Fifty baby turtles will provide a boost to the wild population of an endangered freshwater turtle species after they are released into the Macdonald River near Bendemeer this week.
Image - One of a group of over 260 juvenile Bell's Turtles in the research lab at UNE. They will be released at different sites around the region in a quest to conserve the species.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is responsible for managing 46,700 hectares of Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) which means they have many neighbours right across the region. They are committed to maintaining a neighbourly friendship with landholders who own farms alongside TSRs.
Image - Northern Tablelands LLS TSR Project Officer, Helen Ward, has marked out trees along a TSR east of Inverell so that the neighbouring landholder can replace the fence line.
New England Weeds Authority has inspected the Armidale township for privet and letters for controlling this weed have been sent out to landholders.
The responsibility of landholders/occupiers is not to remove privet entirely but to keep it trimmed back and prevent the plant from flowering and fruiting. This is an ongoing task.
A better long term strategy is to remove it and replace it with a more desirable species, and there are many alternatives. Privet can be controlled by cutting the plant and painting the freshly cut surface with herbicide such as glyphosate (e.g. Round-Up). This is best done whilst the plant is actively growing.
The whole community, including urban dwellers, landholders, local government representatives and wildlife carers are being invited to a free event where the spotlight will be on koalas – literally!
“We’d like to involve anyone who has an interest in retaining and increasing koala populations in the region through better management and planning,” said Karen Zirkler, Coordinator with Southern New England Landcare who are hosting the event.
Over the past 10 months, Armidale Regional Council staff and representatives from the community have contributed towards creating a ‘greenprint’ strategy for improving environmental sustainability in our local government area, and now you are invited to comment and make suggestions.
Meet some local critters in your neighbourhood! Landholders and the broader Armidale community are invited to take part in a rare opportunity to meet some of the shyer locals they may have had no idea are living in the neighbourhood.
Image - Creatures like this Little Pied bat could be found on the upcoming Spotlight Adventure Walk in Armidale.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is unveiling a program to provide landholders with the tools they need to help manage feral animals. The Feral Fighters program is an initiative to strategically target pest animals at a regional scale.
Image - Because the pigs are food stressed it is important to free feed correctly. It is important to aggregate the pigs to free feeding sites which should be free fed for seven to ten days before poisoning.
Armidale was the location of a cane toad sighting confirmed by the Department of Primary Industries this week. Here's what to do and what not to do if you think you've spotted one...
Southern New England Landcare invites landholders, members and friends to action plan a bright future in our region, for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. Landholders in the Balala Brushgrove, Bundarra, Kingstown, and Yarrowyck areas are especially invited to attend. Your input is important and will be valued.
This gathering will also have a view to establish a new Regent Honeyeater Landcare group. Information will be provided about upcoming grants.
When? 3 - 6 pm Friday 12th April 2019. Where? Kingstown General Store OR Kingstown Hall (TBC depending on numbers)
Finger food and refreshments provided. Phone 6772 9123 for more information. UPDATE: New RSVP date by Wednesday 10th April to mail@snelandcare.org.au for catering purposes.
Landholders, landcare group members and bird lovers are all welcome at this field day on Tuesday 2nd April at the Gwydir TSR from 10 am until 1 pm. The Regent Honeyeater field day boasts key expert speakers on the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater including:
Ross Crates, Australian National University Lead Researcher - Regent Honeyeater.
Dr Paul McDonald, University of New England - Associate Professor School of Environmental & Rural Science.
Emily Mowat, Birdlife Australia NSW Woodland Birds Project Officer.
Do you live in the Kingstown or Yarrowyck area? Are you keen to fire up your old Landcare group, or perhaps just do some Landcare type work on your own place as an individual? Have you ever thought about:
Fencing that hard-to-access remnant of native vegetation?
Fencing off a creek to assist with easier livestock management?
Establishing some shelter belts/wind breaks/wildlife corridors in an open area of your farm?
Getting some technical advice on native vegetation?
Well, opportunities are coming your way soon with the launch of the Turning the tide on threatened species - Regent Honeyeater project and it's related field days.
Southern New England Landcare Coordinators are keen to help landholders in your area to do some action planning, because these types of activities will be eligible for financial and technical assistance through this project. We look forward to hearing from you! Give us a call on 6772 9123 or mail@snelandcare.org.au.
UPDATE 10.3.19 - the following assistance is no longer available through Vinnies, but we urge you to try contacting The Salvation Army or Rotary (Reg Pierce for Northern and Western NSW on 0417 472 723) for the same style of assistance...
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As this devastating drought continues, remember, you are not alone.
St Vincent de Paul Society is working locally to roll out this support to farmers in our area. Download a detailed flier here.
The funding is available for farmers, farm workers and farm suppliers/contractors facing hardship due to drought. It can be used to spend in local communities or to cover urgent bills such as food, petrol and utilities. The $3,000 per household can consist of up to $2,000 in cash and $1,000 in vouchers.
St Vincent de Paul Society are distributing packages to affected people in the Armidale, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Uralla, Walcha and Walgett districts.
To access this support contact (02) 5776 0200 (Armidale) and one of their representatives will call you back to help your family.
Volunteers needed please!
Vinnies in Armidale are looking for volunteers to assist with the large number of incoming drought enquiries. If you can spare some regular time each week for the next few months, please contact Phil Donnan (Armidale) on 02 5776 0200.
The Drought Communities Programme (DCP) supports communities in the most drought-affected regions of Australia and builds on the more than $5.7 billion in additional Australian Government drought support measures already announced. The Drought Community Support Initiative information page can be found at https://regional.gov.au/regional/programs/drought-communities.aspx
Following recent bush fires that devastated both farms and public land around Tingha, Jennings to Sandy Hills, Drake and Tabulam in the Northern Tablelands region, many landholders are now asking how to manage native vegetation on their fire-damaged properties.
If there is an imminent risk of injury or damage to property landholders can clear native vegetation, including trees. Clearing should be undertaken to the minimum extent necessary.
Image - If you need to clear fire-impacted fence lines on your property, you can clear tracks to the minimum extent necessary without needing approval. In the Northern Tablelands this minimum extent is a distance of no more than 30 metres total width.
A call to arms is going out across the Northern Tablelands to arrest invasive species in our landscape.
With the economic impact of pest animals in NSW estimated to be $170 million, Northern Tablelands Local Land Services are unveiling a program to provide landowners with the tools they need to help manage feral animals.
Image - By working together in the Feral Fighters program, a wider knockdown of the target species, in this case feral pigs, can be achieved.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Agronomists, Georgie Oakes and Jeff Lowien note that dry sowing of winter cereal forage crops is an option that a number of producers are considering to achieve quicker feed for when it does rain.
Obviously there are risks involved but for quite a few it may be worth a punt, at least for a portion of your planned area of cereal forage crops.
Image - Dry sowing winter cereal forage crops is an option that some farmers are considering at the moment. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ingall, ABC.
The third annual UNE Orientation Week planting will be held on Friday 1 March.
The event starts at 10:30 am, and will be followed by a free BBQ lunch generously provided by Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club. A key aim of this event is to get students new to Armidale interested in Rivercare and Landcare opportunities!
Local Land Services veterinary officers and biosecurity staff are on the ground assisting communities affected by bush fires. They are primarily dealing with animal welfare-related issues.
Access to the fire grounds due to safety concerns is limiting the ability to assess the full extent of the damage, however the number of stock losses is expected to grow over the coming days as landowners gain access to their properties.
Landholders who need assistance with emergency fodder, livestock or domestic animal assessment should call the Ag and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647.
Image - the Firest Near Me App for smart phones provides detailed information and updates on all firest in NSW.
What does the future hold for Chilean Needle Grass?
Southern New England Landcare will host and guide a conversation at the Guyra Show from 3 - 4pm on Satuday 23rd February 2019.
The main Pavilion will be the site for a discussion panel with:
All invited to this free event. For further information, please contact Sara Schmude.
Recent media stories of dry conditions affecting New South Wales and Queensland have shown the depressing conditions that seem to go hand in hand with the regular onset of dry weather in Australia, but this New England grazier and Southern New England Landcare Member, has an alternative approach to drought management...
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