Bushcare in Tomaree’s Fingal north
By Sue Olsson, Coordinator
Friends of Tomaree National Park
The Tomaree Coastal Walk boasts a diverse scenery and vegetation communities. The forested track from Shoal Bay onto Fingal Beach, the newest section to open, is via a delightfully narrow and intimate track meandering through the hind dune forest.
The sweeping bridge over the fern gully, and the lookout toward Fingal Island, are two highlights. The track then steps down to the beach alongside windswept salt-pruned vegetation.
change daily with light and viewpoint
On Tuesday 7 October, Friends of Tomaree National Park hosted a keen and energetic group from AGL Hunter and Aurecon, nearly 20 people for most of the day.
You may think this was for an enjoyable walk? And yes, the walk to our worksite was great in the shade of the Angophoras, with the varied colour of our late spring blooms, and cheerful chit chat on route.
We were delighted and appreciative that AGL and Aurecon chose us for their annual community day to help volunteers. And coincidentally, October celebrates the fifth year of the Friends of Tomaree National Park!
Our day’s opportunity was to initiate recovering the forest community where bitou bush has heavily invaded.
Our work site was about 200 – 300 metres north of the lookout, on both sides of the track.
Our goal:
“Enable native plants to grow”
by removing invasive smothering bitou bush, lantana and ground asparagus.
This emphasis on natives is important. We need to carefully place our feet to not trample the plants we are trying to save, in our quest to locate the best approach for the next dastardly bitou bush.
An initial pre briefing about our group and our locations in Tomaree National Park, and what to do, was followed up on site with a Friends of Tomaree participant working within each AGL/Aurecon group.
Our Friends of Tomaree helped guide and ensure everything was undertaken correctly.
Everyone contributed effectively, extensively and with such great cheer and gusto, on what is a difficult site on a warm day.
Many thanks everyone.
Additionally, we really appreciated that our “guests”, courtesy of AGL, not only worked hard but provided morning tea and lunch for the entire crew! A high standard for other “guests” who follow! But seriously, we really enjoyed working with the these cheerful, active and hardworking people from AGL and Aurecon. We’d welcome everyone again, or others in their teams.
Snapshots from the day
From Jo Ferguson
AGL Hunter …
Well, I am not going to lie but I did wake up a bit stiff this morning!
We genuinely appreciated the education you [the Friends of Tomaree NP] provided on the remarkable work you have been doing. It was enlightening to understand the impact of our achievements throughout the day. Your insights were invaluable, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn and contribute.
From Simon Rocco
Associate, Water, Aurecon …
Thanks again … your insights were very educational and an eye opener as to the amount of work that is needed to manage invasive species in our NP’s!
Looking forward to more opportunities in future!
Of course, every gathering needs a group photo, most were captured here ~ thank you Jo (foreground) for organising the day and your AGL group, and Simon for facilitating your energetic Aurecon team, and thank you to our Friends of Tomaree National Park whose efforts are ongoing and always appreciated.
What a great team for a Tuesday in Tomaree!
