Past participants have sung the praises of the Koala Habitat Restoration Program, and now the opportunity to jump on board has been given a second time.
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Tamworth Regional Landcare Association is calling to private landholders in the Liverpool Plains and Gunnedah Shires to express interest.
Funded under the NSW Government's Koala Strategy and 'Saving Our Species' (SOS) program, the project aims to restore at least thirty hectares of new koala habitat across both Shires by the end of 2021.
Five landholders from the Emerald Hill, Marys Mount and Curlewis were contracted to establish multi-species tree corridors in the last round.
One of these was Geoff Dawson from Emerald Hill, who, thanks to recent rain, has just finished planting 382 plants including White Gums, mixed Eucalyptus, Wattle, Kurrajong and more, with help from his wife Belinda.
"I think it's a magic idea, because what you are doing is getting a bit of financial assistance to do it, and... you learn things," he explained.
"Belinda planted 382 trees, and I planted one," he laughed.
"I dug the holes, did the ripping, but we were very lucky we had a little bit of rain that let me do it.
"In March, I thought we'd be able to plant them next year, they say April is the best time to plant them, but it because a perfect start to the year we did them now."
While used to seeing koalas regularly at his place, he says he hasn't seen one for a while, but hopes that will soon change.
"They are not there all the time, they wander through. We used to see a guy, he was like a resident, and he would always be on one tree, he must've liked it."
And also a pleasant benefit, he is also seeing birds come bak to the property.
"The funny thing was the other day, ten days ago when watering, I noticed a little bird called an Australasian Pipet, a couple of them poking around.
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"I haven't seen them before. There are little birds all around. Quails are here too, and I haven't seen them here for three years."
Local Landcare Coordinator Penny Milson is strongly encouraging farmers who see koalas on their property to consider taking part.
"There is an urgent need to revegetate more privately owned land to support our local koala populations," she said.
The program will assist contracted landholders by providing 50 per cent of the estimated cost.
Contact Ms Milson on 0417 443 009 or penny@trla.org.au to express interest by June 30.
