In May, visitors and partners were invited to a field day at the spectacular Wanganui Gorge, which connects Nightcap and Goonengerry National Parks. A wildlife corridor between the parks and home to 27 threatened species, it is no surprise this area is designated high conservation value.

However that is only half the story. The land within the gorge was cleared in the 1920's and while much of it has regenerated into rainforest, large parts were colonised by lantana. 

"In this International Year of Biodiversity, it is encouraging to see the results EnviTE Environment has achieved in restoring habitat on this land", commented Dailan Pugh, co-owner of one of the properties. 

The field day showcased EnviTE's work over the first year of a three year project to restore lowland subtropical rainforest.

Work commenced with mechanical control using a 4WD tractor which flattened the Lantana over a 2 ha area. Subsequent slashing of this lantana resulted in a very effective kill on the most accessible parts of the site.  Follow up hand pull and occasional spot spray using glyphosate on Lantana and other weeds has kept this area under control. The site is showing an impressive regeneration response with a steadily increasing range of species including native peach, brown kurrajong, white cedar, pencil cedar, red cedar, bleeding heart and macarangas germinating and reaching 1 to 2 metres in height.

Surrounding areas which were not able to be accessed by tractor during the initial work are gradually being worked through foliar overspray, use of the splatter gun technique or through lopper work and cut, scrape and paint. The involvement of National Green Jobs Corps team as well as several North Coast Environment  Employment Jobs Fund crews to cut access tracks through the dense lantana has allowed the restoration area to be extended to around 8ha.

"The project will allow us to compare the cost effectiveness of various approaches to control lantana and observe the regeneration responses. Different techniques lend themselves to particular situations," said EnviTE Technical Manager Paul O'Connor.

"We constantly need to balance the urge to open up new areas with adequate follow up and consolidation of the areas already worked. Regular follow-up is an important part of the bush regeneration program. The early signs of progress are very encouraging and everyone who visits the site is affected by it's beauty and biodiversity. "

Rainforest regenerator Ralph Woodford said, "It's a fantastic site and the regeneration response is really encouraging.... There is a great diversity of pioneers in terms of form and physical structure. This in turn will attract a range of birds and other animals to facilitate seed dispersal and promote further restoration."

EnviTE Environment would like to acknowledge the financial support of the NSW Environmental Trust, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and the ongoing support and collaboration from Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Byron Shire Council and the Nature Conservation Trust as well as the Federal Governments Jobs Fund National Green Jobs Corp programmes.

The Huonbrook Wildlife Corridor project was granted $100,000 over 3 years from the NSW Environmental Trust to restore the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. Since the project started additional sources of funding have been accessed through both the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority with funding for control of Lantana, a Weed of National Significance, and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (GERI). GERI had identified the Wompoo Gorge as a priority property within the Border ranges area and has contributed funding to on-ground works to improve vegetation connectivity.