In The Valley Rainforest News and Views Vol. 10, No. 4 Produced by Wilsons Creek Huonbrook Landcare Inc November 2010 Where 50% of Byron Shire remnant rainforest is found ISSN 1449-809X (BSC Flora and Fauna Study 1999) __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Early Education in Catchment Protection at Wilsons Creek Recently at a Reconnecting to Country celebration Wilsons Creek Public School students got together to learn about catchment protection and painted some beautiful flags about it all to display around their school and home. The students discussed ways to look after Wilsons Creek and in doing so they talked about all the plants, animals and people that depend on the precious water. Some comments were : “This catchment is home for all of us. We need to love it more.” “We need to protect beautiful places so they can be there for ever.” “Pesticides and chemicals coming off the land and people littering makes me very sad.” “Why don't people put up fences to stop cattle polluting the creek?” The students painted images of some local species on their flags and some wrote a wish so the breeze could blow their message across the land. Marlow wrote a poem: Flowing Lily wrote : Story and photographs Glowing from Jude Mason Washing away everything that Rivers and waterfalls I love gets in my way you all Shining in the sunlight Look after them and they will More on Community Education in and in the starlight look after you Catchment Management on p. 7 I am a river Brandon, Alice, Ruby-Star with Sheldon Phoenix, Lily, Harmony, Leilani, Kal with Emily Primary Work on Riparian Area Nears Final Phase Sue Riley reports: The last phase of the primary work on the Reconnecting to Country/ WCHL project for the riparian area between Wilsons Creek Hall and the fireshed is about to be undertaken. This site has been difficult and presented the workers with many OH&S issues due to the steepness of the bank, many large rocky outcrops, all forms of rubbish from roofing material to car parts and bottles and glasses. There are stinging trees, vines and unstable surfaces and of course due to the usual rainfall the soil has been slippery and wet. There have been and continue to be a water crystals by the senior children from multitude of environmental weeds such as Cape Wilsons Creek School working in groups of two Ivy, Madeira Vine, Lantana, Morning Glory, or three and one adult. The plants were watered Small Leaf Privet, Honeysuckle, Trad (formerly at the time, and they have since had a good known as Wandering Jew), Coral Trees and the soaking of light rain. Half of the plants were usual annuals such as Crofton Weed and Mist creek-bank stabilisers such as Lomandra and Flower. During the past few months some large Dianella, others were understorey plants, trees Coral Trees were felled and left on the ground to and palms. We will watch the progress of these break down instead of falling into the creek as plants over the next few years. they died, and many hours of follow-up weed Local ecologist Jim Tait spoke to all present removal were undertaken. Where possible and about the ecology of the creek, the necessity of appropriate hand weeding has been undertaken. plants to provide habitat and what fauna would This site has permitted the bush regenerators be found. He pointed out a catfish nest, eggs to trial various methods of weed removal, and it from a dragon fly, and an eel was seen. is hoped that a report will be available further Signage has been installed at the hall and the down the track with the results. In among the school, if you are in this vicinity you may like to denuded brown of the dead environmental stop to have a look. weeds you can see patches of green which are Landcare would welcome any assistance to natural regeneration of native species and the keep the weeds around the plantings under planted creek-bank stabilisers. control. If you would like to help please contact On November 18 a major planting was Graham or Robyn (see back page) . undertaken near the swing bridge. This site was You can check the progress of the whole prepared by the bush regenerators and most of project on www.rouswater.nsw.gov.au. the 500+ plants were put into the ground with ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Newsletter Editor Resigns, New Editor Sought / by Sue Riley It is with some sadness that I report to you all that Richard Flantz has resigned his position as newsletter editor due to personal reasons. Richard has presented all of us in the Wilsons Creek area with a pleasant quarterly read of what is going on environmentally around us and kept us informed of “happenings” further afield. There are many of us who have always looked forward to the newsletter that is delivered to our roadside mailbox. On behalf of the Landcare committee I take the back page. Members of the committee are this opportunity to thank Richard for his prepared to assist where necessary and you will contribution and all the work he put into the be a part of a team. newsletter. The newsletter is prepared and delivered We are now looking for a talented person quarterly; in February, May, August and with computer skills who is willing to prepare November. We attempt to have 8 A4 pages in the newsletter on behalf of our group. each edition with a variety of interesting topics, If you think you could be this person, please and we welcome input from the entire contact either Graham or Robyn as indicated on community . Editor’s Parting Words: Editing In the Valley has been an instructive and enjoyable experience for me. My thanks to all the committee members who have supported me, to the landcarers who have contributed material or feedback, and particularly to Sue Riley for her guidance and abundant input, to Barbara Stewart for her invaluable assistance, to both of them and to Robyn Berrington and to Julie Gardner for their help with the proofreading of the final drafts, and to Wendy Gibney for her considerable input from both Byron Council and Brunswick Valley Landcare. I hope a new editor takes over soon, and look forward to reading future issues of the newsletter. Richard Flantz In the Valley Vol. 10, No. 3, August 2010 3 Researcher Conducts Snail Search in Wilsons Creek Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail ( Thersites mitchellae ) is a large land snail with a shell up to 5.5 cm wide and 5 cm high. The shell, which is reddish chestnut or black in colour with two prominent yellow bands, is strongly elevated, giving it a triangular profile. The snail has a restricted distribution, and is known to occur on the coastal plain in northeastern NSW between Ballina and Tweed Heads. It is listed as endangered under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, and has also been listed as critically endangered on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Currently, the snail is the subject of a comprehensive research project by Southern Cross University researcher Jonathan Parkyn. Jonathan is conducting searches for Mitchell’s Rainforest snail in the Wilsons Creek area with particular assistance from well-known local resident John Lindsay and student volunteers. The team are recording other land snails too, and are familiar with many species of the local area. Jonathan, who has already carried out intensive studies on Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail in Byron Shire, said “despite its conservation snail exists further inland at higher elevations status very little is known about its ecology, in the Brunswick and Tweed catchments. distribution, and habitat use.”“In order to These newly recorded sightings have in part conserve threatened species, it’s useful to been due to local residents, who have determine the population size, however, responded positively to a number of recent finding Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail can be media releases. challenging as individuals are difficult to detect in their natural habitat,” he said. “We have Jonathan said the snail played an important used capture-mark-recapture data to test a role in the ecosystem of the region. method for estimating the size of the “Snails spreads fungal spores and seeds population, using an innovative approach that attached to the mucus or passed in faeces incorporates capture probability, survivorship throughout the rainforest, and play an and closed-population modeling.” important role in nutrient cycling, helping to “Historical records suggest that the snail used keep our environment healthy” said Jonathan. to be common in areas such as the Big Scrub “Snails are also an integral part of the forest which was previously extensive on the north food web. Protecting Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail coast, but we are only just beginning to is important to safeguard the biodiversity of discover isolated populations in small the local area.” remnants.” If you think you have seen a Mitchell’s Though populations are known to exist Rainforest Snail, or have relatively primarily in remnants of lowland subtropical undisturbed riparian habitat that could rainforest and swamp sclerophyll forest on the be searched, please call 0404 798734 or coastal plains, recent surveys indicate that the e-mail [email protected] Summer is around the corner – Normally this time of the year one would be required to obtain a fire permit from the rural fire service to light a fire, the permit period has been delayed due to the weather conditions. Please watch for notices in the local paper and at Laverty’s Gap that permits will be required.