Extensive work has been going on at the eastern side of Cohen’s Bridge to create a better riverbank.
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Gunnible Landcare chairman Geoff Hood said five years ago, the eastern bank of the Namoi River at the site was “impenetrable weeds”.
In the past two days, a small band of locals has been working on the latest stage in transforming the area into a beautiful place to spend some time.
Mr Hood said Gunnible Landcare had applied for and been awarded a grant funded from the National Landcare Program through NSW Local Land Services administered by the Tamworth Regional Landcare Association.
The $19,760 project includes 59 per cent as an in-kind contribution from Gunnible Landcare members, contractors Greg Ward and Ian Shanley as well as Gunnedah Shire Council, which provided clean fill.
Mr Ward from Gred Ward Earthmoving Solutions has been hard at work shifting truckloads of fill which had been delivered by Gunnedah Shire Council trucks from works near the Donnelly Fields.
Tish Enterprises had already kicked in by spreading mulch throughout the area.
Mr Hood said Gunnible Landcare had been working on the beautification of the area for more than five years.
Gunnible Landcare, together with Rotary and Gunnedah Shire Council, took on a project in 2010 to enhance the O’Keefe Avenue area named after Rotarian and long-standing councillor and mayor Frank O’Keefe.
The latest project includes maintenance mowing, weed control of invasive species along the river, mulching, landscaping, clean fill and signage to make the area more accessible.
The project is expected to be finished within six months.
“This has gone from being a neglected area to a nice area,” Mr Hood said.
“We will sow it with native couch.”
Gunnedah mayor Owen Hasler said council had been “happy” to support the initiative.
“It is the northern gateway to our town and has been in a degraded and neglected state for sometime, and we applaud their achievement to date in improving the visual and physical amenity of the northern Namoi riverbank,” Cr Hasler said.
“The benefit of their work has been shown by the large number of RV users and locals who now regularly visit and use the area for recreational purposes.
“To have the area under the trees to the east of Cohen’s Bridge levelled and mown will provide a significantly larger sheltered area for visitors and locals alike which is of benefit to our community.”
Cr Hasler thanked Gunnible Landcare and contractors Greg Ward and Ian Shanley for their support and said council had assisted with the transport of fill from the southern side of Donnelly Fields.
“The work complements the improvements being undertaken on the town side of the river with extended bollarding, road and traffic improvements, and further tree plantings.”
