Over the past ten years, revegetation and weed control has been done by UNE Landcare (UNEL), UNE Facilities Management Services (FMS) and the Armidale Urban Rivercare Group (AURG) on Dumaresq Creek, near SportUNE.
After serious flooding in November and December 2011, the ‘Campus Creek Cleanout’ (CCCO) project started as a partnership between UNEL, FMS and AURG. Growth of exotic in-stream vegetation, like willows and poplars, over the past twenty to thirty years formed a barrier to the easy flow of water and debris in Dumaresq Creek. Early this year FMS and contractors began the removal of in-stream willows and poplars as the first stage of the CCCO project, focusing on Dumaresq Creek between Elm Avenue and the causeway near Robb College.
The first stage of the CCCO allowed UNEL to secure an $18,750 grant from the Federal Government’s Community Action Grant program for stage two — planting! Support for the CCCO project from FMS, including the clearing and preparation of planting sites, has allowed UNEL to focus almost all of its efforts and funding on revegetation. Over the next six months, UNEL is aiming to plant 10,000 native trees and plants along Dumaresq Creek in a series of community planting working bees.
The ‘10,000 Trees’ campaign is a massive revegetation effort and UNEL needs your help to make it happen. These plantings will help stabilise the creekbanks, provide food and habitat for wildlife, increase biodiversity values on campus, increase the area of native vegetation at the university, and hopefully engage staff and students of the university. On Sunday, November 11 the first 1500 native grass, shrub and tree seedlings will be planted near the ‘Goat Track’. Come along from 9.00am til 1.00pm and get your hands dirty. Bring your family and friends along for a relaxed and fun morning with UNE Landcare and the Armidale Urban Rivercare Group. A FREE BBQ lunch and morning tea will be provided for all volunteers.
Everyone is welcome to be involved in the 10,000 Trees — Campus Creek Cleanout project. If you are interested or have any questions about the project, please contact Ellen Nyberg at Southern New England Landcare (ellen@snelcc.org.au or 6772 9123) or visit unelandcare.wordpress.com.
