2022 National Landcare Conference

Research Coordinator Luke Peel has presented a summary of the scientific monitoring results from the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative at the National Landcare Conference in Sydney, as he explored how the MRI is rebuilding catchment-scale ecosystem function and resilience by restoring hydrological processes in waterways and associated floodplains.

The Mulloon Rehydration Initiative is jointly funded through the Mulloon Institute and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and is supported by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust.

L-R: Research Coordinator Luke Peel, CEO Managing Director Carolyn Hall and Mulloon Consulting General Manager Jono Forrest.

Restoring hydrological processes in the catchment helps regenerate the waterways, riparian zones, floodplains and wetlands that support critical biodiversity corridors and habitat for aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Increased water storage in the broader landscape supports plants and animals for both environmental outcomes and farm productivity, especially when combined with management actions that incorporate a landscape function or integrated systems approach.

Since launching, the MRI rollout has progressively improved the creek’s water levels and quality allowing native flora and fauna to flourish during the extreme 2017–2020 drought. The project has also improved communication and knowledge sharing between landholders, who actively help with fencing the creek, volunteer planting days, scientific monitoring and allowing various Landcare groups to visit, learn and see the positive effects of rehydrating waterways and associated floodplains and wetlands to significantly improve biodiversity and water quantity and quality for immediate and downstream users.

Results

The presentation highlighted increasing trends in flora and fauna since the MRI began, including:

  • Good improvement in habitat, cover and native plants along the riparian corridor.

  • Increased diversity and frequency of frog species detected, in contrast to a general decline in the surrounding region.

  • Good response from native fish to the rehydration works.

  • No sightings of invasive mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) above the well-established leaky weir sites at the pilot project.

  • Confirmed sightings of threatened and rare birds during the extreme 2018 drought.

    • threatened species Flame and Scarlet Robins

    • rare Red-browed Finch and Eastern Yellow Robin

    • rare Red-capped Robins, which usually occur west of the Great Dividing Range.

  • Sightings of platypus and water rats.

Further details of the scientific monitoring results can be accessed here.

We acknowledge the traditional owners, the Yuin people, on whose land the MRI is taking place. We also acknowledge that without the permission, support and participation of all the landholders along the length of Mulloon Creek and its tributaries, this project simply would not have happened.

Conference highlights

Highlights of the conference included keynote speakers Prof Mark Howden (ANU), Hon Penny Wensley AC National Soils Advocate and Senator the Hon Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment and Water.

Of special note was the specific recognition given to First Nations people’s knowledge and application of caring for Country. There where so many great presentations, including the keynote talk from Victor Steffenson of the Firesticks Alliance and the associated film produced by TMI collaborator Suzannah Cowley from Nviro Media.

A personal highlight for Luke was discussing TMI’s important work with Costa Georgiadis and inviting him to visit to Mulloon soon.

Also representing TMI at the event were CEO Managing Director Carolyn Hall, COO Kathy Kelly and Mulloon Consulting’s General Manager Jono Forrest.

Kelly Thorburn