The Tamworth Sport and Entertainment Precinct is set to benefit from Greater Bank's 75-year anniversary celebration by receiving a donation of $50,000 to plant 10,000 trees around the sporting complexes.
The 10,000 trees to be planted in the Tamworth Sport and Entertainment Precinct are part of Greater Bank's target to plant 75,000 in Regional NSW, and Tamworth, is an area in which Greater Bank has operated for the past 40 years.
Tamworth Regional Council Mayor, Cr Col Murray, and Greater Bank's Tamworth Branch Manager, Dwayne Marshall, are launching the Tamworth project today by planting the first tree on Jack Smyth Drive.
"The small to medium sized Coral Gum (Eucalyptus torquate), named in honour of its coral-pink flowers, to be planted along Jack Smyth Drive will create an attractive avenue along the main road access to our sporting facilities," Cr Murray, said.
"There will also be plantings at our newly upgraded Tamworth Hockey Complex and the Tamworth Sports Dome, including the Athletics and Velodrome.
"The paddock camping areas and cross-country course at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) will also benefit with cluster plantings over the 72 hectares, along with screen and windbreak plantings around the boundary fence."
A mix of hiko and tube-stock plants that are native to the area, and areas further west of Tamworth, have been selected for the project, including eucalypts, kurrajongs and vegetation of varying shapes and sizes.
The first 2,000 plants will be planted in the coming weeks before taking a break over the hottest parts of summer. The planting will resume in autumn, allowing the plants to establish before winter.
The donation will also contribute to tree stakes and temporary guards, such as milk cartons or corflute depending on the planting location, to support and protect the plantings.
In launching the campaign, Mr Marshall said the tree planting project is symbolic of the role Greater Bank has played in growing together with its communities over the past 75 years.
"As Greater Bank reaches its 75th year of operation, we're proudly celebrating the role we have played in helping the communities we call home, including here in Tamworth where we opened our branch in 1980," Mr Marshall said.
"It is important for us that in celebrating the milestone we contribute to a cause that is important to our customers and communities. The need to protect and nurture the environment is a consistent message delivered by customers, which is why we've committed to planting 75,000 trees throughout regional NSW.
"We've thoroughly enjoyed working with Tamworth Regional Council to bring to life a project that will provide an ongoing legacy to mark this milestone. As these trees grow, they will provide an enduring symbol of our commitment to social responsibility and sustained support of the Tamworth community," Mr Marshall said.
Once completed, the project will have a significant impact on local environments. Beyond the flora regeneration of the respective sites across Regional NSW, collectively, the 75,000 trees will have the capacity to absorb 1,650,000kgs of carbon dioxide each year, that offsets 97 people per year and emissions from 600 cars.
