The Farmers Creek Habitat and Hollows Project

Lithgow Council has received funding from the Environment and Waterways Alliance for the Farmers Creek Habitat and Hollows Project. 

Many of our native birds and mammals need habitat hollows (the cavities that form in a tree trunk or branch) to survive and thrive. Naturally occurring tree hollows take around 100 years to develop, and are often in short supply in urban areas such as Lithgow. Creating man-made habitat hollows in old or dead trees or installing nest boxes is becoming a key strategy in supporting local wildlife in many areas across the country.

Lithgow City Council has received funding from the Environment and Waterways Alliance for the Farmers Creek Habitat and Hollows Project. Lithgow Mayor Ray Thompson said today “A key element of this project is to support biodiversity within the Farmers Creek precinct by creating supplementary habitat for hollow-dependent fauna, including birds, bats and gliders, within the degraded riparian corridor.”

Artificial hollows and nesting boxes have been shown to improve breeding and nesting opportunities for local fauna populations in the absence of other suitable sites. Even though Farmers Creek has been the site of many revegetation activities, the work we do now is still many years from providing suitable habitat to support local fauna populations.

Council has secured considerable investment to improve the riparian zone in the long term through the Farmers Creek Precinct Master Plan; the Habitat and Hollows Project will help to support biodiversity in the interim.

Lithgow Council will be working with Lithgow Oberon Landcare to engage local residents, schools or community groups to monitor hollows through the Hollows as Homes web app.  Any local residents wanting to get involved in volunteering for such a project can contact the local Landcare on (02) 6354 9999.

Contact:    Andrew Muir Director Economic Development & Environment Tel: 02 6354 9999 Fax: 02 6351 4259