Educational resources, booklets and planning tools

Lismore City Council has a range of educational resources, booklets and planning tools to help landholders manage their property and plan biodiversity actions or on-ground works.

We encouragers landholders to download and use these resources, examples and templates to help you manage your property and protect our natural environment.

 

Farm Health Assessment Tool and Education Booklets

Lismore City Council, in partnership with Southern Cross University, developed a Farm Health Assessment Tool. This tool enables landholders to self-assess their own land management practices against those identified as ‘out-dated’, ‘common’ or ‘best’ practice' in a range of land use situations. There are suggested pathways for improvement and landholders can use the tools as a form of ‘self-monitoring’ when managing biodiversity on their properties.

These booklets were developed in consultation with industry groups, landholders and relevant experts in land management.

There are four booklets which focus on different land management issues in major industries in the Lismore LGA.

Book 1: Healthy landscapes and waterways (this applies to ALL landowners)

The following books are in addition to Book 1:

Book 2: Beef grazing and dairying

Book 3: Macadamias and other orchards

Book 4: Floodplain cropping

 

Property planning

Below is a range of examples and templates for property and site action planning. These can help landholders understand how to structure a plan that will map what assets and issues you have and help you improve your property over time with key milestones, actions and timelines.

Property Planning - the Big Picture

Template - Site Action Plan

Template - Site Action Plan (Simple One Pager)

Template - Property and Site Action Plan

Site Action Plan Guidelines (Bush Futures)

Example - Farm Plan (production based)

Example - Maintenance Plan

Example - Draft Roseberry Creek Quarry Plan

Fact Sheet - Easy Steps Towards a Property Plan

Fact Sheet - Governing Policy in Rural Areas (Byron Shire Council)

Native Vegetation Plantings (RRCC)

Revegetation Guide for Subtropical Forest

Revegetating Streams in the Richmond Catchment - a Guide to Species and Planting Methods

 

If you wish to provide feedback about any of our resources, please email us at council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

 

Rural Landholder Initiative assists landholders through education and incentives

The Rural Landholder Initiative is a key part of Lismore City Council’s Biodiversity Management Strategy.

It is a rural landholder capacity-building project that involves educational opportunities such as field days and the use of free resources as well as incentives such as an annual small grants program.

The Rural Landholder Initiative was co-designed with Southern Cross University and works with landholders to restore and enhance biodiversity assets on private land.


Information for rural landholders

Council’s online Interactive Mapping Service may assist you to find out environmental information about your property.

Council has produced a range of booklets (available below) on the major environmental issues for five land use types in our region: beef graziers, dairy farmers, orchardists, floodplain croppers and rural ‘lifestyle’ landholders.

The booklets offer ideas for improving land and waterway management practices for biodiversity and include a Farm Health Assessment Tool so that landholders can self-assess their practices.
 

Biodiversity eNewsletter

Go to the bottom of this webpage and sign up in the 'Subscribe' section for our quarterly Lismore Biodiversity News.

This e-newsletter will notify you of upcoming grant opportunities and field days, events, education and training opportunities, and information on weeds and treatments.

Free field days for local landholders

Our free Rural Landholder Initiative field days focus on practical ways to manage rural properties. Topics covered may include:

  • Effectively managing environmental weeds, including camphor laurel, coral trees, lantana, privet etc.
  • Restoring waterways and managing erosion.
  • Looking after soil biology to reduce landholder costs.
  • Restoring habitat for threatened species such as koalas.

The field days are a great opportunity to meet other landholders, network, share stories about challanges and swap ideas on land management practices and techniques.

These field days are held on properties where the landholders have demonstrated exceptional land management practices and have great vision to improve their land for biodiversity. Council refers to these landholders as our ‘landholder champions’.

We have only held one field day in 2020 due to COVID-19. See below for a brief summary on this as well as other upcoming field days for 2020. We will advise dates when they are scheduled.
 

Native Bees and Other Mini Beasts: The Benefits of Pollinators in Macadamia Orchards

When: Thursday, 6 March 2020

Where: Lindendale

Time: 9am to 2pm

This practical field day was attended by macadamia growers keen to introduce or better support native bees and other pollinator populations in their orchards and ensure bees are performing at their best during crop bloom. Presentations were followed by a paddock walk to look for insects in non-crop flowers based on research survey protocols.

Below is a video and PDF of the presentation given on the day by guest speaker Dr Megan Halcroft from Bees Business entitled 'Australian Native Bees as Crop Pollinators'. You can also view a video of the property walk through.

Australian Native Bees as Crop Pollinators - PDF Presentation

Native Bees and Other Mini Beasts Field Day - Property Walk Video

 

 

Field days still to come in 2020...
 

Terania Creek New Riparian Weeds and Rainforest Field Day

When: Friday, 16 October

Where: Terania Creek

Time: 10am to 2pm

Landholders in the Terania and Tuntable Creek catchments are invited to attend this event on Job’s Tears to explore a range of restoration options. Job’s Tears is a tall perennial grass from India and a new weed rapidly spreading downstream causing damage to the riparian zone and aquatic habitat.

Topics will include:

  • Science in the Paddock – practical considerations for restoration ecology within our local landscapes.
  • Bank erosion and management, geomorphic processes in action throughout the local catchments, options, associated costs and approval processes.
  • What landholders need to know about their biosecurity responsibilities around managing weeds on private property.
  • Practical solutions for land managers in the face of new and existing pest and weed threats.
  • Information on this local Job’s Tears project including treatment, trials and results.

In light of COVID-19 restrictions numbers will be limited to 20 landholders with preference given to residents of the Tuntable and Terania Creek catchments.

Limited numbers by invitation.

 

Below is a series of short videos from previous field days highlighting a range of interesting topics:

Video: Georgica Field Day – Rural Lifestyle and Biodiversity

Video: Whian Whian Field Day – Mixed Orchards and Biodiversity

Video: Coraki Field Day – Floodplain Cropping and Biodiversity

Video: Boarharbour Field Day – Grazing and Biodiversity in our Water Catchments

 

Grant funding opportunities

Our Rural Landholder Initiative grants are currently closed. Advertisements will be placed in our fortnightly publication Local Matters and in our Lismore Biodiversity eNewsletter (subscribe at the bottom of this webpage) when the next grant round opens.


Annual grants program

The Rural Landholder Initiative assists and builds the capacity of rural landholders through various avenues, including an annual grants program.

Council calls for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) each year from rural landholders across the LGA who are seeking assistance with materials and labour for on-ground works to protect and enhance areas such koala habitat, riverbanks and remnant vegetation.

Assistance provided is up to $5000 for primary works and initial maintenance in the first year, with complex restoration projects eligible for second year funds up to $2500. Sites along floodplain riverbanks can apply for up to $10,000 if works include fencing and off-stream watering.
 

What are the current priorities?

High conservation value areas across the LGA

The concept of high conservation value (HCV) can be applied to species, populations, habitats or communities, or areas of land that support these HCV elements.

The BMS identifies criteria that Council considers must be present to consider an area as high conservation value. These include:

  • Land containing threatened species or populations
  • Key habitat for threatened fauna and flora, e.g. Regent Honeyeater habitat
  • Endangered Ecological Communities, e.g. Swamp Sclerophyll Forest
  • Key habitats that support priority vertebrate assemblages, e.g. Forest Red Gum grassy open forest
  • Land within areas identified as very high priority wildlife corridor
  • Koala habitat
  • Areas of land that support any type of rainforest
  • Old growth forest
  • Native riparian vegetation
  • Wetland and estuarine vegetation including on the floodplains

Full details of HCV and priority species are included in the BMS document and can be discussed with the Environmental Officers at Council. You can also find HCV areas on Council’s online mapping tool.

Map - High Conservation Value Habitat North of Lismore

Map - High Conservation Value Habitat South of Lismore

Map - Key Habitat Corridors North of Lismore

Map - Key Habitat Corridors South of Lismore

Map - Koala Habitat North of Lismore

Map - Koala Habitat South of Lismore
 

Restoration on the floodplain: Identify priority riparian areas and rehabilitate

The floodplains of the Richmond River are a priority to protect and enhance through weed management, revegetation, erosion control and habitat improvement. Retaining, rehabilitating and conserving existing native floodplain vegetation on riverbanks and wetlands is encouraged. 

Fencing for stock exclusion and off stream watering in sensitive riparian areas and wetlands on the floodplain may be eligible for increased funding (up to $10,000 over two years).

Map - Lismore Floodplain Landscapes
 

Project Ideas

Applicants are advised to consult the recently released Rural Landholder Initiative education booklets for ideas on land management practices that relate to improving and conserving biodiversity across our landscapes and waterways. The booklets relate to healthy landscapes and waterways, as well as four key industries operating in our region.

Potential applicants are advised to consult with qualified bush regenerators, Landcare professionals, Council staff, Local Land Services, Rous County Council (weeds and water) and government agents about project planning, action plans and best practice techniques.

The most successful projects are those that take a planned approach, are widely consulted and have landholder effort already committed.

 

Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible, you must meet the eligibility criteria detailed in the Rural Landholder Initiative Guidelines for Funding.

In summary:

  • Only landholders who own land within the Lismore LGA are eligible to apply (community and industry groups are not eligible).
  • Lismore City Council staff are not eligible to apply.
  • Projects that are primarily for beautification or improving amenity without significant environmental outcomes are not eligible.
  • Projects are not eligible if they are part of any development consent condition.
  • Applicants must be up to date with rate payments to Lismore City Council for the property associated with the application.
  • All applicants must make an equal cash or in-kind contribution to the project funds and show value for money.
  • Successful applicants must be willing to sign an agreement to maintain the project site beyond the funding period.
     

These are the minimum requirements.

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND preparing a written plan for your project.

Projects that clearly demonstrate where the landholders are already working on a progressive program of works have a much higher consideration when seeking public funding support.

Examples of simple project plans are available on our Educational Resources, Booklets and Planning Tools page.

 

Other useful links and our partners

Southern Cross University: http://scu.edu.au/

Rous County Council: https://www.rous.nsw.gov.au/landing.html

Richmond Landcare Inc: http://www.richmondlandcare.org/

Soil Care: http://www.soilcare.org/

Conservation Volunteers Australia: https://conservationvolunteers.com.au/

North Coast Local Land Services: http://northcoast.lls.nsw.gov.au/

Friends of the Koala: http://www.friendsofthekoala.org/fok/

Other Lismore City Council websites

Northern Rivers Waste Waste Services Lismore Library Library Lismore Regional Gallery Art Gallery Lismore Tourism Tourism Aquatic Centres Aquatic Centres MyRoadInfo MyRoadInfo

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Contact Us

Phone: 1300 87 83 87

Email: council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah NSW 2480. Australia

PO Box 23A, Lismore NSW 2480. Australia

ABN: 60 080 932 837

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