13.2 The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee - Great Lakes ...

Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan
E.6
Management Area A, B, C, D, E, F
Management Objective
Protect and enhance riparian vegetation
Action
No
Action
Indicative
Cost
E.6.1 Employ a river keeper or other paid worker to maintain and restore vegetation in $80,000
riparian zones
per year
E.6.2 Conduct a riparian vegetation assessment $20,000 +
staff time
E.6.3
E.6.4
E.6.5
Concentrate revegetation and restoration efforts in priority areas identified in the
riparian vegetation assessment
Develop and execute a control program for weeds of national significance
including Ground and Climbing Asparagus, Mother of Millions, Lantana, African
Boxthorn, Pampas Grass, Bridal Creeper and Bitou Bush on Cut, Bells, Mathers,
Long, Cockatoo, Oaky and Godwins Islands
Monitor and enforce compliance with SEPP 14, the Native Vegetation Act and
tree preservation orders to reduce the incidence of illegal clearing of foreshore
vegetation
$50,000 +
staff time
$10,000
per year
Priority Responsibilities Progress
Immediate (A3)
High (B3)
High (B3)
High (C3)
GLC, DIPNR,
Waterways
GLC, DIPNR,
Waterways,
Lands
GLC, DIPNR,
Waterways,
Lands, Landcare
Lands, GLC
Staff time High (D2) GLC + DIPNR Ongoing
E.6.6 Continue to provide technical support and training to local Landcare groups $50,000 Medium (B5) CMA Ongoing
per year
Comments
There is a very real need for a paid worker to coordinate revegetation and weed control efforts in riparian zones. At present community groups almost solely conduct the
maintenance of riparian zone habitats. An employed river keeper or other paid worker would be responsible for coordinating efforts to remove environmental and noxious weeds
from foreshore areas and adjacent bushland of rivers and islands. Effective control of these weeds requires a minimum of 20 hrs manual labour per hectare twice per year plus
costs associated with transport to and from the islands and appropriate chemicals. If the person employed was a river keeper (a joint Waterways initiative), peak periods would be
spent on the water in Wallis Lake enforcing boating-related legislation.
The results of the riparian vegetation assessment should be included in the foreshore management plan for the Wallis Lake foreshores and estuarine islands. The assessment
should also ensure identify areas where riparian zone wildlife transport corridors have been compromised and areas in need of revegetation/restoration.
Public reserve areas experiencing considerable illegal clearing are Muddy Creek, Coomba Park, Forster Keys and Pipers Bay. However it is acknowledged that most reserves
experience this to some degree. The main reasons that this is occurring are to increase/maintain views and gain direct access to the waterway. Regular monitoring and education
through strategy C.3 will contribute to reducing the occurrence of illegal clearing in reserve areas.
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