2023 Carribee Farm plantings on the Wingecarribee River
Carribee Farm has been part of the Rivercare project for decades. The March/April 2023 planting represent a new phase of the revegetation project. Over 2500 plants were planted over 4 days representing a huge effort for the Landcare Network involving 50 volunteers and coordinated by Ian Royds.
Ian Royd's has spent many years of his life establishing and working on revegetation along the Wingecarribee River. It is thanks to his tireless dedication that another 2560 plants are being planted to help revegetate the riparian zone of the river to prevent erosion, improve platypus habitat and connect larger areas of bush to ultimately produce a wildlife corridor. Ian has successfully applied for a grant to pay for plants and other materials. He has also liaised with the landholders and their farm manager to allow the plantings and set up fence and rip planting lines. None of this would be possible without the generous support of the landowners.
16th March - site preparation. Digging holes along rip lines, spray around holes to reduce weed competition and placing stakes to mark holes.
Below is a press release outlining the successful completion of the plantings
Restoring Riparian Habitat: Southern Highlands Landcare Network Leads the Way in Rejuvenating the Wingecarribee River
The Southern Highlands Landcare Network is proud to announce the completion of the planting component of the Fish Habitat Action Grant for their project "Rewilding Burradoo Riparian Zone: Restoring our River." This innovative project aimed to address critical environmental challenges, including bank stability, water quality, biodiversity, and loss of fish habitat, in the Wingecarribee River near Bowral.
According to Ian Royds, the project leader from the Southern Highlands Landcare Network, "We are thrilled to have completed the planting phase of this important project. The support from our dedicated volunteers and the Fish Habitat Action Grant has been invaluable in restoring the riparian habitat along the Wingecarribee River."
Over the past 50+ years, the water quality of the Wingecarribee River had significantly degraded due to historical water discharges into the Sydney catchment, which caused erosion of banks, increased sedimentation, and depleted macrophytes that once filtered the water. Additionally, historical and current grazing practices by farmers had prevented bank stabilisation by plants, exacerbating the issue. The Southern Highlands Landcare Network's project aimed to tackle these challenges head-on and restore the riparian habitat along large sections of the river.
In addition to the environmental restoration efforts, the project also included education initiatives for school students, volunteers, and landholders, as well as the establishment of a database of volunteers for ongoing maintenance and riparian work. This multi-faceted approach ensured that the project's impact would be sustained beyond the initial phase, creating a lasting positive impact on the health and vitality of the Wingecarribee River.
The Southern Highlands Landcare Network, with the help of over 50 dedicated volunteers who participated in the 7 planting days and site preparation days, planted approximately 1800 trees along over 2 km of riverfront. Furthermore, 1.1 km of new fencing and 1 km of repaired fencing were installed, and 2.5 km of weed management was carried out. These outcomes were a testament to the dedication and hard work of the volunteers, and their efforts continue with further maintenance required to ensure the success and longevity of the project.