Report Re-vegetation and repair of Section 13

Note- This post dated January 2025 will be updated in February as need to access additional imagery

Section 13 is a 184-acre Heritage Agreement with about 40 percent of the land being an open Mallee Eucalyptus woodland with some stunning understory plants, including Scaveola, Goodenia and Dianella.

Approximately 50 percent of the property is open chenopod shrubland which may be commensurate with pre–European Vegetation cover as prior to the grant a review of NatureMaps vegetation coverage reflected that through the middle section of land there was an open swathe of land which had some isolated larger Eucalyptus Mallee trees - which is likely how it has been since before european settlement.

Image of the open area – chenopod shrubland in the evening looking towards the hills beyond Sedan.

The open acreage is refered to as a Chenopod Shrubland and has several bluebush species, including the state rare maireana, 'Rohrlach’s ' blue bush, saltbushes, atriplex and senna species. Blue bush daisy and melaleucas.

Whislt this land likely always had on open swath there is evidence of some clearance with a number of large mallee roots being present, and some craters where it appears that trees were removed.

An old "Mallee Root" One of a number that we shall use as shelter and plant a replacement along side of.

The southern boundary of Section 13 is along sleeper track, named as this area that was cleared before the turn of the century to provide hardwood timbers for sleepers. It could be that these larger old mallee hardwood trees were removed at that time. To address this we factored a small allocation into the 2023-2025 Native Vegetation Grant funding to replant some endemic species.

Two Google images - Left google image of the current system - Right an altered image of what scattered trees may look like.

While our primary grant funding was aimed at managing weed incursions especially in areas where there is soil disturbance , smaller allocation was provided to cover replanting and endemic species in the open area where there would have been scattered larger Mallee Trees. As well as the provision of tree guards suited to protect from the feral population of Hares, Goats and the endemic. Irongrass Environmental Rehabilitation Services who have been contracted to manage the grant funded components of weed control shared this following; “We suggest planting some trees in the open areas, to form (eventually) a “very open woodland”. It seems that the open areas have been cleared in the past, but revegetating the open areas too densely may not be appropriate. That is, the more open areas may have been easier to clear in the first place - with less trees to remove (the earlier European land users may have left areas with a more dense cover of mallee eucalypts, as this would have been a lot more work). Of course I am only surmising that that may be the reason for not clearing the denser woodland. It may only take about 30 - 40 seedlings to be planted to achieve a "very open woodland”. Given that the success rate for revegetating in a dry area would be low, watering seedlings over the first couple of years would be essential. I would suggest planting Eucalyptus gracilis, Eucalyptus socialis as well as a few Pittosporum angustifolium. It would be preferable to obtain seed for these species from close by if possible."

Some plantings in close proximity to the offset which is inside an exclusion zone. This area is where we have planted first to test species resilience and access to water.

Based on the information provided by Irongrass, local species presence and a spcies list of the heritage agreement 1993 (Sonia Croft) to date we have planted

Ridge-fruited Mallee, Eucalyptus incrassata - x 8
Red Mallee, Eucalyptus oleosa - x 5
Sheep Bush , Geijera - x 5
Native Apricot, Pittosporum angustifolium, x 8
Native Pine, Callitris gracillis ( in area where they already exist) x 5

Inside the protected area (large exclusion) Palatable plants found on property but heavily Grazed

Austrostipa elegantissima (native grass) x 10
Santalum spp( Quandong) x 4
Olearia muelleri ( Local Daisy) x 5
Eremophila longifolia (Emu bush) x 4

Watering and weather

2024 has been a dry year where we have not received our annual rainfall. From discussion with neighbours it appears that we have not reached half our expected rain . In 2023 in a normal rain fall year Podolepis (Pleated copper wire daisy) and Vittadinia (New Holland daisy) were prolific, however, they did not flower in 2024.

What this hotter and drier year has meant for our replanting is that we have had a higher loss than expected. We work on a 80 -85percent survival rate in this climate, and we are at 60 percent presently. And this is with a monthly watering regeime. It is dissapointing ,however, we shall replace these in the 2025 winter planting period.

Commencing January 2025 we shall plan out our second year of planting, replacing the plants that did not cope well in the very dry 2024 year. As well as looking to plant small groups, one or two in areas where there are craters or existing old mallee roots. The image below refelcts what we hope the area to look like in the future.

This the appearance that we are aiming for - Another area on Section 13 which has scattered trees and shrubs already established