The nest boxes built to exact dimensions to suit each species will address the housing crisis facing many native animals who depend on tree hollows to nest and breed.

Teacher Scott Mazzauchelli said the Year 10 building and construction students constructed the boxes based on the most recent research into appropriate size and shape.

The students also completed a project sheet detailing the specific habitat needs of the animals.

Money for the materials was made possible through the Australian Government Envirofund grant.

“Involving the students in this stage of our project has allowed us to construct more than our initially planned number of boxes and also resulted in engaging and informing the local young people in the issues behind habitat loss and the need for restoration,” Coastcare volunteer Christina Potts said.

Fifteen boxes for six different native animals were built.

The animals are ringtail possum, feathertail glider, sugar glider, kookaburra, rosella and black cockatoo.

Different size animals need different sized hollows to breed, even the smallest hollows do not begin to form naturally until eucalypt trees are more than 100 years old.

Hollows for the larger animals such as the black cockatoo can take up to 500 years to form.

“As surrounding native forest is cleared or logged for woodchips on an ever shortening cycle, these hollows are becoming a scarce resource.

“Council clearing of dead limbs in the campground for safety reasons is also reducing the availability of homes for native animals.

“This project will be used as a test, and if successful may be extended in the future,” Ms Potts said.