THERE was a riverside picnic with a twist in a bend in the Condamine River at Warwick.
The Condamine Alliance hosted the morning tea on Tuesday to show appreciation to the many people who had been involved in the group’s revegetation activities along the Condamine.
Community members have planted 1100 trees along eight sections of the river in Warwick as part of the first phase in the Condamine Alliance Enrich project.
Another 950 plants went into the ground in other areas between Killarney and Cecil Plains.
Condamine Alliance River manager Kevin Graham said the support from the Warwick community had been tremendous.
“We’ve received a great response from people to help us restore biodiversity, protect riverbanks and increase connectivity for a healthier river,” Mr Graham said.
“Looking after our rivers takes a community-wide effort and we want to say thank you to everyone who has helped us so far,” he said.
“Projects like this do not happen by their own so we felt it was important to recognise the great work that has been done this year.”
The Enrich project, which is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund, aims to rehabilitate 650 hectares along the Condamine River in two main stretches between the Condamine Headwaters above Killarney to Cecil Plains.
The project assists local land managers to revegetate, remove weeds, control feral pigs, install off-stream watering points and fence waterways.
The project’s second phase will include more schools and groups to expand the revegetation work along local waterways in Killarney, Clifton and Allora.
More than 260 students from Warwick East State School, Scots PGC College, Warwick State High School and Warwick Central State School took part in the Warwick plantings. Members of Junior Landcare, Warwick Girl Guides and Glennie Heights Cubs and Scouts Group were also involved.
The plantings have been strongly supported by Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group, Southern Downs Regional Council, Warwick District Recreational Fish Stocking Association and the Warwick Shire River Improvement Trust.
Anyone interested in being part of the project can contact Dawn Heath on 0459 133 132 or Kevin Graham on 0427 131 627.
