Since the 2019/20 bushfires, the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden has become a haven and place of healing for many. It's also the ideal place for new WIRES volunteers to learn their trade.
From lake Conjola in the north to Wallaga Lake in the south, new members meet up at the Garden for WIRES training and regular social catchups. Soon these volunteers will also have access to an animal rehabilitation facility onsite.
Garden manager Michael Anlezark is working with local WIRES volunteers and rehabilitation facilities project coordinator Rob Townsend to develop the project.
"The facility is a natural fit here and our staff and volunteers very keen to support it and play an active role in the rehabilitation of our precious wildlife," says Michael.
The collaboration will result in a decent sized wildlife care facility – 10 metres long, four wide and four tall, with space for storage and a food-preparation shed. It will be the biggest WIRES aviary in the shire, perfect to flight-test animals before release. Instead of isolated, home-based care, WIRES volunteers can share the facility as they transition suitable injured wildlife back to life in the open.
While the public won't be able to visit animals at the facility, there's a chance to see them once released.
"We don't want to pressure our existing wildlife so it's important recovered animals released onsite can successfully integrate," says Michael.
"We will work with WIRES and other wildlife experts to ensure these release programs are sustainable."
Michael says other botanic gardens in NSW and ACT are already showing interest, keenly following the project's progress.
"This is the first partnership of its kind. It has potential to be a model that can be rolled out at other botanic gardens and we are making every effort to get it exactly right."
- This story was first published in Council's quarterly newsletter for residents, Living in Eurobodalla. A printed edition is delivered to Eurobodalla's 26,000 households.
