Students get their hands dirty to transform Whites Creek
Students from Frensham are ready to get their hands dirty once again, with a mass planting of native vegetation planned for Whites Creek in Moss Vale next week.
More than 3,600 native species will be planted along a section of the creek, which until two years ago was a neglected, weed-infested area dominated by willows, privets and various other viny and herbaceous weeds.
With the encouragement and support of Moss Vale Landcare Group and adjoining neighbours, a Catchment Protection and Improvement Grant from the Sydney Catchment Authority and funding from Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Environment Levy, this section of public reserve land along Whites Creek is undergoing a massive transformation.
Frensham students have played a central role in the revitalisation of the area and first partnered with Council in 2011 to plant 800 native plants in the section of the creek adjacent to Cosgrove Park.
Mayor of Wingecarribee Shire Council, Councillor Juliet Arkwright, praised the efforts of the students.
“It is heartening to see young people in the region make such a significant contribution to the health of our waterways, and I congratulate the students of Frensham for all of their hard work,” she said.
“It demonstrates the strong community spirit we have here in the Highlands, and we hope they will carry this commitment to environmental protection into their adult life.”
More than 220 students from years 8, 9, 10 and 11 will get their hands dirty again this year, planting, watering and tree-guarding the 3,600 native plants over a period of three days.
The planting will link to the riparian vegetation areas upstream in Cosgrove Park through the stretch of creek which was transformed six weeks ago for National Tree Day Wingecarribee.
Not only will this work provide habitat for native water birds and in-stream fauna, but it will stabilise the creek banks and improve downstream water quality in a catchment area that supplies drinking water for Sydney.