High School Students Plant Trees at Gum Bend Lake - Condobolin

Two-hundred salt-tolerant tree and shrub species planted to help counteract salinity

High School Students Plant Trees at Gum Bend Lake - Condobolin

Two-hundred salt-tolerant tree and shrub species planted to help counteract salinity

Taking Action -

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The issue

The Gum Bend Lake at Condobolin has been slowly leaking for quite a period of time and the surrounding land has been suffering from an influx of salinity causing many of the plant species to die. 

National Tree Day provided an opportunity to do something about this so Local Landcare Coordinator Libby Roesner decided to contact the Lachlan Shire Council and Condobolin High Schools to see if a collaborative solution couldn't be found. 

The solution

Communication between the Council and the High School enabled a great partnership to result in a reasonably sized tree planting activity to occur at the Lake.

Land preparation and tree purchases were coordinated by Adrian Milne from Lachlan Shire Council and the High School Agriculture teacher,  Anne Earney was approached to engage her students in a tree planting activity. 

Mal Carnegie from the Lake Cowal Foundation was engaged to provide information about the most suitable trees and shrubs to grow in the saline soil.  He also agreed to come out on the day with his equipment to show the students the techniques for planting and placing guards around the trees.

On the 8th of August 2017, eighteen high school students and their teacher arrived at the Gum Bend Lake site to plant over 200 salt-tolerant trees and shrubs into the prepared ground surrounding the lake. With advice and skills gained from Mal, they planted the trees and shrubs and placed tree-guards around each plant to protect it from the elements.

The impact

The obvious impact of this project will be the improvement in the environment from the establishment of salt-tolerant species that will be able to survive in the saline ground and use the water that has been leaking from the lake. 

However on top of this the young students who took part in the activity will be able to take ownership in the activity and the survival of the trees in their local area.  They also gained some skills in planting the trees and shrubs and in understanding the results of salinity in their local environment. 

Of significant benefit is also the partnerships gained between Condobolin & Districts Landcare and the Lachlan Shire Council, the Condobolin High School and the Lake Cowal Foundation. 

Key facts

  • Over 200 salt-tolerant trees and shrubs planted to hinder the impact of salinity.
  • Young students were able to learn about salinity in their local environment and do something about it.
  • Great partnerships were formed between Landcare, the Council, the High School and the Lake Cowal Conservation Foundation.

Project Partners