Land for Wildlife workshop goes with the flow

22 March 2018

Workshop teaches landholders to manage riparian areas

Effective management of watercourses will be the theme of the next workshop in the Land for Wildlife workshop series.

The current Land for Wildlife workshop series – launched in 2016 and funded by a National Parks and Wildlife Foundation grant with support from Council – helps private landholders manage native habitat on their properties.

Council Project Officer – Biodiversity Michael Corke said this half-day, free workshop, to be held Saturday 14 April, is designed to help landholders manage riparian habitat.

“Creeks and rivers are dynamic systems delivering potentially high energy water flows,” Mr Corke, said.

“Riparian areas – containing some of the most biodiverse habitats in Australia – can be notoriously difficult to manage.”

The workshop will examine the dynamics of water flow, the impact of flood events and river evolution and behaviour.

Mr Corke said each of these factors has a significant impact on the type and quality of riparian habitat.

“Participants will visit two very interesting sites at Chillingham,” he said.

“We will look at the riparian environments at each location and discuss major threats to habitat integrity such as bank and bed erosion and weeds.

“Participants will see firsthand how landowners are using tree planting, bush regeneration, livestock control and erosion stabilisation works to manage these threats.

“One year on from the record flooding in the Tweed Shire, the community is well aware of the need to manage our waterways for the future.

“This workshop is an opportunity to discuss the challenges and benefits of best practice riparian land management and learn from the experience of landowners actively managing their waterways.”

Council’s Waterways Project Officer, Matt Bloor, who has considerable experience in waterway rehabilitation and has managed several large-scale restoration projects including the Rous River Riparian Restoration project, will co-facilitate the workshop.

This three-year project is supported by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.

The workshop is open to anyone however places are limited and bookings are essential. Interested persons may register by phoning Council’s Contact Centre on (02) 6670 2400. Details of the venues will be provided on registration. Participants are required to wear long-sleeved clothing, sturdy boots and a hat and to bring water. Morning tea will be provided but not lunch.

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Caption: Tweed Shire Council Waterways Project Officer Matt Bloor