Thursday, September 19, 2019

Volunteers begin planting at Padstow to feed fish in the Georges River

Representatives from Conservation Volunteers Australia, Georges Riverkeeper and City of Canterbury Bankstown, wearing high vis yellow and orange clothing, stand in the rain, in front of green trees, holding seedlings.

With the help of Georges Riverkeeper and City of Canterbury Bankstown, Conservation Volunteers Australia volunteers braved the rain to begin revegetating at Little Salt Pan Creek in the Georges River catchment with over 3,000 Sporobolus virginicus seedlings.

Haven’t heard of S.virginicus? Its common names include Sand Couch, Salt Couch and Saltwater Couch. But whatever you call it, it’s an incredibly important plant species found in intertidal areas.

Regional Coordinator for CVA Greater Sydney, David Jones explained: “Sporobolus virginicus has been identified as key source of habitat and food, supporting a wide range of different species, like algae, snails and crabs. In turn, this can have a positive flow on effect for populations of fish species. Think of Sporobolus as a gracious host, putting on an all-you-can-eat buffet for all the crabs, prawns and fish living in the Georges River.”

Georges Riverkeeper Manager, Beth Salt says, “Once abundant in the Georges River ecosystem, plant numbers have declined significantly due to the impacts of urbanisation. This program will replant the habitat, at six key sites in the Georges River catchment, ensuring higher fish stock numbers, and a stronger, more sustainable food web.”

Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, Khal Asfour, welcomed the project.

“Planting along the Georges River at locations, such as Little Salt Pan Creek in Padstow, gives nature a helping hand,” Mayor Asfour said.

The volunteers will continue planting at Little Salt Pan Creek on Thursday 19 October and Friday 20 October, before moving on to six additional sites, located throughout the Georges River catchment, over the next few months. Interested in joining in? Register here.

This Project has been assisted by the NSW DPI Fisheries’ Recreational Fishing Trust’s “Habitat Action Grant Program”