FENTONS Creek couple Kim Lomax and Roger Hall are transforming their Fentons Creek property.
Their exploration of conservation opportunities is part of the the BushBank Program, a $77 million initiative by the Victorian Government.
Administered by Cassinia Environmental, the program assists landowners to restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to carbon sequestration. 
Original owners of the property since the 1950s, Neale Holt’s family held a deep connection to the land. Neale and his wife cherished picnics on a hill they affectionately named Wildflower Hill, known for its rich display of Chocolate Lilies, Early Nancies, and native grasses and orchids. 
The hill, became a sanctuary for native species Late Flax-Lily (Dianella tarda). The hill’s EVC is the depleted Hillcrest Herb-rich woodland. 
Elsewhere, the property is also home to a vulnerable Grassy Woodland ecosystem, endangered Buloke trees and critically endangered species- Hairy Tails (Ptilotus erubescens), and the Northern Golden Moth Orchid (Diuris protena). 
In 2016, Neale made the significant decision to covenant the property with Trust for Nature, ensuring its preservation for future generations. This covenant aimed to protect the unique remnant vegetation on the property, safeguarding large old trees and the biodiversity that depends on them.
Three years ago, Kim and Roger acquired the property, becoming its new caretakers. 
“The covenant was a major reason we bought the property,” Kim said. 
“We wanted our efforts to be protected long-term, and the BushBank program has now allowed us to build on those efforts.” 
Kim and Roger’s BushBank project includes 25 hectares of revegetation with locally native species and extensive rabbit control. Co-funding for the project was obtained from Land Life Company, a nature reforestation company, in return for the carbon rights from the revegetation area. 
Their project is complemented by 25 hectares revegetated by a neighbour as part of the BushBank Program as well.
Kim and Roger say they have have witnessed remarkable transformations on the property as a result of removal of stock and natural recruitment. 
There is a diverse understory and ground cover, teeming with wildlife, including Echidnas, Wallabies, Yellow-Footed Antechinus, Lace Monitors and Sand Goannas. 
The extensive restoration efforts will revitalise the herb-rich woodland, once cleared, but still rich in native species.
 At a broader scale, the BushBank project connects neighbouring protected lands, ensuring the preservation of this unique landscape. Engaging with the BushBank Program has been a rewarding experience for Kim and Roger. “The program has made an incredible difference,” Kim says. “The team was efficient, and we were amazed by what they accomplished.”