Who we are

The Manning Coastcare Group (MCCG) works on public lands from Crowdy Head in the north to Hallidays Point in the south. Our aim is to restore native vegetation along the coastal wildlife and habitat corridor – not necessarily to a weed-free state! More so, to achieve a state where natural regenerative processes are ‘winning the battle’ against weed infestations.

Manning Point Coastline (photo GTCC)

In the beginning

The MCCG was started in 1996 and members came from existing Dunecare and Landcare groups in the local area to work on public land along the Manning coastline on the mid-north coast of NSW. MCCG soon broadened our approach to coastal corridor vegetation management by sharing knowledge and resources, targeting significant vegetation remnants, and expanding targets over time to cover 80% of the 40 km long coastline from Crowdy Head.to Hallidays Point.

Diamond Beach to Hallidays Point (photo GTCC)

Our primary tasks 

• Investigated and surveyed environmental weeds at 51 sites
• Extended restoration to all Littoral Rainforest remnants
• Prepared a survey in 1998 on Asparagaceae and other environmental weeds

Restoration Action Plans

• Developed Restoration Action Plans
• The Plans cover eight areas of Littoral Rainforest
• Regeneration work started in 1998
• Manning Coastcare obtained funding, and coordinated contract regenerators and volunteer workers
• Worked closely with Greater Taree City Council and the NSW Department of Natural Resourcesr

Continuing work 

• Restoring native vegetation along the coastal wildlife and habitat corridor
• Implementing the Restoration Action Plans and expanding them beyond their original scope
• Success due to persistence and continuity of the Group’s membership

New Project at Crowdy Head

A new work site for the Group - Themeda Grassland on Crowdy Head – an ‘endangered ecological community’ listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act .

Crowdy Head (photo by D Gerrand)

Inspecting the Crowdy Head site (photo by D Gerrand)

Working with government

• Regular monthly meetings are important
• Manning Coastcare works with:

Funding

• 19 grants received since 1996
• Total cash grants of $$579,089
• Total community in-kind contributions of $3,552,510
• From 2006, will receive $187,000 over 5 years under a Land Management Tender to continue work in high conservation value vegetation
• Work will extend to the NSW Endangered Ecological Community Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands

What's ahead

• The NSW CMA grant of $187,000 over 5 years will secure Manning Coastcare’s viability
• Will re-resurvey the original 51 sites to determine weed extent and diversity
• Will identify and evaluate new and emerging weed threats such as Gloriosa superba(Glory Lily) and Juncus acutus (Spike Rush)
• Will document our progress over the last 10 years and plan our approach for the next 5 years

Innovation

Developed innovative approaches to support volunteers by funding:

• Contract bush regenerators who control priority weeds and assist and train community volunteers across all sites
• A project officer for over-50s volunteers who work two days per week under an agreement with Centrelink. The project involved  over-50s volunteers working in groups at four sites, providing  continuity and resources to accelerate the control of Bitou Bush, and to–re-establish Council's nursery to provide plants for Coastcare, Bushcare and Landcare.

About the Manning Coastline

The Manning Coastline includes the towns of Crowdy Head, Harrington, Manning Point, Old Bar, Wallabi Point, Saltwater Beach, and Hallidays Point.

For more information on the Manning Valley area, visit:

• Greater Taree City Council - http://www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au/
• Hunter Central Rivers CMA - http://www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au/
• Manning Valley Tourist Information Centre - www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=69

For more information on the work of CoastCare, visit the Australian Goverments Natural Resource Management website  for a mosaic map article on Manning Coastcare Group Project  and other coastal projects - www.nrm.gov.au/projects/nsw/hcen/2006-09.html

Harrington Coastline (photo GTCC)