Summer Island river bank plantings

Landcare and landholders have joined forces to replant a section of the lower Macleay River.

Summer Island river bank plantings

Landcare and landholders have joined forces to replant a section of the lower Macleay River.

Local Links - Stronger Communities -

LLCI033-096

The issue

Adjoining beef cattle farmers Dianne Walker and Leanne Wright separately contacted the Macleay Landcare Network seeking support to establish trees along a section of river bank on the lower Macleay River. Local Landcare Officer Andy Vinter inspected the site to find it dominated by weeds with a only few young Swamp Oak trees present. Long-time landholder Dianne had planted some of the river bank before, but had little capacity to expand this work. New landholders Leanne and Robert were keen to plant out the river bank but had little experience in this type of work.

The solution

The potential for collaboration on this project was immediately realised. Landcare Officer Andy Vinter quickly recognised the need for developing local community links backed up with sound technical advice.

The first step was to organise a site meeting with both landholders and a weed control contractor to prepare the site for planting.

The next step was to prepare a planting design to restore the original rainforest vegetation type with adjustments made to reflect the exposed environmental conditions at the site. The planting list was based on a local survey and species list prepared by renowned rainforest ecologist Alex Floyd in 1984. Locally found sclerophyl (hard-leaved) species were used on the edge of the plantings to provide shelter from the wind and hasten canopy closure as the rainforest plantings establish.

The impact

Two community planting days were organised to plant 250 trees and shrubs along a 400m section of river bank. The contribution of over 100 hours by Landcare volunteers was critical to the success of these planting days, and was very much appreciated by the landholders. Special thanks go to Rhonda and Peter Minko from Bellbrook Landcare who provided extra support to help organise these planting days, and in the process totally reinvented the traditional sausage sandwich.

Key facts

  • Successful tree planting projects are based on community collaboration and sound technical advice.
  • Planting design should be based on research and an assessment of local site conditions.
  • Red cabbage makes an excellent compliment to the traditional sausage sandwich.

Project Partners