Maitland Landcare

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—I would like to recognise the amazing ongoing work of Maitland Landcare. Last week was Landcare Week, where we celebrated the incredible work of Landcare groups right across Australia. This year's theme is Landcare Is For Everyone [LIFE], celebrating the diversity of Landcare volunteers, and acknowledging that we all rely upon a healthy environment. In my community, Maitland Landcare have been working to actively regenerate three sites. Including a Bolwarra site, with a growing community of kangaroos and birdlife who call the new 1500 shrubs and trees home, since volunteers started planting 2 years ago. They also work on a diverse Rutherford recreational reserve, with attractive gullies and watercourses, open parkland, and mature trees for nesting birds. And, most recently they have been undertaking regenerative works at their East Maitland site since November last year. This site protects 12 hectares of Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest, an endangered ecological community. Thank you to all the entire Maitland Landcare team for your ongoing and tireless work in protecting our local environment.