Over 100 school children and local and international volunteers planted more than 2000 native plants in April and May 2006 in the latest stage of a major vegetation restoration project to improve the natural environment of the Macquarie River and the Murray Darling Basin.

The Vegetation Management Plan project is focusing on the banks of the Macquarie River from the Evans Bridge upstream to the Railway Bridge.  A mix of native trees, shrubs and grasses will replace exotic woody weeds including Willows, Poplars and Elm trees which are being strategically and carefully removed.

Since that time, community organisations, including Macquarie Rivercare, Greening Bathurst Conservation Volunteers Australia, Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council, Fly Fish Bathurst, Kelso High School and All Saints College have helped Council in the implementation of the project.

It is intended that the local community will be invited to participate at various stages of the project until its expected completion in 2008.