The rare ancient subtropical lowland rainforest in West Coffs was saved from destruction in February 2023 when the NSW Government agreed to realign the route of the Coffs Bypass.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Since then, a restoration team including City of Coffs Harbour Coastal Works, Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare, Darrunda Wajaarr Rangers, Transport for NSW, Ferovial Gamuda Joint Venture and ecologists and rainforest specialists, has collaborated on the patch’s recovery and rehabilitation.

Mr Peel’s role is to provide species information to supplement and expand the remnant in order for it to flourish.

“This remnant is so small it is at risk of not surviving in perpetuity because of its isolation and exposure, so it has to be expanded through connection in order to survive,” he told the News Of The Area.

“The long term plan is to reconnect this patch with Treefern Creek.”

Author of the Rainforest Restoration Manual for South-Eastern Australia, Mr Peel’s methodology is to match different types of rainforest species to different soils and landform elevation.

“Preventing the forest from being cleared has preserved the incredibly important genes and all the cultural history that goes with it.

“The next stage is recovery and rehabilitation.

“Provided with a species list and an understanding of the subtleties of the landform, the team can plant specifically to the nature of ‘their’ rainforest, rather than just having a standard pallet of ten rainforest plants.

Coffs Coast environmental service consultant Justin Couper, will now develop a vegetation management plan.

“It starts with weed control and buffer plants to protect the forest”, he told NOTA.

Onsite for Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare’s fifth weed blitz, Mr Couper and Coastal Works’ Bush Regeneration Team leader Aaron Hartley discussed the removal of the large camphor laurels.

“Some of them will be removed mechanically for safety reasons and that material will then be used for mulching”.

The rest is down to the Landcare volunteers who are focussed on internal weeding with minimal disturbance.

“We’re tidying up debris that’s accumulated in the creek and throughout the patch,” Landcare group leader Dave Wood told NOTA.

“We’ve got a list of target weeds and then it’s down to monitoring and keeping the area intact until the bypass construction is completed and we can move on to the next stage.”

Transport for NSW Environment and Sustainability Senior Manager Scott Lawrence, told NOTA that the organisation was thrilled to work with the community to ensure “this special piece of remnant rainforest” is protected and restored.

By Andrea FERRARI