Volunteering at Saltbush Beach Balnarring

Through the effort and commitment of The Presentation Sisters, Merricks Coolart Catchment Landcare and Balnarring and District Community Bank, a major revegetation project is underway to plant 5000 native trees and shrubs this autumn/winter on the Sisters land adjoining Saltbush.

In recent weeks, over 1000 plants went in the ground in 3 hours, thanks to the efforts of 40 Landcare volunteers. This planting is part of a significant Balnarring biolink project, enhancing the biodiversity of our Mornington Peninsula region.

Over the next few years, 180,000 native plants, shrubs and grasses will be planted on the property, to re-establish the original Coastal Woodland, including swamp gums, blackwood wattles, swamp paperbarks, prickly moses to name just a few!

This project has been years in the planning. The native plants have been propagated from seed collected from local remnant vegetation.

Last week saw the first session of an 8 week volunteer project with Year 10 students from Padua College studying a Cert 2 in Active Volunteering and what an impact they made! Clearing old garden beds, mulching, weeding and more.. ! The volunteer placement provides an opportunity for students to make an active contribution to community life, practise teamwork and leadership.

Saltbush is looking forward to welcoming Star of the Sea College to Balnarring next month for another volunteering working bee. With Volunteering Week fast approaching, we would like to extend a huge thanks to all our amazing volunteers!