In 2024 Bairnsdale Urban Landcare Group (BULG) celebrates 25 years of protecting, revegetating and promoting the Mitchell River environs, as the river winds its way through the Bairnsdale town area as a natural environmental asset for the community.
Formed in 1999 after a public meeting decried the neglected and degraded state of the river banks, the group is still continuing their amazing work between the Princes Highway and Lind Bridges, along this regionally significant riparian wildlife corridor link.
Since its formation the group has undertaken major collaborative community projects including management of severe exotic and environmental weed problems, development of the walking track circuit, removal of invasive silver poplars, two year adopt-site-project on the north bankand extensive revegetation on both sides of the river.
The group has also established two flower plots to promote local indigenous flower species.
Tens of thousands of plants, hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours, plus countless grant applications and funds from a variety of sources have contributed to create the beautiful surrounds along the Mitchell River Walking Track, accessible to all, rich with biodiversity and alive with increased bird species and wildlife.
“After 25 years the group is still going strong. We continue to focus on planting local indigenous species along the river. We will never recreate what used to be there before the area was cleared but we have managed to get some of the original species planted and thriving. This then supports native birds, animals and insects,” BULG secretary Maxine Semple said.
“We are also very keen to educate our members, and the public in general, about local native plant species and various propagation methods for these plants. We are now able to collect local seed to grow more plants.
“This is very important for us, although nature has been doing this for centuries.”
BULG member Ann Robson added: “It is such a joy to have enthusiastic young members in our group learning, contributing and having fun at our working bees, empowering them to know they can make a difference in this time of climate change.”
The Landcare Group has worked with many partners over the years. Parks Victoria and National Heritage Trust in the early days, while collaboration continues with the East Gippsland Shire Council and the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
“We have worked with people from Noweyung, VCAL students from both the secondary college and the TAFE college as well as taking part in an arts project organised by the East Gippsland Art Gallery,” Ms Semple said.
Each year National Tree Day is celebrated with the Bairnsdale Scout Group and the Bairnsdale Girl Guides.
“This year we also had a group from Odyssey House join us on National Tree Day,” Ms Semple said.
“We are thrilled to maintain and nurture our community connections.”
Bairnsdale Urban’s longest serving member, Pat McPherson, joined the group when she was invited by two friends to help revegetate the north bank site closest to the Lind Bridge. Twenty-two years later she is still planting with the group, but along the whole river bank.
In Pat’s words “Landcare is like eating chocolate; once you start you just can’t stop.”
Bairnsdale Urban Landcare Group Inc holds working bees on the third Saturday morning each month. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
