Volunteers restore flood-damaged creek catchment at UQ Gatton

The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus has 2,000 more trees thanks to the efforts of more than 70 volunteer planters.

UQ’s Property and Facilities Division organised the community event as part of a project that will improve the health of the Lockyer Creek catchment and reduce the university’s carbon footprint.
Property and Facilities Division Sustainability Manager Stuart Green said the catchment area was badly affected by floods in January 2011 and January 2013.
“The plantings will help restore a one-hectare site of the Lockyer Creek catchment by enhancing biodiversity, stabilising creek banks, reducing erosion and improving water quality,” he said.
The trees will sequester greenhouse gas emissions, effectively offsetting the University of Queensland’s carbon footprint by nine tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.
“Beyond the sustainability benefits, the site will become part of the university’s ‘living laboratory’ learning resource for those studying environmental management,” Mr Green said.
The event was the second in a series planned for the Gatton campus.
“We planted 2000 trees in November 2012, and another planting event is being organised towards the middle of 2014,” Mr Green said.
The project was made possible through the support of West Moreton Landcare and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection’s Everyone’s Environment Grant in partnership with SEQ Water and UQ.

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