Endangered species within the shire include

• the Powerful Owl
• Wompoo Pigeon
• Rose Crown Fruit Dove
• Black Necked Stork
• Rainbow Pitta
• Giant Barred Frog
• Pink Underwing Moth
• Koala

Download: Fact Sheet - Biodiversity of the Bellinger & Kalang River Systems (PDF) (1.12 MB)

Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance

‘Jaliigirr’ (pronounced jall-EE- girr) is the local Gumbaynggirr word for tree.   The Jaliigirr Project, funded by the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund and led by North Coast Local Land Services, is the flagship of the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance.  

Bellingen Shire Council is one of nineteen organisations in the Alliance who support the voluntary contributions of organisations, landholders and communities in order to create and protect corridors to link World Heritage areas, National Park reserves and State Forests.

Council commenced implementation of the Jaliigirr Project in 2013 and work has continued throughout 2014 and 2015 including weed control and planting of local native tree seedlings to boost bush regeneration at priority sites on both public and private land.  

Sites to date include primary koala habitat at Hydes Creek and Ringwood Creek, riparian (river bank) zones adjacent to Baker Street in Fernmount and Hammond Street in Bellingen and Endangered Ecological Communities at Urunga Lagoon.  This work will improve the health of priority vegetation corridors in the Shire.   

A priority weed management project is also being implemented adjacent to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area - Dorrigo National Park. Works for this project are currently being carried out on four private properties – one property on Mountain Top Road, removing infestations of Lantana at its altitudinal limit and another three properties on Dome Road, where Privet, Japanese honeysuckle and Blackberry are being treated.

This weed management work will create enhanced vegetation corridors linking to and protecting the Dorrigo National Park.

Further Information: Great Eastern Rangers - Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance website.

Looking after Dangar Falls Reserve

In December 2013, Council completed Stage One of the pathway upgrade which installed seventy meters of raised timber walkway to replace the steep section of the old bitumen pathway to improve the safety, accessibility and appearance of this important environmental and community asset.  Stage One was enabled by Council’s Environmental Levy.   

In June 2015, Council completed Stage Two of the pathway upgrade which installed an additional fifty-two meters of raised timber walkway to replace the old bitumen path linking the Stage One walkway with the existing timber walkway at the base of the falls.  Council received funding for the Stage Two upgrade from the State Government’s Public Reserves Management Fund Program.

In partnership with dedicated community volunteers, Council also constructed the Labyrinth (a winding paved pathway) in 2013 with funding from the ETC Community Support Fund, Dorrigo Expansive Education Program and Dorrigo Arts Council.

Ongoing bush regeneration continues at this site, which includes an area of Antarctic Beech cool temperate rainforest, which has considerable conservation significance.  Species of significance include Nothofagus moorei (Antarctic Beech) and Denhamia moorei (Mountain Denhamia).  The current priority is strategic treatment of privet, fog grass, wandering jew and honeysuckle with a particular focus on clearing weeds around native plant seedlings.  This approach promotes the natural growth of native seedlings by removing competition from smothering weeds without causing over exposure.

Download: Dangar Falls Reserve POM 2015 - Part A 
Download: Dangar Falls Reserve POM 2015 - Part B 

Koalas

Koala populations in the Bellingen area are of State significance and their survival depends on our community's commitment to their protection. Council has implemented grant funded projects at Hydes Creek and Ringwood Creek to improve the condition of vegetation corridors identified as primary Koala habitat.

Further Information:

•    Bellingen Shire Koala Plan of Management (PDF)
•    Hydes Creek Koala Habitat Project
•    Koalas in our backyard (PDF) (824.28 KB) (PDF - 824.28KB)
•    Koala Habitat Brochure (PDF) (416.13 KB)
•    Become a Koala Spotter – Koala Map

Indian Myna Control

For six years, Bellingen Shire Council was part of the Mid North Coast Indian Myna Control project in partnership with Nambucca Valley Council, Coffs City Council, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and Landcare (Bellinger, Nambucca Valley and Coffs Harbour).  The project was funded by an external grant through the NSW Environmental Trust and this funding ended in March 2014. 

For information about Indian Mynas, how to build a trap or to get involved in trapping, contact Bellinger Landcare Inc.  Ph 02 6655 0588 or Email belland@westnet.com.au

Download: Indian Myna Handbook (PDF) (1.19 MB)

Bellingen Coastal Vegetation Mapping

The Bellingen Coastal Vegetation Mapping Project covered vegetation communities on public land in the coastal parts of the Bellingen LGA, including Endangered Ecological Communities. Mapping also included the incidence and severity of infestations of weed species at selected locations and the mapping of vegetation condition to prioritise management actions. This resulted in the discovery of a population of the Endangered Scented Acronychia. The report provides baseline information to allow monitoring of any future changes.

Further Information: Vegetation Mapping Project (PDF) (3.97 MB)

Bellinger Landcare

Bellinger Landcare is a not-for-profit umbrella organisation which supports the Landcare community across the Bellingen Shire, including the Bellinger Valley, Dorrigo Plateau and the coastal areas. Our vision is to be an independent, professional and community-based organisation providing support and leadership for community involvement in natural resource management, now and into the future. Bellinger Landcare Inc. is directed by a voluntary executive committee, elected from our membership each year at our AGM. There is no fee to join, and members are alerted to workshops and events, as well as receiving newsletters each season.

We actively seek to:

• Facilitate environmental conservation works and projects
• Develop environmental restoration and sustainable agricultural projects
• Liaise between landholders, government and technical experts
• Provide education, information and training on best practice in sustainable agriculture and environmental management
• Assist landholders and groups to secure funding
• Raise awareness on environmental issues and sustainable agriculture

Visit Bellinger Landcare website

Bellingen Urban Landcare

Since 1995 Bellingen Urban Landcare has been regenerating waterways in our beautiful town of Bellingen. Little by little this collective effort has removed rubbish and weeds, constructed fences and bridges, planted and regenerated native species and generally rejuvenated a dozen sites.

Visit Bellingen Urban Landcare website

State of the Environment Reports

Regional State of the Environment Report 2012

Bellingen Shire SOE Report 2010/2011 (PDF - 1653.92KB)