By BEN CAMERON
A four-year project to revegetate Emerald Lake Park with more than 500 new trees and shrubs has also significantly reduced rabbit numbers in the area and installed better protections for local wombats.
Cardinia shire’s first interactive trail will also be installed later this year featuring visual and audio information accessed through smartphones.
The Emerald Lake Park Vegetation Management Project – a joint effort between Cardinia Shire Council and Friends of Emerald Lake Park – began in 2012 and has seen a large number of woody weeds removed from the park.
Zoned areas have been revegetated with local species that were present in the park before weed invasion including blackwood wattles, eucalyptus native mint bush and indigenous grasses.
Council weed management officer Marianne Sawyer said the new species would help to re-establish habitat for plants and animals and create a unique blend of native, heritage and European species that are rarely found living in the same environment.
“Council has received huge support from Friends of Emerald Lake Park in delivering this revegetation program.
“The group has co-ordinated many community planting days and weed-pulling events which have greatly enhanced the park’s natural environment,” she said.
As part of the park’s revegetation program rabbit numbers have been reduced through non-chemical methods while a new health program will protect the park’s wombats from the sometimes deadly effects of mange by installing flaps coated with medication on wombat burrows.
Council is also installing educational signs along the park’s trails and at its environment centre.
Ranges Ward councillor Tania Baxter said the park was one of the shire’s natural gems.
“It is vital council and the community work together to protect its habitats, waterways and wildlife so the park can be enjoyed by current and future generations,” she said.
The project is funded by a $600,000 Department of Primary Industries grant.
The council will host its annual Weedbusters Week Trees for Weeds Swap event on Saturday 6 September from 10am until 2pm at Emerald Library and outside Woolworths Beaconsfield.
Visitors can bring garden weeds to receive free indigenous plants.
Friends of Emerald Lake Park will host community planting days at Emerald Lake Park on Sunday 14 and 20 September.
For all event details, visit the council’s online events calendar on the home page of its website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/calendar.
