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This page will be used to publicise those documents, plans, freebies and public notices that become available from time to time.


About the Molonglo Catchment

"About the Molonglo Catchment" information leafletThe Molonglo catchment extends from the Murrumbidgee River to the headwaters of Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers and Jerrabomberra Creek, an area of about 200,000 Ha. The catchment landscape includes areas seriously affected by the January 2003 bushfires and ongoing drought. Apart from the urban areas of Queanbeyan and inner Canberra, the catchment includes villages, rural residential areas and farmland, native and pine forests, wetlands, national parks and the foreshores of Googong Dam, which supplies some of Canberra’s and Queanbeyan’s water. All of these areas provide run-off that contributes to water supply for irrigation areas and cities downstream.

We have prepared a factsheet about the Molonglo Catchment; hardcopies are available from the MCG office, Greening Australia, Environment ACT, and Council Offices.

Download "About the Molonglo Catchment" Factsheet 738KB

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Getting Involved

"Getting Involved" information leafletThere are more than 20 Landcare and Parkcare groups active within the Molonglo Catchment.  This brochure shows where the groups are working and offers some useful hints on how to reduce the size of your footprint on our environment.

Landcare / Parkcare is about community and government working together, to reduce land and water degradation to develop sustainable land use. Our environment is naturally fragile and damages easily. Sustainable land use helps keep our land and water healthy and productive, so we don’t risk

  • loss of plant and animal species and habitats

  • a decline in soil and water quality and quantity, leading to losses in agricultural production

Why should I care?

We all depend on the land for the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, and our housing and recreation needs. We all need to work together to care for our land, to maintain our standard of living and to keep food costs down.

The brochure is available from from the MCG office, Greening Australia, Environment ACT, and Council Offices.

Download "Getting Involved" brochure 343KB

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Lake Burley Griffin Willow Management Plan

Lake burley Griffin Willow Management Plan coverIn late 2004, the Molonglo Catchment Group in conjunction with Environment ACT (EACT), Canberra Urban Parks and Places (CUPP), ACT Forests and the National Capital Authority (NCA) began discussions about willow management in the Molonglo Catchment. Through negotiations with stakeholders, funding was secured to undertake a willow management plan for Lake Burley Griffin. Greening Australia ACT and SE NSW in partnership with River and Rural Management Services were contracted to put together the Lake Burley Griffin Willow Management Plan, which was published in May, 2007.

The Plan can be downloaded, or viewed online.

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Biodiversity in the Paddock - a land manager's guide
by Josh Dorrough, Jacqui Stol and Sue McIntyre

"The grassy woodlands of the south-east are an Australian icon. The widely-spaced eucalypt trees, dry grass, stockmen, sheep, cattle, and remote homesteads are part of Australia’s national identity."

"This booklet is about the role that native pastures have in a landscape that was once grassy woodland but which now supports a range of land uses."

Download ( 3,945KB)

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Woodland Web

Information on native grasslands and woodlands of southern Australia can be accessed at the new Woodland Web website designed by researchers at Charles Sturt University. Visit the Woodland Web at www.csu.edu.au/herbarium/woodlandweb/

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Climate tools for farmers

Two, new tools have been developed as part of a Bureau of Meteorology project sponsored by the Managing Climate Variability program. One tool shows a range of rainfall scenarios for most rainfall recording stations in Australia and the other is an online product to find out what factors are influencing the climate in their region by clicking on an interactive map. For further details visit www.bom.gov.au/watl

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AILA webSustainable Canberra Garden

The Sustainable Canberra Garden website has been prepared by Edwina Richardson AILA, and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) with assistance from an ACT Government Environment Grant.

The website consists of a series of fact sheets and case studies illustrating how Canberra residents can improve the sustainability of their gardens.

Topics addressed are about designing a sustainable garden that:

  • Reflects the Canberra Region
  • Uses Water Wisely
  •  Incorporates Hardy Plants
  • Creates Habitat
  • Uses Landscape Materials Wisely
  • Plans for Climate Change
  • Employs Sustainable Garden Maintenance

and presents 5 case studies that demonstrate these principles.

See www.canberragarden.com

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Bringing Birds Back 2nd Edition Bringing Birds Back

A glovebox guide for bird identification and habitat restoration in the ACT and SE NSW based on results from bird surveys. A PDF version of Bringing Birds Back  is available for download (1,605KB).

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Aboriginal Scarred Trees in NSW : a field manual

NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change

Aboriginal Scarred Trees coverThousands of surviving trees in NSW bear scars resulting from removal of bark or wood by Aboriginal people in the past for the manufacture of canoes, shields and other artefacts. These scarred trees are one of the most common yet least understood items of Aboriginal heritage.

'Aboriginal Scarred Trees in New South Wales' has been written to help those who wish to record Aboriginal scarred trees or who wish to distinguish between Aboriginal scarring and scars that are the result of natural processes such as tree disease and lightning strikes.

Hardcopies of the publication can are also available for $10.95; visit http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/pubdetails.jsp?publication=7964

Download from the DECC website ( 1.6MB)

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Jerrabomberra Creek Revegetation Pamphlet

Jerrabomberra Creek Revegetation pamphletThis pamphlet is a source of information for all individuals and groups interested in Jerrabomberra Creek, including those who monitor water quality, Royalla Landcare, Queanbeyan Landcare and Narrabundah Landcare groups. The pamphlet is an initiative of the Southern ACT Catchment
Group who secured an Envirofund grant for its production and is also supported by the Molonglo Catchment Group.  Hardcopies are available from Council Offices, Greening Australia and Environment ACT.

     (  852 KB)

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Books from NSW Agriculture

Although not free, books from the NSW Department of Primary Industry offer invaluable information for prospective  small area farmers at a reasonably low price.

Visit www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/small-farm or click on the images below.

Rural Life - is it for you?

Buying Your Bush Block

Farming in a Small Way

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Managing for and recovering from drought - factsheets

The NSW Department of Primary Industries have released an updated series of fact-sheets to guide planning for drought and drought recovery. They are equally applicable in considering how to manage for the very likely climate change:

  • Weed strategies following drought, fire and flood (Primefact 372)
  • Grazing management following drought (Primefact 364)
  • Tree management after drought (Primefact 370)
  • Soil management following drought (Primefact 367)
  • Winter cropping following drought (Primefact 366)
  • Restocking after a drought (Primefact 395)
  • Weeds - a threat to drought recovery (Primefact 365)
  • Reassessing water requirements after a drought (Primefact 394)
  • Animal welfare in drought (Primefact 327)
  • Pasture sustainability and management in drought (Primefact 325)
  • Risk management for stock owners in times of fire and flood (Primefact 380)
  • Confinement feeding of cattle in drought: protecting the environment (Primefact 554)
  • Assessing current pasture and vegetation conditions (Primefact 376)
  • Planning for drought (Primefact 371)

See the latest publications on www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture

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"Look after your natural asset"s booklet cover

UMCCC: Look after your natural assets

Look after your natural assets is a booklet for land managers of bush block and small farm acreage. A very informative read and a valuable resource.  Hardcopies are available from Council Offices, Greening Australia and Environment ACT.

Download ( 1,577KB)

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UMCCC: Choosing and Managing Land

Choosing and managing land is a fact sheet for people considering buying a small rural property in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment. Hardcopies are available from Council Offices, Greening Australia and Environment ACT.

Download ( 282KB)

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UMCCC: Unearthing Wetlands of the Upper Murrumbidgee... Fact Sheet for Rural Landholders

Unearthing Wetlands of the Upper Murrumbidgee... Fact Sheet for Rural LandholdersWetlands are now recognised as important assets in the rural landscape. Their multiple values and functions provide many environmental services for rural landholders and for the catchment.

In the past wetlands were seen as problem areas - land lost to production because of waterlogged soils or that created difficulties with access. It was a common practice to fill or drain boggy land without understanding its importance and value.

This fact sheet is designed to assist rural landholders to identify and manage wetlands in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment.  Hardcopies are available from Council Offices, Greening Australia, Murrumbidgee CMA Queanbeyan Office and Environment ACT.

The fact sheet can be downloaded from the Environment ACT website at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/13162/wetlandsoftheuppermurrumbidgee-factsheetforrurallandholders.pdf

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UMCCC: Living with Drought for Small Rural Blocks in the Upper Murrumbidgee ... Fact Sheet for Rural Landholders

Living with DroughtThe impact of drought on small acreage and lifestyle farmers varies in its effects and intensity. Although non-production farms may not experience the financial hardships of traditional farmers, the struggle to safeguard pastures, protect water resources and care for stock is universal.

This booklet is designed for owners of small rural blocks. It provides a starting point to address issues you may have to deal with in times of drought. Advice in this booklet is centred on good farm planning and sustainable management of your land to help your property withstand harsh seasons and allow it to flourish in good seasons.

This publication is divided into three subsections: Preparing for Drought, Surviving Drought and Recovering from Drought.

It covers topics such as:

  • Planning ahead
  • Looking after your trees and pastures
  • Feeding stock
  • Looking after your water quality
  • Useful web sites, publications and contacts.

The fact sheet will be available shortly through the UMCCC's Rural Display Units in various locations around the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment, and at Cooma-Monaro Shire, Queanbeyan City and Palerang Council Offices, and the Murrumbidgee CMA Queanbeyan Office.

Download the fact sheet ( 2.28MB)

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Rural Landholder’s Guide To Environmental Law in NSW

Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSWThe Environmental Defenders Office has recently produced the “Rural Landholder’s Guide to Environmental Law”. Produced with the assistance of Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, this publication is designed to help landholders understand their legal rights and manage their land in accordance with environmental and natural resource management law.

The topics covered in this booklet include:

  • vegetation management
  • protected plants and animals
  • bushfire management
  • water management
  • development consent
  • pollution
  • agricultural chemicals
  • crops and stock
  • mining and quarrying
  • heritage protection
  • voluntary conservation.

The full text of the guide (Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW 993KB) is available at: www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/publications.php or by contacting tisha.dejmanee at edo.org.au.

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Birds in Backyards

The Birds in Backyards website,  www.birdsinbackyards.net, is designed to link old and new bird lovers alike into the magic of Australian birds. An initiative of the Sydney-based Birds in Backyards program supported by Birds Australia and the Australian Museum, the site is focused on urban birds, habitats and conservation issues and is relevant for the 85% of Australians who live in urban areas. Special Features include:

  • Bird Finder – name that bird!

The Birds in Backyards Bird Finder, is the first comprehensive tool to help you name that elusive bird on-line. It allows users to enter the size, shape and colour of a bird. This prompts identification of your bird, from an initial database of 150 species found in Sydney and other Australian east coast cities, with work underway on the final target of 800. You can also listen to the calls of 120 species

  • On line Volunteer Bird Surveys

Who will hear the first Koel of Spring?

Where are all the Superb Fairy-wrens?

  • Birds in Backyards guidelines, relevant for any gardener wishing to create and sustain bird habitat in any area from domestic gardens in high-density urban landscapes to those of rural townships.  There is a suite of guideline for:
    • Domestic Gardeners
    • Schools
    • Bushland Managers
    • Councils and Planners
    • Landscape Architects
    • Street Tree Planners
    • Open Space Managers

The guidelines can be accessed at www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm

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Florabank websiteFlorabank logo

Florabank aims to increase the availability of high quality native seed for large scale revegetation projects across Australia and bring people together to share information and resources about seed management.

Florabank recognises and shares the best available knowledge from research and practice in native species seed management.  Florabank supports a professional and clever seed industry, encouraging quality and choice for buyers of native Australian seed.

The website includes best available knowledge from research and practice in native species seed management.

Florabank develops locally and regionally adaptable online decision support tools on the website for the native seed industry including a:

  • Vegetation management selector, helping NRM practitioners to determine the best revegetation option for their site or project objectives;
  • Species Selector Key, using the Lucid software to allow revegetators in pilot regions to select appropriate species for their site and purpose;
  • Best Practice Seed Collection Key, enabling the collector to maximise genetic diversity at their collection sites or collect from species provenance ranges for revegetation sites where local provenance is important;
  • Site Description Tool, guiding enabling users to best describe their revegetation site; and
  • Links to Greening Australia's Native Vegetation Resource Directories with up to date information on native seed research, best management practices, and key references.

Foster a market of "premium price for premium seed" by recognising different standards of seed collection, handling and storage procedures.

Visit www.florabank.org.au

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Integrated Vegetation website updated

The Integrated Vegetation web site http://data.brs.gov.au/mapserv/intveg/index.html contains current regional NRM boundaries for all states and territories as well as summary vegetation profile for each NRM region. Veg profiles are available as a pdf file and can be accessed through the Vegetation Profile button on the left hand side of the screen immediately below the vegetation map for individual regions (you will need to navigate to a region to see the map). The profiles provide basic stats on area, population size and trend, climate zones, major towns, land use and production value for each NRM region.

Note for users - The information is potentially valuable but its presentation is rather low key. Unfortunately the web site does not provide a feedback mechanism but Gerry Maynes is happy to forward any comments on.  Gerry suggests that it needs a short lead in description of what information is available through the profiles so users know it is available.

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Australian Soil Resource Information System

The Australian Government recently announced the new Australian Soil Resource Information System (ASRIS). ASRIS is a product of the Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program, a partnership between CSIRO, the National Land and Water Resources Audit and all Australian States and Territories.

The ASRIS site is designed as an interactive web tool to give Australian farmers new productivity gains through access to world’s best practices and technology. It will provide information to enable regional natural resource management groups to plan, monitor and evaluate their investments in soil management. ASRIS can be accessed online at www.asris.csiro.au and further advice is available from CSIRO on 02 6246 5922 or email aclep at csiro.au

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Catchment Modelling toolkit

More than 20 products are now available in the Catchment Modelling Toolkit developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology. The toolkit can be accessed at www.toolkit.net.au

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Weeds management game and competition for schools

Please notify teachers - ‘Weed Wipeout’ (an interactive computer game) for junior secondary students has been developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Weed Management for schools nationwide

Further information can be accessed at www.weeds.crc.org.au click on Education and Training, then For Schools

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Reducing the current risk of serrated tussock expansion

Lori McWhirter, Agronomist, DPI Goulburn and Sherryl Broderick, National Serrated Tussock Coordinator have released a fact sheet about reducing the current risk of tussock expansion.

Research indicates that serrated tussock germinates mainly in autumn but can germinate throughout the year given adequate soil moisture and temperature. When they first germinate tussocks are only one fine leaf blade and are difficult to see. However, the seedling stage is the weakest part of the lifecycle and the most effective time for preventing expansion. In the coming months, germinating seeds may have little competition for soil moisture, nutrients and light.

The best chance of preventing further spread of infestations is to promote rigorous competitive pastures and to maintain a rigorous mechanical or chemical control program to prevent growth and seeding. The fact sheet advises assessment of the proportion of groundcover to enable concentration on rehabilitating areas at the greatest risk of invasion.

     (  84 KB)

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The Flora of South-East Yarrowlumla - A Preliminary Assessment (Peter Barrer, 1997)

"Flora of South-East Yarrowlumla" coverThis survey of native vegetation in the south-east of the Yarrowlumla Shire (now Palerang Council local government area) was carried out to map and describe the existing remnants by Peter Barrer in 1994-95.

Plant species and floristic diversity were sampled over 15 sites or localities within the study area, and details of one further site were obtained from the literature. In excess of 350 native plant
species have been recorded in the study area, most during the present study. Forty-six plant species are described as being of conservation significance because they are either threatened, rare or uncommon on a national, state, regional or local basis.

Areas of remnant vegetation were assessed for their significance in terms of size, plant diversity, faunal habitat or potential as a wildlife corridor. Particularly significant areas were  recommended for further ecological assessment.

A number of recommendations are made regarding the conservation of existing remnant vegetation and areas for further study.

This project was carried out with funding from the Australian Nature Conservation Agency through the Save the Bush and One Billion Trees grants scheme.  Peter Barrer carried out the majority of field work, and provided the bulk of the text for this report which was finalised after Peter passed away in 1997. Guidance and  support for the project were provided by the Stoney Creek Landcare Group (now Carwoola Landcare Group).

The report is available for downloading - caution large file.  Hardcopies are available from Carwoola Landcare Group for $10 plus postage.

( 1,360KB)

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The Bushlands of Mt Foxlow - Harrisons Peak - A Preliminary Ecological Assessment (Nicki Taws, 1998)

"Bushlands of Mt Foxlow-Harrisons Peak" coverA survey of the flora of south-east Yarrowlumla Shire carried out by Peter Barrer in 1994-95 identified a 10,000 hectare block of bushland around Mt Foxlow - Harrisons Peak as being of particular conservation significance and worthy of a more detailed ecological assessment.

The first stage of a three stage study of the bushlands was completed in 1997, assessing the ecological qualities and values of the study area. In particular, significant plant species, associations and faunal habitats were identified, and management guidelines in relation to planned burning in the area have been proposed.

The bushlands contain a range of vegetation types including small areas of wet sclerophyll forest and wet heath - shrubland, intermediate sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll forest, and savannah woodlands. Within the vegetation types a range of vegetation associations were identified and mapped.

This project was carried out with funding from the Australian Nature Conservation Agency through the Save the Bush grants scheme for the Stoney Creek Landcare Group (now Carwoola Landcare Group).

The report is available for downloading - caution large file.  Hardcopies are available from Carwoola Landcare Group for $10 plus postage.

( 1,298KB)

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Best Practice Guidelines for Urban Irrigation

In a first for the water industry in Australia, a national set of best practice guidelines for urban irrigation and home garden irrigation was developed in 2006. This major achievement for the industry is the result of a project funded by the Water Services Association of Australia and the Irrigation Association of Australia.

The Guidelines come in two parts:

Guide to Good Garden Watering: a 4-page publication is a simple reference for home gardeners and provides basic information about irrigating home gardens.   Download your free copy Guide to Good Garden Watering ( 2.5MB).

Urban Best Management Practice Guidelines : a publication intended as a guide for the commercial irrigation sector for $33 .

Visit the Irrigation Association of Australia website for more information.

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BUSHWISE IN QUEANBEYAN: living with bushland

"Bushwise in Queanbeyan" coverBushwise in Queanbeyan: living with bushland is a practical community resource aimed at helping residents to reduce their impact on bushland as well as encouraging sustainable living to help protect the natural environment.

The book contains information on Queanbeyan’s special relationship with bushland, local native flora and fauna, sustainable gardening and issues related to water and fire.

The information in this book was compiled with the help of local scientific, landscape and landcare experts, rangers, residents, officers of Queanbeyan City Council and senior students and staff from the University of Canberra.

It is based on feedback from a survey of Queanbeyan residents conducted in 2005 to determine interest in issues related to living with bushland and to identify information that residents would like to have.

This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through the Our Environment – It’s a Living Thing program and is a joint initiative of Queanbeyan City Council and Carwoola Landcare Group.

Bushwise in Queanbeyan: living with bushland is a free book. It will be distributed in early August 2006 to all Queanbeyan residents whose properties are next to bushland.

For those Queanbeyan residents who do not receive a copy, further copies may be obtained at the Environmental Services counter at 257 Crawford St, Queanbeyan City Library, the Tourist Information Office or the Queanbeyan Nursery.  It may also be downloaded from the Queanbeyan City Council website.

Download Bushwise in Queanbeyan: living with bushland  ( 9.3MB)

If you have any enquiries about Bushwise in Queanbeyan: living with bushland, please contact Natasha Abbott of Council’s Environmental Services, on 6298 0268.

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Horses Land & Water Management guidelines

The Horses Land and Water Community of Practice is a group of like-minded people who share information about a set range of topics, in this case, horse keeping and good land management practices. The Horses Land and Water Management guidelines for whole of property, paddock management and intensive horse keeping can be accessed at www.horseslandwater.com.

Other resources available include workshops, forums and newsletters.

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Weeds website: Weeds in Australia

On Wednesday 19th September, Better Homes and Gardens’ Graham Ross joined the Australian Government in calling on all Australians to think about how plants in their garden could be contributing to one of the nation’s greatest environmental problems – the spread of weeds.

With the Minister for Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, and the Assistant Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, John Cobb, Mr Ross launched a new website - www.weeds.gov.au - to help people identify which plants can be a problem in their local area, and to provide advice on how to manage them.

The website is part of a national campaign to highlight the problem of weeds and to prevent their spread into the environment.

“Some of the most invasive weeds in our environment have escaped from gardens into adjoining bushland, waterways and national parks,” Senator Abetz said. “Of the 20 weeds identified as Australia’s worst, 16 were introduced for ornamental purposes.

“Weeds are now a $4 billion annual drain on agriculture in lost production and weed control costs.”

“Most Australians love the bush and have a strong desire to do the right thing.”

How you can help

Weeds are a problem for everyone. We can all take action to defeat the weed menace.Garden tool

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Last modified: 03/02/2008