South Lismore Duck Pond Landcare had a dream come true when MP Kevin Hogan came through with a grant of $20,000 for the site.

Duck Pond Landcare president Darren Coyne said the money would be used to continue regenerating the site, clearing weeds in the southern end and planting native trees.

“The committee will meet next week and discuss how best to spend the money,” Darren said. 

“We’ve also got maintenance equipment that needs repairing and we’re investigating the possibility of holding an annual community gathering at the Duck Pond where we highlight the work of Landcare groups."

The Duck Pond, according to Darren is “the heart of Lismore”. 

The 28 hectare site - off Ostrom Street - is an important part of the local water catchment.

“It was once a sand mining area and it was the site of the first speedway,” he said

“It was here in Leicester Creek that people used to learn to swim when river was in a nice state before the macadamia farms polluted the local waterways. It’s still a problem today and there’s no coordinated effort to solve the problem of land use in this area.”

Darren said the Duck Pond Landcare group was his brainchild and started seven years ago.

“I was looking out over the river from the back from my place and thought ‘what a wasted space’. It had been taken over by coral trees – and we’ve got rid of a lot of those since then.

“We have a small handful of dedicated volunteers who work on the site – and we also have people from NSW Corrective Services doing community service orders as well as other professional regeneration groups working here."

Darren said the site has been managed so far with minimal help from Lismore City Council.

“It’s very good of Mr Hogan to get behind the local group,” he said.

“We approached him and told him we need funding and filled out the appropriate form and he delivered what we asked.” 

The $20,000 was awarded to the Landcare group under the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program.

Mr Hogan said “this program is all about harnessing the passion of grassroots community organisations to deliver practical local projects that directly improve our local environment”.

“This project will see the removal of exotic weeds and pests from the duck pond, replanting and regeneration of the former industrial land on the southern boundary of the pond," he said.

“Local Landcare volunteers are already delivering fantastic results here, whether it’s planting trees, cleaning up local waterways, reducing litter or protecting native species.”

Landcare volunteer Mark Bailey said the group was thrilled with the funds that would see further planting of native species that will improve water quality, enhance fish habitat and promote frog breeding areas.

“This new funding will help to make the Duck Pond Reserve cleaner and greener for future generations,” he said.