Natural Heritage Trust

Funding

Regional Competitive Component

Funded projects

Round 1

New South Wales
Project: National Swift Parrot Recovery Plan
Proponent Region: Murray
Supporting Region(s):
  
Organisation:  
Project identifier: 44700
Project description: The Swift Parrot Recovery Plan 2001-2005  identifies a number of actions to promote a demonstrable and sustained improvement in the quality of swift parrot habitat to support an increased population thereby leading to a change in the conservation status of the swift parrot from endangered to vulnerable by 2011.

This project will support actions in the next two years to:
  • identify priority habitats within the winter range of the species;
  • implement management strategies to protect and improve priority habitats and sites on public and private land;
  • reduce the incidence of collisions with man-made structures;
  • conduct annual population monitoring to determine population trends within the breeding range;
  • quantify improvements in carrying capacity by monitoring changes in extent and quality of habitat; and
  • provide advice and support to promote increased public involvement in the recovery process.
Funding: $300,200
Matching/In Kind Funding: $177,000
Project: Biodiversity Conservation in the Sheep - Wheat Belt of NSW · Grassy Box Woodland Conservation Management Network and Biodiversity Action Planning
Proponent Region: Murray
Supporting Region(s):
 Border Rivers, Central Coast, Central West, Gwydir, Lachlan, Murray, Murrumbidgee, Namoi, Southern and Warragamba
Organisation: Murray Catchment Management Board
Project identifier: 44701
Project description: The project aims to integrate conservation of endangered Grassy Box Woodlands and associated threatened flora and fauna with the biodiversity targets of the Catchment Blueprints across the western slopes of NSW. Specific objectives include:
  • Maintain and enhance cooperative partnerships between local communities, land managers and owners, government agencies, scientists and other stakeholders to assist in the implementation of appropriate conservation and management of Grassy Box Woodland in a productive system;
  • Provide technical support in relation to threatened flora and fauna species and the endangered Grassy Box Woodland plant communities;
  • Formal protection of a comprehensive, adequate and representative set of sites through conservation management mechanisms such as Voluntary Conservation Agreements, joint management agreements, and property management plans;
  • Ensure that wildlife habitats and native remnant vegetation management activities are integrated within local government planning, regional plans and state and commonwealth strategies; and,
  • Conserve species and habitats not adequately protected in reserves and contributing to the development of solutions to processes that threaten biodiversity.
Funding: $561,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $113,250
Project: The Next Step - Land Management Options After Capping and Piping the Bores
Proponent Region: Western
Supporting Region(s):
  
Organisation: Western Catchment Management Board
Project identifier: 44702
Project description: This project will fund two extension officers to work with landowners and engineers to identify the best overall package of options for individual bores to improve land and mound spring management after the bores have been capped and piped. The officers will provide simple property plans, extension material and organise field days to demonstrate practical management options to improve overall land management. In addition, the project will support studies to identify desirable management practices to maintain and manage mound springs.
Funding: $750,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: Not identified
Project: Healthy Soils-Healthy Landscapes - Land managers diagnosing soil problems and implementing solutions
Proponent Region: Murrumbidgee
Supporting Region(s):
 Lachlan, Murray and ACT
Organisation:  
Project identifier: 44703
Project description: This project will employ three professional and three technical officers to empower land managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to diagnose and address soil health problems at the farm scale by providing technical guidance and training, and field analysis. The project will also support demonstrations of effective soil management options to improve soil health and promote broad adoption.
Funding: $1,841,900
Matching/In Kind Funding: $2,484,365
Project: Integrated Biodiversity Management Project
Proponent Region: Northern Rivers
Supporting Region(s):
 Upper North Coast (NSW) and South East Queensland
Organisation:  
Project identifier: 44704
Project description: This project will implement an integrated biodiversity management project in northeast NSW and southeast Qld comprising three integral and complementary components:
  • develop and implement a multi-species rainforest recovery plan for the Border Ranges North and South hot spot (NSW and Qld);
  • protect High Conservation Value (HCV) ecosystems and implement threatened species recovery actions within the areas covered by the Northern Rivers and Upper North Coast Catchment Management Boards; and
  • protect HCV riparian ecosystems within the areas covered by the Northern Rivers and Upper North Coast Catchment Management Boards.
Funding: $2,222,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $2,116,700
Northern Territory
Project: Developing knowledge-based fire management for northern Australia savanna communities: Phase 1
Proponent Region: NT
Supporting Region(s):
 Qld: Cape York; Northern Gulf; Southern Gulf; and WA Rangelands
Organisation: Tropical Savannas Management Cooperative Research Centre
Project identifier: 44705
Project description: This project provides a phased approach to coordinating identified key fire management issues across northern Australia. The project involves three interlinked components to
  • develop, implement and monitor regionalised best practice fire management guidelines;
  • develop fire management capacity in three overlapping key sectoral areas (indigenous interests, pastoral management and biodiversity conservation); and
  • build a north Australia fire management knowledge forum.
The project aims to increase community knowledge of a broad range of fire management issues that are common to all regional communities across fire-prone northern Australia.
Funding: $1,897,277
Matching/In Kind Funding: $5,300,000
Project: Dugong/ Turtle Project
Proponent Region: NT
Supporting Region(s):
 Qld: Northern Gulf, Southern Gulf, Torres Strait and Cape York
Organisation:  
Project identifier: 44706
Project description: The project aims to identify and trial mechanisms and approaches to better manage dugong and turtle stocks, their habitats and threats to them. It will engage Indigenous communities in the development and application of that management. The project will examine specific species management issues, consider factors influencing species management and examine approaches to build the capacity of communities to manage dugongs and turtles in their areas. Results from the trials could be used as the basis for plans that will enable community management of dugong and turtle populations to be maintained beyond the life of this project. While it is recognised that different regions and communities are likely to require different management approaches and arrangements, the outcomes and information from the trials may provide a framework for mechanisms and approaches that could be adopted across the full range of the species.
Funding: $3,900,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: Not identified
Queensland
Project: Ghost Nets in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Proponent Region: Northern Gulf
Supporting Region(s):
 Cape York, Southern Gulf and Northern Territory
Organisation: Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd
Project identifier: 44707
Project description: This project will develop a strategic plan for dealing with the issue of ghost nets and marine debris along the coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The plan will be developed in conjunction with the industrial sector and other stakeholders. It will focus on addressing the causes as well as the symptoms of the threatening processes associated with ghost nets and marine debris. Funding is being provided to support initial consultations and liaison in developing the plan.

Continued as project 50309 under round 2 of the Regional Competitive Component.

A web site has been established to provide information on progress with this project. For more information visit http://www.ghostnets.com.au .
Funding: $50,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: Not identified
Project: Advancing On-Ground Nature Conservation in the Desert Uplands Bioregion
Proponent Region: Desert Channels
Supporting Region(s):
 Burdekin and Southern Gulf
Organisation: Desert Uplands Build-Up and Development Strategy Committee Incorporated
Project identifier: 44708
Project description: This project will encourage and deliver targeted on-ground nature conservation projects within the Desert Uplands Region. This will be achieved by providing an incentive of a 50% subsidy to landholders for materials involved in construction and monitoring of nature conservation projects. The project also includes 6 field days, plant identification training and publication of case studies demonstrating the integration of sustainable property management with nature conservation.
Funding: $400,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $610,000
South Australia
Project: Arid Rivers Natural & Cultural Heritage
Proponent Region: Rangelands INRM Group
Supporting Region(s):
 Alinytjara Wilurara and Desert Channels (Qld)
Organisation: South Australian Aridlands INRM Group
Project identifier: 44709
Project description: The project includes three components that will address cultural and environmental restoration of waterholes; community and scientific priorities for wetland management; and monitoring, biological survey and planning for river systems in the Lake Eyre Basin, with an emphasis on the Channel Country and Stony Plains bioregions. To date, there has been no integration for developing methodologies and setting priorities for wetland management and biodiversity planning between South Australia and Queensland in the Lake Eyre Basin. However, across the Lake Eyre Basin, the three NRM groups and the Cooper Creek and Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Committees have all identified the need to share existing data, coordinate community led workshops for wetland conservation, undertake biological surveys for river systems, coordinate biodiversity planning and identify priorities for the management of waterholes and other wetlands. In addition, a consistent approach to managing natural waterholes on Aboriginal lands will also be applied in areas within and to the west of the Lake Eyre Basin in South Australia. Consultation and engagement of the Indigenous and broader communities is a key component of the project.
Funding: $1,396,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $839,250
Project: Assessing the abundance and impacts of feral camels in the Great Victoria Desert
Proponent Region: Alinytjara Wilurara
Supporting Region(s):
 Rangelands (WA)
Organisation: Department of Environment and Heritage (SA)
Project identifier: 44712
Project description: The aim of this activity is to develop guidelines for camel control that can be applied across the Great Victoria Desert through pilot work based on the Unnamed Conservation Park. The project will include identifying the distribution of camels and their environmental impact through aerial survey work and a preliminary assessment of total grazing pressure. It will be developed in conjunction with key interest groups across WA, SA and the NT. A key component of the project is the consultation and engagement of Aboriginal Communities. This will be undertaken as part of this project but also in tandem with other joint management work being undertaken by the SA Department of Environment and Heritage on the Unnamed Conservation Park with Aboriginal communities.
Funding: $50,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: Not identified
Victoria
Project: Estuary Entrance Management - balancing ecological and socio-economic values
Proponent Region: Glenelg Hopkins CMA
Supporting Region(s):
 Corangamite CMA
Organisation: Deakin University
Project identifier: 44710
Project description: This project will produce a tool, the Estuary Entrance Management Decision Support System (DSS), designed to balance environmental, social and economic values when artificially opening estuary entrances. This will enable balanced, scientifically justifiable decisions to be made in relation to estuarine management across Victoria, and potentially nationally and internationally. The project will develop a guide on the processes of data/information gathering, community engagement and consultation, implementation, evaluation, monitoring and adjustment of the DSS. In addition, three workshops will be used to introduce the DSS and run through its practical application. Glenelg Hopkins and Corangamite CMAs will implement the DSS across the estuaries of southwest Victoria.
Funding: $391,200
Matching/In Kind Funding: $406,000
Project: Victorian Volcanic Plains Ecosystems Conservation Project
Proponent Region: Corangamite CMA
Supporting Region(s):
 Glenelg-Hopkins CMA and Port Phillip and Westernport CMA
Organisation:  
Project identifier: 44711
Project description: This project aims to:
  • maintain the extent and quality of all native biodiversity (habitat, vegetation and species) in the Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) Ecosystem at least at the 2002 levels;
  • enhance the quality of remnant ecosystems of the VVP by managing 90% of remnants to Best Management Practices by 2010; and
  • restore native ecosystems of the VVP where this will contribute to the viability of existing remnants and populations, through the design and introduction of a market based incentive scheme to protect and enhance remnant biodiversity over the long term.
Importantly, a comprehensive mix of awareness, extension, training and peer support services to enable landholders to achieve the long-term conservation objectives of the project will support the financial incentives offered.
Funding: $3,885,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: None identified
Western Australia
Project: Pilot project across two NRM Regions to implement conservation actions for Threatened Flora and Ecological Communities in the Geraldton to Shark Bay Sandplain and the Mount Lesueur Eneabba Biodiversity Hotspots
Proponent Region: Northern Agricultural
Supporting Region(s):
 Rangelands (WA)
Organisation: Northern Agricultural Catchment Council
Project identifier: 44713
Project description: This is an integrated project that will improve the conservation of threatened flora and ecological communities located in the Geraldton to Shark Bay Sandplains and the Mount Lesueur Eneabba Biodiversity Hotspots. The work will focus on high priority on-ground works that will improve the status of threatened ecological communities and flora in this region, with particular emphasis on flora and ecological communities that are listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and/or are listed in the highest categories of threat in Western Australia. Emphasis will be placed on conservation actions for ecological communities and flora located on private land or on reserves not currently managed for conservation. The project will increase regional and local knowledge and capacity in relation to conserving threatened species and ecological communities. Methods used will provide a model that can be adopted by other regional groups and will be demonstrated at field days to which appropriate stakeholders across regions will be invited.
Funding: $164,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $196,000
Project: Phytophthora cinnamomi : Mapping the threats and building the capacity to manage them
Proponent Region: South Coast Regional
Supporting Region(s):
 Swan
Organisation: WA Department of Conservation and Land Management
Project identifier: 44714
Project description: The aims of this proposal are:
  • To establish a methodology for the development of landscape scale threat assessment maps relevant for all Western Australian bioregions and of assistance to managers in other states.
  • To apply that methodology within a pilot region, proposed to be the South Coast
  • To develop costings and guidance for adoption of the methodology in other regions within the first 6 months of the project.
Funding: $198,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: $65,000
Project: Developing and implementing best-practice management for fire-tolerant mesquite in Australia
Proponent Region: Rangelands (Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee)
Supporting Region(s):
  
Organisation: WA Department of Conservation and Land Management
Project identifier: 44715
Project description: This project aims to develop, implement and test best-practice management techniques for fire-tolerant mesquite in Australia. A major aspect will be to address critical knowledge gaps, including determining whether fire can be used to manage fire-tolerant mesquite in semi-arid regions, improving kill rates for strategic infestations, developing a method for predicting what environments are most at risk of mesquite invasion at the catchment and regional scale, and predicting the long term impact of the available biological control agents and maximising their impact through integrated management. The project will also develop and test new ways of managing containment zones.
Funding: $545,707
Matching/In Kind Funding: $387,866
Project: Building Partnerships to Improve Rangeland Management and Pastoral Profitability in Semi-Arid Australia
Proponent Region: Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group
Supporting Region(s):
  
Organisation: Centre for the Management of Arid Environments
Project identifier: 44716
Project description: This project will hire, train and assign Pastoral Advisors to work with pastoral enterprises to promote the adoption of improved rangeland management practices to enhance financial, social and environmental outcomes. The Advisors will be trained, where necessary, in livestock production and pastoral enterprise management, grazing management strategies, ecological processes and environmental assessment, Environment Management Systems and community engagement. They will foster the development of strategic alliances between industry, stock firms, private consultants, relevant government departments, conservation bodies and research organisations that promote ecologically sustainable use of rangeland resources..

The project will:
  • offer pastoralists opportunities to examine ways in which they can relieve grazing pressure on paddocks and improve ecological condition;
  • identify and confirm simple measures of ecological condition that can be employed by pastoralists and other land managers in Australia's southern rangelands to assess the ecological impacts of management practices;
  • develop an Environment Management System-type process that directly supports management and business decisions and delivers immediate benefits to pastoralists
Funding: $1,540,000
Matching/In Kind Funding: Not identified

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