Current Activities 

HCCREMS has worked with a number of councils to secure funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program.  All projects will commence in March 2012 and be completed within 12 months. The five successful projects are detailed below.

LGSA grant to control Coolatai and other grasses Singleton - Dungog
The invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses is a key threatening process under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (NSW).
 
In conjunction with Dungog and Singleton Shire Councils, HCCREMS has received $88,156 funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program to implement the on ground control of exotic grasses along the main artillery road between Dungog and Singleton.
 
Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) is a native of South Africa and the Mediterranean region, which was introduced for soil stabilisation in the Coolatai area. It can grow longer into the cooler months than most summer growing native grasses and can become dominant on roadsides where it displaces most other grasses and herbs. African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is native to southern Africa, Argentina and the United States. It is thought to have been accidentally introduced into Australia as a contaminant of pasture seed. African lovegrass readily colonises overgrazed and disturbed sites such as roadsides and railway lines. It can form dense monocultures. This can create large fuel loads, posing a fire hazard and creating competition with native species regeneration.
 
This twelve month project will greatly assist Singleton and Dungog Councils, community groups and local landowner’s efforts to restore the natural resilience of native grass communities through the control of grass weeds along approximately 100 kilometres of roads.

LGSA grant to protect Yellow box – White Box woodland rehabilitation on roadsides
In conjunction with Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook councils, HCCREMS has received $99,941 funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program to help conserve White Box-Yellow-Box-Blakley Grassy Woodlands in the region.

The project will involve the on ground rehabilitation and restoration of six key roadside sites containing the nationally critically endangered White Box Yellow Box Grassy Woodland.  This vegetation community occurs in the tablelands and western slopes of NSW. Known threats to the community are invasive weeds and fragmentation due to high disturbance. 

An extension of the roadside marker scheme will allow sites to be  incorporated into the Regional Roadside Environment program and  specifically marked as White Box Yellow Box Grassy Woodland. Specific training guides and council training will ensure: 1.Council staff know general habitat features of White Box Yellow Box woodland and other key species and EECs 2. Best management practices are implemented at White box sites

LGSA grant to protect Persoonia & Grey Crowned Babbler habitat along roadsides
In conjunction with Cessnock Council, HCCREMS has received $49,667 funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program for the restoration and rehabilitation of habitat essential for these two species.

The project will involve the rehabilitation and restoration of key roadside sites containing habitat for the critically endangered Persoonia pauciflora and the vulnerable Grey Crowned Babbler within the Cessnock area. Works undertaken will include weed control and fencing activities within ecological significant roadside environments. This project will consolidate and extend previous weed control works completed by the Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH).

The project will extend the roadside marker scheme by installing Persoonia pauciflora and Grey Crowned Babbler specific marker categories at known sites, supported by species specific field guides. Training of council's outdoor staff will be undertaken, focusing on best practice methodologies and increasing knowledge of habitat features.

LGSA grant to enhance Weeping Myall rehabilitation along roadsides
In conjunction with Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter councils, HCCREMS has received $97,156 funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program to  maintain and improve ecological connectivity between Weeping Myall remnants located in roadsides.

The Weeping Myall Woodlands ecological community is listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Within the region, the community is restricted to the Upper Hunter area. Remnants of this community are often located within road verges. Weed invasion and roadside maintenance practices (mowing) can drastically reduce recruitment.

This project will reduce the impact of such process through weeding and regeneration works and establishment of protection measures (eg fencing, barricades or planting of ecological buffers). 

By including Weeping Myall Woodlands as a specific category, with appropriate management recommendations, into the Regional Roadside Marker program, altered management practices by councils will reflect the particular ecological needs of Weeping Myall remnants and directly improve the condition and resilience of these remnant populations.

LGSA grant to implement on ground management at Creek Crossings
In conjunction with Gloucester, Dungog, Greater Taree and Great Lakes councils, HCCREMS has received $99,968 funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program to improve biodiversity and water quality at creek crossing through delivering on ground vegetation rehabilitation works at six priority sites.

This project will identify priority water crossing sites that intersect with rainforest habitat and threatened flora. For each site key roadside management issues affecting water and vegetation quality will be identified.

Incorporated within the existing HCCREMS Roadside Marker program, a new `Water Crossings’ category under the Regional Roadside Marker Scheme will be established, marker posts installed and a specific Water Crossings Field Guide developed to inform work practices at these sites. Training in the use of these products will be given to council staff to inform ongoing implementation of best practice road management. 

The project will also deliver improved protection of significant vegetation communities and improved water quality at six sites which have an interface with creeks (e.g. spillways).  This will be achieved through specific bush regeneration activities at each site.


Roadside Marker Scheme
The Roadside Marker Scheme involves implementing a roadside marker system to provide clear instructions for council staff undertaking roadside management activities within identified ecologically sensitive sites. The scheme will involve colour coded stickers being placed on existing or new white marker posts that will alert council staff to the presence and nature of ecologically sensitive roadside sites. These stickers provide a clear coded link to supporting Field Guides that specify appropriate management practices for protecting ecological values.

The marker scheme will significantly reduce the risk of inadvertently damaging threatened species and communities protected by Commonwealth and State legislation. Some 250 sites of ecological significance have been identified and documented across the region. These are spread across the 14 HCCREMS council areas. Ecologically sensitive sites are defined as:

• Intact remnant native vegetation which may be significant at local or regional levels
• Endangered Ecological Communities as identified in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2000.
• Habitat for a range of significant flora and fauna species (eg the roadside environment may contain features including bush rock, fallen logs or trees with hollows that provide important habitat for a range of ground dwelling and arboreal animals).
• Roadsides adjoining or intersecting with wetlands, creeks and rivers which provide habitat for aquatic fauna and flora. Many creeks, rivers and wetlands intersect with roads or occur immediately along the roadside.  These sites are important food source and refuge for a range of native plants and animals. Impacts such as upstream erosion from road related activities may have detrimental impacts these fragile habitats.
• Key habitats and corridors – road reserves may provide the only corridor link for adequate movement of fauna.