Branching out to restore biodiversity

Published on 30 May 2023

If you’ve gone past some of our reserves lately and seen bare areas of land covered in mulch, you might be wondering what’s going on.

The answer is that it’s all part of plans to restore habitat for native wildlife.

Biodiversity officer Sabine Koolen says that the Council is taking a sustainable approach by preparing the site with mulch at least two years before planting.

“This improves soil health and reduces the need for weed control. It’s a win-win for managing biodiversity.”

Their restoration process involves planting dense shrubs that grow quickly to smother weeds. Then, several years later, new species are added to fill any gaps, and large shrubs are removed to introduce even more diversity. The result is a habitat that’s suitable for native wildlife.

“We want to create an environment that supports native wildlife while also managing the City’s biodiversity sustainably,” said Sabine.

So, next time you see a bare mulched area in a local reserve, you’ll know that it’s all part of our plans to support native wildlife and green our City.

Greenway Reserve - just after replanting

Above: Greenway Reserve was bare mulch prior to a planting event. 

Below: Greenway Reserve as it is today with plants and trees flourishing. 

4 staff at Greenway Reserve after replanting

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