December 2012 Number 5 YAKKA

16 DETERMINED TO LEARN ON COUNTRY

06 CAPs on and planning for action 07 Beach Daisy, it ain’t so pretty 11 Bird lover adopt a plover

www.nrm.sa.gov.au YAKKA

In this issue

03 Connect. Understand. Act. 04 At home with Caroline 06 CAPs on and planning for action 07 Beach Daisy, it ain’t so pretty 08 Environment project flows through community 09 Sunnier on the South Coast 10 Peering into the past 11 Bird lover adopt a plover 12 Possums, dragons and skinks: blitzing the biodiversity challenge in SA 13 Connections with the Coast 14 Clare a booming nest of woodland birds 16 Determined to Learn on Country COVER PHOTO 18 Between land and cyberspace 20 Big changes for Trevor Lyle Sansbury, Supervisor of the ALOC group at Point Pearce. 22 Making learning more than appealing

Yakka is a publication of Natural Resources Northern and Yorke. It promotes awareness and uptake of natural resources management in the Northern and Yorke region of South Australia.

Editor: Natalie Oliveri Photography: Daniel Hanisch, Jared Pippos, 06 Jennifer Munro, David Sloper, Mel McDermid, Jean Turner, Brooke Kerin, Debbie Gray, Deb Furbank, Wendy Cliff, Casey O’Brien, Rebecca O’Leary, Pam O’Malley, Anne Brown, Mary-Anne Young, 23 No trail behind Mark’s snail fight Nicole Taylor, Glenn Ehmke, Grantley Dodd, Trevor Gum, Natalie Oliveri and wonderful volunteers, partners 24 Baiting for Biodiversity and DEWNR staff. 25 Strutting a safer Malleefowl Acknowledgements: The Board gratefully acknowledges the many individuals and organisations 26 A glimmering future for our rivers who have contributed photographic and editorial 27 River makeover a good catch content to this publication. 28 Getting the balance right Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this publication, the Board 30 Putting the brakes on a wheel takes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. cactus problem Contributions: Natural Resources Centre 31 Supporting a Water Resource Northern and Yorke, Ph: (08) 8841 3400 for the Future or send to [email protected] 08 Website: www.nynrm.sa.gov.au 32 Ethel on show

02 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke FIS 91802 YAKKA

Connect. Understand. Act.

Kerry Ward Lower North group member welcoming the kids to the Riverton Education day.

Three hundred students from the mid- “[I’ve] had nothing but great north and lower-north districts had the comments from all the schools, opportunity to get up close and personal with some fun and educational activities the kids enjoyed themselves and with gurus from environmental and cultural couldn’t wait for next year and groups and the Department of Environment, the teachers want education Water and Natural Resources. days to be held every year.” Thanks to the students who participated Wendy Cliff, Senior Ranger and made the day fun full of intrigue and laughter: Burra Community School “We would like to thank all the Farrell Flat Primary School volunteers, presenters and staff Eudunda Area School for their assistance over the St John’s Lutheran School. 2 days, we acknowledge it was an enormous task and would Auburn Primary School not have been possible without Watervale Primary School their support.” Owen Primary School Brooke Kerin, DEWNR staff member Hamley Bridge Primary School Tarlee Primary School Saddleworth Primary School Riverton Primary School Inset: Our wonderful presenters. Birds of prey – Anita Turton (Coordinator of the SA birds of prey rehabilitation centre). Bats – Cristina Vicente. Ferals – Kevin Teague. Native bees – Susan Richards. Native seeds and how they travel – Anne Brown. Micros – Jen Munro. Bush foods – George Laughton.

Raptors presentation at Riverton.

Learning how seeds travel, Saddleworth Primary School Students, from left to right: Molly, Rebecca, Cooper, Harry, Adam, Belinda and Ben.

Learning about seeds with Greening Australia’s Anne Brown.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 03 YAKKA

At home with Caroline

Caroline Schaefer has been an active agriculturalist for many years, originally farming with her husband Roy on the Eyre Peninsula. But a change brought her to the Clare Valley and the wine industry in 1998, where she now resides at her ‘Buckinnie’ vineyard.

You may recognise Caroline as a Member Q. WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AS SOME of the Legislative Council of South Australia OF THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS for seventeen years. She retired in 2010, IN THE NORTHERN AND YORKE but has continued to be an active and REGION IN THE LAST YEAR? valued member of her community. Her six years on the Natural Resources Standing I’d like to think that one of our greatest Committee from its inception in 2006, put achievements is a closer relationship her in good stead to join the Northern and with local government and the Regional Yorke NRM Board. Development Association (RDA). We have an alliance between Central region local With a personal and vested interest in government, the Yorke and Mid North the health and conservation of natural RDA and the Northern and Yorke NRM resources and many years in farming Board and we try to collaborate and and agriculture, she became the Board’s seek joint funding for projects whenever Presiding Member in 2010. possible. I think that closer allegiance with Caroline sat down with us at home to one of our most important partners is a discuss ‘the year that was’ and how great achievement. Northern and Yorke has scored in being a prosperous and sustainable region. Q. AND WHAT ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE WAY OF PROJECTS?

Project-wise, I don’t want to single out any in particular, but in the northern area, there has been a reduction of Wheel Cactus from 32,000 hectares to 9,000 hectares, which is a spectacular success. We’re making quite a lot of difference through our three NRM groups.

04 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

Q. WHAT CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED Q. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT THIS IN THE BOARD IN THE LAST YEAR AS PRESIDING MEMBER 12 MONTHS? OF THE NORTHERN AND YORKE NRM BOARD? Board appointments are generally for three years and a maximum of six, so we’ve just It’s very difficult to say what I’ve learnt had a number of nominations for people over a 12 month period because it’s whose three-year terms have expired. a continually evolving task. I think it’s We’ve had two new Board members due an ongoing learning curve. The task of to vacancies. Steve Ball, who’s a farmer governance has altered and our role is and ex-Nuffield scholar from Riverton more advisory and strategic, rather than and Denise Picton who’s a planner and hands-on management. The Board is also lives at Undalya. an evolving group – and we have some new Caroline at a Year of the Farmer event in Rundle Mall with State Agriculture Minister Gail Gago. board members. So it’s ever- changing and Q. HOW HAS THE BOARD ADAPTED I think it’s absorbed rather than formally TO REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND learned. Q. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE THE DENR AND DEPARTMENT FOR BOARD IS SEEKING TO WORK WITH WATER AMALGAMATION? Q. DO YOU HAVE AN NRM COUNCILS AND THE RDA. WILL ACHIEVEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO THAT CHANGE YOUR FOCUS, OR It’s taken a long time to implement, but SHARE THAT YOU’VE CARRIED WILL IT SEE PROJECTS ACROSS it’s given us as a Board a greater depth OUT ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY? BIGGER AREAS OR LANDSCAPES? of expertise to draw on and it’s given staff in the regions a greater variety of career On our property, it’s more a general The government tells us the focus is on options. When the integration eventually practice thing. We use minimum water for landscape planning, but the Board recently finishes it will also take some of the growing our vines. We also keep our weeds discussed that it’s more about tackling more onerous tasks away from regional to a minimum and we encourage native effective scales within your region. boards, such as HR and Payroll. Things like fauna and flora where we can. There are some projects that attract that, which require advanced computer Federal funding. Our region is one of technology can now be done centrally. the major players in the CAP process (a Federal initiative: Conservation Action Q. HOW HAS THE REGION ADAPTED Planning) that involves a lot of NGOs and TO THE CHANGES? land owners. That’s very much part of our landscape I think those who are involved on a focus, but equally we give small grants voluntary basis with conservation and land to interest groups who might focus on management have probably embraced it cleaning up a particular creek, or a project because it gives them a greater pool of in the school. It depends on the project and expertise to call on. The general public are the region you’re in, because some of those very used to amalgamations of government little projects are probably as important as departments and probably see it as little the major whole-of-region projects. more than a change of signage.

Q. WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE ANY MOMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR WHERE YOU’VE FELT PROUD OF WHAT’S BEEN ACHIEVED?

I’d prefer to continue working toward a more efficient and professional Board than to sit back and think of ‘proudest moments’. I think the Board has grown together as a group and as a team. I was very involved in acquiring some funding for some formal leadership training and a number of our Board participated in that. I’m very pleased that I was part of being Caroline participates in sustainable practices on her vineyard. able to achieve that funding, because it brings a greater degree of professionalism, not just into the Board, but into the region. You’ve got to continue to learn. When you stop learning, you’re dead.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 05 YAKKA

CAPs on and planning for action

The adoption of a world-renowned conservation strategy has paved the way for communities in the Northern and Yorke region to successfully take the reins on significant environmental projects, writes Natalie Oliveri.

Conservation Action Planning (CAP): these Lofty Ranges, and since then, projects and John Peet says there have been words might not mean much to you, but community groups have thrived. a number of projects that have they represent a process that’s made a John Peet, monitoring and evaluation huge difference to many community done well under the CAP process officer has worked closely with the CAP groups and landowners in the Northern in the Northern and Yorke process and says focus is moving away and Yorke region and beyond. from NRM boards doing the work for region, and it’s in-part due to the The ‘CAP’ process also allows groups communities, because they might not enthusiasm of locals. with local knowledge and eyes and ears necessarily always be around to do it. for what’s occurring in their environment, “I think the community response has been “As with anything: political cycles, to have a say about what conservation exemplary. There have been groups like governments and government programs activities need to happen in their area. that in the Southern Yorke: the South won’t be here forever, but if we give Coast Road Environmental Group (SCREG). It all began back in 2008, when the Board communities the skills and the tools to That group has been developed and put part-funded a project with Greening look after these things, this work can together with the help or the department’s Australia, and saw how beneficial the continue into the future,” he says. community liaison officers.” process was to both the community and the environment. “The Board’s involvement takes “The group’s projects have to stay in line with the Board and state NRM agendas, Now the Northern and Yorke Natural on a different scale, instead of either by our Business Plan or the state’s Resources Management Board have their being the driver of the change; Strategic Plan, but they don’t feel restricted own fully-fledged program, which teaches they’re basically a collaborator or by it.” the community skills and supports the proactive work of groups within that an enabler.” “They’ve seen what they can do and they’re community, rather than doing it for them. actually going out, hitting targets and The community has been given the reins in achieving on-ground results.” One of the reasons the process has been a lot of cases, to steer their own projects successful, is because it looks at how with the guidance of DEWNR employees. projects can be administered across landscapes, coordinating many groups and “Boards or government agencies aren’t the landholders instead of working in isolation. be all and end all, we don’t have all the answers and all the wisdom. We recognise In 2010, the process was planned for that within the community there are a lot projects in the Southern Flinders, Southern of strong, intelligent and capable people, Yorke Peninsula and Northern Mount with a lot of knowledge that we don’t have ourselves. We’re tapping into that resource to try and get the best outcomes.”

06 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

on foot, spraying thick infestations Beach Daisy, and hand-pulling isolated plants. The final stretch of infested beachfront at Formby Bay and Blue Bay was tackled in it ain’t August 2012. “Our local council is very impressed that we have been able to control the daisy to the extent that we have, especially given access so pretty to the infested areas is quite difficult,” WOPBRG’s new president Reid Smith said. Dedicated landholders, “It is amazing what can be local residents and WOPBRG volunteers Sandy and Reid Smith and Shelley achieved by working together. and Ian Timms spraying Beach Daisy. interested people have The more people that get on combined forces to board, the bigger difference we “The WOP volunteers are very motivated. contain the highly invasive can make. They have identified what they want to achieve and are well on the way Beach Daisy (Arctotheca “Some people are too busy to get involved, to achieving it,” Deb said. but those that are involved are very active.” populifolia) in the extreme “They are driving this project and the south western corner of While the Beach Daisy may sound like a eradication of this weed would have been Southern Yorke Peninsula. beautiful flower, in reality it’s a highly very difficult without community support.” invasive pest plant, a succulent which WOPBRG volunteers have also worked By Mel Kitschke. grows from the high water mark to the with the District Council of Yorke Peninsula foredune and chokes out native coastal to prevent illegal access at Daly Heads, It’s a remarkable effort by members of vegetation. protecting the highly unstable sand dunes the community operating as the West of Originating from South Africa, the Beach known as the ‘Dust Bowl’. Peesey Biodiversity & Restoration Group Daisy has become a problem in Australia (WOPBRG), controlling a weed that Fencing of this area has proved highly where land is exposed to the southern potentially could have taken over the whole successful, with only six vehicles reported ocean, and is present along some parts of of the Yorke Peninsula coastline. in the past 12 months (compared to up to Eyre Peninsula, the South East and along 16 vehicles at a time previously). Contractors and landholders started control beaches south of Adelaide. In WA, the of the succulent pest plant in 2011, but Beach Daisy has infested beaches from Deb says the local police have been very after summer rains WOPBRG members Perth to Esperance. supportive of this project, which has really realized a much more coordinated effort improved the outcome. DEWNR community liaison officer Deb was required. Furbank said WOPBRG volunteers were The group is also working on woody weed Since March this year the group’s members contributing in a massive way to future control (particularly box thorn) and has 500 have armed themselves with knapsacks and conservation of YP. native coastal plants to plant when the pest set out on four wheel drive motorbikes and plants are removed. WOPBRG is also striving to protect and preserve the habitat of endangered shorebirds like the Hooded and Red WOPBRG Beach Daisy spraying capped plovers. Former WOP president Neil Smith is actively involved in the Yorke Peninsula Conservation Action Planning process and regularly attends progress meetings. “Through the CAP process our high energy beaches, coastal dunes and cliffs have all been identified as important assets of the Southern Yorke Peninsula,” Neil said. “These assets are also a priority for the WOP Biodiversity Restoration Group. “This area is very sparsely populated area but we have some amazing natural assets. Not all landholders are members, but most of them are favourable to what we are doing to protect our environment.”

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 07 YAKKA

A Lace Monitor rests on a tree trunk before being released back into the wild during a Biological Survey of the Mambray Creek area.

Young landholders of the future are also getting involved, with students from Port Environment project flows Germein Primary School banding together with the Mambray Creek Care group for a recent tree planting day, further enhancing through community the community links this project is enabling. Conservation Volunteers Australia have also played a vital role in helping the group Helping the landscape ‘flow’ from Mount Remarkable to control African Boxthorn and other weeds the sea, a Southern Flinders Ranges group of landholders are on Crown land where Mambray Creek steering the future of their environment, writes Gabrielle Hall. joins the Upper Spencer Gulf. The ongoing input of landholders is vital to maintaining the volunteer’s efforts. What began as an environmental project “Mambray Creek Care is about coming to improve the landscape leading into together, caring for community, Jean Turner and community liaison officer the Upper Spencer Gulf is having some helping the environment.” Ben Denison have provided technical important flow-on effects for the back-up to Mambray Creek Care, There is little doubt it is achieving all wider community. but Jean says it has been the landholders those things, according to Department of who have really taken the reins on the For the past two years, a small band of Environment, Water and Natural Resources project as part of the Living Flinders – locals in the Mambray Creek Care group ecologist Jean Turner. Peaks to Plains Conservation Action has made a concerted effort to work on A series of biological surveys last October Planning (CAP) program. weed control and revegetation along made some exciting discoveries on the the creek line stretching from Mount “It’s really fantastic because the whole focus properties in the Mambray Creek Care area. Remarkable west into the sea. of our program is to help landholders learn “On the western side of National Highway about what native species they have on However, Mambray Creek landholder 1 we found a range of plant species we their properties and what action they can Sarah Wiltshire says the project is proving did not expect to see as well as Brushtail take to protect and manage their habitat,” beneficial to more than just the environment. Possums. In a small patch of inland sand she says. “The idea of the name Mambray Creek dunes we found a native Bolam’s Mouse, ”We were really just a catalyst because Care resonates with me because I think the in probably one of the last remaining they were already very environmentally group is about much more than helping the patches of that vegetation type in the conscious and interested in doing environment, it is about reconnecting and area,” Jean says. something. All they needed was some help caring for community too,” she says. Surveys east of Highway 1 found a wide to get them together and apply for grants.” ”For centuries communities have bonded range of native plants, including two The conservation work has been enabled and grown strong through working side species of Greenhood Orchids. through State NRM funds, support from by side in the environment, whether it be “There’s some amazing stuff hanging on in the Northern and Yorke NRM Board, the in an agricultural setting or hunting the the most unexpected places. All these little Australian Government Caring For Our tribe’s food, there is something essentially gems are just hanging on in the landscape Country program, and a number of other right about working shoulder to shoulder and all they need is a bit of awareness and sources including the Living Flinders - with your neighbours to achieve positive effort to ensure they remain there in the Peaks to Plains CAP program. outcomes. long term,” Jean says. The success so far of this small landscape “It is hard to believe in this seemingly sleepy “The best way we can achieve this restoration project has provided a model rural location that we are all so busy with is through interested and dedicated for the NRM Board to extend the work to life’s comings and goings that we hardly landholders – like the Mambray Creek include the Baroota, Telowie and Napperby get to stop and say g’day anymore. group – taking charge of managing creeks with the Mount Remarkable to the their local environment.” Sea project.

08 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

Pam says while there is much still to be Sunnier on the South Coast done, it has been very rewarding to be part of a group turning the tide on degradation of the beautiful Southern Yorke Peninsula Little by little, volunteers are making a big difference coastal region. to a 25 km stretch of beautiful native bushland “Over the last decade, more and more of the coastal area has been denuded and between Pt Davenport and Marion Bay, on Southern invaded by weeds - it has been awful Yorke Peninsula. Mel Kitschke reports. watching it happen,” Pam says. “Once we started talking about it as a community we realised other people felt Over the past two years, volunteers “We have an 80-year-old man making the same – we were all very worried our have removed countless weeds, mainly pygmy possum boxes, a retired manager beautiful bushland would disappear, but box thorn and Acacia cyclops, and taking care of grant money, a Marion Bay felt powerless to do anything about it.” revegetated with indigenous native surfer attending to the contract woody species including Eucalypts. weed control, and a design artist creating With support from DEWNR community signs to educate people about the Hooded liaison officer Deb Furbank, and David They have also put in place measures to Plovers which nest on our beaches,” Sloper from NRM, the South Coast Road protect native wildlife, in particular Western Pam says. Environmental Group was established Pygmy Possums and Hooded Plovers. and environmental issues of the region Dynamic volunteer coordinators Pam Ann Williams has been involved were prioritised. Bennett and Ann Williams have led the “Once people knew that there was hope for South Coast Road Environmental Group as an interested local landholder our precious coastal region, interest really (SCREG) since its inception and are amazed and has participated in snowballed, and people were keen to come at how progress is being made over time. Conservation Action Planning on board and do their bit.” Pam says the key to the group’s success workshops, as well as being “This is not about the government fixing is the efforts of the 30 or so people who involved in bush condition the problems for us, it is about us learning participate in intensive working bees, held monitoring surveys run by the skills to overcome the environmental over five half-day blocks three times a year. Greening Australia. problems in our region and doing “For each working bee we identify our it ourselves. priorities and send out a programme to She has a particular interest in the Western “The drive for this project is really coming landholders, residents, shackies, and other Pygmy Possum, which lives in the coastal from the people and that’s why it is interested people,” Pam says. mallee flanking South Coast Road. working so well.” “This has really helped spread the workload She says removal of Acacia cyclops is Pam says the group is looking outside the – some people come for an hour, some critical, as these plants are toxic to the square to suggest people visit the coast and come for large parts of the five-day block,” pygmy possums. embrace the need to protect the bird life Pam says. “Once the acacia Cyclops is removed, and vegetation. “These working bees have generated a we are revegetating these areas with “There are plenty of signs saying ‘Keep Your terrific amount of enthusiasm for protecting nectar producing plants (such as Eucalyptus Dogs on a Leash’,” she says. our native bush.” Rugosa) for the pygmy possums to feed “We don’t want to say ‘don’t do this, don’t Pam says the group has been fortunate to on,” she says. do that’ - we are making signs that show have members with a diverse range of skills. the species that live in these areas that Baby Western Pygmy Possums. need protection.” Over the next year, work will begin on a boardwalk to the beach at Hillocks Drive, to protect native coastal vegetation from degradation by people accessing the beach. Deb Furbank says the South Coast Road Environment Group is a wonderful example of a community taking ownership of the future of their environment. “This group is organising intensive working days, organising contractors, applying for grants, and as time goes on they need less and less input from me,” Deb says. “What they are achieving on the ground is simply terrific.”

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 09 YAKKA

Peering into the past

Nearly 100 years since it was a bustling rest stop and mining town, Bimbowrie station has been given a new lease on life, Catherine Hoffman writes.

Two buildings were chosen as the focus Mick Higgins, a member of Friends of Burra for a restoration project: Mawson’s Hut Parks, says he felt his time volunteering for and the Cobb & Co. Post Office. This the project was well spent. Post Office was situated next to Cobb & “It was a brilliant experience and I learnt Co. Coach House, blacksmith shop, an a lot of new skills within a stunning Park explosives magazine and a long-drop toilet. setting, amongst great people. I would It was particularly useful to those travelling do it all again,” he says. between Adelaide and Broken Hill early last century. Wendy Cliff was very appreciative of the efforts made by all involved. “I am so Mawson’s Hut is famous as being the overwhelmed by the amount of work site of Sir Douglas Mawson’s studies on that was achieved and the efforts put geology. He worked for many years there, in by all the volunteers,” she says. observing the unique mineral richness of the Bimbowrie area as Professor of Geology The volunteers’ visit next year will at the University of Adelaide. include finishing off the last wall The roof of Mawson’s Hut was blown on the outside of Mawson’s Hut Glenn Meaney (volunteer) chiseling away off during a severe storm in 2011, at the Post Office. unfortunately opening the inside and the inside walls. They will to the elements and to deterioration. also carry out lime washing of In an effort to conserve this piece of history, the Post Office and other minor Once upon a time, the place where the Department of Environment, Water repairs to the main Cobb & Co Bimbowrie National Park’s Heritage and Natural Resources (DEWNR) teamed building. Precinct Area stands was a vibrant, lively up with local group, Friends of Burra Parks. place. Located in the Olary Ranges region DEWNR Senior Ranger, Wendy Cliff, says of the north-eastern pastoral zone in South that the project was created as a way for Australia, the precinct was a mining town the Friends of Burra Parks to be involved along the main transport route between in a heritage activity. Adelaide and Broken Hill. But the unprecedented interest extended It is a place that is today, still very rich beyond Buxrra, attracting volunteers from in minerals and in history. the Mid-North Area and beyond. In 2004, the Minister for Environment and “We got a fantastic response from the Heritage at the time purchased the 73 000 call for volunteers, 17 people in total ha Bimbowrie Station lease with the help of from Friends of Burra Parks, Friends of the National Heritage Trust. In more recent Innamincka, Sporting Shooters of SA, years, the buildings there have become Hunting & Conservation Branch, and rundown and dilapidated, largely forgotten individuals with a passion for volunteering or ignored, and suffering under the whims in our Parks. This project is a great example of bad weather. of how volunteers with different experience But the hard work and enthusiasm of a can work together outside their ‘usual few volunteers has made all the difference patch’ to achieve an excellent outcome for to this historical site. Using traditional themselves and for DEWNR,” Wendy says. stone masonry techniques, members The project was conducted with the of the community are conserving some assistance of a contractor. He specialised of Bimbowrie National Park’s heritage in heritage stone restoration and trained Family members on the garden seat listed buildings. the volunteers in the traditional techniques. at Bimbowrie Station ca. 1920. The aim was to educate the volunteers Bimbowrie Post Office ca. 1880. in order that they can apply their knowledge Thanks to the State Library of South Australia, to future restoration projects of heritage REF: B 19154/4 & REF: B 19146. buildings.

10 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

Bird lover adopt a plover

You may have considered adopting a pet, but few people would think to adopt a plover and make a difference to coastal bird numbers, writes DEWNR community liaison Hooded plover at Pondalowie Bay. officer Deborah Furbank.

In spring and summer the beaches of BirdLife Australia has held free workshops introduced coastal weeds. It’s a rare the Yorke Peninsula become the nesting on the Yorke Peninsula for the past opportunity to play a direct role in bringing grounds for beach nesting birds like the two years and the enthusiasm of local a species back from the brink of extinction. hooded plover. participants has made the Yorke Peninsula The management strategies that result from This small animated bird is classified as home to the 10th Friends of Hooded hooded plover monitoring on the Yorke Vulnerable across South Australia with less Plover group. Peninsula will also benefit other beach than 200 recorded on the Yorke Peninsula. nesting birds such as the pied and sooty The Department of Environment, Water This group has made it possible oyster-catchers and the red-capped plover. and Natural Resources has been working for community members to adopt Beach nesting birds are notoriously very with the local community and BirdLife a pair of plovers on their local sensitive to changes in the environment Australia to raise awareness of the and hooded plover breeding season is from challenges hooded plovers face on beach during the breeding season August to March. So, with over 80 percent the Yorke Peninsula and monitor the progress of of Australians living within 50 kilometres Hooded plover numbers have been nesting attempts. of the coast, it is hard for these birds that declining across southern Australia and the require undisturbed beaches for successful breeding. Hooded plovers have one of the species is already extinct in Queensland and It provides a wonderful opportunity to get lowest chick survival rates in the world. northern NSW. These shorebirds are easily to know the local birds and if you are really distinguished by their black ‘hood’, broad lucky, the chance to catch a glimpse of Since 1980, nation-wide hooded plover white ‘collar’ across the back of neck and a rare chick. surveys have taken place every two years. their black tipped red beak. The survey is coordinated by BirdLife This approach has been very successful Australia and includes the entire coast One of the reasons for the bird’s decline in in Victoria and on the Fleurieu Peninsula, numbers is their habit of nesting directly on from Jervis bay in NSW to the Eyre and the number of fledged chicks the sand, just above the high tide mark or Peninsula in SA. increased considerably last year with in the fore dunes. Their eggs are speckled The biennial survey provides important the help of local volunteers. and blend in with their nest made of information that helps to determine sand. This gives the eggs protection from Activities include monitoring nests, if the number of hooded plovers is predators, but also makes them hard to temporarily fencing and signing nest sites, changing in any way. see for approaching walkers and people educating beach users and controlling enjoying other beach activities.

Article in part, courtesy of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 11 YAKKA

The Biodiversity Blitz included surveys of micro bats in the Innes National Park. Possums, dragons and skinks: blitzing the biodiversity challenge in SA

Northern and Yorke volunteers have won two awards for their contribution to long-term management of fauna and flora in the Innes National Park, as Rebecca Leigh reports.

Pygmy Possums, Prickly Dragons and and BEST secretary. She said the initiative During the Biodiversity Blitz, volunteers Four-Toed Earless Skinks were among the set a benchmark for volunteer conservation. were given the skills to work alongside shy residents of the Innes National Park rangers, to undertake on-ground works “The rangers’ priorities in the Innes on the Yorke Peninsula who had their to improve habitat condition for several National Park were to survey species such day in the spotlight, when 45 volunteers threatened species and collect baseline as Western Whipbirds, to monitor how the rolled up their sleeves for a week-long ecological data to advise habitat re-introduced Tammar Wallaby population Biodiversity Blitz. management strategies. was faring, and to assess the potential The Blitz was the brainchild of the local impacts of fire on native flora, fauna and Biodiversity and Endangered Species weeds,” Cristina explained. Team (BEST), who collaborated with the Department of Environment, Water and “In the past, these projects would One of the littlest volunteers, Maebh O’Leary, tackles some weeds during the Blitz. Natural Resources (DEWNR) to help address have taken place separately the key conservation priorities of local rangers and regional ecologists. throughout the year, so it would have been difficult to attract It was a daunting challenge: could volunteers, indigenous communities, volunteers. government organisations and local conservation groups join forces to deliver “The goal of the Biodiversity Blitz was to a package of biodiversity projects, backed combine all the projects into one week, by strategic education and training for to encourage volunteer participation and long-term conservation? consolidate the department’s resources. This method offered volunteers a better The result? The group not only blitzed the experience and each project received the challenge, but received a 2012 Department same level of support, which may not have of Environment, Water and Natural happened if the projects were spread out Resources Outstanding Achievement over several months. Award for Volunteer Group Project as well as the 2012 Friends of Parks Award for Best “The week was also an important Biodiversity Project. opportunity to offer training and education to volunteers and to develop lasting At the time of the Biodiversity Blitz, relationships between the community, Cristina Vicente was the DEWNR Northern government staff and conservation groups.” and Yorke region volunteer support ranger

12 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

They completed a diverse range of high priority projects during the week-long Blitz, including: • 13 beach surveys for the vulnerable Hooded Plover, during which 35 Plovers were recorded. • Training for volunteers to identify and control of weeds of national significance in habitat of the vulnerable Western Whipbirds • Birds and reptile surveys in and outside proposed burn areas in the Mallee habitat – 29 species of native birds, one species of introduced birds, 12 species of reptiles and six species of mammals were recorded • Three Indigenous cultural awareness CONNECTIONS WITH THE COAST workshops were attended by 15 people • The Friends of Innes National Park were supported through Western Whipbird Activities you like to enjoy on the coast might monitoring, weed control and sign be poles-apart from what the next person does, maintenance. • Passive and actives surveys of micro bats but it has special significance to each of us writes • Population monitoring for the Kerrie Robertson. re-introduced mainland Tammar Wallaby (extinct in the wild) They might have very different “The fish are coming back, the The strategic timing of the Blitz – during backgrounds, but they share the same periwinkles are big again,” she said. passion and the connection to the ocean. summer holidays – allowed families “The fish are more abundant than they and uni students to participate along Aboriginal woman Claudia Smith from were a while back so it’s coming back with international and inter-state the Yorke Peninsula and self-confessed slowly and that’s a good thing.” visitors, first-time volunteers, ‘shacky’ Peter Huxtable from Blanche She said her people had the belief that locals and regular volunteers. Harbour near Port Augusta were called you never took anything from the sea on to pass on their coastal knowledge to “Undertaking multiple activities in a short that you didn’t need to survive. time frame allowed the involvement secondary school students at an event to Ms Smith said the introduction of the of more community members – some celebrate World Oceans Day. Marine Parks would help to preserve volunteers committed for the whole week, Ms Smith’s people have fished and lived the fish breeding grounds in the area. others came along for a half day or a on the Spencer Gulf and the West Coast couple days,” Cristina said. “About 2000 of South Australia for generations. “You have to look after it or you won’t hours of volunteering went into the project, have it,” she said. Her paternal uncles, brother and so it delivered a significant amount of value grandfather, Narrunga men, were You could also say Peter Huxtable has to conservation in the National Park. all fisherman, inhabiting the Yorke salt water running through his veins. “The range of experiences during the Peninsula from the bottom, up to the He has lived in the Port Augusta area Blitz – including kid-friendly activities – Port Broughton River. all his life. made volunteering interesting and fun. She grew up at Hollywood, on the He has owned a shack at Blanche This volunteer input and collaboration boundary of Point Pearce and Balgowan. Harbour since the 1952 and he has maximised the conservation outcomes, and called it home for more than 25 years. the training and development opportunities “We’ve had these connections with have resulted in an increased participation the sea and coastal area all our lives,” He credits his father for his passion for rate with the Biodiversity and Endangered she said. fishing, boating and sailing and has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure Species Team.” “Dad brought me up to respect the sea the coastal area’s sustainability. Cristina was on hand to see the BEST group and its environment. A successful ‘sharpie’ sailor, Peter receive their awards at a presentation “Our ancestors are buried in the sandhills represented the state three times in the in Naracoorte – an honour she said was so it’s a very important place and it 1960s and while he has given it away well deserved as the Biodiversity Blitz was provides all our food and needs.” not just about answering conservation now, at 72 he is still a keen fisherman. Ms Smith said she had become questions, but played an important role He too is pleased that the local fish concerned over the years about the in involving the local community in caring populations are building up again after overfishing that had occurred through for their beloved Innes National Park. years of over-fishing. the use of large nets. “The Biodiversity Blitz sets a benchmark Peter is a strong advocate for the region, But she said the situation is now improving. for volunteering so hopefully other groups holding a position on the Port Augusta can successfully use the model for their Council’s Marine Advisory Committee own projects.” and was Natural a former Resources councillor. Northern and Yorke | 13 YAKKA

The White-winged Chough, a woodland bird showing positive signs of survival in the Clare Valley.

The woodland birds monitoring project began in 2008, with eight local Clare a booming nest ornithologists doing surveys at the nine sites. The Northern and Yorke NRM Board has provided funding to continue the of woodland birds program, originally set up under a Federal Envirofund grant. “Of course this study also wouldn’t have A woodland bird monitoring program in the Clare Valley been possible without the support of the is finding that some species under threat of extinction in nine land owners, who allowed regular access to their woodland areas,” Jean says. other parts of the state are surviving in the Lower North. Gabrielle Hall reports.

The Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail “What we don’t know with birds in general, Clare-based ecologist Jean Turner says the Declining Woodland Birds Recovery project has shown promising and White-winged Chough are in real is how old they are and how successfully results for some bird species thought to be nearing danger of extinction in parts of the they are breeding, but seeing these young extinction in some areas of SA. Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Hills, is very encouraging.” but a four-year monitoring program in the Two other species, the Diamond Dove and Clare Valley is showing encouraging signs Peaceful Dove – also considered to be in for the survival of these woodland birds decline - were also detected across all sites. in the Lower North. While these species are “hanging in there” Ecologist Jean Turner says the Declining in the Clare Valley, Jean says there are more Woodland Birds Recovery Team has been than 50 woodland bird species considered monitoring birds across nine sites along a to be in decline in the Northern and 30 kilometre stretch of the Clare Valley. Yorke region. “We are still very concerned about these Among those absent from all the study sites birds and overall they are considered to included the Scarlet Robin, Golden Whistler, be in decline, but it is promising that they Hooded Robin, Jacky Winter, Painted are managing to hold on here,” she says. Button-quail, Buff-rumped Thornbill “We’ve seen young Brown Treecreepers and Red-capped Robin. being reared so we know we have breeding Very low numbers of the Rufous Whistler, going on in the area. Superb Fairy-wren, Varied Sitella and Yellow-faced Honeyeater were also recorded.

14 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

Declining Woodland Birds monitoring team: Stuart Collard (centre) presents his analysis of the grazing management effects on woodland birds of the Clare region to some of the monitoring team, including Jean Turner, Peter Copley, Dan Rogers, Wally Klau and Dave Potter.

Birds have been monitored using modified Stuart says the study has shown other “I hope these surveys will keep Birds of Australia Atlas data sheets, with factors – including the presence of the going, the longer we can four consecutive 20 minute surveys across aggressive Noisy Miner - may have also a 2 hectare site. influenced these results. continue the monitoring program, the more chance we have of Surveys have been done quarterly, “In the sites where it was recorded in giving a good overview of each of the this study, the Noisy Miner is likely to tracking the longer term trends species across the different seasons. have had a strong negative effect on for these birds,” she says. the diversity and abundance of declining Stuart Collard from the Nature woodland birds,” he says. Jean says these birds are an important part Conservation Society undertook the of the natural biodiversity of the region. statistical analysis of the monitoring “Despite this medium-sized honeyeater data for the project in his previous role as being native to the area, it is known to “We enjoy seeing birds, they’re the native senior consultant with Rural Solutions SA. aggressively compete with and exclude animals that people most often see, but other native bird species.” they also have a beneficial role in areas He says it is important to consider the like insect control, seed dispersal and health of not only the tree canopy, but The Declining Woodland Birds Recovery pollination of plants,” she says. also the understorey for the survival of Team met in Clare recently to hear Stuart’s some of the woodland bird species. analysis of grazing management effects “They help maintain the balance, or function, on declining woodland birds of the of the ecosystem.” “I think it’s important to state that Clare region. many of the declining bird species are ground-foraging insectivores – they eat The group still needs to decide where the invertebrates from the ground – and are study goes from here, but Jean says she particularly susceptible to ground-level hopes it can continue in some form to habitat modification including grazing, gather long-term data on the status of wood collection and inappropriate burning,” woodland birds in the Lower North. Stuart says. Diamond Firetail. “The findings from this study suggest that Blue Gum grassy woodlands that are managed for conservation, with stock excluded, provide habitat for the richest diversity and greatest abundance of declining woodland bird species, with 18 species found in these sites. “At face value, the results also suggest that biodiversity managed sites, where stock grazing management is modified from traditional practices, are not yet providing suitable conditions for many declining woodland birds.”

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 15 YAKKA

Determined to Learn on Country

Meet the Point Pearce Aboriginal Learning on Country (ALOC) team.

From the beginning, the idea of the ALOC team has been for Aboriginal people to undertake NRM projects on their land while at the same time, studying accreditation in Certificate III ‘Indigenous Land Management’ after completing Certificate II. These participants are provided training and qualifications to undertake work on their lands and the program gives opportunity for participants to participate in the local or wider economy. The idea is that they go onto employment beyond Point Pearce or become a member of a commercial NRM contracting team. Some of the main activities include control programs for pests like rabbits and Box Thorn to protect biodiversity LINDSAY SANSBURY IAN BAKER and Threatened species like the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Background: “I’ve previously taken Background: Ian undertook a diesel listed as Endangered in the area. part in a lot of vegetation work mechanic apprenticeship for four Accredited Courses completed to with organisations like Greening years and has worked at an abattoir. date include: Australia and have been involved in He was unemployed before taking revegetating Wadgedin Scrub and on the course. • The TAFE study is Certificate III Dead Man’s paddock.” Indigenous Land Management Most useful skills learnt: Quad bike by April 2013; Most useful skills learnt: Removing training, and how to ride them safely. • Coxswain Certificate; Box Thorn and collecting seeds, • ChemCert (to be able to purchase “Once the seeds are collected, they’re Most enjoyable skills learnt: “I and use S7 Chemicals); propagated in the hot house and enjoyed learning to ride the quad then we plant those trees in the June • Work Zone Traffic Management bikes: I learnt the tricks to riding first rains.” them safely up and down hills.” This team began in March 2012 and will continue to study at TAFE until April Most enjoyable skills learnt: Ambition: To become a ranger. Lindsay loves being on country 2013 to complete the ALOC certificate. “I’ve learnt a lot about the and planting trees, “I like seeing This is a two year funded program. The environment and think I’d enjoy using the kids happy when we take them first year commenced 1 July 2012-30 everything I’m learning and being a out there to see the trees growing June 2012 and the second and final year ranger in a National Park.” that they planted.” 1 July 2012-30 June 2013 Ambition: See the area continue to change for the better. “I like working with the younger blokes, we enjoy each others’ company.”

16 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

This two year program contributes to the Australian Government’s social justice program “Closing the Gap”, the State Governments State Strategic Plan. The Northern and Yorke NRM Board distributes Caring For our Country funds to projects like this one.

IAN HARRIDINE GREG WANGANEEN LYLE SANSBURY ALOC SUPERVISOR

Background: “I worked 3 years Background: Greg was a fulltime Background: “I’ve always been in civil construction and I’ve caretaker for his father and worked involved in tree planting and I’ve participated in the work for the dole on an agricultural property at Point done a lot of it in my spare time but scheme for Greening Australia and Pearce during harvest. I’m a diesel mechanic by trade.” the local council. “I’ve always lived on the Point Pearce community and Most useful skills learnt: “It’s all Most useful skills learnt: have had trouble finding work here.” been useful, but the most useful “The training’s been flat out, at the thing I’ve learnt is how to use moment we’re doing chainsaw Most useful skills learnt: chemicals.” training. We’re also doing work Propagation and tree planting. on top of our training for NRM, Most enjoyable skills learnt: including rabbit and box baiting and Most enjoyable experience: Living “Meeting new people and learning removing box thorns. The chainsaw on the community while working. new stuff and hearing how other training will help us remove more people from other groups look after boxthorn, which we’ve learnt is bad Ambition: “I want to stay in their land.” for the environment.” the community with full time employment and become a Ambition: “I’d like to stay employed Most enjoyable skills learnt: coxswain and work for an oyster and see where this training takes me, “Plant identification has been a big farm. I love fishing and have been doing whatever excites me.” part of the course. I’ve enjoyed on the water my whole life.” learning more about plants and “It’s been good meeting others from removing pest plants. We’ve also “I just like working and doing other ALOC groups, like the Gerard tracked wombat holes by GPS - something useful, I’m learning guys. It’s nice catching up and that’s been interesting.” something new every day.” learning from them when we have joint workshops in Adelaide.” Ambition: “I’m happy to keep learning and making a positive contribution to the environment.”

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 17 YAKKA

Innes National Park, Stenhouse Bay. Between land and cyberspace Natalie Oliveri delves into how the digital age is thrusting “It’s interesting to see where some of the Yorke Peninsula’s most beautiful natural assets people have been within Innes, into the spotlight. where people have been taking photos and the reason they actually visit certain sites. It tells Once upon a time, you could look out For someone like Jarred Pippos, the us where we need to monitor over a stunning natural landscape, push Ranger at Innes National Park, it’s opened the button on your camera, and keep the up a whole new world that shows him and where we need to target image and that memory for years in your what goes on in the national park he’s our resources.” own private collection. But a digital age responsible for. has changed all of that. Parks Marketing Advisor Grant Smyth set As more people have started to use up the Parks SA Facebook page to give Now people are all-too willing to Facebook, he’s got an insight into the people the opportunity to connect to electronically share their shot of a beautiful personal experiences and stories of those places you may only get to see on a holiday, sunset over red dirt, an electric-blue people who were once faceless travelers. a weekend trip, or as a grey nomad. coastline, or their fortuitous snap of a For him, it’s a joy to actually get to see kangaroo on the hop. “We have a lot of really fantastic real images how people are enjoying the park through of what parks look like, and we have links Social media has become a window to pictures that appear on the Parks SA back to the website that give entry and SA’s natural soul, which was once only Facebook page. location details so people get all of the visible when talking to those lucky “I suppose some of those photos are sort information they need,” he says. individuals who got away to places like of private, you don’t really get to see that the Flinders Ranges, Limestone Coast “We’ve put up images of Parks Heritage in my role. You usually catch up with or Innes National Park. Accommodation and people have come them when they’re lost, or on the road on Facebook and said they would highly First-hand experiences are one of those or bogged; it’s a nice insight into the recommend it, so they’re are sharing real things that people are beginning to value other stuff that goes on there,” he says. experiences on the page and a lot of more and more in a society where everyone Jarred says the interaction that he sees them are people who are regular Parks has an opinion. on Facebook also provides valuable visitors. The Parks SA Facebook is actually Personal online blogs and travel review sites information to Natural Resources staff. a place where people are discussing are giving people the opportunity to have their experiences and encouraging their say on where to go, what to see, other people to go.” and what to do when you get there. Grant says he recognises social media as something that can be used to an advantage, from both a tourism and conservation perspective.

18 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

“We want to inspire people to visit and Jarrod Pippos says he’s seen growing have fun, but also want them to do it in a interest as a result of the Facebook sustainable and responsible way. We can interaction between Australia’s Parks, use Facebook to show people how they can and it’s helped him see the role of Innes enjoy parks, but we also use it to ask them as a part of a wider community. He says to take consideration for the fact that they it’s also proven a great way for people to are important environmental sites,” he says. see places outside of their usual camping spot and venture out further. Social media allows a two-way “There were some photos on the page from conversation between the general up in the Murraylands the other day. For public and park managers; people who always come to the coastal something especially significant parks, a random photo from the River Murray might encourage people to visit for those in regional areas. a new location. It’s a means for people to be able to expand their park visiting.” The growing role of social media has also Jarrod says social media has given him a surprised those responsible for Parks, as new understanding of his role as a ranger, they’ve seen some of SA’s natural assets making it more fulfilling and helping him thrust into the spotlight on a national to see the value of his work. and international scale. “I remember seeing a photo of a family on Grant says it’s opened up an avenue for Chinaman’s Hat Beach. There were some people interstate and internationally to see kids and a couple of adults mucking about, what’s happening in SA’s conservation areas. fishing on the beach; and you could see “National Parks, Wildlife NSW, Parks Victoria that was an important part of the holiday and even Parks Australia share posts and for them,” he says. interact on our site. Sometimes the Australia “When I get to see family shots of people Facebook page will put our images or it makes me smile. It makes me remember posts on their site, and that’s putting us that people really value the opportunity in the spotlight and getting us worldwide to enjoy this amazing natural resource attention. The Australia Facebook page, for we have in our region.” example, can draw an audience of more than 3 million people,” he says.

Innes National Park, Shell Beach Camp.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 19 YAKKA

Big changes for Trevor

Seeing images of his sheep Back in 2008, a veterinary student They also fenced the property for rotational completed a placement on Trevor and grazing. This was an important change that on a near-bare field was Diane Gum’s property and, sent them looked at intensively grazing paddocks for a shock to the system for some photographs of the land on which short periods, then resting the paddocks their sheep graze. for a much longer time period. This allows Trevor Gum and made him plants to recover and grow more, resulting “When I looked at those photos, I was in more feed and ground cover. In the rethink the way he ran his disappointed at how bare the country grazing portions of the Gum property, sheep enterprise, moving looked,” Trevor says. sheep are regularly rotated. The areas toward more sustainable “I thought, ‘that’s disgusting, Trevor.’” not being grazed are those prepared for grazing practices, Catherine The images were shocking enough for farming and ‘hotspots’. ‘Hotspots’ are areas that Trevor has made an arrangement with Hoffman writes. him to decide to rethink the way he was running his entire sheep enterprise. the government not to let sheep graze for a five year period to promote biodiversity. The Gums have a mixed grazing and cropping property of 3060 hectares Trevor’s knowledge of better property in Willowie. management has grown through participating in a number of projects Despite an average rainfall of 310mm, funded by Caring for our Country, the weather hasn’t been cooperating with Upper North Farming Systems Group, the Gums in recent years. In both 2008 DEWNR, Greening Australia and the Upper and 2010, rainfall occurred mostly outside North Group of the Northern and Yorke of their growing system and winter- Natural Resources Management Board and growing crops. by receiving technical assistance from Rural Solutions SA and Greening Australia. A lack of vegetation is not only The Upper North NRM Group sees value in unsightly, but is indicative of supporting projects like these in the region, other problems like soil erosion. which are aimed at better livestock grazing This erosion can have an effect management as a means of reducing the on a number of things, from risk of soil erosion. dust storms to depleted soil “The Group has seen in our area how nutrient levels. farmers are protecting soils from erosion, by managing livestock grazing so that paddocks don’t get bared out,” Group Protecting soil with good vegetation cover Chair Geraldine Davis said. is a priority for farmers and particularly the Upper North Farming Systems Group of “Members are keen to see this message which Trevor is a leading member. spread further.” Following Trevor’s epiphany in 2008, According the Trevor Gum, there are a the Gums decided to change their grazing number of local farmers who are interested system in four major ways. in the message, but have yet to have a go themselves at putting it into practice. They adopted better utilisation of native However, he says that people being shrubs and grasses, sowed an area of interested is definitely a starting point. annual pasture each year on arable land, and changed the time of lambing from Members of the Upper North NRM Group April to June. visited the property and were impressed at the impact. Trevor Gum.

20 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

UN NRM Group members visiting Trevor’s property in 2011.

“We were shown how changing Perhaps this is because of the way grazing could improve the land he welcomes almost any plant life. and the Group is keen to continue “Once there is something growing, it’s easier supporting projects like this,” to get other plants to grow too,” he says. says Geraldine Davis. He admits that much of the time; the first plants to grow in any area will not be the There is a significant difference looking at most desirable. the landscape of the Gum’s Gum property “Sheep will eat whatever’s there, but they’ll when comparing photos from 2008 to eat the stuff they like first,” he says. 2011. Trevor says there is still much left to Wallaby grass is apparently their treat of do to get his property where he would like choice and Trevor has observed that the it to be. “There are more fences to be put animals will often eat long past a point Before: June 2008. up, further changes to be made,” he says. where they are actually hungry if there’s Still, Trevor is happy with how the land something delectable in their vicinity. looks. The lack of rain so far this year has “Much like teenage boys, really,” he says. been a disappointment, but the lands have not deteriorated to their previous bare state. Trevor and Dianne Gum are not the first to implement strategies such as rotational Native grasses such as spear grass, curly grazing, but they have helped prove just windmill grass and wallaby grass as well how effective it can be, for both their as burr medic, cluster clover and some farm and the environment. saltbush and bluebush plants are now growing on the unarable land of the This article was written with the assistance Willowie property. The perennial native of Rural Solutions SA consultants grasses and shrubs respond to summer Mary-Anne Young, Jodie Reseigh rains and can work as feed when annual and Michael Wurst. pastures have dried off and stubble feed After: July 2011. is running out. Trevor’s farm has improved rapidly, going from ‘low’ to a cover of 50%.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 21 YAKKA

Making learning more than appealing

The spectacular natural creek bed formation of Appila Springs is transformed into an outdoor learning centre each September for the Appila Springs Environmental Field Day, Mel Kitschke writes.

“My favourite station was the reptiles because I could touch the lizards and learn about their homes and how they hide from their predators.” Declan Wellts, Jamestown.

Barry Harvie, is one of the group’s founding members, says he is always very impressed with how the presenters capture the children’s attention. “It never ceases to amaze me that there will be 150 or so kids at the springs for the field day and when the sessions are on you could hear a pin drop,” Barry said. He said Caltowie Corridors of Green Landcare Group was looking for new members to ensure the environmental field day continues into the future. “A considerable amount of planning goes into an event such as this to ensure it runs well,” Barry said. “We’d really appreciate some support Students at Appila Springs. from a wider group of people.” The Appila Springs Environmental Field More than 150 children from seven or eight The environmental field day is sponsored by Day won a SA Great Regional Award for local schools participate in the annual field the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Science and Environment in 2001. day, organised by a team of enthusiastic Management Board, which provides a The field day is now the core focus of locals known as the Caltowie Corridors significant financial contribution, as well Caltowie Corridors of Green, a group of Green Landcare Group. as staff to present educational sessions. formed in 1997 by landowners in the The students (generally in year two to Meagan says the presenters are always very Caltowie, Appila and Tarcowie area. four) rotate through a series of hands-on passionate about their field of interest and The group’s first objective was to develop workshops, learning about a vast range keep the students captivated for the run a ‘green corridor’ between the Rocky River of topics from experts in the field. of the field day. and Pekina Ranges. This has been achieved This year students searched for macro- Greening Australia vegetation consultant with the planting of more than 6000 tube invertebrates in water collected from Anne Brown has been involved with the stock over several hundred hectares, as well Appila Springs, got up close and personal Appila Springs Environmental Field Day as 120 km of roadside direct seeding. with raptors, reptiles, frogs, and possums, since its inception 12 years ago, and says The group also established a native seed learned about bees and honey and checked local schools now look for the field day orchard near Appila from seed collected out the Adelaide Zoo’s Zoomobile. and design their curriculum around it. within a 10 km radius of Appila. “The field day aims to educate our young “After the field day, schools are following The group won a Foundation for Rural and people about different aspects of the up with water testing, investigating frogs Regional Renewal grant, sponsored by ANZ, environment,” Caltowie Corridors of or lizards, drawing various flora and fauna, in 2010,, which enabled them to build an Green member Meagan Catford says. and doing reports to keep the theme interpretive centre, permanent shelter and going,” she says. “The workshops help students understand a small native garden at Appila Springs, elements of our natural resources and “We often hear back that the field which is visited all-year round by locals protection of ecosystems. The students day has sparked a real environmental and tourists. learn about their own surroundings with interest in a child.” a take home message about caring for the natural environment.”

22 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

No trail behind Mark’s snail fight

Many farmers battle pests that threaten their crops and ground cover, but one family farm is hot on the trail of damaging pest snails. Mark Bennett and Ron Hayes at 2011 Warooka Field Day run with support of NY NRM Regional Landcare Facilitator.

Mark, Nancy, Scott and Jeanette Bennett There are also economic benefits to the At present however, the risk of ending up own a farm near Marion Bay on the farm because the baiting reduces snail with grain made unsaleable due to snail Southern Yorke Peninsula where the contamination in grain and Mark needs to contamination is too high. moistness of the coastal area and its high use less bait and time to get the job done. It’s a tricky situation, but one that the calcium, sandy soil provide ideal conditions “I apply bait as soon as I see snail slime on Bennet family are happy to continue for snails. the ground and it’s the best way to tackle persevering at. It’s caused some problems for these an overpopulation of snails in following Prior to crop emergence, Mark has often farmers, but with the help of the Northern months,” he says. seen young snails clustered around the bait, and Yorke Regional NRM Landcare due to the low amount of alternative food facilitator, Mark Bennett has worked to “Baiting in February or March available at this time. improve snail management practices in at ten kilograms per hectare is the region through sharing his experience. “We could trial a couple of methods,” Mark usually most effective.” says. “We will try baiting immediately after Managing snails has become an essential seeding is done to mop up snails and to component of the Bennett family’s farm, Around 500 to 600 hundred acres of the protect emerging crops from snail damage. because of their adoption of a no till Bennett farm is taken up by pea crops. Juvenile snails are no more than the size retention farming system. These are always baited a second time of a pinhead but they can cause a lot The only burning the Bennetts do is patch immediately after sowing to further of damage.” burning to avoid hair pinning in heavy reduce snail populations and improve According to Mark Bennett, snail control is stubble loads and patches are usually early baiting results. no different to weed control, “to get ahead only burnt in areas with heavy harvester In 2010 and 2011, with a damp summer you need to know what’s going on and be stubble windrows. and early moisture, the Bennetts’ had proactive rather than reactive,” he says. Although burning prior to egg laying can to continually bait snails as egg-laying be a useful tool in controlling snails, Mark occurred in some areas before bait chooses not to burn because of the high was applied. erosion risk of early burning in their Despite these efforts, one hundred acres of sandy soils. their five hundred acres of Kaspa Peas were Mark has developed a strategy through trial not harvested due to snail damage: one and error, and found that there is a huge fifth of the crop was unsalvageable. Mark difference in baiting effectiveness based says Kaspa are by far the best pea to grow on when you bait. He found it was more in the Marion Bay area, but the sugar pod effective to bait prior to a rain event. is especially tasty to snails. The rain provides optimal conditions for “When snail numbers in the area are high, egg-laying, so baiting before rain results they have been known to completely strip in far better snail control with the added off the shell of Kaspa Pea Pods,” Mark says. environmental benefits of increased “We learnt the hard way.” plant growth and greater protection against erosion. Mark would like to grow canola in the future because it does well in the area.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 23 YAKKA

Baiting for Biodiversity

Foxes have a negative

impact on environments, A thorough distribution of baits on the Southern Yorke Peninsula has endanger native wildlife shown great results for farmers and and prey on livestock, but native wildlife. a baiting project on the southern Yorke Peninsula “We are also working on 27 different is showing promising signs properties, all belonging to different people, of controlling the local so the last thing we want is for someone fox population, writes to let a dog pick up the bait or leave a gate open. Sian Cain. “We do the work ourselves and know everything is done the way it should be.” Fox Baiting for Biodiversity is a large- Ken and the other baiters drive into scale fox-baiting project helping protect designated areas, dig a small hole and endangered species on the southern drop the bait in, covering it up afterwards Yorke Peninsula. so birds don’t take it. Originally, the fox-baiting project was One third of all the bait that is put out is started to assist a project in the Innes successfully taken by foxes. National Park, to reintroduce While the project relies on the hard manual Tammar wallabies. work of a few people, remote cameras are It was decided the problem would also used to monitor the bait stations and see better outcomes if the baiting make sure only foxes are taking up the bait. Ked Rudd. was expanded to the rural holdings The fox-baiting project has demonstrated adjacent to the Innes National park the importance of ongoing monitoring and Conservation parks in the area. Species such as the Western whipbird, and modifying techniques to achieve Hooded plover, heath goanna, little In four years, 550 permanent bait stations the best results. penguins and Tammar wallaby previously across 35,000 hectares of the southern faced extinction due to the large numbers Yorke Peninsula have been set up. Three years into the project, of foxes prowling the bushlands. Currently, the project spans across the foxes, notoriously cunning Innes National Park also has one of the few the Innes National Park, Warrenben creatures, began to stop taking stable Malleefowl populations in Australia. Conservation Park, Thudna and Davenport Conservation Parks, as well as over 20 rural the bait. But since the project began, there has holdings. This number has continued to been a surge in endangered species increase with each baiting season. “We used one type of 1080 bait for a few sightings that have got animal lovers years and found we were getting some bait in the area excited. Ken Rudd his team have laid almost 6000 shyness,” Ken says. baits throughout areas on the Southern Particularly exciting is the three reported Yorke Peninsula over four years. “We have remote cameras out there and we sightings of echidnas, which were thought saw that the foxes were approaching the to be extinct in the Yorke Peninsula area. Despite the huge span of land involved, bait and sniffing it, but not taking it.” there are only three bait-layers working on Recently there was also a Bush stone the project; Ken included. That’s a huge Ken says that they have to vary their tactics curlew sighting in Innes, which has not average of 2000 baits placed per person. to get the foxes to take the bait. occurred for many years. However, he says this has been a “We have used kangaroo meat, tuna chunks Heath goannas and Tammar wallabies have deliberate choice. and now we are using a sausage-like bait, also been sighted in increasing numbers in which should hold up in the wet weather,” the region, as well as little penguins, which “Because we are handling 1080 [a type of Ken says. Ken says are finally returning to the area poison], we like to do the work ourselves after being preyed on by foxes. because we don’t want inexperienced The success of the fox-baiting project people handling it,” Ken says. is particularly important for South “The little penguins are starting to return; Australia’s biodiversity, because a number they’re not breeding but at least they’re of endangered species live in the Yorke back,” Ken says. Peninsula area.

24 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

“Years ago, the foxes wouldn’t leave them alone, but we’re now seeing them returning.” Ken and his fellow baiters have to spend a lot of time away from home and the office to bait across the Southern Peninsula, but Ken says he enjoys the work. It’s good country down there,” Ken says, “we enjoy working down there.” Motorists are urged to be aware of Malleefowl on roads and road verges. “It is good to be doing something that is achieving something, and is appreciated by landholders.” On his land 20 kilometres west of Warooka, Strutting a safer Malleefowl farmer David Reade says he is finally able to leave his ewes and lambs there, without fear of losing them to fox attack. Considered ‘vulnerable’ in South Australia, the recent “I’ve just dropped 400 ewes on the land and Malleefowl activity at Innes National Park has been there is no damage so far,” David said. encouraging news, writes Deborah Furbank. “[The project] has made it possible for me to use the land again.” The Malleefowl is a land-dwelling bird Although they are able to run fast in The project was originally funded roughly the size of a chicken that inhabits underbrush and camouflage themselves by the Northern and Yorke Natural semi-arid regions of southern Australia. very effectively, Malleefowl were seen at Resources Management Board and is They’re an unusual bird unique to Australia six of the mounds and others were seen in now supported with funding from the and attract the wonder and awe associated other areas of the scrub whilst the survey Caring for Our Country program. with being one of the last known surviving was being conducted. mound-building birds in the world. Ken says he hopes the project continues to Staff members and volunteers saw no protect the habitat of endangered species Malleefowl are largely solitary, pairing evidence of foxes or rabbits on any mounds and support landholders to realise the up mostly around mating season. Males in the grid. Foxes prey upon Malleefowl benefits of NRM. build or inherit nest-mounds for breeding at all stages of its lifecycle and are one of “If we can maintain the amount of baits out purposes in winter, with females laying the largest causes of Malleefowl mortality. there and the people involved, I’d be very approximately fifteen eggs between Foxes have been known to destroy a third happy with that,” he says. September and February. Incubation time of the eggs laid at some breeding sites and can be anywhere from sixty to ninety days, approximately 50% of young Malleefowl but usually around 60 days. are killed by foxes in particular areas. Monitoring Malleefowl mounds is certainly Innes National Park has an intensive fox- not a new thing. As the technology baiting program which has been running has become more widely available, for the past six years. Every fortnight, state governments and many dedicated 217 baits are laid and changed. volunteers, have taken the steps to monitor The site surveyed at Innes National Park and protect the species Australia-wide. currently has the highest breeding activity, Foxes prey upon Malleefowl Observation and monitoring has helped per square metre, in South Australia. at all stages of its lifecycle and staff at Innes National Park find out more DEWNR staff attribute the high numbers about the local Malleefowl population. of active mounds in the area to the ongoing are one of the largest causes fox-baiting programs. of Malleefowl mortality. There are 47 mounds located near the old Inneston Township, in a regularly monitored area known as a ‘grid’. Of these mounds, With the support of DEWNR Malleefowl on the strut. 23 have been identified as having the staff and volunteers, surveys potential to be active and they are checked are conducted each year at every year. The remaining mounds have a Innes National Park. The next rim height of only ten centimetres and are checked for activity every five years. survey will be held in early The 23 mounds were checked in late 2011. November 2012. It was following the drought and after two years of significant rainfall, which had left To get more information or to volunteer the bushland flourishing. Of the 23 mounds for this ongoing project, please contact visited, 11 were identified as active. The the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources results of the 2011 survey showed that the Centre on (08) 8841 3400. Malleefowl breeding activity on the Innes grid has remained consistently high.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 25 YAKKA

Classic Wakefield River riparian vegetation dominated by River Red Gums (Euc. camaldulensis). A glimmering future for our rivers

The future of some of the State’s northern rivers and creek systems is looking much brighter due to a number of projects being carried out in the region, Kerrie Robertson writes.

The Wakefield and Hutt Rivers are two Nine sections were selected to establish “Ultimately we’re working towards achieving of the streams that in the last few years bushland condition monitoring sites the high priority protection of high quality have benefitted from some extra care following this study which were assessed sections of the catchment as identified in and attention. by DEWNR and Greening Australia staff. the River Management Plan,” she said. In the early 2000s, government water This assessment added further detail to Since the survey there have been other authorities identified that there were a the survey about the riparian vegetation activities carried out, including the removal number of issues within the system they present and provided baseline condition of a number of pine trees between are part of. information. Woolshed Flat and Halbury. Natural Resources Management officer Jennifer Munro said the project provided It was expected the removal of the Pinus for water, Jennifer Munro has been an excellent opportunity for DEWNR Canariensis species of tree would help instrumental in carrying out projects staff, volunteers and landholders to work improve the health of the surrounding that have addressed these problems together in gathering essential reference bushland and waterways as they were and is making the improvements to information which could be used to inform competing with native trees and understory the Wakefield River. future management and on-ground works. for water. A series of maps of the creeks of the Wakefield River discovered areas which were of high quality and ‘important Taken in UN Willochra catchment, common dragonfly species observed at most waterholes in catchments riparian (riverside) habitats’ and ‘good across the region. native vegetation’. Protection of these areas became a high priority. A section from the main Wakefield River channel which flows from Undalya (South of Auburn) to downstream of Balaklava was identified as the largest continual section. During early in 2012 the Northern and Yorke NRM board with funding from a Native Vegetation Council Research Grant enabled a vegetation survey to be carried out. Volunteers and from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources focused on a 25 kilometre strip along the river.

26 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

“The pines are an introduced species and in that particular patch you could see significant recruitment of new young pines and it was definitely creating a dominant over storey along a large area of the bank,” she said.

“Hopefully this regeneration will include many native species, but unfortunately many weeds are also very good opportunists and take advantage of such changes in the environment .

“It will be important for ongoing weed Broughton River Catchment. This catchment is located 130 km north of Adelaide. The catchment area 5671 km2 control to be undertaken by the landholder, is south-easterly bound by the Northern Mount Lofty Ranges and northerly by the Southern Flinders Ranges. to negate this problem.” The river flows westerly discharging into the Spencer Gulf. Other waterways which have received attention in recent times include the RIVER MAKEOVER A GOOD CATCH Hutt River which has had a large number of woody weeds removed from it, particularly from a southern feeder Four priority catchments of the Southern Flinders creek and further north. and the Northern Mount Lofty Ranges will have The waterway had become overrun with species including ash, olive, briar, plum, a biodiversity ‘makeover’ over five years. Genista and species like blackberry. As well as removing these weeds, The Willochra, Broughton, Wakefield These native species will be encouraged up to 12 areas along the river have been and Light catchments will see their to grow and take over the area revegetated with local native species to riparian habitats – that’s the areas where weeds and invasive species improve the aesthetics of the area and of land along the river – revegetated once dominated. provide a wildlife habitat. and improved. Key watercourse vegetation types across The project was in the main, funded by The aim of the project is to build the the catchments include riverine forest Government grants along with local council capacity of land managers to protect and woodlands, riverine shrubland, support and the work of many volunteers and enhance the existing remnant chenopod shrubland, mangrove with Leah Feurherdt from Rural Solutions vegetation by managing threats such forest and samphire marsh, lignum co-ordinating the program. as weeds and stock access. swamp, sedgelands, reedbeds and submerged aquatic. It was a large undertaking with a contract Funded by the Federal Government’s revegetation firm involved in the planting Biodiversity Fund, it’s being steered Jennifer Munro says the project will be of the new plots while volunteers cut by the Northern and Yorke Natural heavily reliant on the participation of and swabbed smaller species and then Resources Management Board, along landholders that take in the areas along a contractor tackled the larger species. with the Department of Environment, the important catchments. Water and Natural Resources and other In the end a specialist tree feller from “The main aim of these projects is project partners. Adelaide was employed to tackle to build the capacity of riparian the larger specimens and those in It’s a long-term, project set to finish landholders in high biodiversity sections precarious positions. in 2017 and by then it’s expected that of the catchments to manage these Follow up spraying and swabbing a community endorsed plan for the sections in a sustainable way that will continue to prevent regrowth catchments will have been implemented protects and enhances the biodiversity but there is still more work to be and all on-ground works would have values and ultimately the health of the done in the clean-up including been completed. whole catchment,” Ms Munro said. removing tyres from the creek bed. Strategic revegetation along riparian The control of both rabbits and foxes corridors is an important element will also be a major undertaking for that will make up those on-ground the landholders involved. works and will involve more than “Rabbits occur throughout the project 100 landholders. area and are considered to be the These catchments contain two nationally most serious pest due to them being threatened ecological communities a food source for foxes and their including Peppermint Box Grassy grazing impacts inhibiting regeneration Woodland and Iron-grass natural of native vegetation.” temperate grassland and 42 nationally threatened species.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 27 YAKKA

Getting the balance right

LYNNE WALDEN Regional Manager, Natural Resources Northern and Yorke

The Northern and Yorke region contributes about a quarter of the State’s total agricultural production from cropping and livestock. Its economic stability depends on sustainable

agribusiness, which is impacted by the way natural Lynne Walden with Board member Pam Pilkington. resources are managed. Healthy Soils Achieving the right balance between For example, if the target is ‘improved Sustainable farming relies on healthy soils. the use of and the need for sustainability condition of native vegetation’, the The Board supports landholders to protect of natural resources to support our management actions include controlling the capability of our economic base – communities is a huge challenge. the impact of pests, land revegetation and agriculture by working with regional then its condition monitored to ensure the The Northern and Yorke NRM Board farmer groups and under the umbrella of investment is working towards the target. is working with partners to this end the Ag Ex Alliance, developing and testing – all the way from Hamley Bridge to It follows that NRM investment must also new sustainable methodologies and Port Augusta and Hawker, and across ensure the best possible value for money. spreading messages about better farming the Yorke Peninsula. The NRM Plan is underpinned by the practices through demonstration sites Board’s three year Business Plan (2012-15) and regular workshops. The Board’s greatest challenge is allocating which outlines the strategies. limited resources effectively across the vast The landcare facilitator works in array of NRM priorities in the region. The Board delivers through its six collaboration with farmer support groups investment program areas: to provide advice on soil health, grazing The Board has worked with stakeholders management and pest weed control to to develop a strategic NRM Plan which sets • Healthy soils the farmers and managers in the region. long term targets for the region. • Healthy terrestrial ecosystems Achieving long term positive change takes • Viable water resources Viable Water Resources time. Surveys, scoping studies, planning • Healthy coastal, estuarine and working with land managers and Water is increasingly being recognised and marine ecosystems community groups to increase their as a precious resource. Water planning involvement in NRM activities that will see • Minimal pest impact and the Water Affecting Activities (WAA) a positive contribution to the health of our • Community driven NRM. permit system help ensure its long-term natural resources. sustainability of our water resources. Each year, the Board investments are The community plays a vital role in developed to build incrementally on those managing water resources. For example, of previous years. This is how the targets a community committee has been set up of the NRM Plan are achieved. to plan and implement an agreed water allocation to the Baroota Prescribed Area, while many of our community volunteers give their time and effort to undertake projects that improve their local areas.

28 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA

Healthy Coastal, Estuarine and Community Driven NRM The Board is supported by three NRM Groups in the Lower North, Upper North Marine Ecosystems / Healthy In 2011-12, the Board allocated $262 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Yorke Peninsula. The Groups are 701 funding to 24 projects under its currently enjoying full membership which The Board also supports a biodiversity Community Grants Scheme. is vital in their role of community liaison program in the Southern Flinders Board staff attended many local events and supporting local projects. Ranges – where Peppermint Box and such as country agricultural shows, Iron grass woodlands are under threat. providing information and advice to local Governance and Admin These assets are a key target of the farmers and community members. Australian Government under its Caring This year as regional integration nears The Yorke and Mid North Regional Alliance for our Country funding program and implementation, the integrated delivery members, Department of Premier and activities, and regular monitoring using service will become the normal approach Cabinet, Regional Development Australia the community based bushland condition to the business. This means that the and the Central Local Government Region monitoring has been implemented over the regional business of both the Board and and Northern and Yorke Natural Resources last year. More than 42 000 ha has been State Government agencies will be more Management have been active. This restored and more than 100 sites are now streamlined for a better level of service for includes coordinated State planning for monitored regularly. a lesser cost. the region and the implementation of a Investment Conservation Action Planning is being project to assess the vulnerability of the undertaken for the Southern Flinders region from climate change (CCVA). The In 2012-13 the Board expects to receive Ranges and the southern Yorke Peninsula completion of the priority CCVA strategies over $7m in total income. This total budget areas and now central agricultural so the will be implemented from 2012-13, to has been significantly boosted with funds entire region is covered. ensure that the region can adapt for the secured from the Australian Government Other projects include rehabilitation of future to provide the economic stability. Clean Energy Futures Program Biodiversity Fund for three multi-year projects. areas along the Wakefield River with The Board also provided policy advice to support of the Native Vegetation Council, the State government on a range of issues The proposed expenditure program local government and land holders. including review of pest plant policies, includes some shift in priorities to support water resource risk management and the development of the Baroota Water Minimal Pest Impact roof runoff, control of mice and provided Allocation Plan (Viable Water Resources), input into the inquiry of the Parliamentary pest control to remove threats of native Pest control is another Board focus, Select Committee on the review of the habitat and improve ecosystem health with more than 240 000 Ha of weed management of pest animals and plants. (Healthy Terrestrial Ecosystems, Healthy control undertaken across the region Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Ecosystems, during 2011-12. In response to community Minimal Pest Impact) and support priorities the Board continues to support sustainable agriculture (Healthy Soils). priority allocation to the Minimal pest Impact program and to undertake pest control works for improved biodiversity outcomes in the southern Flinders Ranges and the southern Yorke Peninsula areas. Board Programs – NRM Levies $2,852,720 Community Driven NRM $1,272,000

The Board has also worked successfully Proposed Expenditure Healthy Soils $442,000 with landholders in the region’s upper 2012-13 Fees & Charges $178,000 Viable Water Resources $732,000 north to manage and control Wheel Investment Income $100,000 Healthy Coastal, Estuarine cactus. In partnership with landholders, & Marine Ecosystems $277,000 AG Caring for our Country $1,717,000 approximately 83 000 cactus plants have Healthy Terrestrial Ecosystems $2,579,180 been controlled. The Mechanical wheel State NRM Fund $542,000 cactus control project in the Parnaroo Minimal Pest Impact $1,720,000 area resulted in the control of over AG Clean Energy Biodiversity $1,632,460 2000 tonne of cactus. Meanwhile, an extensive fox-baiting program in the southern Yorke Peninsula continues to produce excellent results in partnership with the national park NRM Levies(Budget) $2,852,720 Income Community Driven NRM $1,272,000 programs. Increasing numbers of farmers Sources 2012-13 Healthy Soils $442,000 have undertaken baiting, with improved Fees & Charges $178,000 Viable Water Resources $732,000

Investment Income $100,000 lambing numbers for graziers and Healthy Coastal, Estuarine enhanced native habitats leading to the & Marine Ecosystems $277,000 AG Caring for our Country $1,717,000 return of several local native fauna species. Healthy Terrestrial Ecosystems $2,579,180 State NRM Fund $542,000 Minimal Pest Impact $1,720,000

AG Clean Energy Biodiversity $1,632,460

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 29 YAKKA

The NRM provided technical and coordination support to assist landowners Putting the brakes on to stop further wheel cactus invasion. There were 21 landholders involved in the initial program, with 12 properties a wheel cactus problem now considered ‘cactus free’. Methods of control included a process Wheel Cactus is an invasive Cactus spread from fragments that readily where the cactus plants were mechanically detach and lodge on animals, vehicle tyres, plant pest, but extensive plucked from the ground and placed in a machinery and footwear. heap for further treatment. It was done and targeted work has Fragments can move along watercourses using a modified grabber on the front of halted its spread, Kerrie and flood prone areas and birds, foxes and a tractor, similar to what is used in scrap metal yards for sorting and piling up metal. Robertson reports. other animals eat the large, red fruits of some species and further spread the This was effective as the plants have a weed by passing the seeds. The wheel cactus control project in the very shallow root system of about 30 Peterborough area has near completed its In 1998 it had spread over about 60,000 centimetres, so only a small amount of initial aim to halt the plants’ spread and hectares of the Northern and Yorke region top soil disturbance occurred. to reduce numbers to a low density level, and ten years later that area had more Control also included landholders working outside the defined core infestation in the than doubled. alongside a skilled contractor to pad inject Parnaroo area. Action by the Board in partnership with the plants with herbicide. The project over the past four years has affected landholders has reduced the Landowners in the Upper North area who significantly reduced wheel cactus threat area to about 9,000 hectares. have wheel cactus on their properties are to biodiversity and livestock grazing. However a core infestation persists now part of the NRM funded program Back in 1983 the lack of natural enemies where plant densities may exceed and there has been further control work meant it was spreading into new areas at 250 plants per hectare. undertaken in Port Augusta, Telowie, an alarming rate. Pekina and Peterborough. Kevin Teague; NRM Authorised Officer, said the wheel cactus project had reduced plant This project is funded by the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board and the local NRM Group, numbers to a low density outside the core with support from Caring for our Country and in collaboration with South Australian Arid Lands and South Australian Murray Darling Basin NRM Boards. infestation at Parnaroo. Over four years a total of $190,000 has been spent on the project. “The funding invested is good value for money,” he said. “The uncontrolled spread of wheel cactus had to be stopped; otherwise its impacts would have quickly spread over hundreds of square kilometres as experienced in other Australian States with other cactus species.” In 2012, the Upper North NRM Group budget provided $20,000 for the hire of a qualified contractor, chemical and equipment to assist landowners in the Peterborough area control wheel cactus plants on their property. Landowners contributed a further $16,764 in, in-kind work or a 50% cash payment for contractor accounts to the NRM Board. An estimated 23,000 hectares was controlled by nine key landholders totaling 28,647 plants. Current results has given the Upper North regional landholders hope and shown them they’re not alone in the fight against pest plants.

30 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke YAKKA The draft Baroota WAP will contain information related to: • Background information on the water resource of the Baroota PWRA. • Assessment of needs of the water dependant ecosystems. • Effects of plan implementation on other water resources. • Current and future demand on water resources. • Capacity of the resource to meet demand. • Water entitlements and permits. • Monitoring, evaluation and reporting. This project is supported by the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board in partnership with the Department for Water and irrigators in the area. $116,000 was spent on the project in the 2011/12 financial year. The Water Allocation Plan will include policies relating to the allocation and transfer of water. Further information about the Baroota WAP and the Water Allocation Process is available from our website www.nynrm.sa.gov.au

James hopes that the resource is managed in a sustainable way, so that he can Supporting a Water continue to maintain a modest income from his small acreage. Observation wells have been dug and have Resource for the Future shown downward trends in ground water recovery levels. They’ve also been used to look at salinity in the water as the water The Baroota Water Allocation Plan is an ongoing project becomes increasingly salty, but there is that aims to preserve the region’s water resources, some time to adjust water use and manage writes Jacqueline O’Reilly. the resource better. Australian Water Environments has also been engaged by the Natural Resources Nestled on the coastal plain between the To try and curb this overuse, the drilling of Northern and Yorke, to provide an Southern Flinders Ranges and the Spencer new wells became prohibited in June 2000 independent assessment of the BPWRA. Gulf is a collection of precious ground and a Local Area Catchment Plan then saw They have conducted studies to look at and surface water resources. The Baroota the introduction of meters on all irrigation what the environment needs into the future. Prescribed Water Resources Area (BPWRA) wells in 2002. The Nukunu People’s Council, together with is twenty-five kilometres north of Port Pirie, Since then, the region has seen the the Aboriginal Lands Trust own significant and covers nearly 13,800 hectares. development of a Water Allocation Plan landholdings within the Baroota Area. It’s a vital supply for those who irrigate with the aim to ensure that the needs of Aboriginal representatives are concerned in the area, helping them to produce water users within the area can continue about the “lack of life” on the Baroota crops like grapes, olives and other fruits to be met in the future. But it also aims floodplain and would like to see a return and vegetables, also providing water for to ensure that the environment maintains of regular water flows so that river red stock fodder. The BPWRA supports viable access to the water it needs to support gums there can regenerate. enterprises ranging from micro, to medium water-dependant ecosystems, such as The plan for the Baroota water area is sized farms and farming businesses. the River Red Gum woodlands along the still in a draft form, but once that draft is Baroota Creek. Given a birds-eye view you’ll see the completed, it will be released to the public surface water of the Baroota Reservoir The development of the Water Allocation and they will be able to have their say on and the seasonal Baroota Creek. The creek Plan has been a complex process and the how they think the plan could affect them, is fed into by Separation, Chimney and Baroota WAP Consultative Committee was and if they think it will work. Waterfall Creeks and then flows through formed to make it happen. But getting the balance right between the Baroota Reservoir. One of the members is irrigator James Le the environment and water users is the The reservoir is managed by SA Water as off- Messurier, a small organic producer of toughest challenge. line water storage, and that water seeps into olives, melons, watermelons, pumpkins and the ground through the reservoir wall. The seeds, who has been involved since the Jacqueline O’Reilly is the Chair of the water becomes groundwater and recharges committee formed. Water Action Planning committee and underground water sources that have been “I joined the committee because I wanted to has been a dedicated and enthusiastic used for many decades for irrigation. try to ensure that small users of the water member of the Northern and Yorke The use of this quality underground water resource could have a voice in the decision Natural Resources Management Board has grown in that time and it’s caused some making,” he says. for five years. concern amongst users and residents, that it is a vulnerable resource at risk of overuse. Natural Resources Northern and Yorke | 31 YAKKA

Ethel on show

More storm activity than in previous years uncovered a spectacular sight for punters on Ethel Wreck Beach.

The crashing waves and unseasonal What is on the beach now is a salvage weather in September caused significant attempt from over a century ago that sand drift at the bottom end of the Yorke was abandoned. Peninsula where the Ethel Wreck lies. Ethel actually went down many metres Jared Pippos, senior ranger at Innes offshore, but the salvage lines reeling the National Park manages this site, and many wreck into shore snapped when a storm other significant sites at the Park. hit and the wreck crashed into the beach. He snapped these photos of the protruding Now the beach is named after the skeletal wreck, that’s rarely this visible to visitors. wreck that lies there, inspiring wonder and awe in those who marvel at the Jared says that the rare sight was a big history it holds. drawcard that attracted visitors to the Park in the school holidays. The wreck is a majestic example of a beautiful environmental site coexisting The wreck is the former Norweigan ship, with an incredible piece of Australian an iron barque named ‘Ethel’, which ran history on the Yorke Peninsula. ashore on the 2nd of January 1904 on Reef Head near Cape Spencer when it encountered rough seas.

32 | Natural Resources Northern and Yorke www.nrm.sa.gov.au