What is Adopt a Plot? and how did it start?

Through a partnership between the Cremorne Point Bushcare Group, North Sydney Council and bush regeneration contractor Bush-it, an Australian Government Envirofund grant of $21,000 was won in 2005. This funding provided a much needed opportunity for local residents and businesses to get involved in rehabilitating Cremorne Reserve bushland and other areas of this iconic reserve.

Participants are offered a unique opportunity to team up with a qualified bush regenerator to care for a 'plot' in the reserve near their home. This option requires a commitment of three hours a month.

Bush regeneration staff help participants:

• identify the range of weeds in the plot 
• develop weed removal technique and use safe practises
• gain experience in identifying local native plants
• understand their actions are part of a long term natural regeneration process

Alternatively, residents donate $720 (2005-2006) in lieu of doing bush regeneration work for 12 months. During the grant funded project period, partcipants donations were matched by the Envirofund Grant, which funded four hours of bush regeneration work on a 'plot' in Cremorne Reserve. Now the resident donation is $924 (2009-2010), which funds four hours of bush regeneration work on a 'plot' in the reserve near their home. In 2009-10 Council has provided discounts for donors involved for a number of years; 5% off for donors involved for over 1 year, 10% off for donors involved for over 2 years, 15% off for donors involved for over 3 years.

Was it successful?

Excellent results have been acheived on many of the original plots that have now been maintained by participants for over three years, since 2005. From heavily weed infested beginnings, the reserve is starting to make a huge turn around. This is all thanks to the particpants who have signed up and either worked on the plot themselves or made the donation towards the rehabilitation of their chosen plot. The weeding work done through the project has stimulated a variety of native plant seed, still present in the soil after perhaps 60 - 100 years of lying dormant! Who would have guessed that under all that lantana and morning glory there was native seeds waiting for some light and warmth?! Of course, rehabilitating the reserve through natural regeneration is a slow process, however, it will gain the best possible result for successfully recovering the reserve for the future. The original native plant species that are now naturally regenerating (not planted), have a far better chance of out competing weed invasion, resisting pests or disease and surviving changing climatic conditions.  

Planting of locally sourced native plant species has also been necessary though, as some plot sites had suffered lots of soil disturbance, dumping of rubbish and excess nutrients from sewerage or stormwater leaks, reducing the chances of natural regeneration of natives.

The grant project period from August 2005 - August 2006 was an important time in turning the state of Cremorne Reserve around and establishing a lot of control over the weed plumes that covered much of the area. Some facts and figures:

• 26 plots were 'adopted' by local residents of Cremorne Point
• 340 hours of weeding was contributed by local residents
• 8000 sq. metres of bushland was covered by the project
• 1200 native plants were planted into Cremorne Reserve in April 2006

A big thank you and congratulations must be extended to the residents and local businesses involved in this grant period of the Adopt-a-Plot project. With such strong support for this initiative from the local community, the outcomes have been significant!

It's not over yet! What now?

The Adopt a Plot project has continued through the years with thanks to financial support from the Environmental Levy!

Now in its fifth year of operation, new participants are always welcome to Adopt a Plot in Cremorne Reserve or any other reserve in North Sydney. Participants have taken up plots in Harry Howard Reserve and Gore Cove Reserve in Wollstonecraft and Brightmore Reserve in Cremorne.  

Latest news...

The beginning of the financial year presents the opportunity to adopt a plot or continue maintaining a plot through to June 2010. 

Call the Bushcare Officer for details Ph: 9936 8258 or email: council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au