Coomba Aqauatic Landcare Group
In April 1994, so as to facilitate the rehabilitation of the peninsula site, the Club registered as a Landcare group in order to be eligible for Commonwealth grants to assist this work. In August, the Club was granted $4,570 under Landcare’s Save the Bush program to assist in preparation of the Plan of Management for the 9ha site. By March 1995, the draft Plan had been prepared and approved by Council and a topographic survey of the site had been completed.
As the proposed Club site was covered in lantana and other invasive and noxious weeds, in February 1995 the Club applied for a further Landcare grant to assist in carrying out the removal of these plants. This work, plus the clearing of an access route from Coomba Road to the waterfront in the north east corner of the Reserve, was deemed to be essential.
The application was finally granted in February 1996, for $5,302 with the funding coming from the Total Catchment Management Authority and the clearing began immediately. Working bees consisting of more than 40 volunteers assisted in this huge task involving both a Bobcat, a tractor and hand clearing, plus the poisoning of lantana. By mid 1996, this volunteer labour had totalled more than 500 hours.
Plans were made to draw up for a systematic planting program of native plants, shrubs and trees with potential financial assistance from Council in preparing the plan. This request was made on the basis that the site, including Coomba Aquatic Gardens, is a community project with the work being carried out for the whole Coomba community, not just one section of it. In July 1997, Council agreed to fund the plan and regeneration workshops started in August.
A Landcare funding application was successful and a grant of $1,000 was received for a survey of the site for mapping native vegetation, invasive weeds and rehabilitation needs.
More regeneration work to the whole site was carried continuously through late 1999 and into mid 2000. The Club’s Landcare group had carried out further plantings and clearing of lantana which provided access to more parts of the Club site.
Throughout 2003 good progress was made and regeneration of the areas cleared of invasive weeds saw the planting of native species take place. Weekly working bees of teams of Club volunteers continued.
In June 2006, the Club received a grant for $30,000 for a three-year project for Coomba Aquatic Gardens, to be supervised by Council involving professional regeneration to clear invasive weeds in the wetlands area. The grant also covered a community education program in Coomba Park.
In 2016, the Landcare Group planted more than 200 small trees along the Coomba Road boundary and working bees cleared asparagus fern, climbing weeds and vines and lantana.
All this work involves the invaluable contribution of the Club’s many Landcare volunteers who have attended the Club site each Thursday to carry out improvements including clearing and planting. This has occurred for many years and is a testament to these people and to their sense of community that exists in the Coomba district. This work has been noted by Council on numerous occasions and the remarkable transition of the site from a weedy wilderness to natural bushland is a legacy for all residents and visitors to enjoy.
This is an unending task but which is resulting in large areas of open grass lands, clearing of weeds and other invasive vegetation and a more pleasant outlook for locals and visitors alike.
As the proposed Club site was covered in lantana and other invasive and noxious weeds, in February 1995 the Club applied for a further Landcare grant to assist in carrying out the removal of these plants. This work, plus the clearing of an access route from Coomba Road to the waterfront in the north east corner of the Reserve, was deemed to be essential.
The application was finally granted in February 1996, for $5,302 with the funding coming from the Total Catchment Management Authority and the clearing began immediately. Working bees consisting of more than 40 volunteers assisted in this huge task involving both a Bobcat, a tractor and hand clearing, plus the poisoning of lantana. By mid 1996, this volunteer labour had totalled more than 500 hours.
Plans were made to draw up for a systematic planting program of native plants, shrubs and trees with potential financial assistance from Council in preparing the plan. This request was made on the basis that the site, including Coomba Aquatic Gardens, is a community project with the work being carried out for the whole Coomba community, not just one section of it. In July 1997, Council agreed to fund the plan and regeneration workshops started in August.
A Landcare funding application was successful and a grant of $1,000 was received for a survey of the site for mapping native vegetation, invasive weeds and rehabilitation needs.
More regeneration work to the whole site was carried continuously through late 1999 and into mid 2000. The Club’s Landcare group had carried out further plantings and clearing of lantana which provided access to more parts of the Club site.
Throughout 2003 good progress was made and regeneration of the areas cleared of invasive weeds saw the planting of native species take place. Weekly working bees of teams of Club volunteers continued.
In June 2006, the Club received a grant for $30,000 for a three-year project for Coomba Aquatic Gardens, to be supervised by Council involving professional regeneration to clear invasive weeds in the wetlands area. The grant also covered a community education program in Coomba Park.
In 2016, the Landcare Group planted more than 200 small trees along the Coomba Road boundary and working bees cleared asparagus fern, climbing weeds and vines and lantana.
All this work involves the invaluable contribution of the Club’s many Landcare volunteers who have attended the Club site each Thursday to carry out improvements including clearing and planting. This has occurred for many years and is a testament to these people and to their sense of community that exists in the Coomba district. This work has been noted by Council on numerous occasions and the remarkable transition of the site from a weedy wilderness to natural bushland is a legacy for all residents and visitors to enjoy.
This is an unending task but which is resulting in large areas of open grass lands, clearing of weeds and other invasive vegetation and a more pleasant outlook for locals and visitors alike.