The UGL project team, along with VicConnect Alliance partners Decmil & Arup, recently took part in a tree planting event on the Gippsland Line Upgrade in Victoria. The teams joined forces for the VicConnect activity to restore local ecosystems and demonstrate how small ideas can create a lasting impact on both the community and the environment.
The planting event took place over two days in Morwell, bringing together a diverse group from the UGL project to lend a hand. In total, the team planted:
- 1,550 trees
- 450 shrubs
All plants were species indigenous to the area, promoting biodiversity and contributing to local habitat restoration. Species planted included:
- Acacia dealbata | Silver Wattle
- Acacia mearnsii | Black Wattle
- Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood
- Allocasuarina littoralis | Black Sheoak
- Eucalyptus ovata | Swamp Gum
- Eucalyptus strzeleckii | Strzelecki Gum
- Goodenia ovata | Hop Goodenia
- Pomaderris aspera | Hazel Pomaderris
A highlight of the planting event was the inclusion of the Strzelecki Gum, a threatened tree species native to the Southern and Western regions of Gippsland. This effort will strengthen the existing Strzelecki Gum community near the Morwell River, enhancing biodiversity and supporting native fauna.
Once fully grown, the newly planted vegetation will provide more than 4,500m² of additional habitat for local wildlife.
Sean-Paul Smith, Land, Planning & Environment Manager for VicConnect said, “This event reflects the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship, demonstrating that community driven efforts, no matter how small, can create a meaningful and lasting impact on the environment.”
The Gippsland Line Upgrade project will deliver more frequent and reliable train services for the growing Gippsland region through critical improvements to signaling, tracks, and stations.