Mayor Pesce thanks volunteers planting at Oyster Bay

Over 1,500 baby Sporobolus plants have been planted in the Oyster Bay saltmarsh by Conservation Volunteers Australia, with the help of Georges Riverkeeper and Sutherland Shire Council.

Georges Riverkeeper Manager, Beth Salt explains: “Sporobolus virginicus is a plant that snails, crabs, prawns and fish love to eat and is the basis of the entire food web of the river. But it’s a plant that rarely grows from seed. In order to rehabilitate disturbed areas where land reclamation removed the natural vegetation, Sporobolus seedlings have to be hand-planted to revegetate the saltmarsh.”

Regional Coordinator for CVA Greater Sydney, David Jones, says: “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. By reintroducing Sporobolus at 6 key sites, we’re hoping to help build the foundations of a stronger food web and to restore the river system for all to enjoy.”

Sutherland Shire Council Mayor, Carmelo Pesce, is thrilled that Oyster Bay was selected as a planting site.

“Planting Sporobolus, or salt couch as it’s commonly known, will help provide habitat for phytoplankton and zooplankton which is a food source for fish such as flathead, bream and drummer that local fisherman love to catch. These plantings will give nature a helping hand to increase the biodiversity of the river and shoreline,” he said.

Volunteers are needed to continue planting at Poulton Creek Estuary at Connells Point, in early December. Interested in joining in? Register via the following link: https://bookings.conservationvolunteers.org/project/fishy-business-at-little-salt-pan-creek

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