The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage BioNet Atlas of NSW and the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Protected Matters Search Tool indicates there are over 40 species of flora and fauna listed as Threatened under the Threatened Species Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in the area managed by Hovells Creek landholders.

The Hovells Creek area, to the west of the Great Dividing Range, is at a critical intersection of the Kanangra-Boyd to Wyangala (K2W) east-west flyway with the north-south inland flyway of the grassy box-gum woodlands (a listed threatened habitat). The K2W corridor, with permanent waters along the Abercrombie, the Lachlan and tributary rivers and creeks (including Hovells Creek) is an important drought refuge for both migratory and threatened species.

This project is part of the HCLG’s implementation of ‘The Action Plan for Habitat Management within the Western Sector of the Kanangra-Boyd to Wyangala Corridor of the Great Eastern Ranges (2014-2017)’.

The project has several components and supporting agencies:

• A survey of eight HCLG member properties by OEH staff in June 2015 found 10 endangered and 11 rare and declining bird species amongst 102 species identified and mapped in the region,
• A workshop on bird identification for landholders facilitated by Birdlife Australia,
• Engagement of an environmental consultant to work with landholders to develop cross-property habitat management plans,
• A new project to trial feral cat control techniques, and
• An ongoing program of paddock tree replacement and cluster plantings on member properties.

This project will allow critical habitat needs and values to be identified and specific species action plans to be incorporated into HCLG’s ongoing work. It will also guide and inform local landholders on the conservation and connectivity within GER-K2W project area and allow future revegetation works to be guided by the needs of the relevant threatened / migratory species. It is envisaged that the results of this project will allow a more strategic approach by landholders, enabling them to apply existing species recovery framework in localised sense to their onground regeneration works and remnant vegetation management plans.

By using landscape-scale conservation framework HCLG will inform and lead the broader community in linking critical habitat connections. This knowledge will be used to strengthen and plan ongoing projects including field days, revegetation events and wildlife surveys.

This project has been funded through grants from the Kanangra-Boyd to Wyangala Link Community Grants Program administered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and through the South East Local Land Services Community Grants program.