SW tree planting venture takes root

Cristal Pigment staff joined members of the Leschenault Catchment Council to plant trees on the banks of the Collie River on Thursday.

The native saplings were planted behind Cristal Pigment's Australind premises with extra help from the public.

Leschenault Catchment Council project officer Julie Palmer said the work was part of a project to establish trees and control weeds.

"We've got six sites along the Collie and Brunswick rivers that we are focusing on with grants we received from the Federal Government and the South West Catchments Council," she said.

"We've had a good response from the community, with South West Institute of Technology students helping out, and the idea has been to engage the community.

"It's great that Cristal Pigment could get involved by helping out with the planting."

Cristal Pigment environmental advisor Allan Lee said the company had been involved in environmental projects behind its Australind site since 2002.

"We try to do a bit each year and last year, we focused on weed control and this year, we are again focusing on weed control but also planting," he said.

Leschenault Catchment Council vice-chairman George Mardon said the idea behind the tree planting was to reduce carbon footprints.

"The council has always been involved in biosecurity, in terms of getting rid of weeds, and biodiversity, because areas like the one where we planted on Thursday need plants."