Post bushfire research grant secured for rare flora

Published on 20 October 2021

Wingecarribee Shire Council has successfully secured a grant from the State Government to help monitor the recovery of rare and threatened flora species across the Shire’s bushfire impacted areas.

Council’s Director Communities and Place, Geoff King said the grant would assist Council and state government staff in protecting the Shire’s unique environment following the Black Summer bushfires.

“This funding will enable staff to undertake important statistical and survey work that will be used in the development of future conservation plans for rare plant species impacted by the bushfires,” he said.

“This will not only help our native bushland renew and recover following the bushfires but also encourage our unique fauna to return and thrive.”

Survey work and monitoring will involve searching for rare plants using historic sightings stored and referenced in the NSW Wildlife Atlas (BioNet).

Across the Wingecarribee Shire 10 plant species, including the Grevillea raybrownii, have been identified for inclusion in the post-bushfire program.

A total of $44,000 in funding was secured from the NSW Environmental Trust for the resilience-building program.

“I congratulate staff of Council for identifying and scoping this project and securing these all-important funds,” Mr King said.

“I also thank both the State Members for Goulburn and Wollondilly, Wendy Tuckerman and Nathaniel Smith, for supporting the proposal and advocating on Council’s behalf.”

Work on the ‘Wingecarribee Rare Flora Species Surveys’ project will commence in the 2021/22 financial year and will be undertaken in conjunction with Council’s existing Bushcare and Environment Levy program of works.