Published on Monday, 20 July 2020 at 3:19:30 PM
‘Rum Jungle’ will be blitzed again this weekend with members of the community coming together on Sunday morning to collect and remove smaller bits of rubbish from the site and treat any new African boxthorn plants growing.
On Sunday 26 July, City of Greater Geraldton staff will be holding a Boxthorn Blitz Workshop on the triangular strip of Crown Land, located on the west side of Chapman Road south of Macedonia Drive.
The onsite Boxthorn Blitz Workshop will demonstrate best practice control methods for small plants using the Boxthorn Blitz Kits which are partially funded by the State Natural Resource Management program, and available for participants to borrow.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the clean-up and workshop is part of the ongoing management of the highly invasive species on land owned or managed by the City.
“African boxthorn is a very resilient plant and it is challenging to keep it under control,” he said.
“That’s why it is critical that sites where boxthorn has been removed are monitored and follow up control is undertaken to ensure the plants don’t re-establish themselves.”
Project partner Heather Beswick said revisiting the site continues to raise awareness around illegal dumping and the impact invasive species are having on the environment.
“We have conducted three volunteer clean-ups in the last 18 months,” she said.
“Now that most of the rubbish has been cleared and the boxthorn removed the area is brighter and easier to see into which is certainly reducing the amount of illegal dumping in the site.
“This project has definitely shown how the community can take ‘ownership’ of these public spaces and return them to a more natural state that everyone can enjoy.”
The small piece of Crown Land, which has been the focus of clean-up activities, lies adjacent to a number of privately owned bushland lots.
The community clean-up of Rum Jungle will take place from 9am to approximately 11am. Members of the community interested in taking part should wear long sleeves and pants, bring along a hat and water bottle. Light refreshments will be supplied following the clean-up and there will also be giveaways to thank volunteers for their hard work.
Anyone who can’t make the workshop but is interested in boxthorn control can contact the City’s Environmental Planning Officers on 9956 6600.
PICTURE CAPTION: Rubbish collected by volunteers during the September 2019 clean-up of ‘Rum Jungle’.
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