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2010 Landcare Week: 6–12 September and 2010 Coastcare Week: 6-12 December

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Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forrestry. National Landcare Program.

Community Care Groups

Community Care Groups > Coastcare

Coastcare

Please see the new www.coastcare.com.au

Coastcare is community volunteers caring for their coast.

Coastcare volunteers identify local environmental problems and work together to achieve practical solutions.

Coastcare and landcare groups tackle problems like dune erosion, loss of native plants and animals, storm water pollution, weeds and control of human access to sensitive areas.

Coastcare groups are revegetating dunes, building boardwalks and access paths, removing weeds and fencing dunes, as well as educating visitors and locals.

The Coastcare program provides opportunities for governments, community, business and interest groups to become actively involved in on ground works to protect and manage our coastal and marine environments.

About Coastcare
There are now more than 60,000 Coastcare volunteers working in more than 2000 Coastcare groups around Australia. The valuable work ofvolunteers is acknowledged each year in the Coastcare Awards and Coastcare Week is a national initiative heldin the firstweek of December each year to raise community awareness of coastal and marine issues.

Contacts
For general Coastcare enquiries contact Landcare Australia on (02) 9412 1040.

How do I contact my local Coastcare group?

Click here to search for your local coastal community group.

Links
50 Ways to Care for our Coast

State Government

Victorian Department for Sustainability and Environment

Other

Australian Marine Conservation Society

Marine and Coastal Community Network

Great Barrier Reef Marine Mark Authority

Reef Watch Victoria

Reef Watch South Australia

Sydney Coastal Councils Group

Australian Museum Fish Site

Surfrider Foundation Australia

Reef Check Australia

Surfing Australia - The Line Up Club

OceanWatch Australia

NPA - Harbourkeepers

WWF - Shorebird Conservation Toolkit

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme

Case Studies

NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Education/awareness raising, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: NT

Indigenous people are the ''front-line'' managers of Australia''s northern coast-a last stronghold for dugong and marine turtle in the world.

The NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project brings together Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders with scientists from across northern Australia to better manage and protect marine turtles and dugong.

Driven by Indigenous people, the Project has created new Indigenous Ranger programs and supported communities to combine Traditional Knowledge with modern research and training to undertake management activities such as mapping and monitoring populations and habitats, tracking turtle migrations by satellite, and developing turtle and dugong management plans.

The Project supports Indigenous people across the north to share knowledge and experience with each other and with other people around Australia and overseas through ranger exchanges and innovative communication tools like Message Disk - a DVD of audio-visual on-country stories by Indigenous rangers

Friends of Avalon Dunes

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: NSW

Avalon is a lovely beach town in the North Shore of Sydney. Its popular surf beach, considered a possible new location for the "Baywatch" show, was under threat of being washed away by the tide and blown away by the wind because the native vegetation, responsible for stabilising the magnificent dunes and beach structure was taken over by invasive weed. Friends of the Avalon Dunes, a group of local volunteers that had grown in the area, concerned about losing the incredible place that many Sydneysiders and tourists all over the world visit, sprung into action. Partnering with Coastcare, local council and state government they developed a model for dune restoration and weed removal, and today the Avalon dunes stand majestically at 22 meters high, protecting the beloved Avalon Beach for all of us to enjoy.

Joondalup Community Coast Care Forum Inc.

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Community development, Dune erosion
LOCATION: WA

Before 2000, dune brushing and revegetation projects around the City of Joondalup in Western Australia were carried out piecemeal by schools and other volunteer groups. The Joondalup Community Coast Care Forum Inc was formed to lobby the City of Joondalup to prepare a management plan for the entire 16 kilometres of coastal reserve within the council boundaries. The council allocated $150 000 per year for the foreshore reserve and the group has worked ever since on restoring the native vegetation through its own innovative and holistic approach. The group has occasionally gone into battle with the council to protect certain areas of the reserve and have built a relationship of mutual respect. The Joondalup Community Coast Care Forum has recently been contracted by the land developer, Satterley Group, to manage vegetation on a bushland reserve associated with a new coastal housing project - raising funds that are going back into its core business.

Sarina Landcare

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: QLD

The Mackay-Whitsunday region of Queensland, is the holiday capital of Australia, with its white sand beaches, beautiful blue ocean and warm weather.

All this attention has had a price, as dune areas have suffered from overuse and environmental neglect, threatening the very beaches that are so famous and bring prosperity to the area.The Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA) in partnership with Sarina Shire Council and the local communities, identified that something had to be done and began a monitoring program for each of the beaches- learning in the process that the coastal dunes were important habitats for marine turtles and birds. The effort has produced management guidelines which ensure the revegetation and protection of these sensitive areas and engaged people from across the beach communities, encouraging pride and responsibility in the ongoing protection of their coastal environment.

Australian Seabird Rescue

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Ballina, NSW

Based in Ballina on the far north coast of NSW, Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) is a team of volunteer specialists focussed on the welfare of seabirds, waterbirds and marine turtles and the reduction of human impact on their habitats.

Balcombe Estuary Coastcare

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Indigenous heritage, Remnant vegetation
LOCATION: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

2004 Victoria Coastcare Award Finalist, Balcombe Estuary Rehabilitation Group (BERG), was formed in 1997 and has over 200 volunteers dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Balcombe Estuary Reserve.

Caring for Green Turtles on Christmas Island

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Community development, Threatened species
LOCATION: Christmas Island, WA

2004 Western Australia Landcare Education Award Finalist, Christmas Island District High School, has worked to ensure Greta Beach is a safer place for the nesting Green Turtles and a more pleasant recreational area for the residents of Christmas Island.

Caring for the Coast

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Education/awareness raising
LOCATION: Sydney''s northern beaches
SPONSOR: Hanson

As two of Australia’s most popular volunteer organisations, a fitting partnership has evolved between Coastcare and Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches, Sydney.

CoastKeepers

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Technical advice and support, Weed management, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Bondi Beach, NSW
SPONSOR: Hanson

Hanson Australia's leading supplier of construction materials - has continued its commitment to Coastcare by funding the National Parks Association of NSW's groundbreaking "CoastKeepers" program.

Project Dolphin Safe / South Australian Seabird Rescue

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Port Adelaide, SA

Project Dolphin Safe (PDS) is a community initiated project which started as a response to the deliberate killing of Bottle-nosed Dolphins in the Port River, Port Adelaide in the late 1990s.

Project Platypus - A Landcare Partnership

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Dryland salinity and waterlogging
LOCATION: Upper Wimmera River catchment in western Victoria

Eleven landcare groups have joined together to take a coordinated and scientific approach to tackling salinity and erosion and improving biodiversity.

South Beach Negotiating Panel/Forum

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Community development, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Nambucca Heads, NSW

The Indigenous community of the Nambucca area has been working on a long term Landcare/Coastcare programme involving planning, on-ground works and co-operative projects.

Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: TAS

In southern Tasmania, a group of motivated and committed volunteers decided to bridge the gap between Coastcare groups, government agencies and environmental organisations by bringing all key stakeholders together to deliver coastal management outcomes. In 2003 they established Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania (SCAT) providing leadership and support to individual Coastcare groups, links with all key environment stakeholders and making funding applications on behalf of smaller organisations.

Tiwi Islands Coastcare

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Tiwi Islands, NT

The Tiwi Land Council (TLC) holds the authority for land and coastal management on the Tiwi Islands (including Melville Island) according to the wishes of the traditional Tiwi owners. The Council's three key initiatives have been to stabilise coastal erosion, control invasive weeds and employ Marine Rangers to manage the area.

Reef Watch Program

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: SA

2005 Civic Trust (Natural Category)
2007 National Science Week: Unsung Hero of South Australian Science (Highly Commended)
2007 Premiers NRM Award for Outstanding Integrated Volunteer Project (Winner)
2008 Winner South Australia Landcare Awards Australian Government Coastcare Award

Bellarine Catchment Network (formerly known as SBICMC)

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: VIC

Swan Bay is recognised as an area of international significance by the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance for the extraordinary diversity of migratory bird life it supports, as well as the abundance of marine fauna and flora through its varied ecosystem of seagrass beds, sheltered intertidal mudflats, intertidal sandy beaches and rocky shores, subtidal soft substrata and rocky reefs, as well as the open water environment. This incredible biodiverse area needed looking after, and ten years ago the Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Project was established. The project team developed a detailed plan which supports the Bellarine Peninsula community to link remnant vegetation, coordinate integrated weed control, improve water quality, protect waterways and introduce sustainable farming practices. The project has inspired widespread community participation in a huge range of on-ground projects that are protecting and improving this fragile environment.

Friends of Bungan

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Community development, Dune erosion
LOCATION: NSW, Newport

The wild and unspoilt character of one of Sydney''s most beautiful coastal reserves, Bungan Beach, owes much of it''s natural beauty to a dedicated band of locals who have worked to conserve the dunes and headlands for over 30 years. Originally a committee of Warringah Council local residents first banded together in 1969 and have gone through a number of transformations since then. The current group, Friends of Bungan Inc was formed in 1992 when the land was transferred into the Pittwater Local Government Area. Over the past 17 years the Friends of Bungan group has dedicated its efforts to restoring and maintaining the natural bushland with its backdrop of dramatic coastal scenery for the residents and numerous visitors alike.

Long Beach Landcare Group

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development
LOCATION: NSW, Batemens Bay

Cullendulla Creek Reserve an EEC (littoral rainforest) of (approx 7 hectares) jointly managed by NSW Lands Dept (Nowra) and Eurobodalla Shire Council. * 460 hours of work and estimated removal of 100+ cubic metres of introduced weeds mainly Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum), Wild Tobacco (Solanum mauritianum), Cassia (Senna pendula) and Paddy''s Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia). * Supply of rainforest shrub cuttings to Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens (ERBG) for propagation from Creek Reserve.

BOURNDA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development
LOCATION: Caulerpa Taxifolia was first discovered in Wallagoot Lake in 2007.

Caulerpa Taxifolia was first discovered in Wallagoot Lake in 2007.

Darwin City Council Protecting the Primary Dunes of Mindil Beach

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development, Dune erosion
LOCATION: NT, Darwin

The Greening Mindil Project was created by the Darwin City Council in partnership with the Larrakia people. The project was aimed at biodiversity protection and erosion control by restoring the dunes at Mindil Beach.

DARWIN CITY COUNCIL - ZERO TOADS

ISSUES: Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic
LOCATION: Darwin

Darwin City Councils Zero Toads project was aimed at a continuation of, and working in conjunction with, FrogWatch North to set up more trap lines (deflection fences leading towards traps) and also to environmentally and humanely eradicate cane toads.

Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development
LOCATION: QLD

Tangaroa is the Maori and Polynesian God and Guardian of the Sea and all that lives in his depths, including mermaids, where humanity is said to have come from.

The organisation was named Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and creating projects and information to help the community keep their local coastline clean and healthy.

Queens Beach Action Group

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development
LOCATION: QLD

Queens Beach has been the location of weed removal and revegetation works, involving a number of partners, led by the Queens Beach Action Group (QBAG) since 2001. The current application focuses around work undertaken over the past eighteen months along this stretch of foreshore. Since that time, the little band of committed volunteers has received support from an increasing number of partners, resulting in several grants being obtained. This has led to an increase in the amount of rehabilitation work that has been able to be undertaken.

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Community development, Education/awareness raising, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Warrnambool, Victoria

Winner Victorian Landcare Awards Australia Government Coastcare Award
Finalist National Landcare Awards Australian Government Coastcare Award 2010

The South West Maremma Dog Project is located at two separate locations and is protecting two different species. The Middle Island section of the Project is located in the heart of Warrnambools tourist precinct, open to coastal biodiversity corridors to the east and west, and situated at the Merri River estuary.

Western Port Seagrass Partnership

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development, Dune erosion, Other, Revegetation, River corridor management
LOCATION: Western Port Seagrass Partnership

The Partnership consists of academics and business executives, mostly retired, passionately devoted to the welfare of Western Port. Mission Statement; "The environment of Western Port shall be protected and restored to a state that can sustain a healthy vibrant and naturally productive ecosystem for future generations". Since the Partnership''s inauguration in 2000 this mission has been vigorously actioned.

Birds Tasmania

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Hobart, Tas

2009 TAS Australian Government Coastcare Award Winner

Cape to Cape Catchments Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Education/awareness raising, Threatened species, Weed management
LOCATION: Margaret River, South West of WA

Project: Margaret River Dune Dudes Taking Care of our Coast
Funded by: Barefoot Raddler Coastcare Grant

EcoAction Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Revegetation
LOCATION: Kangaroo Island South Australia

The stunning scenery and popular surfing, swimming and fishing location at Pennington Bay has resulted in the area being heavily impacted by people and as a result the fragile, soft limestone cliffs and dunes were being eroded and native vegetation was being trampled and degraded.

Friends of Hallett Cove Conservation Park

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Dune erosion, Threatened species
LOCATION: Adelaide, Southern Australia

Finalist South Australian Landcare Awards ''Australian Government Coastcare Award'' 2009

In 1976 the Hallett Cove Conservation Park was proclaimed and recognised as a Geological Monument with international significance. The coastal fringe of the Park had long been recognised as a major geological formation.

Friends of Maatsuyker Island

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Weed management
LOCATION: Tasmania

Finalist 2008 National Landcare Awards ''Australian Government Coastcare Award''

Coastcare Groups and their members show a dedication that is unrivalled in the volunteer community, facing harsh conditions such as howling winds, torrential rainfall and long, rough boat or helicopter rides through remote coastlands has still not discouraged a hardy group of volunteers from tackling an infestation of invasive weeds on remote Maatsuyker Island, Tasmania.

Goolwa Coastcare Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Dune erosion, Education/awareness raising, Threatened species, Urban land degradation, Weed management
LOCATION: Goolwa, South Australia

Coastcare groups do not need to be large in numbers, they just need the passion and enthusiasm to want to make a change and do something to protect their local coastal area. The Goolwa group in South Australia has only 15 members ranging in ages from 5 to 60 years old and they still manage to effect change and make a noticeable difference within their coastal community.

Lighthouse Beach Dune Care Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Education/awareness raising, Weed management
LOCATION: Port Macquarie, NSW

For sixteen years the Dunecare group has hand weeded invasive introduced species from sections of Lighthouse Beach in hope of recreating a vital natural vegetative corridor between Littoral Rainforest and wetland reserves in Port Macquarie. The area features coastal ecosystems and is a mix of Littoral rainforest and Coastal Banksia Woodland.

Marine Discovery Center

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Community development, Dune erosion, Education/awareness raising, Soil erosion by water, Streambank erosion
LOCATION: Henley Beach, South Australia

Winner 37 International, National and Local Government Awards
Funded by Barefoot Raddler grant Coastcare Australia

Not all Coastcare Groups are based around physical action at a beach, some focus on the education of the greater community to make people more aware of Climate Change and factors affecting our coastlines so they are able to make informed decisions and behaviour changes in their everyday lives.

Ningaloo Community Turtle Monitoring Program

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Coastal land degradation, Threatened species
LOCATION: Exmouth Western Australia

Ningaloo is a beautiful, fragile coral reef stretching nearly 300km along the remote Western Australian coastline. It is one of the longest fringing coral reefs in the world and hosts many endangered species, teeming with a diverse range of aquatic species such as; corals, fish and invertebrates. Ningaloo reef provides the habitat necessary for these threatened marine species, including dugongs, whale sharks, humpback whales and turtles.

Nyambaga Aboriginal Green Team

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Education/awareness raising, Indigenous heritage, Water quality
LOCATION: Macksville, NSW

Funded by: Barefoot Radler Coastcare Grant

The Nyambaga Indigenous Green Team focuses on bush restoration and rehabilitation of the Mangrove habitat and various species reliant on this habitat for their continued survival.

Project Penguin

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species
LOCATION: Manly, Northern Sydney

Coastcare Groups come in all shapes and sizes, all ages and in a variety of locations fighting different issues. This project is a great example of how big things come in small packages a Junior Landcare project working to protect a colony of precious little penguins.

South Beach Negotiating Panel and Forum

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Community development, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Nambucca Heads, NSW
SPONSOR: Club Marine

Funded by: Club Marine Coastcare Partner
Finalist 2004 NSW Landcare Awards Indigenous Landcare Award category

Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare (SNEC)

LOCATION: Perth, Western Australia

Winner West Australian Landcare Awards Australian Government Coastcare Award
Finalist National Landcare Awards Australian Government Coastcare Award

The Marine Team

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Education/awareness raising, Water quality
LOCATION: Yorke Peninsula, SA

Winner 2004 National Landcare Awards 'Westpac Education Award'

Coastcarers are young and old, students and teachers who are share a common concern for the health and welfare of our coastal and marine ecosystems. There could be no better audience for the lessons taught through Coastcare projects than the supple and eager minds of children, our Coastcarers of tomorrow.

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