Manly AYAH Bushfire Protection

Asset Protection Zone Management

Background

Toolijooa were engaged to undertake environmentally sensitive Asset Protection Zone (APZ) Establishment, Management, and Maintenance at the site in Manly, NSW.

The overlaying Vegetation and Bushfire Management Plans highlighted specific requirements for bushfire management, bushland restoration, and threatened species management.

The site contains Threatened Species (Sunshine Wattle, Magenta Lilly Pilly), Endangered Ecological Communities (Coastal Upland Swamp), Threatened Species Habitat for the Endangered Long-nosed Bandicoot North Head Population, and is in proximity to Critical Habitat for the Little Penguin.

A tight construction-phase timeline meant our bushland management expertise and effective project management approach was essential to successfully navigate these important factors. 

Accomplishments

  • APZ areas established and Bushfire Compliance Certificate successfully issued to client

  • Strategic weed control using best-practice techniques successful in reducing weeds

  • Revegetation successful in rehabilitating degraded bushland and enhancing habitat for fauna 

  • Successful protection of Threatened and Endangered Species including , and enhancement of the Ecological Communities

  • Erosion controls successful in maintaining and improving soil stability

  • Proactive site management to ensure project outcomes were met efficiently and to high standards to promote long term sustainability of the site

Through strategic Asset Protection Zone and Vegetation Management works Toolijooa protected endangered flora and fauna, including Acacia terminalis subsp. terminalis (Sunshine Wattle), Syzygium paniculatum (Magenta Lilly Pilly), Long-nosed Bandicoots, and Powerful Owls.

Toolijooa aims to carry out best practice ecological management and restoration works to achieve our client's goals of maintaining and re-establishing sustainable, diverse, and characteristic natural ecosystems

Works Undertaken

  • Removal of weeds to restore degraded bushland and areas of significant native vegetation

  • Fire hazard reduction using prescribed bushland management techniques to ensure compliance with the NSW RFS APZ Standards

  • Selective vegetation removal to reduce fuel load, minimise bushfire risk, and control weeds

  • Strategic ‘APZ compliant’ revegetation efforts to restore sensitive native bushland and improve Bandicoot habitat

  • Erosion control and slope stabilisation to prevent sediment run off or disruption to soil profiles

  • Ongoing APZ monitoring and maintenance including broad-scale fuel management and fine-scale bush regeneration to ensure ongoing APZ compliance