Final Report for Seymour Pond Bushland Regeneration Project

April 2006 – August 2007

Completed for Gosford Council and The Australian Plants Society Bushcare Group

by Damien Moey of Bangalow Bushland Management. August 2007

Introduction:

In September 2004 Gosford Council engaged Bangalow Bushland Management on the behalf of the Australian Plants Society (APS) Bushcare Group at Katandra Reserve, to undertake a Bushland Regeneration Project in the Rainforest around Seymour Pond.

The APS Bushcare Group received a grant from the Environmental Trust to spend on Bushland Regeneration in the Rainforest around Seymour Pond.

Primary work was undertaken in the rainforest and along the Rainforest edges in September 2004 to April 2005. These areas were maintained and expanded on from July 2005 to August 2007.

Description of work completed:

October 2004 – April 2005

An initial sweep for any weed species through the rainforest in a fifty-metre strip north of the main creek from Seymour Pond to the Fig on the Rock was undertaken. The main weed species treated through this area were small Ligustrum sinense (Small Leaved Privet) and Lantana camara. The Ligustrum sinense were mostly found in the form of seedlings located in groups scattered throughout the rainforest. The occasional larger mature plants were also found in this area.

The small Privet’s were hand removed and piled on rafts, while the larger plants were either cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive and piled on rafts or chiselled and poisoned with Roundup Biactive.

The Lantana in this area were treated in a similar fashion as the Privet.

Approximate area treated 4500m2

Thick patches of Lantana and scattered Lantana are located on the edge of the rainforest south of the main creek and walking track. The thickest infestations of Lantana are located south of the main creek just near the ‘Fig on the Rock’.

A systematic sweep along the rainforest edge (thirty metres out from the creek) was undertaken to remove all Lantana growing in this area.

The scattered Lantana plants were hand removed or cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive and placed on rafts. Thick patches of Lantana were dismantled by hand and piled on rafts to serve as wildlife habitat, the base of the plants were then cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive.

Approximate area treated 2300m2

During the course of this years project a Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) which is listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, and a Southern Angle Headed Dragon (Gonocephalus spinipes) which is locally significant due to it being at the southern limit of its range, were observed and photographed in the rainforest.

July 2005 – April 2006

A maintenance sweep for any weed species through the rainforest in a fifty-metre strip north of the main creek from Seymour Pond to the Fig on the Rock was undertaken.

This area was worked on in the first year of the grant funding in 2004. Small Ligustrum sinense (Small Leaved Privet) and Lantana camara were the main weeds targeted. The Ligustrum sinense were mostly found in the form of seedlings located in groups scattered throughout the rainforest.

The Lantana in this area was treated in a similar fashion as the Privet.

There were a significantly reduced number of weeds present in this area compared to the first year of the project.

Approximate area treated 4500m2

The area of thick Lantana that was primary treated in the first year of the project (south of the main creek to beyond the ‘Fig on Rock’) was secondary weeded and maintained during this second year of the project.

Small Lantana plants and seedlings were hand removed, Lantana plants that had regrown from the base were recut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive and placed on rafts.

Approximate area treated 2300m2

The Primary treatment of thick Lantana infestations with the occasional large Small Leaved Privet and seedlings was continued up the creek beyond the ‘Fig on Rock’.

Thick patches of Lantana were dismantled by hand and piled on rafts to serve as wildlife habitat, the base of the plants were then cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive. Large Privet’s were frilled and poisoned with Roundup Biactive while smaller privets were cut and poisoned or hand removed.

Approximate area treated 2000m2

Thick patches of Lantana with Tree Tobacco Solanum mauritianum south of the track near Seymour pond were primary treated during this 2^nd year of the project.

Thick patches of Lantana were dismantled by hand and piled on rafts to serve as wildlife habitat, the base of the plants were then cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive. Tree Tobacco was cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive.

Approximate area treated 1000m2

An area of Moth Vine Araujia hortorum growing amongst Lantana was also treated this year of the project.

Moth Vine was deseeded and removed by hand. Lantana were dismantled by hand and piled on rafts to serve as wildlife habitat, the base of the plants were then cut and poisoned with Roundup Biactive.

Approximate area treated 400m2

April 2006 – August 2007

All of the areas that were primary treated in the first two years of the project were maintenance treated for any Lantana and Privet seedlings and regrowth.

Approximate area treated 9800m2.

Mature Small leaved Privet located along side creeks southwest of the main creek were targeted, these plants were chiselled and poisoned with Roundup Biactive.

Approximate area treated 300m2.

Woody weeds such as Lantana, Tobacco, Camphor Laurel, and Privet were targeted between the fire trail and the walking track from Seymour Pond to the gate at the top of the paddock.

Small Privet, Lantana, Tobacco and Camphor Laurel were pulled out by hand and piled on rafts to serve as wildlife habitat. Larger Lantana, Privet and Tobacco were cut at the stump and poisoned with Roundup Biactive. Camphor Laurel was either scraped and poisoned or chiselled and poisoned.

Approximate area treated 4500m2.

Eharta erecta that was growing in the planting compounds were hand removed and deseeded.

Approximate area treated 100m2.

Response to weeding:

Regeneration of areas that were treated in the first two years of the project is excellent. A great diversity of native ground covers and rainforest tree seedlings was observed regenerating in these areas. Especially in the areas that were cleared of Lantana along the rainforest edge.

The rainforest area that was treated for isolated Privet in the first year of the project is proving to have excellent resilience. Not many Privet plants or other weeds were observed through here this year.

Conclusion:

The primary work completed this year in the area below the APS planting area will need to be maintained over the next few years to prevent the weeds from taking over the planting area again.

The work that was carried out this year was successful in maintaining the areas that were primary weeded in the first two years of the project. These areas will require minimal maintenance over the next few years, but it is strongly recommended that they be maintained to prevent them from becoming reinfested with weeds in the future.

Photographs: