NOEL and Jocelyn Stevens from Lorne are part of the Habitat Links Trial Project and work is about to commence on the ground on their property and that of other participating landholders in the Lorne area.
Weed control and revegetation activities are planned along the Camden Haven River and adjoining drainage lines on a number of properties to sustain and recreate habitat links across the landscape between major forested lands such as the Lorne Mountain , Middle Brother State Forest and North Branch and Kendall State Forests.
Koalas, Tiger Quolls and Brush-tailed Phascogales are 3 threatened species already known from the locality and a base-line fauna survey to establish a picture of what special fauna may be utilising the area is also planned on a number of properties.
The Lorne Mountain is known Koala habitat and this project aims at providing or improving vegetation along gully lines down to the Camden Haven River. Ms Gerrand said that the revegetation areas will provide increased shelter and foraging across areas that are currently cleared and weed control will promote natural regeneration and aid in the maintenance of species diversity where native vegetation remains.
The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust is backing these works as part of the Habitat Links Trial Project which canvassed community interest and support for wildlife conservation on private lands in the Nambucca, Macleay and Hastings catchments. Over the last 12 months the Project Co-ordinators have liaised with a range of landholders in these catchments and the Camden Haven and Girrlaong (area west of Macksville) were selected due to the quality of habitat in the area and the level of interest displayed by landholders.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service will be contributing also with the allocation of funds for provision of Koala food trees within the revegetation areas, under the Threatened Species Recovery Program.
The project is focussing on areas identified as 'Key Habitats' or ‘Corridors' in a recently completed Department of Environment and Conservation mapping exercise. Mapping of Key Habitats and Corridors has occurred across north-eastern NSW on all public and private lands, but has no regulatory or statutory implications.
The ‘Key Habitats and Corridors' information can be viewed on the internet at www.canri.nsw.gov.au (go to Flora and Fauna and select Key Habitats and Corridors) or at your local Landcare Office. Contact the Hastings / Camden Haven Landcare Co-ordinator – Cath Eggert on 65 864465 or Daintry Gerrand on 65 565 099 for more information about the Project.
