20,000 new trees for Cairns

Treeforce volunteer Renee Lenne with her daughters Eden and Alex planting trees along Freshwater Creek. Photograph courtesy Jennifer Frei.

Cairns City Council, Queensland, is undertaking a massive revegetation project involving the planting of 20,000 trees along Freshwater Creek.

The trees are being planted to re-establish a vegetation corridor as part of the award-winning Redlynch Sport and Recreation Parklands Masterplan.

Over 40 native tree species, sourced from Council’s own Stratford nursery, are being used to revegetate the eight hectare site which, until June last year, was a cane paddock.

Acting Mayor, Councillor Terry James, said it was a fantastic result for the community.

“When finished, this natural corridor will provide the community with another beautiful space to enjoy.”

Local Government Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, congratulated Council on delivering the revegetation project for the community.

“This is a fantastic initiative and is exactly the type of project the Works for Queensland program is designed to support.

“The Queensland Government is proud to have provided $2.1 million from this program towards the implementation of the Redlynch Masterplan.”

Cr James said special consideration was given when choosing the tree species for the revegetation project.

“The trees are native to the area, they attract birds, and provide food and shelter for native animals, and we are planting quite a few alongside the bike path to provide shade.”

Local volunteer group Treeforce, which will plant a quarter of the trees, has already planted about 1800 trees.