Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Fencing project uncovers significant Aboriginal site
When John Headon found a carved River Gum tree on his property in Corrong, New South Wales, he didn't realise the significance of it. Aboriginals had carved a coolamon - a small, carrying dish - from the bark many years before.
Coolamons were used by females to collect fruit and leaves, and to grind seeds. The coolamon John found was carved from a tree that had been dead for years. The dish was approximately 40 by 20 centimetres and is estimated to have been carved about 100 years ago.
"I didn't even notice it," John said. "It takes a long time for these trees to grow out."
Funding
John discovered the tree while fencing off his river with a $7,500 grant from the Australian Government, which came through the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA) vegetation management program in 2005. The State Government has also provided support.
The aim of the project is to protect 185 hectares of river trees including Black Box and River Gums.
Activities
The tree is now protected, along with John's river banks, following the construction of a 2.2 kilometre long fence that borders the Lachlan River front on his property.
John originally had built an electric fence on the site, but it was difficult to maintain.
"You have to keep changing the batteries and checking it all the time," John said.
The benefits of the newly constructed fence include reduced grazing pressure, reduced streambank erosion and a sturdy, easily-maintained fence.
"I fenced about 500 metres - a kilometre and a half away from the river so the trees wouldn't fall on the fence. There are enough trees dying here without them falling down," John said.
"Initially I only grazed stock in the area for about four months over a two year period. And it was open slather down to the river, which wasn't good. The Lachlan CMA said they'd provide funding to fix it and this gave me peace of mind in terms of fire danger."
Under agreement with the Lachlan CMA, stock are able to "crash graze" the protected area to keep the grass down to a manageable level.
Achievements
Lachlan CMA officer Mark Leary said John's large-scale conservation project covers more than eight per cent of his 2,200 hectare property and is environmentally beneficial for the ongoing preservation of the Lachlan River.
More information
- Mark Leary, Lachlan CMA Officer: (02) 6972 2831
- Lachlan CMA website: www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au
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