Gee Gee Bridge Revegetation

Key Facts

The Issue

​Due to structural age and safety concerns, a new bridge has recently been erected by Roads and Maritime Services NSW replacing the original Gee Gee bridge on Noorong Road in Noorong/Wetuppa NSW. This has meant a new bridge approach has been constructed, leaving the old roadway approach area bare with degraded and compact soils.

The Solution

Murray River Council with consultation from Roads and Maritime Services NSW worked with Western Murray Land Improvement Group to strategize a plan to transform this now unused and degraded site back to a healthy and revegetated landscape. WMLIG created a specific project plan to bring the site back to a healthy environment including sowing groundcovers and planting endemic plant species.

​Preparations of the site included deep ripping, spreading of embankment materials, spreading of Gypsum to assist in breaking down the compacted soils, and the spreading of topsoil to rebalance the soils that have been heavily burdened by compaction and construction. The site was then prepared for the planting of 1,100 tube stock which involved creating wide depressions with central holes bored for the plants themselves creating an area for each plant that could maximise water harvesting from subsequent rainfall events- allowing more moisture to be captured.

​The tube stock was then planted at the site and watered in immediately. Guards were also installed on each individual plant, and since planting a fence has also been erected providing further protection of the area from pest pressure.

​Since planting, we have been fortunate enough to have received rain events at all the right times which has helped the project so far to be a great success. Manual watering will occur when needed over Spring and Summer to ensure the plants continue to survive and grow. 

The impact

The revegetation project has been so far successful. The seedlings planted have all thrived and are showing healthy new growth leading into Spring. The groundcover species sown has also so far shown a mostly successful germination, considering the rain we have received has in the later part of Winter has slowed down.

Continuous monitoring and support of the site and the project will ensure we can enjoy watching this important revegetation area grow in the years to come.

​The project was also registered as a participating site in the 2021 Planet Ark National Tree Day program, meaning the plants that were planted all contributed to the National Tree Day planting tally.