Cable fencing installed around bushland reserve

A cable fence is being erected around the Burrawang Reserve at Woy Woy to protect the bushland from the motor bikes that have caused damage to tracks and flora.

One of the original members, Mr Jim Morrison, said the cable fencing was a positive move as it would help to protect the reserve from motor bike riders.

The reserve has been cared for since 2002 by the active Burrawang Bushcare Group.

Early in 2002, a couple of environmentally proactive Woy Woy residents canvassed support from interested community members to start up the bush care group based at the Hillview St reserve.

The Burrawang Reserve is recognised as Umina Sandplain Coastal Woodland endangered ecological community.

Some special fauna sightings in the reserve by group members have included glossy black and yellow-tail cockatoos, bandicoots, possums, various reptiles and native bee hives.

In March 2002, Burrawang Reserve bushland was in fair condition but was being used as a target by illegal dumpers.

Dumped items, including motor vehicles, household rubbish and garden waste were common.

From a bush care perspective, the cars and household rubbish were a problem but the greatest opportunity to make big improvements was to rid the reserve of the dumped garden waste that was establishing infestations of weeds throughout the reserve.

The group, with community and Council support, cleared the reserve of many of the illegal dumpings over a period of several years.

Six burnt out cars were removed from the site.

One car had to be cut into small pieces that could be manhandled from the reserve to minimise damage to the natural vegetation.

After the rubbish was removed, there was a remarkable drop-off in the occurrences of illegal dumping in the reserve and with only the odd exception.

Over the years the Burrawang team has consistently volunteered their time to undertake the necessary primary and secondary weeding activities to remove the bulk of the woody weeds so that today the group focusses on the removal of the non-native grasses together with the Camphor Laurel, Lantana and Asparagus Fern seedlings that continue to propagate over the site.

The Burrawang Bushland Reserve has bounced back to a relatively healthy state.

This is due to a large extent to the consistent efforts of the Burrawang team along with the diversity of plant species in the reserve.

Ten years on, the regenerating bushland and the visual amenity that this site affords the community is invaluable, according to NSW Landcare.

"The Burrawang Reserve is a wonderful Woy Woy Peninsula asset," Landcare NSW reports on its website.

The Burrawang team meets every third Tuesday of the month from 8am to 11am at the reserve gate adjacent to the Hillview St bus stop.

The group welcomes volunteers anytime within the three hours.

SOURCES:

Media statement, 8 Jun 2017

Jim Morrison, Burrawang Bushcare Group

Website, 8 Jun 2017

The Burrawang Story, NSW Landcare