Revegetating Dubbo whilst Sowing the Seeds of Connection
Through the 2025 Healthy Cities Landcare Grant funded by Bupa Australia, Mid Macquarie Landcare was able to provide 2000 endemic native plants to communal spaces across the Dubbo LGA.
Capacity building - LP-25148-01
The issue
Mid Macquarie Landcare (MML) applied for the 2025 Healthy Cities Landcare Grant funded by Bupa Australia late last year. This project was started by a previous Coordinator, and then taken on by myself upon starting with MML. There were genuine challenges within the initial stages of this project, and a steep learning curve, but the result has been well worth the time and effort invested.
The main challenge was finding suitable sites that would be approved by Dubbo Regional Council, and that would equally provide a direct and substantial community benefit to the LGA.
The solution
Through generous consult with the local council, and a revision of the original proposal we successfully acquired two locations across Dubbo to implement the revegetation works. Plants were selected for the sites in reference to the existing Plant community types (PCTs). This meant the plants selected were endemic to the specific revegetation location. However, this came with its own challenges, as numerous plants on the lists were not commonly available in the local nurseries. This resulted in us being able to work with and support numerous native nurseries within NSW and share the love. These included – Weddin Community Native Nursery, Lithgow & District Community Nursery, Hawkesbury Community Nursery, Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum, and ICAN Nursery.
A total of 2000 plants were sourced, consisting of 200 grasses/herbs, 1300 shrubs/midstory, and 500 canopy species. 35 different species were achieved overall, which included a personal favourite – Bursaria spinosa, a flowering native favoured by a wide variety of our precious invertebrates and bird species.
The impact
This project is ongoing. So far we have been able to successfully run a community planting event at our major planting site in Police Paddock and provide an educational reptile show was provided by Wambangalang Education Centre for all our generous volunteers. A second planting at Biddybungie Reserve in Dubbo has proceeded, with the help of Community Corrections. We have also been able to engage local community groups such as Dubbo Rivercare, and Dubbo Field Naturalists to run their own smaller plantings, which has allowed us to extend our reach in terms of community engagement. This opportunity has strengthened our relationship with the council, and through engaging with local community groups we have been able to create further engagement in the site and in the short term and longer-term success of this project. It is my hope that with enough eyes and ears on the ground, the care for and use of this site continues to grow, and for it to become a regularly used and enjoyed green space and haven for the broader community and local fauna species.