Townsville City Council has been supporting Planet Ark's National Tree Day for the last eight years. National Tree Day is about promoting biodiversity and encouraging communities throughout Australia to plant trees that are native to their local areas.

A special tree presentation with Delfin Lend Lease will be held at the TCC Admin Building forecourt for Schools National Tree Day - Friday 28 July 2006. Around 2500 local native trees and planting materials will be handed to participating schools.
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All plantings will be supported by the Greening Townsville Program. Dalrymple Road site will be the main hub of activities as it will be hosting a combined celebration for National Tree Day and the official launch of the Dalrymple Road Revegetation and Amenity Plantings Project Stage 2 funded through the Community Environment Fund (CEF).

National Tree Day is organised nationally by Planet Ark in association with Toyota and AMP Foundation. National Tree Day is about promoting biodiversity and encouraging communities throughout Australia to plant trees that are native to their local areas.

Townsville City Council have been organising National Tree Day at the local level since 1999. The event drew widespread support from local communities and schools as well as support from local businesses and, social and/or community groups and clubs.

This year, Environmental Management Services will organise National Tree Day for local schools and the community. The event will include activities relevant with the Greening Townsville Program.

Delfin Lend Lease has again agreed to sponsor the Schools National Tree Day for the eighth year running. They will contribute $3500 towards the purchase of local native tree seedlings and some advanced shade trees for schools. Council will provide mulch, fertiliser start bag, information package as well as provide assistance with site preparation.

Schools have been invited by the Deputy Mayor Cr. Ann Bunnell to participate in this event. Council together with Delfin Lend Lease will present each of the participating schools some local native plants, bamboo stakes, fertiliser and information kit on the Friday 28 July in a presentation ceremony to be held at the Townsville City Council's forecourt.

National Tree Day is a strategic event to get the community to come together and plant trees that are native to Townsville as well as provide tangible contribution towards enhancing Townsville's natural environment.

Four community tree planting sites have been selected. All four community plantings will be supported by Greening Townsville - Community Greening program. The sites are:

A planting and creek rehabilitation workshop will be held at 8:30am, Saturday 29 July at Gustav Creek, adjacent to Mango Parkway, Nelly Bay. Over 100 plants will be planted along the banks of Gustav Creek as part of the Gustav Creek Catchment Management Plan and creek rehabilitation activities.

The community workshop will cover creek revegetation and rehabilitation methods, which residents can use on their own property. The workshop will be aimed at residents adjoining Gustav Creek, however other Townsville residents are welcome to attend.

The event will be supported by NHT Envirofund and Gustav Creek Catchment Committee.

[ Photos of the Dalrymple Road Tree Planting ]

The Dalrymple Road site will be the main focus of activities for National Tree Day celebration this year. A major community tree planting will be held on Sunday 30 July 2006 from 9am - 12 noon. Around 1000 local native trees, shrubs and ground covers will be planted as well as a further 200 tube stocks will be available for volunteers to plant at home.

The National Tree Day event will also be the official launch of the Dalrymple Road Revegetation and Amenity Plantings Project Stage 2, which is funded through Community Environment Fund (CEF). The community planting will be the first of three community plantings planned for this site. The project aims to soften the impact of the major powerlines infrastructure along this section of Dalrymple road as well as providing amenity and green refuge for urban wildlife.

Toyota is a major sponsor of National Tree Day nationally and locally Mike Carney Toyota will be supporting the Townsville's main event through in-kind contribution and sponsorship.

The Northern Suburbs Lions Club will be preparing a sausage sizzle for all volunteers on the day.

[ Photos of the Mundy Creek Tree Planting ]

A planting will be held at Mundy Creek on Sunday 30 July at 3pm. 100 plants will be planted near the Mundy Creek Bridge, Heatley's Parade. This event will be supported by Conservation Volunteers Australia and Mundy Creekwatch. A sausage sizzle will be available after the planting - prepared by Northern Suburbs Lions Club.

A small planting of mainly advanced native trees will be held at Soroptimist Park Rowes Bay starting at 3pm. Some 20 plants will be planted on the day with members of Townsville Soroptimist Club. Once planting on this park is completed, members and volunteers will be joining the Mundy Creek volunteers for a sausage sizzle.

Toyota's new model fuel-efficient cars can produce up to 30% less greenhouse gas emissions than older inefficient models.

Planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide emissions is an internationally recognized procedure for reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions. According to Mr Ken Asano, educating and motivating individuals and organizations to plant carbon-absorbing trees is another positive way Toyota can help the Australian and global environment.

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