|
|
Page Last Updated:
Friday, 7 November 2008 |
|
|
Home>Media Release - The Kerang Landcare Group Completes Project
| The Kerang Landcare Group has been actively protecting the Loddon River for the past couple of years with the help of 2nd Generation Landcare Funding.
This year the group completed another phase of the project by removing willows along the Loddon River and planting native trees along its banks instead. On Sunday 5 October the Kerang Landcare Group, with help from the Kerang Rotary Club, planted 100 trees and erected informational signage regarding willows along the Loddon River near Kerang.
Twelve volunteers from both groups were involved in completing this phase of the Kerang Landcare’s Loddon River willow removal project. Earlier this year, willows had been removed from areas along the Loddon River, opening the sites up for re-colonisation of native gum trees and other understory species. Near one such site, volunteers erected signage explaining the need to manage willows in the natural environment.
Since there were many hands to help, the working bee went smoothly and the tree planting and signage installation took less than half a day.
“A lot can be accomplished in a small amount of time with many willing volunteers,” said Tim Nitschke of the Kerang Landcare Group.
Once the work was completed, the volunteers from both groups attended a ‘thank you for a job well done’ barbeque at Atkinson’s Park in Kerang. The barbeque provided a much needed social opportunity for both groups.
Andrew Lane, a volunteer who also supplied the seedlings for the working bee, will be doing follow-up watering for the group to enable the seedlings to become established.
“It is important to care for this waterway because many flora and fauna species rely on the Loddon River for habitat. Even protecting the river in a small area can have significant environmental benefits, including a decrease in weed species and an increase in native species further downstream,” said Gannawarra Shire Council’s Landcare Coordinator Sheri Streilein.
The Kerang Landcare Group will be meeting on Sunday 30 November at 3pm at Reedy Lake. If you are interested in attending please contact the group’s President, Ben Hall, on 5452 2125 or Sheri Streilein, Landcare Coordinator, on 5450 9333.
| |
|
 | | A site along the Loddon River before willow removal |
 | | The same site after willow removal |
| |
| |
|