Nature Valley™ Trails Landcare Grant helps rejuvenate Adelaide Hills’ bushfire affected walking trail

Project Background:

The Adelaide Hills’ December 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfires burnt Lobethal Bushland Park with such heat and intensity that the park suffered an unprecedented 95 percent loss of flora.  The Friends of Lobethal Bushland Park wanted to rejuvenate and enhance these fire affected bushland areas with a focus on restoring walking trails in bushland, allowing more people to be immersed and connected with nature through the rejuvenation of the walking trail.

Funding from a 2020 Nature Valley™ Trails Landcare Grant provided funding for the group to purchase materials to build a 14-metre boardwalk and divert surface water from already existing eroded paths and other restoration work to help protect 118ha of Lobethal Bushland Park.

Walking trail after restoration work

Project outcomes:

Friends of Lobethal Bushland Park Group provided 149 volunteer hours of effort on this project and worked closely with the Adelaide Hills Council (Park landowners) who provided the labour for the path improvements.

Project results include:

• Three sets of steps were installed on heavily eroded tracks. Stage 1 (14m) of a larger boardwalk (50m) was constructed.
• Reducing water and foot erosion of soil
• Widening of paths due to people walking alongside the tracks was reduced, resulting in less destruction of vegetation
• Monthly working bees were held to control fire responsive weeds throughout the park and importantly along walking trails. Targeted weeds in the first 12 months were Fumitory, African Daisy & Fleabane. The group then turned their attention to Gorse and Blackberry.

Conclusion:

Billy-Jo Brewer, President, Friends of Lobethal Bushland Park, said, “This project enabled our group to begin much needed post-fire trail repairs with a view to making the park more accessible to people, whilst simultaneously protecting the park from the intrinsic damage that occurs to soil, vegetation and wildlife due to foot traffic.”

Work crew of volunteers from Friends of Lobethal Bushland Park Group and Adelaide Hills Council staff working on repairing steps.