Vegetation along the New Highway Harvey’s February report follows: It will be noticed that the Princes Highway realignment project from Toolijooa to Berry has commenced. The most notable aspect of this is the removal of many mature trees from in and, in some places, outside the new alignment. This is necessary if we are to rid Berry of the heavy through traffic. The landscaping that will be part of the project will include the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses along the road verges. The RMS will take responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of this vegetation. Those areas disturbed outside the alignment such as ancillary, storage and stockpile areas will be restored back to their as found state. The contractor Fulton and Hogan is responsible for this work. The contract for the work requires the planting to be local native plants propagated from local seed stock. Many of these plants are not generally to be found in commercial nurseries. This is a bold and unique undertaking by Roads & Maritime Services. Large numbers of seedlings will be required and these require long lead times to be produced. The propagation of local native plants has been going on in Berry and other areas of the Illawarra for many years but not at the scale that will meet the needs of this project. Landcare is has been interested in this idea of using Native Stock since it has been engaged in discussions with the RMS during the planning stage of the project. Illawarra Landcare is significantly involved with the contractor in meeting the specified requirements of the works. Members of Berry Landcare are also collecting seed and propagating seedlings. Native plants can be very difficult to propagate. Collection needs to be at exactly the right time to be fertile but not taken by birds. Often propagation can only start if the seeds are processed in a very specific way. Anyone interested learning how and when to gather native seed and how to propagate them please contact Lyn Clark (44643911). Weed and Native of the Month: Asparagus Fern: Not actually a fern. A many branched perennial herb with a dense covering of fine pine-like foliage with scattered spines above ground and a dense mat of tuberous roots underground. It reproduces vegetatively and from seed. Flowers are white or pale pink and fruit is a red globular berry. It is dispersed by birds and dumping of garden refuse. A major problem in many areas. Remove all tubers when digging it out. Prickly Rasp Fern. Pretty little fern with bright pinky-orange new growth makes a good ground cover for a shady site. It will tolerate full sun and is drought tolerant. Spreads by underground runners. Working Bees for February 2015: Bong Bong Road: 9-11am Sunday 8th February Broughton Vale: 3-5pm Sunday 1st February Bundewallah Bushcare: 3-5pm Sunday 22nd February Camp Quality: 9-11am Sunday 15th February Moeyan Hill: 3-5pm Saturday 21st February at the Borrowdale Close entrance. Mount Coolangatta: 1-3 pm Saturday 21st February at end of Roxbrough Rd, Far Meadow. Be on time to get a lift to site. Mark Radium Park: 9-10am Friday 27th February Princess Street: 9:30-11:30am Tuesday 24th February Tindalls Lane: 3-5 pm Sunday 8th February. Contacts: Berry Landcare has eleven Landcare, Bushcare and Parkcare groups which care for a wide variety of sites throughout the Berry district. Most hold a monthly working bee lasting two hours. Residents interested in volunteering are invited to contact the relevant site coordinator. Bong Bong Road Landcare: Julia Woinarski 4464 2084. Broughton Vale Bushcare: Philip Thorniley 4464 2198. Bundewallah Bushcare: John Clark 4464 3327. Camp Quality Bushcare: Jeanne Highland 4464 1271. David Berry Hospital Bushcare: Philip Thorniley 4464 2198. Mark Radium Parkcare: Rodney Cole 4464 1475. Moeyan Hill: Bill Pigott 44643241 or [email protected]. Mount Coolangatta Bushcare: Myke Cunningham 0418 297 435 or [email protected]. Princess Street Parkcare: John Cullity 0414 362 609, 4464 3327. Strongs Road Landcare: Ian Parker 4448 6359 or [email protected]. Tindalls Lane Landcare: Harvey Blue 4464 1880 or Jim Jefferis 4464 2988. Information can also be found at Berry Landcare on Facebook.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:11:09 +0000
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