THE banks of Masons Gully in Rosewood will be improved during a community planting day in celebration of World Wetlands Day.

Bushcare volunteers and West Moreton Landcare plan to host the planting on Saturday (February 3) in the reserve near the roundabout in John Street.

Deputy Mayor Russell Milligan invited all members of the community to get involved.

“This is a great way to support a local Bushcare site while improving waterway health and learning more about the importance of wetlands,” he said.

“Wetlands and waterways are crucial in our city – especially areas that convey stormwater such as Masons Gully, which help clean water by filtering and absorbing nutrients and pollutants from urban run-off.”

Cr Kate Kunzelmann said the planting event would benefit the local environment saying the plantings would feature plants native to the local waterways.

Species such as lomandra, tall sedge, blue flax lily, common rush and native grasses will be planted.

Masons Gully Bushcare group leader Chris Rinehart said about 100 metres of the gully would be planted at the event, extending on the work the group has been doing for more than 20 years at the site.

“The plantings will provide erosion control and stabilisation for the banks of the gully, as well as increasing habitat for butterflies, insects and frogs,” she said.

“It will also help reduce weeds, by out-competing introduced grasses, as well as add to the aesthetics along the walkway. We have included some flowering plants such as Melaleuca.”

Mrs Rinehart said the Masons Gully Bushcare group meet for a working bee at the site on the second Saturday morning of each month, weather permitting, and are always keen to welcome new volunteers.