Tucki Creek, a vital waterway in Goonellabah, will soon undergo further significant transformation thanks to a $312,000 federal government grant secured by the Gonellabah Tucki Creek Landcare team.

After a competitive application process, Secretary Shaen Springall and his team were successful in obtaining the grant, which will fund the regeneration of a 10-hectare area along the creekline. Stretching from behind Kookaburra Terrace to almost Taylor Road, this project aims to improve water quality, create a thriving ecosystem, and provide a welcoming community space.

Shaen, a passionate advocate for the environment, has been working tirelessly to secure funding and support for this project. With the grant in place, he and his team are now ready to embark on this ambitious undertaking.

The regeneration efforts will involve planting 25,000 native trees and shrubs, carefully selected to thrive in the local environment. These plants will not only help to improve water quality but also provide vital habitat for local wildlife.

The project area encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including open grasslands, remnant rainforest, and areas dominated by invasive camphor laurel.

Shaen explained, "It's basically a mixed bag of areas. Some of the areas are sort of open grass in amongst old poison camphor and whatever. Another area is a remnant, which most people don't know exists here in Goonellabah. It's about a 0.7-hectare big scrub remnant. What we're doing is protecting the edges of that big scrub because it's actually getting encroached on by camphor laurel and other weeds. So we're going to be planting all around that to try and protect that remnant of big scrub.

(Big scrub remnant off Kookaburra Tce approx 0.7 Ha. Planting will be done into open areas surrounding remnant)

"And then further along towards Taylor Road, it's 100% camphor Laurel with an understory of privet and ochna and every other weed you could imagine. It's a really nice bit of Creek, but it's just totally surrounded by camphor laurel."

To ensure the success of the project, Shaen and his team have developed a comprehensive plan. The initial phase will involve clearing the invasive camphor laurel and other weeds through targeted poisoning and weed control. This will create space for the planting of native trees and shrubs, which will begin in May.

"We have a team of contractors ready to go. They're just going to get in there and blitz through all the primary work. So, poisoning all the camphor and all the weed control. And then, in May, we intend on trying to plant as many of those 25,000 plants as we can. Then the rest of the grant will be taken up with maintenance."

The team has carefully selected a range of species that are well-suited to the local conditions and will provide a diverse habitat for wildlife.

(A 4-year-old planting that used to be Camphor laurel)

Shaen emphasised that the project will involve a period of transformation as the camphor laurel is cleared and the native plants begin to establish themselves.

"Visually, you're just going to have that period of transformation from camphor to rainforest. So for a while, you will see a lot of dead, and then it just takes time," he explained.

To monitor the impact of the regeneration efforts on water quality, Ecoteam Lismore will conduct water testing over a three-year period. This data will provide valuable insights into the health of Tucki Creek and help to assess the effectiveness of the project.

The project has received strong support from Lismore City Council, which has committed funding and in-kind contributions. Council will also oversee the ongoing maintenance of the site after the initial three-year grant period.

Shaen expressed his gratitude for council's support, stating, "Council have been very supportive, and they've been very supportive with funds as well. They've committed in-kind financial contributions for the whole grant as well. And they've also committed in-kind contributions, as in they'll do some reporting for us and stuff like that to show that we're meeting our milestones. And, they committed to the ongoing maintenance costs of it after the three-year period is up as well, which is really good."

Shaen and his team are excited to begin this transformative project and are confident that it will have a positive impact on the local environment and community.

"It's a really, really nice site. It's a really nice bit of creek. It's just so degraded all around it. And we're just trying to improve it for the community and for the wildlife," he said.

The regeneration of Tucki Creek represents a significant step towards improving the health of this vital waterway and creating a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem for future generations.