South West Rocks Dune Care (“SWRDC”) is a dedicated, tenacious and enthusiastic group made up of a core of 10-15 local volunteers, mutual obligation workers, and aided by a range of visiting volunteers (mainly from Sydney and the Central Coast, but also occasionally from overseas). They are based in South West Rocks and work in the Smoky Cape area of Hat Head National Park and Crown Land in South West Rocks on the Mid North Coast, supported by the NPWS and the local Shire Council. Skill levels within the group range from beginners to qualified bush regenerators and from teenagers to octogenarians. As well as the satisfaction of helping restore this wonderful coastline to its pristine condition, they have some fun along the way.

South West Rocks Dune Care has been active since the early 1990’s. After the area was affected by large bushfires in 2001, the group became more active, having recognised the great opportunity for bush regeneration which these fires presented, through easier access to weeds, removal of weed seedlings depleting the weed seed bank and through native regeneration. Work management areas were established which included several endangered ecological communities (EEC). Features such as gullies, headlands and tracks were used as the boundaries of these areas. In consultation with NPWS, the most critical areas were identified and targeted. Primary work was undertaken by the group in a systematic pattern, based on the level of follow-up they knew could be maintained. By undertaking work in this fashion, the group was able to confidently predict the level of follow-up work required to maintain each area to a high level of resilience. This ensured the group constantly saw progress, which maintained volunteer morale. It also reduced the level of follow-up required.

After several years of regeneration work, the group decided that if they could source funding to employ contractors, the scope and range of areas protected could be significantly increased. The group received their first regeneration grant in 2005 and have since successfully applied for restoration grants of over $210000 from Envirofund, Caring for our Country and the Northern Rivers CMA. All of this funding has been used to employ contractors, including specialist abseiling bush regenerators, who work in difficult, inaccessible or dangerous areas to provide primary weed control. The funded work is administered, supported and followed up by the volunteers of the group.

This coordinated approach has enabled the area under weed control management to increase significantly. The group averages around 1500 volunteer hours per year including mutual obligation (an unemployment scheme supported by the group, run in conjunction with the local employment agency) and visiting volunteer hours. The group works and maintains a coastal area of around 1000ha, and has carried out primary and follow-up bush regeneration activities over about 200ha of heavily weed-infested coastal habitat aiming to restore and regenerate a highly diverse range of ecotypes. These include coastal Littoral Rainforest (EEC), Themeda Grasslands (EEC), Banksia woodlands and other coastal vegetation. Targeted weeds were originally Bitou and Lantana (Weeds of National Significance), but now include Glory Lily, Cassia, Beach Morning Glory, Ochna, Asparagus, White passionvine and Noogoora Burr. The group has extended their area of work and are now reaching the natural boundaries of the Macleay River and a narrow neck of rainforest (a naturally resilient plant community) south of Smoky Cape, creating an area that is both resilient and maintainable.

South West Rocks Dune Care maintains a close working relationship with any contractors employed, through regular on and off site meetings. Supervision of work sites and discussion of progress ensures an adaptive and productive process which maximises the environmental and financial outcomes of any grant funding. Emerging issues such as new weed invasions can be dealt with promptly and efficiently. The relationship ensures that the group benefits from the substantial experience of the contractors, whilst the contractors can also learn about the volunteer perspective, experience which can then be used with other groups. The group introduced the abseiling bush regenerators to splatterguns. Using the splatterguns allows the abseilers to work a much larger area from a single anchor, thus significantly improving efficiency (and thus cost-effectiveness).

A successful development by South West Rocks Dune Care has been the establishment of a “Visiting Volunteer Program”, which has been running since 2007. Like many small retirement-dominated communities, the pool of potential volunteers for such active work is limited. In response to this issue, the group recognised an opportunity to increase the number of volunteers by providing complimentary accommodation in exchange for 4-5 hours per day of bush regeneration work. South West Rocks is a beautiful area, and holiday accommodation is often vacant in the cooler months. This presented an untapped resource, which the group has been fortunate to be able to access on an ongoing basis, and thus develop long term relationships with several volunteer groups. Many such groups have made repeat visits to work with SWRDC, and have developed a sense of “ownership” of specific sites. Visiting volunteers have become an integral part of the regeneration work, through skill-sharing, developing and maintaining the website (see below) and production of You Tube promotional and instructional videos (see web link below). These regular visits provide a morale boost for local volunteers and raise the profile of the group through regular press articles promoting the joint activities.

The group were pioneering in the use of splatterguns for herbicide treatment of bitou, and worked with the National Bitou Bush and Boneseed Management Group on the Bitou Bush management manual for this aspect of weed control. Members of the group attended a restoration workshop in Coffs Harbour in 2007 which demonstrated the successful use of herbicides application by splattergun to Lantana. South West Rocks Dune Care was the first group to trial extensive use of splatterguns on Bitou. Initially, glyphosate was used with success. However, SWRDC constantly review practices and efficiency, and so decided to do a comparison trial using Metsulfuron methyl, in consultation with contractors and NPWS. It was found that Metsulfuron methyl had several advantages:

it provided a slower but more effective kill (thus requiring less follow up);

• it has a lower risk of by-kill when used in grasslands. This regeneration work is primarily in endangered ecological communities, particularly Themeda grasslands, so any reduction in risk of by-kill was a significant consideration;
• it is considerably cheaper.

Hat Head NP is now the highest priority area listed on the Bitou TAP. This is in part due to the consistent and strategic weed control program undertaken by the group.

South West Rocks Dune Care run monthly “Bitou Bashes” from April to November which are advertised and reported on in the local newspapers.

As part of a recent grant (from Northern Rivers CMA), the group has developed a Ten Year Weed Management Action Plan. This will also be available on the website, and will include an overview of the problem, management techniques, native and weed species lists, monitoring programs and ongoing implementation. The aim is to create a document that anyone could use to carry on the work of the group, as well as providing useful indicators to other communities who may face similar weed problems.

South West Rocks Dune Care, as stated before, have their own web site, which relays to anyone interested the achievements, goals, news and information surrounding the group’s activities. www.swrdc.com.au/WP . They encourage wide community participation, run training events and volunteer events, and have developed, over several months, a series of informative You Tube based videos. These explain what the group has achieved, how they have tackled problems, environmental sensitivity issues, techniques that have worked and other information on coastal conservation.  http://swrdc.com.au/WP/?page_id=1077 . These videos aim to allow other groups, whether volunteer or professional, to learn from the long-term experience of South West Rocks Dune Care.

Regular Weedbuster activities- weeding activities organised through National Parks, are promoted as FUN days, and generally incorporate a high level of social aspects and training.

The website promotes weed issues, and details how locals can tackle them, to assist with wider community understanding, education and support.

The group publish stories and adverts in local papers to promote their work days, so that all community members are included, and invited to become involved.

South West Rocks Dune Care are also partners in the Mutual Obligation program, where unemployed people are able to gain skills in, and contribute to, the environment, be trained up and actively support the group through 15 hours per person per week of groundwork. This has been operating successfully for several years, and has resulted in upskilling and maintaining a sense of pride and achievement for those involved. Mutual Obligation Volunteers (as well as regular group members) have received First Aid and Chemcert qualifications, plus training in splattergun and general bush regeneration techniques.

Advertising the Visiting Volunteer Program (see above) with the “Australian Association of Bush Regenerators” (AABR) has significantly increased the number of volunteers who have worked with the group. Visiting Volunteers generally come from outside the mid north coast, mainly from the Sydney and Central Coast regions. This is not only a great pool of resources for the group through external support to conduct weeding activities, but also brings economic benefit to the region through their accommodation stay, as it is also a ‘holiday’ for the visitors where they are brought to some of the most beautiful beaches in NSW and invited to explore the local area.

This wider community involvement has meant over 100 individuals, ranging in age from 10 to 80, have worked with South West Rocks Dune Care over the past 10 years, contributing over 10000 hours of hours of volunteer work to the area. This in turn supports Kempsey Shire Council and NPWS in the management and protection of these beautiful coastal ecosystems and landscapes by minimising weed invasion and encouraging natural native regeneration..

SWRDC’s activities, through one project funded by NRCMA, have been developed into a Case Study by the local Landcare Community Support Officer, illustrating some of the successes of the group.

South West Rocks Dune Care have engaged with the local and regional NRM in the following ways:

• They were contributors to the development of the Bitou TAP and management guidelines through their work with the National Bitou Bush & Boneseed Management Group. Arakoon SCA within Hat Head National Park is currently listed as the highest priority area under the TAP, partly due to the activities of the group and their ability to provide long term land management.
• Their work to remove invasive weed species is protecting and increasing the resilience of Endangered Environmental Communities (EEC), including Littoral Rainforest and Themeda Grassland on headlands. These weeds include the WoNS Bitou Bush and Lantana. There are several rare, threatened or endangered species of flora and fauna concentrated in the prioritised 200ha.
• The group has mapped an area covering approximately 1000ha and divided it into over 70 work management areas. The entire area is monitored and priority was given to protection of EEC’s. Through this strategic process, they have carried out primary weed control of WoNS and other weeds in the most heavily infested and significant 200ha of the area.
• Recent surveys have identified that approximately 900km of the NSW coast is Bitou infested. South West Rocks Dune Care is actively managing 12km of the coastal dunes and headlands, and has reduced the Bitou infestation in this area to several isolated pockets.
• They have increased community engagement through open days, workings bees, the development of the visiting volunteer program, participation in Weedbuster events (run by NPWS), their website, YouTube videos. They have also hosted site visits by stakeholders including Landcare, CMA, NPWS, local government, National Bitou Bush & Boneseed Management Group and other volunteer regeneration groups.
• They have increased community skills and knowledge through skill-sharing with other groups and contractors, plus through the series of You Tube videos.

South West Rocks Dune Care, through their many years of experience working in Hat Head National Park, has improved the management of Coastal Natural Resources.

Their work has protected a highly diverse range of ecotypes, including Littoral Rainforest and Themeda Grasslands, through the reduction of WoNS weeds (Bitou and Lantana) and other environmental weeds. The protection of these vegetation communities by weed removal has improved the long term resilience of both Threatened Species and communities, including those listed as endangered at the state or federal level. The reduction of weeds in this area has also minimised threats of invasion of neighbouring coastal areas (both private and public lands).

The group has worked closely with NPWS to develop plans for their site, including vegetation maps, weed and monitoring zones, volunteer education and associated information that assist bush regeneration work.

South West Rocks Dune Care has also been awarded several large funding grants. This funding is used to employ contractors for primary weed removal and to work in difficult or dangerous areas, with follow-up and support from volunteers. The systematic and cooperative approach has maximised the environmental outputs of the group, and facilitated the harnessing of technical support such as abseiling bush regenerators, educational components, and innovative regeneration techniques such as splattergun herbicide application. The funding also assists in recruiting new volunteers by raising the profile of the work, and enhancing the feeling of support for the volunteers.

The group has monthly working bees and utilises effective communication tools through their regularly updated web site, email and SMS contacts and NPWS web sites. The group has their work plans on the website for all visitors to read, for volunteers to check where to direct their attention http://swrdc.com.au/WP/?page_id=172 with an interactive map http://swrdc.com.au/WP/?page_id=128

Overall SWRDC has developed:-

• A co-ordinated and well planned weed control program through a 10 year Weed Management Action Plan, covering an area of approximately 1000ha (of which around 200ha has now been treated), utilising best practice management that is maximising weed control and enhancing natural regeneration
• High community involvement and collaboration between the land managers- National Parks and Wildlife Service, Kempsey Shire Council and the regular, mutual obligation and visiting volunteer groups
• Excellent weed control success using a range of successful techniques- splattergun, abseilers, volunteer activities
• Overall long term approach to restoring significant natural areas through the development of a planning tool (10 year Vegetation Management Plan) and strategic long term goals.

This approach has lead to the group being able to effectively maintain and protect an extensive area of around 1000ha, through systematic and strategic primary and follow-up weeding, whilst also maintaining the morale and activity levels of the group.

South West Rocks Dune Care is actively treating causes and symptoms of Coastal Environmental Issues. Some of the specific Symptoms and Causes have been addressed by the group as follows:

CAUSES: spread of WoNS and other environmental weeds, reduction of diversity, difficult access to core weed zones, lack of on ground management (due to shortage of weed removal funding available for and from the land managers, NPWS and Kempsey Shire Council to cope with the extent of the weed problem)

How SWRDC has tackled these causes:-

The group has tackled coastal weed infestations across an area of about 1000ha through broad scale treatment to reduce seeding of WoNS weeds. This has involved many thousands of hours of treatment by contractors, visiting and mutual obligation volunteers, and, of course, the volunteer efforts and innovative techniques of the South West Rocks Dune Care group themselves. They have enhanced this area by encouraging regeneration through natural recruitment. They have spread their efforts and resources into areas previously considered unreachable through the use of abseiling contractors, splattergun and long treks! They have assisted NPWS and council management funds by applying for external grants to support the management of the area, and targeted WoNS weeds as a priority.

The group has also used the opportunity presented by unplanned fire events to maximise bush regeneration outcomes. They have achieved this through strategic post-fire weed removal, when access is improved, and the flush of weed seedlings, if removed, significantly reduce the weed seed bank.

SYMPTOMS- Weed spread, knowledge of weed issues, loss of biodiversity,

Community social responsibility

How SWRDC has treated the symptoms:

The group has minimised and restricted weed spread by regular work bees, community weeding days and the use of outside volunteers and contractors. They have regularly attended relevant training events, supervised and trained new and visitor volunteers, and raised community awareness and understanding of weed issues through public weed events. They have enhanced areas with natural regeneration to conserve and protect Littoral Rainforest, Themeda Grasslands and other coastal vegetation and increase its resilience and biodiversity.

The group have taken a systematic approach to the bush regeneration, “subdividing” the work area into over 70 smaller work zones divided by features such as gullies, spurs and creek lines. Areas of relatively low weed infestation are stabilised first, then more heavily infested areas targeted according to available resources. Care is taken to ensure follow-up is at manageable levels to avoid subsequent regression of a work zone. Many zones are now highly resilient and need only minimal “search-and-destroy” style follow-up.

SWRDC have also promoted their efforts to the wider local community, to improve awareness of coastal environmental issues and thus to hopefully promote and enhance social responsibility towards the preservation of coastal natural areas.

Judging Criteria

1.             Undertaken projects that increase community awareness and engagement with coastal environmental issues linked to  local and/or regional environmental/ NRM plans, and where possible  ‘Caring for our Country’ targets (refer to the Caring for our Country Business Plan on http://www.nrm.gov.au/business-plan/10-11/priorities/index.html).

2.             Improved the sustainable use and/or management of coastal natural resources (applications must provide examples of results).

3.             Targeted the causes and symptoms of local coastal environmental issues.

4.             Developed local and/or regional partnerships for Coastcare activity (e.g. local councils, businesses, school, other community groups, academic institutions etc.).

South West Rocks Dune Care maintains regular communication with the respective Land Managers involved in the project area through site meetings, reports, and general meetings. They have utilised the support of the local Landcare Network to seek advice on project development, and the involvement of the community. The group has hosted field day visits by the board of Northern Rivers CMA and the National Bitou Bush and Boneseed Management Group. Both meetings were also attended by NPWS (field staff, rangers, regional weeds coordinator), Kempsey Shire Council weeds officer, the CMA Catchment Officer and Landcare Community Support Officer. They have also run an educational field day for representatives of Green Corps, a newly formed Dune Care Group and interested community members.

The group works very closely with NPWS, communicating at least monthly in a process of mutual consultation which covers areas being worked, emerging problems, funding opportunities and monitoring efforts. This coordinated strategy maximises the environmental benefits of the work of both parties.

They have successfully obtained grant funding, with partner support of National Parks and Kempsey Shire Council. This has been an effective process where the group maintains regular communication meetings, posts information on their web site and has developed videos detailing the work they have carried out. The group has received in-kind contributions from NPWS in the form of bush regeneration contractor employment on working days to provide OH&S and regeneration instruction, chemicals, monitoring, mapping and skill-sharing, and accommodation for the abseiling contractors. They have also received in-kind contributions in the form of free accommodation for visiting volunteers provided by the owners of a local holiday property, plus IT and film-making skills by volunteers creating the website and educational You Tube videos.

SWRDC is currently applying for funding through NSW Envirotrust. If successful, this multi-land-tenure project will serve as an umbrella under which several local volunteer groups including Arakoon Bush Care and the indigenous Pandanus People, plus local schoolchildren, will work together to consolidate the bush regeneration of the past two decades.

Community involvement is of critically high importance to the group, as it assists the group to recruit volunteers, raise awareness, and encourages learning through participation. South West Rocks Dune Care successfully work with:-

• Their regular core group on a monthly basis
• Visiting Volunteer Groups - they host large groups by providing accommodation at this beautiful part of the coast, and in return train and harness these visitors to carry out Weed Blitzes over several days. Volunteers are provided with tools and supervision to carry out weed control throughout the project area. The group has maintained this relationship for 5 years, and hope to continue to provide this opportunity for outsiders to get involved with environmental restoration in the area. Many of the groups have returned several times, developing a special connection and sense of ownership of specific sites within the area.
• Mutual Obligation volunteers
• NPWS, through organised Weedbuster Events, where community members are invited to join the group for a day, and in return receive a BBQ lunch and some training.
• Council Staff, contractors and NPWS Rangers and field staff.

Over the past 10 years, South West Rocks Dune Care has benefitted from the work of well over 100 volunteers, with an average of 10 to 15 new volunteers per year during that period. Many of these volunteers have become regular or repeat contributors to this important work.