Mount Macedon is undergoing a landmark reforestation project to restore native forests to former pine plantation sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project received $1.13 million funding through Victoria\u2019s BushBank program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Mount Macedon Plantation Restoration Project is a huge win for our region,” Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said. “It’s helping to stop the decline of our native plants and animals and improve our natural environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 22,500 native tree saplings were planted during winter across the 94-hectare site on the south-east side of Mount Macedon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds from native local trees were collected from the Macedon Regional Park in July 2023 to ensure the new forest is created from species with local progeny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The seeds were carefully collected, cared for and grown into healthy saplings by a local nursery ready for planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monitoring sites were created across the project area to monitor the impacts of browsing animals. Protective fencing was installed in March 2025. Drone-based weed mapping and spraying took place in spring to prepare the ground for planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The forest is expected to significantly increase habitat for native wildlife, improve soil health and water quality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mount Macedon is undergoing a landmark reforestation project to restore native forests to former pine plantation sites. The project received…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":26631,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[2967,1856,7129,1076],"ppma_author":[5225],"class_list":["post-26629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-macedon-regional-park","tag-mary-anne-thomas-mp","tag-mount-macedon-plantation-restoration-project","tag-victorian-government"],"yoast_head":"\n