Cudlee Creek bushfire recovery

Was your property impacted by the 2019 Cudlee Creek fire?

Through our Bushfire Recovery Project, you can access free workshops, field days, rabbit baits, plant giveaways and funded on-ground works.

This project is funded through the Local Economic Recovery Program, a partnership between the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions. The Program is co-funded by the Commonwealth and South Australian governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

These opportunities are designed to help you reconnect with your land and with like-minded landholders, sort through your land management priorities, and come back even better than before.

Our project will support rabbit and fox control, target fire-active weeds, fix up damaged creek-line habitats, and address post-fire soil and pasture management issues.

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To find out about these opportunities, subscribe to BudBurst, the e-newsletter for Cudlee Creek fire recovery. Subscribe here.

What’s coming up

Please note: these events are only for landholders impacted by the 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfire.

March 31 - FREE WORKSHOP: How to make a good dam - dam good!

Interested in better dam management? This half day workshop will show you how to turn your dam into a great farm asset.

Topics and demonstrations include fencing, vegetation, desilting, flood alleviation and water syphoning for livestock and the environment. We'll also show what and where to plant native species to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Location: Mount Torrens

Date: Fri Mar 31, 9.30am-12 noon.

Morning tea provided

Book here

For many years a massive infestation of invasive Gorse weed has posed a major fire risk to the Adelaide Hills town of Birdwood. As the gorse was only a few hundred metres from the path taken by the Cudlee Creek fire, it was a high priority to support this fire-traumatised community to reduce the future fire risk. So action was taken in December 2021!

Time to BRAP up your post-fire management

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the changes on your property since the fire?

There are many fire-driven impacts which will continue to affect the land for years to come. These include erosion, silting up of dams, regrowing paddock trees and never-ending waves of weeds. It can be really hard to know where and when to support the land in its recovery and what to work on.

This is where a Bushfire Recovery Action Plan (BRAP) can help you out.

The Bushfire Recovery Team have been working on a template to help you work through the “what”, “where”, “when” and “how” of land management for your fire-affected land.

A BRAP sets out and maps the priorities for land management actions for you, like a property management “to-do” list. It can outline the best seasonal timing for animal and plant control, and watercourse works and provides “how to” information on control methods for maximum efficiency.

Having a BRAP also demonstrates your commitment to sustainable land management and is your best tool for attracting future financial support for these actions.

How do you get a BRAP? We can provide you with an aerial picture of your property and a template so that you can put together your own Bushfire Recovery Action Plan. If you’re feeling uncertain and don’t really know where to start with a BRAP, we are here to help. Our team can assist you in putting together your own BRAP.

If you're interested, please complete this short form.

Free property visits

If you’d like a free property visit, a Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board Landscape Officer can come and help you work through your land management issues, including pasture regeneration, watercourse management, soil rehabilitation, revegetation, weed management and habitat restoration.

Please email or phone us to arrange a visit.

Local contacts

Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board - Mt Barker office - email the Bushfire Fire Recovery Team

Adelaide Hills Council 63 Mt Barker Road Stirling; Ph: 8408 0400

Mount Barker District Council 6 Dutton Road Mount Barker; Ph: 8391 7200

Property recovery

Caring for your creek-lines to reduce bushfire risk

Many landholders are concerned that the vegetation in their creek-line may make their property more at risk from fire. While this is understandable, it is often not the case. Many creek-lines can actually help reduce fire risk.

A booklet has been produced by the bushfire recovery team which explains how fire behaves around creek-lines, how to protect built assets, and how to manage grazing around creek-lines to reduce bushfire impact. A detailed plan is included for how to fence off creek-lines to both reduce fire risk and protect creek-lines.

Open the flipbook - Caring for your creek-lines to reduce bushfire risk (or download here)

Want to increase biodiversity around your dam or creek? Our new Sedge and Rush Planting Guide can help.

Soils, erosion, water and infrastructure

The nutrient content of ash, organic matter and soil can wash into dams and waterways after rain. Temporary sediment fences can be used to filter this runoff.

Information on why setting up a containment feeding area is a good idea, how to prevent dam contamination and manage soils after a fire, along with learnings from others, is available here.

Cutting red tape on water affecting activities

Find out what activities WILL NOT require a water affecting activity permit for sediment control within a watercourse in a bushfire-affected area. Current Recommended Practice for sediment control within a watercourse in a bushfire-affected area June 2021.

For more information on water affecting activities go to https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/hf/water/managing-water/water-affecting-activities

Water quality

There are a number of issues that may cause you concern regarding water quality and your livestock health after a bushfire. This information sheet, 'Post-bushfire water quality in farm dams and creeks', can help you identify them and steer you towards some management strategies.

How to identify a harmful algal bloom - California Water Board

Read more on what we're doing with fire impacts on farm water quality, and how it can be managed.

Blue-green and other algal outbreaks

If you are concerned about any algae outbreaks, you can find some simple control methods here. Aeration is the recommended method to manage algae. If you would like to speak to someone about the quality of water in your dam or waterways, please contact staff at Mount Barker (Ph: 08 8391 7500).

Water licences

Water licence holders are being offered support for water used for firefighting or pumps damaged by fires. The Department for Environment and Water will adjust usage totals and charges. Anyone concerned that water taken for firefighting may be included in their licensed water use should get in touch with DEW so adjustments can be made.

Managing native vegetation after fire

• Native vegetation clearance along fence lines – frequently asked questions on replacing fences and native vegetation clearance conditions
• Bushfire recovery and biodiversity – actions to assist native vegetation recovery
• Controlling woody weeds after fire – information on how and when to control bushland weeds and knowing which weed patches to tackle first
• Planning and designing a shelterbelt – a video on lessons learnt from the Pinery fire

The benefits of keeping burnt trees

Many tree species are adapted to fire and will regenerate. Although they may appear dead, they may still be alive. Find out more here.

Even dead trees are important habitat for many wildlife species, especially those old enough to have hollows. Threatened species like the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, need them to shelter and nest in. Hollows also provide habitat for insectivorous species like microbats which help keep insect populations in balance. This is important for agricultural production and the natural environment. Trees in agricultural landscapes can also help reduce soil erosion, which becomes a greater threat after fire.

Home gardens

Discover great resources on how to restore your home garden.

Livestock

For information on immediate steps to take, to manage livestock, head here.

For information on the next steps to take, in managing your land, livestock and pasture after fire, head here.

Managing your land and stock during tough times – it is important to make risk management decisions early. Our web page has links, tools and resources that will help.

Wildlife

The best way for most people to contribute, is to donate to the Wildlife Recovery Fund, which will re-establish native animal habitat – especially threatened species. Find out what to do if you find an injured animal, the dos and don’ts around supplying fresh water or food; and biosecurity impacts in this article.

If you’re wanting to build a nest box to help birds and animals that have lost their habitat, this fact sheet will give you tips to help you work out which species to focus on for a particular site, and what kind of nest box best suits.

Pest plants and animals

Pest animals post fire

The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one animal that might not be too adversely impacted from the recent bushfires. As burrowers, rabbits will have avoided much of the direct fire damage and might now find themselves, at least temporarily, free from many of their predators. This fact sheet can help you manage rabbits after a bushfire.

More information on rabbits, and other pest animals, can be found on our pest animal page.

Problem weeds post fire

Fire can significantly reduce the time required for an effective control program of some weeds. Key environmental and agricultural weeds which respond to fire, are listed on this page.

Information on these weeds, and others, can also be found on our pest plants page.

This video describes methods for controlling woody weeds after fire.

Volunteering

If you’re interested in volunteering, Conservation Volunteers Australia is coordinating the national environmental volunteering response to the bushfire crisis. You can register to volunteer, as an individual or as a corporate body. And if your environmental organisation needs help, let CVA know and they will work with you to help you recruit and manage volunteers.

Keep in touch

Follow us on Facebook. The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board's Facebook page has news of workshops, grants, courses and other information on fire recovery.

Subscribe to BudBurst, the e-newsletter for Cudlee Creek fire recovery. Simply email us and ask to be added to the mailing list.