Revegetation in the Murray
Restoring river red gum country
St Germains is in the Greater Shepparton region, in the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) of Goulburn Broken. Our landowner's offset site encompasses a number of Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) including Riverine Grassy Woodland, Riverine Swampy Woodland/Swamp Forest, and the Sedgy Riverine Forest.
The offset site is over 400 hectares, close to the Goulburn River, and adjoining a National Park. Prior to the current landowner's purchase, the site had been used for dry cropping and lifestyle uses, resulting in a lot of the remnant vegetation having been cleared. The landowners also had to contend with excessive herbaceous weeds in the previously cleared areas, as well as needing to regenerate a combination of native tube stock and Red Gum forestation. Through committed and extensive land management, they have managed to achieve an increase in biodiversity on the site.
Our landowner says:
“Whilst we would not classify ourselves as strident Environmentalists, we are proud of the results ourselves and the Subcontractors we utilise, have achieved, and the contribution to quality forested land masses for future generations.”
The St Germains property has been subject to major flood events over the last three years, acting as a double-edged sword for the land managers. The floods created optimal conditions for extensive natural Red Gum regrowth, while at the same time, wiping out revegetation stock and contributing to an increase in herbaceous weeds. These challenges were overcome through more tube stock replanting and consistent land care management practices. The landowners proudly report that the site is now rapidly returning to healthy River Red Gum Country.