March was a busy month!

On March 08/03/23 we enjoyed a visit from Belle Butler and Hamish Dunlop, Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, Katoomba, BMCC. They had heard of our holistic ecological restoration, bushcare and streamwatch approach to the restoration of the upper catchment of Lawson Creek, and were keen to come along and conduct some interviews, take some film footage and get an idea of the project. Outcomes will include visual and written media, so we look forward to seeing the finished products.

On March 15/03/23 Bushcare Group members joined BMCC natural area manager and Bushcare officers for a tour of the recently completed South Lawson Parklands project (Stage One). Bushcare Group engagement with the parklands, particularly the riparian buffer zone, was discussed.

At the regular Sunday session Bushcare Group members enjoyed a session of information exchange and interviews with Belle Butler, Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Motivation, achievements, climate change, work techniques, community engagement, frustrations and satisfactions were on the agenda!

Work continued in ecological restoration area #2 (swamp/wetland) and area #4. In particular, 8 x Hakea salicifolia and Leptospermum polygalifolium were planted along a Lawson creek tributary (area #4).

Streamwatch Convenor reports that water quality was most satisfactory: oxygen levels; phosphorous; chemical balance; freshness of water; turbidity.

Work continued in sections #1, #2 and #4 of the ecological restoration area. In section #1 new plantings were weeded. Overall, these plants are doing well. The #1 site is displaying good resilience, with only weedy grasses and sedges making an appearance. Natural regeneration of Hakea sp. and Leptospermum sp. along the edges of the good bush is occurring.

In #2 J. microcephalus seeds were removed. A grove of Privet along the embankment was treated with herbicide.

In section #4 a medium sized stand of Privet was treated with herbicide. Juvenile seedlings were removed. The new plantings (H. salicifolia) along the stream are doing well.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality was good.

A warm sunny Sunday saw the bushcare group working in sections #2 and #4 of the ecological restoration site, upper Lawson Creek catchment.

In section #2, the swamp /wetland, the seed of weed Juncus microcephalus was removed. The juncus does stabilise the sands of the wetland, removing the threat of a major sedimentation event in Lawson Creek. The juncus will be removed in stages, throughout the coming winter.

Planting of 6 x Hakea salicifolia along a stream tributary was undertaken. This staged program of riparian planting will eventually result in replacement of dense, light blocking Privet infestations with more appropriate indigenous vegetation that will provide filtered light for other vegetation such as ferns, keep water temperatures reasonable and stabilise stream banks.

Very large Privet (#4) along a stream tributary was chiselled and treated with herbicide, as preparation for future planting. Ginger Lily was removed from section #4, as well as Privet seedlings.

Welcome to the website of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group. For contact and session details, please view About

Work continued in the swamp/wetland (restoration area #2), the eastern woodland (#4) and on unformed Waratah Street (#3). Blackberry, J. Honeysuckle, Privet (mature and small) and J. microcephalus (seed removal) were treated.

The various ferns in the Lawson Creek tributary are responding well to removal of mature Privet and better access to sunlight.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality was satisfactory: oxygen levels, chemicial balance, salt levels and turbidity.

Work continued in restoration areas #3 and #4. Japanese Honeysuckle, Privet and Blackberry (unformed Waratah Street) were treated. This work is very valuable, as these areas constitute the headwaters and top of catchment of Lawson Creek. If the upper catchment area can be kept reasonably weed free, then the whole creek and catchment will benefit considerably.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality was very good in Lawson Creek tributary.

A fine, sunny day, and a varied working session was conducted on the east Waratah Street site #4. Bushcare Officer cut and treated with herbicide Privet, Pittosporum (as a weed; also naturally occurring in the Blue Mountains) and an unknown large ornamental on the bushland edge of unformed Waratah Street. Other members of the group tackled Privet seedlings, Turkey Rhubarb and Japanese Honeysuckle (area #4). In area #3, giant Japanese Honeysuckle was treated. Tasmannia insipida was recovered from J. Honeysuckle and Blackberry. The Rough Tree Ferns and King Fern (Todea Barbara) recovered from dense Privet infestations are responding well to sunnier conditions and adding new growth.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality of Lawson Creek was good. Numerous Common Eastern Froglets were present.

Welcome to the website of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group. For contact and session details, please view About

A very active session this month, held in the east Waratah section and swamp of the ecological restoration area. Planting was the main activity. A mix of 20 Leptospermum polygalifolium, juniperinum and grandifolium, Callicoma serratifolia and Hakea dactyloides were planted in the riparian strip of a Lawson Creek tributary (recently cleared of Privet), the swamp and in the Eucalyptus woodland to the east. There was little to no natural regeneration capacity in the selected planting areas.

Japanese Honeysuckle in the central section of the ecological restoration site was treated, and is gradually being eliminated from this area. Blackberry and Turkey Rhubarb skulking in the unformed section of Waratah Street were routed.

Welcome to the website of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group. For contact and session details, please view About

Lots to do at South Lawson Park. At the August work session more check dams were created in the swamp, utilising tree logs from power company trimmings. A wet spring is forecast, and the check-dams help to control sediment flows. A thick stand of Privet in the eastern ecological restoration site was treated. Privet seedlings were removed. Blackberry in unformed Waratah Street was treated.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality was good. BMCC Aquatic Systems Officer reports that the health of Lawson Creek, in 2022, was rated as Fair. This means that macroinvertebrate life was recorded at the testing site, but diversity of species was limited.

Welcome to the website of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group. For contact and session details, please view About

A busy work session at South Lawson Park bushcare! Work continued on the Waratah St east section of the ecological restoration project. Consolidation of the good bush continued, with Privet seedlings and other riff-raff being removed.

Further work was done on lopping mature Privets. This work is paying benefits, as indigenous plants are being uncovered and provided with better growing conditions, particularly sunnier conditions.

The check-dams set up in the swamp have successfully managed sediments, following the heavy rains (400mm) of early July.

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality in Lawson Creek tributary is good.

Welcome to the website of South Lawson Park Bushcare Group. For contact and session details, please view About

A lovely sunny, winter’s day in Lawson! The bushcare group got to work on the Waratah Street east site. Further expanses of Privet seedlings were removed; as a result, Microlaena sp. grass, or Weeping Meadow grass, as it is also termed, is naturally regenerating strongly. Some heavy duty weed busting was done by Bushcare Officer Karen on stands of Privet, Japanese Honeysuckle and Blackberry, revealing a nice clump of Blechnum nudum ferns. A tributary to Lawson Creek was also treated and several Rough Tree Ferns (Cyathea australis) were rescued from darkness and smothering Japanese Honeysuckle!

Streamwatch convenor reports that water quality in Lawson Creek tributary adjacent to Waratah Street east site was good: oxygen levels; phosphorous levels; turbidity; saltiness; pH levels.