The City was excited to team up with Geelong Cats players and members of the club to plant more than 1 000 native shrubs grasses and trees along the Moorabool River.

For the second consecutive year the planting day took place at the Fyansford Common on Friday 16 August with the goal of restoring the land alongside the river. As the planted seedlings grow they will provide essential habitat for reptiles birds and insects as well as for larger animals such as koalas.

This partnership allows Geelong Cats members to put their complimentary $20 Cats Shop voucher towards the Cats’ Plant a Tree program.

In its second year this ongoing membership option aims to support local revegetation projects enhance the environment and help biodiversity thrive while creating a sense of community spirit and ownership.

The City has recently undertaken extensive weed removal along this section of Moorabool River. Our planting initiative with the Geelong Cats forms part of a long-term habitat restoration project to rehabilitate the understorey plant species that have long been missing from this landscape.

More than 80 per cent of the species planted on the day were shrubs and grasses as they provide food and shelter for native wildlife improve water quality and drainage and reduce bank erosion.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan

This planting day demonstrates how Council and the Cats’ values about preserving nature sustainability and volunteering strongly align.

Collaboration is key to making a difference on a larger scale and we’re excited to be creating positive environmental change that will benefit the community for years to come.

On behalf of Council I thank the Cats fans members and players who will be getting their hands dirty for a good cause.

The City would also like to recognise the dedication and effort of the Friends of Buckley Falls and the Geelong Environment Council.

Their members have volunteered over many years to help make the parkland along the Moorabool and Barwon rivers a place rich in biodiversity that the community can experience local wildlife.

Geelong Cats Chief Operating Officer Simon Kelleher

We are thrilled to continue our planting partnership with City of Greater Geelong support this important revegetation work and use our platform in the community to highlight the importance of green initiatives like the planting day.

As a Club we are committed to investing in positive actions for our environment and we are pleased to see the support from our members both in choosing to contribute the value of their Cats Shop voucher towards this initiative and those who were part of the planting session today.

This planting day follows the City’s successful National Tree Day initiatives last month where almost 3 000 trees were planted at Lara’s Lavender Drive Reserve.