Improving Condition and Connectivity of Riparian Habitat at Darlington: Swan

(not documented)

Australian Government (Caring for our Country program)

Scenic Rim Regional Council

Landholder

(not documented)

On-ground work

(none)

Caring for our Country program (Australian Government)

Landholder

(not documented)

(not documented)

15 February 2013

31 May 2013

This project aims to enhance the condition of riparian and floodplain habitat in the Duck Creek and Upper Albert River sub-catchments. With funding provided through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program, and with support from Scenic Rim Regional Council, SEQ Catchments is providing support to grazing landholders to help protect and buffer World Heritage Area vegetation, enhance condition and connectivity of remnant and regrowth native vegetation, and improve soil condition and water quality. This project contributes to the above overall program goals through supporting the landholder to undertake more ecological sustainable land management by improving native vegetation condition, improving stream bank stability and reducing threats caused by weeds.

The riparian zone of this property contains vegetation mapped as remnant blue gum, bottle brush and she-oak fringing forest (RE 12.3.7). This project aims to reduce stress to the riparian area through strategic fencing and undertake re-vegetation of the riparian area. The project will improve connectivity and enhance the condition and connectivity of approximately
1.3ha of remnant vegetation through the following activities:

• establish 420m of permanent fencing of the riparian zone
• carry out strategic weed control, primarily targeting lantana to encourage natural regeneration and improve habitat values over 1.3ha
• establish re-vegetation of 600m of riparian zone with 180 plants.

The landholder is committed to monitoring and the maintenance of project outcomes including:

• establish three standard photo-points and take ‘before and after’ photographs to monitor changes in habitat condition and natural regeneration over time
• administer ongoing selective weed control and maintenance of re-vegetation site to maintain ecological values of the native vegetation communities.

This project will improve biodiversity in the Duck Creek and Upper Albert River sub-catchments by enhancing the condition and connectivity of Gondwana habitat at Darlington through weed control, stock management and re-vegetation.

(not documented)

SEQC1924