Nearly 400 native trees planted next to solar projects
NEXT time you take a drive along the Warrego Highway just outside Oakey, you might notice a much greener scenery greeting you at Cockburn Rd.
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NEXT time you take a drive along the Warrego Highway just outside Oakey, you might notice a much greener scenery greeting you at Cockburn Rd instead of an entire field of solar panels.
This will be thanks to the work of Michael Geraghty and his team of workers at Ravensbourne Trees, which planted nearly 400 native trees and over 4000 native shrubs and grasses as part of a massive landscaping project stretching about 4km long.
The works were completed as part of the development approval conditions for two multimillion-dollar solar farms by Canadian Solar.
But Mr Geraghty said the project was a great opportunity to create new environments for native flora and fauna to flourish, including some trees that were difficult to cultivate.
"We planted all natives, there were nearly 400 trees and most were endemic to the area, like bottle trees, lacebarks, eucalyptus and some callistemon trees.
"The idea was to create a lovely native fauna and flora area for local species.
"It will act like a nice wildlife corridor and be a visual buffer for motorists.
"Some species are very difficult to propagate, like the wilgas."
The project also featured 1600 cubic metres of mulch, taking six weeks to complete.
Mr Geraghty established Ravensbourne Trees as an offshoot of his landscaping company Carbon G about three years ago, after noticing a need for native trees and plants on commercial projects.
He said the vast majority of the trees planted were grown in his nursery at Ravensbourne.
"We could see the need to grow endemic species like cypress, wilgas, lacebarks and so on, which are hard to source sometimes," Mr Geraghty said.
"This is the one of the largest we've completed.
"The trees have been relatively matured (already), but you'll have a lovely corridor in about two or three years time."
For more information, head to ravensbournetrees.com.au.
