Hats off to a job well done!
Noosa and District Landcare has completed their largest tree planting project to date. Over the last 2 years, 340,000 native trees were propagated in Noosa Landcare’s nurseries in Pomona and planted on ex-grazing land within the Great Sandy National Park at Elanda Plains.
“The site is a wetland and it threw us all the challenges that working in wetlands does, including extended periods of time where we had no site access due to excessive waterlogging”, Noosa Landcare’s Project Manager Steve Husband advised.
“We are really proud of the dozens of Noosa Landcare staff and volunteers that stepped up to work at full-steam collecting the seed, propagating the plants and also braving the mud and mozzies to do the planting”.
The project, which helped support the direct employment of local residents and youth, was funded through the Federal Department of Environment’s 20 Million Tree Program in partnership with CO2 Australia.
“Steve and the team at Noosa Landcare Group did a fantastic job at managing a difficult project, and the result is truly fantastic”, said Christopher Ewing, Senior Project Manager at CO2 Australia.
The Elanda Plains site, acquired by QPWS over 20 years ago, provides a vegetated corridor along the western border of Lake Cootharaba and forms part of the lower floodplains of Kin Kin Creek. The planted trees will help to trap and reduce sediment and nutrients entering Lake Cootharaba in times of flood, and will improve the water quality of the Noosa River system.
“We can’t thank enough the assistance provided by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff, in particular the legendary QPWS Ranger Richard Winter. QPWS led the ground preparation works for the project and worked alongside us throughout the process.” said Noosa Landcare’s Steve Husband.
“There is still about 10 hectares or 100,000 trees worth of revegetation to secure funding for before the entire Elanda Plains property is completely revegetated. We are keen to finish it off.”
Ends.
More information
For further images, interview or further information contact Rachel Lyons, Noosa Landcare on Ph 5485 2155 or mobile 0417 078 432 or email bdm@noosalandcare.org
About Noosa Landcare
Established in 1990, Noosa Landcare is a highly awarded not-for-profit organisation based in Noosa Shire Queensland. Noosa Landcare works with landholders, industry and government to promote sustainable natural resource management and conservation through education and implementation of best practice environmental restoration.
