In February this year, Aurelia Metals signed a Licence Agreement with the Landcare, providing access to the geology shed and surrounding outdoor areas at its Dargues Mine in Majors Creek to propagate tube stock for regional revegetation projects.

After months of preparation, including the installation of a new six by twelve metre polytunnel adjacent to the Geology Shed, Landcare was delighted to welcome the first groups of volunteers on site.

“The August working bees were our first activities and part of a big push to prepare for our spring propagation initiative” says Erin Brinkley, Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Coordinator. “Our Upper Shoalhaven and Upper Murrumbidgee Landcare Networks are rolling out the Southern Tablelands Tree Start Growers program for the 2025-26 growing season, and needed help preparing over 370 native propagation kits for the upcoming sessions in Cooma, Bungendore, Braidwood and Michelago”.

Braving some extremely windy conditions in Majors Creek, the volunteers who attended the working bees were busy washing recycled pots, portioning out shade cloth, soil and perlite, as well as counting and packing boxes, trays, and tubes.

“It was wonderful to have Landcare representatives across the district come to our Nursery hub at Dargues” says Erin, “with local volunteers from Araluen and Bombay, as well as those travelling from Carwoola, Queanbeyan and Numeralla! Many hands certainly made light work - with the volunteers smashing our target and over 400 propagation kits packed and ready to go. We couldn't have done it without them”.

Last year, the Southern Tablelands Tree Start Growers Network supported almost 70 growers, with over 300 kits distributed. This year the project is a little more ambitious, with increased grant sponsorship from the NSW Government Koala Strategy and Mary MacKillop Today allowing Landcare to support over 100 volunteer growers and 400 kits to propagate some twenty thousand native tube stock. These plants will hopefully be ready for a range of local community revegetation projects in autumn 2026.

“Without access to the Geology Shed at Dargues, this project wouldn’t be possible at this scale. When you’ve got hundreds of kits, pallets of supplies and a production line of washing, drying and packing, it’s great to have the space, especially when it was blowing a gale and everyone could retreat and continue working in the shed” Erin adds.

The Lease Agreement between Landcare and Aurelia Metals at the Dargues Mine extends to December 2027, and was made possible by the strong co-operation between the Dargues environment and management team, and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare representatives.

Aurelia Chief Development and Technical Officer, Andrew Graham said the mutually beneficial Agreement highlights the Company’s commitment to rehabilitation.

“Giving Landcare access to the first-rate facility at our Dargues Mine will help them carry out their important work for the local area. Aurelia is committed to rehabilitating the Dargues Mine to a very high standard and enhancing the biodiversity value of the land on which we have operated. The Agreement will help us achieve these goals,” Andrew said. 

After a successful first two working bees, Landcare can look forward to hosting more volunteer activities on site, with plans for other native seed collection and propagation initiatives in the works.