Planting project to revitalise endangered koala vegetation

Media Release - 17 June 2020

More than 15,000 trees are being planted across four sites in Ingleburn and Macquarie Fields over the coming months as part of Council’s Strategic Koala Revegetation Project.

The project will see a total of 3.9ha, or eight football fields of land, planted.

The project began two weeks ago with the planting of 5000 trees at Loftus Reserve in Macquarie Fields, which will complement works already completed over the past two years as part of Council’s Simmos Beach Catchment Rehabilitation Project.

“This tree planting project will greatly improve critically endangered shale sandstone transition forest vegetation, increase canopy cover and provide important koala habitat,” Mayor George Brticevic said.

“The project is a direct action from our Draft Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management and is also a pillar of our new Koalatown initiative to engage the community, improve key koala corridors and increase koala habitat,” Cr Brticevic said.

“You can also do your bit by getting involved in the Koalatown initiative and making your home and suburb a koala-friendly place,” he said.

A further 10,250 trees will be installed at three sites at Ingleburn Reserve.

Work is already underway to remove weeds, install fencing and prepare the ground for the planting.

The Strategic Koala Revegetation Project is funded by $82,000 from the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees program and $22,000 from Council.