Waratah project

North West Local Land Services is managing 3 sites across the Liverpool Plains totalling more than 6,300 ha to protect and improve biodiversity as part of the Waratah Project. The sites at Breeza, Barraba and Tambar Springs were acquired from the Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd project in 2022.

The focus is on:

• protecting and improving biodiversity values for the long term
• improving habitat for koalas and other threatened species
• protecting significant Aboriginal cultural sites and artefacts in perpetuity. 

A diverse range of work has been carried out so far to deliver on the outcomes, such as:

• 24,500 trees and shrubs planted over 78 ha since 2022
• Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys conducted ahead of fencing and infrastructure upgrades
• access to Country for local Aboriginal groups
• 74 km of new and repaired boundary fencing
• ongoing weed control, including innovative practices such as drone spraying and remote weed mulching
• ongoing pest animal control programs
• research partnerships, including monitoring koala populations.

Local Land Services will continue to manage the sites for the foreseeable future, providing valuable opportunities for connection to Country and strengthening the environmental values that support a healthier, more resilient landscape for the future.