Snippets

John Weatherstone pictured with Snowy River Wattle, Acacia Boormanii.

National Wattle Day

The pastures are alive with wattle blooms, marking the arrival of spring. In the Kanangra-Boyd to Wyangala Link (K2W), ten wattles are in flower on this National Wattle Day, which includes the Red stemmed Wattle, Acacia Rubida, the Western Silver Wattle, Acacia Decora, the Green Wattle, Acacia Decurrens, often mistakenly called the Early Black Wattle, and Chalkers Wattle, Acacia Chalkeri, which grows in a limited region surrounding Wombeyan Caves and generally flowers within October and January.

Acacias are the largest category of flowering plants in Australia, with around 1000 species found across the country.

According to Land for Wildlife (LFW) assessor John Weatherstone, using wattles as part of a sustainable ecosystem increases value to landholders. K2W Link works with LFW assessors to help landowners incorporate preservation of nature with additional operations such as grazing. Wattles have a lot of promise in re-vegetation programmes that benefit the environment and animals.

Aside from enticing wildlife, they provide an organic pest control, providing shade and shelter, and help to decrease erosion. The timber of larger wattles, particularly Hickory wattles, is of high quality, and direct sowing thinnings can be utilised for firewood.

It was traditionally used as a source of sustenance with curative effects by First Nations.

For decades, Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp has worked with natural flora and in the environment of Ngunnawal land, near Canberra. He is also sharing knowledge of indigenous plant use with landowners and environmental agencies through his company, Yurbay, in Wagga Wagga.

He stated that the seeds of the Light Wood Wattle, Acacia Inflexa, were processed into flour in Wiradjuri culture.

Grant Program Extended To Central West Businesses

$200,000 Medium Business Support Grant extended to Central West and Southern NSW

Flood-affected medium-sized businesses in central and southern NSW can now apply for up to $200,000 in assistance under a joint Albanese and Minns Government award programme administered by Service NSW.

The Medium Business Support Grant is offered to businesses and non-profit organisations with between 20 and 200 full-time equivalent employees who were tragically damaged by storms and flooding from August to September 2022.

Funds may be utilised to offset the costs of recovery and re-establishment, which might include inspections for safety, building repairs, cleaning supplies, things required to continue commerce, clearing debris and destroyed stock, or renting temporary premises. The funding is provided equally by the Australian and New South Wales governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

“From Dubbo to Bourke and Wentworth to Wagga Wagga, the Medium Business flood grant will deliver more support and security for businesses and communities across the central west and southern NSW to reopen or continue operating through the recovery process.

“We know how badly regional communities have been impacted by storms and floods and this grant will complement the support already available to small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations and help get local economies moving again.” Said the Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty

Please visit the Service NSW website or call 13 77 88 for additional information and to apply.