Creating a fully functioning eco venue when all you have to start with is an open bay shed is no small feat. But it was certainly a challenge that Kate and Tony LeMessurier were keen to take on when they moved to Teven in June 2016 and began planning their eco venue Gurragawee. Now they are thrilled to be the recipients of a $40,000 grant to help enhance the fish habitat of Maguires Creek that runs through their property.
Maguires Creek runs from Lynwood through to the Richmond River at Ballina and is 23.8km in length. It is home to a diverse range of native flora and fauna including water dragons, bass, mullet, turtles, yabbies and a family of resident platypus.
The restoration will be undertaken by the Kate and Tony working with the team from EnviTE Environment based in Lismore and Planting Alstonville High Landcare who will offer manpower and technical support to develop the restoration management plan.
‘We plan to improve water quality by planting more than 2,000 riparian plants and native trees,’ they said.
‘This will lead to increased bank stability which will have fantastic knock-on effects reducing the risk of erosion and associated sedimentation in waterways.
‘We plan to improve accessibility to strategic fishing sites for anglers and make the eco venue in Teven a fishing destination to enjoy and respect.’
They have made significant inroads with local environmental groups such as EnviTE and Big Scrub Landcare and Planting Alstonville High Landcare, thoughtfully regenerating the local ecosystem, which was once part of the historical big scrub rainforest. From July 2016 to 2017, a section of the Maguire Creek has been rehabilitated with more than 600 trees planted as well as over 1,000 riparian plants to control erosion of the creek bank.
‘The name of the property “Gurragawee” is inspired by the bird song of the local Currawong bird,’ finished Kate and Tony.
