Protect Your Big Old Paddock Trees

Funding is available now for landholders in the Lithgow Oberon region to protect their mature hollow bearing paddock trees through stock proof fencing.

The Lithgow Oberon Landcare Association (LOLA) is seeking expressions of interest from landholders to conduct on-ground works to protect mature hollow bearing paddock trees.

“This project will increase habitat for threatened species in the Lithgow Oberon region by safeguarding mature, hollow bearing trees and increasing the connectivity of these mature trees to other isolated paddock trees and clusters,” said Richard Stephens, Lithgow Oberon Landcare Coordinator.

“Mature, hollow bearing trees are particularly important for those species of animals, including many threatened species, which specifically require hollows for shelter and nesting on either a daily or seasonal basis,” explained Mr Stephens.

Threatened species in the Lithgow Oberon region targeted by this project include the Powerful Owl, Superb Parrot, Glossy Black Cockatoo and possums such as the Squirrel Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider and Greater Glider. The targeted mature tree species include White box, Yellow Box, Blakely’s Red Gum and Grassy Box.

Funding of up to $1,000 per mature hollow bearing tree is available to pay a fencing contractor to supply and install a fence around a single mature hollow bearing tree with a minimum protection area of 30m x 30m.

Multiple mature, hollow bearing trees within a cluster or paddock corner may also be eligible for funding of up to $1,000 per mature, hollow bearing tree as long the fencing around the protected area is outside the drip line of existing trees.

Note that funding for boundary fencing is not eligible and each protected area must be excluded from grazing for at least five, preferably ten, years. Conventional fencing is preferred with a minimum of 6 wire strands.

Expressions of interest are required by Tuesday 23 April 2019 and require tree locations to be identified, relevant photos along with a brief description of the proposed hollow bearing tree protection plan.

“Old, mature paddock trees and other small patches of native vegetation are critically important to the conservation of native fauna, by providing resources for foraging, shelter, roosting and nesting,” claimed Mr Stephens.

For more information and/or for a copy of the expression of interest form, please contact Richard Stephens – Landcare Coordinator on 6354 9999 or email [email protected]