Central Coast Council will celebrate National Tree Day by hosting two community planting events at Killcare Beach and Porters Creek Wetland, Wyong, on Sunday, July 27.
Everyone is invited to go along to help preserve precious local environments with fresh plantings and enjoy the free event festivities.
Council’s Director of Environmental and Planning Luke Nicholls said that since its inception by Planet Ark in 1996, National Tree Day had become Australia’s largest community tree planting event and locally our community had embraced this initiative.
“Last year, our local community and environmental volunteers joined forces to plant over 2,000 shrubs, groundcovers and trees at our two events – and this year we aim to plant even more,” he said.
“The two event locations have been selected for their different environments, with both being ecologically important in terms of biodiversity and sustainability.
“Porters Creek Wetlands plays a vital role in managing flooding, filtering storm water, and improving water quality before entering Wyong River and Tuggerah Lakes.
“This event will support an important project aimed at restoring roosting and foraging habitat for native and threatened species, including the critically endangered Swift Parrot.
“Our goal for tree planting at Killcare Beach is to improve the area’s native dune vegetation which helps stabilise and reduce the risk of erosion and provides habitat and food sources for our local native fauna species.
“Shrubs, trees and ground covers specific for each location are being grown by environmental volunteers at our depot nursery and were chosen for their adaptation to the local area and ability to withstand coastal conditions.”
Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said he was looking forward to joining the community as they contributed in a very practical way to help the Coast’s environmental health.
“This is a chance to do something that will have a lasting impact,” he said.
“I especially encourage children and young people to get involved, come along and enjoy a great day out with your local community and plant the trees of their future.
“Every tree helps, so if you’re not able to make it to one of our events why not plant a tree at work, school or home.”
The planting events will be held at Killcare Beach (Beach Dr) and Porters Creek Wetland (Wyong Christian Community School, 100 Alison Rd, Wyong) and will take place from 9am to 1pm.
Acknowledgment of Country will start at 8.30am with a traditional smoking ceremony at Killcare.
Tree plantings and other event activities will commence from 9am.
For more event information or to join Council’s Environmental Volunteer Program, search ‘Environmental groups’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
