Engagement Program;

• Continued updates to the Bush Futures, Tweed and Byron websites; and

• Preparation of numerous Site Action Plans (SAP) for work sites across the Study Area. Numerous media releases and project promotional materials have been prepared and distributed to coincide with many of the milestones and project events garnering considerable coverage in all forms of media; these are detailed in the Communications schedule of the updated Business Plan. Tweed and Byron Shires received a Northern Rivers Landcare award as winners of the Local Government Landcare Partnership for the Bush Futures Project. The award was accepted by the Project Manager, Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC), Byron and Tweed Shire Community Support Officers and Landcarers who travelled Grafton on 31 March for the presentation.


1

Progress Report

The Bush Futures Project is progressing well and the majority of planned outcomes and on‐ground works expected at this time have commenced in line with the Business Plan.

On‐ground works have been commissioned and are underway for primary bush regeneration work at 52 sites covering 225 hectares where significant reduction in weed density and severity has been observed. In addition 23 Site Action Plans (SAPs) have been prepared encompassing 43 worksites and 145 hectares of urban bushland. The sites where SAPs have not been prepared are either sites with existing plans or where works have been funded to complement other projects. Considerable media has been generated particularly for workshops and through the Sustainable Streets program which has now reached the completion of its second round. Additional on‐ground works have been commissioned since the previous report in November and maintenance works will be commissioned progressively within Tweed and across all projects in Byron Shire in the next financial year to ensure that the primary restoration work effort is maximised.

The Indigenous Training Program is progressing and additional work sites have been allocated to this program. The Care Group Procedures Manuals for Byron and Tweed have been printed and the Training package outlining how to apply the manual will be delivered over the next few months. The Landcare Incs have undertaken the required number of workshops for the Project to this time.

A range of Institutional Change activities are being developed in light of our experiences to date. These activities include establishment of costing figures for managing bushland according to its condition; preparation of a questionnaire for Council staff to asses their knowledge of NRM issues, the impact of their role on the environment and to determine what workshops/training may be beneficial to increase NRM awareness; preparation of a locally occurring native flora species planting guideline to inform back garden, broad scale or restoration planting projects across both Shires.

A number of fact sheets and information packages have been developed for the Project including an Audit Report Cards for dissemination of works at clusters of sites and Invasive Species information sheets.

Approximately $920,000 has been spent or committed at this time across all expenditure areas of the Project.

The Bushland Audit report and database have been incorporated into site work planning and a comparison between predicted and actual costings will be undertaken in July to assess the value of the costings developed for bushland restoration works. Assessment will also be made between the monitoring and evaluation sheets completed by contractors and those completed for the same site by the Bushland Audit consultants.


2

Interim Evaluation of Workshops for Executive and Councilors

Attracting perennially busy Councilors and senior executives to workshops and presentations has proven problematic during the Project to date; consequently the Steering Committee is considering a range of alternate options to raising awareness of NRM issues within Council and generating institutional change. It should be noted that the period covered by this report, December 2010 to March 2011, includes the summer holiday period a difficult time in which to draw reasonable numbers to workshops and other engagement events; consequently workshops were not scheduled for this period.

Tweed Shire

Earth Learning Lecture Series In Tweed Shire one presentation has been delivered since the previous report was submitted; this presentation is part of the ‘Earth Learning Lecture Series’, funded by Tweed Shire’s NRM Unit and the Bush Futures Project. This series of lectures aims to promote ecological restoration, research and interactive education to foster environmental awareness and build the capacity of communities in the Tweed / Border Ranges Bioregion to live more sustainably. Further lectures are scheduled for delivery in both Tweed and Byron Shires. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Janis Birkeland, Professor of Architecture, Queensland University of Technology who discussed the challenges and opportunities in planning for and designing landscapes that generate a positive ecological impact. She demonstrated how to facilitate ‘positive development’ and eco‐retrofit buildings and urban centres to achieve sustainability and positive ecological outcomes. While all planning and design unit staff and Councilors were invited to attend only two Councilors attended and three staff members. Dr. Birkeland provided the Bush Futures Project Manager with a copy of her PowerPoint presentation and extensive background materials; these were forwarded to all planning staff for their dissemination in the week following the lecture. In addition the Director Community and Natural Resources and the Director Planning & Regulations received this information for distribution at the Senior Executive and Councilor level. While the staff participation was low there were over 70 attendees to the lecture including a large number of ‘new’ faces particularly from the teaching and private planning sectors.

Byron Shire Byron’s Team Leader Natural Resources (a Steering Committee member) and the Project Officer reported on the progress of the Project to Byron Shire’s Biodiversity and Sustainability Advisory Committee on 03 March 2011. They reported that considerable interest and increased awareness of


3

all the activities that the Bush Futures Project is involved with was triggered by this presentation amongst senior management than had previously been the case.

Institutional Change Options in Preparation Projects proposed and in preparation for increasing staff awareness and changes in practices in relation to NRM issues and considerations include a survey of staff, development of costings to inform bushland management budgets and development of an interactive native flora species planting guide for the two Shires. Survey of Staff A draft questionnaire/survey has been prepared for all Council staff to aid in identification of where and what type of workshops or information provision could be delivered to increase awareness of environmental management issues and constraints and considerations that may apply to all Council job positions. The questionnaire has been kept short to ensure completion by as many staff as possible. It is proposed to distribute the questionnaire to indoor staff via ‘Survey Monkey’ or a similar program and to outdoor staff through ‘toolbox talks’. The draft questions which still require further refinement are shown below: 1. Do you think environmental management is relevant to your position at Council? • Very relevant • Relevant • Not sure • Not at all relevant 2. Do you have an understanding of environmental management issues in the Shire? • Good understanding • Understanding • Limited understanding • No understanding • Unsure 3. Do you think attending workshops to increase your knowledge in environmental management would benefit your position in Council? • Yes • No • Undecided 4. If yes, indicate with a tick the workshop topics that you would be interested in attending at council? • Weed and Pest animal identification • Weed and Pest animal control techniques


4

• Native plant identification • Identification of scheduled Koala food trees • Recognising threatened plant species and Endangered Ecological Communities • Vegetation type classification • Environmental legislation • Councils NRM responsibilities • Councils NRM policies • Coastal Management • Sustainability initiatives – e.g. how to reduce your carbon footprint • Living with wildlife – e.g. possums in roof, flying foxes, etc • Other………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5. Comments Once completed and the results assessed it is anticipated that workshop content will be complied and delivery scheduled. Developing Costings for Bushland Maintenance Attracting core budget funding from Council’s for NRM works has proven difficult in the past for a number of reasons. However one of the drivers to funding any works has been accurate and reliable costings for bushland restoration and maintenance works. To this end the Bushland Audit, undertaken early in the Project, allocated indicative a range costs for bushland restoration works dependent upon ten different identified condition levels at a given site. The need for accurate costings for bushland management has become more urgent in recent times with the release of a number of new urban ‘greenfield’ developments, particularly in the Tweed, where considerable areas of bushland will, over time, devolve to Council ownership and management. To ameliorate the burden on Councils budget from these new developments prior to full occupation and rates returns commence, funding for bushland maintenance needs to be allocated and works undertaken to ensure an acceptable standard is established for bushland condition prior to hand over to ensure it is in good or ‘maintenance’ state i.e. not weed infested. By the end of the Project we will assess the reliability of the costings provided in the Audit when compared with the actual cost of returning sites to a maintenance level at audited sites. In addition other costing figures for bushland management will be compared with the Audit costings; to date these other figures include costings developed by Gold Coast City Council. Similar costings from other local Council’s will also be sought. It is proposed to use any costings and maintenance level standards that are developed in a number of ways. Firstly when negotiating with developers to require that bushland areas are maintained to a determined standard prior to handover, ensuring good (maintenance) condition at hand over.


5

In a test case of this change in approach to bushland management, developers of a new ‘greenfield’ site in Tweed indicated that they would prefer to hold onto bushland areas at this stage and manage it themselves rather than provide a lump sum amount to Council for its management in perpetuity. In this case it is likely that Council will require an audit of bushland onsite prior to any future handover to ensure that we are not burdened with unacceptable costs for its management. This approach requires the developers to remain solvent however. A similar approach to funding works in perpetuity for lands ceded to Council is also being pursued by Council for the management of bush fire Asset Protection Zones in new developments. Secondly, the NRM units within Tweed and Byron Councils plan to lobby their Councilors and executives at budget time for fully costed funding for on‐ground works. Byron has a green levy in place but this is inadequate to undertake all required bushland maintenance works. Further refinements of the approaches and costings for this component of the Project are under way. Native Species Planting Guide Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc. is in the process of preparing a booklet entitled “My Native Garden”, a local planting guide to promote biodiversity in the Byron Shire; this project has been funded as part of an Environmental Trust grant program and receives in‐kind and financial support from BSC staff, local individuals and the Bush Futures Project. The Steering Committee has determined that preparation of a Study area‐wide planting guide detailing appropriate native species for planting in back gardens, restoration or broad scale planting projects would be beneficial not only to the community but for Council staff, planners, and landscape architects and other staff or professionals looking for indicative species for use in specific sites. In the past misguided plant selections have led to costly remediation works and tree removal once the inappropriate nature of species was recognised. It is anticipated that this guide will provide a benchmark against which Council staff can judge the appropriateness or otherwise of planting designs accompanying development applications and for the generation of recommended species lists for use across both Shires. Consequently the Project Manager is in the process of preparing a brief for distribution to selected botanist/native plant professionals from our Panel of Providers lists. The draft objectives for the brief include: a. To prepare a list of native species that includes the majority of plants naturally occurring within

Tweed and Byron Shires; b. To differentiate species occurrence by landscape location, vegetation community, structure,

form, habitat preference, soil type, aspect, slope, prevalence in any stratum, hardiness to environmental factors, etc.;


6

c. To produce a list that is easily interrogated and that will provide site specific species lists of plants likely to succeed considering known site constraints;

d. To provide a resource that can be posted on Council’s websites for use by the community,

professionals and Council staff as needed; e. To provide a practical list of species that are usually available or can be reasonably pre‐ordered

through local nurseries and not species that may be difficult or unviable to obtain or propagate. Due to limited funding it is likely that this list will be initially prepared in a spreadsheet format and in time will be migrated to a database format.


7

Interim Evaluation of Onground Works Program Photographs of on‐ground works efforts are contained in Appendix 1.

Byron Shire

Bush Regeneration on‐ground work progress

Bush regeneration work has been continuing well across Byron Shire with primary weed control work complete over almost 30 hectares of urban bushland. Heavy summer rains in December and January slowed work over this period however on‐ground work is currently meeting targets with contractors reporting they will fulfil requirements by the end of the contract period in June 2011. Work is currently being monitored by Council from daily work record sheets which are submitted regularly.

All contracts for on‐ground bush regeneration as part of the project in Byron Shire are due to be completed in June 2011, at which time contractors will be required to submit a full progress report. In most instances this will mark to end of 12 months of on‐ground work. This final report will include an over view of work completed, before and after monitoring data sheets and photo‐ point photos as well as recommendations for future work. These final reports will be valuable to evaluate the on‐ground work program and direct work for the final 8 months of the project.

Below is an overview of work progress to date:

• Bush regeneration work is continuing at 30 sites across Byron Shire and approximately 41 hectares has been covered since July 2010.

• 2548.5 person hours of work has been completed by professional bush regenerators (see Table 1 for breakdown of sites).

• 10 Green Corp and 3 Jobs Fund trainees have undertaken over 400 hours of bush regeneration work.

• 182 hours of volunteer work has been undertaken in Mullumbimby as part of the project, guided by a professional bush regenerator.

• Work is being carried out in nine different vegetation types, five of which are Endangered Ecological Communities.

• Signs have been placed at all sites informing residents of works in progress and how they can assist.


8

Table 1 ‐ Bush regeneration work cluster progress ‐ March 2011

Measure/ Performance indicator

Site Cluster Number of sites worked

Total area (ha)

Area worked (approx ha)

Hours work

Work overview

Suffolk Park ‐ west

6 11 10.5 752

Primary weed control completed in all sites and follow up work completed in most area. 200 trees planted as buffer to Flying‐fox camp. Rubbish and garden waste removed from sites.

Suffolk Park ‐east

3 2 1.4 104

Primary weed control completed at 2 sites treating large areas of fishbone fern and umbrella trees. Primary work at third site is in progress involving control of intense Syngonium infestation which requires many hours work.

South Byron 5 13 5 352

Primary weed control underway across all sites and some follow up work has been completed in areas required. Work has involved areas of intense infestation of Syngonium and Lonicera japonica, which has involved many hours work. One site is large (7ha) and work is confined mainly to edges. Large amounts of garden waste and rubbish has been removed from sites.

East Byron 3 3.5 2 250

Endangered Graminoid Clay Heath vegetation. Primary work underway across all sites involving weed control following ecological burn, targeted weed control and control of woodland species encroaching on heath vegetation.

North Byron 2 14 14 271

Primary weed control completed in all work zones and follow up completed in half of work zones. One site is large (12ha) with majority of weeds isolated to edges.

Rubbish removed from site and exotic garden planted by local resident on council land has been replaced with a garden of local native species.

Bangalow 1 3 1 152 Primary weed control underway involving work controlling significant infestations of


9



Total area (ha)

Area worked (approx ha)

Hours work

Work overview

Bamboo, Madeira Vine, Cats Claw, Taro, Ochna, Cestrum and Privet.

National Green Jobs Fund team have also been working at this site undertaking 56 hrs of work.

Mullumbimby

6 5 3

211.5 (plus volunteers and Green Corps)

Work involves primary weed control as well as riparian tree planting maintenance and site preparation for further planting. A contractor is working with Landcare groups in the area as well as with a Green Corp team of 10 trainees. 182 hours of volunteer work and 237 hours Green corps work has been undertaken.

Brunswick 1 3 0.6 96 (plus arborist)

Work has involved primary weed control of Ipomoea, Erythrina sp., camphor and exotic grasses. An arborist removed 8 coral trees on edge of site which overhung walking track.

North Ocean Shores

2 4.5 1 219

Indigenous training site. Primary weeds control being undertaken involving control of large area of Lantana, Senna, Passiflora and exotic grasses.

Federal 2 15 1 85

Work involves maintenance of 5 years old riparian tree planting site as well as funding continued work at Byrangerry Grass Reserve, a site where work has been ongoing by Landcare and contractors for a number of years.

Fern beach 1 1 1 56 Primary Bitou control in coastal dunes.

Total 30 75 41 2548.5

Nest Box program

Thirty (30) nest boxes have been installed at three sites in September and November 2010. The program used a layout design similar to the layout of boxes used by Dr Ross Goldingay who is undertaking research on nest box use in the area. Four different nest box designs have been used; Large bat, Small bat, rear entry glider, and medium front entry box. The boxes are designed to target sugar gliders, microbats and a variety of birds.


10

A monitoring program has been developed which includes monitoring data sheets, a spreadsheet and GIS layer to record ongoing use of boxes by wildlife. Monitoring of fifteen (15) boxes carried out in February identified two boxes being used by a family of sugar gliders (Petaurus brevis) and Long‐eared bats (Nyctophilus sp.). Six boxes were being used by ants which were blocking the entrance and making them unusable for other target species. These ants were removed from the boxes. Monitoring of the other fifteen boxes will be carried out in April. Ongoing monitoring will occur three times per year.

Invasive Species Management

An Invasive Species Officer has been contracted to assist the community with management of invasive vertebrate species. The main two species in urban areas in the Byron Shire are cane toads and Indian mynas. The invasive species officer has assisted with over 70 public enquiries about invasive species management in the region and the community are being trained and equipped in a variety of ways to manage cane toads and Indian mynas. Toad Musters

Seven cane toad musters have organised by the invasive species officer in Byron Shire. This involved 87 community volunteers who collected 906 toads (Table 2). Each of these musters included an educational talk on toads and native frogs before the cane toad collection commenced. Three toad buster groups have been equipped and trained to conduct their own musters. Tyagarah landcare group have been having fortnightly musters since November 2010 and have caught over 300 toads. Fern Beach group was equipped in February and caught over 700 toads in the first month. Bangalow landcare have had there first independent muster in March.

Table 2 ‐ Cane Toad Musters ‐ numbers of participants and toads caught per site

Dates Site Number of participants

Number of Toads collected

25/11/10 Myocum 9 15

29/11/10 Tyagarah 10 129

01/12/10 Bangalow 12 14

05/02/11 Fern Beach 18 401

09/02/11 Bangalow 25 84

12/03/11 Suffolk Park 13 263

TOTALS 87 906


11

Indian Mynas

There are 24 Indian myna traps currently being used across the Byron Shire. Since October the Invasive species officer has provided traps and training on how to use the traps to 13 new trappers in Byron Shire. Also, four new trappers who have built their own traps were assisted with trap designs and decoy birds. Over 70 birds have been controlled in the Byron Shire during this period. The locations of bird sightings is being monitored and Indian myna birds are mainly in urban and rural landscapes in the shire. Information about Indian Mynas has been published in the local landcare newsletters and ENEWS. There have also been stalls and displays at markets and field days to help educate the public about the mynas.

Invasive Species Community Awareness Raising Activities

To raise public awareness about Indian mynas and cane toads, the Invasive Species Officer has organised displays, talks and used landcare and wider media publications (Table 3). Overall there have been:

• Four articles in Landcare newsletters;

• Three articles in local Newspapers;

• 160 flyers delivered in letter box drops;

• Seven talks (including those before musters); and

• Four displays/stalls

For details of these see the Communications Strategy Update (p. 30).

Tweed Shire

Bush regeneration work has been continuing across Tweed Shire with primary weed control work undertaken or completed over more than 33 hectares of urban bushland; additional primary works on 20+ hectares are proposed for the coming year. Heavy summer rains in December and January slowed work over this period however on‐ground work is currently meeting targets with contractors providing reports and addendums for Site Action Plans and additional primary and maintenance works being allocated as targets are met. Work is currently being monitored by Council from Sap updates and daily work record sheets which are submitted regularly.

In Tweed Shire set time contracts were not issued but rather contractors were assigned amounts for primary works on the proviso that when these were completed, monitored, evaluated and reported on that follow maintenance works would be funded. I several cases additional primary works


12

funding have been allocated to an initial underestimation of the extent of such works. All progress reporting will include an over view of work completed, before and after monitoring data sheets and photo‐ point photos as well as recommendations for future work. Final reports will be required at the end of the project, most probably late February 2012 to allow time for their collation. These will provide valuable date with which to evaluate the on‐ground work program and direct work into the future.

Below is an overview of work progress to date:

• Bush regeneration work is ongoing at 34 sites across Tweed Shire and approximately 44 hectares has been treated since July 2010;

• A further 10 sites will also receive works over the final 12 months of the Project, SAPs are currently being prepared for these sites with works scheduled to commence in the near future;

• Approximately 3481 person hours of work has been completed and invoiced by professional bush regenerators to date (see Table 3 for breakdown by site).

• Ten National Green Jobs Corps and three Jobs Fund trainees have undertaken over 400 hours of bush regeneration work ; a new group of ten National Green Jobs Corps trainees have commenced works recently and the Jobs Fund trainees will continue their works;

• Work is being carried out in nine different vegetation types, five of which are Endangered Ecological Communities; and

• Signs will be placed at 18 sites by 07 April informing residents of works in progress and how they can assist.

Site Specific Progress

Primary works have commenced at 28 Tweed sites some of which are clustered according to geographic spread and similar vegetation communities where possible. Neighbouring landholders have received follow up letters outlining works to date and which again urge their contribution through choices made in their own back gardens. To date over 500 letters have been sent to neighbours at work sites in Tweed, a similar number of letters have also been sent out in Byron Shire.

Table 3 ‐ Bush regeneration work cluster progress ‐ March 2011



Total area (ha)

Area worked (ha)

Hours work

Work overview

Tweed Palliative Services, Dulguigan

1 3 1.5 134

Primary weed control completed across site; follow up work provided by other volunteer workers. Donation to construction of Bushland friendly garden.


13



Total area (ha)

Area worked (ha)

Hours work

Work overview

Elsie Street, Banora Point

3 4.8 1.5 222

Primary weed control commenced at 2 sites treating areas of Winter Senna and Cocos Palm. Primary work at third site to commence soon 3 hour workshop held with 15 local residents to explain works and techniques.

Razorback 1 0.6 0.6 48

Primary weed control completed in LRf on basalt site. Follow‐up maintenance works have been funded and continue. Madeira Vine a particular issue. Roadside planting planned for coming months.

Kingscliff High School

3 12 6 Primary work underway across all sites.

Kingscliff Library

2 1.7 1

351 Primary weed control has been commenced across the site and a protocol has been developed within the SAP for management of Mitchell’ Rainforest Snail onsite.

James Road Wetland

1 3.2 3.2 98 Primary weed control program well advanced. Support from neighbours.

Piggabeen Hall

1 1 1 64

Primary weed control in progress; considerable growth of Cat’s Claw Creeper. Complemented by an adjoining regeneration buffer planting by same contractor

Oxley Cove 2 4.7 2 612

Primary works completed, monitored and evaluated. Follow up maintenance funded and commenced. TSC crew removed a small truck load of rubbish from the restoration site.

Banora Point Rainforest Remnants

3 3 3 296 Primary works well advanced, additional primary works and some initial maintenance works funded.

Bushland Drive

1 6.5 2.5 292 Primary works well advanced, additional primary works funded due to underestimate and some initial maintenance works funded.

Birds Bay Walkway

3 13.3 4.5 480

Primary works completed for two sites, additional primary funding allocated to third site and follow up maintenance funding allocated. TSC and private tree loppers engaged to remove large weed trees adjacent


14



Total area (ha)

Area worked (ha)

Hours work

Work overview

to walkway.

Terranora Broadwater

4 14.8 4.5 295

Primary works completed at one site and additional primary works allocated. Steep weedy and difficult site to work. Approach has had to vary during progress; tree weeds over 4m targeted and areas adjacent to rear of neighbouring properties treated as a priority.

George Ord Park

1 0.9 0.9 88

Steep site, LRf on basalt, requires abseiling work. Dense Blue Trumpet Vine, Ochna and Umbrella Tree infestations. Large weed tree removal undertaken by TSC tree gang. Additional primary works funded

William Campbell Park

1 0.5 0.5 320

All primary works completed, monitored and evaluated and progress report supplied. Maintenance works to be funded in the near future. TSC crews removed rubbish and weed piles as required.

Murphy’s Road

Foreshore 1 5.8 3 181

Primary works well advanced; Indigenous training site, input from mentoring consultancy continuing.

Fingal Quarry ‐ Littoral

Rainforest remnants

6 NA 8.35 254

Primary and follow up bush regeneration has been undertaken. Sites funded in conjunction with NRCMA funding; 23% BF funded. See note below

Pottsville Environment

Park NA (4)

NA (59.2)

NA NA

SAP near completion. Works due to commence in near future. Second Tweed site for Indigenous Training Program. Walking tracks and interpretive signage to be upgraded

Chinderah Wetlands

NA NA

(27.8) NA NA SAP commissioned, unsure if works will be

funded at present. Wetlands and LRf

Bray Park Wetlands NA (5)

NA (12.4)

NA NA SAP commissioned and works to commence in May/June. On‐ground works funding allocated.

Pottsville Wetlands NA NA NA NA

Funding allocated to fencing of core Koala habitat, exclusion of motorbikes and domestic animals; rubbish collection and planting.


15



Total area (ha)

Area worked (ha)

Hours work

Work overview

Stotts Island NA (1) NA (7.5) NA NA

Funding has recently been approved for preparation of SAP and funded primary works. Project to work in with Green Corps Fund team

Totals of worked sites

34 74.8 44.05 3481

Totals ‐planned work sites

44 181.7

Other Site Work Outcomes

Tweed Palliative Services, Dulguigan Additional works at this site has been provided by contractors, businesses and individuals including removal of large camphor laurel tress adjacent to the residence. It is anticipated that Bush Futures will contribute materials to the construction of a Bushland Friendly garden onsite.

Elsie Street, Banora Point 63 neighbouring landholders were invited to attend a three hour workshop delivered by the contractors EnviTE to explain the significance of the site, the works proposed and the techniques to be utilised and how they could contribute to a sustainable long‐term improvement of the bushland on site. While only 15 residents attended the results of the day were disseminated through their neighbourhood committee meeting.

Kingscliff Library During preparation of the SAP for this site a protocol was developed for management of Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail (Endangered, TSC Act; Critically Endangered, EPBC Act) that are know to use this area.

Oxley Cove It is proposed to utilise TSC’s tree gang to remove large weed tree species to complement on‐ground restoration works. There is also the potential to undertake a buffer planting to protect the edge of this vegetation, dependent upon budget.

George Ord Park, Banora Point In addition to the contracted bushland restoration works TSC’s tree gang undertook removal of large weed tree species on the north edge and steep face of the site adjacent to a Council car park as these species could not be stem injected in‐situ.


16

William Campbell Park, Tweed Heads West All primary onsite works completed and maintenance to be funded in the near future. TSC work crews removed piles of weed generated from this site as needed. A Bush Turkey nest was noted on site and a hatchling during works, although it appears that a carpet python may have taken the chick.

New Work Sites

Several new projects have been commissioned since the previous ET report

Pottsville Environment Park This site possess an existing network of trails and infrastructure that has been used spasmodically for outdoor education and interpretive purposes, including a meeting room, kitchen, toilets and interpretive and trail signage.

A SAP for this site has recently been prepared and on‐ground works will be allocated to two consultancies as part of the Indigenous Training program. Madhima Gulgan and Bushland Restoration Services will work the site together to support training outcomes for Madhima staff and trainees.

In addition to funding on‐ground restoration works, Bush Futures will also fund the updating and replacement of interpretive and trail signage at this site to improve capacity as an interpretive centre.

Chinderah Wetlands This site has recently been handed over to the LMPA and included in the Coastal reserve for Council to manage by the RTA who purchased the site as compensatory habitat for a bridge installed at Chinderah some years ago. At this time a SAP has been commissioned for the site and on‐ground works may be funded dependent on budgetary constraints.

Bray Park Wetlands This site includes public and private lands and a SAP is currently under preparation. Funding has been earmarked for on‐ground works including a Toad Muster and education event for landholders and adjacent residents.

Pottsville Wetlands Funding of up to $30,000 has been allocated to fencing of core Koala habitat to exclude motorbikes and domestic animals, for rubbish collection and restoration plantings at Pottsville Wetlands one of the BF Audit sites. This funding will supplement on‐ground works funded through the Environmental Trust grant, Protection and Restoration of Pottsville Wetlands (2010/SL/0071).

Other Works

Fingal Quarry and Littoral Rainforest remnants Bush Futures allocated $15,000 to support and Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority funded ‘Coordinating Coastal Community Engagement to Enhance & Connect Littoral Rainforest on


17

the Tweed Coast’ project obtained by Tweed Shire Council which aims to continue restoration of Littoral Rainforest communities on the Tweed Coast. These funds, originally allocated for works at the foot of the Fingal Head Quarry cliff face, have been spread over all work sites covered by this project.

Primary and follow up bush regeneration has been undertaken in 36.3ha of Littoral Rainforest remnants at Fingal Head, Casuarina, Bogangar, Hastings Point, Pottsville and Wooyung, approaching the target of 40ha. A total of 138 person days have been worked to date by Bushland Restoration Services who are working all remnants except Fingal quarry base worked by Madhima Gulgan.

One community event has been held at Norries Headland. Three media articles, supporting six Dunecare/Coastcare groups and one planting day have been completed, with one yet to be undertaken.

Bush Futures Project has provided 23% of the funding consequently our contribution represents works undertaken across 8.35 ha over 31.7 person days or 254 hours of input into this project.

Piggabeen Hall Planting Planting at this site has been finalised and weed suppression maintenance works are on‐going. This site receives treatment in conjunction with the adjoining bushland restoration works near Piggabeen Hall.

Rubbish Removal As noted in Table 3 above several sites have benefited from the removal of rubbish after bushland restoration works were commenced, in particular Razorback, Oxley Cove and William Campbell Park.

Butterfly Poster This project is well underway with photographs accumulated and sources of additional photo identified, captions and the majority of the text prepared. In addition a creative designer has been engaged to prepare the final layout. It is anticipated that the poster will be completed in time for a Landcare workshop on butterflies is held in May. Debate regarding the title of the poster is still underway with a range of likely titles including: Butterflies of the Tweed‐Byron region, Butterflies of the Wollumbin/Mt. Warning Caldera, Butterflies of NE NSW and SE Qld, Butterflies of the Border Ranges, etc.

National Green Jobs Corps The second corps team commenced work in early 2011 and are continuing to undertake works at the sites listed previously and at a new site adjacent to Stott’s Island on Tweed Valley Way in conjunction with a professional bushland restoration company (see Table 3 above).

Invasive Species Management

In Tweed Shire, the Bush Futures Project has employed an Invasive Species Officer for three days a week. This position is focusing on assisting the community to control vertebrate pest species in and


18

adjacent to urban bushland, as well as providing education and advice to the community on how to assist native species to survive the invasion of pest vertebrates.

Tweed Shire has seven major vertebrate pests that occur within and adjacent to urban bushland these are:

• Cane toads;

• Indian Mynas;

• Rabbits;

• Foxes;

• Feral and domestic cats;

• Feral poultry; and

• Wild and domestic dogs.

To date the Bush Futures Project has dedicated programs to support on‐ground works and targeted education campaigns for cane toads, Indian Mynas, poultry and rabbits. There are currently no targeted programs in place for foxes, cats or dogs; however the Invasive Species Control Officer does provide advice on methods of control for these species to interested landholders.

A summary of works undertaken to control cane toads, Indian Mynas, feral roosters and rabbits through the Bush Futures Project since 30th November 2010 is provided below.

Cane Toad Control

Cane Toad control in the Tweed will comprise of an integration of control methods. Selection of appropriate control methods has been guided by the Northern Rivers Cane Toad Working Group.

The selected methods of control will be:

• Small scale exclusion fencing / breeding habitat manipulation of the five sediment ponds at Koala Beach Estate, Pottsville coupled with high‐effort removal from within and around the fenced areas;

• Broad‐scale community musters at strategic locations around the Shire; and

• An education campaign on Cane Toad identification and promoting the establishment of habitats that disadvantage Cane Toads within urban yards, particularly their ability to breed but also reducing foraging and sheltering habitats.

Exclusion Fencing The use of exclusion fencing as a control method for Cane Toads follows the control model recommended by the ‘Stop the Toad Foundation’, who have widely applied this method of control to protect biologically significant areas surrounding the Western Australia/Northern Territory Border.


19

Exclusion fencing will be installed and maintained around the five sediment ponds at Koala Beach Estate. Surveys have shown that Cane Toads currently utilise all of these ponds and surrounding areas for breeding and foraging. A Draft Site Control Plan for Toad Control at Koala Beach Estate is in the final stages of development. It is anticipated that implementation of this plan will commence in mid‐May.

Koala Beach Estate has a dedicated Wildlife and Habitat Management Committee and an annual environmental levy that will allow the maintenance of fencing and exclusion plantings, as well as Toad collection, to be continued beyond the life of the Bush Futures Project.

Once this system has been established at Koala Beach Estate, this site will be used as a demonstration model to encourage internal and external funding for similar projects throughout the Tweed.

Broad Scale Community Cane Toad Musters Tweed Shire Council is currently collecting the appropriate equipment to conduct Community Cane Toad Musters. A Cane Toad Muster was held at Koala Beach Estate on 3 February when 304 toads were captured by the 25 community members who participated (see Appendix 2). Another Toad Muster was planned for Knox Park in Murwillumbah (see Communications update p.30), however an extreme weather event caused this muster to be cancelled at the last moment.

Further Toad Musters are planned for early April, then in the following Spring and Summer when the Cane Toads have emerged from winter dormancy.

Education Campaign An education campaign has been initiated, utilising local papers and newsletters and Tweed Shire Council now has a section dedicated to Cane Toads on their website which can be viewed at http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/CaneToads.

Indian Myna Control

There are currently 62 Indian Myna traps deployed throughout Tweed Shire. Since 30th November 2010, 672 Indian Mynas have been trapped in the Tweed and 34 community members have been initiated into the control program. This takes the total of Indian Mynas trapped in the Tweed since the program began in August 2008 to 3334.

The control program has a current waiting list of twelve people wanting to borrow traps, in order to reduce the time that people are waiting a partnership with Yamba Men’s Shed has been entered into. They have commenced building traps following the Pee Gee Trap Blueprint. This partnership will hopefully allow provision of traps as soon as community members register their interest in undertaking trapping. Once available trap numbers have increased, a media campaign will be initiated calling for trappers.

All community members that come on board with the trapping program are trained in trap use. This training occurs on‐site at their property, and they are instructed in the use of traps, following the methods outlined in ‘Guide to using PeeGees Trap’ (see App 2). The trappers are then required to sign the ‘Protocol on Animal Welfare’ (see App 2). Community members are welcome to keep the

http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/CaneToads


20

trap for as long as they are using it. All trappers are responsible for returning the trap to Council, with the trap in good working order.

Rabbit Control

Over the last couple of years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Rabbits running wild in the Tweed Shire that are either released domestic Rabbits or their descendants.

This influx of domestic Rabbits into the environment appears to have come about from Rabbits being housed improperly and then escaping, or from Rabbits being released by their owners rather than being re‐homed or euthanised.

Tweed Shire Council now has twelve traps that are available for loan by community members. Each community members that borrows a trap is required to read and sign the ‘Protocol on Animal Welfare’ (see Appendix 3). On the reverse side of the protocol are Rabbit trapping tips. Since 30th November 2010, Tweed community members have trapped 38 Rabbits.

Alongside the trapping program, Council has been running an education campaign through the media. See Appendix 1 for copies of the articles run through local media and community newsletters to date.

Feral Poultry

Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed office of NSW National Parks and Wildlife are in the process of developing a joint program of control for feral Roosters released in urban bushland.

This work will initially focus on one site where domestic Roosters have been dumped for a number of years, which is the rainforest restoration site adjacent to Stott’s Island, which is declared as Critical Habitat for Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

This program will consist of a trapping program supported by an education campaign. The education campaign will consist of extensive media coverage (both radio and newspapers) educating people as to the serious threat that feral Poultry pose to ground fauna. Additionally, a sign will be erected at the trapping site alerting people who may potentially be dumping Roosters that the birds will be trapped and euthanised.


21

Interim Evaluation of Indigenous Training Program The indigenous training component of the project is being carried out with Madhima Gulgan Community Association, an indigenous bush regeneration association based in Mullumbimby. To undertake the training Madhima Gulgan have been awarded contracts at four sites in Byron and Tweed Shires which require work schedule planning, on‐ground works and monitoring and evaluation of bush regeneration activities. Another local company, Bushland Restoration Services (BRS), have been engaged to provide a mentoring support role and training as required to Madhima as part of the program. Trainees In line with the requirements of the program two trainees were employed in late 2010:

• Michael Lebrocq ‐ started work early November first pay 11/11/10. He has completed 28.5 work days to date.

• Jannarli Balmer‐Williams ‐ started early December first pay 10/12/10. He has completed 19 work days to date.

The two trainees have averaged two days on‐ground work per week. They work alongside the Madhima Gulgan team and are learning bushland restoration skills including weed and native plant identification, weed control techniques and OH&S. They enjoy the work and are enthusiastic. Both trainees were recruited through Nortec Employment Agency; Nortec provided clothing and a tool allowance for Michael only. Both also commenced the TAFE Conservation & Land Management Certificate III course in February 2011 at Wollongbar TAFE. Michael has had poor attendance at TAFE and has been told that he is required to have the qualifications to retain his job. The head teacher has been contacted to inquire about Michael’s attendance. Jannarli ceased employment with Madhima Gulgan on the 11 March 2011 for a full time position which includes training and higher wages; although this is a loss for Madhima it is a positive career step for Jannarli. Madhima will now attempt to fill Jannarli’s position with another trainee. Existing Employees Three of the existing employees from Madhima Gulgan, Gavin Ivey, Todd Browning and Natasha Johnson commenced the Conservation Land Management Certificate IV course in February 2011 at Murwillumbah TAFE. They are currently preparing a Site Action Plan for their work site at North Ocean Shores. A draft of the Plan has been forwarded to Rhonda James from BRS who has reviewed the plan and sent comments back to Madhima. The Plan is due to be completed by early April.


22

Bob Smeuninx from BRS will provide on site training for the current trainee at the Ocean Shores site on future work days. Rhonda and Bob will also provide assistance for trainees and other Madhima employees who are attending TAFE. Through the Project works offered to Madhima these employees are also developing their project management skills including time management, invoicing and reporting on work progress which has enabled them to submit work proposals of a professional standard to gain additional contracts with both Councils.


23

Interim Evaluation of Landcare Workshops and Field Days

Byron Shire Three landcare groups have been trained and equipped to conduct their own cane toad musters. These groups are Bangalow Land and Rivercare, Tyagarah Landcare and Fern Beach group. All these groups have been conducting their own musters since training. The Musters have been successful and the groups have collected and euthanised over 600 toads at their own Musters. These Landcare groups have also been monitoring toad populations and keeping valuable records of their work. The natural resource community support officer for the Byron region has recently conducted a survey of landcare groups in the Shire. This survey included questions about training for Landcarers. The bush futures project will use the data collected from this survey to provide training that specifically meets the needs of these landcare groups. These specific training programs are expected to start in April 2011.

Tweed Shire While the number of workshops delivered appears low the time frame for this report, December 2010 to March 2011 includes the summer holiday period and coincides with the hottest (and wettest) time of the year. Our landcare members on the Steering Committee indicated that this is a traditionally difficult period in which to draw numbers of people to community engagement events. Consequently workshops were deliberately not planned for this period.

Snake ID Workshop

Tweed Landcare organised and promoted a ‘Snakes of the Tweed’ workshop for Saturday 5 February and due to the overwhelming response a second workshop was scheduled and run on 5 March. A combined total of over 120 people attended the workshops. The workshops, delivered by reptile expert Sue Johnson were run to help dispel the myths pertaining to snakes and to provide insight into their habits and identification and were a great success.

Community Engagement

Byron

My Native Garden

Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc. is in the process of preparing a booklet entitled “My Native Garden”, a local planting guide to promote biodiversity in the Byron Shire; this project has been funded as part of an Environmental Trust grant program and receives in‐kind support from BSC staff and local individuals and financial support from the Bush Futures Project.


24

Tweed

Care Group Procedures Manual

A Care Group Procedures Manual and PowerPoint training package has been completed for each Shire which will instruct and provide guidance to volunteers, volunteer groups and carers working on public lands.

This manual was complied by EnviTE from extensive information and resources and provided by each Council’s CSO, Landcare representatives from Brunswick Valley and Tweed and in conjunction with Council OH&S Officers and other staff with experience in managing volunteer groups working on public lands.

In addition the following sources were utilised in it preparation

• Conservation Volunteers Australia. In Safe Hands A Safety Management Tool Kit for Community Groups in Practical Conservation. Conservation Volunteers Australia;

• Blue Mountains City Council. 2002. Bushcare Procedures Manual. Blue Mountains City Council;

• Lake Macquarie City Council http://www.lakemac.com.au/;

• Landcare Australia. New Group Starter Kit, Your guide to starting a new landcare group. Landcare Australia. http://www.landcareonline.com.au/.

A copy of the Tweed manual is included as Appendix 6.

http://www.lakemac.com.au/

http://www.landcareonline.com.au/


25

Communication/Media Update

Since the previous Milestone report numerous communication and media articles have been generated to promote the Project and its component programs. A full list of these is provided in Table 6 below in the Business Plan Update section; some of these are outlined below.

Advertising in Byron and Tweed Shire Echo newspapers A series of eight advertisements prepared by the Bush Futures Project Officer were run over consecutive weeks in the Byron and Tweed Shire Echo newspapers. In Byron the advertisements ran from 08 February until the 29 March and in Tweed from 10 March until 28 April, 2011 a three month spread. The first four were generic for both Shires with only the contact details and audit results altered for each Shire, the fourth advertisement appeared in a lift‐out supplement called ‘Your Sustainable Community 2011’ was the same in both papers, with the contact shown as the Bush Futures website. The remaining four advertisements are site specific for clusters of sites worked in each Shire; two from each Shire. All the advertisements are included in Appendix 2.

Site Signs A further 24 site works signs, detailed in the previous report, have been produced by Tweed Shire for use across the Study Area, these signs are affixed to an aluminium backing and steel post as a more permanent display format to promote the Project after some early corflute signs were vandalised. It is envisaged that these signs will remain in‐situ for some time beyond the end of the Project or until additional funding is allocated to the sites. The signs inform the public that Bush Regeneration work is currently being carried out and that the site has significant conservation value. The signs briefly outline what threats are contributing to the degradation of the site (e.g. weeds, dumping of garden waste and rubbish, feral animal or erosion) and what residents can do to assist in its management.


26

Resources and Fact Sheets

Invasive Species Fact sheets have been developed for the Project as part of the Invasive Species control and education programs these include; ‘Indian Myna Guide to using PeeGee trap’, ‘Indian Myna Protocol of animal welfare’ and ‘Rabbit Protocol on Animal Welfare’. These information sheets can be viewed in Appendix 3.

Audit Report Cards An audit report card was developed by the Project Officer for a cluster of sites at Suffolk Park – west, Byron Shire to coincide with the running of a filed day at these sites to disseminate the works. The costs associated with producing this report card may outweigh its benefits to the project. While a template has been produced considerable time and effort is required to apply that template to each set of cluster sites and considerable cost is involved in its printing. Consideration of the future use of the template is currently being considered by the Steering Committee. A copy of the Audit Report Card is provided in Appendix 4.


27

Final Evaluation of Sustainable Streets Program The second round of the Sustainable Street program was completed recently and proved a great success; the only outstanding actions remaining are collation of participant responses to a survey pertaining to the programs delivery and implementation of each streets community resource. The Final Report has been delivered and is included as Appendix 5. The Conclusion from this report is reproduced below. “The participant feedback and data results indicate that the Sustainable Streets Program was successful in terms of achieving its stated social and environmental objectives. A consistent message to reduce personal resource consumption and connect with neighbours was apparent in all participating neighbourhoods. It was participant’s openness and desire to connect that gave extra ‘life’ to the program. Improvements can be made in order to target these willing champions of change and support them to do what is, for them, a natural impulse to improve the sustainability of their neighbourhoods. It should be noted that the Program was particularly successful in attracting a diverse range of participants, from those with a sound understanding and commitment to sustainability to those who were new to learning about sustainable living practices. This relates to the Program’s ability to operate at a micro‐local level and thereby engage participants that were attracted to the social and congenial aspects of the Program, rather than any perceived ‘environmental’ value.” In addition to the comments made above by the Program’s coordinator it should be emphasised that without her commitment to the Program and preparedness to go the extra yard the program would not have been as successful as it ultimately was.


28

Financial Statement Attached below are financial statements prepared by the managing agency Tweed Shire Council showing the allocation and expenditure of grant numbers according to line items in the Bush Futures Business Plan and a statement of expenditures by partner agency Byron Shire Council. To date approximately $920,000 has been spent and/or committed to on‐ground and supporting works. Table 4 ‐ Byron Shire Expenditures to 18 March 2011

TOTAL COSTS for Bush Futures Project to 18 March 2011

Byron Project Officer $45,993.00 Contractors/Consultants $116,478.00 Sustainability Streets $6,500.00 Materials $9,080.00 Transport Costs $1,384.00 Project publicity $4,715.00 General administration $185.00 Documentation $0.00 Other $16,248.00 Total $200,583.00


29

Table 5 ‐ Financial Statement to 31 March 2011


30

Amended Business Plan

Communications Plan Updates The updated and finalised communication strategy for year two of the Project is shown in Table 6 below; entries in bold are updates since Progress Report 3 (31 November 2010). The updates reflect what media, workshops, promotions and events have been held during the second year of the Project; a selection of these media articles can be viewed in Appendix 2.

Table 6 ‐Updated Communications Strategy from Business Plan

Target Audience

Details Form of Communication Release / Delivery date

Responsible Officer

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS ‐ YEAR 2

Workshop with Councillors & Executive Management Teams

Presentation introduced by Project Manager and Council Officers re: long‐term value / benefits of BF project and NRM to Council(s)

TSC ‐ 10 May 2010

Project Manager and Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC) & Biodiversity Program Leader (TSC)

Steering Committee Training package presented

by LGSA for Councillors, Directors, Managers, selected Coordinators and Steering Committee members

Half‐day workshop– to improve skills, knowledge and engagement of Councils in NRM issues

Nov 23 2010 Project Manager and Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC)

Project update to Executive Management Team

Printed report and power point presentation of project and implications

BSC – 17 February 2010

Project Manager

Article outlining project aims, bushland audit progress and first on ground works roll out

Staff newsletter (‘InsideOUT’) TSC

April 2010 Project Manager

News/info article – project promotion and update

BF website; Inside OUT (TSC) and BSC Staff newsletter/e‐mail

September 2010

Project Manager & BSC Project Officer

Tweed & Byron Shire Council staff and Councilors

Project update to Councils Executive Management Teams

Printed report and power point presentation

July & December 2010



31

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Targeted presentation to selected indoor staff – Engineering, Planning, Design, Subdivisions, Works, Building & Environmental Health Units and others as identified

Continued workshop rollout which will involve internal units providing a synopsis of their field of work its interaction with NRM issues and outlining what works are on the go at present

September 2011


Presentations to outdoor staff

Workshops/briefings identifying ways that outdoor operators can limit their environmental impact e.g. road and bridge construction crews, spray gangs, roadside slashing contractors, parks maintenance staff

February 2011 Project Manager & BSC Project Officer

Direct contact with other ET grant recipient Project Leader ‐ Biodiversity in High Country Urban Communities to discuss projects, communications and Business Plan

E‐mail and telephone, USP regional cluster meetings

February 2010 & November 2010 and through e‐mail updates

Project Manager, Project Officer (BSC), Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC) & Biodiversity Program Leader (TSC)

Liaise with other groups regarding complimentary projects to avoid repetition of workshops or onground work

Email/meetings Ongoing

Project Manager and Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC) & Biodiversity Program Leader (TSC) Landcare representatives and CSO’s.

Discuss progress / outcomes

Email Monthly Project Manager

Tweed River Festival follow up including BF content

Inside Out monthly internal newsletter for TSC staff

Nov 2010 TSC NRM Coordinator and Project Manager

Training package presented by LGSA for Councilors, Directors, Managers, selected Coordinators and Steering Committee members

Half‐day workshop– to improve skills, knowledge and engagement of Councils in NRM issues

Nov 23 2010 Project Manager and Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC)


32

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Positive Development presentation ‐ planning and designing opportunities for sustainable lifestyles and retrofitting buildings and urban centres that generate positive ecological outcomes

Presentation by Dr. Janis Birkeland (QUT) for planners and general public including provision of background documentation outlining opportunities in more detail

09 February 2011

Earth Learning Inc., TSC NRM Projects Officer, TSC CSO

BF Progress report to BSC Biodiversity and Sustainability Advisory committee

Oral presentation on Project progress

3 March 2011 Project Officer

Byron Shire Council Biodiversity enewsletter

Newsletter articles of project updates

monthly Project Officer

Byron Shire Councilor newsletter‐ project updates

Newsletter articles of project updates

bi‐monthly Project Officer

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS – YEAR 2

Minutes of Steering Committee meetings and project updates as required

E‐mail, involvement in onground project

17 March, 21 April, 19 May, 21 July, 18 August, 15 Sept, 27 Oct, 09 Dec 2010, 16 Feb, 16 March 2011

Project Manager & Project Officer

Advertise and engage Project Officer

E‐mail March – 10 May 2010

Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC)

Media article – On‐ground Management/Actions

Print and online media advertising April/May 2010

Project Manager, Project Officer (BSC)

Stakeholder Reference Group (includes Mayors and GMs)

Advertising Tweed Link

Local newspaper March 2010 Project Manager


33

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Brochure(s) ‐ Available at Council offices;

Handout for NRM displays at community events

Tweed & Byron Shire Echo newspaper

May 2010 Project Manager & Project Officer

Contractors / Consultants

Regular Project liaison as required

Telephone, e‐mail and onsite meetings

24 Feb 2010 and ongoing

Project Manager & Project Officer, CSO’s with Council Communication units input

Available at Council offices NRM displays at community events e.g. Garden Club open days, Brunswick Valley Nature Festival, Big Scrub Day, Tweed River Festival, Caldera Art Fest, World Environment Day Festival; Fact Sheets/brochures/flyers on NRM and urban sustainability issues

General information about NRM for residents e.g. invasive spp control, companion animal mgt, nest box manual, working near Flying fox camps, weed ID and control.

May 2010 and ongoing as produced

Project Manager & Project Officer with Council Communication units input

Launch of Bush Futures website hosted by TSC

Landcare newsletters, print media, Council websites; Tweed & Byron Shire Council web sites, including links to Key Stakeholders

May‐June 2010 (BVL newsletter)

Project Manager & Project Officer with Council Communication units input

Promotion of onground works Oxley Cove (TSC), which has funding links to other funded NRM projects

Tweed Link (TSC), 25 May 2010; Project Manager and TSC Water ways Program Leader

Field day to interpret onground works at Oxley Cove (TSC), funding links to other funded NRM projects

Tweed Link (TSC) and Media Release (TSC)

15 June 2010 (Link); 22 June 2010 (media release)

Project Manager, Tweed Landcare Inc and TSC Waterways Program Leader

Tweed & Byron Community

Byron Biodiversity E NEWS Electronic quarterly Byron Project Officer


34

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

World Environment Day (TSC) & Brunswick Valley Nature Festival (BSC) – activities

Promo flyer distributed through Council’s foyers, Env Centres, retail shops and on poster billboards across Shires; Media release ‐ Local newspapers, incl. Tweed & Byron Echo, BV & Tweed landcare newsletter, Tweed Link; paid ad in Byron Echo

04‐06 June 2010

01 June 2010 (Tweed Link), May‐June BVL newsletter); June o1 (Echo ad)

Tweed & Byron Sustainability Officers , Caldera Environment Centre reps, Brunswick Valley & Tweed Landcare reps

Launch of National Green Jobs Corps (TSC)

Media notified by service provider (EnviTE Inc.). Article in Tweed Daily News article. Launch in Masterton Park Burringbar

07 July 2010 EnviTE Inc and Tweed Landcare rep

Onground works start‐up and promotion of project

Media release (BSC); Local papers ‐ Byron Echo; Byron Shire News; Tweed Link (TSC), Tweed Sun; Murwillumbah weekly

05 July 2010 (BSC); 13 July 2010 (Echo); 15 July (Byron News); 20 July 2010 (Link); 08 Aug 2010 (Weekly); 12 Aug (Sun)

Project Manager & Project Officer

Piggabeen Hall Centenary Bush Futures supported tree planting in conjunction with centenary celebrations

29 July 2010 (Tweed Echo); 12 Aug 2010 (Tweed Echo)

Project Manager

Bushland Audit early results dissemination

Radio interview ABC North Coast 02 Aug 2010 Project Manager

Bushland Friendly Gardens explained

Talk delivered to Banora Point Garden Club (Tweed)

03 Aug 2010 Project Manager

Bush Futures progress report ‐ BSC

Media release from BSC;

Posted on BF website Aug 2010 Project Officer

Bushland Audit Results – ‘Dumping’ issues across Shires

Articles in Tweed Link and Tweed Mail newspaper

26 Aug (Mail); 12 Oct (Link) 2010

Project Manager


35

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Promotional Poster prepared for Big Scrub Rainforest day and presentation of talks by BF Project officer

Hand out program guide also published in Northern Star Newspaper and Byron Shire Echo

29 August & 05 September 2010

Project Officer

Tweed River Festival – Walk n Talk to disseminate on ground works at BF funded sites

Walk n Talk supported by TSC media release and local newspaper advertising (MORE sources?)

25 Oct 2010

Project Manager, TSC NRM Coordinator and regeneration contractor

Catchment Catch‐up (part of Tweed River Festival) – dissemination of Bushland Audit outcomes

Presentation and PowerPoint;

Media release 28 Oct 2010 Project Manager

Advertising for Mullumbimby Community Garden – Camphor Bash workshop to show effective methods for camphor control

Flyer and article in Brunswick Valley Landcare newsletter

29 Oct 2010

Mullumbimby site manager and Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

Tweed River Festival – NRM Information stall established and personed by BF and TSC NRM staff;

Stall with brochures including Bush Futures project info and other info

30 Oct 2010

TSC NRM Unit; Project Manager; Steering Committee members, Tweed Landcare Inc

Conserving Byron Shire’s Biodiversity lecture – ‘Living with Wildlife in Towns and Cities’

Lecture ‐ Guest Speaker Darryl Jones (Griffith Uni); Tweed and Byron Shire Echo promo ad

11 Nov (TSC & BSC Echo) 16 Nov (lecture) 2010

Team Leader Natural Resources (BSC)

Invasive Species program dissemination and information distribution

Stall and display at Mullumbimby Agricultural Show shared with local Landcare group

13 November 2010

Byron Invasive Species Officer & Landcare Group

Federal (Byron Shire) Bush Friendly Garden planting day promotion

Poster put up at Federal General Store noticeboard, Federal Preschool, Byron Council Office and emailed to Landcare group. Advertised in Brunswick Valley Landcare newsletter

14 November 2010

Project Officer


36

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Promotional flyer detailing activities for Myocum Cane Toad Muster

Flyer letter box drop to 40 houses in the area. Advertised in Brunswick Valley Landcare newsletter

19 & 25 November 2010

Byron Invasive Species Officer; Myocum Landcare

Promotional flyer detailing activities for Tyagarah Cane Toad Muster

Flyer letter box drop to 70 houses in the area.

25 November 2010

Byron Invasive Species Officer; Tyagarah Landcare

Promotion for cane toad muster in Bangalow (Byron)

Flyer and media release resulting in articles in Byron Echo and Byron Shire News

25 November; 01 December 2010

Byron Invasive Species Officer; Bangalow Landcare & Rivercare

Bangalow Toad Muster media coverage

Media coverage of the muster outcomes in Byron News and Northern Star newspapers

02 December 2010; 12 February 2011

Bangalow Landcare and Rivercare

Invasive Species program dissemination and information distribution at Byron farmers market

Stall and display at Farmers markets, Invasive Species Officer providing information at stall shared with Dunecare group

02 December 2010; 18 February 2011

Byron Invasive Species Officer; Dunecare

Byron Region natural resources management e‐news

Articles about Cane toads and Indian Mynas in newsletter which is emailed to over 500 recipients

15 December 2010; 11 March 2011

Byron Invasive Species Officer

Koala Beach newsletter article regarding Responsible Rabbit Ownership to address rabbit number increase

Koala Beach (TSC) Wildlife Habitat Newsletter, distributed to local residents

November/December 2010/11

Tweed Invasive Species Officer

Media article suggesting that rabbits do not make an environmentally friendly Xmas pet

Tweed Link newsletter 21 December 2010


Flyer produced to promote Snakes Workshop

Flyer distributed through Council Chambers, Landcare Networks and local Environment Centre

January 2011 Tweed Community Support Officer

Newspaper articles and Media release promoting Toad Musters and Snake Workshops

Tweed Shire Council (media release 27th); Murwillumbah Weekly; Tweed Link; Tweed Daily News (2 articles, 28 Jan & 31 Jan cane toads only) & Tweed Sun (cane toads only) papers

21, 25, 27, 28 & 31 January , 03 February 2011 (Weekly, Link, TSC, News (2), Sun)

Tweed Community Support Officer; Tweed Invasive Species Officer


37

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Newspaper articles and Media release promoting Snake Workshops

TSC Echo; Tweed Border Mail; Tweed Daily News

All 03 February 2011

Tweed Community Support Officer; Tweed Invasive Species Officer

Series of 8 ads ‐ 4 ads based around the themes: audit results, invasive species, environmental weeds and core bushland threats & 4 ads site specific highlighting values, threats and work underway. One ad used in ‘Your Sustainable Community’ insert for papers in both Shires

Local Newspaper‐ Byron Shire Echo and;

in online e‐Magazine at Echo website for 12 months

8, 15, & 22, Feb, 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 March.

Project Officer

Ongoing e‐magazine display of BF ‘Your Sustainable Community’ ad

Online e‐magazine format for 12 months

March 2011 to March 2012

Project Manager and Project Officer

Follow up media outlining outcomes of Toad Muster

Story and photos of Koala Beach Toad Muster in Tweed Echo & Murwillumbah Weekly

10 & 13 February 2011


Follow up media outlining outcomes of Snake Workshop

Story and photos of Snake Workshop Murwillumbah Weekly

13 February 2011

Tweed Community Support Officer; Tweed Landcare Inc

Promotional flyer detailing activities for Fern Beach Cane Toad Muster

Flyer letter box drop to 50 houses in the area.

01 February 2011

Byron Invasive Species Officer ; Fern Beach Landcarers

Positive Development presentation ‐ planning and designing opportunities for sustainable lifestyles and retrofitting buildings and urban centres that generate positive ecological outcomes

Presentation by Dr. Janis Birkeland (QUT) for planners and general public including provision of background documentation outlining opportunities in more detail

09 February 2011

Earth Learning Inc., TSC NRM Projects Officer, TSC CSO

Positive Development – Earth Learning Lecture media follow up

Newspaper article in Tweed Border mail

10 February 2011

Earth Learning Inc. Liaison Officer


38

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Talk by BSC Invasive Species Officer about Indian myna traps and cane toad control

Talk given to North East Pest Animal Advisory Committee

24 February 2011

NEPAAC and Byron Invasive Species Officer

Promotion of Murwillumbah Toad Muster

Article in Tweed link paper 01 March 2011


Series of 8 ads ‐ 4 ads based around the themes: audit results, invasive species, environmental weeds and core bushland threats & 4 ads site specific highlighting values, threats and work underway. One ad used in ‘Your Sustainable Community’ insert for papers in both Shires

Local Newspaper‐ Byron Shire Echo; and

in online e‐Magazine at Echo website for 12 months

10, 17, 24, & 31 March, 7, 14, 21, & 28 April

Project Manager

Biodiversity in Backyard field day ‐ Display, information and advice from BSC Invasive Species Officer

Field day‐ advertised via ad in Byron Echo, article in Byron News, Northern Star, BVL newsletter, Biodiversity newsletter, NRCMA website, Great Eastern Rangers website, emailed to Big Scrub Landcare members

12 March 2011

Byron Invasive Species Officer

Report Card for Suffolk Park: displaying audit results, values, threats and work underway

Printed report card 12 March 2011

Project Officer

Media release regarding environmental restoration work in Dwarf Graminoid Clay Heath

Local Newspaper‐ Byron Echo, Byron News

15 March (Echo, 17 March (Byron News)

Project Officer

Nest Boxes for Wildlife Workshop promotion (BF landcare education event) promotion

Media release from TSC 25 March 2011

TSC CSO and TSC Media Liaison Officer


39

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Nest Box for Wildlife Workshop promotion by presenter (BF landcare education event) promotion

Radio interview on ABC North Coast with David Lloyd (Nest box workshop presenter)

28 March 2011

TSC CSO and TSC Media Liaison Officer

Nest Box for Wildlife Workshop promotion

Media article in Tweed Link 29 March 2011

TSC CSO and TSC Invasive Species officer

Website updates Pdf and project updates available on BF, BSC & TSC websites

On‐going Project Manager & Project Officer

Media articles Signage June 2010 Project Manager & Project Officer

Tweed & Byron Council website profiles

of existing Sustainable Streets

Tweed Link

Local newspapers Quarterly

Sustainability and Climate Change Officers & Program Coordinator

Workshops and Starter Kits Electronic June 2010 Sustainability and Climate Change Officers

Street Badging Individual workshop starter kits presented to participants

Monthly from 2010 to March 2011

Sustainability Program Coordinator

Byron Sustainability ENEWS Signage and letterbox stickers March & September 2010


Round Two promotion

Media releases from Council;

Media promotion, Byron Echo, Murwillumbah Weekly

14 May (BSC); 18 May (Echo); 23‐29 May 2010 (Weekly)

Sustainability Officers and Sustainability Program Coordinator

Sustainable House and Garden Tour – to celebrate the culmination of the initial SS program

Byron Shire Echo article; Tweed Shire Echo article

14 Sept; 23 Sept 2010


Tweed & Byron Sustainable Street Programs

Dissemination of SS program Australia wide

Australian Conservation Foundation ‘Greenhome’ webpage article

01 Nov 2010 Sustainability Program Coordinator


40

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Sustainable Streets reduced environmental footprint results from Round 2

Media article in Tweed Link 29 March 2011

TSC Sustainability Officer

Tweed & Byron Landcare Newsletters – notice of workshops/field days

Electronic news to subscribers (both newsletters reach 500 + recipients each)

quarterly Sustainability Program Coordinator

Landcare workshops/field days at targeted sites 10/yr

Specialist workshop presenters (Indigenous Issues, Bush Regenerators, Sustainability, Ecology, Bushfire etc)

Electronic & postal Monthly from March 2010

Tweed Landcare Inc

Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

World Environment Day (TSC) & Brunswick Valley Nature Festival (BSC) – activities

Workshops/field days Bimonthly from March 2010

Tweed Landcare Inc

Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc and other Incs in Byron Shire

Brunswick Valley Nature Festival (BSC) – activities

Promo flyer distributed through Council foyers, Env Centres, retail shops and on poster billboards across Shires; Media release ‐ Local newspapers, incl. Tweed & Byron Echo, BV & Tweed landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients), Tweed Link

04‐06 June 2010

01 June 2010 (Tweed Link),

Tweed & Byron Sustainability Officers , Caldera Environment Centre reps, Brunswick Valley & Tweed Landcare reps

Brunswick Valley Nature Festival (BSC) – activities

Habitat values walk & talk 04 June 2010 Bush Futures Project Officer

Promotion of Bush Futures Project

BV Landcare newsletter June 2010 Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

Tweed & Byron local environment and Landcare groups

Biodiversity Month workshop ‐ Exploring rainforest biodiversity, threatened species and local actions through on‐ground projects

Series of presentations from Shane Rumming (DECCW), John Hunter (Ecologist) and Tanya Fountain (TSC Bushland Officer)

Advertised in Tweed Link (24 Aug); TSC Media release 26 Aug

04 September 2010

Tweed Landcare Inc


41

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

Minutes of Steering Committee meetings

Email

17 March, 21 April, 19 May, 21 July, 18 August, 15 Sept, 27 Oct, 09 Dec 2010, 16 Feb, 16 March 2011

Project Manager

Bush Futures Project Update

BV Landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

August 2010 Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

Native fauna Nest Box Manual prepared to guide individuals, community and Landcare groups in installation and management of nest boxes

BVL newsletter short article to advertise its release (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

September 2010


Promotion for Guided Walk to celebrate Landcare Week at Heritage Park, Alstonville

Flyer, letterbox drop and advertised in Brunswick Valley Landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

08 September 2010

Project Officer

Article outlining Biodiversity Plan preparation for Bush Futures sites at Ocean Shores


October 2010 Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

Bush Friendly Garden planting day promotion and promotion of new Invasive Spp Officer role in Byron


October 2010 Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc

Articles detailing invasive species program updates for Indian Myna and Cane Toad

BVL newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

13 Nov 2010 ; 10 February 2011

Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc., BSC Invasive Species Officer

Article outlining Cane Toad Musters in Koala Beach and Murwillumbah

Tweed Landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

January 2011 Tweed Landcare Inc., TSC Invasive Species Officer

Article outlining Snake Workshop in Murwillumbah

Tweed Landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

January 2011 Tweed Landcare Inc


42

Target Audience


Responsible Officer

My Native Garden – local planting guide preparation sponsored by Bush Futures


10 February 2011


Bush Futures progress report (Byron sites)


10 February 2011


Promotion of Cane Toad Muster in Murwillumbah

Article and heads up in Tweed Landcare newsletter (e‐mailed to 500+ recipients)

March 2011 Tweed Landcare Inc., TSC Invasive Species Officer

Nest Box Workshop (BF landcare education event) promotion

Article promoting the workshop in Tweed landcare newsletter

March 2011 Tweed Landcare Inc.,

Business Chambers / Investment Attraction / Tourism Bodies

Community Bush friendly Garden Construction, Dulguigan – Rotary, Bush Futures, Tweed Landcare, TAFE and others

Tweed Sun newspaper article detailing works undertaken by partner group (Rotary Murwillumbah)

19 Aug 2010 Rotary Murwillumbah


43

APPENDICES


44

APPENDIX 2 – MEDIA ARTICLES

Byron

Byron Echo and Tweed Shire Echo - advertising series

Shown below is a selection of ads from the series run in both the Tweed and Byron Echo newspapers from early February to late April, 2011.

Filed day to promote cluster sites at Suffolk Park in Byron Shire

Northern Star ad for Toad Muster at Bangalow, Byron Shire

The Byron Shire Echo - 8 March 2011

The Byron Shire Echo - 15 March 2011

Tweed

Snake and Cane Toad Workshop promotion

TWEED BORDER MAII

SNAKES have slithered onto the Tweed agenda withan informative workshop tobe held this Saturday.

The Snakes of the Tweedevent will be lead by Tweedwildlife carer and reptileexpert Sue Johnson.

"The Tweed has such agreat diversity of fauna andflora, which includes one ofthe most misunderstoodanimals - snakes," MsJohnson said.

"This workshop hopes toallay the myths and to giveal insight into their habitsand how to identify them.

"Snakes, Iike all ournative wildlife, areprotected.

"They perform a valuableservice to humans bykeeping mice and ratpopulations under control.

"They are part of theecosystem and it is in ourinterest to learn how toco-exist."

The workshop is part ofthe Tweed Byron BushFutures Project, a joint

event will take place at theCanvas and Kettle Room atthe Murwillumbah Civicand Cultural Centre onTumbulgum Road.

Those who wish to take

part are asked to registerwith Natural ResourceManagement communitysupport officer ClaireMasters on (02) 6670 2199 orcsotweed@

tweed.nsw.gov.au.For more information

about the Tweed ByronBush Futures Project, visitwww.tweed.nsw. gov.au/BushFutures/default. aspx.

BE ELLISHA PUGLIAelli s h a. pu g li a @ tu ee ¡Jn eu s. e om. au

I ': i. : . ' ;-ì : '" Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers volunteer Sue Johnson will tead a snake workshop in Murwillumbah on SaturdayPHOTO: D1æ22à

initiative of the Tweed andByron shire councils, whichare holding a number ofLandcare educationalevents.

The snake education

February 3,2011 I 7

Pro touroffers boostto bminessCROSS border business isset to get some huge air fromFebruary 26.

The 2011 Association ofSurfing Professionals (ASp)World Tour will launch fromSnapper Rocks' famous lipsin the form of the QuÍcksilverand Roxy Pros, with Tweedand Gold Coast businessesset to reap the rewards.- Destination Tweed chiefexecutive Phil Villiers saidthe tour's launch showcasedthe southern Gold Coast andimpacted on both sides of theborder's tourism.

"It is a great promotion forthe region to a domestic andworld market via thedifferent media that isattached to the surfindustry," Mr Villiers said.

Connecting Southern GoldCoast general manager JimWilson said the borderregion had every reason toIiken the ASP Tour launch toevents such as Melbourne'sAustralian Open tennis andits economic windfall forVictoria.

"In fact, unlike Melbourne,our city can do much, muchmore to use the launch of theASP World Tour as a tourismpromotional opportunity andall businesses should bethinking of better ways ofdoing this," Mr \{ilson said.

3

Award categories are: � Individual Landcarer Award � Urban Landcare Award

� Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices

Award

� Indigenous Award

� Local Landcare Facilitator/Coordinator Award

� Young Landcare Leader Award

� Coastcare Award � Local Government Landcare Partnership Award

� Landcare Primary Producer Award � Northern Rivers Soil Carbon Award

� Community Group Award � Northern Rivers Community Education Award

� Schools Education Award

Please note that all except the; Northern Rivers Soil Carbon Award and the Northern Rivers Community Education Award, align with the National and New South Wales Landcare Awards

The guidelines and nomination forms are available at http://northern.cma.nsw.gov.au/news.php The Northern Rivers 2011 Landcare Awards are supported by the Landcare groups of the North Coast Regional Landcare Network and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. For more information, please contact Jodie Gager, the NCRLN Regional Landcare Facilitator (coastal) at [email protected] , or Claire Masters, NRM Community Support Officer on 02 6670 2199 and [email protected]

Tweed Byron Bush Futures events –

Snakes of the Tweed Workshop and Cane Toad Musters The Tweed - Byron Bush Futures Project will continue its Landcare education series in 2011, starting with three events about local fauna, both native and feral.

Snakes of the Tweed Saturday 5th February, from 2 til 4 pm. Canvas & Kettle Room, Civic & Cultural Centre, Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah. Sue Johnson, local wildlife carer and reptile expert will lead the workshop. “The Tweed has such a great diversity of fauna and flora which includes one of the most misunderstood animals, snakes. This workshop hopes to allay the myths and to give an insight into their habits and how to identify them.” says Sue. Snakes, like all our native wildlife, are protected. They perform a valuable service to humans, by keeping mice and rat populations under control. They are part of the ecosystem and it is in our interest to learn how to co-exist. Numbers for this workshop are limited so participants are asked to register with Claire Masters, NRM Community Support Officer on 02 6670 2199 or [email protected]

jturnbull

Text Box

Tweed Landcare Newsletter_Jan 2011

4

Cane Toad Musters

Thursday 3rd February at 7.30 pm Koala Beach, Pottsville. Meet at the gazebo by the lake in Sugar Glider Drive.

Thursday 3rd March at 7.00 pm Knox Park, Murwillumbah. Meet at the gazebo by the pond in Wollumbin Street. Due to the high level of interest from community at Cane Toad Musters held in Tweed last year, another two are scheduled for 2011. Pamela Gray, Bush Futures Invasive Species Officer says “The toads are poisonous to predators such as snakes and birds and large toads are known to eat small native animals. Cane Toads also compete with native frogs for food and habitat.” Cane toads are listed as a Key Threatening Process under Schedule 3 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act as they pose a threat to local native wildlife. Everyone is welcome to come along to the musters to learn about the impact of cane toads, how to identify them and how to safely catch and handle cane toads. Those attending need to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and covered shoes and bring along a torch. Children must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years of age. For information about the musters contact Pamela Gray, Invasive Species Officer on 02 6670 2778 or [email protected] For more information about the Tweed - Byron Bush Futures Project visit http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/BushFutures/default.aspx

Pasture & Grazing Management Workshops When: 14 – 16 February Where: Murwillumbah AIMS and the Northern Rivers CMA are offering producers an opportunity to attend the very popular AIMS Pasture & Grazing Management Workshop. Healthy and productive pastures, soils and

livestock

Manage utilisation of pasture by livestock

Learn how to make this happen

Fully subsidised by NRCMA. For more information and to register contact: Lewis Kahn on (02) 6771 1273, [email protected] or visit www.aimsaq.com.au

Hey, whql'sthqt up yoursleeve?by Albert ElzingaLAST WEEKEND local residents leamedmore about one of the Tweed's mostmisunderstood creatures - snakes.The 'snakes workshop' - organised by

Tweed-Byron Bush Futures: a joint Tweed andByron shire council initiative - at MurwillumbahCivic Centre featured a presentation by reptileexpert Susan Johnson,

About 50 locals attended to listen to Susan'sinsights into the world of snakes and help usail understand a little more about their ways.

Susan showed how difficult it is to properlyrCentify many different snake species andasked those present to have a stab at correctlycentifying snakes native to the Tweed.Cne of the species most often misidentified

s lhe'Common or Eastem Brown Snake'.:hrs snake is far from 'aptly' named as its

:.:'our can be silver, greenish or rusÇ with:abies showing a banded pattern.rhe 'brown snake' is highly venomous

a tnougþ not aggressive and is aclive during:ie Cay.

Arthough this snake is very common,s chtings are not always substantiated asaiother common snake, the "Brown Tree

Experl snake handler SusanJohnson shows offa carPet

snake while it attemPts to showmore of Susan than she is willing

to share.

often mistaken for this mythical yellow belliedblack snake because of its bright yellow bellyand its colour which can be silver, blue, green

and almost black.Red Belly Black Snakes exist and live in

the Tweed and, although venomous, are notconsidered aggressive.

Susan went on to dispel some other commonmyths ... including the fairy tales brown snakesare aggressive and will chase people ... carpetsnakes will keep away other venomous snakes... and brown snakes and black snakes willinterbreed to give highly venomous snakes.

Snakes are attracted to rubbish, long grass,frogs, chooks, rabbits and other pets. Onceestablished, they are very familiar with theirenvironment.

When a snake is removed, it will try andreturn to its familiar surroundings and manysnakes are killed on roads trying to get backhome.

Susan advised if people encounter a

snake, they should not make any fast or wildmovements and should try to identify it.

People should let the reptile move away andif encountered near home, try to flnd out whythe animal is there, Susan said.

Precautions, such as moving pets indoorsduring the night, can then be put in place andmay take away the attraction. This could resultin the snake moving on naturallY.

Although many snakes are venomous andshould therefore be avoided at all times, thedanger they pose to humans is so small it canalmost be called insigniflcant.

Statistics show only one in every 10 peoplebitten will actually be injected with venom and

the chances of dying of a snake bite are evenslimmer than being taken by a shark.

Susan's audience was made up of residentswho frequently encounter snakes on theirproperties or near their homes, people whowere newto the area and parents with children.

Most said they really learned a lot from theworkshop and were less afraid of the reptilesthan before.

fte/l

ornK4fLb 2x tl

(1,'"Ð

Srake', is:,velling

¡,lany

often confused for its groundcousin.

snakes are easilymisidentiled but

more sothe

"Yellow BellyBlack Snake",which doesn't

actually exist.

nonethan

TheGreenïree

SnakeIS

Join cane toad muster TiîffiåirilîúiåiliË; Helpreduce pestpopulationsBy Laura BrodnikIowo I'rqdntkekudntú: cail an

CANE to¿d huntcr s trill beon the loose in PoltsYi]lerexl wcck

r\ canc toad mrrsler rvillbe held at Pottwillc's Koal¡rBeäclì al 7 30pnÌ on Tlrursday, Febr ilar y 3

T\veûd Shire Colrncilinvasive species olïicerPrûìela Grûy sai(l the mns'fer lvas âbotìl hurnarìelydealing Yjth the cane toadproblcln

"'ì'lìe calÌe [oad n]uslerentails g¡lhDr ing jn ¡narea ri,her c tllctc ¿rc cilreloads There is a talk abotrlcolreclì¡. identif ing canetoarìs and lreatìng Lhcmhurnailely \!hen they afe jnhirn¡¡ rare," i\f.s Cra)sai d

"\Ve have a safcly l¿lknncl lhen the p oLtp dis-perses [o fiìrd lhe canetoads ard bring tlrum backt0 a tl â¡ler wher e thcy âreeuthaniscd

"\l¡hen rve eutharis¿ lhecrne toads tve foUbrv thecor rect practice gÌride-lines "

ÀlthouBh lhis pråct¡ce isnecessarj, \vlìcÌ it corncs loc0ntrolling rianc l.oads, ùlslìra¡' retninrled residcntsthey ue slìlì anirnals

"Peoplc have to keep ilmind il's not thcir lìrilt[hey ue here ond \\'e nee(lto be kind io [hern," i\ls

Gray siid"Clo rrect id crLi fìc aLio n

\Yilh cane lOarls ts a I ealissrre and peopla need lokno\v \Yhat they look likeso LheJ are not confusedwith nativc hogs.'

Participants for theP0tlsvillc care tord rnusLor

shoìrld ìneet âl Lhe gilzcl)oby the ìake in Strgor GliLlerDrive

A. secorcl lnuster rvill beheld aI lvlur]Y¡llumbahì'lìeì parliciDants \rjllmeet al Knox Park on Sat-ilrdâl', l\'larch 3 fronì ?prn

P¡r ti(jpârLts rrilst \Teâr â

Phoro: Scott Pow¡ck 0130631

loÌg-slcevod sh¡rt, l0ngfailLs, covere(l shoes a¡tdbrirg a torch

All children uusl be¿ccOmpîrrcd by ân âdultovcr lB yecrs oi age [0rdafely reasons as []re nrr¡s-ter is held at trtght andclosc to a borly of waler

aged GarePEOPLE ol lbe Tlvocr¡hâve the opporhrnityto itrlluence llìe l'utilr e

of aged care in Attslt'alia-

Thc Productjv¡ by

Comnlission is seekÛlg comrncrt on dr alcreporl., Caring lorOlder Àustralians,trnLil NIa¡ch 2l

Tlre fiìdilrgs willÞrovide lhe FedcralGovcrnmcnl vitlì keyadvice on lhe filtule ofaged care

Accor ding to tltereport Lhe crìrrerìtsystem necds to beoverhaulcd to mcclthc chaììùnge of xnaging populatjon anditrrprove lhe wclìbe¡ngoi old€r AusLr alians.

Tt is hoped the publ¡c inriuiry \Y¡ll Ireìpdevelop dcla¡lcd s¿r'a-tegjes for lhe redesigìof the eristing s),stenr

Fi[d lhc reÞor'[ ilt\ylvwpc goYail.

Wribten sùbmis-sions cân be senL lolhe ProducLivity Commjssiún by March 2laild Jìublic hearingswiìl be held in moslcapitat citics

a\r$LL¡lr

F:'j'a.r'*'ù*

'*<ñ.'rÍ *:.7;.,;-;-_ -

\ ';

,:f '-\p'.'.' -r-'r\. I \þi.I flA tr I ¡ ¡i f" IwÊcd Shl¡o Councll lny¡¡ive sÞoc¡os oft¡ccr Pùmêle Crôy prepoaes lor tho ca¡e to¡d muster.

WE'RE SEARCH¡NG ALL OVER.'r. ,-; Jì it,'l .'i:.ri,¡'-,'

t t t',,: ;.tj: I

lle !iûË¡r iour(e ol crìef8y !viil tol,. { ¡/l our ir¡ tr¡rc enc¡pt. rlrrrls\!s rtcrj d (ctnt'in¡tron of ncÍr î¡ttr¡'r¡bLi a¡c¡iì-li 1(,hllr¡rt,

ïl,ti 5 rrht ìl ()[8n, l¿e rr- lc¡rlin8 rh.rngc ng¡l ìaro.t lhrrtnLrtt'9u( t(rr

1È( dorr'l lusl !Èll ancrFy. lr¡r'rc (\ì¡t Ìhùr( Brltilì& ot¡r bco'.t (l'rtt,5eJrth, ¡¿ fDr. gcncr¿tirìg rnd d(hvcrrg J rarge of enrrgV cltoree:lor llofilct ånd lluí11tçft9 ¡tor¡rìd

^u5lr¡lr¡io I Jt ù,!ct ì nìill¡on ÀLr 5 t¡¡liJnr ¡rc v¿i! lt us

a!r!l ',!u rcr lci I hàt I l'¡rt lho btÉtflnit)ß

FINÞ OUT HOW THIS AUs'RALIAN COTIPANY IS LEAOINGCHANG É - VISIf US AT ONIGINENEFGY.COM.AU

w

2

In accordance with Section 160 of the Local Government Act 1993, public notice is given placing the Draft Procurement Policy version 1.3 on public exhibition from Wednesday 26 January 2011 to Wednesday 23 February 2011.

Submissions on the draft policy will be received until Wednesday 9 March 2011. The draft policy incorporates changes to Procurement Policy version 1.2, which are based on Tendering Guidelines for NSW Local Government, amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 and Independent Commission against Corruption guidelines.

The draft policy can be viewed on Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au or alternatively by attending either the Murwillumbah or Tweed Heads Offi ces. Further information on the draft policy can be obtained from Council’s Corporate Compliance Offi cer Peter Brack on (02) 6670 2651.

Submissions can be made in writing to the General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah NSW 2484 or by email to [email protected] by the abovementioned date.

TWEED SHIRE DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN SECTION B23 – HASTINGS POINT LOCALITY BASED DEVELOPMENT CODE

Clause 21 and 22 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.

Notice is hereby given that Council resolved on 18 January 2011 to adopt Section B23 – Hastings Point Locality Based Development Control Plan (DCP) (Code) and amend the Tweed Shire Development Control Plan Section A1 – Residential and Tourist Development Code by repealing the interim controls relating to Hastings Point.

The new DCP and the concurrent repeal of the interim development controls will formerly take effect under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 on 8 February 2011.

Section B23 applies to the Hastings Point Locality as shown in Figure 1.3 of the document.

The purpose of the Code is to establish a detailed planning framework for the Hastings Point locality and to provide the community with the appropriate planning tools for managing the area’s growth and development over the next 25-30 years.

Copies of Section B23 are available for public inspection at Council’s Offi ces in Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads. Individual copies are also available for purchase in accordance with Council’s schedule of fees and charges.

The document can also be viewed on Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au

In pursuance of section 162(1) of the Roads Act, 1993, as amended, Council proposes to name the newly formed Piggabeen bypass road at Tweed Heads West as “Tulgi Way” (pronounced Tul-gai).The plan below shows the location of the bypass proposed to be named:

A period of 28 days from the date of this notice is allowed for any person to lodge a written objection to the proposed naming. Any objections should state clearly the reasons for such objections. General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816 Murwillumbah 2484.

Notice is hereby given that the Tweed Shire Council, by resolution of the Council dated 19 October 2010 has resolved to dedicate the land described hereunder as public road pursuant to Section 10 of the Roads Act, 1993. M Rayner, General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah NSW 2484.

SCHEDULE

Lots 16, 53, 84, 121 and 152 in DP 1145386.

ADOPT A POUND PET

Age: Two yearsBreed: Domestic Medium HairGender: Desexed FemaleTemperament: Crystal is a gorgeous tortiseshell and white cat who has the most affectionate nature. She has a laid back personality that has won many hearts at the pound and will win many more. Crystal is the perfect kitty waiting for her perfect owner to take her home now.If you would like to adopt a pet call the Tweed Shire Council Pound on (02) 6676 6060 10am-4pm seven days week or visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au All pets are desexed and vaccinated.

PROPOSED NAMING OF ROAD

DRAFT PROCUREMENT POLICY VERSION 1.3

IN BRIEF

ROADS ACT 1993, SECTION 10

DEDICATION OF LANDS AS PUBLIC ROAD

99999

2020202020 2121212121

88888

2222222222

77777

2323232323

2424242424

66666 5555544444

33333

7777777777

7575757575

7373737373

7171717171

22222

6969696969

7474747474

7272727272

7676767676

7070707070

6868686868

6767676767

6666666666

6565656565

6464646464

6363636363

6262626262

33333

55555

77777

6161616161

99999

5454545454

5858585858

5252525252

1111111111

5656565656

5858585858

44444

1313131313

6060606060

5050505050

22222

149149149149149

6262626262

6464646464

66666

1515151515

4848484848

5656565656

88888

5959595959

1717171717

4545454545

4646464646

4747474747

1010101010

1919191919

4444444444

5757575757

5454545454

4848484848

1212121212

4242424242

2121212121

3333333333

1010101010

5555555555

38-4038-4038-4038-4038-40

4646464646

4040404040

1414141414

5252525252

2323232323

5353535353

3939393939

3838383838

88888

4444444444

1111111111

3636363636

2525252525

4242424242

3737373737

5050505050

99999

38-4038-4038-4038-4038-40

77777

3434343434

38-4038-4038-4038-4038-40

3535353535

3131313131

2727272727

3232323232

4848484848

3636363636

66666

2929292929

22222

3333333333

55555

44444

33333

3030303030

2727272727

3131313131

3434343434

2525252525

3131313131

2828282828

4646464646

2323232323

2121212121

2929292929

3232323232

2929292929

4949494949

2727272727

1919191919

4444444444

3030303030

4747474747

1717171717

2121212121

2828282828

4242424242

4545454545

1515151515

2626262626

4040404040

2525252525

4343434343

3838383838

2323232323

4141414141

2424242424

3636363636

1313131313

3939393939

3434343434

3737373737

2222222222

3232323232

3535353535

1010101010

3333333333

2020202020

88888

66666

3131313131

1818181818

44444

2929292929

1616161616

22222

2727272727

1414141414

2525252525

3030303030

33333

1212121212

2828282828

11111

11111

1111111111

1010101010

2626262626

11111

99999

88888

2424242424

1919191919

77777

66666

1717171717

2222222222

55555

44444

1515151515

2020202020

33333

22222

1818181818

11111

1313131313

9090909090

1616161616

1111111111

9292929292

1414141414

99999

9494949494

9696969696

1212121212

77777

6565656565

9898989898

6767676767

1010101010

55555

6969696969

100100100100100

88888

102102102102102

33333

7171717171

66666

7373737373

104104104104104

7575757575

44444

106106106106106

7777777777

22222

7979797979

8181818181

33333

44444

55555

6666

7777

Carram

ar D

Silk

wood

Tce

Bailey St

Lalina Ave

Laurel Pl

Nerang St

Myeerimba Pde

Piggabeen Bypass Road

Proposed to be named Tulgi WayNOTIFICATION OF ADOPTION

Raffl e receives a fl ood of donations

Exceptional support from Tweed businesses and community organisations has prompted Council to extend a Monster Raffl e it is conducting as part of the Queensland fl ood relief community barbecues. Council and the Lions Clubs of Tweed combined last weekend to stage community barbecues at several locations along the Tweed coast, to raise funds for the Premier’s Queensland Flood Appeal. Tickets for the Monster Raffl e will now be sold until Friday 11 February 2011, following an infl ux of donated prizes which include a family holiday at the Tweed Coast Holiday Park at Fingal Head, spa vouchers, hardware and car products, as well as movie, dinner, supermarket and nursery vouchers. Tickets cost $1 and can be purchased at Council’s offi ces at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads, the Tweed River Art Gallery and the aquatic centres at Murwillumbah, Kingscliff and Tweed Heads South.

Snakes and cane toads under the spotlight

Snakes and cane toads will come under the spotlight at three information sessions for the Tweed-Byron Bush Futures Project, a joint initiative of the Tweed and Byron councils. The project’s landcare education events will continue with the Snakes of the Tweed workshop on Saturday 5 February and a Cane Toad Muster on Thursday 3 February. The snake workshop will be at the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre’s Canvas and Kettle Room from 2-4pm. To register for the workshop, contact the Council on (02) 6670 2199 or [email protected] Cane Toad Muster will be held at Pottsville’s Koala Beach at 7.30pm. Participants should meet at the gazebo by the lake in Sugar Glider Drive.Murwillumbah will host its own Cane Toad Muster at Knox Park on Thursday 3 March from 7pm. Participants must wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and covered shoes and bring a torch. Children must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years of age. For further information contact Pamela Gray on (02) 6670 2778 or [email protected]

jturnbull

Rectangle

jturnbull

Text Box

Tweed Link 25 January

CANE TOADA SMALL but eager bandof locals learned the insand outs of cane toadsand their behaviour at aspecial Cane Toad Musterat Koala Beach Estate in

Pottsville last week.Organised bYthe BYron Shire

Bush Futures organisation,the crowd listened intentlYto WendY GibneY as sheexplained cane toad behaviourand identifiable features.

A few facts about the Pests:. r squirtpo with a

sp* Potsonout of their backs.. Toad eggs are strung

chains,o identifY.Pullthemth a stick

and let them dry on the grassor in a container.

. The most humane waY tokill a cane toad is to Put it in thefridge for at least 24 hours tostun them, then in the freezerfor 36 hours for euthanasia.Neighbours who want to getinvolved in cane toad controlcould organise to have onecommunal fridge in a street.

. Planting low growing, thickvegetation around damsand water holes is a gooddetenent because cane toadsare not great hoPPers, so theYwill not cross such a barrier.Golf courses, with their

perfectly manicured shortgrass leading straight intowater hazards, can createwhat might be called a toadbreeding Paradise.On the night the eager

group caught almost 400cane toads.

R LOD

ii

Hi¡t

f,

ItIargatetMURVILL

scHool- oGatholic Meeting Hall, Waterloo Street

& The Gatholic Hall, Main St (near Church) MunrillumbahMargaret Peate - Registered Teacher RAD

ABOVE: Pamela GraY,

Tweed Shire lnvasive SPectesOffi ce n with P ottsvi I I eresrdents (L-R) Ãvery Connor,

8, HarmonY Jackson, 11 ,

and Trinity Connor, 6. LEFT:

Cane Toad eggs- BELOW:Avery Connor holding uP a

taxidermied and tanned canetoad.

R/

ffin

Where d¡d they come from?CANE TOADS were introduced into

Australia in 1935 to combat sugar cane

beetles.

large parts of the country are simply ovemJnby them.'The

Tweed has its fair share of the unattractivecritters and to combat their spread and impact

on the environment, Tweed Shire Council

The toads'staü¡s doesn't excuse bashing

them with stic*s c dubs, nor should it give

il

F

Citizenship and Democracy share an important focus in

our schooi curriculum. Students are taught the basics of

the democratic process and their importance as active

memberc of the school and broader community is a

their lives allowing them tozens with a good understanding

' ¡ty to contribute to society in a '"

positive way. *

carte Hancfie b spay the animals withsucñ æ bledt, Deüol or hydrogEn

slþtft be buded or Put in theoolledftn bYcouncil.kfi hvohred h a muster, there's

ed shirts'þ4 dng abe 'b,y,än

Charles St lâTiäl Nsw2484 ffiä

year.tfromthe

.arganlsers

"to stage

people

ó www.murwillumbqhweekly.net.cu I Februcry 13 - 19' 20ll

agp.

Er¿lt{GA.

of3

Learning Lecture Series

Wedneseì;-i, {itt' F*i:[it uary 2tf {5.3Opm

Canvas & Kettle RoomMurwillumbah Givic Gentre

Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah

Gue¡t SpeakerJanis Birkeland

Dr Janis Birkeland, Professor of Architectureof Technology, wlll introduce theplannlng for and deslgnlng sustalnablebulldlngs and deslgnlng landscapes thatecologlcal lmpact. She wlll demonstratedevelopment' and eco-retrof¡t bulldlngsachieve susta¡nablllty whilst also havlng¡mpact et no extr¡r cost.

Janis worked as an architect and lawyeradvocacy planner, urban designer, andFrancisco before movíng to AustrÍ¡l¡âacademia. She has run manydevelopment units on sustainablelnvlted talks and written over l(Xllnclude Deslgn lor Sustolnobll@ l2OO2lFrom vldous clrcles to vlrtuous cycles

deslsn (2008).

lll ¡¡r w¡lcomr to ¡tt¡ndthe Earth Þaming Lecture Series, which are facllitated by Earth leaming Inc.

and sponsored by the l{RM UniÇ lweed Shire Council.Tea & coffee provided for a gold coln donation

gm"''

POS ITIVEDEVELOPMENTfN,OM VICIOUS CIRCLES fO VIRIUOUS CYCLES

THROUGH BUILI ÉNVIRONMENT DESIGN

Enquiries: Michael Corke on 0407 075 682

Claire Masters I NRM Community Support OfficerCommunity and Natural Resourcesp (02) 6670 2199 | f (02) 6670 2557 le [email protected] lw www tweed.nsw.gov.auCivic and Cultural Centre Tumbulgum Road Munvillumbah NSW 2484 | PO Box 816 Mun¡rillumbah NSW 2484 IABN: 90 178732 496Customer Serv¡ce: (02) 6670 2400 | 1 300 292 872Our values: transparency I customer focus I fairness I reliability I progressiveness I value for money I collaborationPlease consider the environment before printing this email. One tonne of

F€---

and 30 kL of water

03/02/201t

4 | rro,rrry 10, 2011 TWEED BORDER MAII

It would cost approximately S70 million to make the132km Casino-Murwillumbah line operational for lightrail.

The Bàllina bypass costs approximately 5634 million.

The Alstonville bypass is S92 million.

ln 2010 $1.2 million was spent on minor repairs andresealing a few kilometres of the Lismore-Bangalowroad.

president Karin Kolbe said. appointments and"Our railline would form recreation.

the backbone ofpublic "Rail is also a long-termtransport system network solution for combatinghere to get residents tojobs, congestion and reducingtraining, medical greenhouse gases.

"A new rail freighthandling hub has alreadybeen approved for Casino,so clearly bringing theCasino-Murwillumbah lineback into operation makeslong-term sense."

Ms Kolbe said the railwould be a big benefit fortourism for the region.

"There's also a hugepotential with this rail lineto help invigorate thestruggling tourism industrywith a point of difference,"she said.

"Rail would allow visitorsto explore the hinterland inan environmentallysensitive way."

TOOT is pushing theQueensland rail line toCoolangatta to be extended26km to the end oftheCasino-Murwillumbah line.

"Building that missingIink between New SouthWales and Queensland isthe sort of smartnation-building projectInfrastructure Australiashould be interested in," MsKolbe said.

With the coming stateelection TOOT is calling onthe NSW coalition torecommit to its 2007 electionpromise to bring light-railservices to the line within aspecific timeframe.

ì.i:"L.llru* ilSfi liifi{¡": Tra¡ns onour Tracks (T00T) presidentKarin Kolbe. PHoro: FILE

TOOT makes noise about Casino linkTRAINS on our Tracks

(TOOT) is calling onInfrastructure Australia totake a good look at thebenefits theCasino-Murwillumbah railline would have for the area.

Infrastructure Australiahas recently met in regardsto upgrading theSummerland Way fromGrafton to the Queenslandborder.

"There's enormouspotential for ourCasino-Murwillumbah railline and we inviteInfrastructure Australia toexamine the benefits forthemselves," TOOT

Au ment

If you're o workingporent expect¡ng och¡ld, there's somethinelse you con expectOn I Jonuory 201'1, Austrolio's first notionol

Poid Porenlol Leove scheme wos ¡ntroduced.

It's o new entillement for working porents,

funded by the Austrolion Government.

Taking time away from work for a newbaby is a common part of working life.

Paid Parental Leave will help parents

spend time with a new baby, and

help employers retain skilled staff.

Whot i s Poid Po re nto I Le ove?

Eligible working parents may get

18 weeks Government-funded pay at

the National Minimum Wage, currently

5570 a week before tax, to help them

care for a new baby. Parents who

adopt may also be eligible.

Amleligible?Full-time, paft-time, casual, seasonal,

contract and self-employed workers

may be eligible. You must have worked

at least 330 hours (just over one day a

week) for 10 of the 13 months before

your new baby arrives. You can have

up to an 8 week unpaid break

between two working days and still

be eligible. You can earn up to5150,000 a year (individual salary)

and still be eligible.

ls itfor both porents?

Yes, usually the mother must applyfor Paid Parental Leave. lfyou are

eligible, you can transfer some or all

ofthe pay to your partner (they need

to be eligible too). The scheme gives

families more options to balance

work and family.

When cqn ltoke it?You can claim up to three months in

advance, and your paytan start at any

time you choose from when your child

is born or adopted. lt will be paid in

one continuous period from the start

date and must all be taken within the

first year after the birth or adoption.You are encouraged to apply early.

Whot obout employe r- provi ded

entítlements?Eligible parents can receive Parental

Leave pay at the same time, before or

after other employer-provided paid

leave or entitlements. The existing

minimum entitlementto 12 months

unpaid parental leave for long-term

employees is unchanged.

What doesit meon for employers?From 1 July 2011, employers must

provide Government-funded

Parental Leave pay through their usual

pay cycle to eligible employees who

have been with their business for at

least 12 months. Other eligible parents

will be paid through the Family

Assistance Office.

To learn more about Paid Parental Leave or to apply, visit the website or callthe appropriate number below.

Authorised by the Australian Government, Capital Hill, Canbena

Poid Pqrentol Leove Ë{:

A new entitlement for working p ã

Speaking outto save ourbiodiversiqrLQ^CAL not-for-profit group Earth LearningIncorporated is spreading the message aboutprotecting the TVeed's biodiversity.

The group presented guest speaker

Queensland University of lbchnologyprofessor of architecture Janis Birkland at theMurwillumbah Civic Centre on Wednesday.

Media liaison officer Adrienne Weber saidthe lecture was the first of four plannedthroughout the year.

"Our area is one of the highest biodiversityareas in the country and it is important forpeople to understand what lies in the borderranges and how to protect it for the futureand for the economy and tourism," she said.

Dr Birkland specialises in ecological design,environmental management and sustainableplanning and spoke about the importance ofdeveloping a new approach to planning,desigrr and the management of the builtenvironment.

"Every ecological design is opposite fromthe international one-size-fits-all modernisedmodel," Dr Birkland said.

"There are typical solutions, basic ideasthat can work anywhere with modification,considering ecology, culture and geography."

One of the key ideas is to build in a way thatincludes and protects that naturalenvironment and than can help the ecologythrive.

"There are many solutions were buildingscan help the natural environment," DrBirkland said.

"Design can make things better foreveryone. We tend to be confined by theparadigm of reducing things instead ofcreating multiple outcomes."

Mrs Weber said Earth Learning promotedthe benefits of ecological corridors within theborder ranges to raise awareness ofthreatened flora, fauna and ecologicalcommunities.

"The area has been a haven for plant andanimal life for thousands of years because wedon't experience the types of fires and floodsthat other parts ofthe country do," she said.

"People can see.that it is beautiful but don'tundérstandjust how special it is.

"Those trees provide oxygen and nourishthe soil that food comes from and forms thatunique high biodiversity. "

Dr Birkland said the idea of "positivedevelopment" made it possible to design fornature as well as community.

"Positive development represents a wholesystem change that increases an ecologicalbase or life support system and public estateor access to the means of survival,"'she said.

"It enables net positive environmental,economic and social environments. In partthis would mean integrating the virtually freeservices of nature with development toproduce positive gains over the developmentlife span."

jturnbull

Rectangle

3

Position Title Reference Number Unit Salary Closing DateCommunications Offi cer – Community Engagement

11-026 Communications and Marketing $56,503 – $66,929 per annum (2 year fi xed-term)

12 noon Friday 8 April 2011

Traffi c Engineer 11-027 Planning and Infrastructure $79,762 – $84,282 per annum. Performance based increases also apply to bring the top of the range to $88,693 per annum

12 noon Friday 8 April 2011

NO FOOD OR GREASEONLY CLEAN PLEASE

PAPER &CARDBOARD

FLATTEN BOXES FOR MORESPACE IN YOUR RECYCLING BIN

TWEEDRECYCLES

For more information visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au

POSITIONS VACANT

Applicants must obtain the vacancy information package and selection criteria, which are available from Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au and the Positions Vacant Noticeboard in the reception area of the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre. Alternatively, please call (02) 6670 2495 for more information.Successful applicants will be subject to a three-month probationary period. Tweed Shire Council supports Equal Employment Opportunity and has a smoke, alcohol and drug free workplace policy. Casual Employment: All casual positions at Council are now managed by JHA Recruitment. For further information on casual positions, please call 1300 800 301 or visit www.jharecruitment.com.au

TRAC lessons a lifesaver

Bubbles swim school success story Ned Rogers with his learn-to-swim

instructor, Bubbles Coordinator Ellen Patience.

Ned Rogers is living proof of the value of a good learn-to-swim school.

The four-year-old Murwillumbah resident became one of the success

stories of the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centres’ (TRAC) Bubbles swim

school, when he fell into a friend’s swimming pool and got himself back

to the edge.

Ned’s mother Catie said his lessons with the Bubbles beginners’ class immediately proved their worth during those few seconds.

They transformed him from a child terrifi ed to put his face under water, to a boy who could get himself to the surface of the pool and back to the safety of the water’s edge.

Bubbles swim school instructors will look to impart that life-saving skill to other Tweed youngsters when they conduct water safety week from 4 to 9 April.

A series of special classes will be staged throughout the week, including activities to teach grandparents how to respond to an emergency.

Bubbles swim school Coordinator Ellen Patience said the school ran similar lessons for parents last year.

While the children did their swimming lessons, their parents learnt resuscitation and other rescue procedures.

“Now it’s the grandparents’ turn to come along and gain that knowledge,” she said.

Interested parents can bring their children to TRAC’s Murwillumbah complex for a swimming assessment any time between 3.30pm and 4.30pm Monday to Thursday.

Participants can then be allocated to a suitable class, based on their existing swimming skills.

TRAC will stage a special Come ‘n’ Try day on 21 April, offering free assessments from 9-10am.

For more information, contact TRAC – Murwillumbah on (02) 6670 2750.

Tweed residents interested in creating wildlife habitat are encouraged to

come along to the ‘Nest Boxes for Wildlife’ Workshop on Saturday 9 April

from 10.30am to 2pm at Pottsville Environmental Centre.

Council’s Invasive Species Offi cer Pamela Gray explained there are around 300 vertebrate species in Australia, which use tree hollows, and could benefi t from artifi cial nest boxes as appropriate hollows become harder to fi nd.

“Nest boxes in backyards are a great way to encourage many birds around your house, while boxes in rural areas can provide important habitat for a range of species including birds, arboreal mammals and bats,” Ms Gray said.

The Nest Boxes for Wildlife Workshop is the latest Landcare education event in the Tweed and Byron Shire Council’s Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Project. Places are limited so please register with Council’s Natural Resource Management Community Support Offi cer Claire Masters on (02) 6670 2199 or [email protected].

Nest Boxes for Wildlife Workshop

4

Nest Boxes for Wildlife Workshop A Bush Futures Landcare education event

When: Saturday 9 April – 10.30am til 2pm (morning session indoor and optional field trip after lunch) Where: Pottsville Environment Centre There are approximately 300 vertebrate species in Australia that use tree hollows. Many bird species, most arboreal marsupials and over half of the microbat species in Australia are dependant on tree hollows for shelter and breeding sites. Arboreal species play an important part in our ecosystem through pollination of plants, dispersal of seeds and regulating insect population. Land clearing, urbanisation, logging and firewood collection have significantly reduced the availability of tree hollows, impacting on hollow dependant species and the ecosystem services they provide. Artificial tree hollows, or ‘nest boxes’, have been identified as a management tool that can be used by a range of species as a replacement for natural hollows in the landscape. At least 10 mammals, 15 birds and 8 micro-bat species as well as some reptiles have been recorded using nest boxes in Australia. Nest boxes in backyards are a great way to encourage many birds around your house, while boxes in rural areas can provide important habitat for a range of species including birds, arboreal mammals and bats. Graeme Lloyd, Tweed wildlife box specialist will lead the workshop on 9 April assisted by Pamela Gray, TSC Invasive Species Officer. Come along to learn about the species that use nest boxes, how to make your own nest box and join a field trip to see nest boxes in situ. If you’d like to join the field trip please wear sunsafe clothing and covered shoes. Morning tea is provided and BYO lunch. Places are limited so please register with Claire on 02 6670 2199 or [email protected]

Care Group Procedures Manual A guide for volunteers working in Tweed Shire

The Care Group Procedures Manual has been developed through the Bush Futures Project in partnership with Tweed Landcare Inc. to guide the Landcare, Bushcare, Dunecare and Coastcare groups engaged in environmental restoration activities on Tweed Shire Council land. The Manual recognises the significant role played by these groups in rehabilitating degraded ecosystems and aims to support their valuable work. The Manual describes the benefits of the Care groups work as: Environmental: conservation and restoration of native vegetation and fauna habitat. Social: strengthening local communities through social interaction, working together and sharing information, enhanced personal satisfaction of individual volunteers. Educational: increased community awareness about the environment and increased capacity to implement practical restoration activities. This creates a stewardship approach to public bushland, involving a partnership between Council and the community. Economic: financial savings gained by Council using a volunteer work force and increased funding accessed through external grants. Activities contribute to the natural values and scenic qualities of Tweed Shire from which the local economy benefits. The Care Group Procedures Manual details procedures to be followed by Care groups working in partnership with Council to facilitate effective and safe implementation of restoration works and includes copies of forms to be used by Care groups in the course of their activities. Tweed Landcare plans to meet with the groups later in April to distribute the Manual. We’ll let you know the date in next newsletter. If you have questions before then please phone Claire on 02 6670 2199.

jturnbull

Text Box

Tweed Landcare Inc_newsletterMarch 2011

Contact: Fran Silk (02) 6670 2575 or 0418 231 201 To view media releases online or to unsubscribe visit http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/MediaCentre/MediaCentre.aspx Page 1 of 2

Wednesday 30 March 2011 Handy tips for removing possums from your roof Nearly 100 per cent of relocated possums die within days of their release

Council receives many calls from residents concerned that a possum may be living in their roof space. Council’s Natural Resource Management Project Officer Sally Jacka reminded residents that possums, like all other native animals, are protected in NSW. This means it is illegal to harm them in any way, which includes trapping and relocating them in another area. “Research has shown that nearly 100 per cent of relocated possums die within days of their release,” Ms Jacka said. “Possums are territorial, so will battle with other possums in the area in which they have been relocated. This may result in the possums becoming injured and even dying. A common disease called stress dermatitis may occur as a result of wounds sustained and the stress of the relocation. “If they do find a new hollow to live in, re-located possums may also displace other wildlife, such as parrots, owls or gliders,” she said. If you do have a possum living in your roof, a combination of light, smells and an alternative home should encourage the possum to leave. Here are some tips for removing possums: Check your roof to make sure it is a possum living there and not rats. If you hear movement during the

day, it is more than likely rats. If you are not sure, you could set a non-lethal trap to check what animals are disturbing you.

Locate the access points into the roof and identify trees or structures possibly being used to climb up

to the roof. Place collars made from aluminium or sheet iron around the trunks of trees being used to access the

roof and lop any overhanging branches. Make or buy a nest box and install it in your garden as an alternative den site for the possum. Spread mothballs in the roof to repel the possum. DO NOT USE RAT BAIT as this will cause an

extremely painful and cruel death for possums and possibly other wildlife. Place a light in the roof and leave it on for three days and nights.

Once you are sure the possum has left your roof, block off the known entrance points. If you do not do

this your efforts will be wasted, as another animal is sure to make its home in your roof.

more/

Contact: Fran Silk (02) 6670 2575 or 0418 231 201 To view media releases online or to unsubscribe visit http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/MediaCentre/MediaCentre.aspx Page 2 of 2

Tweed residents interested in creating wildlife habitat are encouraged to come along to the ‘Nest Boxes for Wildlife’ Workshop on Saturday 9 April from 10.30am to 2pm at the Pottsville Environmental Centre in Centennial Drive. The Nest Boxes for Wildlife Workshop is the latest Landcare education event in the Tweed and Byron Shire Council’s Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Project. Places are limited so please register with Claire on (02) 6670 2199 or [email protected]

- ends -

Tweed LinkPOSTAGE PAID

A TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | (02) 6670 2400 or 1300 292 872 | ISSUE 704 | 29 MARCH 2011 | ISSN 1327–8630

TaxiLink discontinued

The early morning TaxiLink service from Kingscliff south along the Tweed Coast has been discontinued due to poor patronage. Council has operated TaxiLink since November, in cooperation with Tweed taxi companies, to complement Gold Coast City Council’s NightLink bus service between Coolangatta and Kingscliff. Council offi cers are investigating additional pick-ups and drop-offs within Tweed for the Nightlink bus service.

Talk on planning ahead

A free information session on the importance of planning ahead in regards to health and lifestyle as we age, will be held at the Tweed Heads library on Tuesday 12 April at 10am. Jan Fitzgerald from Council on the Ageing will take listeners through a program based on the work of the Offi ce of the Public Guardian and the Older Persons’ Legal Service. Bookings are essential on(07) 5569 3150.

Holiday library magic

Put some magic into your life when Brian the Magician visits local libraries during the upcoming school holidays. Brian will demonstrate his magic tricks at free sessions on Wednesday 13 April at 11.30am at Murwillumbah and again at 2pm at Kingscliff. Brian will reappear at Tweed Heads Public Library for a performance on Friday 15 April at 11am. All ages are welcome.

e-planning grant

Council has received a $26,061 grant from the Department of Planning’s Planning Reform Fund for a series of new e-technology systems. The grant will be used to further improve Council’s development and building assessment processes.

Sustaining a much lighter footprintResidents of Tweed and Byron

Shires have saved energy, water

and money while strengthening

their communities through the

Sustainable Streets initiative.

Funded through the Tweed and Byron Shire Councils’ Bush Futures Program, the initiative gives participants the know-how to reduce their ecological footprint, save money on their utility bills and improve their relationship with each other and the local environment.

In June last year, participating households in Uki, Cabarita Beach, Mullumbimby Creek and South Golden Beach each received a report card showing their individual energy and water usage and an ecological footprint assessment.

Workshops on energy, water, composting, local food and a range of other topics were held in each of the four neighbourhoods to give participants the know-how to take their next steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

Last month participating households received their second report card to see if the workshops had changed their habits - and the results speak for themselves.

Energy consumption was reduced by an average of 14 per cent across all four neighbourhoods, with Cabarita participants reducing their energy consumption by an average of 26 per cent. Water consumption

Uki Sustainable Streets participants celebrate their collective environmental

savings at their workshop venue in Bopplenut Park.

was down by an average of 38 per cent across all four neighbourhoods with Mullumbimby Creek reducing their average consumption by a massive 62 per cent.

Karen Anderson from the Cabarita group said the saving her family had made on utility bills was a pleasant bonus, but what really inspired her about the whole process was how common interests such as vegetable gardening and composting had brought the neighbours together.

“We started out as neighbours, but because of Sustainable Streets we are now friends. I’m really looking forward to keeping the momentum

going and helping to shape the community where I live,” Mrs Anderson said.

Tweed Shire Council Sustainability Offi cer Dan Walton said the participating households demonstrate what can be achieved when you put simple environmental solutions into practice. A full report on the Sustainable Streets outcomes, including the report card results will be available in the coming weeks at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/sustainability

Mr Walton said Tweed Shire Council hoped to run the program again in the future depending on funding.

IN BRIEF

Good news for Pottsville Neighbourhood Centre The new Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre

moved one step closer following a Council decision

to select a preferred tenderer after negotiations to

reduce the cost of the project.

The project hit a stumbling block in October last year when Council declined to accept any tenders for the construction of the facility as they did not represent value for money.

At its October 2010 meeting, Council committed $1,096,000 to the project.

The Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre Inc. has committed $179,000 to the project of which $119,000

was a grant from the NSW Government. Council will use a further $20,000 from Council

Access Reserve funds for the disabled ramp and access across the site which forms part of the works.

The new facility will replace the existing administration building in Elizabeth Street with a two-storey facility incorporating offi ces and community rooms.

Community members were invited to make comment on the proposal after viewing displays of artist’s impressions at the existing Neighbourhood Centre in May last year.

jturnbull

Highlight

jturnbull

Highlight

APPENDIX 3 – INVASIVE SPECIES INFORMATION SHEETS

Copy 1 – Council to Keep Version: September 2010

Urban Rabbit Control, Koala Beach Estate Tweed Shire Council

Page 3

Welcome to the Indian Myna trapping program. Thankyou for participating. Prior to initiating trapping, please take the time to read carefully over this guide carefully. The tips and tricks that we have included will really help to you to use the trap successfully. The trap that has been loaned to you is called a Pee Gees trap. Named after Peter Green, the gentleman that developed the prototype, this style of trap has been used very successfully for a number of years by Tweed and Byron Shire Councils, as well as by a large number of other local Councils and community groups.

Things to know before you start trapping • First up, please ensure that the birds you are aiming to trap

are Indian Mynas or Starlings and not native Noisy Miners. Native Noisy Miners are often confused with feral Indian Mynas, however they are protected by law, and it is illegal to trap them without a license.

• Please observe the requirements of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. No bird is to be treated cruelly or with harsh conditions and it is a requirement of this program that you sign and follow the Council's Animal Welfare protocols prior to initiating trapping. These are available from Councils Indian Myna Control Officer (02) 6670 2778.

• Indian Mynas and Starlings are very intelligent and wary birds. For your trapping to be successful you will need to follow the process included below consistently and methodically. You will need patience and persistence for your trapping to be successful.

• This trap is intended to trap Indian Mynas and Starlings where they are known to come down onto the ground and feed on a regular basis (at least 3 times a week). If you have not yet had these birds feeding on the ground at your site, trapping with Pee Gees trap is unlikely to be successful.

• Do not approach the trap during daylight hours. Even if you can’t see the Indian Mynas they can see you. If un-trapped Indian Mynas see you handling a trap, particularly once you have a trapped bird, they will avoid entering the trap.

Native Noisy Miner

Feral Indian Myna • Keep pets and children away from the trap as Indian Mynas

and Starlings are extremely wary birds and are sensitive to disturbance. Pets may also eat the bait intended for the birds.

• If you trap any non-target species, you must release them through the door hatches. • Don’t be disappointed if you don’t catch Indian Mynas every day. Indian Mynas and Starlings are flighty

birds that can be spasmodic in their movements, so keep at it. They will return if you keep on baiting your trap.

• Provide shade, food and fresh water in the larger chamber (containment chamber) at all times for captured birds.

• If Ibis start to hang around the trap, put your trap away until they have been absent from the site for a couple of days. These birds can get a taste for the bait and stake out the trap even if they can’t reach the bait and consequently ruin your trapping effort if not discouraged in the first instance.

Trapping Process Included below is the process that you should follow to be successful in using Pee Gees trap. Make sure that you have completed one step before moving on to the next. The time that trapping takes varies widely from site to site and depends on the numbers of Indian Mynas in your area and the conditions that they have been living under. Remember, if you have Indian Mynas visiting your yard on a regular basis and you follow the process outlined below methodically and persistently you will catch them.

Step 1 – Get your bait. You will need to use suitable bait. The bait that is most attractive seems to be ‘Lucky Dog Minis – Minced Beef, Vegetable and Pasta Flavour’. Do not use grain-based foods (birdseed and bread etc) as this attracts non-target birds such as crested pigeons and parrots.

Step 2 – Choose a spot at which to undertake trapping. This should be a spot that you have seen the Indian Mynas on to the ground. If possible, the site should be a flat and open with short grass. The trapping site will need to be away from sources of disturbance such as walkways and children’s playing areas. It will also need to be isolated from your pets, as they steal the bait and scare away the birds. If trapping in the warmer months, the trapping site must have shade from mid-morning and through to mid/late afternoon.

Step 3 – Restrict access to other food sources as you need the birds to be hungry to lure them into a trap. Make sure that any food the Mynas have been accessing at your place (scraps, pet food, chicken feed etc) is no longer available to them. If the birds are feeding at a neighbours place, it may be worth approaching them and explaining what you are doing, and asking if they would mind restricting the availability of dog food etc. for the time in which you trapping.

Step 4 – ‘Free-feed’ the birds at the site you have chosen. This is done in order to teach the Indian Mynas that there is a safe and regular source of food at this site. To do this, place the bait on a flat white surface (an ice-cream container lid or similar) at your site and keep this topped up with bait during the day. Avoid going near the plate when there are Mynas around. Other birds, such as Magpies and Pee Wees, will most likely steal some of the bait, but do not chase them away as Indian Mynas learn by observation and will learn to eat from the plate by watching these less wary birds. Make sure you actually sight the Mynas eating the bait off the plate before moving to the next step.

Step 5 – Put the trap next to the plate. Again, make sure you actually sight the Mynas eating the bait off the ice-cream container lid before moving to the next step. Keep the bait topped up.

Step 6 – Bait the trap. When baiting your trap, you are trying to lead the Mynas into the trap using food as a guide. Put a sparse trail of biscuits leading the birds up the entrance tunnels and into the small chamber. Put a big double handful of bait on an ice-cream container lid in the middle of the small chamber. Ensure the birds will be able to see the big pile of bait from the entrance tunnels, but will not be able to reach it until they have fully entered the trap.

Step 7 – Retain trapped birds as decoys. The decoy birds (also referred to as Lure Birds or Judas Birds) attract the other Indian Mynas down to the trap, then the bait guides them into the entrance tunnels and into the trap. Retain no more than 3 Indian Mynas in the containment cage as decoys. Remove and euthanase excess birds each night.

Once you have trapped Indian Mynas or Starlings • When transporting the birds, lessen their stress covering their cage with a light sheet or a towel. • Use gloves when handling live or dead birds as wild birds may carry disease. • Clean the trap. You may need to hose it down or, if badly fouled, use some vinegar and scrub it down.

Indian Mynas will not enter a dirty or smelly trap. Relocate the trap if the area becomes soiled from captured birds. They like to be clean and will avoid being around their own excrement.

Page 4

• Please record all your captures on your trapping record sheet and return this to the Indian Myna Control Officer, as that will assist us in assessing the success of this control program.

For further information on the Indian Myna Control Program, contact the Tweed and Byron Indian Myna Control Officer (based at Tweed Shire Council) on (02) 6670 2778 or at [email protected]

PROTOCOL ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND TRAP MANAGEMENT Community members who participate in trapping are required to commit to the following animal welfare and trap management and care protocol.

When trapping

• You must position the trap so that there is adequate shade for the trapped birds. The containment cage of the trap must contain food and clean water at all times.

• Trappers are not to use grain-based food (including bread) in this trap as this can attract native birds.

• If a native bird is trapped it should be released as soon as possible.

• The birds are not to be exposed to undue stress while trapped — avoid manhandling or approaching the traps too frequently.

• The traps are to be monitored regularly -at least every morning and evening.

Dealing with trapped birds The trapped birds are treated in a humane and responsible manner. It is a condition of borrowing this trap that you observe the requirements of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

The method of euthanasia to dispose of trapped birds is to be quick and painless, and as stress-free as possible. There are two methods of euthanasia that this program endorses for use by community members. These are: gassing with carbon dioxide gas, NOT carbon monoxide as in a car exhaust; or cervical dislocation (breaking their necks). Both of these methods require experience and or training.

If you feel that you are unable to euthanase the birds, you can take the birds to one of the Vets listed below. This service is only available during normal business hours. Please call the clinic prior to delivering the birds.

• South Tweed Veterinary Clinic, Shop 6/8 Blundell Boulevard. Ph. (07) 5524 4384

• King Street Veterinary Hospital, 6 King St, Murwillumbah. Ph. (02) 6672 4322

• Mullumbimby Veterinary Hospital, 124 Dalley Street. Ph. (02) 6684 3818

• Byron Bay Veterinary Clinic, 1/70 Centennial Circuit. Ph. (02) 6685 6899

Care of decoy birds Decoy birds should be managed in accordance with the guidelines on the reverse side of this sheet.

Trap management and care

• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to return it to one of Council's offices, and to alert the program manager that this has occurred.

• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to ensure that the trap is returned to Council clean and in good working condition or to bear the costs associated with returning the trap to good working condition or its replacement.

I (print name)……………………………………………………………commit to act in accordance with all of the above protocols.

Signed: Date:

Address:

Page 5

Phone number:

mailto:[email protected]

Use and care of trapped Indian Mynas as Decoy Birds This project has been trialing the use of decoy bids in traps at a number of trapping sites. Decoy birds are live Indian Mynas that are retained in the containment chamber of the trap when the trap. The decoy birds (also referred to as Lure Birds or Judas Birds) call the target Indian Mynas down to the trap, then the bait guides them to the entrance tunnels and into the trap. We have found that the use of decoy birds can significantly reduce the amount of time needed to trap Indian Mynas at a site and, if retained in the trap over the trapping period, can also significantly increase the number of Indian Mynas trapped at a site. Another advantage of using decoy birds is that it can enable people that do not have Indian Mynas visiting their property, but who have seen them on properties that are close by, to successfully lure the birds over to their own property and then to catch them. Welfare of decoy birds The ongoing welfare of the decoy birds is of the utmost importance and they must be cared for in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure for Trapping Pest Birds prepared by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (now part of the Department of Industry and Investment). The above document states that if decoy birds are used when trapping they must be provided with suitable and adequate food, water and shelter, and that they must not be subjected to undue stress. The lure birds/s must be removed when the trap is not in use and traps containing lure birds must be inspected daily. Decoy birds can be deliberately introduced to the containment chamber when the trap is first introduced to a site, or it can be trapped from the local population using the techniques outlined in the ‘Guide to using Pee Gees Indian Myna and Common Starling Trap’. Care of decoy birds Undertake your daily care of decoy birds when you bait your trap. Visiting the trap only once each 24 hours will reduce the stress on the decoy birds. Make sure that your trap is providing adequate shade for your decoy birds during the hot part of the day and protection from inclement weather. The decoy birds should be provided with a clean living environment. The trap should be moved each morning or evening, to provide the birds with a clean floor. The trap should also be hosed out when necessary. The birds should be provided with clean water. Ensure that their water container/s are cleaned and replenished each morning or evening. The birds should be provided with adequate and suitable food. Their diet should include:

• a mixture of soaked and dry dog biscuits;

• some fresh mince at least every few days; and

• fresh fruit. They generally prefer cut up banana and grapes, however this preference can vary from flock to flock. If they are not eating the fruit you provide them with, try cutting it into smaller portions and/or a different fruit.

The amount of food needed by the birds will vary depending on the number you have in the cage. The best measure is to observe how much they eating. If they are getting enough, there will be a small amount left at the end of the day. If all the food is gone at the end of the day, provide them with more. If they are leaving excessive amounts, cut it back a bit.

Page 6

PROTOCOL ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND TRAP MANAGEMENT Community members who participate in trapping are required to commit to the following animal welfare and trap management and care protocol.

When trapping

• You must position the trap so that there is adequate shade for the trapped birds. The containment cage of the trap must contain food and clean water at all times.

• Trappers are not to use grain-based food (including bread) in this trap as this can attract native birds.

• If a native bird is trapped it should be released as soon as possible.

• The birds are not to be exposed to undue stress while trapped — avoid manhandling or approaching the traps too frequently.

• The traps are to be monitored regularly -at least every morning and evening.

Dealing with trapped birds The trapped birds are treated in a humane and responsible manner. It is a condition of borrowing this trap that you observe the requirements of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

The method of euthanasia to dispose of trapped birds is to be quick and painless, and as stress-free as possible. There are two methods of euthanasia that this program endorses for use by community members. These are: gassing with carbon dioxide gas, NOT carbon monoxide as in a car exhaust; or cervical dislocation (breaking their necks). Both of these methods require experience and or training.

If you feel that you are unable to euthanase the birds, you can take the birds to one of the Vets listed below. This service is only available during normal business hours. Please call the clinic prior to delivering the birds.

• South Tweed Veterinary Clinic, Shop 6/8 Blundell Boulevard. Ph. (07) 5524 4384

• King Street Veterinary Hospital, 6 King St, Murwillumbah. Ph. (02) 6672 4322

• Mullumbimby Veterinary Hospital, 124 Dalley Street. Ph. (02) 6684 3818

• Byron Bay Veterinary Clinic, 1/70 Centennial Circuit. Ph. (02) 6685 6899

Care of decoy birds Decoy birds should be managed in accordance with the guidelines on the reverse side of this sheet.


• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to return it to one of Council's offices, and to alert the program manager that this has occurred.

• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to ensure that the trap is returned to Council clean and in good working condition or to bear the costs associated with returning the trap to good working condition or its replacement.


Signed: Date:

Address:

Phone number:

Page 7

Use and care of trapped Indian Mynas as Decoy Birds This project has been trialing the use of decoy bids in traps at a number of trapping sites. Decoy birds are live Indian Mynas that are retained in the containment chamber of the trap when the trap. The decoy birds (also referred to as Lure Birds or Judas Birds) call the target Indian Mynas down to the trap, then the bait guides them to the entrance tunnels and into the trap. We have found that the use of decoy birds can significantly reduce the amount of time needed to trap Indian Mynas at a site and, if retained in the trap over the trapping period, can also significantly increase the number of Indian Mynas trapped at a site. Another advantage of using decoy birds is that it can enable people that do not have Indian Mynas visiting their property, but who have seen them on properties that are close by, to successfully lure the birds over to their own property and then to catch them. Welfare of decoy birds The ongoing welfare of the decoy birds is of the utmost importance and they must be cared for in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure for Trapping Pest Birds prepared by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (now part of the Department of Industry and Investment). The above document states that if decoy birds are used when trapping they must be provided with suitable and adequate food, water and shelter, and that they must not be subjected to undue stress. The lure birds/s must be removed when the trap is not in use and traps containing lure birds must be inspected daily. Decoy birds can be deliberately introduced to the containment chamber when the trap is first introduced to a site, or it can be trapped from the local population using the techniques outlined in the ‘Guide to using Pee Gees Indian Myna and Common Starling Trap’. Care of decoy birds Undertake your daily care of decoy birds when you bait your trap. Visiting the trap only once each 24 hours will reduce the stress on the decoy birds. Make sure that your trap is providing adequate shade for your decoy birds during the hot part of the day and protection from inclement weather. The decoy birds should be provided with a clean living environment. The trap should be moved each morning or evening, to provide the birds with a clean floor. The trap should also be hosed out when necessary. The birds should be provided with clean water. Ensure that their water container/s are cleaned and replenished each morning or evening. The birds should be provided with adequate and suitable food. Their diet should include:

• a mixture of soaked and dry dog biscuits;

• some fresh mince at least every few days; and

• fresh fruit. They generally prefer cut up banana and grapes, however this preference can vary from flock to flock. If they are not eating the fruit you provide them with, try cutting it into smaller portions and/or a different fruit.

The amount of food needed by the birds will vary depending on the number you have in the cage. The best measure is to observe how much they eating. If they are getting enough, there will be a small amount left at the end of the day. If all the food is gone at the end of the day, provide them with more. If they are leaving excessive amounts, cut it back a bit.

Page 8

PROTOCOL ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND TRAP MANAGEMENT Community members who participate in Rabbit trapping are required to commit to the following animal welfare and trap care protocol. All Rabbits trapped using Tweed Shire Councils traps must be treated in a humane and responsible manner.

Rabbits must be cared for at a level that ensures that they retain good health and well-being through all stages of the trapping process and it is a condition of borrowing this trap that you observe the requirements of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

When trapping

• You must position the trap so that there is adequate shade at all times for the trapped Rabbits and so that the Rabbits are protected from the extremes of weather.

• The trap must contain fresh food and clean water at all times.

• If a native animal is trapped it must be released as soon as it is detected.

• The Rabbits are not to be exposed to undue stress while trapped — avoid approaching the traps unless you are going to remove the Rabbit from the trap and transport it to the Vet.

• The traps are to be monitored, and food and water replaced, at least every morning and evening.

• When you are transporting the Rabbit, put a cloth sheet over the trap to help prevent additional trauma to the animal during transportation.

• Trapped Rabbits must not be subjected to lengthy periods in-transit. Ensure you drive a direct route to the Vet and that you drop the Rabbit off at the Vet prior to attending to other tasks.

Euthanasia of trapped Rabbits

It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to organise for euthanasia for the trapped Rabbits and the form of death must be quick, painless, and stress-free.

Methods of euthanasia that are acceptable to this program are those outlined by the NSW DPI GEN001 Methods of Euthanasia. These methods are cervical dislocation, shooting and overdose by barbiturates.

Unless you are experienced in applying the above methods, trapped Rabbits must be taken to your local veterinarian to be euthanased.


• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to return it to one of Tweed Shire Council's offices and to alert the relevant Council contact that this has occurred.

• It is the responsibility of the person borrowing this trap to ensure that the trap is returned to Council clean and in good working condition, or to bear the costs associated with returning the trap to good working condition or replacing the trap.


Signed: Date:

Address:

Phone number:

Page 9


Rabbit Trapping Tips Rabbits have adapted well to the Australian environment since their introduction in the 1860s. They are one of Australia’s major agricultural and environmental animal pests costing between $600 million and $1 billion annually.

Rabbits compete with native animals, destroy the landscape and are a primary cause of soil erosion by preventing regeneration of native vegetation. Additionally, Rabbits have played a role in the reduced numbers and extinction of many native animals by competing for food and burrow space.

Listed below are some trapping tips that should be followed to get results for your efforts:

1. Rabbit traps should be washed with soap and water or with bleach and water to get rid of any human smells on the traps both before use and after each trapped Rabbit is removed. Handling the traps after washing should be done with gloves to prevent oils from your hands being left on the traps.

2. Traps are best left in areas where rabbits seek shelter or food. Putting a trap out in the middle of your lawn is likely to be less effective than leaving the trap near some bushes or a garden. Use common sense and your instincts when deciding where to lay the trap.

3. Use suitable bait. Fresh bait is more likely to catch a Rabbit than stale bait, so baits should be refreshed each day. Baits need to be placed at the far end of the trap, so take care not to not to leave your scent on the trap when putting in the bait. Some suitable foods to use as bait are:

- Alfalfa hay;

- Apple;

- Carrot;

- Rolled oats soaked in apple juice and

- Peanut butter.

Guide to Using Pee Gees Trap with Decoy Birds

Page 11

PROTOCOL ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND TRAP MANAGEMENT Community members who participate in trapping are required to commit to the following animal welfare and trap care protocol. All Rabbits trapped using Tweed Shire Councils traps must be treated in a humane and responsible manner.

Rabbits must be cared for at a level that ensures that they retain good health and well-being through all stages of the trapping process and it is a condition of borrowing this trap that you observe the requirements of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

When trapping

• You must position the trap so that there is adequate shade at all times for the trapped Rabbits and so that the Rabbits are protected from the extremes of weather.

• The trap must contain fresh food and clean water at all times.

• If a native animal is trapped it must be released as soon as it is detected.

• The Rabbits are not to be exposed to undue stress while trapped — avoid approaching the traps unless you are going to remove the Rabbit from the trap and transport it to the Vet.

• The traps are to be monitored, and food and water replaced, at least every morning and evening.

• When you are transporting the Rabbit, put a cloth sheet over the trap to help prevent additional trauma to the animal during transportation.

• Trapped Rabbits must not be subjected to lengthy periods in-transit. Ensure you drive a direct route to the Vet and that you drop the Rabbit off at the Vet prior to attending to other tasks.

Euthanasia of trapped Rabbits

It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to organise for euthanasia for the trapped Rabbits and the form of death must be quick, painless, and stress-free.

Methods of euthanasia that are acceptable to this program are those outlined by the NSW DPI GEN001 Methods of Euthanasia. These methods are cervical dislocation, shooting and overdose by barbiturates.

Unless you are experienced in applying the above methods, trapped Rabbits must be taken to your local veterinarian to be euthanased.


• It is the responsibility of the persons borrowing this trap to return it to one of Tweed Shire Council's offices and to alert the relevant Council contact that this has occurred.

• It is the responsibility of the person borrowing this trap to ensure that the trap is returned to Council clean and in good working condition, or to bear the costs associated with returning the trap to good working condition or replacing the trap.


Signed: Date:

Address:

Phone number:


Rabbit Trapping Tips Rabbits have adapted well to the Australian environment since their introduction in the 1860s. They are one of Australia’s major agricultural and environmental animal pests costing between $600 million and $1 billion annually.

Rabbits compete with native animals, destroy the landscape and are a primary cause of soil erosion by preventing regeneration of native vegetation. Additionally, Rabbits have played a role in the reduced numbers and extinction of many native animals by competing for food and burrow space.

Listed below are some trapping tips that should be followed to get results for your efforts:

1. Rabbit traps should be washed with soap and water or with bleach and water to get rid of any human smells on the traps both before use and after each trapped Rabbit is removed. Handling the traps after washing should be done with gloves to prevent oils from your hands being left on the traps.

2. Traps are best left in areas where rabbits seek shelter or food. Putting a trap out in the middle of your lawn is likely to be less effective than leaving the trap near some bushes or a garden. Use common sense and your instincts when deciding where to lay the trap.

3. Use suitable bait. Fresh bait is more likely to catch a Rabbit than stale bait, so baits should be refreshed each day. Baits need to be placed at the far end of the trap, so take care not to not to leave your scent on the trap when putting in the bait. Some suitable foods to use as bait are:

- Alfalfa hay;

- Apple;

- Carrot;

- Rolled oats soaked in apple juice and

- Peanut butter.

APPENDIX 4 –AUDIT REPORT CARD

Sustainable Management of Significant Urban and Peri-urban Bushland Areas

T W E E D - BY R O N B U S H F U T U R E S P R O J E C T 2 0 1 0 R E P O RT C A R D - S U F F O L K PA R K | W E S T

This report card shows the results of an audit of urban bushland for a cluster of council reserves in Suffolk Park, also known as Baywood Chase and Byron Hills. The audit assessed over 900 hectares of urban bushland as part of the Bush Futures Project which aims to address the impacts of urbanisation and improve the health of urban bushland in Byron and Tweed Shires.

URBAN BUSHLAND HEALTH IN SUFFOLK PARK - WEST

Threatened Animals: Bush-hen, Wallum Froglet, Eastern Long-eared Bat, Koala, Eastern Blossom-bat, Grey-headed Flying-fox, Little Bentwing Bat

Threatened Plants: Coolamon, Stinking Cryptocarya, Green-leaved Rose Walnut, Veiny Lace Flower

Common garden ‘escapees’: Umbrella Tree, Singapore Daisy, Syngonium, Fishbone Fern, Cocos Palm, Mother of Millions, Callisia (Inch Plant), Duranta

phot

o: D

ebor

ah P

earc

e

Suffolk Park - west

There are 9 parcels of council managed bushland in this area covering over 11 hectares. These sites are important for conserving the local environment as well as providing valuable areas for recreation and connecting with nature.

ValuesAll vegetation in the area is mapped as High Conservation Value (HCV) and is within the regional wildlife corridor. A total of 5 vegetation communities occur within the area including three Endangered Ecological Communities: • Coastal Cypress Forest • Lowland Subtropical Rainforest • Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplain.

The area contains 4 threatened plants and 8 threatened fauna species (see below).

ThreatsThe main threats to this area include invasion of environmental weeds, dumping of garden waste and rubbish. A flora survey of the sites has identified 73 weed species, 4 of which are listed as noxious within Byron Shire.

Weed invasion is the second largest threat to biodiversity in Australia. Weeds impact bushland in a number of ways: • Weeds compete with natives plants reducing seedling germination and growth • Exotic vines can smother and kill large trees • Weeds alter vegetation structure and can make bushland less favorable to wildlife.

Dumping of garden waste and rubbish is a significant problem in many of these reserves. Dumping not only looks unsightly but also results in the introduction of new weeds and pests, smothering of native vegetation and an increase in fire fuel loads. Many garden plants are spread from backyards by birds, wind and water and become invasive weeds in bushland.

Report Card 2010Urban Bushland Health in Suffolk Park - west

BYRON SHIRE

T W E E D - BY R O N B U S H F U T U R E S P R O J E C T

P G 2

2 0 1 0 R E P O RT C A R D - S U F F O L K PA R K | W E S T

P G 3

B U S H L A N D H E A LT H A U D I T R E S U LT S

Caniaba CrescentBrushbox /Camphor Laurel dominated tall open forest and areas of swamp sclerophyll forest. • Forest structure: moderate condition. • Weeds: moderate invasion throughout site. • Bush regeneration work has been occurring at this site for a number of years.

Forest Glades 2Swamp sclerophyll forest and Coastal woodland. Includes area of significant coastal wetland • Forest structure: good condition. • Weeds: moderate invasion along edges adjoining gardens.

Forest Glades 1Subtropical Rainforest with Hoop Pine emergents. • Forest structure: good condition • Weeds: moderate invasion on edges.

B

B

Broken Head RdSwamp Sclerophyll Forest • Forest structure: good condition. • Weeds: major invasion throughout site

Beech DriveCoastal Cypress Forest (Endangered Ecological Community). • Forest structure: good condition. • Weeds: major invasion across the mid and ground layer of whole site.

C

C

Corkwood CrescentMixed regrowth rainforest with Camphor Laurel • Vegetation structure: degraded • Weeds: present throughout entire site

Bottlebrush CrescentSwamp Sclerophyll Forest • Forest structure: good condition. • Weeds: high level invasion along edges. • Issue with dumping of garden waste and rubbish • Flying Fox colony present on site

Hayters DriveSubtropical Rainforest with Hoop Pine emergents. • Forest structure: excellent condition • Weeds: moderate invasion throughout ground layer.

Hoop Pine LaneSubtropical Rainforest with Hoop Pine emergents and area of swamp sclerophyll forest • Forest structure: good condition • Weeds: moderate invasion along edges adjoining gardens • Issue with dumping of garden waste and rubbish.

C

C

B

B

BBushland health scores between A-D have been determined using data collected from the bushland audit carried out in early 2010. The audit process assessed five variables that contribute to bushland health which were combined to produce an overall health score.

Bushland Audit

GOOD

MODERATE

DEGRADED

HIGHLY DEGRADED

ASSESSED AREA

A

B

C

D

SCALE OF MEASURABLE ATTRIBUTES

VEGETATION STRUCTURE & COMPOSITION

LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY

HABITAT FEATURES

WEEDS

OTHER THREATS

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Urban biodiversity management aims to protect and restore native vegetation, wildlife habitat and the ecosystem services they provide. This will be achieved by management that removes or reduces the threats that degrade the biodiversity of these areas.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Following the audit process a Restoration Action Plan was prepared in order to direct on ground restoration activities. This plan outlined three issues that are impacting on the health of this area: 1. Environmental Weeds 2. Dumping of garden waste and rubbish 3. Garden plants invading reserves

MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

To address these impacts and improve the health of these reserves the following actions are recommended:

1. Implement a bush regeneration program to undertake control of environmental weeds invading the sites. 2. Remove dumped garden waste and rubbish. 3. Educate residents of the impacts they create through garden weeds, dumping of garden waste and rubbish and encroachment of gardens into council reserves.

TARGETS AND MONITORING

Management actions to reduce the threats to these areas and improve their health are underway through the Bush Futures program. Annual monitoring will be undertaken through this project to assess whether the management approach is having a positive impact on bushland health. It is expected the bushland health will improved over time and be reflected in an increase in the Bushland Health Scores of the area.

WHAT IF WE DON’T ACT?

If no management actions are undertaken the threats impacting on these reserves will continue. Environmental weeds will increase in abundance, degrading any native vegetation present on the site and reducing the overall biodiversity. Continued dumping of garden waste and rubbish will reduce the scenic values of these reserves as well as introduce new weeds, reduce viability of native plant and animal populations and increasing fire fuel loads.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

We all have an impact on our environment. Understanding and minimising these impacts will help prevent further loss of biodiversity and lead to a healthier environment.

• Remove or control invasive species in your garden • Plant local native species in your garden • Don’t dump garden waste and rubbish in the bush • Don’t clear native vegetation • Be a responsible pet owner and keep them out of bushland • Join a local Landcare or Dunecare group

This project has been assisted by the NSW government through its Environmental Trust Urban Sustainability Grants Program

TWEED SHIRE:John Turnbull (TSC) - Bush Futures Project Manager02 66702732 | [email protected]

BYRON SHIRE:

Angus Underwood (BSC) - Bush Futures Project Officer02 6626 7000

www.byron.nsw.gov.au/tweed-byron-bush-futures

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Milestone Report 4 31 March 2011 - Tweed Shire Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Program Milestone...

Documents

Transcript of Milestone Report 4 31 March 2011 - Tweed Shire Bush Futures Urban Sustainability Program Milestone...