Darwin Urban
Casuarina Coastal Reserve Landcare Group
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| Tiwi Creek tree planting |
This group has been working for the last four years on a weed control and revegetation project in the reserve. The main project has been rehabilitating and extending the riparian vegetation along a tributary of Sandy Creek. This includes rehabilitating the monsoon rainforest interface with the open reserve by removing weeds, creating fire buffers and encouraging regeneration.
It aims to sustain and encourage a greater diversity of plants and animal life. The group works closely with the Parks and Wildlife rangers and hopes to build on its local community support by encouraging greater participation by residents in landcare activities.
Coastcare Darwin
Coastcare Darwin has recently been formed to cover the Darwin region in general. The initial Sign Up Day at the East Point Reserve attracted about 25 volunteers from varying backgrounds with lots of coastal interest and enthusiasm. For a start, the group is helping others with their projects. These include mangrove monitoring with NRETA and some potential projects with NTU.
The group is planning to carry out revegetation projects along the Darwin foreshore. Other potential projects include dugong, turtle and seabird counts, awareness programs, as well as beach clean up. The group needs help, ideas, support and suggestions, as well as participation of those interested in doing something for the Darwin coasts.
Duke Street Rainforest Landcare Group
Formed in 1997 this group has been working to preserve a small patch of monsoon rainforest in the heart of Darwin.
The group successfully lobbied to have the forest rezoned to O3 (Conservation) to ensure its long-term protection. Darwin City Council has assisted by installing a gross pollutant trap to reduce the amount of water-borne litter washing into the forest.
Local businesses have improved their wash down practices after requests from the group. The group has removed large quantities of rubbish, replanted the margins of the forest and continues to control weeds that seed into the forest. The group has recently published an information brochure and is seeking to construct a path and boardwalk through the forest.
Gwalwa Daraniki Association
This association is rehabilitating a coastal monsoon vine forest at Hermies beach. The remnant vegetation here is one of the few remaining patches of pristine coastal monsoon forest in the region. Significant areas of weed infested degraded land have been revegetated. Fencing, seed collecting, plant propagation, tree planting, weed control and fire control have been the core activities.
The group has also carried out some coastal stabilisation work in eroded areas. The group’s nursery provides locally provenanced plants for their own work and other projects. The project is supported by Greening Australia’s Aboriginal Landcare Education Program.
Larrakia Nation Landcare Group
This indigenous group was formed in 1999 focusing on increased utilisation of Larrakia knowledge, including its recording and dissemination, in culturally appropriate resource management. They currently employ 17 CDEP staff and have a waiting list of 25 Larrakia people wanting to get involved. They have a new contract with Darwin International Airport to look after revegatation sites at Rapid Creek, as well as helping to manage fire, weeds and rubbish.
The group is also about to start a landscaping business utilising native plants with support by ATSIC and the NLC. They are involved in several Bushcare projects, the main one being the "Larrakia Bushtucker Garden" at the Royal Darwin Hospital. They are also continuing to work with Parks and Wildlife, participating in flora and fauna surveys in the local area.
Ludmilla Creek Landcare Group
The Ludmilla Creek catchment supports woodland, monsoon forest and mangrove communities. The group was formed to promote community involvement in the management of the catchment and won the NT Landcare Catchment Award in 1999.
The revised management plan will be published soon, following widespread public consultation on a draft.
The group has carried out extensive vegetation rehabilitation work using weed control followed by direct seeding and tree planting with locally occurring native species. A major new project is extension of award-winning revegetation work by Ludmilla Primary School to create an environment park at the headwaters of the creek. This will have special facilities to assist people with various disabilities to access, enjoy and learn from various creek habitats.
The group has actively sought to broaden its sources of financial support, which now include private and philanthropic sources as well as Federal and Territory Governments.
Rapid Creek Landcare Group
Rapid Creek Landcare Group supports a range of vegetation communities including mangroves, monsoon forests, swamps and woodland.
The group actively assists in revegetating the creek corridor between McMillans and Trower Roads with assistance from Greening Australia and Darwin City Council. They hold monthly working bees and get involved in community activities such as Clean Up Australia Day, World Environment Day, and Waterwatch. They have had input into planning issues such as the Rapid Creek Land Use Objectives and the proposed airport developments.
The group was involved in the development of the Rapid Creek Management Plan, 2000, and are represented on the Rapid Creek Catchment Advisory Committee.
