Enhancing Roadside Habitat quality for Purple Copper

Environment and Waterways Alliance Grant 2018 – Completion Report Roadside Vegetation Management Plan

• Adopted in April 2018 • Contains recommended actions to conserve and enhance priority roadside vegetation sites for the protection of threatened species. • Includes recommendations for protection of Purple Copper Butterfly habitat. Sites

Paralucia spinifera • Three known extant populations on BRC land : – Slingsby’s Road area – Eusdale Road – Sunny Corner • Previously known at Macabees Road and Broken Bridge Road. Purple Copper Butterfly

Paralucia spinifera Fast Facts • Host plant – spinosa subspecies lasiophylla • 'mutualistic' relationship with the ant itinerans • Above 900m Threats

Paralucia spinifera • Clearing of habitat • Weed invasion • Change in vegetation structure • Relies on an aspect and open vegetation structure that allows a high level of solar radiation. • Many sites associated with areas of part disturbance eg, roadsides Slingsby’s Road Broken Bridge Road Project objectives

Paralucia spinifera • Reduce competition from woody and other environmental weeds. • Reduce density of regenerating Cassinia arcuata at the Slingsby's Road site to reduce competition with B. spinosa plants. Project actions

Paralucia spinifera • Survey weed status • Survey PCB numbers at each site (Sep & Oct 2018) • Conducted weed control (Jan – Mar 2019) • Thinning of Casinia arcuata and Acacia delabata at the Slingsby’s and Broken Bridge Road sites (Jan – Apr 2019) Outcomes

• Reduced density of regenerating Cassinia arcuata and Acacia dealbata at the Slingsby's Road and Broken Bridge Road. • Removal of all woody weeds from Slingsby’s Road Site and Broken Bridge Road Site Broken Bridge Road

Before After Enhancing the connectivity and habitat quality of vegetation in urban stormwater reserves

Environment and Waterways Alliance Grant 2018 – Completion Report Background

• Urban drains vegetation link project in 2012 • Enhance connectivity and habitat value through urban landscape • 5 drainage reserves (plans for 9) • Variable results due to species selection, flooding, inconsistent maintenance and community ownership Darwin Drive from Evernden Road

Feb 2012 June 2018 Darwin Drive from Evernden Road

Feb 2012 June 2018 Project Objectives

• Conduct weed control across 10.1 hectares urban drainage reserve to improve condition of native vegetation beds • Increase the density and diversity of plants within three urban stormwater reserves by revegetating with 1000 native tubestock of local provenance. Eltham Drive Laffing Waters

Dec 2018 Feb 2019 Gilmour Street Laffing Waters

Jun 2018 Feb 2019 Gilmour Street Laffing Waters

Dec 2018 Feb 2019 Richardson Street Windradyne

Dec 2018 Feb 2019 Outcomes

• Weed control and infill planting at 27 vegetation beds across 4 urban drainage reserves • Monthly maintenance for 6 months • Signs to be reskinned