Revegetation at the Cape Liptrap Coastal Parks - Lighthouse adds new life!

Wednesday 2 May, 2012

The Friends of Cape Liptrap Peninsula have helped Parks Victoria rangers undertake a series of revegetation works along old vehicle tracks at the Cape Liptrap Lighthouse, located within the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park.

The revegetation activity was conducted by the Friends group over a series of weekends beginning back in August 2011 with works recently completed in conjunction with assistance from the team of staff based at the Foster workcentre.

Parks Victoria Ranger Mr David Farrar said that having the friends group is invaluable. They love the park and enjoy working together on park activities; what we are doing is establishing habitat where there was none.

The revegetation works involved the laying of cut and trimmed brush-matting sourced from local tea-tree and wattle species. This brush-matting adds a life layer to the bare gravel surface which aids in decreasing erosion from rainfall and ongoing weathering.

“Soon after the brush-matting was layered, I saw birds looking through the vegetation matting as well as small skinks moving around the surface. Bush rats will also be able to move across the old track where they wouldn’t have before.

“This sort of revegetation is very valuable, and a cost effective way of restoring biodiversity back on bare land.  In less than five years, visitors will see a wonderful result from all the hard work our volunteers have put in”, said Mr Farrar.

Mr Ian Gunn, President of the Friends of Cape Liptrap Peninsula commented on the positive relationship they have with Parks Victoria. We have direct involvement in projects and that is an extremely positive outcome for us- it ensures we continue to be active in the community.

“With this particular project, we were heavily engaged in participation of the revegetation works around the Cape Liptrap Lighthouse as well as assisting with the cleaning up of the beaches in the area.

“By working together with Parks Victoria it allows us to achieve a number of important community and environmental objectives for the area”, said Mr Gunn.