Lithgow - Oberon Landcare Association Inc.

Farmers Creek Landcare

Bringing the Lithgow community together to restore healthy waterways

Capacity building - LEP_23-035_LLC_002

The issue

Originating on the Newnes Plateau and running through Lithgow township, Farmers Creek is an important tributary of the Cox's River and forms part of Sydney Drinking Water catchment.

With water quality and riparian vegetation under threat from historic land clearing, weed infestation and storm water causing erosion, the creek poses complex challenges to land managers and the community.

The solution

In late 2024, following a community request, a regular Farmers Creek Landcare group was formed to undertake bush regeneration works at the western end of town.

A section of creek characterised by incised banks, weeds such as Willows, Blackberry, Broom and Privet as well as discontinuous stretches of remnant native vegetation.  It is also has a highly popular shared bicycle and pedestrian pathway running its length, offering an opportunity to improve local amenity of a popular community walk.

The group aims to increase native vegetation coverage to reduce erosion risks, create a diversity of food sources for pollinators and birds as well as create shade for the pathway adjacent to the site. Additionally, the group will undertake weed control to encourage natural recruitment of native floral species.

Thanks to a donation by local business Lean and Bennett, the group was able to begin its life planting native shrubs and trees along the creek. A mix of Casuarina, Gahnia, Leptospermum, Acacia, Hakea, Callistemon and Eucalyptus was chosen to create multiple layers which will, attract pollinators, birds, and other fauna important for site restoration.

The impact

Due to the popularity of the pedestrian walkway, the site is receiving a lot of community interest from passersby.  

Plantings have already made the site look better, creating linkages between fragments of remnant native vegetation.    

Author: Steven Fleischmann

Key facts

  • Community engagement to build capacity is ongoing and long term.
  • Weed control should be strategic and factor in floral succession and erosion risks.
  • Factoring planting maintenance into workplans is an important element of revegetation success.

Project Partners