Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) have long been a valuable resource for farmers when times get tough. Now, the stretches of grazing land alongside our roads and property boundaries are getting extra attention under the Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs in the Northern Tablelands Project.
The project surveyed and assessed existing vegetation on the TSRs, then applied a targeted herbicide spray to cull invasive woody weeds. This treatment will encourage the return of native grasses and protection of vulnerable or endangered ecological communities, such as the New England Peppermint and Box Gum Grassy Woodlands.
Northern Tablelands LLS has secured $99,600 to deliver the project over three years, assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. The project team has identified 40 sites on TSRs on over 1177 hectares, to eradicate invasive weeds such as pyracantha, hawthorn and mimosa.
Northern Tablelands LLS Project Officer Sandy Hodgens has been coordinating the program on the ground. He said they have just completed the second year of the project at Moredun TSR north-west of Guyra and areas along the Strathbogie Road near Glen Innes.
TSRs are a public asset which Northern Tablelands LLS manages for production, social, cultural and environmental outcomes and continuously works to maintain and improve them for the benefit of the whole community.
“TSRs provide a wide range of environmental benefits including habitat for native animals, shade and shelter, buffering waterways, enabling pollination, protecting threatened and endangered species and improving soil health,” he explained.
The Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs project has also improved the productivity of the targeted TSRs and has restricted weed spread to neighbouring properties.
Sandy said they had to curtail this year’s spraying by a fortnight, due to the unseasonal heat which triggered early defoliation of some target species. Nevertheless, the team is very pleased with the project’s benefit to local Endangered Ecological Communities.
“The result is just outstanding and anyone who has driven past one of the particular sites between Guyra and Tingha has noticed the progress. We have received lots of comments and positive feedback about the effectiveness of the project this year.”
For more information on the Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs in the Northern Tablelands Project, contact LLS project officer Sandy Hodgens on 0428 744 287.
