News & Events

Blacktown City Council is expressing its thanks to the students and teachers at Mitchell High School, who recently visited Council's sister city, Liverpool Plains to plant trees as part of the Regenesis Project.

Over 150 trees were planted by Mitchell High School and Quirindi High School students, as part of the final contribution to a 21 hectare property known as Fairfield in Liverpool Plains Shire.

More than 7,000 native trees have been planted on Fairfield in the last two months, as part of Blacktown City Council and sister city, Liverpool Plains Shire Council's Regenesis Project - a joint project between the two Councils where trees are planted to capture and sequester or store carbon, thus reducing climate change and improving biodiversity, salinity and water quality outcomes.

As with each Regenesis tree-planting, work done on the Fairfield property was carefully designed to meet the Kyoto Protocol requirements for carbon forests. This will enable the landowner - in this case Liverpool Plains Shire Council - to participate in carbon trading and receive tradeable carbon certificates, over time, as the growing trees sequester carbon.

Through Regenesis, trees were strategically planted along the property's fence lines and on rocky land unsuitable for primary agricultural use. Tree guards were used to protect the young trees from the stock which will soon be added to the area to help keep weeds to a minimum.

'The completion of Fairfield is a great achievement for the Regenesis project and I am eager to hear about the successes that will come from it", Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Charlie Lowles said.

"I would like to thank and congratulate the students and teachers from Mitchell High and their friends at Quirindi High Schools in helping this project come to fruition".

"The Regenesis project is just one example of how our sister city relationship with Liverpool Plains Shire Council is benefiting our communities and the environment", Mayor Lowles continued.

This large scale addition of native trees to Fairfield was made possible through a $2 million grant from the NSW Environmental Trust. The grant enables tree-planting to sequester (capture and store) carbon and enhance the local environment.

'The ongoing efforts of volunteers, such as these students and the residents who have participated in our Blacktown City community tree-planting events, helps to enhance biodiversity, provide habitat for wildlife and sequester carbon to help address climate change', added Mayor Lowles.

The Regenesis project invites schools, community groups, residents and businesses to participate. Everyone is welcome to join in Regenesis community tree-planting events or to join a local Volunteer Bushcare Group. Corporate and community groups are encouraged to contact Council's Regenesis Team to book a presentation about the Regenesis project and to discuss ways they can be involved, such as sponsoring a local planting site.

Council's Regenesis Team can be contacted on 9839 6283 or by emailing Regenesis@blacktown.nsw.gov.au.