Collaborative community planting day
Coming together to support progress towards a shared vision of restoring lowland subtropical “big scrub” rainforest habitat and riparian areas along Maguires Creek at Teven Memorial Park. A longstanding project by Tuckombil Landcare Group.
Efficiency - LEP_23_033_RLI_09
The issue
Teven Memorial Park sits at the base of the Alstonville plateau on Maguires Creek which flows into Emigrant Creek west of Ballina. Maguires Creek has a rich diversity of aquatic species including platypus, turtles, eels, bass, mullet and unfortunately, carp. Big Scrub rainforest once covered this area but much of this was cleared after colonisation and consequently, the area became infested with invasive weed species and the riparian area became compromised, increasing the negative and devastating impacts of flood events common in this area.
The solution
Tuckombil Landcare Group, with support from Ballina Shire Council, have been working in this park since 1991 and have done an incredible job managing and removing invasive weed species including Camphor Laurel and Coral Trees, replanting the riparian areas and restoring the big scrub species here. After some years of pause due to ongoing heavy rain and flash-flood events, Tuckombil Landcare Group partnered with Richmond Landcare Inc., OzFish Unlimited and Ballina Shire Council to host a community planting day event to welcome the Autumn planting season of 2026.
The impact
The morning was spent planting 1,500 big scrub species funded by Tuckombil Landcare Group and supplied by Firewheel native nursery who assisted with species selection. Thirty dedicated and driven community members joined staff and volunteers from Richmond Landcare Inc, OzFish Unlimited, Back to Bushland, and Tuckombil Landcare Group to get work happening in the park again, planting two different sections of riparian area and extending previous planting efforts throughout the park. It was a wonderful collaborative community effort!
This community planting day event was part of OzFish Unlimited Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership with Landcare NSW, with funding support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing. Supported by Ballina Shire Council, Tuckombil Landcare Group, Richmond Landcare Incorporated, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Back to Bushland.
Learnings
Collaboration was the key to a successful community planting day. Coming together with different groups all working towards a shared vision and sharing this vision with the wider community made this day a success. Better yet, those who helped plant these trees can return to the park at any time to see how they are growing. Getting plants in the ground is one thing. Watching them grow bigger and stronger each year is the most rewarding part.
Key facts
- 6 participating organisations
- 1,500 plants planted
- 80m riparian frontage planted
- 30 participants