Leitchs Creek Restoration Project

In late 2008, a number of people who value Leitchs Creek decided they wanted to protect and improve the biodiversity of the creek. They wanted to tackle some of the problems the creek is experiencing and formed the Leitchs Creek Restoration Project. Weeds like blackberry, gorse and cape broom are considered significant problems. They were interested in alternative strategies for weed control. LCRP is made up of new and established Landcare members. With support from Pam Manning, then the local Landcare co-coordinator, they received a $2000 promotion and education grant from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) 2nd Generation Landcare Grant Program.

Leitchs Creek Bushland Reserve -Water Ribbons, Poa and Swamp gums

The project covers a small section of Leitchs Creek. The section begins at Mahoneys Road and heads north approximately 1.5km. The original aims were to assess the current state of the creek and then develop a plan to improve the biodiversity of the creek riparian area (the banks and floodplain), this means we want to repair the landscape, help landowners improve their land by protecting soil, reduce weeds, retain existing native vegetation and encourage the regeneration and revegetation of native grasses, shrubs and trees which improves conditions for all fauna (birds, bats, possums, insects etc).

Other goals of the project included distributing information about the project and holding an information day about alternative weed control, which was conducted on 14 March (photo below)

"Walk and Talk" through the reserve on 14 March

 It is important that people like the ones involved with LCRP are increasingly developing and implementing actions for the sustainable use and conservation of native vegetation. Despite these efforts, native vegetation in many parts of Australia has become degraded and fragmented. Native vegetation integrity is at risk from changing land use along with unsustainable clearing, changed water and fire regimes, overgrazing and invasive species (Beeton et al. 2006). Climate change is a further threat and will also exacerbate other threats.

The management plan sets out to assess the threats to the environmental values of this area and puts forward some strategies to deal with these problems

To recieve a pdf copy of the 40 page management plan please email me