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Thanks to the special $10 million Drought Recovery Round of the Australian Government Envirofund, the Donald and Distict Landcare Group has been offered $26,219 to help restore and protect our local environment from the savage affect of the drought.
The riparian vegetation within the project area can be divided into two pre 1750 Ecological Vegetation Classes: - Creekline Grassy Woodland (Avon Weir to the Laen-Cope Cope Road); -Floodplain Riparian Woodland (Laen-Cope Cope Road to 1km upsteam of Lake Buloke) Recent assessments reveal that only 4% of the riparian tree cover is in good condition, displaying a wide continuous and native tree canopy. Aproxiamately 96% is considered in marginal condition (NCCMA, 2002, Stream Health Summary). Over 100 hectares of river frontage, sometimes to a width of 200 metres, will be revegetated and protected. This will help to protect the waterway; lower groundwater levels; improve water quality; restore biodiversity and habitat values; reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients entering the river, and increase the area's amenity. The species list will include plants that will enhance the understorey and/or reintroduce species lost to the area. Planting and quarding of 15,000 seedlings will take place in April/May 2004, and will include a Planting Day organised with volunteers from Melbourne, through Donald and District's existing partnership with the Hobson's Bay City Council. This project will enhance the links with the Buloke Bio-link Project and has further links to the Donald Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP)by reflecting community aspirations indentified during development of the NEIP proposal. The project will erect 5 kms of protective fencing and remove litter and other rubbish from the project area. The Group has formed a project committee and will be working in with Donald 2000 who have also received a grant. Donald 2000 will be using their money to improve the river environment from Donald to Lake Buloke by removing litter and rubbish from a 5km length of the Richardson River and Myer's Island Reserve. They will establish litter traps at two storm water outlets and create a diverse stream habitat. |
