VOLUNTEERS will plant trees, shrubs and grasses on the upstream side of the Evans Bridge to encourage biodiversity when Bathurst Regional Council runs a community planting event on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The community planting day is part of a project which aims to rehabilitate the vegetation condition along the Macquarie River upstream of the Sydney Road crossing.
The project will aim to reduce the woody and herbaceous weeds and introduce more native trees, roots and grasses.
IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:
Council's community engagement officer Bill Josh said the river is a resource that deserves to be treated with care.
"Not many cities have a great river like this running through it. We've got it, so we should look after it," he said.
Planting native trees and roots will improve the quality of the riverbanks and stabilise the vegetation in the area, improving biodiversity and giving local wildlife a suitable habitat, Mr Josh said.
Council's environmental programs co-ordinator Kristy Kearney said the community planting projects will have many benefits.
"As the plants mature, they improve the water quality along the Macquarie River, which will reduce the impact on landholders along the Macquarie catchment during the time of floods," she said.
"The trees and roots that are planted here also act like an anchor which stops the erosion of soil. So it has many benefits."
Another focus of the project is to improve the area for the local community to enjoy.
"We want locals to venture down to the Macquarie River and enjoy the parks and the vegetation we have through here, which attracts native wildlife such as the local bird species and kangaroos ... to be able to encounter that here in the Bathurst community is a great thing," Ms Kearney said.
Members of the community who want to get involved are welcome to volunteer.
The planting day will be held this Saturday, September 28 from 10am to 1pm.
