The JARR project is a large-scale community driven project to protect the Jack and Albert rivers which discharge into the RAMSAR listed Corner Inlet and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Parks.

... protecting the unique RAMSAR listed Nooramunga and Corner Inlets by improving the ecology of the Jack and Albert Rivers' catchment ...

Corner Inlet Seagrass Refurbishment
Over recent years the Broadleaf Seagrass meadows in the Corner Inlet waterways have been devoured by the Purple Sea Urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma). This has resulted in the loss of feeding and shelter habitat for fish in the region which is an important fishing ground for Victoria's commercial and recreational fishermen.
This project is undertaking several trial plantings using different methods with the final aim of replenishing 100 hectares of seagrass.

Golden Creek Restoration
Protection of Golden Creek involved removal willows along of 1.3 km of its banks, fencing off the creek banks to protect it from livestock on the adjoining farmland and the planting of 6000 indigenous trees and shrubs to protect the banks and enhance the existing wildlife habitat.

Another step forward to repairing the waterways and benefiting the biodiversity in the JARR area .

Woody Weeds
The woody weed project is targeting 50 landholders. A weed control program is developed with each landholder and a financial incentive is provided to assist in implementing the plan. The project is aimed at "woody" weeds which includes blackberry, boxthorn and gorse. The Wellington Shire has come on board to put in place a plan to eradicate woody weeds on public land adjoining the landholder properties.

Short Film Festival
We are always keen to include children into our projects as they are the future of our biodiversity. This project was offered to the children of the Alberton Primary School. The children filmed and interviewed landholders within the JARR catchment area about Landcare projects on their property in the JARR area. On completion a public showing of the film was held in the Yarram Regent Theatre. This was a great lesson for the children who not only learnt about Landcare but also about filming and its associated teachniques.

JARR Water Quality Monitoring
This project will complete water quality monitoring at six sites in the Jack and Albert River catchments. Monitoring will occur monthly over one year, including laboratory-based analysis to determine impacts of land-use on Corner Inlet.

Reserve Restoration
The roadside stop on the South Gippsland Highway, adjacent to the Albert River has had a recent spruce up. A new picnic table, an educational sign informing the public about JARR, a freshly painted toilet block and regular mowing of the grass has seen a great transformation of the area. An educational and public benefit project.

Bird Monitoring Programme
Birds are a very important indicator as to the health of the biodiversity, in any area. A bird monitoring program was undertaken over two years at twenty six sites, each site being monitored every three months. The sites were chosen where adjacent areas could be monitored. Each area representing a recently re-established area, an old growth or long term established bushland and open farmland.
The findings show the trends over the two year period but also form the basis for a comparative study for future long term monitoring of these sites.

Contact:
Belinda Brennan
[email protected]
T: (03) 1300 094 262/ (03) 5613 5902
M: 0409 004 901
E: [email protected]

Associated Websites
Yaaram Yarram Landcare
www.yarramlandcare.org
What To Plant at Your Place
www.YYLNReveg.org