Revegetation at
Project Platypus

Site preparation the key to planting success
Planting native vegetation can take a lot of time, effort and funding; therefore it is imperative that landholders give their plants the best chance of survival. With over ten years experience in revegetation, Project Platypus is very successful at establishing native plants in the Upper Wimmera Catchment area. Thorough site preparation is imperative to good plant survival rate, especially in years of low rainfall. Fencing, weed control and ripping are the keys to good planting conditions. The timing of planting is also very important, with ideal planting time being late July. Regardless of who may be funding your project, ensure that you seek expert advice before, during and after planting to maximise success.

For more information download our Revegetation Calender (180kb).

Volunteers ease the burden for landholders
Revegetation work is usually a collaboration between the landholder and the Project Platypus Works Co-ordinator. There are certain things specified in the works agreement that the landholder is required to do. However, at times volunteers may be used to help the landholder with fencing, planting or guarding trees. Some of the Project Platypus volunteers are school groups, Scouts, the Landmate prison crew, Work for the Dole participants, international student volunteers and landcare conscious community members.

If you would like more information on volunteering please email Project Platypus.

Plantout – the major environmental and social event of the Project Platypus year!
SP Ausnet support the biggest event in the Project Platypus calendar, PLANTOUT, which is held every year in July. Volunteers from far and wide register to be involved in this memorable planting event which involves 200 volunteers helping to plant up to 30,000 plants over 2 days. The sites for Plantout rotate around the catchment and Landcare groups take turns at helping to host the event. Volunteers are asked to bring suitable clothing and enthusiasm whilst Project Platypus provides the rest – the site, tools, plants, expertise and the on-site porta-loos! The Saturday night is a celebration of Landcare in the region with fabulous food and entertainment; usually involving some dancing for those with any energy left from planting. Instead of each landholder struggling to plant their own 500 or 15,000 trees, volunteers do the job and get to have fun as well. Plantout is an excellent way to get involved in Landcare, allowing for people from all walks of life to come together and make a meaningful contribution to our natural landscape.

To register to receive notification of the next Plantout please contact Project Platypus.

If you are interested in being involved in Plantout as a partner or sponsor please contact Project Platypus.

For images and more information view our Plantout 07 Newsletter.

Enhancing and protecting remnants is vital
The upper Wimmera region has a wide variety of landforms, climate and soil types. As a result, the vegetation is diverse, with over 20 species of eucalypts in various associations across the catchment. We are also fortunate to have some good quality remnant vegetation and in terms of biodiversity and salinity control, protecting these is a high priority. Once fenced to exclude stock, these remnants may be allowed to regenerate naturally or be enhanced with plantings of endemic under-storey species.