Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards 2011, Wildlife Corridors & Habitats Conservation Award WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Nundle for ‘Nundle Riverside Project’
The Nundle Riverside Project is the brainchild of two women from the community of Nundle who identified a need to restore their local part of the Peel River to its original beauty. They successfully gained funds to undertake the project in which 70 out of 300 residents participated. The locality of the Peel River, where the clearing and planting has been undertaken, is now visited more frequently by local families. Life has returned to the river with birds, fish and even platypus making it home.

Tottenham for ‘Continued Development and Maintenance of Tree Lines’
This project is a progressive tree planting program undertaken by volunteers in Tottenham, creating wildlife corridors to more substantial bushland areas.  Habitat is created in the process, and the corridors act as windbreaks benefiting soil moisture and reducing dust. The ongoing care and maintenance in terms of watering (recycled water) mulching and weeding, has ensured the long term viability of the trees. This commitment demonstrates the importance the community places on trees, and their value for wildlife habitat and aesthetic appeal.

Boggabri for ‘Cox’s Creek Rehabilitation’
The community of Boggabri have come together to find solutions to the problem of erosion of a section of the Cox's Creek and Namoi River.  They sought expert advice from Narrabri Shire Council, Industry & Investment NSW, the Catchment Management Authority, had students from the University of New England survey the area. A dedicated team if volunteers developed erosion prevention strategies including: fencing to prevent cattle from accessing the area; 500 native plants have been planted and logs have been placed in an area of the Namoi River to redirect strong water flow and prevent erosion.

Jerilderie for ‘Horgan’s Walk Bush Tucker Trail
The Jerilderie Tidy Towns Committee has been involved in the Horgan's Walk Trail along Billabong Creek for over 14 years. The walking trail was made possible by a Department of Sport and Recreation grant in 2003. This current project has seen the introduction of an interpretive bush tucker section along part of the walk. Funding for this came from the Catchment Management Authority and Landcare. Interpretive signs explain details of the plants and their use, and make the walk not just a rest, survive, revive area but an informative and educational walk for all ages.

Kyogle for ‘Restoration of Old Quarry Site’
The 10-acre 'Old Quarry' served as a source of road base to Kyogle Council from the 1930's to 1950's, after which it remained disused for more than two decades. In the 1970's Council employed participants of the then 'Red Scheme’ to clean up the site, removing abandoned rubbish and ensuring general improvements in site safety. The site then became a passionate focus for local residents Trevor Bendall and Roger Harris. Since the 1970s Mr Bendall has planted over 1000 trees on the site, carried out weed control, propagated rare species for reintroduction and managed natural regeneration at the site.

Lake Cathie for ‘Bitou Bush Removal at Middle Rock/Johnathon Dickson Reserve’
This project was initiated by the Lake Cathie Landcare group to remove the invasive overgrowth of bitou bush along part of the coast line on Johnathon Dickson and Middle Rock reserves.  They removed large amounts of bitou with a small tractor, mulched the material and stored it to kill any seeds.  Native plantings were undertaken in the cleared area, and older native trees were rescued where possible.  Both sites are now havens for native fauna and birdlife. The methods for dealing with invasive bitou bush have been recognized, and form part of a publication by the Office of Environment and Heritage on the control of bitou.

Swansea for ‘Galgabba Point Reserve Project’
Galgabba Point Landcare has achieved a major success in this now important native bushland & wetland reserve on the eastern foreshores of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle. Restoring the 9ha Reserve from a neglected wasteland, (used in the past as an illegal rubbish disposal site), and removing many exotic plant invasions, has seen the transformation over the last decade of this degraded landscape into an area that supports a virtually weed-free environment of native plant communities (sclerophyll forest & woodland, rainforest & wetlands) with diverse wildlife.

Salamander Bay for ‘Protecting Our Wildlife Habitats’
The Soldiers Point – Salamander Bay Tidy Towns & Landcare Committee maintains and improves the wildlife corridors at Soldiers Point and Salamander Bay in order to protect the viability of native animal populations such as the Koala. The committee has achieved this by lobbying council to rezone valuable bushland blocks in the corridor and controlling weeds with volunteers and employed contractors. They also plant food trees to ensure the viability of Koala colonies. The committee ensures the ongoing success of the program by networking with other stakeholders and promoting their activities through signage and a website.

Broken Hill for ‘Living Desert Sanctuary’
"The overall goal is to preserve and showcase naturally occurring flora, fauna and topography to local, national and international visitors to the region."   This clear goal is being applied to the 2,400ha reserve, fenced against cattle and sheep, with an animal proof fence around 180ha. The current project, a primitive camping ground (short stay), is part of the overall project. Existing facilities are being improved utilising solar power. There is a rising visitor trend, often travellers from distant parts, and lots of local interest.

Singleton for ‘Nowlan Park’
Nowlan Park covers more than 20 hectares and the project is the conversion of a drainage reserve into a park with an emphasis on passive recreation.  It is part of a system of reserves that links the Singleton Heights area and the Pinnacle Estate with the main part of Singleton. The conservation project also aims to re-vegetate and stabilise saline soils. The Park is continually planted out with local provenance tube stock to encourage the return of local fauna and flora. The popularity of the park with local residents also highlights its value to the community, and points toward its long term success.

Northern Tablelands for ‘High Country Urban Biodiversity Project’
The High Country Urban Biodiversity project is a massive undertaking by Landcare to rehabilitate and revegetate multiple sites in 6 towns within the northern inland region.  The communities of Guyra, Ben Lomond, Ebor, Armidale, Uralla and Walcha have worked on bushland and riparian sites with hundreds of volunteers. The project and its activities have achieved a high level of participation with residents, businesses and local government all working together. Collaboration has been encouraged and biodiversity enhanced.

Orange for ‘Parks Alive Program’
The Parks Alive Program is an environmental conservation program initiated and managed by Orange City Council. The program seeks to engage and encourage local community groups to take steps in enhancing biodiversity in the region, and take ownership of the parks and open spaces in and around the city. Since the inception of the program, it has successfully engaged a wide range of community stakeholders and greatly enhanced biodiversity in the local area. This program runs parallel with a wetland project which created a series of urban wetlands to act as stormwater treatment facilities. This integration created an extensive web of wildlife corridors.