David Moore and Sue Olsson from Friends of Tomaree National Park, comparing the differences between Dianella and Buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) with Lower Hunter Landcare Coordinator Stacy Mail last week.
Who are the Landcare group the Friends of Tomaree National Park?
The Friends of Tomaree National Park began “changing the face of Tomaree – one step at a time” in November 2020. The group believes community action is important in contributing to the health, integrity and resilience of the park, now and for its future. Sue Olsson, FoTNP Coordinator explains, “We volunteer from the northern to the southern reaches of Tomaree National Park and now have four groups throughout the park. We try to work first with the ‘good’ areas, that is those with less weed invasion, so that we maximise the conservation value of larger areas for the same effort. We work in blocks, revisiting each block each 9-12 months to minimise flowering and ensure no seed generation.”
The FoTNP volunteers in the majority are local residents, who also bring their friends. Some are nature enthusiasts, but many just enjoy being outdoors and especially like doing something positive for the environment without needing a stack of knowledge. From time-to-time various external groups also help out. To hear from some of the FoTNP volunteers about what they do and why they enjoy what they’re doing, click here FoTNP YouTube, with thanks from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Central Tomaree / Boat Harbour group seaward of the steps on the headland at the southern end of Kingsley Beach
What have the Friends achieved so far?
The first place where the group started working was the centre block, between Zenith’s two beach access tracks, which is looking fabulous now. On the frontal dune, Dune Fan Flower Scaevola calendulacea and the Coastal Wattle Acacia sophorae thrive where Bitou was insidiously over-powering them. Behind the swale and in the hind-dunes, invasive Myrtle-leaf Milkwort, Polygala myrtifolia, and Bitou flourished. Thanks to the group’s consistent efforts, Coast Teatree, Gaudium laevigatum and Coastal Beard-heath Leucopogon parviflorus are now fighting back. Along with a couple of our more agile Friends of Tomaree, and with many thanks to some from the climbing fraternity, NSW Australian Climbing Association and Escape Eco-Adventures, the group had support in reaching Bitou even higher. Though there’s a long way to go upward that’s still too steep and out of reach.
Jo O’Brien team leader South Tomaree finds Turkey Rhubarb tubers at Fishermans Bay.
To learn more about the flora of Tomaree and how the groups are restoring it, see Kicking the milestones for Tomaree – EcoNetwork Port Stephens.
Sue Olsson explains the secret to their successes:
“Follow-up is the key to control, weeding out young plants or when not so small. While it may take about 5 or so years to exhaust seed stock (such as the Polygala and Bitou), in some locations like Zenith Beach we’re well over halfway to that goal. We actively plant using locally grown plants if natural regeneration has been minimal after a year or more. We also revegetate some areas for erosion management, education and aesthetic reasons, or if the site has been so heavily weed impacted for several years that regeneration is unlikely or weed grasses are a threat.”
Northern Tomaree group enjoy the atmosphere and its many hues at Zenith Beach
This March, a brand new group has started in the Fingal Bay area. They are working along the Tomaree Coastal Walk south of Barry Park. Friends Fingal Team Leader, David Moore described the aims of the new group, “Our focus initially is on halting the spread of Bitou directly around native plants so these are not smothered, before moving to denser patches where native plants have already died. It is exciting also to see new small plants uncovered under these smaller bitou patches, knowing that they may have otherwise been shaded out.”
Fingal group’s newest participant, Alison, was delighted to uncover a young banksia being overshadowed by Bitou
Neil Fraser tackles some larger Bitou bushes with the Fingal group. It may look like he’s laying down on the job, but after cutting and painting large bitou stems, it can sometimes be the easiest way out and up! Neil works with both the Fingal and North Tomaree groups.
Along the Tomaree Coastal Walk where the Fingal group work, the vegetation is quite diverse in just a small space, from coastal woodlands to more open heathy areas, loaded with views to enjoy along the way. From time-to-time you may even glimpse a pair of soaring sea eagles.
The Fingal group meets for a couple of hours on the 3rd Saturday and the 4th Friday each month. Anyone is welcome to participate here or with the other groups, casually or regularly.
Central Tomaree group rejuvenating bared areas after sea foam smothered and killed NPWS’s new plantings
The North group celebrating how the native plants expanded only weeks after surrounding bitou was sprayed
What have the groups got planned for this year?
The North Tomaree group will finish their annual maintenance checks at Zenith Beach, Tomaree Summit, and the northern end of Box Beach, while extending their management toward the southern end of Box Beach, as well as making inroads at Wreck Beach.
The Central Tomaree or Kingsley / Boat Harbour group will maintain their checks along Kingsley’s entrance area, beach and hind dunes, while gradually working south over the scenic headland toward Little Kingsley Beach. This group also supports the community events at the One Mile / Morna Point headland area.
Josephine O’Brien, the team leader at South Tomaree, describes her team’s goals for the year, “As well as maintaining our Fishermans Bay and headland areas, we are currently working our way north along the Tomaree Coastal Walk toward Little Kingsley Beach. We hope to meet up with the Central Tomaree group at Little Kingsley to celebrate Christmas or the New Year sometime. That’ll be a fantastic milestone!”
Anyone is welcome to join any of the bush regen sessions at any time and here is information about the times and locations: All our bush regeneration sessions: Friends of Tomaree National Park – EcoNetwork Port Stephens
To learn more about Tomaree National Park, its Aboriginal Heritage and environments visit: Tomaree National Park | Learn more | NSW National Parks.