Local heroes across New South Wales know that maintaining a healthy environment begins at home, in your very own backyard.
In 2011, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, the Paddy Pallin Foundation, the Wildlife Land Trust, the Diversicon Environmental Foundation, the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW and the Humane Society International offered more than $99,000 to landholders with conservation agreements on their properties.
Private Land Conservation Grants (max of $9,000 over three years) give landholders the chance to realise their greenest ideas and plans for conservation on their own property.
The grants were available for conservation works like bush regeneration, pest control or other works within the conservation area.
“Conservation on private properties is extremely important because most of the land in Australia is privately owned,” said the Wildlife Land Trust’s Michael Kennedy. “The protection of Australia’s native animals in their natural habitat is of great benefit to future generations.”
Paddy Pallin Foundation Trustee, Mr Robert Pallin said, "The program acknowledges people who do conservation on their own land and supports them in their long term commitment to conservation".
"The grants are an effective way of working with the community to care for Australia's natural and cultural heritage," said the Office of Environment and Heritage, Conservation Partners Program Manager, Dr Lynn Webber.
A list of 2011 Private Land Conservation Grant Recipients is below.
2011 Grant Recipients - Private Land Conservation Grants
Private Land Conservation Grants support owners of covenanted properties to conduct habitat or species conservation projects on their property. This year more than $99,000 was awarded to the recipients below.
- Warwick and Antonia Deacock of "Chakola" in Kangaroo Valley
Revegetation, restoration and weed control work
- Peter and Christine Waterhouse of "The Knoll" in Stewarts River
Weed removal to allow the forest to regenerate
- Geoff Williams of "Lorien Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area" in Lansdowne
Weeding and restoration of lowland rainforest and stream habitat
- Ralph and Barbara Harris of "Brushwood" in the Glenning Valley
Protection of two endangered flora species and maintenance of habitat for endangered native fauna
- John and Helen Laidlaus of "Willow Creek" in Kiama
Weeding - hand removal of Lantana
- Bev Debrincat of "For Rest" in Crescent Head
Continuation of an ongoing project to strategically replace the Bitou Bush on the coastal sand dunes of this property with native vegetation
- Barry Carr of Rosebank
Weed control in rainforest remnants and surrounding forest regrowth
- Albert and Lynette Wright of "Lanikai" in Pretty Gully
Clearing and resconstruction of unsafe fence on eastern boundary of conservation area
- Janet Mayer of "Wodi Wodi" in Foxground
Weeding of Tradescantis albicans and cape ivy
- Barrie MacMillan of "Cooba" in Gol Gol
Pest plant control - to prevent the spread of ice plant and rhodes grass
- John Millington of "Baradine" in Wallanbah
Weed control and planting of native species
- Russell Preston of "Luminvale" in Middle Pocket
Bush regeneration works aim to repair and enhance the natural ecology of the site
- Margaret Matthews of "Warrawood" near Gunning
Weed control and eradication program. Control of thistle within conservation area
- Andrew Webster in Farmborough Heights
Remove Lantana from a mosaic pattern
- Ayallah Royston-Jennings of "Banjoora Puri" in Gundurimba
Weed eradication
- Elizabeth Starkeyay of "Cougal Park" in Cougal
Restoration of an area partly of open grassy forest, regenerating Hoop Pine forest, Eucalypt forest and Casuarinas
- Ross Elphick of "Dingo Bend" in Bobin
Weed management including Lantana, Camphor Laurel, Small and Large leaved Privet, Tobacco Bush, Moth Vine and Cats Claw Vine
- Graham Watson of "Thieles Gate" in Huonbrook
Weed eradication in rainforest area
- Jorgen Anderson of "Wombat Gully" in Rylstone
Eradication of Cineraria lyratiformis
- Michael Nixon of "Alnwick Park" in Burra
Purchase and placement of nesting boxes on part of conservation area
- Barry & Marjorie Nilsson of "Nilsson Conservation Agreement" in Maraylya
Cumberland plain restoration and regrowth protection, weed control and nest box installation
- John Eggert of "Mortons Creek" in Beechwood
Strategically control weeds in the agreement area. The weed control project will target Cats Claw Creeper, Asparagus Vine, Moth Vine and Japanese Honeysuckle
- Rosemary von Behrens of "Black Ridge" in Weetangera
Habitat maintenance, restoration and weed and pest control
- Mark Adams of "Coolangubra Sanctuary" in Coolangubra
Weed and feral animal control and revegetation in flood damaged areas in habitat of endangered fauna and an endangered ecological vegetation community
- Graeme Fleming of "Agbil Pty Ltd" in Alstonville
Restore, protect and maintain approx 40 ha of remnant and regrowth big scrub subtropical rainforest remnant under threat from invasive weeds and protect and maintain approx 8 ha of regenerated subtropical rainforest
- John and Lois Prior of "Cedar Ridge" in Condong
Weeding, revegetation and restoration work
- Claire Masters in Limpinwood
Maintain and improve conservation outcomes in 6 hectares of remnant vegetation in the headwaters of Worendo Creek
- Barbara Stewart of "Nemarotu" in Mullumbimby
Weed control and seed collection
