Do you want to help?
There are FOUR ways you can help the environment of MacMasters Beach
1 - Do no harm:
By simply doing nothing, you can help.
Dumping
Dumped garden waste is a major source of weed infestation - even grass clippings are harmful because of seeds and increased nutrient.
Apart from being unsightly, some litter is harmful to wildlife and can be a hazard for bush regenerators - broken glass, rusty iron, discarded needles and the like can cause injuries.
Plastic is easily transported out to sea where it's a major hazard for birds, turtles, dolphins and whales.
Dog pooh-filled plastic bags thrown into the bush is particularly repulsive for our volunteers. Throw them in the bin - PLEASE.
Planting
Please don't do any planting on public land. Even so called "native" plants, sold by nurseries, are inappropriate and can become a weed problem. They are often hybrids or varieties that are not native to this biosphere.
Examples of this include Grevillia robusta (silky oak), Acacia saligna and Lomandra hystrix and Lomandra Tanika.
Even some of the cultivars of Coastal rosemary - Westringia- are unsuitable because of the colour variations that have been bred into them.
All great in your garden but wrong in the bush.
We try to source plants from local provenance stock, to ensure that the correct plants, suited to this locality, are planted.
Council's nursery is a major source of plants for us, plus we are authorised to collect seeds and cuttings to propagate new plants for planting back on site.
Removing plants
Taking plants for your own use removes protection from erosion, damages habitat, reduces diversity and reduces the stock of seeds for future regeneration. This includes taking flowers.
Even removing what you think are weeds is not appropriate. There are many weeds that have local "look-alikes" and you may inadvertently remove a local native.
Plus, we retain some weeds on site, to prevent erosion, while natives regrow over some years. Removing these weeds, while well intentioned, may cause more harm.
Removing or trimming trees for view enhancement is vandalism. The Group is required to report all cases of vandalism to Council for it to deal with.
It is illegal for any member of the public to remove or interfere with any vegetation (including weeds!) on Council land without prior permission. Every Bushcare group and individual registered with Council is empowered to undertake work on the behalf of Council following a well-planned strategy.
Cutting tracks
Cutting access tracks through the dunes is especially problematic as it introduces weeds into the dunes and clears a path for wind to scour the dunes, destabilising the sand and potentially threatening properties.
2 - Remove weeds from your own land:
Some of the regrowth of weeds on regenerated reserves comes from seeds that originate on private land and are distributed by birds, the wind and animals. If you have weeds on your land, it's a great help to the nearby bush if these weeds are removed - and maybe it will also improve your property's value.
If you can't remove the weeds, then at least removing seeds is a great help. Micky Mouse Bush and Asparagus Fern are great examples of plants that are difficult to remove, but it's easy to remove seeds. Best thing is remove the flowers BEFORE they get pollinated and become seeds.
3 - Join the Bushcare Group:
We need as many helpers as possible. If you can remove weeds from your garden you can do bush regeneration.
You don't need to be an expert, or superfit. We'll provide the tools, you work at you own pace and ability and we'll show you what to remove and how to remove it.
Most of our work operates under Central Coast Council's Environmental Volunteer Program.
Contact Tony Powell on 0418 223 114 or email tonypowell.macs@gmail.com
If you wish to assist in Bouddi National Park, contact the l NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service office at Girrkool, Somersby 02 4320 4202.
4 - Make a donation:
If you don't have the time to help with our active program, but want to help us financially, you can make a donation. Funds are used mostly to employ contractors to do the heavy lifting. They charge around $75 per hour, so a team of four professionals for a seven hour day costs us $2,100.
Donations help us establish a pool of funds that can be added to grants from Government agencies and used to enhance the natural environment of MacMasters Beach bush and dunes.
Please call the President, Tony Powell on 0418 223 114
1 - Do no harm:
By simply doing nothing, you can help.
- Leave all vegetation in reserves. Trying to help by unauthorised weeding may do more harm.
- Please don't plant anything.
- Placed all your garden or use Council's green waste collection service.
- Leave dead wood, sand or rocks, these are important habitats.
- Keep to official pathways to avoid trampling vegetation.
Dumping
Dumped garden waste is a major source of weed infestation - even grass clippings are harmful because of seeds and increased nutrient.
Apart from being unsightly, some litter is harmful to wildlife and can be a hazard for bush regenerators - broken glass, rusty iron, discarded needles and the like can cause injuries.
Plastic is easily transported out to sea where it's a major hazard for birds, turtles, dolphins and whales.
Dog pooh-filled plastic bags thrown into the bush is particularly repulsive for our volunteers. Throw them in the bin - PLEASE.
Planting
Please don't do any planting on public land. Even so called "native" plants, sold by nurseries, are inappropriate and can become a weed problem. They are often hybrids or varieties that are not native to this biosphere.
Examples of this include Grevillia robusta (silky oak), Acacia saligna and Lomandra hystrix and Lomandra Tanika.
Even some of the cultivars of Coastal rosemary - Westringia- are unsuitable because of the colour variations that have been bred into them.
All great in your garden but wrong in the bush.
We try to source plants from local provenance stock, to ensure that the correct plants, suited to this locality, are planted.
Council's nursery is a major source of plants for us, plus we are authorised to collect seeds and cuttings to propagate new plants for planting back on site.
Removing plants
Taking plants for your own use removes protection from erosion, damages habitat, reduces diversity and reduces the stock of seeds for future regeneration. This includes taking flowers.
Even removing what you think are weeds is not appropriate. There are many weeds that have local "look-alikes" and you may inadvertently remove a local native.
Plus, we retain some weeds on site, to prevent erosion, while natives regrow over some years. Removing these weeds, while well intentioned, may cause more harm.
Removing or trimming trees for view enhancement is vandalism. The Group is required to report all cases of vandalism to Council for it to deal with.
It is illegal for any member of the public to remove or interfere with any vegetation (including weeds!) on Council land without prior permission. Every Bushcare group and individual registered with Council is empowered to undertake work on the behalf of Council following a well-planned strategy.
Cutting tracks
Cutting access tracks through the dunes is especially problematic as it introduces weeds into the dunes and clears a path for wind to scour the dunes, destabilising the sand and potentially threatening properties.
2 - Remove weeds from your own land:
Some of the regrowth of weeds on regenerated reserves comes from seeds that originate on private land and are distributed by birds, the wind and animals. If you have weeds on your land, it's a great help to the nearby bush if these weeds are removed - and maybe it will also improve your property's value.
If you can't remove the weeds, then at least removing seeds is a great help. Micky Mouse Bush and Asparagus Fern are great examples of plants that are difficult to remove, but it's easy to remove seeds. Best thing is remove the flowers BEFORE they get pollinated and become seeds.
3 - Join the Bushcare Group:
We need as many helpers as possible. If you can remove weeds from your garden you can do bush regeneration.
You don't need to be an expert, or superfit. We'll provide the tools, you work at you own pace and ability and we'll show you what to remove and how to remove it.
Most of our work operates under Central Coast Council's Environmental Volunteer Program.
Contact Tony Powell on 0418 223 114 or email tonypowell.macs@gmail.com
If you wish to assist in Bouddi National Park, contact the l NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service office at Girrkool, Somersby 02 4320 4202.
4 - Make a donation:
If you don't have the time to help with our active program, but want to help us financially, you can make a donation. Funds are used mostly to employ contractors to do the heavy lifting. They charge around $75 per hour, so a team of four professionals for a seven hour day costs us $2,100.
Donations help us establish a pool of funds that can be added to grants from Government agencies and used to enhance the natural environment of MacMasters Beach bush and dunes.
Please call the President, Tony Powell on 0418 223 114
Ochna serrulata, aka Mickey Mouse Bush. Cut the flowers off to stop berries developing and being spread by birds