A native tree species on the brink of extinction is getting a second life thanks to a Logan City Council planting program.
The endangered Melaleuca irbyana, commonly known as swamp tea-tree, is now only found in parts of South-East Queensland including Logan.
Around 500 irbyana were recently planted at Moffatt Park in Waterford West.
The planting, by students from Yarrabilba Secondary College and Yarrabilba Primary School, added to more than 3000 other native trees and bushes Council has planted in the three-hectare park.
Council has also planted more than 2000 irbyana plants at other sites throughout the City of Logan under a Recovery Plan which aims to bring the species back from near-extinction.
Council also provides free irbyana plants to members of our Land for Wildlife program.
The irbyana planting program is funded by Environmental Offsets.
Environmental Offset payments are made by developers and property owners to compensate for the environmental impacts of clearing native vegetation.
The funds are spent on creating new native bushland habitats in areas that are protected from future clearing.
City Planning, Economic Development and Environment Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said it was important that the community saw a beneficial return from developers cutting down trees.
“The offset payments Council collects are used to plant trees in strategic areas that are protected forever,” Cr Raven said.
“They can’t be cleared or developed, so the value the community gets out of these trees will last for generations to come.”
To view the planting, watch our video here.
