Restoring the Fursman Estate Wetland ~ Upper Enoggera Creek
The site was initially a Singapore Daisy infested wetland area and a Lantana infested bench. The restoration has been undertaken slowly in order to retain the habitat that these weeds were providing for native wildlife. The majority of the Lantana has been retained and provides a great home for the many small birds which utilise the site.
The project has been undertaken over the past 9 months and is due for completion in June 2007.
Before: Lantana and Singapore Daisy infest the site
Several stages of the project are described below. SOWN plan to celebrate the conclusion of the project with a final planting on the site by SOWN members and friends.
Keep an eye on our emails and come along this Autumn to see the dramatic changes!
Stage 1 – Weeding and planting the top bench
The area includes a ‘top bench’ above the wetland where 20% of the total Lantana was removed. Some 800 trees are now progressing well here despite the drought.
The replacement planting is a mix of insect pollinated plants and dense, spiky, native plants which are know to be natural alternatives to Lantana. In time they will provide cover for the small birds using the site and we will be able to remove a little more of the Lantana.
Suncorp volunteers planting the top bench
Stage 2 – Jute Matting and Planting the Bank
Just below this bench is a steep bank which was planted with the aid of a Conservation Volunteers Aaustralia (CVA) team over two days.
The CVA team jute matted and planted the steep bank with over 350 trees.
CVA Team laying jute mat on steep bank Photo Ben Blanche
Stage 3 ~ Spraying of Singapore Daisy
For the wetland area, the Singapore Daisy was sprayed in sections over the past six months. The dry weather made this a relatively easy task and the two sections that have already been planted have benefited from recent rains.
The Final stage – A SOWN Planting!
Keep your eyes posted for the date confirmation!
Come along, plant a few trees and enjoy a sausage sizzle afterwards.
Photo: Athol Brown, SOWN site coordinator for Yoorala Street West
Update: successful planting held 29 April
We had a great turnout for a very pleasant morning’s planting in the dry creekbed, populating the area with Carex, lomandras, dianellas and sandpaper figs, all species that will relish the low-lying swampy conditions.
Photo: Mark Crocker
Subsoil moisture is not too far away. There is quite a big pool upstream that is seeping through underground.
Photo: Mark Crocker
This area was recently a camphor-laurel infested disaster zone. Now, the bones of a good reveg are in place, and with a little maintenance over the next couple of years, should be an excellent buffer to limit downstream weed dispersal.
Photo: Mark Crocker
