While COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions have interrupted volunteer weeding on publicly owned bushland, South West Rocks community dune care has been managing bush regeneration contractors to continue work funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and Kempsey Shire Council.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We are managing grants on several sites," SWR community dune care president Ian Burnett said.
"Our three year Enviro Trust grant at Back Beach, Main Beach & South Smoky Beach is finishing, but we've had contractors spraying mainly bitou bush there.
"At Gap Beach and Smoky Cape Lighthouse we're managing contractors to assist National Parks on some of their Saving Our Species program.
"Around the Spencer's Creek area in Jerseyville, contractors Bush and Blossoms have been tackling an intensely weedy area on the Borefields Track in Hat Head National Park.
"A giant thorny asparagus, called Sicklethorn, has been spreading from there, so we've also had contractor Maratus Ecological Services targeting it on the roadsides, in the Boyters Lane Bird Hide and on private land in the area.
"We hadn't seen that nasty weed until a few years ago so, with funding from the NSW Environmental Trust, we're trying to eradicate it before it spreads any further."
"We're also managing a $5,000 grant from Kempsey Shire Council for contractors to treat weeds along the cycle path behind Main Beach adjacent to Philip Drive, and on the town side of Back Creek.
"Plus, as part of the current NSW Environmental Trust grant, we've had Mid-Coast Land Management restoring the triangle of native bush between Brighton Park and Saltwater Creek.
"We aim to create more of a buffer zone to reduce weeds reinfesting the bush at Main Beach and Back Beach where we've been working for the past 15-20 years."
However, despite the COVID restrictions and interruptions, last year South West Rocks Community Dune Care still managed to do more than 3,200 hours volunteer work, always following COVID safe guidelines.
Several volunteers have exercised within household groups by weeding in their favourite bushland areas, to prevent the weeds "getting away" while they have been unable to work in large groups.
Now that COVID-19 restriction have eased, the volunteer group hopes to hold its monthly 'bitou bash' working bee on Sunday September 26 from 9 o'clock to 1.
"We've yet to decide a venue," Mr Burnett said.
"That will depend on Covid-19 restrictions at the time. We'll inform our regular volunteers via email and text.
"Unfortunately, we can't invite new volunteers and people will have to bring their own morning tea and lunch. Many of our volunteers are missing our working bees, so we certainly hope it can go ahead, but we won't be taking any risks."
For more information please see Facebook SWRcommunitydunecare, or phone Alan Hill on 0419 012 640.
Also making the news:
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark our website
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @macleayargus
- Follow us on Instagram: @macleayargus