Deua Rivercare, under the stewardship of co-ordinator Anne Rault, is going strong as one of the most active Landcare groups operating in the Eurobodalla Shire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group was founded in the early 2000’s as a response to concern from local residents over the spread of invasive plants and animals on the otherwise pristine banks of the Deua River.
Now, with over 40 members contributing in excess of 1000 volunteer hours in the last 12 months alone, it’s no wonder they are grinning from ear to ear.
Deua Rivercare is currently delivering a six-year grant-funded project with assistance from Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Environment Team and funded through the NSW Governments Environmental Trust.
The basis of the grant is to create a corridor linking the hinterland to the coast through removal of invasive weed species over an area that spans from Araluen Creek junction down to Burra Creek.
“This is a massive area with a distance of 42 kilometres both sides of the river, and the project team have aimed to engage as many landowners in this stretch as possible,” Project Officer, Emma Patyus, said.
The commitment of the landholders in this area towards this project, in particular the Rivercare members, is outstanding.
The Rivercare group hosts monthly work days and these are well promoted and attended and create an atmosphere of community that make them more and more successful each month.
The volunteers form a very efficient, competent and welcoming team, even going so far as having volunteers that provide a delicious morning tea for afterwards.
“It’s a massive work area, over 400 hectares, and if we didn’t have volunteer assistance from Deua Rivercare and other residents in this area, we simply couldn’t deliver such a great service to the community,” Ms Patyus said.
“We are also extremely grateful for the financial assistance from Environmental Trust which has funded the Deua project for the past four years and for their ongoing commitment until 2018.”
Any new residents to the project area are welcome to join the flow.
For more details please contact Emma on 4474 7300
The Deua River rises in the Deua wilderness area, flows west and north before swinging in a large arc to continue south and east and enter the ocean at Moruya Heads.
On its course, it travels through wilderness and national park, historic grazing properties, state forest and private land.
The Deua is home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. However, the impacts of farming, forestry, roads, introduced weeds and mining require ongoing management.