What have we achieved? The practical, environmental and social benefits of bushcare

• Maintaining and restoring bushland is one of many ways to ameliorate the adverse impacts of global warming induced climate change. At South Lawson Park, the Bushcare Group restores and preserves valuable water resources, such as streams and swamps. Carbon storage is maintained and enhanced: the health of intact bushland is monitored, unvegetated areas have been planted with locally occurring indigenous trees and shrubs, and patches of weedy shrubs and trees have been replaced by indigenous plant species. This development of indigenous animal habitat helps to promote the genetic diversity of animal species. Enhanced wildlife corridors provide indigenous animals with opportunities to adapt to the temperature and rainfall changes associated with climate change in the Blue Mountains. The well vegetated areas of bushland in South Lawson Park serve as cool zones for local residents, and help to lower temperatures on hot days.

• First Nations cultural heritage has been acknowledged, and is respected. The Bushcare Group has liaised with important stakeholders, the Gundungurra community. A January 2022 visit to a bushcare session by community member, Uncle David King, was organised, to inspect catchment restoration works and cultural heritage sites. Blue Mountains City Council Aboriginal Community Development Officer visited the site in 2020, to assess cultural heritage items, and the bushcare group assisted with this assessment.

• The work of the Bushcare Group has revealed the natural beauty of the local ecosystems. Over many years, tonnes of rapidly spreading weeds have been removed. These weeds have the ability to smother walking tracks, waterfalls, streams, cascades and access routes. The continuous weeding has provided the bush with an opportunity to repair itself over time.

• Considerable progress has been made with the environmental repair of the highly degraded upper catchment of Lawson Creek. Unstable sediments and weed infestations have been managed. This work contributes to the health of the broader Blue Mountains National Park, World Heritage Area and Dyarubbin (Hawkesbury-Nepean River) Catchment.

• Natural regeneration of local indigenous tree and shrub species has been fostered. The seeds of local indigenous shrubs and trees have been collected and germinated, and the seedlings have been planted. These procedures help to maintain local plant stock quality and quantity, and regional genetic diversity.

• The Bushcare Group has maintained the habitat of indigenous animals, such as swamp wallabies, frogs, possums, birds, turtles and stream dwelling insects, and created new habitat for them. The group has maintained records of the indigenous animal species that live in the area (see Flora and Fauna).

• The water quality of Lawson Creek has been measured and monitored since approximately 2000 (see Streamwatch). The water remains in a reasonably fit state to maintain indigenous animal and plant life. A wider indigenous vegetation belt (or riparian zone) for Lawson Creek has been established. An increase in vegetation helps to stabilise stream water temperature, and this supports aquatic life forms.

• The Bushcare Group has engaged in active advocacy for the natural environment of South Lawson Park and the adjacent National Park. The group advocated for the protection of vulnerable Blue Mountains swamp ecosystems and provision of adequate stormwater management infrastructure during the GWH road widening project in the 2000s, and referred the matter to the relevant NSW and Australian environmental agencies (see Archives). The group contributed extensively to the BMCC 2015-2022 Lawson Parklands Plan of Management consultation process: many detailed submissions, attendance and advocacy at BMCC council meetings, liaison with councillors, extensive site liaison with BMCC planning staff and natural area managers. Illegal construction works were reported to the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (2010). The benefits of healthy bushland, a valuable community asset, have been widely promoted by the Bushcare Group over many years, with information stalls, a film and media releases. Engagement with community and stakeholders is always a priority, and has been regularly pursued.

• The Bushcare Group regularly removes litter and notifies BMCC of illegally dumped rubbish. The South Lawson Park walking circuit is popular with tourists, bushwalkers, visitors and locals. They are interested in experiencing the uniqueness of Australian bushland landscapes, and not hectares of inaccessible Blackberry and Privet, and eroded stream banks. The work of the Bushcare Group has enhanced these amenity experiences.

• Since its formation in 1995, the Bushcare Group has engaged in a range of environmental education activities. The group has conducted tours of the bushcare site, as part of the Love Lawson Festival (ca.2010). In 2018 a copy of the group’s film, “Bushcare Blue Mountains: South Lawson Park”, was distributed to every primary and secondary school in the Blue Mountains, to serve as an education resource. University academics and students have conducted research with the group (e.g. stygofauna monitoring, Macquarie University ca.2010). TAFE students have participated in the group’s activities, to gain practical experience. HSC students have gained extensive Duke of Edinburgh Award experience on the bushcare site (e.g. Blue Mountains Grammar School student 2020-22), and have also used the site as a study resource (e.g. HSC Science Extension subject, 2023-24). The Bushcare Group has liaised with community environmental groups that engage in environmental reporting and advocacy work (e.g. Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, 2023; Blue Mountains Conservation Society 2023; Australian Association of Bush Regenerators 2018).

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(The South Lawson Park Bushcare Group website, including text and analysis, is managed by Peter Ardill. Australian Copyright Act 1968 applies. Text, media and all other contents of this site are subject to copyright. Many thanks to the members of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group, BMCC Bushcare Officer and Second Minutes Hours Productions for their contribution of images to this website)