The issue

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River Health Strategy identified the Colo River as a focus area for conservation and rehabilitation, particularly the lower reach of river which is in private ownership below the National Park.

The strategy identifies actions to complement the successful rehabiliation work already carried out by groups such as Friends of the Colo in the upstream reserve areas. While much of this lower river reach is in intact or in near intact condition, there are some threats (particularly weeds) which the strategy identifies that can costeffectively and realistically be controlled to reduce for futher degradation.

The 32-hectare Colo Outdoor Education Centre is on this section of the river and has river frontage which is degraded by lantana, cape ivy and moth vine.

The strategy

To date the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA has involved over 35 landholders in its River Restoration Project on this lower reach of the Colo River. In 2006/07, the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA provided its third grant ($4900) to the Colo Outdooor Education Centre to remove weeds to restore biodiversity on a 400 metre section of riverbank.

The funding was for bush regeneration only (no revegetation) as the resilience of the site was high and natural regeneration was prolific. he education centre is a facility for students from St Joseph's College in Hunters Hill, Sydney, and students became involved in the restoration project as part of their environmental education school curriculum.

The centre provided a $6400 in-kind contribution with staff and students carrying out bush regeneration and weed control. Funding from the CMA provided a professional bush regnerator to provide guidance and advice to the students.

Community perspective

The Centre's Mark Brackenreg said that "service" was an important notion they try to instil in the boys when they come out to the Colo River. "The idea that through doing restoration work on the riverbank they are helping the environment and the community is something we are trying to foster. So when they come here it is not all about rock climbing, canoeing and orienteering - it is taking it a step further and nurturing the environment they live in too," says Mark.

HNCMA perspective

Paul Bennett, River Restoration Project Officer at the CMA, has been involved in the three stages of the work at the Education Centre.

"The great thing about the Colo area is there are many landholders now involved in river restoration work, and the impacts can be seen and felt along the river. We are trying to set up continuity and it is starting to work, but obviously the more people who get involved along the waterway, the better!"

Results

• Removed weeds 400 metres of the riverbank
• Educated students about bush regeneration and river restoration
• 10-days of training from two bush regeneratiors