Students win tender for revegetation project
9 September 2004
Students from an Indigenous land management course at Kangan Batman TAFE recently completed substantial revegetation work for Parks Victoria at Werribee Park in South Werribee.
In late June this year the Indigenous Land Management team tendered and won a contract for Parks Victoria, for revegetation of Werribee Park, which covered approximately 2,000 square metres of steep escarpment alongside the Werribee River.
The project involved the clearing of a heavy infestation of environmental weeds; grooming of the site; the laying and fixing of jute-matting, to act as a mulch and prevent erosion; the planting of approximately 2,000 indigenous plants, sourced from locally grown seed; the erection of mesh guards on each plant to guard against rabbit and wallaby damage; and mulching the site with pine-bark, to give an aesthetic appearance.
On winning the tender the team from the Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (Indigenous Land Management) course set about organising the work program, and doing a job safety analysis of the site.
Because the bulk of the work had to be completed during the term break, not all students were able to attend. Those who did, however, put in a great effort over 12 working days to get the job done to a high standard.
The opportunity to work in this particular environment made the job a pleasant experience, despite the inclement weather. The worksite was situated between the grand and historic buildings of the Chirnside squattocracy on the one hand and the Werribee floodplain, containing significant aboriginal sites and remnant woodland, on the other. To top it all off the students had to cope with rhinoceros and giraffe wandering the floodplain of the Werribee Open Range Zoo on the opposite bank of the river!
The project offered the students great insight into project work in the 'real' world. It also addressed learning outcomes of the conservation and land management course such as planting trees and shrubs; natural area restoration; treating weeds; OH & S; and workplace communications. Working alongside supportive and enthusiastic Parks Victoria staff was a great way to introduce students to work prospects in the environment industry.
All work was completed as a Kangan Business Enterprise Project with the profit going to benefit students in the future. The teachers are now able to plan for more adventurous field trips that will not only benefit students in completing their learning outcomes, but will reward them for the efforts they have made on this project.
