Pinaroo & Carribee Multistage Plantings on the Wingecarribee River!
This revegetation project, headed by local champion Ian Royds, is along the riparian zone of the Wingecarribee River.
The Pinaroo property at Burradoo can be seen across the river from the bike track (near the Sullivan Road entrance).
Plantings have been organised by Landcare in partnership with Greening Australia
Carribee Farm has been part of the Rivercare project for decades.
The March/April 2023 planting represented a new phase of the revegetation project.
Over 2500 plants were planted over 4 days, a huge effort for the Landcare Network involving 50 volunteers and coordinated by Ian Royds
Pinaroo Project update 01/11/2023 by Ian Royds
After our third planting day we have now planted 1290 plants on Pinaroo Farm, 43 Railway Rd. Burradoo along the banks of the Wingecarribee River. This is in addition to the 1000 planted with Greening Australia 2 years ago. Our focus was to, with the help of the landowner, clear the riverbanks of feral species (willows, hawthorne, privet, blackberry, honeysuckle… and this will be an ongoing process) and then plant canopy and understorey shrubs close to the riverbanks to provide shade to the water, quality habitat and competition to weed plants. Some of the species were chosen to beautify the landscape, which is visible from the Bowral to Moss Vale walking/cycle track and also for their frost hardiness. All plants have local provenance.
The project was funded both by Rotary (Adopt a Tree program) and a Habitat Action grant from Fisheries NSW to restore riparian health. A donation from VEOLIA Mulwarree Trust helped with some essential supplies and equipment. The banks were slashed and rip lines put in by the owner. We (SHLN) sprayed the rip lines to reduce competition from grasses then marked out and pre-drilled holes to a greater depth. After much advertising and word of mouth, volunteer planters came and all plants were carefully planted with slow release fertiliser tablets, Watersave crystals, cardboard tree guards and thorough watering. We hope for occasional rains through the hot months to rehydrate the water crystals but may have to employ a watering strategy if this does not happen.
Most outcomes were achieved, however, there was some shortfall in plantings due to owners either not wanting some areas planted or because they were unable to clear blackberry canes in time. Floods and bad weather impeded progress.
Blackberries have been sprayed on 'Carribee Farm' and partially cleared on 'The Minnows'. Ongoing follow-up will be needed on both sites for willow and blackberry. Flag iris is a problem along this waterway, which is beyond our capacity to address. 'Pinaroo Farm' has been sprayed for blackberry, honeysuckle and privet, willows and hawthorn have been treated or removed. Ongoing follow-up will be required on this property.
In all, we had over 100 volunteers register for planting days. They were mostly adults, some from afar away as Sydney, including Rotary Group Volunteers and some local school Duke of Edinburgh students from Oxley College
A huge THANK YOU to all those volunteers who came and contributed to this project. It would not have happened without your support.
