This presentation from Tom Dexter of Eurobodalla Shire Council discusses the process of re-introducing burning to Themeda Grass Headland Endangered Ecological Communities on the south coast of NSW. Presentation from Nature Conservation Council of NSW 2015 Bushfire Conference - Fire and Restoration: working with fire for healthy lands.

1. Reconciliation in the
Grasslands
Re-introducing Burning to Themeda Grass Headland EEC's.

3. Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and
Coastal Headlands EEC
 Geographically broad
 Dominated by Themeda with a high diversity of native herbs.
 Generally accepted that they came into existence from Indigenous
burning practices.
 Key threats

4. Shrub invasion at Goalen head

5. Grassland becomes more Poa
dominated with grazing pressure

6. Why not slash it?

7. Three headlands located in Dalmeny
LO
ESC
EUCALYPTUS DRIVE
MACULATA
CIRCUIT
POSSUMPLACE
DALMENYDRIVE
LOCROWN
DUESBURYS ROAD
COASTAL COURT
LO CROWN
BARKALASTREET
Kianga Beach Headland
Duesburys Beach Headland
Duesburys Point Headland

8. Decision to burn
 Based on botanical evidence
 Indigenous evidence
 Historical accounts
 Opportunity

9. Timing of burn
 Slashers were called off
 Baseline data collected
 August burns recommended

10. Data collection

11. Recovery
How did the grassland bounce back after the initial burn?

12. 12 August 2013

13. 26 August 2013

14. 2 September 2013

15. 13 November 2013

16. 8 August 2014

17. 27 April 2015

18. Aesthetic health obvious

19. Botanical analysis
Observations from the post burn botanical analysis

20. Annual exotic grasses reduced
considerably

21. Exotic perennial grasses knocked back
in biomass

22. Appearance of Hermathria uncinata

23. Appearance of Polygala japonica

24. Dead Banksia seedlings

25. Early Days
 Project is still new
 Anticipate more positive outcomes

26. Acknowledgements
 Greg Watts, NPWS
 Jackie Miles, Consultant Botanist
 NSW Environmental Trust
 Aboriginal Community
 NSW Rural Fire Service