Last month the NSW Department of Lands and Forestry celebrated the launch of the work for the dole Fivebough Wetlands Project.

The project encompasses landscape gardening, painting, welding, fencing, construction, revegetation and weed control works to revitalize the Budyaan Baamirra Picnic Area and Wiradjuri Walk at Fivebough.

The carpark will also undergo resurfacing works and nesting boxes for the furred and feathered inhabitants of the reserve will be installed throughout the woodlands area.

Attending the recent launch of the project was the local agency representatives that went above and beyond to make it happen.

Funded by the federal government’s work for the dole program, the initiative is providing an opportunity for job seekers to gain real work skills, while actively engaging in a project that will deliver outcomes of significant recreational benefit to the Leeton community, as well as ecologically to the wetlands reserve.

A spokesman for the project stakeholders was impressed with how the project had come together. 

“The crew has hit the ground running with these works and has made some fantastic progress since commencing in mid-April,” the spokesman said.

“The improvements will be spectacular by the conclusion of the project in September this year.”

The project involves collaboration from multiple agencies, including Mission Providence who secured project funding from Department of Employment, Sureway Employment and Training, who provide and support the crew of job seekers and GetSet, who project manage the works and provide a site supervisor.

TAFE NSW Riverina Institute is also providing facilities and training for the welding and metalwork component of the project, while LifeSource Church is overseeing the construction of nesting boxes.

The Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Lands Council is co-ordinating the new cultural mural through the Leeton Men’s Group. Residents can still visit the wetlands, but need to be mindful of construction.