Community partnerships bring healthy results

A partnership between nine local organisations has delivered benefits for the groups, the community and the local environment

Community partnerships bring healthy results

A partnership between nine local organisations has delivered benefits for the groups, the community and the local environment

Local Links - Stronger Communities -

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The issue

Many Landcare groups enjoy undertaking projects which help restore and enhance their local environment, but the significant work involved requires strong, continued participation by members to sustain enthusiasm.

The solution

Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare (WWUL) has been able to enhance participation and generate enthusiasm through a series of beneficial partnerships established with a variety of local organisations.

The process started with an offer from local Wagga Wagga builder, Stroud Homes, to fund WWUL to plant 15 native seedlings for every new home they build. This provided the group with sufficient funds to purchase the seedlings and guards, as well as pay contractors to undertake ground preparation.

When determining a suitable site for plantings, WWUL approached the Riverina Local Land Services, who quickly suggested a section of a local Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR), which they offered to fence off. Here the plantings will provide habitat and biodiversity, and also valuable shelter for livestock on the TSR. 

Murrumbidgee Landcare, through the Local Landcare Coordinator initiative, provided support in managing and promoting activities, while Charles Sturt University provided the use of a trailer with water cart, enabling us to water in the seedlings after planting.

A further partnership came with CarbonMate, who provided Australian Standard AS4454 quality compost to help retain soil moisture and improve establishment of the seedlings. CarbonMate also conveniently distributed the compost around the site, making the planting process easy for volunteers.

As most Landcarer’s know, planting seedlings can be backbreaking work, and the prospect of planting 640 seedlings with just a few helpers can be daunting. Luckily 25 WWUL volunteers came along to help, along with 31 volunteers from three local Rotary groups. The Rotary groups also contributed to seedling costs, through their commitment to the Rotary International Tree Planting Challenge.

The impact

While the coordination of many partners can be a tricky process, the outcomes clearly demonstrate the benefits - a successful revegetation project, shared workload, diversified funding sources and new relationships are a lasting benefit for all involved.

Key facts

  • Number of partner organisations = 9
  • Number of volunteers involved = 56
  • Number of native seedlings planted = 640

Project Partners