In a plan to return groundcover and biodiversity to three major sand hills, almost 50 kg of seeds from nine native tree and shrub species were planted in 130 km of direct seeding.
The plantings were part of Murray Local Land Services’ Central Murray Ramsar enhancement project.
Project lead Jamie Hearn said the sand hills had become denuded and eroded over many years.
“This initiative aims to bring these fragile sites back to life,” he said.
“The sand hills once had a covering of native grasses, along with yellow box, white cypress pine, ruby saltbush and other native shrubs.
“These sites are also significant to the Aboriginal community and were historically a feed source and habitat to a range of terrestrial birds including the endangered swift parrot, and vulnerable Gilbert’s whistler and diamond firetail.”
The project has the support of the local indigenous community, with Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council performing weed and rabbit control at the sites in the lead-up to the seeding.
The LALC also installed more than 2 km of stock exclusion fencing around half the area to reduce grazing pressure and will maintain the fences into the future, along with ongoing rabbit control.
Monitoring at the site will measure germination and plant survival rates.
Moama LALC chief executive John Kerr said direct seeding the sand hills was an important initiative to the local indigenous community.
“This is a great opportunity to get stability on the sand hills, given that they are protected sites with a huge cultural value for our people,” he said.
“The project has also provided another opportunity for employment for members of our community.”
As site manager, Forestry Corporation NSW had helped to clear rabbit warren sites for fumigation and provided extra work crew supervision.
The Central Murray Ramsar site enhancement project is being carried out by Murray Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.