Absalom ABSALOM RESERVE LANDCARE PROJECT This is our newest project, just commencing the regular working bees that are being conducted on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month from 8.30am to 12noon. This project is another of the catchment areas that has been degraded over the years due to the urban expansion and the subsequent pressure put on the storm water drains and the bushland. The project will address the weed issues, erosion and the fragmentation of the former riparian zone. This will involve taking back a large previously mown area and turning it into bushland to widen and protect the current stand of mature bush that is being infested by weed as it is such a long and narrow strip. Planting the drain lines will turn it back into a creek helping with erosion control and improvement of the fragmentation of the wildlife corridor. Bob Singh your neighbour has initiated the work being done on this site but he cannot do it alone. Please spare a few hours a month to help restore this beautiful piece of bushland it is a great way to get fit and meet local people with a common interest. One of the big jobs the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has done was to remove a large stand of Cocos Palms. We asked them just to remove the tops and leave the trunks cut up on site. We have since placed them on the creek bank as frog habitat. After the area is mulched we will place off cuts of black plastic tubing in the mulch near them for the frogs as well. There will be piles of green waste left on site to rot down, this process generally takes from 18months to 2years but it does eventually disappear and part of its’ job is to provide habitat for micro organisms and small lizards birds etc. Contact: Estelle Gough 6583 6508, 0432 141 605 nursery @ landcareportmac.com.au

The very top of the water catchment, infested by weeds big and small Placing logs for frog habitat