Bushcare and Volunteers

Bushcare

Bushcare is a volunteer program that enables community members to participate in the restoration, enhancement and maintenance of natural areas.

Bushcare rehabilitates degraded natural ecosystems to healthy communities composed of local native plants and animals, improving the habitat potential of urban bushland and providing the necessary conditions for natural regeneration to occur.

Council's Bushcare program provides support to Bushcare groups (existing and new), and supplies all necessary training, supervision, tools, materials and equipment for their projects

For more information, please download any of the following documents:

Need for Bushcare

Due to ever increasing urban pressures, the City's natural areas require regular and ongoing attention to preserve their ecological value and the City’s biodiversity. Factors causing natural area degradation include:

  • dumping of rubbish and garden waste in natural areas;
  • weed infestation;
  • fragmentation of bushland;
  • excess nutrients and litter entering our natural areas through urban stormwater/run-off;
  • excess moisture, also through increased urban runoff; and
  • illegal destruction and vandalism of vegetation (i.e. mangroves).

Bushcare Sites

The City of Canada Bay area has a wide variety of natural areas where Bushcare groups work such as Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, foreshores containing remnant and restored sandstone vegetation, and estuaries with mangroves and Coastal Saltmarsh communities. Current areas where Bushcare groups work include:

Bushcare Volunteers

The majority of Canada Bay’s volunteers work in groups for half a day a month, whilst others participate when time and circumstance allow. No prior experience of bush regeneration is required. Volunteers participate in bush regeneration activities on a voluntary basis.

Bushcare provides participants with a variety of wonderful benefits including:

  • opportunity to meet people and make new friendships;
  • work outdoors at your own pace;
  • learn new skills in bush regeneration, project planning, site preparation, etc;
  • learn about native plants and animals, ecosystem function, weed identification & control etc; and
  • achievement and satisfaction in seeing an area regenerate and improve through your effort.


Before commencing volunteer activities, all individuals must complete the Registration Form and are asked to read Council's Bushcare Volunteer Induction Manual. Volunteers receive no financial remuneration for their efforts, however the contribution volunteers make is highly valued by Council, the community and the natural area which is being rehabilitated.

Children are welcome. Parents should check with Council's Bushcare Coordinator regarding the site and the day's planned activities. A parent or supervisory adult (with parental permission) must accompany younger children. Teenagers 16+ are welcome to join a group alone with written consent from a parent. Teenagers under 16 wishing to join a group alone must have consent from Council's Bushcare Coordinator and written permission from a parent.

If any participants are deemed disruptive and/or dangerous by the Bushcare group or Coordinator they may be asked to leave or to limit their future participation.

Joining Bushcare

Joining Bushcare is easy all you have to do is contact Council's Bushcare Coordinator on 9911 6555 or email council@canadabay.nsw.gov.au. Please download our Bushcare Newsletter for more information.

New Volunteers are always welcome!!!