1

A case study of The Redhead Coastal Corridor Project

REDHEAD BEACH Project Partners: • Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Centre (Lake Macquarie City Council and

Lake Macquarie Landcare Network Inc.)

• Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood

• Redhead Bluff Landcare Group

• Redhead Care Landcare Group & Freshwater Creek Landcare Group

View of site from Redhead Bluff, form cliff top to Redhead Beach SLSC and Redhead Care Landcare site

2

A Case Study of The Redhead Coastal Corridor Project

REDHEAD BEACH Project Partners:

• Lake Macquarie Landcare Resource Centre (Lake Macquarie City Council and Lake Macquarie Landcare Inc.)

• Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood

• Redhead Bluff Landcare Group

• Redhead Care Landcare Group & Freshwater Creek Landcare Group

Lake Macquarie Lake Macquarie has mountains with forests and waterfalls, extensive beaches, and a spectacular lake. The lake is a large coastal estuarine lake of 22 km length (N-S), 10 km width, an area of approximately 110 square km, and a catchment area of 605 square km. The lake contains 12 major, and many more minor, estuarine creek zones where freshwater tributaries interface with the saline body of the lake. These areas support a wide range of habitats and uses including nature conservation, recreation, residential and commercial development and rural activities. As a result, the natural environment has suffered a high degree of modification and degradation.

Aerial view of Redhead C1995 (Image: LMCC Historic Photos)

3

REDHEAD LOCALITY MAP

About Redhead Redhead, the traditional land of the Awabakal people, is located in Lake Macquarie City and is part of the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is a secluded coastal community situated 15 minutes from Newcastle and two hours from Sydney. Redhead is bounded by natural geographic features including the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Awabakal Nature Reserve to the north, Jewells Wetland to the west and Belmont Lagoon to the south. The neighbourhood contains a dynamic village, which is characterised by its beach and outdoor lifestyle. Features include Redhead Beach which stretches ‘Nine Miles’ down to Blacksmiths Beach in the south and the Fernleigh Track Cycleway which connects the community to Belmont in the south and Newcastle CBD in the north. Redhead attracts national and international visitors. The Redhead area contains seven of the City’s nine ecosystem types including forest, woodland, heath, wetlands, ocean, coast and waterways. As is the case with most urban bushland areas, the natural assets of the Redhead neighbourhood area are deeply treasured by residents but are unfortunately under considerable pressure. These pressures are brought about by disturbance, disconnection and a range of modern day living activities.

Map courtesy of Google Earth

North

Redhead Coastal Corridor Project Site

Redhead Bluff Landcare Site

Freshwater Ck Landcare Site

Redhead Care Landcare Site

REDHEAD

4

Redhead was founded on a rich history of coal mining. Collieries operated from late 1880’s to January 1992. Three Colliery buildings are standing today in Redhead Grange Estate, protected by a heritage order. Much of Redhead sits on a maze of underground tunnels created during this coal mining era. The Belmont Railway line, now the Fernleigh Track, connected the Colliery to Newcastle City. Community research indicates that the preservation of the natural environment is the single biggest environmental issue for Redhead residents. Key issues include weeds and feral animals, dune degradation, waterway pollution, irresponsible pet ownership and illegal dumping. Research suggests that sustainable homes and sustainable living are important to Redhead’s residents.

The Redhead Coastal Corridor Project – Redhead Beach The Redhead Coastal Corridor Project is a Landcare project and the brainchild of Brian Hilton who is the Team Leader of Redhead Bluff Landcare group.

This project aims to carry out planting of a living fence of native vegetation that runs along side the edge of the Redhead Beach Surf Life Saving Club car park in a strip approximately 10 metres wide.

This planting will create a vegetation corridor that, once established, will act to connect the natural area of Redhead bluff with the bushland of Webb Park. The corridor would help with the migration of native birds and animals between these two natural areas and would act to connect the Awabakal Reserve to the Belmont Wetlands and State Park south of Redhead.

View of the Redhead Coastal Corridor project site from Redhead Bluff (Image: D. Hilder)

Extent of work

5

The Redhead bluff is home to a variety of birds such as Brown and King Quail, Honey Eaters, Superb Blue Wren and Variegated Wren. It is also habitat for ground dwelling mammals such as Long-nosed Bandicoot, Northern Brown Bandicoot, New Holland Mouse, and Spotted-tail Quoll. These birds and animals are dependant on shrub and ground cover vegetation to allow them to avoid predators. This includes both native predators such as falcon and kestrel and introduced predators such as foxes, dogs, and cats.

The planting would be of low-growing native coastal plants that would not interfere with views, would be consistent with surrounding plant communities, and would require minimal watering or maintenance.

Considering the size of the project, the preparation and planting will be carried out in stages through spring and summer 2011. The Landcare Resource Centre and the LMCC’s Sustainability Department will be supporting this project; however, community involvement would be very strongly welcomed.

Malurus cyaneus - Superb Fairy-wren, male. (Birds in Backyards Image: K Vang and W Dabrowka ©)

Regent Honeyeater Xanthomiza phrygia (NSW Threatened Species Image: Chris Tzeros)

October 2011: The area to be planted in stage one extends from the steps leading down from Beach Road across to the base of the cliffs as a10 m wide strip. (Image: D. Hilder)

6

REDHEAD COASTAL CORRIDOR SITE MAP

North

Redhead SLSC

Beach Car Park

Redhead Coastal Corridor Project site

Beach Road

Map courtesy of Google Earth

Stage 2

Top Car Park

Stage 1

Redhead Bluff site

Freshwater Creek site

Redhead Care site

Cross Section

Plan

Sketch: Maree Edwards

7

Redhead Coastal Corridor Project -

Restoring a Coastal Wildlife

Corridor 2011 The proposal is to plant a “living fence” of native coastal plants to link the wildlife corridors from Awabakal Nature Reserve and Redhead Bluff to the Webb Park/Cain Street natural areas and then Belmont Wetlands State Park. The “living fence” will be planted at the base of the slope near the Redhead Surf Life Saving Club car park.

Shrubs Acacia myrtifolia - Red-stemmed Wattle,

Myrtle-leafed Wattle

Breynia oblongifolia - Coffee Bush

Correa alba - Coastal Correa

Correa reflexa - Correa

Lasiopetalum ferrugineum var ferrugineum

- Rusty Petals

Leucopogon parviflorus - Coastal Beard Heath

Melaleuca thymifolia - Thyme-leafed Paperbark

Corea alba - Coastal Correa (Image: © ANBG)

Melaleuca thymifolia - Thyme-leafed Paperbark (Image: T. M. Tame ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Leucopogon parviflorus - Coastal Beard Heath (Image: © ANBG)

Acacia myrtifolia - Red-stemmed Wattle (Image: © ANBG)

8

Clematis aristata - Old Man’s Beard (Image: D. Hilder)

Pelargonium australe - Coastal Geranium (Image: D. Hardin ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Westringia fruticosa - Coastal Rosemary (Image: D. Hilder)

Myoporum boninense - Coastal Boobiala

Pelargonium australe - Coastal Geranium

Persoonia lanceolata - Geebung

Pimelia linifolia - Slender Riceflower

Pittosporum revolutum - Rough-fruited

Pittosporum

Westringia fruticosa - Coastal Rosemary

Vines/Creepers Billardiera scandens - Appleberry

Calystegia soldanella - Calystegia

Clematis aristata - Old Man’s Beard

Myoporum boninese - Coastal boobiala (Image: D. Hardin ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

9

Geitenoplesium cymosum - Scrambling Lily

Glycine clandestina - Love Creeper

Hibbertia scandens - Golden Guinea Flower,

Snake Vine

Pandorea pandorana - Wonga Wonga Vine

Ferns/Groundcovers Actinotus helianthi - Flannel Flower

Carpobrotus glaucescens - Pigface

Commelina cyanea - Scurvy Weed

Dianella caerulea - Blue Flax Lily

Hibbertia scandens - Golden Guinea flower (Image: T.M. Tame ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Carpobrotus glaucescens - Pigface (Image: D. Hilder)

Actinotus helianthi - Flannel Flower (Image: T.M. Tame ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Dianella caerulea - Blue Flax Lily (Image: D. Hilder)

10

Viola hederacea - Native Violet (PlantNet Image: ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Dichelachne micrantha - Long Hair

Plume Grass

Geranium homeanum - Cranesbill

Isolepis nodosa - Nodding Club Rush

Lomandra longifolia - Coastal Mat Rush

Scaevola albida - Pale Fan Flower

Themeda australis - Kangaroo Grass

Viola hederacea - Native Violet

Geranium homeanum - Cranesbill (Image: L. von Richter ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Scaevola albida - Pale Fan Flower (Image: D. Hardin ©The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust)

Lomandra longifolia - Coastal Mat Rush, at Redhead Bluff (Image: D. Hilder)

11

Existing Landcare sites in the Redhead area

Other Landcare Sites in the Redhead area that will link with the Redhead Coastal Corridor Project:

1. Freshwater Creek Landcare The site is located between Allard Street and Alison Street, Redhead in the Freshwater creek sub-catchment

Vegetation Community: LHCCREMS MU33 (with additions of Eucalyptus robusta, Melaleuca quinquenervia & Glochidion ferdinandi around creekline)

Overall Site Description: The site is a 7(2) riparian reserve and identified minor wildlife corridor linking Awabakal Nature Reserve with the Redhead coastal zone and Jewell’s Wetland system to the south. The reserve is also a proposed pedestrian link in the Coastline Management Plan between the Cain Street pathway/ Ken and Audrey Owens boardwalk at Webb Park, and the clifftop walk through Awabakal Nature Reserve. The Plan of Management for Redhead Beach and Redhead Bluff sets out the following priorities for Freshwater Creek:

• maintenance as a natural area,

• maintenance and enhancement of water quality role and investigation of source of high bacterial levels in discharges to First Creek,

• maintenance of access along Collier Street between Redhead Bluff and the former Lambton Colliery buildings and the Fernleigh Track,

• provision for Coastal Walk between Redhead Bluff and the Beach.

October 2011: View from Allard Street, looking east, showing the Freshwater Creek riparian reserve linking to Redhead Beach.

12

There are two distinct native vegetation communities on the site: the immediate creekline community of Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany, Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leafed Paperbark, Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese Tree, Gahnia sp., Phragmites, etc. and the surrounding vegetation on both slopes with Angophora costata Sydney Red Gum, Banksia integrifolia Coastal Banksia, Banksia serrata Old Man Banksia, Duboisia myoporoides Corkwood, Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum and Allocasuarina littoralis Coastal Sheoak, etc.

2. Redhead CARE Landcare The site is located off Cain Street, Redhead, in the sub-catchments of First and Second Creek, Redhead Beach.

Vegetation Community: LHCCREMS MU34 (off Cain Street), MU37 (in small wetland section off Cain Street), MU50 (hind dunes) & MU53 (beach/primary dune).

Overall Site description: Redhead CARE Landcare is a well-established, well-organised group who has facilitated many projects on the site. As well as bush regeneration, dune stabilisation, revegetation and site maintenance, the group has involved itself in a network of pathways, boardwalk, wetland bridge, and viewing platform projects. The site has a mosaic of vegetation communities – wetland with Melaleuca quinquenervia and rushland, revegetated dune paddocks and Leptospermum laevigatum Coastal Tea Tree restructured hind dunes.

There is a Plan of Management and an LMCC Landscape Plan which outlines the management areas on the site which is also relevant to Webb Park.

October 2011: View from the George Stanton Lookout, looking North-east to Redhead Beach site and Redhead Bluff above.

13

There are also two comprehensive Case studies of this site:

• Redhead Beach - Redhead CARE (September 2007)

• Redhead Beach Splatter Gun Trial August 2008 (November 2008)

Target Weeds/Pests:

Bitou; Green Cestrum; Lantana; Madeira Vine; Rabbits in Webb Park.

3. Redhead Bluff Landcare The site is located off Ocean Street, Redhead and is bounded by the Tasman Sea.

Vegetation Community: LHCCREMS MU51 Coastal headland Complex

Endangered Ecological Community: Themeda grasslands on seacliffs and coastal headlands in NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and SE Corner Bioregions. Overall site description: The site is a cliff-top reserve variously mapped as Natural Area- Bushland, Natural Area - Escarpment and Park on the Community Land Plans. The reserve is zoned 7(4) Environmental - Coastline, adjoins Awabakal Nature Reserve (zoned 8) to the north. The northern section of the reserve adjoining Awabakal Nature Reserve was fired (Summer 2002) and most of the site is regenerating well with a good cover of Acacia longifolia, Acacia sophorae, Kennedia rubicunda, Breynia oblongifolia, Leptospermum laevigatum, Polymeria calycina and Gahnia sp. Banksia integrifolia. The group has been targeting

October 2011: View from Redhead Bluff looking south, Freshwater Creek in the foreground is the northern boundary of the site, which extends south to the next creek and small wetlands off Cain street.

14

October 2011: Redhead Bluff off Iluka Street, an island of Coastal Banksia - Banksia integrifolia, where the group is interplanting with Lomandra longifolia. (Image: D. Hilder)

the Bitou on site, and this is working well in the northern section with the majority of vegetation cover now native. Other weeds on site are Gazania, African Daisy, Cassia and Buffalo Grass. The section of the site south from Iluka Street is more problematic with Bitou dominating much of the site, and occasional “islands” of native plants including Banksia integrifolia, Rapanea variabilis, Lomandra longifolia, Kennedia rubicunda, Glochidion ferdinandi, Monotoca elliptica, Leptospermum laevigatum and Themeda australis. The long-term goal is to remove weed species from these “islands”, and to gradually expand and link up these areas on the clifftop. Carl Fulton, Landcare Vegetation Officer

Landcare in Lake Macquarie Landcare activities in Lake Macquarie are supported by the Lake Macquarie Landcare Network. The Network includes Lake Macquarie Landcare Incorporated (LMLN) and thousands of dedicated and committed community volunteers, and the Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) which provides project support through the Landcare Resource Office (LRO). The LRO and the new Landcare Resource Centre (LRC) provides resources, expert advice, bush regeneration assistance, and other professional support to assist landcarers to undertake natural resource rehabilitation and maintenance on sites throughout the city.

If you would like to get involved in Landcare in Lake Macquarie or would like more information please contact the LRO on 4921 0392 or email lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au or visit www.lakemacquarielandcare.org

15

21 October 2011: A Landcare Bush Regenerator spraying the area in Stage 1 to kill grass and weeds

before mulching and planting can commence. (Image: Lake Macquarie Landcare)

References • History of Redhead, Lake Mac Infohunt.

www.lakemac.infohunt.nsw.gov.au/library/lhist/suburb/lmp&p/Redhead

• Plants & line drawings - Australian National Botanic Garden/PlantNet www.plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

• Redhead Sustainable neighbourhood - About Redhead, Living Fence Plan www.sustainableredhead.wordpress.com

Banksia integrifolia - Coastal banksia, growing at the base of Redhead Bluff, adjoining the site, Note the Bitou which will be removed. (Image: D. Hilder)

A remnant Casuarina survives on the site. New plantings will be lower growing native plants that would not interfere with views from the car park in Beach Road. (Image: D. Hilder)

16

LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL

Landcare Resource Centre Toronto Road, Teralba, NSW 2284

Postal Address: PO Box 3031 TERALBA NSW 2284 Phone: (02) 4921 0392

Email: lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au www.lakemacquarielandcare.org

Produced at the Landcare Resource Office,

November 2011

Images courtesy of:

Lake Macquarie Landcare, LMCC & Belmont Lagoon Committee Landcare

Denis Hilder of Landcare Resource Centre 2011

Weeds: Attack of the Killer Weeds - Land & Water Conservation Pub. 1998

Resources Publications such as the Lake Macquarie Coastal Planting Guide (LMCC), Attack of the Killer Weeds (Coastcare), Weeds of the Hunter and Central Coast (Weeds Committee Information Booklet), Foreshore Stabilisation and Rehabilitation Guidelines (LMCC) and Native Plant of Weed, Pick the Difference, Volumes 1 & 2 (Ann Loughran) and Restoring Natural Areas in Australia (Robin Buchanan), are some of the documents used by volunteers throughout Lake Macquarie in protecting our natural areas. In addition, the Community Support Information Pack produced by Lake Macquarie City Council and the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority is available in limited hardcopy and CD format covering a wide range of resources used in natural resource management in Lake Macquarie.

Contacts If you wish to know more about this and other projects in Lake Macquarie, please contact the Landcare Resource Office on 4921 0392. LML’s website www.lakemacquarielandcare.org can provide links to newsletters, environmental programs, grants, Landcare, weeds and trees.