Plant 1000 trees and help restore Simmos Beach Catchment

Residents are invited to help restore the natural environment of the Simmos Beach Catchment and plant native trees for koalas and other native species to call home.

A community planting event is being held 9am to 12pm,  Sunday 23 November at Fifth Avenue Reserve where residents can help plant 1000 plants and replace weed trees with native species.

Mayor George Brticevic encouraged local people to come along to the tree planting day and help restore native habitat.

“A project like this will further improve the green tree canopy of our city and provide our precious wildlife, including koalas, with important habitat,” Cr Brticevic said.

“This is a great opportunity to show your community pride and get involved. You may even spot the local koala and her joey who frequent the area,” he said.

The planting day is part of the Simmos Beach Rehabilitation Project operated by Council and the Georges Riverkeeper with grant funding from the NSW Environmental Trust.

Stage one of the project has been completed and included treatment of weeds within the Simmos Beach Catchment through Fifth Avenue Reserve, Loftus Reserve and Simmos Beach Reserve.

During stage two, 7000 trees, shrubs and groundcovers will be replanted through all sections of the project site.

Georges Riverkeeper manager, Beth Salt said the project would make the area more visually appealing and liveable for residents as well as having significant environmental benefits.

“It will help eliminate the seed sources of exotic plant species in the upper reaches of the Georges River and improve biodiversity in the local area to make it more habitable to vulnerable species like platypus and koala,” she said.

“Grant funded projects that support Bushcare groups like this one allow contractors to come in and do the work that the volunteers can’t. This adds to the value of the project and the overall outcomes of what Bushcare is trying to achieve.”