WITH spring on the horizon Armidale Urban Rivercare Group (AURG) have mapped out the new season planting programme for the Dumaresq Creek rehabilitation project.
Working bees will be held every second Sunday morning of the month, except December. This Sunday, 11 August, a working bee will be held at Douglas Street to undertake maintenance of earlier plantings south of the creek. Spokesperson Angus Adair said at last week’s planning meeting, that August is still a bit cold for planting-out but there is a good chance for a fine day for working in the creek lands.
The first spring planting will be on 9 September when AURG will organise the National Tree Planting Day for Armidale at Elizabeth Park. Elizabeth Park will be a focus for work this spring as AURG works towards linking existing plantings at Elizabeth Park and behind the St Peters Preschool on Trim Street. This work will be undertaken both south and north of the creek.
At last week’s meeting Angus acknowledged the ongoing support of Council funding for maintenance work within the existing plantings of native shrubs and trees along Dumaresq Creek. This support was crucial in allowing AURG to expand the creek rehabilitation work in new areas using funding from the Commonwealth Biodiversity grant. Funding is in hand for the Elizabeth Park to St Peter’s Preschool work. Angus also welcomed news that the Armidale City Bowling Club was continuing its planting programme along the north side of Dumaresq Creek east of Taylor Street this summer.
The ongoing support for AURG by the Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club was also gratefully acknowledged by Angus Adair. They will provide morning tea and a barbecue lunch at the working bee this Sunday for a gold coin donation. Anyone interested in participating this Sunday between 9am and 12:30 should look for the AURG signs where Douglas Street meets the south side of the creek. Please wear long sleeves, a hat and suitable footware and bring a pair of gloves.
