WHITES Creek in Moss Vale could soon be flowing like the good old days when locals fossicked for giant yabbies.

A group of hardy volunteers have successfully fought for Council funding to start up an officially-sanctioned town landcare group.

Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Phil Yeo presented the group’s president Ken Pogson with a start-up cheque of $500 at Whites Creek yesterday.

The money will be used to incorporate the group, paying for insurance premiums and other incidentals.

Mr Pogson told the Mayor the group’s main priority is to develop a rehabilitation plan for the creek from the golf club to beyond Cosgrove Park.

He said crack willows have caused extensive water quality problems in the former flowing tributary, which feeds into Wingecarribee River.

“These blokes are the ones we want to target,” Mr Pogson said, pointing to a row of willows near the Mack Street bridge.

“These trees have been declared noxious. They take root anywhere and cause problems wherever they grow.”

Crack willows have also been the main targets of Mittagong Rivulet Landcare Group who have successfully removed dozens in the last year.

Mr Pogson said it’s hoped a similar program will be adopted on the banks of Whites Creek which was a popular swimming spot decades ago.

“My kids used to go yabbying in this section of the creek,” he said.

“There were plenty of yabbies, good eating.

“And they tell me this spot over here (near Mack Street bridge) was a swimming hole, which all the locals went to when it was hot.”

Moss Vale Landcare group last month voted in a committee, vice president (Rod Dewey), secretary (Lyndal Breen) and treasurer (Rod Smith).

More than 40 volunteers have either joined or have indicated interest in joining.

St Paul’s International College and Moss Vale Golf Club have also stated they would like to participate.

“Our treasurer’s daughter completed this wonderful project on Whites Creek for her senior geography project and we’ll be using that as a yardstick of sorts,” Mr Pogson said.

He added, the group will work with the Land and Water Conservation Department to develop a plan which will be used to apply for funding from Sydney Catchment Authority.

The SCA will match any “in-kind” component supplied by the landcare group.

“It is a community project, for the community, which has funding assistance from government,” Mr Pogson said.

“And before any decision is made, everybody will know what is happening.”

The group and interested parties will walk the town centre section of Whites Creek today.

For more information phone Mr Pogson on 4868 1463.