Rous County Council (Rous) has reached the halfway point in its flagship Bush Regeneration Project at Fosters Spur – a major milestone in the restoration of 40 hectares of degraded land adjacent to Rocky Creek Dam and Nightcap National Park.
Through the 10-year project, Rous is removing large-scale weed infestations and planting approximately 50,000 native seedlings to create a self-sustaining subtropical rainforest that enhances water quality and biodiversity.
Once used as farmland, Fosters Spur had become severely degraded and overrun with weeds, posing a threat to the adjacent World Heritage listed Nightcap National Park.
Stage five of the project recently commenced, during which 3,240 native trees were planted over six days. The planting includes 54 native rainforest species, among them threatened varieties such as the Red Lilly Pilly and Ball Nut.
Most of the native plants are grown from seeds manually collected from Rocky Creek Dam, Emigrant Creek Dam, Wilsons River and other rainforest reserves, then propagated at Rous’ own nursery.
Now in its fifth year, the seedlings planted in the early years have already reached heights over five meters tall, creating habitat and encouraging a rich biodiversity, according to Philip Courtney, Weed Biosecurity and Bush Regeneration Manager, Rous.
“The work we have done at Fosters Spur has encouraged local fauna to the area, bringing desired species back to the site,” said Mr Courtney.
“First-year seedlings have matured and are now suppressing weeds while providing food and habitat for wildlife – resulting in natural regeneration as animals bring in new seeds to the site.
“It has been incredibly rewarding for the team to see the regenerated area come back to life – a direct result of their hard work and dedication to restoring the natural environment.”
According to General Manager of Rous, Phillip Rudd, restoring Fosters Spur is both an environmental and strategic investment in the region’s primary water source, Rocky Creek Dam.
“The Bush Regeneration Project at Fosters Spur aims to re-establish native biodiversity and act as a natural filter for water flowing into Rocky Creek Dam,” said Mr Rudd.
“We are honoured that this project, which is of great importance to Rous, was recognised for its integrity and value through an NSW Local Government Excellence in the Environment Award in 2023.
“This 10-year investment aligns with Rous’ broader buffer zone improvement strategy and is a testament to our commitment to environmental restoration, ecological health, and sustainable water management.”
