The Lismore-Casino rail trail is a beautiful thing, but regular users know that it desperately needs more trees. If you’ve got a couple of hours to spare this weekend, the Border Valley-Richmond Valley Landcare Network and Naughtons Gap Landcare Group would love your help to transform the trail.
Landcare Coordinator Emma Stone says the work is already being noticed by rail trail users. ‘We’ve had a lot of support from people who are using the rail trail while we’re conducting the working bees,’ she said.
‘They’re giving us great encouragement and support and acknowledging that we’re making a difference. It’s been really positive to have the users at the trail give us a wave and say thanks!’
Exciting future
Ms Stone says there are remnant trees along the rail trail, but a lot of it is quite degraded vegetation. She sees that as an opportunity, and one that can be replicated elsewhere.
‘It’s just calling for action, and I can see it in my mind – what it will be. If we can get support to initiate these kind of local custodianship ventures, I think it’s a really exciting future for the Rail Trail!’
So, can you make some time to help from 9-11am this Saturday, 6 September? Come and join the lovely Naughtons Gap Landcare team with some handweeding around all the new trees planted along the Casino to Bentley Rail Trail.
The team will be working on the stretch between the Naughtons Gap Road bridge and the tunnel. There’s a parking area just north of the bridge on Naughtons Gap Road, past Stones Road junction.
With the restoration efforts already starting to show their potential, Emma Stone says a little bit of TLC will go a long way.
‘It’s easy work but fit for many hands. No tools required – just BYO gloves and snacks!’
This initiative is being supported by Friends of the Koala and Richmond Valley Council, together with the Border Ranges-Richmond Valley Landcare Network.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or call Emma on 0457 052 636.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
