Vandalism of Environmental Rehabilitation Works at Jaques Park

MEDIA RELEASE 14 April 2022

Vandalism of Environmental Rehabilitation Works at Jaques Park

Council is calling on the community to report acts of vandalism against environmental rehabilitation works undertaken along Hawthornden Creek within Jaques Park in South Bathurst.

In what can only be described as environmental vandalism following recent community and schools planting days, young seedlings, tree guards and hardwood stakes continue to be pulled from the ground and thrown into the creek or stolen, and some of the remaining planting holes have been replanted with exotic species.

Manager Recreation Mark Kimbel said the vandalism has been a disappointing setback for Council and community volunteers, as they have been working hard to rehabilitate the riparian vegetation zone along Hawthornden Creek at Jaques Park having achieved a major transformation from what was once a highly degraded site dominated by invasive riparian weeds, and devoid of natural vegetation.

“Over the last twelve years, significant environmental rehabilitation works along Hawthornden Creek have been undertaken including activities in the section of the creek transecting Jaques Park,” he said.

“The works have involved the removal of weed species such as Poplars, Willow, and Blackberry.”

Community volunteers and as well as students from South Bathurst Public School have been heavily involved in this ongoing project since 2010, helping to revegetate Hawthornden Creek through scheduled community and school tree planting days whilst also learning about the benefits of habitat rehabilitation.

A range of native trees, shrubs, rushes and grasses have been planted along the creek including River Sheoak, Yellow Box, Silver Wattle, River Bottlebrush, Swamp Tea-tree and native grasses. The plant species that have been chosen are local to the Bathurst region and once mature will provide habitat for wildlife and stabilise the bank to reduce erosion.

To report acts of vandalism on environmental rehabilitation works at Hawthornden Creek Jaques Park, please contact Council’s Recreation Section on 6333 6285 or email council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au.

For more information on the Hawthornden Creek Jaques Park Environmental Rehabilitation project visit www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

ENDS
Media contact: Media Officer