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Forest Red Gums Back Where They Belong

The weather was kind to the Latrobe Urban Landcare Group as they planted 21 Forest Red Gum trees along the embankment of a waterway on the edge of a new sub-division on the Ellavale Estate in Traralgon.

By Latrobe City - 26th November 2010 - Back to News

Latrobe City�s environmental planner, Cameron McGregor, said that the project was a joint effort between Latrobe City, the Urban Landcare Group and local developers Bruce and Robert Farmer.

"The seeds were collected from an indigenous Forest Red Gum tree that had to be felled due to safety reasons. The seeds were propagated and established over the last few years at the Latrobe City nursery. The trees have been planted back into the original area and should establish themselves well over the next few months.

"We used this particular species of tree to underscore the importance of using local providence plants in keeping with the genetic uniqueness of this area.

"This species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis ssp mediana) was once widespread across the Traralgon urban area, but now there are fewer than 100 individual specimens on council owned or managed land. These are magnificent trees growing up to 40 metres high and having the potential to live for several hundred years," Mr McGregor said.

Latrobe City Councillor, Ed Vermeulen, said that planting the trees at the Ellavale Estate not only provided the local neighbourhood with a spectacular canopy of trees, but went some way to ensuring the survival of this majestic species.

"To see these trees being re-established in their native habitat is most pleasing. The planting day was the culmination of many hours of planning, care and nurturing and could not have been achieved without the cooperation between Council staff, the enthusiastic members of the Urban Landcare Grop and the local landholder," Cr Vermeulen concluded.

This planting project was of particular interest to the Urban Landcare Group as secretary, Annette Katiforis recently lost a specimen of the same tree due to drought and disease.

Photo: Lachlan, Hamish and Thanassi help to plant the Forest Red Gum trees.

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