Woody Weeds training Watagan Creek

Rehabilitation of Watagan Creek is a a priority for Wollombi Landcare so a workshop was held to address the issues.

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The issue

The riparian areas adjoining Watagan Creek in Wollombi are degraded with Woody weeds taking over and outcompeting the native vegetation. Weeds such as Green Cestrum, Small leaf Privet, Japanese Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Wild Tobacco are making areas of the Creek inaccessible and impacting on the native habitat available in the area.

Wollombi Landcare is seeking a collaborative effort to rehabilitate the Creek but have had difficulty garnering community interest and attracting the expertise and funding necessary to make this happen.

The solution

Thanks to a partnership between Hunter Region Landcare Network and Hunter Local Land Services, Wollombi Landcare received funding to host a Woody Weeds workshop. The event took place on a beautiful private property with Watagan Creek running through it.

Leading up to the event, the group was very proactive in advertising through letter box drops, articles in the local newspaper, phone calls, Facebook posts and displays at the local shops and markets.

Speakers included Bill Hicks, a long-term Watagan Creek resident and inventor of “Longstem tubestock” whom talked about the development of this type of native seedlings as well as issues involving Willows in our creeks. Mick Budden of LLS and John Hughson of HRLN also talked about what their respective organisations do and how they can assist in plans to rehabilitate the area.

Participants had a walk and talk along the creek while the property owner talked about treatments he applied on Privet and Japanese Honeysuckle. The group was shown how to identify local native plants, some of which are look-alikes to the woody weeds and treatment methods for the weeds being targeted. They also looked at sections of the creek in good condition as an example of what to strive for along the whole reach of Watagan Creek.

The impact

The workshop brought 40 people together to learn about the rehabilitation needs of Watagan Creek with a focus on invasive woody weeds in the riparian zone. Participants now have the knowledge and resources available to identify woody weeds and appropriate treatment technique.

The event was the start of a long-term project in which collaboration of the local community, Local Landcare, Regional Landcare, and Government can work towards 'Bringing Back Watagan Creek'.

Author: alyssa