Bush Regeneration is the complex and synergistic practice of restoring and maintaining Australian native bushland via the systematic control of environmental weeds/pollutants/nutrients to restore and recover local vegetation communities, including their faunal associations.
Bushland in urban areas of Sydney is unique and beautiful. However, it often suffers from city pollution, industrial impacts and the escape of exotic weed species into its ecosystems, with devastating effects.
Our bushland provides habitat and protection for our unique fauna. Its preservation is imperative to the survival of all species. The staged removal and replacement of these weed habitats (through natural regeneration), with endemic flora, ensures that our biological heritage is given a chance to survive.
Scotts Creek Pedestrian Bridge
Waratah Eco Works Waratah Eco Works is a contractor for Willoughby, Mosman, Warringah, Pittwater, Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, and Hunters Hill Councils. Other government bodies that we contract for include the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. We perform a variety of roles including:
- bush regeneration,
- bush care supervision,
- target-weed/treatment including on-site composting systems,
- revegetation using indigenous species,
- construction of boardwalks/bridges/sediment traps/gross pollution traps (GPT's) monitoring storm water outfall, and
- creating bush walking tracks for the local community.
Bush Regeneration site after burning
Some of the sites that we are working on include:
- Sugarloaf Creek (water course rehabilitation),
- Willis Park (Bushland rehabilitation),
- Badangi Reserve,
- Cremorne Point Reserve,
- Greendale Creek (maintenance),
- Berry Reserve (maintenance and bush regeneration),
- Chowder Bay Mosman
- Nyrang Road, Manly Dam;
- Park Road Reserve, Hunters Hill;
- Refuge Cove, Clareville,
- Rotary Park( weed control),
- Scotts Creek pedestrian bridge and
- Castlecrag Northern Escarpment, and
- cnr of Mona Vale Road and Billyard Ave, Wahroonga.
Conducting Alternanthera management works at Collins Beach, North Had
Waratah Eco Works employs a group of dedicated bush regenerators who diligently treat environmental weeds to preserve/conserve endemic species.
Lane Cove River Boardwalk
Some of the most prolific weed species to threaten our native bushland often originate in domestic gardens with their mixtures of exotic and native plants.
Removing Aspargus at the lookout, Cremorne Point
Traits of an environmental weed would include the following characteristics: an excellent ability to self propagate, including an attractability to insects and birds that distribute their seed, hardy to environmental changes and quick to mature. Some of the more common bushland weeds are:
| - Asparagus densiflorus |
asparagus fern |
| -Cardiospermum grandiflorw |
balloon vine |
| -Chrysanthemoides monilifera rotundata |
bitou bush |
| -Cinnamomum camphora |
camphor laurel |
| -Ipomoea indica |
blue morning glory |
| -Ligustrum lucidum |
large leafed privet |
| -Ligustrum sinense |
small leafed privet |
| -Olea europaea africana |
African olive |
| -Rubus fruticosus |
blackberry |
| -Tradescantia flummenesins |
wandering jew |
For information about the Environmental Strategies in place with Willoughby Council go to www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Environment.html
Other related links:
Australian Association of Bush Regenerators - www.aabr.org.au
Department of Environment: Invasive Species www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/index.html
