Swans Crossing opens with a new look

Forests NSW will reopen Swans Crossing in Kerewong State Forest west of Kew on the Mid North Coast this weekend.

Swans Crossing provides open grassed areas for camping and day visits beside Upsalls Creek.
 
The area of hardwood plantation adjacent to the site has been harvested over the past four months.

The plantation was once a dairy farm which was bought by the then Forestry Commission in 1958 and planted with selected blackbutt seedlings in 1971.

“After 40 years of growth, and two thinning harvest operations, this small 30 ha plantation has produced timber worth at least $1.35 million to the local community in the latest harvest,” said Forests NSW Central Region community partnerships forester Sandra Madeley.

“More than 50 per cent of the products from the plantation harvest were sold as power poles.

“During the closure, Forests NSW took the opportunity to replace the deteriorating bollards with locally-sourced timbers to better define the many areas available for camping and recreation.

“An architect was also engaged to produce a landscape plan which includes further enhancements such as a new picnic shelter in the day-use area.

“New interpretation signage is also underway, with the content to include information about the history of the site, local attractions and current forest management practices.”

Ms Madeley said the subject for the new interpretation signs were largely requested by the public through their responses during visitor surveys undertaken over the Easter long weekend earlier this year.

“There is still further work to be undertaken to give the area a spruce up, however, with the early onset of a busy fire season, we have not had the opportunity to complete as much as we would like before re-opening.

“The site will continue to be improved at intervals with minimal interruption to campers.

“The adjacent plantation site will once again be hand planted with a new crop of blackbutt seedlings after appropriate rain to ensure the survival of the young seedlings,” Ms Madeley said.

“This is likely to be around February next year and Forests NSW is working on a schools program to enlist a local school to assist in planting a small section of the new plantation so that they can monitor the seedlings growth and learn more about Australian forest management practices.”

Visit the Forests NSW website www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting or the new Facebook page www.facebook.com/forestplayground for regular updates about local recreation areas or other recreation sites across NSW State forests.

Media contact: Howard Spencer 02 66568825 or 0428 696672