Anyone travelling north along the Mid -Western Highway may have noticed a new belt of trees being planted along near the McPhillamy's mine site at Kings Plains.
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That stretch of seedlings is part of Regis Resources' program to link fragmented woodland habitats with native tree corridors around the site.
The site is a continuation of plantings that commenced in 2014 and which has been used as a barometer for which species are best suited to the area.
Trainees and interns from the Skillset Land Works program have been busy planting a variety of species at the site under the supervision of Operations Manager Graham Stirling.
"Site number one was established to create not only a visual screen of the site but also to undertake a species test to see which ones are most suited to the site," he said.
The species being planted cross the full range of Australian natives including Acacias, Eucalyptus, Melaleucas and Callistemons.
Planting between 800 to 1000 trees per day the team of workers have not only been battling some tough terrain, they're also hoping for some moisture to fall during the spring months.
"It's not easy at all, but they water the tubestock as it goes in and the drought is definitely a challenge when you're planting trees," Mr Stirling said.
The 4,500 plants have been planted over four different locations at the site with more to come if the project gets the go ahead.
Regis Manager Special Projects Tony McPaul said that this stage of planting is part of a ten-year program at the site.
"The aim of the program is to link existing native trees and wildlife habitats and provide visual screen for neighbours and surrounding landowners," he said.
The initial number of trees grown for the project was 5,500 and a decision on the remaining 1,000 will be announced by Regis Resources soon.
Species grown include
- Acacia dealbata
- Acacia deanii
- Callistemon citrinus
- Callistemon pallidus
- Eucalyptus blakelyi
- Eucalyptus globulus
- Eucalyptus viminalis
- Eucalyptus melliodora
- Melaleuca armillaris
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
