Casuarina Coastal Reserve Landcare Group
About CCRLG
Casuarina Coastal Reserve Landcare Group (CCRLG) was formed in 1997 by a group of dedicated locals who wanted to protect and restore this important habitat corridor and refuge. The Landcare Group has a Memorandum of Understanding and works closely with Parks, who manage the land for the Northern Territory Government.
CCRLG began by re-vegetating Tiwi Creek with monsoonal rainforest plants, and has moved on to two other sites in the Reserve.
The ‘Beach Block’ fronts on to Darwin Harbour and was covered with grassy weeds that had taken the place of pre-Cyclone Tracy monsoon forest. CCRLG has replanted the area with local natives and is now supporting the regeneration of self-sown natives from the nearby forest.
The ‘Moth Block’ is near Rocklands Drive. The Group began re-vegetation work there as part of a Commonwealth funded project in 2011 to support habitat for endangered species. Particular plants were selected because they occur in the Reserve and are food sources for Atlas Moth (Attacus wardi) caterpillars. This Moth is very rare although it has been sighted as close as Shoal Bay and Stuart Park (2021).
CCRLG advocates on behalf of the natural values of the Reserve. Members successfully lobbied for Cat Containment at the new suburbs that Defence Housing Australia plans to build adjacent to the Reserve. CCRLG has also been working with government agencies such as Parks, Police and Fire and Emergency Services to minimize the damage caused by arson (please call 000 if you ever see an unattended fire in the Reserve).
In 2020/21 members of CCRLG worked with a group of ecologists to collect data for an accurate map of Gamba infestations in CCR. This map will be used by Parks and other land managers to effectively target efforts to eradicate this weed.
The group maintains a Facebook page (Friends of Casuarina Coastal Reserve) that includes details of its activities and interesting plant and animal features of the Reserve, such as nesting turtles and migratory shorebirds.
Group activities
- Monthly working bees - Held on the 3rd Sunday of the month
- Tree planting
- Watering
- Weeding
- An annual fuel reduction burn at the Beach Block
- Community education & training
- Advocacy
- Participation in the Great Northern Clean Up.
Landcare Group Resources
Casuarina Coastal Reserve
The reserve lies between Rapid Creek and Lee Point and hosts important monsoonal rainforest, mangrove, paperback swamp, woodland and coastal dune habitat. The beaches of the reserve are significant feeding grounds for a variety of migratory shorebirds, which can be seen with binoculars from October to May. The reserve is surrounded by urban development, making it a critical habitat corridor.
Restoring the Moth Block has been a great way to bring together neighbours over pulling up a few weeds or watering the plants. It is a privilege to show visitors the site and explain just how significant the reserve is for our native wildlife and migratory birds. Deb Hall
Revegetation at the 'Moth block', building habitat for the Atlas Moth.
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