Celebrate Landcare 

Submit a photo that reflects your personal experience of landcare and share why landcare is important to you (in 100 words or less).; 

You’ll have the chance to win $1,000 for your landcare group or community-led environmental group. Bring landcare alive showing how landcare is about 

• Experiencing community ~ working together & enjoying time in outdoors
• Experiencing nature ~ nature being protected or restored
• Experiencing sustainable agriculture ~ landholders caring for soil, water and biodiversity
• Experiencing well being ~ supporting connections and belonging 

Entries close 31 August 2026. Ideas here and find out more

Leader:  Dave Davies

Currently our work focusses on Elizabeth Reserve, Boomerang Park and Anderson Oval. You’ll find us at one of those locations every Friday morning from 9.00 am to 11.30 am, including a morning tea break. We don’t work public holidays or between Christmas and New Year. 

All ten members of our group are passionate about caring for our environment, and strongly committed to improving the biodiversity of the environment and providing habitat for wildlife. We  have been contributing for many years, and have developed a wealth of expertise in caring for our local area. Our ages range from the 60s to the late 80s.

Last year we were particularly proud to create a corridor for koalas to access water and koala food trees in the Golf Course when we removed the Lantana between Martens Avenue and the Lagoon in Muree Golf Course. Now we need to maintain the area to ensure no lantana seedlings establish.

We initiated a partnership with the Council and Transport for NSW to install four koala escape posts over exclusion fencing in the koala corridor between Martens Avenue and the Muree Golf Course. This primary koala habitat included our planting around the golf course lagoo

One of our significant concerns created a really positive outcome. We treated an outbreak of Castor oil plants and Narrow-leaf privet along Martens Avenue, Raymond Terrace. First we removed the seeds from these plants, then cut the stems and painted glyphosate 360 around the cut. We were delighted to see some gums now regenerating in these areas.

We are now looking forward in the coming months to completing the lantana clearing at Martens Avenue then replacing it with a variety of understorey, mid-story indigenous plants as habitat for wildlife.

We work in partnership with several groups. We are involved in the work of Raymond Terrace Parks Reserves and Tidy Towns Group, also a Port Stephens Council volunteer group. The Council provides the resources and information to assist our work. We are also members of Hunter Region Landcare network – the Lower Hunter Group, which provides the group with education and support.  The Raymond Terrace Lions Club has an MOU with Landcare to participate in the Green Canopy Project.  For example, Lions and Landcare partnered in July for the School Tree Day, planting trees in Adelaide Street.

Many partners supported the community School Tree Day 24 July 2026 with Lions Club, Raymond Terrace Public School, Port Stephens Council and Raymond Terrace Landcare Group and Raymond Terrace and District Historical Society.

Picture taken in front of the Sketchley Pioneer Cottage in Adelaide Street Raymond Terrace.

As well as managing weeds, we involve ourselves in many aspects of our environment 

• Created natural barriers to stop motorbikes damaging vegetation
• Look for evidence of wildlife such as scats and scratches on trees 
• Look for signs of regeneration after fires, and possible new weeds, to manage outbreaks  early before the weeds establish. For example, Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, appeared in an area after we had removed the Lantana
• Remove rubbish in the areas we work
• Remove graffiti from public facilities such as the water tower in Boomerang Park and liaise with the Council to repair vandalised damage
• Participate in community planting events such as Clean up Australia, School Tree Day and National Tree Day
• Partnering with Council and Transport for NSW to install four koala escape posts

We work across wonderfully diverse and contrasting habitats

• Boomerang Park is Dry Sclerophyll Forest ~ Hunter Coast Foothills Spotted Gum-Ironbark Grassy Forest
• Elizabeth Reserve and Anderson Oval are Forested Wetlands ~ Northern Melaleuca quinquenervia Swamp Forest

We often enjoy seeing a large Eastern Water Dragon curiously watching our working bees.

Our most frequent call out is “Don’t forget to sign the attendance sheet” ~ our members are so keen to start work they sometimes need to be reminded.

Come along and join our group, just email coral.berry@hotmail.com 

By Coral Berry July 2026

Leader: Robert Mays – The Man in the Straw Hat. 

Our core crew of five is busier than ever! On an ad hoc basis, we tackle bitou bush, keep our walking tracks clear—including the path to the whale-watching spot at the end of Noamunga Street—and plant new seedlings.

We are planning a few exciting working bees to clear out pesky weeds and grasses choking the lomandras at your favourite neighborhood dog park. Come along!

We also work hand in hand with the Friends of Tomaree, a National Park’s volunteer group that cares for the nearby Kingsley area to the south, and the Tomaree Coastal Walk north of the beach.

Our wins over the last year

• Planted over 70 seedlings on the north and south headlands of Boat Harbour Beach.
• Upgraded the track access at the dog park so it handles wet weather much better.
• Fought back the bitou bush across the headland with ongoing removal.
• Kept our tracks safe and tidy with regular maintenance.

Upgraded access at the dog park is now more stable and easier to negotiate.

What concerns are catching our attention

• Dying coast banksias: Established trees are showing worrying signs of dieback.
• Weed takeovers: Invasive Chinese Violet and Turkey Rhubarb are forming thick canopies, smothering smaller understorey native plants like lomandra and tea trees.
• Minimal native growth: We are seeing very little new natural growth from local natives.

On the ground recent highlights

Above: With a gentle nudge from the local community, Bruce, Tim and I gave the northern side of Boat Harbour Beach a fresh new look ahead of the playground rebuild.
We cut back the large bitou bush, leaving some in place to act as a temporary windbreak. Then, we tucked in new native plants grown at the Ngioka Nursery, finishing them off with a fresh layer of mulch. We are letting nature slowly break down the cut bitou.

We have also been hard at work trying to stop an explosion of Chinese Violet (marked in yellow on our map), alongside our ongoing battle with giant grasses and bitou bush.

Do you have a fun landcare idea for the neighborhood? Drop us a line! We are tossing around the idea of having local kids paint the park benches to brighten up the space.

If you would like to lend a hand with a small planting or clean-up session, we would love to hear from you.

Email us at: boatharbourparksandgardens@gmail.com.

The man in the straw hat. Robert Mays, July 2026

Team Leader: Kerrie Dash 

We work in some attractive, varied and environmentally very important habitats, ranging from the Endangered Ecological Communities of Littoral Rainforest in Wanda Wanda Headland Reserve and the Paperbark Swamp Forest on Sandpiper Reserve, to the ‘preferred buffer Koala Habitat’ of Seaview Crescent. Most of the reserves where we work abutt low density residential areas which can present many threats.

We know our work is important and valued in helping improve critical habitats.

We work the first and third Wednesday and the first Saturday each month. We have a great partnership with the Mambo – Wanda Wetlands Landcare team who work on the alternative Wednesdays. We often work with them. We’re a happy bunch and would love more people to help booster our effectiveness  

We’re proud of our achievement last year where we’ve worked hard to stabilise the bank with endangered Littoral Rainforest at the corner of lower Cook Street on Wanda Wanda Head. Our team affectionally call this ‘Margaret’s Corner’ on the  southern tip of the Reserve, as local legend and eco warrior, Margaret Lamond, had diligently worked over several years to restore this area.

The team embraced this project and have continued to 

• tackle the many invasive weeds here as it borders several urban dwellings
• augment the area with local natives plants which also help stabilise and secure the sandy bank from erosion. 

The area looks amazing now, and particular thanks to the team and Sue Johnson’s specialised knowledge. We are looking forward in the next few months or so to continue chipping away at restoring Wanda’s wonderful Littoral Rainforest.

In consultation with Council, we developed an Agreed Action Plan 2024-2027.

Our weeds of greatest concern are plants that have escaped originally from domestic gardens and are replacing our bushland; Fishbone Fern, Ground Asparagus and Morning Glory Vine.

We’re always looking for ways to interest and engage our volunteers. Our Walk-and-Talk tree and shrub ID session at Wanda Wanda Head Reserve was a great opportunity to find out more about the plant species present – native and introduced – and ways to approach restoration, with local ecologist, Alex from the Biological Preservation Australia

As well as managing weeds, we watch for any damage or destruction to native trees, or dumping rubbish in our bush reserves.

We always enjoy looking at the habitat of our native wildlife, including the insects. The bird community takes a keen interest in our work, often flying down to seize freshly turned worms or insects which is always a joy for us – and them!  

An interesting change was a controlled plant collection from Stoney Ridge Reserve’s powerline easement under Council permit with Betsy Hussin of Ngioka and Nelson Bay West Landcare. We learnt to recognise and collect seed from some fine-leaved lomandra species, and prickly acacia seedlings for propogation and further distribution.

Just as interesting was seeing the incredible flight manoeuvre of a cheeky Kookaburra who snatched a scone from the hand of an unaware volunteer during morning tea. Something we definitely do not encourage!

Long time landcare volunteer, Sally FitzGerald, preparing morning tea after a working bee at Wanda Wanda Head.

Our morning teas are famous as you can see from the spread here, and in a great place to linger and chat after our morning’s work.

We occasionally see dolphins and turtles at this location, which is also part of The Mariners Walk Heritage Trail

Contact us via email spsblandcare@portstephens.net if you’d like to come along for one or more or our workbees.

Sally FitzGerald

Kerrie Dash, July 2026 

Leader – Sue Johnson

Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, you will find us somewhere on the Mambo Wanda Wetlands Reserve. We’re a small group of four to six dedicated regulars who appreciate the importance of improving our natural environment. We are keen for more volunteers to join us and partner with the Soldiers Point/Salamander Bay Landcare Group. From time to time we have also worked with Trees in Newcastle bush regeneration team.

Mambo Wanda Wetlands Reserve has four vegetation types. Moist Coastal Apple Forest, Paperbark/Swamp Oak, Mahogany/Paperbark Swamp Forest and Coastal Sand Woodland … the wildlife can be quite varied, though we sometimes come across mosquitoes, leeches and ticks, and the occasional reptile.

We are always on the lookout for fauna or evidence of their presence. We record significant sightings such as Koalas on the NSW I Spy Koala app. Taking time to identify plants and upload onto our group project in the iNaturalist app is also important.

A more exciting observation was the unexpected appearance of a family of Land Mullets who popped their heads out from a debris pile one day when we were working at Wanda Wetlands. 

Last year we were excited to see natural regeneration happening after contractors removed a large area of fish bone fern from the edge of the Wanda Wetlands. Nearby mature, resilient forest provided source seed for regeneration.

We marked National Tree Day in late July with a fantastic planting session at the Wanda Wetlands, in partnership with 23 students and 2 teachers, Lisa Burton and Charles Elias, from Tomaree High School. Together we planted 200 local native plants. Our landcare group had prepared the site at Wanda Wetlands over the preceding two months, enabling us to complete all the planting in just over an hour – many hands make light work! Well done to the students, teachers and our wonderful volunteers, it was a fantastic team effect!

We are very concerned about the constant pressures of an isolated, natural area surrounded by houses and roads. As well as isolation from other natural areas, dumped rubbish, weeds and grass clippings, illegal plantings, and domestic animals, each have an impact degrading the Reserve.

On our wetlands there are many weeds of concern, but some of the priority ones are Lantana, Fishbone fern, Long-leaf willow primrose an aquatic shrub with yellow flowers, and Golden wreath wattle (Acacia saligna). 

Battling lanterns and vines …

Mambo Wetlands, Sandy Point Rd, Corlette

Over the coming few months, we’re looking forward to

• continuing our follow up work on the areas we usually work
• starting primary work at a new location behind the library at Mambo Wetlands 
• increasing our profile to attract volunteers

We invite you to come along and enjoy a morning with us.

Just email Sue on Mambowlc@portstephens.net

Sue Johnson, July 2026

Our landcare group comprises two groups

1. Roy Wood Reserve and the Yawl/Helm Retention Basin  Generally we tidy up, undertake foreshore repairs, weed and sometimes plant on alternate Mondays at 9 am.
2. Baggies Bush Regen (short for Bagnall Beach Reserve Bush Regeneration) works along the mid-section of Bartlett Cycleway on alternate Wednesdays at 9 am. 

Yawl/Helm Retention Basin now includes a thriving native corridor that we planted in 2010.

Below, some of our volunteers are so keen they continue mulching in the rain at Roy Wood Reserve.

Everyone learns on the job and our guide for everyone including newbies is “if in doubt, DON’T pull it out!”  Everyone becomes familiar with our worst weeds overtaking our bush – two grasses, buffalo and Panic veldt grass (Erhartia erecta) with great pictures here. 

We targeted Palm grass at Baggies as it took over large parts of Bagnall Beach Reserve many years ago. It reduced diversity and since then more native plants have been able to thrive thanks to our volunteers’ efforts.

In October last year we were delighted when Ngioka volunteers helped plant a new area in the public park which runs between Ketch and Helm Close.  Decimated when two large trees were removed without community consultation, now new koala trees and several other understorey and ground covers are pounding along to help fill the gap.

We are always concerned about garden plants getting into the bush. The current trend for agaves, yukkas and succulents is a future potential threat should these plants become unfashionable, and people illegally dump them.

Our Corlette tradition for the last 40 years is to paint all the wooden foreshore benches, freshening our parks just before the Christmas holidays. 

We always enjoy a cuppa and chat after our working bees.

Over recent years our group is gradually transitioning, as some ageing members retire.

We welcome new volunteers. 

Please get in touch via email keithandmargw@ozemail.com.au

Margaret, Marita and Shirley lead the groups.

Margaret Wilkinson, July 2026

We work along Conroy Park and Corlette Beach foreshore.

We are Neal and Meg Foster, a gang of two and work a bit as hoc, whenever we are available. Several other willing volunteers come along from time to time to help work on projects with us. Interested people usually speak with us when we are working here or can email us.

We are aiming to stabilize this threatened dune area and gained funding this year to help with the project and to boost the range offered by the fabulous Ngioka nursery.

This year we have planted around 1000 plants in a big push to revegetate and restore diversity in this area.

Our June 2026 working bee to revegetate this area

Our key goals are to

• limit over enthusiastic mowing to the beach by neighbouring landholders
• define beach access pathways
• revegetate the dune system to address the significant and increasing coastal erosion here
• improve amenity of the beach and park for everyone
• remove the invasive weeds, Chinese Violet and Mother of Millions, and monitor for any regeneration.

Our directions are developed in conjunction with Council, and documented in the Corlette Foreshore & Conroy Park Coastcare – Agreed Action Plan (PDF 1.5 MB)

It you would like to help out, and don’t see us onsite, please email us at driftwood.048@gmail.com

You will find us open on Tuesdays & Fridays between 8am and 12 midday

We are located at 12 Dixon Drive, Little Beach. You can’t miss the big carpark near the corner of Victoria Pde and Dixon St, where there’s walking access into Ngioka Nursery. We’re hidden behind the Sunnyfield disability services building. Pronounced ‘Ni-o-ka’, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘sunshine/light’.

Council owned & fortified, but entirely run by a dedicated team of about 10 volunteers, Ngioka caters for Port Stephens 18 Landcare groups as well as supplying some of Council’s Parks & Gardens, foreshore plantings & associated projects for many years. 

Ngioka works with Port Stephens Koala Hospital, Tomaree Hospital, Tilligerry Habitat, Mambo Wetlands, Nelson Bay Golf Club, Oakvale Wildlife Park, and many community groups & public projects that warrant help. Members of the public are also welcome to access a few local native trees and other plants.

Ngioka also assists the Friends of Tomaree National Park with many of its plants, and the Friends collect much of our local native seed for propagation under their permits, which helps provide local native (and local provenance) plants.

Betsy & Trudy sowing seeds

Growing up in readiness for planting

Jill, Gwen, Glennis & Irene pot early seedlings to tubes

Over recent years Ngioka Native Nursery has also grown many koala-friendly trees in an effort to restore some lost habitat for our wildlife and our diminishing endangered koala populations.

Last year alone, Ngioka supplied over 8,200 plants, including most of Council’s 6,000 plants for its Koala Tree Project at Raymond Terrace.

If you own a property or block of land in the Shire and would like a free Koala-friendly Tree, come and visit. We have a variety of species including smaller tree species growing to about 6 metres tall. They also provide shade, beauty and refuge for wildlife — birds, bees, butterflies, lizards, possums and gliders, as well as the many insects, spiders, beetles, bugs and worms that all contribute to a much healthier environment — many of which are sadly gaining status on the threatened species list.

Some of the Friday women, Glennis, Jill & Gwen, enjoying their cuppa

Irene’s taking potted tubes to the growing shelves

Mac, the ‘Koala tree warrior’, sees Ngioka’s place in facilitating native planting

There’s always plenty of watering and weeding to do at Ngioka.
It is literally dirty work but someone’s gotta do it.

As well as potting, pruning, planting and weeding our stock, we enjoy the visiting wildlife and that we are benefiting the environment directly and through the myriad of land carers we support.

Our recently updated logo now includes our mascot, a couple of resident kookaburras.

However last year we had a mating pair of Tawny frogmouths who’s young bub kept falling from the nest, so we did a quick nest renovation. Recently a pair of King parrots visited.

We are always keen for volunteers at Ngioka, Drop in when we are open, Tuesday and Friday mornings after 9am, or email Council at environmentalvolunteers@portstephens.nsw.gov.au. 

Mark ‘Mac’ McElhone, July 2026

Lower Hunter Landcare Coordinator: Stacy Mail

HRLN supports Landcare Groups and individual members across all land tenures to carry out bush regeneration, revegetation, habitat corridors, soil improvement and more.  We also work with schools where possible in our education programs.

Through access to HRLN Landcare coordinators and committee, we provide education and support with bush regeneration, governance, volunteer recruitment, collaborations, group startup, grants and more, on an as-needed basis. 

HRLN has been supporting and advocating for Landcare across the Hunter since 1998.  We work collaboratively with Local Land Services, Councils, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Crown Lands and other NGOs.

The collective power of grass roots environmental action is immense and your contribution matters!  

The Hunter Rainforest Revival program was one of our best achievements last year in the lower Hunter. We revegetated and are maintaining 2300 tubestock across 8 properties on the Hunter Floodplain with only Landcare volunteers 

We were excited to see a spotted-tailed quoll / tiger quoll, mainland Australia’s largest carnivorous marsupial, captured on a trail camera at the Hunter River Reserve Landcare site. This is particularly special as they are a threatened species (listed Vulnerable NSW, Endangered  EPBC Act). 

Over the coming year in the lower Hunter, we’re looking forward to 

• establishing a new Landcare group at Clarencetown to restore a site on the Williams River. 
• rolling out the climate resilience training to support Landcare groups. Part of that includes the recent Restore Renew webinar recording.

You can find out more about HRLN, our resources, projects, groups and how to join HRLN, as well as how to contact our coordinators. 

Stacy Mail stacy@hunterlandcare.org.au July 2026

Youth day learning about riparian health