Burning off gives best results on Tablelands TSR

Hectares of grassland have been burnt off as part of an ongoing land management project on a Travelling Stock Reserve in the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority.

As an endangered ecological community and the home of two threatened species, regular burning off on the Gundary Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) near Goulburn is part of the best practice land management techniques carried out on the reserve.

Tablelands LHPA ranger in Goulburn, Scott Craig is in charge of managing the Gundary TSR. He says that he has been successfully using fire as a management tool at Gundary for several years.

"Because of the low numbers of stock grazing at Gundary, many sensitive grassland species from pre-European times have been retained," Mr Craig said.

"However the low grazing pressure on the reserve also means that some of the dominant grasses – particularly Kangaroo grass – can become over-dominant and threaten diversity of other plants, like the endangered Button Wrinklewort.

"The large areas of Kangaroo grass can also lose vigour and die off, leaving the area more vulnerable to weeds. This is why we’ve been burning off sections of the reserve, with one-hectare burns at a time to prevent harm to threatened species."

The fire regime on Gundary TSR is complemented by short, sharp bursts of intense grazing, which has proven to be the most effective combination for continued biodiversity on the reserve.

Following the burning off in winter, vigorous growth of wildflowers and other species freed from the competition of the Kangaroo grass can be seen each spring.

Mr Craig says that the Gundary grassland is home to a huge variety of flora species – as well as the grasses, there is an impressive range of wildflowers including orchids, peas, daisies and lilies.

"Following the wet winter in the area, I’ve no doubt the growth of native and endangered flora on the Gundary TSR will be particularly vigorous this spring," Mr Craig said.

TSRs are parcels of Crown land reserved under legislation for use by travelling stock. LHPAs manage over 500 000 hectares of TSRs in NSW, working to strike a balance between the needs of travelling or grazing stock and the conservation of native species.

Media contact: Suzie Robinson 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378