Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills Council receives $1.97 million grant to rejuvenate Cox Creek

The Adelaide Hills Council has secured $1.97 million for the restoration of Cox Creek, aiming to eliminate invasive weeds, stabilize banks, and reintroduce native plants to boost local ecology and community spaces.

The Adelaide Hills Council has secured a $1.97 million grant for extensive restoration of Cox Creek in Bridgewater. This initiative is part of a broader effort funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, through the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program. The program aims to rejuvenate urban waterways for the benefit of both native species and local communities.

The project at Cox Creek, spanning a 6km stretch from Mount George Conservation Park to Engelbrook Reserve, will focus on several critical ecological preservation and restoration activities. These include the removal of invasive woody weeds, the stabilisation of eroding streambanks, and the replanting of native flora.

Deputy Mayor Melanie Selwood detailed the council’s planned efforts, saying “Adelaide Hills Council is the project lead, and with the support of these committed stakeholders, we will be able to engage contractors and volunteers to deliver critical weed management, restoration and revegetation efforts, and creek bank stabilisation works along the watercourse.”

Among the critical actions, the project will tackle the removal of invasive species such as Willow and Ash, as well as Gorse, Broom, Blackberry, and Watsonia along the creek. These species will be replaced with indigenous riparian plants, aiming to foster a more resilient and native ecosystem. The selected native species include Blackwood, Wirilda Wattle, Red-fruit Saw-sedge, alongside various Carex and Juncus species.

The Deputy Mayor said “This important watercourse has significant environmental and ecological significance as well recreational, historical, economic, and social values. It provides important habitat suitable for many native plants and animals, including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Bassian Thrush and the Eastern Long-necked Turtle.”

“We look forward to working with all of those involved as together we restore this valued section of watercourse loved by all.”

The creek supports a diverse range of species, such as Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Yellow-footed Antechinus, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Rakali (Native Water-rat), Eastern Long-necked Turtle, Brush-tailed Possum, Bibron’s Toadlet, Pygmy Copperhead, and various native fish species including Galaxias.

Threatened plants like the Ploughshare Wattle, Mount Lofty Phebalium, Spotted Sun-orchid, Candlebark Gum, Manna Gum, and Pink Gum will also see a significant boost from this restoration project. The initiative is also expected to support many declining woodland birds and invertebrates that are crucial to maintaining the ecological balance in the area.

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