Wennicott Creek Landcare Group Action Plan

This document’s production has occurred with the assistance and input of members of the Wennicott Creek Landcare Group and funding from the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, along with staff assistance.

The purpose of this document is to inform the group and CMA of the issues identified by landholders and to assist in prioritising actions which the group can undertake in the short and medium term. The document also provides a basis for future funding submissions for group and individual landholder activities to address the natural resource management issues.

The Action Plan is designed to provide the Landcare Group with short term project goals and should be revisited on a regular basis when developing detailed works plans.

Background

The Wennicott Creek Landcare Group consists of approximately fifty properties and covers an area of around 9000 hectares. The main farming enterprises are beef and prime lamb growth, wool production and some cropping.

The main sub-catchment of the group is the Wennicott Creek. This, along with parts of the Denhills Creek and Scotchman Creek, drains into the Wannon River.

Soils of the area are susceptible to erosion and salinity. Mass movement, gully and stream bank erosion occur within the catchment. Pest plant and animal issues are widespread in the area.

History

Members of the group have been active for the last eighteen years. Projects undertaken have included; pest plant and animal control, riparian fencing and vegetation works, pasture improvement and commercial/environmental planting.

A major achievement of the group has been in the significant reduction and continuing control of pest plants such as fennel, Bathurst burr, saffron thistle and blackberry. These areas include on property and adjoining roadsides.

Many landholders have undertaken extensive fencing and revegetation of riparian zones, including gullies, creeks and the Wannon River. The terrain is steep and historically there has been extensive clearance of vegetation. Erosion, including slips and tunnel types, is a problem in the area.

The group is now aimed at renewing interest in Landcare and undertaking projects for the benefit of the environment and the local community.

Summary of Survey Results

Out of thirty surveys posted to landholders in the area, thirteen were returned. The tables and graphs below illustrate the highest priority issues identified by landholders in terms of ranking (Table 1 and Graph 1) and overall numbers (Table 2 and Graph 2). The issues of highest concern, in terms of natural resource management, were identified as: Bathurst burr, rabbits and foxes, water quality, saffron thistle and shelter belts. On ground projects, developed by the group, will contribute towards improving this situation.

Livestock disease and nutrition, alternative fertilisers and soil acidity are best addressed through workshops and guest speakers hosted by the group.

Priority Areas Identified

	Major area of concern	Issues	Top priorities 1-3
1	Weeds	Bathurst burr	62%
2	Pastures	Alternative fertilisers	54%
3	Livestock health	Nutrition	46%
4	Pest animals	Rabbits	39%
5	Pest animals	Foxes	39%
6	Water	Water quality	39%
7	Weeds	Saffron Thistle	39%
8	Livestock health	Diseases	39%
9	Revegetation	Shelter belts	31%
10	Pastures	Soil acidity	31%

	Pest animals	Kangaroos	23%
	Salinity	Rising salt levels	23%
	Pastures	Soil compaction	23%
	Erosion	Erosion	23%
	Water	Supply for stock when waterways are fenced	15%
	Weeds	Fennel	15%
	Weeds	Mapping infestations	8%
	Weeds	Spiny Rush	8%
	Weeds	Gorse	8%
	Remnant vegetation	Keeping stock out	8%
	Remnant vegetation	Managing these areas	8%

Table 1 - Priority Areas Identified by Wennicott Creek Landcare Group

(Ranked 1-3 in priority order by respondents)

	Major area of concern	Issues	Listed any priority
1	Weeds	Bathurst Burr	85%
2	Pest animals	Foxes	77%
3	Pest animals	Rabbits	70%
4	Revegetation	Shelter belts	69%
5	Weeds	Saffron Thistle	62%
6	Salinity	Rising salt levels	62%
7	Pastures	Alternative fertilisers	54%
8	Livestock Health	Nutrition	54%
9	Water	Water quality	54%
10	Erosion	Erosion	54%

	Water	Supply for stock when waterways are fenced	54%
	Weeds	Fennel	54%
	Weeds	Mapping infestations	54%
	Weeds	Spiny Rush	54%
	Remnant vegetation	Keeping stock out	54%
	Pastures	Soil acidity	46%
	Pest Animals	Kangaroos	46%
	Weeds	Gorse	46%
	Livestock health	Diseases	39%
	Pastures	Soil compaction	39%
	Remnant vegetation	Managing these areas	39%
	Weeds	Blackberry	39%
	Weeds	Boxthorn	39%
	Weeds	One Leaf Cape Tulip	39%
	Weeds	Paterson’s Curse	39%
	Weeds	Sweet Briar	39%
	Weeds	St Johns Wort	39%
	Weeds	South African Orchid	39%
	Salinity	Unsure where to monitor	23%

Table 1 - Priority Areas Identified by Wennicott Creek Landcare Group

(Totals only, unranked by respondents)

Issues affecting landholders

Respondents were asked to identify and rank issues which were affecting their property, with rabbits, kangaroos and Bathurst burr adversely affecting the most landholders, either with current resources working towards resolution or attempting to get the issue under control.

1=Not relevant to my property

2=Working towards improving this situation

3=This issue is getting out of control and requires immediate action

Major area of concern	Issues	1	2	3
Pest animals	Rabbits	1	5	3
Pest animals	Kangaroos	5	2	3
Weeds	Bathurst Burr	1	4	3
Weeds	Saffron Thistle	2	3	1
Weeds	Sweet Briar	5		1
Weeds	St Johns Wort	5		1
Weeds	South African Orchid	5		1
Weeds	Gorse	3	2	1
Pasture revegetation	Keeping stock out	3	1	1
Pasture revegetation	Managing these areas	3	1	1

Topics of interest identified by landholders

Respondents identified several areas of pasture management, livestock health, pest animal control and weed management throughout the returned surveys.

Major area of concern	Issues	Learn more

Pastures	Alternative fertilisers	5
Livestock health	Diseases	4
Salinity	Rising salt levels	3
Livestock health	Nutrition	3
Water	Water quality	2
Pastures	Soil acidity	2
Pastures	Soil compaction	2
Pest animals	Rabbits	1
Pest animals	Kangaroos	1
Weeds	Mapping infestations	1
Weeds	Bathurst Burr	1
Weeds	Paterson’s Curse	1
Weeds	Spiny Rush	1
Erosion	Erosion	1

Respondents also indicated interest in learning more about the following areas:

Roadside weed control
Weed identification
Off stream water options
Carbon credits - pastures and trees
Environmental Management Best Practice (EMBP)
Soil nutrition course through Points Arboretum, Coleraine
Bus trip to Iluka mine site
Completion of Chemical Users Certificate

Aims and Actions

Aim	Description	Responsibility	Funding source	Timeline
Training - To participate in relevant training opportunities	Undertake Governance training for office bearers	Exec/Susi John		On-going
	Hold field day on soil health hosted by Points Arboretum	Shelley Lipscombe	Points Arboretum	To be advised
	Participate in other Landcare groups’ activities i.e Wando River LC, Dunrobin LC, Kanagulk LC Upper Glenelg bus tour Oct 09.	Exec		On-going
Weed Management - To continue targeting priority weeds on private land and mapping infestations.	Develop works plan for weed control	Facilitator	GHCMA facilitation grant
Creating partnerships - Involve other local folded groups in activities and create network with active groups to share knowledge and build capacity	Wando River LC, Dunrobin LC, Kanagulk LC, Sanford LC	Exec/facilitator	GHCMA facilitation grant
Group Governance – To maintain a fixed term in office for President and Secretary	All office bearers to only hold a maximum term of 2 years. During this time, the newly elected exec committee will be mentored by outgoing exec.	Exec		AGM
Aim	Description	Responsibility	Funding source	Timeline
Recruitment – To establish a formal membership program	All landholders in area will be invited to complete an application form and pay a small annual subscription fee to be Landcare group members. All future correspondence will go to these registered families only.	Exec		July 09
Social events - All meeting will be combined with a social event	Have a BBQ, short walk, or supper at each event to build community spirit. Hold 3 events per year.	Exec	Group	Sept 09
Meeting location – Investigate alternative options for meetings in winter	Muntham Hall can be very cold in winter. Consider rotating meetings at member’s houses or holding meetings around campfires.	Exec		On-going
Group Projects - To explore possibilities for on-ground works and develop a works plan for the site	Ideas: a) Wannon River Reveg $4,000 corridor from Muntham Hall b) Scotchman’s Creek restoration project $8,000 c)Rabbit control project $10,000	Pete Waldron GHCMA/Exec	CMA 2nd Gen Grant DPI	July 09

Action List

Property	Project Details	Responsibility	Funding source	Funding Approx.
Muntham Recreation Pavilion CFA Coordinates:	Removal of exotic trees and suckers which are spreading towards the Wannon River.	WC Landcare Group		Nil
	Revegetation corridor from pavilion to Wannon River of approximately 450 metres, including fencing, spraying and vegetation stock.	WC Landcare Group		$2,500
Scotchman’s Creek CFA Coordinates:	One kilometre strip of private land, where recently deceased owner used to be an active member of the WC Landcare Group. High exposure site, which will add to an existing, well established revegetation corridor on north side. Three stage project involving fencing, weed removal and revegetation over three years.			$8,000
Faye Kelly Dochanassie Rd CFA Coordinates:	Continuation of erosion control works, including fencing and revegetation of area adjacent to works completed in 1992. Tunnel erosion and land slips identified by site visit September 2009.	Landowner	GHCMA 2nd Generation Grant
Ian Murphy Dochanassie Rd	Erosion control works, including fencing and revegetation of area which was subject to major landslip in January 2007. Works area form part of headwaters to Scotchman’s Creek, from Glenelg Highway.	Landowner	GHCMA 2nd Generation Grant

Wennicott Creek Landcare Group Action Plan

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Priority Areas Identified

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