Bouddi bushcare group wins regional award

The Bouddi Bushcare Group has been rewarded for their long term efforts to improve national parks on the Peninsula.

The Bitou Bashers has won a community group prize at the Regional Bushcare and Landcare Awards of Greater Sydney Local Land Services held on August 2.

Former National Parks and Wildlife Service bushcare program coordinator Ms Deb Holloman said competition for the award was fierce, with volunteer bush and land care groups from Bargo to the Blue Mountains all being considered.

Ms Holloman said Bouddi Bushcare began in 2001 as the Bitou Bashers as an initiative of David Dufty and Robert McClure.

"Initially its efforts were restricted to removing bitou from Maitland Bay but its activities have expanded as its numbers have increased.

"Over time the original group of six morphed into Bouddi Bushcare, which now involves about 18 local volunteers who gather weekly to work primarily in Bouddi National Park.

"The close-knit group now works on 12 sites throughout the park including Rileys Bay, Little Beach, Tallow Beach, Maitland Bay and Putty Beach.

"It also assists at sites in other national park reserves such as Wambina, Wamberal and Rileys and Pelican Islands, and even as far afield as Mt Yengo.

"Accumulating some 1500 hours of work each year, the group contributes considerably to enhancement and protection of our national parks," Ms Holloman said.

As winners of the award the group automatically advances to the state awards, which will be announced in Broken Hill in October.

SOURCE:

Media release, 9 Aug 2019

Deb Holloman, Killcare