National Landcare Program
Riverina Local Land Services currently has 4 projects funded under the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
Each project is unique and eligibility for landholders to take part will depend largely on location.
Our Project Officers welcome any questions and are always open to discussing projects with you so please get in touch if you'd like further information.
Reviving Riverina's Malleefowl
The Riverina was once home to the largest known Malleefowl population in NSW. Riverina Local Land Services is working with local landholders and managers to help protect/restore Malleefowl habitat and investigating ways to increase Malleefowl numbers, through the Reviving Riverina’s Malleefowl project.
Riverina Malleefowl StoryMap
"Yunggaay", the Wiradjuri word meaning Malleefowl, is one of the few remaining mound building birds. Due to habitat clearing and the impacts of predators including foxes, the Malleefowl is rarely seen in the wild.
Local Land Services staff have been working on a project StoryMap, featuring interesting details of the Malleefowl, and what steps are being taken to save this endangered species in the Riverina.
The StoryMap is a culmination of 5 years of the NLP NLP2 funded ‘Reviving Riverina’s Malleefowl Project’, highlighting our achievements in conserving the Riverina's Malleefowl.
For more information, please contact our Project Officer, David Kellett on 0428 941 061 or email david.kellet@lls.nsw.gov.au
If you are a landholder who thinks you may have Malleefowl, Malleefowl mounds or Malleefowl habitat on your property, we would love to hear from you!
This project is delivered by Riverina Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Bringing the Plains-wanderer back from the brink
The Plains-wanderer is a small ground dwelling bird found only in the sparse native grasslands of the Riverina. Plains-wanderers have suffered a decline in numbers over the last couple of decades and they are now classed as Critically Endangered.
Riverina Local Land Services is working with local landholders and managers to help preserve habitat for this species, as strategic grazing management is crucial to controlling their ideal habitat.
If you are a landholder who thinks you may have Plains-wanderer habitat on your property, we would love to hear from you! Please contact Project Officer Megan Purvis on 0428 941 061 or megan.purvis@lls.nsw.gov.au
This project is supported by Riverina Local Land Services and Murray Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program.
Farming smarter - A soils project for the next generation
This project focuses on precision agriculture for pastures and working with the next generation of farmers to manage the risks of acidification and hill-slope erosion in the eastern Riverina. Riverina Local Land Services will use soil testing on a paddock scale in the topsoil (0-10cm) and subsoil (10-20cm) to measure soil pH and exchangeable cations.
Precision agriculture technology will be used to generate soil management maps and guide producers’ decisions on investing in lime and perennial pastures on their properties.
This project for the next generation focuses on guiding decisions in terms of investing in new perennial pastures, liming acidic soils before sowing to new pastures and reducing the risk of wind and water erosion.
If you are a landholder interested in this project, please contact Project Manager Lisa Castleman (0427 201 963).
Boosting the Bunyip Bird Yield (Australasian Bittern)
The endangered Australasian Bittern is a large water bird about 70 cm tall and is brown/black with greenish legs. Bitterns are a specialist species that live in wetlands with a dense vegetation cover of sedges, rushes, cumbungi and cane grass and some open water for feeding. Recent research has found that significant number are utilising the rice crops of the Riverina over the summer months for breeding.
It is estimated that there are only about 1300 of this cryptic species remaining, with the Riverina being a stronghold for bitterns. Bird numbers have declined due to loss of habitat. Predation by foxes and cats, poor water quality and grazing may also be adversely affecting the species.
The aim of the project is to help the species survive and hopefully increase population numbers.
Working in Wetlands
The project is working with environmental water managers and land managers to provide improved habitat for bitterns in the Mid Bidgee wetlands.
Growing bittern friendly rice
An incentive program has been designed to maximise breeding success whilst not compromising rice yields. Early permanent water, with permanent water being maintained for a minimum 140 days is the most important of the criteria.
For further information about Australasian Bitterns, wetland management and bittern friendly rice read the Saving the Endangered Australasian Bittern Booklet.
Other activities include field days, information sessions and the Bringing Back the Bunyip Bird: Australasian Bittern Summit. For further information please contact Anna Wilson on 0428 964 785 0r anna.wilson@lls.nsw.gov.au
This project is supported by Riverina Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
Click here to view the guide to growing Bittern friendly rice.
If you are a landholder interested in this project, please contact Project Officer Anna Wilson (0428 964 785).