“Swamped by Threats” is a new project which aims to protect several threatened species with a focus on the giant dragonfly and the Blue Mountains water skink.
Almost $750,000 of funding has been allocated over the first six years of the project to protect threatened species of upland swamps.
In addition, the partner organisations have committed to contributing more than $1.1 million over the 10 years.
Work will occur in priority swamps in two key locations for the species, on the Newnes Plateau near Lithgow and in the Mountains between Hazelbrook and Blackheath. These unique swamps provide a number of other important environmental benefits including clean and healthy waterways.
The swamps, and the species that rely on them, are fragmented and highly vulnerable to a threats like climate change, stormwater run-off, feral animals, weed invasion and inappropriate fire regimes.
The project will address these threats and more and improve the condition of the swamps through erosion control, stormwater management, access management, weed and pest animal control and monitoring. How the species are tracking and the impact of these threats will also be studied.
The Central Tablelands Local Lands Services will take a lead role working with project partners including the Office of Environment and Heritage, Environmental Trust, Blue Mountains City Council, Lithgow City Council, Greater Sydney Local Lands Services, Forestry Corporation, National Local Land Services, Parks and Wildlife Service and Lithgow and Oberon Landcare Association.
They will also consult regularly with species experts, Dr Ian Baird, Professor Rick Shine and PhD student Sarsha Gorissen.
Mr Peter Sparkes, general manager of Central Tablelands Local Land Services, said: “Being able to plan for 10 years provides a fantastic opportunity for us to make a real change for the swamps and the species that rely on them. These sorts of opportunities don’t come along very often so we are committed to making it work.
Senior land service officer, Huw Evans, said, the project would build on some of the fantastic work that has already been done across the project area.
“Blue Mountains City Council have a strong ‘Swampcare’ volunteer network and have previously implemented multi-award winning 'Save our Swamps' project. We will continue to support this established network and re-invigorate the volunteer network on the Newnes Plateau in partnership with Lithgow City Council and Landcare.”
