Funds: $29,000 per year
Source: Armidale Regional Council
The Armidale Urban Planting Maintenance (AUPM) partnership project was developed to manage Armidale’s urban environmental assets. Works coordination, reporting, monitoring and evaluation are the responsibility of staff from Southern New England Landcare Ltd, while contractors conduct works and the AUPM working group provides advice and feedback. Maintenance works include removal of weeds, planting, trimming branches and mulching application.
The program, running since 2014, is made possible with the on-going financial support and direction provided by Armidale Regional Council.
The environmental assets included in this program are Showcase Planting Sites 1-13 along Dumaresq Creek (see map below), Black Gully, Northern Gullies, Rivercare community plantings and Snowgums, Drummond Park and Manna Gum Bushland Reserves.
Although the program is primarily aimed at maintaining the healthy condition of these biodiversity sites it has the added benefit of engaging with a broad cross-section of the Armidale community in both volunteering time and raising awareness of how biodiversity is fundamental in maintaining ecosystem function and health.
Highlights of each year include:
- Armidale Urban Rivercare Group’s working bees and biodiversity walks/talks along Dumaresq
- CreekPeople’s Park Group’s natural regeneration working bees (team leader – Helen Webb)
- Black Gully Music Festival’s biodiversity walkabout
- PLC and TAS community week planting activities
- Bushcare regeneration works at Snow Gums and Drummond Park reserves (team leader – Kate Boyd)
- Armidale High School Bushcare Group maintenance working bees at Manna Gums reserve
- National Tree Day & Clean up Black Gully Day.
*Working group made up of SNEL employees, Armidale Urban Rivercare Group, Armidale Tree Group, Bushcare and contractors.