Bushcare
Hurstville City Council is responsible for managing 79 hectares of remnant bushland. Participants in Council's Volunteer Bushcare Program assist in monitoring, preserving and regeneratiing this bushland.
Volunteers assist with:
- weed identification and removal
- native plant identification
- soil stabilisation and minor drainage works, where required
- planting (when natural regeneration of soil-stored seed is unlikely to occur)
- seed or cutting collection and storage of surplus seed, or seeds of threatened and endangered species.
Volunteering
Council established our Bushcare Volunteer Program in 1999, due to increased community interest in bush regeneration.
New volunteers are always welcome to join the Bushcare Program. Council provides hands-on training in correct bush regeneration techniques and sites are supervised by our fully-qualified Bushcare and Wetland Officers. Council’s comprehensive public liability insurance is offered to all registered participants.
There are currently around 80 active volunteers that make up 17 groups working at 13 sites across Oatley, Peakhurst, Lugarno and Riverwood, including a native nursery group. The groups meet for three hour sessions on a weekly, fortnightly, monthly or bi-monthly basis. Bushcare volunteers find contributing to local environmental restoration enjoyable and social.
The Bundaluk newsletter
The Bushcare Volunteers Network produces a quarterly newsletter called The Bundaluk.
Recent editions:
10yr Anniversary Edition of the Bundaluk (5.74MB)
Newsletter Spring 2009 (1.56MB)
Newsletter Winter 2009 (1.40MB)
Newsletter Winter 2008 (1.38MB)
Newsletter Autumn 2008 (1.02MB)
More information
Bushcare in Myles Dunphy Reserve (9.07MB) - history of Myles Dunphy Reserve, environmental issues and an example of the many rewarding projects volunteers are involved in.
For more information on becoming a Hurstville Bushcare Volunteer, telephone Council on 9330 6222.