Jimmy Malecki made a promise to his partner Richard Reeg before he died that a portion of land on their Bungawalbin property would be turned into a eucalypt national park.
“It’s on my wish list,” Jimmy said at a gathering he organised of Bungawalbin residents on Sunday.
Other landholders spoke of wanting to clear ragweed, plant trees and protect the wetlands.
Photo: Susanna Freymark
“We have a wetland here of national significance — like a mini Kakadu,” Jimmy said.
State MP Janelle Saffin joined the gathering because of her interest in Landcare groups.
“I’m here because Landcare doesn’t stop at electorate boundaries,” she said.
Richmond Valley Councillor Jill Lyons said the first Bungawalbin Landcare was initiated in the 1990s.
“We want the next generation to come and see this,” she said.
Since fire tore through much of Bungawalbin country last year, the residents are keen to restore habitat and keep their Landcare group active.
Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow was at the gathering to inform the residents about a coming meeting in Woodburn where the planting of 100,000 trees over the next three years would be discussed. Many of these trees would be planted in Bungawalbin.
“We are working with the World Wildlife Fund to plant trees in Richmond Valley and Kyogle,” she said.
To join the meeting in Woodburn on February 6, email Linda Sparrow at president@bangalowkoalas.com.au – numbers are limited.
This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 27 January 2021.
