Tucked away on the hill, near the corner of Emerald-Monbulk Rd and Kallista-Emerald Rosd, is the site of an old quarry and a haven for the endemic ‘Emerald Star Bush’.
Johns Hill Landcare worked with Cardinia Shire Council and the neighbouring community during National Volunteer Week to revegetate the historic Bob James Emerald Quarry Reserve.
About 30 volunteers came along to the 6.4 hectare bushland reserve on Sunday 19 May to take part in the community tree planting session and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea.
They planted 550 indigenous plants into about 2600m3 of soil at the base of the old quarry.
The Bob James Emerald Quarry Reserve is managed by Cardinia Council and is home to one of the largest populations of the ‘Emerald Star Bush’, which is threatened with extinction in Victoria.
This species is only found in the region of Selby to Emerald and Monbulk.
The Trust for Nature organisation purchased some land and received a bequest from Bob James.
In 2013, they donated approx. 2.1 hectares of the land to add to the Cardinia Council bushland reserve creating the 6.4 hectare Bob James Emerald Quarry Reserve we know today.
Cardinia Council and Johns Hill Landcare have worked together over many years to protect and enhance biodiversity by increasing the extent and improving the quality of native vegetation across the municipality.
Watch out for more community events including National Tree Day to be held at Pepisland in
Emerald on Sunday 28 July from 10am to 1 pm.
