Caring for Our Country
In 2008, the Commonwealth Government provided $366,102 in funding as part of the `Caring for Our Country' Initiative. This funding was allocated to fund two Small Farm Project Officers to coordinate various sustainable farming workshops and on farm projects to the value of $120,000. The Small Farms Network received 50 applications, seeking over $340,000 to undertake projects in bush regeneration, off stream watering, shelterbelt construction, weed control and other NRM projects. The selection committee allocated funding to 22 projects and 2 demonstration sites. A brief summary of the successful grants is provided below.
Continuing rainforest rehabilitation works, the owners continue weed control and native planting to restore rainforest areas previously used as grazing areas. The revegetation area links vegetation from neighbouring properties through to the riparian area located on the owners property. 
The 'Mooring' located in Robertson is situated on very steep farming land and receives high annual rainfall. Over the years cattle have tracked around fence lines erected to protect remnant rainforest vegetation. This project will undertake the work required to repair erosion damage.
The establishment of the shelterbelt will protect livestock and pasture from seasonal winds that readily dry out the pasture. The shelterbelt links up to a similar project completed in 2009 on an adjoining property and will begin to create a wildlife corridor from Coolangatta Mountain and Moyean Hill.
The property has an extensive frontage to Dignams Creek, one of the main tributaries to Wallaga Lake. Wallaga Lake is listed as a “priority catchment” in the Southern Rivers Catchment Action Plan. The project was to fence out the riparian areas along Dignams Creek and to provide off-stream water points for his cattle. The project complemented existing Landcare riparian projects upstream of Bruce’s property on Dignams Creek.
This property currently running with 30 head of cattle is located in a sensitive area surrounded by National Park. The owners are conscious of the impact any farming operation may have on the surrounding native area and have completed a Whole Farm Planning course to ensure future operations have a minimal impact on the surrounding environment. This project involved the installation of a water trough to remove cattle away from the existing dam and fencing out and planting around the dam area. This project will contribute to improving water quality and reduce excess nutrient run off into the natural environment.
This project involved the erection of over 900 metres and the planting of 675 trees to establish shelter belts in various locations on the property to protect pastures and livestock from prevailing winds. Students from The Highlands School where given the opportunity to extend their studies by gaining practical experience in tree planting and fence erection on the property.
The owners are looking to improve grazing management for their sheep property located at High Range. A 22 hectare paddock was subdivided into four smaller paddocks allowing for more efficient grazing. The design of the division of the paddocks allowed for the shelterbelt to be positioned along a common boundary between the four paddocks, providing shelter to livestock in all paddocks. 
Interest in developing shelterbelts and wildlife corridors in the Berry area along Coolangatta Road is resulting in patches of native plantings on adjoining and nearby properties. These plantings will contribute to link native corridors being established from Coolangatta Mountain to Moyean Hill. In the past year four properties have established shelterbelts with growing interest continuing from landholders.
Backing onto the Shoalhaven River this property located in Nerriga runoff from this property drains into the drinking water supply for the Shoalhaven and Sydney region. This project will improve grazing management practices by dividing a 50 acre paddock into three and establishing shelterbelts which will provide livestock protection and improve the quality of water runoff.
'Kendall Dale' located in Yackangarrah Creek is a major tributary of Narrawallee Inlet. This project involved erecting one kilometre of fencing to exclude livestock drinking from the creek and the installation of water troughs in the paddocks to supply drinking water for livestock. Two hundred trees were also planted along the creek bank to reduce erosion caused by storm events.
This project involved the fending and revegetation of 880m of Bunnair Creek, a tributary of Lake Conjola, to assist in stabilising a number of eroded banks caused mainly by flooding and wombats and stop livestock access to the creek.
This project aimed to restore native pastures for both biodiversity and agricultural production. Located in Bingie the farm is 120 acres of which 25 acres is grazing land. Seventeen acres of degraded land was sown with Wallaby Grass and Ryecorn to evaluate the success of this new innovation in native grass seed.
The landowners have recently completed a Whole Farm Planning Course and have identified a number of suitable locations for the establishment of shelterbelts and wildlife corridors that will benefit both the native fauna and farm production. The shelterbelt also dived one paddock into two smaller paddocks allowing for rotational grazing.
Fencing and revegetation of the riparian zone and protection of remnant rainforest from livestock is part of a long term management goal for the landowners. the removal of the coral trees along 650 metres of Ooaree Creek was one project identified in the plan, with fencing and planting to occur in the future.
Ooaree Creek flows into the catchment area of Werri Creek. This property is contributing to protecting the waterways by fencing of the riparian zone on their property from livestock and planting out the creek bank. the owners hope to continue this work through the removal of coral trees and lantana in the future.
In partnership with NSW DPI, this project looked at comparing the application of poultry manure and Seasol in combination with mulching and aerating to determine the benefits to pasture growth and management.
The boundary area of this 16 hectare farm had previously been fenced off to create shelterbelts. Many of these areas were not planted or planted with exotic species. This project in filled the gaps in the shelterbelt area resulting in over 1,110 tubestock being planted.
Projects 2008
Caring for Our Country
- Dung Beetle Release along Kelly's Creek
- Mundarloo Hillside and Creek Rehabilitation
- Fence off Wetland - Two Figs Winery
- Agars Lane Shelterbelt
- Croobyar Creek Wildlife Corridor and Livestock Shelterbelt
- Wollondilly House Conservation & Rehabilitation Project
- Tongarra Creek Bank and Flood Zone Rehabilitation Stabilisation
- Rainforest Rehabilitation in Foxground
- Erosion Control of Steep Farmland
- Shelterbelt Establishment, Coolangatta Road
- Dignam's Creek Riparian Fencing
- Off Dam Watering and Revegetation
- Shelterbelt Establishment
- Rotational Grazing of Native Pasture
- Linking Vegetation Corridor
- Improving Grazing Management and Livestock Shelter
- Riparian Rehabilitation at Kendall Dale
- Rehabilitating Bunnair Creek
- Establishing Native Pasture
- Shelterbelt Establishment
- Coral Tree Management
- Creek Rehabilitation
- Pasture Management Demonstration
- Shelterbelt Establishment, Woodlands