After 27 years of extraordinary service to the Albury-Wodonga region, Parklands Albury Wodonga Ltd has ceased trading and is in the process of winding up.
The closure marks the end of an era for one of the region’s most impactful conservation organisations and a founding member of the Wodonga Urban Landcare Network (WULN).
A Legacy of Landscape
Parklands Albury Wodonga grew from a vision set in motion in the early 1970s, when the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation embarked on an ambitious urban development project centred on linking the region’s unique, biodiverse parklands. Early management involved a range of agencies, including the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation, the Victorian Department of Conservation and Environment, and the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, before a community-based Committee of Management took shape.
In September 1996, a landmark plan established the open space strategy for the region, with a vision to create “the most magnificent regional parklands in Australia.” Parklands Albury Wodonga was incorporated in January 1997 and became a company limited by guarantee in 2004.
Over nearly three decades, Parklands stewarded more than 2,300 hectares of crown land and bush parks, connecting the hills and rivers, the urban and the rural.
Their achievements were remarkable:
- Restored native vegetation across 3,300 hectares of degraded hill country, including erecting more than 130 km of stock exclusion fencing and planting hundreds of thousands of native seedlings
- Developed the 120 km High Country Rail Trail, including trestle bridge restoration, new footbridges, track surface upgrades, and signage in collaboration with the Bonegilla and Tallangatta Rail Trail Advisory Groups.
- Maintained 74 km of the Hume and Hovell Trail in NSW
- Restored river frontage along the lower Kiewa River, sections of the Murray, and key tributary creeks
- Restored and conserved 18 heritage buildings at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park, and secured National Heritage listing for the site
- Delivered hundreds of community engagement events and Ranger-led volunteer programs
- Parklands worked closely with the Bhutanese and Community Multicultural Farm, Friends of Wodonga Rail Trail, Friends of Nail Can Hill and the Bonegilla and Tallangatta Rail Trail Advisory Groups, alongside a vast community of volunteers, partners and stakeholders.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
WULN extends its deepest thanks and warmest wishes to the Parklands Board, and to Ant, Danny, Veronica, Tilak, Penny, Wayne and all the dedicated staff and volunteers who have been instrumental in Parklands’ many achievements over the years. Your work has shaped this landscape and this community in ways that will endure.
What Comes Next
This is not the end. WULN has been exploring how to support and sustain Parklands’ vital activities and its legacy into the future.
We are excited to announce that a new stewardship group has formed: Friends of the Murray River. This group of volunteers plans to run regular stewardship activities, such as woody weeding, fencing, revegetation and maintenance of land previously managed by Parklands, ensuring that stewardship work along the Murray River and tributary corridors carries on.
Events and activities will be promoted through WULN’s website, Facebook page and network updates.
If you’d like to get involved or learn more, you can join Friends of the Murray River at: https://wodongalandcare.org.au/join and follow us on facebook here.