The Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) has teamed up with Powerlink Queensland and St Laurence’s College to revegetate and enhance an important biodiversity corridor in Runcorn.
The St Laurence’s College Runcorn Playing Fields Rehabilitation and Revegetation Project will improve the environmental values of a local site adjacent to Bulimba Creek and traversed by Powerlink’s Algester to Runcorn transmission line.
B4C’s Lisa Bannister welcomed the partnership as an opportunity to consolidate the strategic biodiversity corridor connecting Flinders Peak to the Bay Islands, a vital link in the Bulimba Creek catchment.
“Through targeted weed removal, plant recovery, tree plantings and water monitoring, this project will tackle creek bank erosion, increase vegetation density, rehabilitate habitat for native wildlife and improve water quality,” Ms Bannister said.
“These activities will build on previous rehabilitation work completed at the site in 2007. While some riparian areas are well vegetated, large gaps are still present,” she said.
Powerlink Chief Executive Merryn York said the project also has a strong educational focus to highlight the importance of environmental conservation among St Laurence’s College students and local residents.
“Representatives from Powerlink and B4C will visit St Laurence’s in the coming weeks to inform students about the importance of looking after our catchments and the approach Powerlink takes to protect the environment,” Ms York said.
“We will also be inviting students and volunteers to join Powerlink and B4C later this year to roll up their sleeves and plant 300 native plants to help revegetate the corridor.”
Ms York said Powerlink has worked alongside B4C since 2002 on several environmental projects to support their efforts in restoring the Bulimba Creek catchment with some great improvements achieved over the years.
“We are proud to have supported this hard working team with rehabilitating and protecting Bulimba Creek and are looking forward to delivering great outcomes in the Runcorn area,” she said.
St Laurence’s College Vice Principal John Butterworth said he was appreciative of the opportunity to work with B4C and Powerlink to share knowledge and enhance the environment at the school’s playing fields.
“This project will enable our students to strengthen their understanding of the local environment and contribute to enhancing the conservation values of this important site.”
The project concluded in December 2017.
