Work is still underway to restore UNE’s landscape following August’s heavy snow fall. Estate and Built Environment (EBE) crews and contractors are clearing fallen timber from farms, fence lines, the mountain bike track and other key areas. More than 200 tonnes of mulch created from storm-damaged trees has already been put to use at CART and UNE’s animal facilities, with additional material left onsite at Mt Duval and farm tracks for reuse.

EBE is also looking beyond the clean-up. Every tree removed is being logged for replacement under a 3:1 planting program, meaning the campus will ultimately gain more trees than it lost. The UNE Landscape Advisory Committee is guiding decisions about what to plant and where, ensuring heritage and culturally significant trees remain central to the recovery effort.

The damage was extensive. More than 2,000 trees were affected – that is almost half the number normally assessed each year by arborists. Of these, 228 required major repairs and 10 could not be saved.

In the days after the storm, the focus was firmly on safety and teaching continuity. Access to campus was restricted, a park-and-ride system kept classes running, and arborists worked zone by zone to identify hazards. Security and WHS supported the effort, fencing off dangerous areas until they could be made safe.

Replanting and restoration over the coming months will add to campus biodiversity and help preserve UNE’s distinctive landscape for years to come.