Community Involvement
Sharing Environmental Skills and Resources in Gerringong-Gerroa
Contributor: Nikki Plunkett-Cole,
Southern Rivers CMA
e: nikki.plunkett-cole@cma.nsw.gov.au
Many on ground environmental restoration projects struggle to find the people required to carry out labour intensive projects.
Landcare Illawarra has developed a project that encourages resources to be shared through a local landcare network. The partners; Landcare Illawarra, Kiama Council, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Streamwatch and Conservation Volunteers Australia, share resources between themselves and individuals for any projects involving environmental repair.
The Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority has provided $5000 funding for 12 months.
Two wetland projects are currently benefiting from the network.
Objectives of the project are:
- To connect people and groups involved in existing and new environmental projects
- To support people with their local environmental aspirations
- To better promote local projects and activities by providing a coordinated approach
Priorities of the project:
The Gerringong-Gerroa Landcare Network was set-up at the first community meeting in August 2005. At this meeting, a list of needs was developed which identified two key issues:
- Access to appropriate native plants
- Control of weeds
Skill sharing
The skills, experience and talent within the network has met many of the needs of the individual groups within the network.
Gerroa local Dave Johnson has been assisting Berry Public School to grow thousands of native plants each year for the wider community. Dave will work with the Berry school children to propagate seeds for any group or individual. Once the plants are ready they are returned to the sites they were collected from for planting.
Landcare Illawarra hopes to complement this wonderful service through the development of a Seed Collecting Calendar for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.
Who can be involved?
The network supports locals who are interested in repairing the natural environment. There is no membership fee and meetings are fairly informal and always involve some food!
Current members include representatives from: schools, Dunecare, Lions Club, the Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Arts Studio, Garden Club and Community Services Association, as well as farmers and individuals.
The partnership wants the local community to be more involved in on-ground activities. One way we hope to attract more volunteers is by running free community workshops on various topics in Autumn – Winter – Spring 2006. Likely topics are:
- Control of weeds in your backyard – and eco-friendly plants to replace them
- Seed collecting from local native plants
- Propagating plants from seed
- Revegetation of native plants at Werri Lagoon
- Setting up a backyard pond
Assistance for Wetland Restoration Projects – Greening Gerringong-Gerroa in Action
Two wetland restoration projects are associated with this project; Werri Lagoon and Coomonderry Swamp. Both wetlands are currently being rehabilitated in association with community groups and government departments. The network aims to assist both projects by providing labour where needed, and contribute to weed removal and local native stock propagation.
Sharing Knowledge
The network can also provide information on other environmental projects in the catchment. Wetland condition is often dependent upon upstream activities so having a better knowledge of the upstream processes and projects should benefit the management of the wetlands.
Overall, increased knowledge of what is happening in the catchment enables the transfer of experience, development of common goals, and mutual support for all participants.
Want to join?
The project relies on interested individuals or groups, and any person who wants to nominate their property for on-ground works, or just wants to assist with labour can contact Nikki Plunkett-Cole at SRCMA.
Contact:
Nikki Plunkett-Cole,
Southern Rivers CMA
t: 4224 9700
e: nikki.plunkett-cole@cma.nsw.gov.au
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