More than 8000 trees have been planted on two sites by Parks Victoria at the lake since late winter.

Members of the authority’s Hopetoun-based drought employment program team have now followed up, installing tree guards to protect the new plantings.

“It was a great opportunity to maximise the potential benefit from what is a huge and valuable re-vegetation project for our region,” the authority’s land and biodiversity manager Leigh Pyke said.

“The Hopetoun team has had up to eight workers on the project and they’ve put in thousands of tree guards to protect the new plantings from browsing by kangaroos and other species.”

The program is part of the Victorian government’s drought response package and employs drought-affected people with direct links to primary production to undertake environmental works.

Parks Victoria project officer Andy Dodds said the work at Lake Albacutya covered approximately 300 hectares.

“Lake Albacutya is one of the priority areas for regeneration of Mallee woodlands in our region and the plantings and direct seeding are on the eastern lunette of Lake Albacutya,” Mr Dodds said.

“Considering that it’s a semi-arid climate, the bulokes and pines have had a terrific start because they were planted on really good rainfall, and they’ve had ideal follow-up rains,” he said.

“When they’re fully-grown the tree canopies will provide habitat for birds and animals including threatened birds like Major Mitchell cockatoos and white-browed tree creepers.

“So it’s really satisfying to know that they’re now protected and have the best possible chance to survive and thrive.”