Through land care, citizen science, advocacy and collaboration, we are protecting the natural values of the Loongana Valley and the Upper Leven River Catchment.
LANDCARE - tree planting, weed control, species ID:
Friends of Dempster Creek Landcare Group have focused on the covenanted land at the junction of Dempster Creek and the Leven River and the communal Taylor's Flat recreation area. (Friends of Dempster Creek)
Landcare, Private Reserves and Covenanted properties. Landowners and residents have engaged in ongoing efforts to certify their properties and manage them according to the requirements of that certification. In some cases, meandering trails have been made and marked to allow some public access. Landholders have been part of regional projects such as Giant Freshwater Crayfish surveys.
Aboriginal Land Council - Connecting to Country. Ian and Barbara Sale have donated their covenanted riverside property to the ALC. It's stunning and diverse wet sclerophyll, endangered E. viminalis and regenerating rainforest with wetlands and karst is an important part of the Loongana environment. The future looks bright for it to continue being cared for under ALC custodianship, including ranger training opportunities for Indigenous Tasmanian youth. The Loongana community look forward to being part of future activities in caring for country.
Landcare, Private Reserves and Covenanted properties. Landowners and residents have engaged in ongoing efforts to certify their properties and manage them according to the requirements of that certification. In some cases, meandering trails have been made and marked to allow some public access. Landholders have been part of regional projects such as Giant Freshwater Crayfish surveys.
Aboriginal Land Council - Connecting to Country. Ian and Barbara Sale have donated their covenanted riverside property to the ALC. It's stunning and diverse wet sclerophyll, endangered E. viminalis and regenerating rainforest with wetlands and karst is an important part of the Loongana environment. The future looks bright for it to continue being cared for under ALC custodianship, including ranger training opportunities for Indigenous Tasmanian youth. The Loongana community look forward to being part of future activities in caring for country.
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CITIZEN SCIENCE - Observations and data collecting
Loongana is a bio-diversity hotspot! Through various projects and activities such as audio monitoring, trail camera surveys, tree hollow surveys, big tree surveys, targeted species surveys; data collected is entered onto databases, confirmed by experts and forms part of important resources for local, national and global scientific community. So far, we have uploaded over 3,000 observations of 830 species which includes the first observations of the endangered Barbarea australis (native wintercress) in the Leven River catchment, a new species of slime mold and several moth species not thought to be found in Tasmania.
Masked Owl Surveys: In conjunction with landowners and scientists, we've assessed that at least two breeding pairs co-exist in Loongana Valley, and we have identified where some of their roosting, nesting, breeding and nursery areas are.
Bat Surveys: Using specific bat audio monitors, through organised and ongoing surveys we have determined that we have 7 of the 8 species of bats found in Tasmania, one being a Tasmanian endemic species.
Bat Surveys: Using specific bat audio monitors, through organised and ongoing surveys we have determined that we have 7 of the 8 species of bats found in Tasmania, one being a Tasmanian endemic species.
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Wombat Mange Monitoring and Treatments: Neighbours are liaising and sharing sightings and treatments across adjacent or nearby properties. We're also surveying the extent and movement of mange into the valley as it enters from the east. Wombat and rescue training has also been undertaken and we continue to raise funds for medications specific to treating the mange mite and cleansing burrows.
Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagles: Having four active nests to the east and two breading pairs, Loongana is known as 'Valley of the Eagles'. Collating observations ensures that sightings and numbers are submitted to the Natural Values Atlas to help guide better outcomes from inappropriate industrial activity in the area.
Feral Cat Monitoring and Actions: We're had training sessions on feral cat capture with a goal of controlling the population in a humane way. Ongoing monitoring guides where trapping occurs and sightings are recorded onto databases in order to secure funding to upscale this work using emerging technology.
Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagles: Having four active nests to the east and two breading pairs, Loongana is known as 'Valley of the Eagles'. Collating observations ensures that sightings and numbers are submitted to the Natural Values Atlas to help guide better outcomes from inappropriate industrial activity in the area.
Feral Cat Monitoring and Actions: We're had training sessions on feral cat capture with a goal of controlling the population in a humane way. Ongoing monitoring guides where trapping occurs and sightings are recorded onto databases in order to secure funding to upscale this work using emerging technology.
Water Quality Testing: Several sites have been surveyed to provide baseline data to measure the impacts of land use changes that may impact waterways, karst and the Upper Leven River Catchment.
Eucalyptus viminalis Wet Forest Community - Critically Endangered: Loongana has the largest area of this forest community in the state. SOLVE advocated for the upgraded EPBC conservation listing by surveying and mapping areas throughout the Loongana Valley. Several properties went on to place covenants on their properties to specifically protect this ecological community.
Eucalyptus viminalis Wet Forest Community - Critically Endangered: Loongana has the largest area of this forest community in the state. SOLVE advocated for the upgraded EPBC conservation listing by surveying and mapping areas throughout the Loongana Valley. Several properties went on to place covenants on their properties to specifically protect this ecological community.
Big Tree Project: We continue to identify and measure significant trees throughout the catchment and are also part of a nationwide project to collect observations of tree hollows and significant habitat trees. (Big Tree Project link here.)
Weed Management: Our surveys include identifying the uploading new and emerging weed species brought into the valley through vehicles and road surfacing and spread via wind, water, birds and animals. Foxglove is the major weed in the valley, and we encourage property owners and land managers to collaborate on various control methods.
Weed Management: Our surveys include identifying the uploading new and emerging weed species brought into the valley through vehicles and road surfacing and spread via wind, water, birds and animals. Foxglove is the major weed in the valley, and we encourage property owners and land managers to collaborate on various control methods.
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ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION - defending the Loongana Valley environment
Through advocacy, we aim to protect and preserve our amazing forests and wildlife, so they can continue to sustain life work and play for generations to come.
Community - SOLVE has proved to be a crucial central communication point during and after extreme weather events. We have liaised with the Tasmanian Fire Service over Loongana's fire resilience and community fire emergency plans. When the Leven River bridge collapsed SOLVE liaised with Council, police and emergency services and Forico to secure a safe alternative route in and out of the valley. SOLVE secured a community defibrillator and located it for public use. Road signage to reduce motorists speeding has helped to reduce incidences of roadkill.
Environment: we collaborate with many groups to protect our environment, actions include forest surveys and eyewitness reporting on native forest logging, submission to the Independent Review of the EPBC Act, Foxglove listing as Declared Environment Weed, Workshops to find ways to protect River Leven catchments, Joint letter by 16 community groups to stop native forest logging in the Upper Leven River Catchment until independent analysis on damage is undertaken.
Tasnetworks North West Transmission Line Development (NWTD) - SOLVE believes that Loongana is the wrong place for a new high voltage transmission line and we will continue to voice our many concerns in various ways. Tasnetworks NWTD has not been planned in a fair and equitable way, and cost benefit analysis doesn't include the true costs of environmental and social damage. The route selection criteria was flawed from the start as it did not protect the environment as the highest priority and even more disastrous now as we experience in real time, the twin crisis of global heating and mass extinction of birds, animals and plants. If it proceeds, SOLVE will strongly advocate to ensure all mitigations be nature positive with strict and enforceable conditions, offsets be made in the area close to where damage occurs and as the community most directly affected by the NWTD, we must be fairly compensated.
Actions since 2019 include:
Media: Website and Facebook, media releases, articles in local and national news outlets including Abc 7.30 report, Wild Magazine, Central Coast Voice. Interviews with major media outlets, Community Power Agency, PhD students, Derrick Jensen, University of Bremen.
Representation: Meetings with TasNetworks CEO, state and federal politicians, Wilderness Society, Environmental Defenders Office, Central Coast Council, Public Town Hall Meetings, Joint Select Inquiry on Energy Matters, Budget Estimates hearings.
Submissions: Tasmanian Planning Commission, Tasnetowrk's EPBC referral, Tasmanian Climate Collective, Australian Energy Regulator.
Collaboration: Planning Matters Tasmania, Environment Tasmania, Circular Head Action Network
Community - SOLVE has proved to be a crucial central communication point during and after extreme weather events. We have liaised with the Tasmanian Fire Service over Loongana's fire resilience and community fire emergency plans. When the Leven River bridge collapsed SOLVE liaised with Council, police and emergency services and Forico to secure a safe alternative route in and out of the valley. SOLVE secured a community defibrillator and located it for public use. Road signage to reduce motorists speeding has helped to reduce incidences of roadkill.
Environment: we collaborate with many groups to protect our environment, actions include forest surveys and eyewitness reporting on native forest logging, submission to the Independent Review of the EPBC Act, Foxglove listing as Declared Environment Weed, Workshops to find ways to protect River Leven catchments, Joint letter by 16 community groups to stop native forest logging in the Upper Leven River Catchment until independent analysis on damage is undertaken.
Tasnetworks North West Transmission Line Development (NWTD) - SOLVE believes that Loongana is the wrong place for a new high voltage transmission line and we will continue to voice our many concerns in various ways. Tasnetworks NWTD has not been planned in a fair and equitable way, and cost benefit analysis doesn't include the true costs of environmental and social damage. The route selection criteria was flawed from the start as it did not protect the environment as the highest priority and even more disastrous now as we experience in real time, the twin crisis of global heating and mass extinction of birds, animals and plants. If it proceeds, SOLVE will strongly advocate to ensure all mitigations be nature positive with strict and enforceable conditions, offsets be made in the area close to where damage occurs and as the community most directly affected by the NWTD, we must be fairly compensated.
Actions since 2019 include:
Media: Website and Facebook, media releases, articles in local and national news outlets including Abc 7.30 report, Wild Magazine, Central Coast Voice. Interviews with major media outlets, Community Power Agency, PhD students, Derrick Jensen, University of Bremen.
Representation: Meetings with TasNetworks CEO, state and federal politicians, Wilderness Society, Environmental Defenders Office, Central Coast Council, Public Town Hall Meetings, Joint Select Inquiry on Energy Matters, Budget Estimates hearings.
Submissions: Tasmanian Planning Commission, Tasnetowrk's EPBC referral, Tasmanian Climate Collective, Australian Energy Regulator.
Collaboration: Planning Matters Tasmania, Environment Tasmania, Circular Head Action Network
Biodiversity Gallery
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