Farmers ‘thrilled’ to be part of water project which could help save native wildlife

Free arboreal water drinkers to help wildlife such as koalas are being distributed to landowners on the Northern Rivers for installation on their properties, marking the beginning of the broader rollout of water tanks across Australia.

WATER FOR WILDLIFE: Landowners on the Northern Rivers will receive 10 per cent of 800 200L TREE TROFF® arboreal water drinkers which are being distributed free of charge for installation on their properties. L-R WIRES NSW Koala Co-ordinator Vickii Lett, Cathy and WIRES fundraiser Cathy Sowden, landowners, Ali Treanor, Mark Nolde, Hayley Burgess and Lindy Marjan and WIRES chief officer Kyla Shelley celebrate the launch of the project at Toyota Lismore who are supporting the initiative. Photo: Alison Paterson

Placing a 220 litre plastic water drum on a metal stand four metres above the ground next to a tree is a new initiative to help the koala population recover after recent drought and bushfires.

On Friday, several Northern Rivers’ landowners, WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc) staff and volunteers and supporters, including representatives from Streets Paddle Pop, met at Lismore Toyota to launch one of the most significant support programs for wildlife.

They were there to celebrate WIRES Water for Wildlife Project, which will supply free 220Lt arboreal tanks to assist in preserving endangered animal, especially koalas.

WILDLIFE SAVER: Lismore Toyota staff Michael Vidler, Jordan Collings, Gareth Collings and (far right) Lismore Toyota principal and project supporter Sarah Smith help landowner Hayley Burgess load her trailer with 220Lt TREE TROFF® arboreal water drinkers which are being distributed free of charge for installation on their properties. Photo: Alison Paterson

According to WIRES chief operating officer Kyla Shelley, Water for Wildlife Project is believed to the largest long-term, supplementary water project for wildlife ever conducted and one which will be an environmental lifesaver.

Ms Shelley said the project will build and distribute $1 million worth of arboreal water stations powered by a ground pump, for native wildlife.

“Australian wildlife is facing an enormous number if challenges including having on of the worst extinction rates in the world,” she said.

“This particular Water for Wildlife project came off the back of research by the University of Sydney that found koalas used supplemented water extensively throughout the year.

“This is particularly frequent when extreme weather events dramatically reduce leaf water content, potentially leading to large-scale mortality due to dehydration”

LIFESAVER: A 220Lt arboreal drinker is set about 4m above the ground and is part of the WIRES Water for Wildlife project being rolled out across the country. Currently 10 per cent of the 800 drinker tanks have been allocated to Northern Rovers landowners.

Roseberry Creek community farmer Hayley Burgess said she was thrilled to be part of the project.

“We have a lot of creeks on the property and we find that koalas and birds came down to them during the drought,” she said.

“We were using the caged 1,000lt drums but found we were losing animals to drowning.”

Monatlrie landowner Lindy Marjan said she is placing one at her property.

“We will place it on a ridge line,” she said.

“At the moment our koalas are down by the river and if they come up to the ridge lines they will be able to access the water.”

Ms Shelley thanked “the incredible support from the local community such as the Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Lismore Toyota”:

WATER FOR WILDLIFE: Landowners Ali Treanor gets a helping hand from some 200L TREE TROFF® arboreal water drinkers which are being distributed free of charge for installation on their properties to help support thousands of native animals Photo: Alison Paterson

Lismore Toyota dealer principal Sarah Smith said she’s happy to store the drinkers and stands at her Ballina Rd business.

A LCCI board member, Ms Smith said as soon as WIRES made contact with the organisation regarding supporting Water for Wildlife, she was delighted to agree.

“It is really fitting that Lismore Toyota as we are big family of animal lovers, were happy to put their hands up and help with the distribution,” she said.

“People resister with WIRES and once is sorted they can swing by during our operating hours and we can help them load up.”

More information here.