NSW Environmental Trust grant works commence to protect historic precinct and headlands at Seal Rocks
Two prominent headlands at Seal Rocks, in Myall Lakes National Park containing threatened vegetation communities will benefit from a rehabilitation grant from the NSW Environmental Trust.
The $95,000 grant, over 3 years, will see the restoration and rehabilitation of the historic precinct of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse and EEC vegetation communities on Treachery Headland at Seal Rocks.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger, Rachel Kempers said this grant will build on current weed programs at Seal Rocks to protect the Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs) of Littoral Rainforest and Themeda Grasslands on Treachery and Sugarloaf headlands.
“The noxious weed Madeira Vine will continue to be treated within the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse historic precinct,” Ms Kempers said. “Madeira vine is a vigorous climber which can produce thousands of aerial tubers along its stem and causes serious damage to the native environments it invades. “The grant will assist treatment and management of the historic precinct and cultural landscape of the Sugarloaf Point headland.
“The themeda grasslands are found on headlands, including Treachery Headland at Seal Rocks, and with the added pockets of littoral rainforest, this headland is a stunning example of the recovery of endangered vegetation communities,” said Ms Kempers.
“The grant will fund the next step in protecting the EECs on the headland at Seal Rocks targeting weed species including: winter senna, blackberry, lantana, bitou and kikyu grass.
A public information session planned for mid-2016, will provide an opportunity for interested residents, bush regeneration volunteers and industry professionals to gain an insight into the unique headlands at Seal Rocks.
For further information, or to be kept up to date on this grant, call NPWS Great Lakes Area on 02 6591 0300.
Weed contractor – Dingo Creek Rainforest Nursery. This team (lead by Peter and Kym Gollum) has been working around seal rocks village as part of the NSW Biodiversity grant over the past 2 years. Most recent works are the bitou treatment on the hill to the west of the Seal Rocks Holiday Park and the rainforest to the south of the park. So watch out around Treachery Headland and the lighthouse precinct for more weed works to improve the endangered vegetation communities over the next 3 years.