Mount Compass to Meadows Biodiversity Links Project

Mount Compass to Meadows Biodiversity Links Project, funded by the Australian Government, is undertaking substantial weed control in priority remnant vegetation on sites between Mount Compass and Meadows in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

The Mount Compass to Meadows project will see substantial weed control for ecological restoration across a minimum of 1100 Ha of priority remnant vegetation on sites between Mount Compass and Meadows in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

The area contains numerous large stands of beautiful, intact remnant vegetation housing several endangered vegetation communities and numerous conservation rated flora and fauna species. It is a nationally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

The works link in with partnership projects in adjacent areas and is greatly assisting in the creation of broader State and National landscape corridors. The project is being delivered through a program that actively fosters community participation.

The project targets weed species such as blackberry, broom, boneseed, bridal creeper, arum lily, pittosporum, bluebell creeper and a wide range of garden escapees and is assisting landholders to deal with some large infestations that are currently beyond the capacity of most landholders to control on their own. Works are being carried out by experienced and professional contractors using approaches that have minimal effect on native vegetation and fauna.

Landholders involved in the project have commented on how happy they are to see a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ with regards to getting weeds under control. One particular farmer noted that he used to play in their bushland as a child until the area became badly infested with weeds after the Ash Wednesday bushfires. Situated in steep terrain, this site has been approached using professional long-line operators skilled in bushland management.

Nearly all of the site in the Mount Compass to Meadows Project are greater than 10Ha in size and 90% of the sites are connected to other participating projects. Most precincts in this project are larger than 400 Hectares.