A community-based project to re-establish a critically endangered plant in the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park (BPMNP) is gaining momentum in the Upper Murray.
Mountain Banksia (B. canei) became locally extinct in the park following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. Seed collected from similar populations in the Kiewa Valley and Kosciuszko National Park has been used to produce plants which are genetically very close to the extinct species.
In 2024, a trial of 80 plants was planted at two sites in the park where the last stands of B. canei existed prior to the fires.
This year, these two sites will each have 400 B. canei planted. As well as the 800 plants in the national park, 100 B. canei will be planted at Playles Hill Park in Corryong as an insurance population.
Local volunteers are now being invited to help with this project.
Burrowa Pine Mt National Park planting days will take place on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th August.
A high level of fitness is needed on Thursday 14th as the planting site is 1.5 hours of steep uphill walk from Bluff Falls. The second site is a remote area accessible by 4WD vehicle.
Both days will involve digging into hard rocky ground with mattocks to plant, stake and guard the Banksia seedlings. You will also need to be self-sufficient as you will be in remote bush areas. To find out more and register your interest contact Glen Johnson via the ‘Banksia canei Restoration Project’ Facebook page.
The Playles Hill Project Group has been working since the Black Summer fires to reinvigorate the community facility.
After five years, 33 working bees, and a number of successful grant applications, a lot has been achieved.
Much of the invasive, weedy vegetation has been removed and already a number of plantings of both native shrubs and exotic and native trees have occurred.
The initial plan for 2025 was to plant up to 1000 local native shrubs to re-establish diversity into the park. As well as these local native shrubs, 100 B. canei will be planted as an insurance population.
Support for the plantings came from Towong Shire Council, Upper Murray Landcare, Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria and the Banksia canei Restoration Project.
Prior to the plantings, some preparation work will need to be done on the sites in the park. Working bees and planting days will be held at Playles Hill Park on Sunday six-6 day blitz from Tuesday 26th to Sunday 31st August.
A good level of fitness is needed for the planned work. Although some tasks will be in reasonably accessible areas, work will include digging into hard rocky soil with mattocks and working on the steep rocky site of the area surrounding the mountain bike track area.
To help with planning register for the working bees – see the Playles Hill Project Facebook Page for updates or contact Cathy Ross at cathyross999@gmail.com or Thea Newton at tnt.newton44@gmail.com.
The story of the un-extinction of B. canei is fascinating enough to form the plot of a movie…. and yes, there has been a 30 minute film made about this project. It is freely available by following the link: https://www.supergoatmedia.com.au/caneifilm.
This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 7 August 2025.
