Natural Environment Protection, Enhancement: On-Ground Works

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Winner Division B, Overall Winner

Clarence Valley Council: Caring for our Coastal Emu - partnerships to protect the endangered population
With fewer than 50 Coastal Emus estimated remaining in the wild, Clarence Valley Council identified a range of collaborative approaches to protect its endangered population. 

A key focus was reducing the risk of vehicle strikes at emu crossing points, including a 7km section of Brooms Head Road at Taloumbi. Driver awareness of the presence of coastal emus was increased through speed limit reductions, fencing trials on reserve boundaries, and installation of dedicated vehicle activated signs. 

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Winner Division A

Muswellbrook Shire Council: Rehabilitation of Muscle Creek for community and environmental benefit
The rehabilitation of Muscle Creek transformed the once deteriorated waterway into a thriving environment with improved local habitat.

About 3,200 native seedlings were planted with a survival rate of over 90%, and weed cover was reduced from 70% to less than 20%. Workshops and presentations improved community awareness of the ecosystem and the benefits of restoring native habitat.

Winner Division C

Penrith City Council: Fish habitat restoration through effective re-snagging techniques
To increase populations of endemic fish, the fish habitat restoration project reinstated coarse woody debris, such as logs and root balls, back into the Nepean River system.

Trees were repurposed from a road upgrade project to provide structural components necessary for habitat restoration. Algae, fungi and other microbes colonise wood surfaces, providing the foundations of the food web that supports native fish species.

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