Envite’s Clarence Valley team conduct their treatment of exotic grasses at the Blackrock Campground and surrounding fire trails within the northern section of Bundjalung National Park every year. The site is located approximately forty minutes south of Evans Head on the NSW North Coast and encompasses over 29km of fire trails and the camp ground within the northern most section of the National Park.
Works are carried out annually with the aim of treating all invasive and exotic grasses along the trails prior to National Parks undertaking their annual fire mitigation duties including back burning.
The target species are African Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) and Whiskey Grass (Andropogon virginicus) both classified as introduced warm season perennials. They are most commonly found along roadsides where there has been some form of disturbance such as fire or cultivation.
The site consists of mainly low lying coastal heath and tidal wetlands with a riparian section of eucalypt forest along the Esk River. Common native species include the Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia), Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) and Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea). Bundjalung National Park is also home to a wide variety of native fauna including Echidna, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Coastal Carpet Pythons, Red-bellied Black Snakes and Burton’s Snake Lizard which the team encounter on a regular basis.
The project has been the perfect opportunity for the Clarence team to test out the newly acquired vehicle mounted 350 litre Power Sprayer that allows the team to access remote locations previously inaccessible to a trailer mounted unit. Envite recently purchased two units to add to the resources used to control weeds.
