The forest at Tarwin Lower is located on the lands of the Boonwurrung people. Building on Greenfleet’s extensive work in the Gippsland region, this revegetation project will extend habitat for a confirmed population of koalas on the property.

The revegetation of this site will help create a habitat link between Middle Creek and Ten Mile Creek. It will enhance the existing habitat around the property providing stepping stones for species including the swamp antechinus, white-bellied sea eagle, and powerful owl to move safely throughout the region.  

Location & Map

This project is located about half an hour south of Foster in Victoria’s South Gippsland. The site is situated between Cape Liptrap Coastal Park and Waratah Bushland Reserve. Once established, it will create habitat stepping stones between these areas of existing forest. 

The project at Tarwin Lower is building on Greenfleet’s extensive work in this region where we have been restoring native forests for over 25 years. You can explore some of our other projects here.  

Species Selection & Revegetation Approach

In 2023, Greenfleet planted 19 different locally native trees and plants at Tarwin Lower. This includes multiple eucalypt species that will grow to form the forest canopy, and other native trees and plants that will provide habitat and food sources for the local wildlife.  

Some of the species planted include sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa), kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare), and Australian blackwood (Acacia longifolia); a species that attracts pollinating native bird species.  

Wildlife Habitat Restoration

Once established, the forest at Tarwin Lower will provide habitat stepping stones between Cape Liptrap Coastal Park and Waratah Bushland Reserve.  

By restoring and protecting a native forest across this site, Greenfleet is helping to provide potential habitat to several native bird and wildlife species. This includes the tree goanna, swamp skink and koalas. Koalas can be found in areas throughout South Gippsland and tree species planted at Tarwin Lower, such as manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), will provide critical habitat and food sources these animals.  

The native birds that will be able to use this forest as habitat include the powerful owl, white-bellied sea eagle and the eastern kurlew. The eastern kurlew is a migratory bird species classified as critically endangered in Australia making the restoration and protection of their habitat vital. 

Climate Action

This forest will be legally protected for 100 years and over its lifetime, will remove nearly 5,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere. This equates to removing around 1,100 average cars from Australia’s roads for a whole year. 

Greenfleet uses the Full Carbon Account Model (FullCAM) to measure the carbon uptake at our revegetation sites. This model was developed by the CSIRO and is approved by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.   

Location  

9 hectares near Fish Creek, Victoria. 

Planting Dates  

2023 

Species Planted 

  1. Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii)
  2. Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
  3. Coast wattle (Acacia longifolia)
  4. Prickly moses (Acacia verticillata)
  5. Drooping sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata)
  6. Swamp sheoak (Allocasuarina paludosa)
  7. Coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia)
  8. Silver banksia (Banksia marginata)
  9. Sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
  10. Dogwood (Cassinia aculeata)
  11. Messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua)
  12. Narrow-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata)
  13. Manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis)
  14. Coastal beard-heath (Leucopogon parviflorus)
  15. Coast tea-tree (Leptospermum laevigatum)
  16. Boobialla (Myoporum insulare)
  17. Snowy daisy-bush (Olearia lirata)
  18. Tree everlasting (Ozothamnus ferrugineus)
  19. Kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare)