Sacred Heart College Kyneton has received a welcome $4900 funding boost for its Campaspe River revegetation project.
Delivered through Landcare Australia’s Junior Landcare program and funded by the Victorian Government, the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants provide young people with the opportunity to engage in hands-on biodiversity focused projects that encourage them to value and actively care for Victoria’s natural environment.
“Our school backs on to the Campaspe River and for many years we have been working to remove weeds and restore some form of indigenous riparian strip,” SHC principal Dr Darren Egberts said.
“There have been several efforts at spraying, cutting and grooming of woody weeds, followed by several rounds of plantings and follow up weed control to reduce competition from invasive introduced species.
“We are now ready to do another round of weed control, replanting, nest box placement and follow up weed control to reduce competition for new plantings.”
Last Wednesday, Brendan and Paul from Campaspe River and Land Management Group, aided SHC students and staff in the planting along the river.
Brendan also provided materials for the planting and donated several Australian anchor plants (Discaria pubescens), that are listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and are rare in Victoria.
Year 11 and 12 Environmental Studies students were involved in planting across the morning as part of this revegetation project.
The college will oversee ongoing maintenance and weed control with an aim of reducing competition from introduced species, and the students will monitor the success of the planting in the months ahead.
