More than 30,000 native trees will be plant at Stockland Kings Forest, transforming former pine plantation land into thriving wildlife habitat. Student leaders from five local schools will mark National Tree Day through a community planting event that forms part of the project’s long-term environmental restoration program.
Student leaders from Kingscliff Public School, St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Cudgen Public School and Bogangar Public School took part in the planting on Monday 27 July, supporting the growth of new native vegetation while contributing to the site’s ongoing rehabilitation.
The planting forms part of a staged environmental program across 127 hectares – an area equivalent to almost 180 soccer fields – and contributes to more than 300 hectares of dedicated conservation land across the Kings Forest community.
The program includes 66 species of locally native plants, including eucalypts, banksias, paperbarks, grass trees, sedges, rainforest trees and flowering shrubs, carefully selected to recreate natural ecosystems, strengthen wildlife corridors and support threatened species including koalas and the Wallum Sedge Frog.
Stockland Project Director Alex Koerber said the program reflected Stockland’s commitment to leaving a lasting environmental legacy alongside the delivery of new homes.
“This first tree planting marks the beginning of a multi-year program to progressively restore over 300 hectares of native bushland across Kings Forest,” Mr Koerber said.
“It’s especially meaningful to see local students taking part and helping shape the future landscape of Kings Forest. Their contribution supports the restoration of native habitat and demonstrates the important role communities play in caring for the environment.”
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest welcomed Stockland’s commitment to environmental restoration at Kings Forest.
“Kings Forest is set to deliver new homes for many families in the years to come and the 30,000 native trees being planted will deliver native homes for a diverse array of wildlife families including our precious koalas,” Mr Provest said.
The rehabilitation combines natural bush regeneration with the planting of locally native species, returning land previously used as a commercial pine plantation to native bushland while improving the health of local creeks, wetlands and bushland corridors.
Dedicated habitat zones, including koala food trees, will support local wildlife and strengthen green links across Kings Forest, helping create a more connected habitat network. Plant survival and growth will be independently monitored over several years to help ensure the regenerated bushland becomes self-sustaining.
The current works package is being delivered by Biodiversity Australia, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned environmental management business with more than two decades of experience delivering ecological restoration projects across Australia.
For details on Kings Forest and available homesites, visit: www.stockland.com.au/residential/nsw/kings-forest
