What an awesome bunch of smiling faces and friendly personalities we have in our Landcare family. You've joined forces, gone out of your way to assist on additional projects, made new mates - all whilst also saving the planet. Unreal! Thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers that make up Eurobodalla Landcare - your efforts and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated
Dalmeny and Little Lake learn together
The Dalmeny and Little Lake Landcare groups got together last month to assist student, Paula C, with her final TAFE assessment which makes her a certified Conservation Land Manager! Paula has worked with both groups along with Narooma/Bill Smyth Oval Landcare group to gain on ground skills and experience that have helped with her understanding of course work.
It's been a hard slog for students during Covid, with very little face-to-face time with teachers, so its been awesome that fellow Landcarers have helped with sharing their enthusiasm, passion and knowledge. A+ for this caring community effort and congrats for what we hope is a pass!
New day, new faces
Surf Beach Landcare group have been in action under the fine leadership of Coordinator, Lyn Cox, diligently meeting on Saturdays for over 15 years. Lyn has done an amazing job rallying the troops and transforming Surf Beach Creek from a Cassia and Asparagus Fern nightmare to the relatively weed free reserve it is now... and has more than earned a break from weeds for a while.
Gratefully, new recruit Leoni Kestel has taken the reigns to keep the good work rolling and the group are trialing meeting on a Tuesday morning. For a start they will concentrate on weeding and mulching the garden beds at the entrance to the Pony Club reserve. Huge thank you to all that have been involved in Surf Beach Landcare, past, present - and beyond.
Mucking in for mangroves
A collaboration between OceanWatch, MangroveWatch, local Landcare groups and oyster farmers began in late 2021 to measure the damage to mangroves in the South Coast and assist their recovery after bush fire. Monitoring was followed by collecting seedlings that were stuck on oyster growing infrastructure, raising these seedlings in a nursery and planting them in fire affected locations on the Clyde River.
Thanks to the volunteers that have assisted so far - you came from far and wide to get muddy, monitor crabs and other key indicator species, collect data, help grow a mangrove nursery and plant hundreds of healthy replacements across fire impacted research plots. We hope to continue to assist with Mangrove monitoring and further revegetation so watch this space as we will need more volunteers - gumboots a must!
The finishing touches are being added to an improved sporting complex at Captain Oldrey Park, Broulee. Huge thanks to Broulee/Mossy Point Dunecare who have contributed to the upgrades with their input into the design of the new nature trail in adjoining bush land. The group have also contributed by assisting with track maintenance, working with nearby school students to help them connect to and appreciate the remaining Bangalay Sand Forest and planting out new garden beds with natives. It's got to be one of the best looking sporting grounds on the whole east coast - where else could you watch the footy surrounded by such beautiful forest. Thanks BMP Dunecare for putting your natural touch to this wonderful community asset.
Surfside Landcare group have wasted no time addressing litter issues in their neighbourhood. At their last 2 working bees, they've removed over 200 kilograms of rubbish from Surfside Wetland and Cullendulla Beach reserves. There have been all sorts of weird and wonderful items collected - some which were able to be reclaimed or recycled and plenty that had no other home than the tip. Items included clothing, footwear, boogie board, fitness ball, dart board and exercise bike. Might be time to open a home gym!
Data from the beach clean up has been logged using the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database. To find out more head hereAbout Us – Tangaroa Blue
What a haul of litter (above) taken from Surfside Wetland
Friendly faces at Tomakin Community Day
With a grant received from the Bushfire Recovery Fund, Tomakin Community Association (TCA) held an event showcasing the great clubs and groups this sunny little suburb has to offer. Lovely Landcare volunteers Jill, Charlie and Lorna chatted with residents about the work they do and invited others to assist them in their efforts protecting Tomakin spit, foreshore and bush land as members of Tomakin Coastcare.
It's great to do a bit of self promotion like this every so often and was fun meeting others such as Rally for Recovery and the Rural Fire Service who also operate under volunteer steam, support and enthusiasm. We really do live in such a welcoming and proactive community, thanks to the various volunteer organisations for the work they do and to TCA for bringing their community together.
Against the tide
Mosquito Bay Landcare have had a tricky time holding back the tides from reclaiming one of their well tended and established native garden beds. Several years ago, the group set their sights on some weedy ground adjoining the Mosquito Bay boat ramp and turned, what was, a mess of Kikuyu and African Dasiy into a terrific embankment of natives Dianella, Lomandra, Pig Face and Ficinia. Unfortunately, some recent severe high tides have nibbled away at some of the lower plantings, taking chunks of sand and vegetation with them. Not to be deterred - the group have 'shored' up the garden bed with some extra dense planting and will pop a few ecologs in to try and protect the new plants from the next big wave.
Weekend weed walk - Guerilla Bay Landcare
Paul Martin generously gave up a couple of hours on a sunny Saturday morning in June to share his knowledge on a topic that is dear to us all – weeds. We talked through identification and management of species found in GB such as Asparagus, Turkey rhubarb, banana passionfruit, wax vine and many others. People found it really interesting, and hopefully they went away inspired to manage weeds on their own patch.
The major Landcare activity in Guerilla Bay is trimming the Burrewarra Point Reserve walking track. Up to four times per year we assemble, usually on a Sunday morning, arm ourselves with shears and set off in various directions. After a couple of hours we meet up at the starting point for morning tea. Very satisfying and sociable work.
Article and photo: Annie Lane, GB Landcare
South Durras Landcare
After battling with Cassia every work day for the last few months, members of the South Durras Landcare group did something different and had a planting day when they met on the June long weekend. A degraded site near the Cookies Beach boat ramp carpark was the focus of the work. We had previously mulched earth mounds (soil provided by Council) and planted a combination of trees, shrubs and ground covers; some supplied and some grown locally.
Thanks to Paul May for the above update and photo.
Here's a great picture of Paul (below) who has not only coordinated South Durras Landcare since the group formed in the late 80's but also acts as the President of the Eurobodalla Landcare Network. Just look at the size of some of the trees planted by Paul as tiny tubes, all those years ago, and now towering above him! Paul - what a generous & hard working contribution to the environment, community and Landcare in general you make. Your efforts are gratefully received and much appreciated.
Rosedale on the south coast of NSW was hit very hard during the 2019/2020 summer bushfires. 84 homes were lost here and the devastation to the environment was enormous. Our dunes were left bare and the burnt and charred bush surrounding our hamlet that had once been a haven filled with the sounds of nature was eerily silent.
Over the last 28 months there has been much hard work, mulching and replanting, watering and weed control. With the help of a few local residents and the support and encouragement of the Eurobodalla Landcare under the supervision of Emma Patyus (ESC), the resulting regeneration is impressive and heartwarming.
Jane Enright
Eurobodalla Landcare
Rosedale
Thanks Jane for sharing this story and the great photos of Rosedale's recovery through Landcare
Long Beach Landcare after this weeks working bee in Cullendulla Reserve
Relaxing at the Moruya Library after a very productive session tidying up the now established native gardens
Vale Mick Johnson
It is with sadness that I share with you the loss of our dear work mate and friend, Mick Johnson, who passed away last month. Mick had worked as a council weed inspector for over 30 years and was well known on the Moruya golf course, loved a chat, a beer, fishing, telling a good fishing story and was a hardworking man that will be sorely missed.
I know that many of our Landcare volunteers have worked with Mick over the years. We have all benefitted from knowing his friendly, generous and cheeky character… there was nothing he wouldn’t do for our enviro team family. Micks legacy remains across the Eurobodalla in the many now weed free reserves and properties that he has worked on - none the least, his beloved Bengello. Much loved and missed x
National Tree Day plant swap
Sunday 31 July 2022
10am - 2pm
Where: Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, Deep Creek Dam Road, Batemans Bay
Cost: Free - just bring along environmental weeds from your garden to exchange
Plant swap | Narooma
Sunday 28 August 2022
8:30am - 1pm
Where: Narooma Rotary Markets, Nata Oval, Narooma
Cost: Free - just bring along environmental weeds from your garden to exchange
Plant swap | Moruya
Saturday 17 September 2022
8am - 1pm
Where: Moruya Riverside Markets, corner of Ford and Shore Street, Moruya
Cost: Free - just bring along environmental weeds from your garden to exchange
Calling all green and brown thumbs!
Come along to our plant swaps to exchange environmental weeds from your garden for free native plants. You can also ask our Environment Team about weeds in your gardens, learn more about native alternatives and get great tips and advice.
To take part in the plant swap, just pop environmental weeds from your garden in a bag and bring it to the Council stall.
More information
For more information about our plant swaps, please contact Courtney Fink-Downes, Natural Resources Supervisor:
If you've missed any of our previous newsletters you can check out the archives HERE
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Eurobodalla Landcare Newsletter. To contribute to the next edition please send your articles and image to emma.patyus@esc.nsw.gov.auprior to September 1st.
