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 - that is, please don't dump garden waste or litter on our public reserves, or remove any plants (even known weeds) from public reserves. Don't plant anything or create pathways through the dunes or bush.
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 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.
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.
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. 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.
DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE LAGOON. Council's lagoon-opening policy attempts to balance the need to protect nearby low-lying properties with the environmental needs of Cockrone Lagoon - the healthiest of Gosford's four lagoons. If you see anyone attempting to open the lagoon, do not confront them but phone Council on 4325 8222 any time of the day or night.
2 - Remove weeds from your own land:
Some of the regrowth of weeds on regenerated land comes from seeds that originate on private land, 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, thereby reducing their spread by birds and animals onto public land. Best thing is remove the flowers BEFORE they get pollinated and become seeds.
3 - Join the Bushcare Group:
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 Bushcare Program. Council does not approve volunteers to spray herbicides. We do have a project on the Crown Reserve on the Middle headland. This project operates outside of Council's Bushcare Program, so we have our own insurance for this project. We are permitted to to spray herbicide on this project, but only members with appropriate spray qualifications will undertake any spraying.
Contact Tony Powell on 0418 223 114 or email tonypowell.macs@gmail.com
If you wish to assist in Bouddi National Park, contact the local Bush Regeneration Officer for the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Deb Holloman, on phone 02 4320 4224 or e-mail deb.holloman@environment.nsw.gov.au
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.
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 - that is, please don't dump garden waste or litter on our public reserves, or remove any plants (even known weeds) from public reserves. Don't plant anything or create pathways through the dunes or bush.
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 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.
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.
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. 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.
DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE LAGOON. Council's lagoon-opening policy attempts to balance the need to protect nearby low-lying properties with the environmental needs of Cockrone Lagoon - the healthiest of Gosford's four lagoons. If you see anyone attempting to open the lagoon, do not confront them but phone Council on 4325 8222 any time of the day or night.
2 - Remove weeds from your own land:
Some of the regrowth of weeds on regenerated land comes from seeds that originate on private land, 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, thereby reducing their spread by birds and animals onto public land. Best thing is remove the flowers BEFORE they get pollinated and become seeds.
3 - Join the Bushcare Group:
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 Bushcare Program. Council does not approve volunteers to spray herbicides. We do have a project on the Crown Reserve on the Middle headland. This project operates outside of Council's Bushcare Program, so we have our own insurance for this project. We are permitted to to spray herbicide on this project, but only members with appropriate spray qualifications will undertake any spraying.
Contact Tony Powell on 0418 223 114 or email tonypowell.macs@gmail.com
If you wish to assist in Bouddi National Park, contact the local Bush Regeneration Officer for the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Deb Holloman, on phone 02 4320 4224 or e-mail deb.holloman@environment.nsw.gov.au
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.
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