Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Restoring health to Quamby Brook
Native grass has improved after willow removal
Willow stumps along Quamby Brook
Ian Gatenby and Glen Neill check growth on threatened species gynatric palchella
Northern Tasmania's Quamby Brook in isolation might just seem like a brook - but take a step back and you'll see it's a tributary of the Meander River, which is a tributary of South Esk, which is a tributary of the Tamar.
Suddenly, little Quamby Brook in the Meander Valley is important. When the state deemed it 'the worst degraded stream in the state' in its 1996 State of the Rivers Health Report, people sat up and noticed.
This was a catalyst for three local landcare groups along the length of the waterway banding together for a whole of catchment rescue effort.
Funding
The team received about $73,000 through the NRM North Regional Group from the Australian Government, along with additional support from the State Government.
Activities
Glenn Neill of Quamby Bend Landcare said all landholders who had streamside farms were involved.
"The whole length of the brook is about 30 kilometres long and we've cleared most of the willows. We've still got to tackle three kilometres downstream from Westbury township but over the past seven years the major willow problem has been removed."
The ground-force from local landholders was already strong - from cattle farmers to cherry growers - but this was bolstered further by poppy producer Tasmanian Alkaloids and later, local school children. All three landcare groups and their projects came together under one umbrella and as a catchment, they coordinated a development plan.
"Too many willows meant the waterway was so shaded and polluted that the quality of the water had very little oxygen and very little aquatic life," Glenn explained. "Particularly when the willows dropped in the stream in autumn, the rotting vegetation matter took too much of the oxygen out of the water."
Achievements
Today, mayfly and caddis fly larvae, which were completely absent in 1996, have now returned to the Quamby. In a recent river health survey Quamby Brook moved up to a 'C' rating, showing improvement since the 1996 State of the Rivers report gave it the lowest score of any Meander watercourse in most categories.
"Now platypus and native water fowl use the brook, they're obviously finding enough food in it to keep them there and that to me is wonderful," Glenn said, as his grandchildren pop in for a visit. "It's a lovely part of the country and one day they'll get to enjoy all of this."
More information
- James McKee: (03) 6333 7772 or jmckee@nrmnorth.org.au
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