Floating Landcare
Join us on an environmental adventure with a twist!
What is Floating Landcare?
Floating Landcare is a group of volunteers who want to protect and restore our Hawkesbury River Estuary. They visit locations that are only accessible by boat and carry out bush regeneration activities.
During 2015 Floating Landcare volunteers stretched their sea legs and ventured beyond the Hawkesbury and Pittwater estuaries to locations on the Central Coast. These explorations went so well that Floating Landcare now includes additional activities within the Brisbane Water estuary on the Central Coast
To learn more about what our volunteers enjoy about participating in Floating Landcare watch the video below.
What is involved?
The activities range from litter collection and weed removal through to native planting and surveys of local wildlife. Most trips are scheduled on weekends in the morning and take around five hours, with morning tea and lunch provided.
Who can volunteer?
Anybody who wants to make a difference to the local environment. You don’t need any experience, as all necessary equipment and training is provided. All you need is a desire to learn new skills and meet like-minded people while visiting scenic locations that are otherwise inaccessible.
How do I get involved?
Simply email Rebecca Mooy at floatinglandcare@gmail.com and let us know which event you would like to take part in.
Events for 2021
See planned activities for 2021:
- Due to COVID-19 restrictions across Greater Sydney, all activities are currently postponed. Please check back soon.
Are corporate groups welcome to volunteer?
Absolutely! For more information about corporate volunteering, visit landcareaustralia.org.au
Take a look at some videos of volunteering corporations:
Who manages Floating Landcare?
Floating Landcare is coordinated in partnership by Hornsby Council, Northern Beaches Council, Central Coast Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
More information
- Download the 2019 Floating Landcare_activity summary - Part 1
- Download the 2019 Floating Landcare_activity summary - Part 2
- Download 2019 Floating Landcare_activity summary - Floating Landcare camp
- Download 2020 Floating Landcare_activity summary
- Download 2021 Floating Landcare_activity summary
Download an article on Floating Landcare from Nature NSW Summer 2014 - 305KB
Hear from our volunteers via a Radio National podcast or read about them on the Radio National website
Look at what we've achieved so far!
2021 National Landcare Award Winner
The Floating Landcare Program was announced the winner of the National Landcare Award for its Government partnerships with Landcare at the 2021 virtual Awards ceremony held in Sydney, on 5th August 2021. This Award is a fantastic achievement and is a reflection of the willingness of Bushcare staff and Rangers from its primary program partners: Hornsby, Northern Beaches and Central Coast Councils, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Greater Sydney Local Land Services to work together and provide volunteers with a coordinated volunteer program that provides a unique wilderness land management experience within the estuary environments of the Hawkesbury River, Pittwater and the Central Coast.
2019 NSW Landcare Award winner
Floating Landcare was awarded champion in the Australian Government Partnerships with Landcare at the NSW Landcare Awards dinner held in Broken Hill, on 23rd October 2019. This award is a celebration of eight years of volunteers steadily working to restore weedy hotspots at more than 20 locations over the years, across public lands managed by both state and local government, along the Hawkesbury estuary and the waterways of the Central Coast. The success of Floating Landcare is a reflection of the active support and willingness to work together from Council Bushcare staff, NPWS Rangers, coordination from Greater Sydney Local Land Services, the flexibility of local boat transport operators and most importantly the enthusiastic and committed volunteers. Every visit to these waterways with Floating Landcare is always a rewarding adventure.
2019 Greater Sydney Regional Landcare Award winner
Floating Landcare was awarded the Greater Sydney Regional Landcare Award in the Government partnerships with Landcare category, at the Greater Sydney Regional Landcare Forum and Awards in August 2019. Floating Landcare volunteers; GSLLS; Hornsby, Northern Beaches and Central Coast Councils and NPWS partner staff have been working very well together to tackle the weedy hotspots on the waterways of the Hawkesbury estuary, Pittwater and Brisbane Waters over the past 7 years.
2015 NSW Landcare Award winner!
Floating Landcare was awarded for its Partnerships with Landcare at the Breakfast of Champions on Wednesday 2nd September 2015. This Award represents a fantastic effort by all the project partners who have been working together on the GSLLS coordinated Floating Landcare program since 2012.
With base funding from the NSW Environmental Trust, the Floating Landcare program has had 280 individual volunteers participate in the 45 Floating Landcare activities on offer during the past three years. The generous volunteer time donated to date represents the equivalent of half a million dollars in bush regeneration effort across the 17 estuary locations.
Spectacle Island Nature Reserve
Thirteen volunteers tackled weeds on Spectacle Island, one of three island nature reserves located in the Hawkesbury Estuary. The island, which has mudflats, mangroves, saltmarsh and casuarina forests, was declared a Nature Reserve in 1972 with restricted public access. These lucky volunteers had the opportunity to explore the island while removing 20 bags of agaves as well as lantana from the beachfront near the foundations of an old fishing hut.
"The island was beautiful with great views from the top." Isolde Kamerman, Hunters Hill Bushcare
"Good company, beautiful surroundings and a sense of achievement at maintaining the native bushland." Ian Clarke, Tunks Park West Bushcare
Milsons Passage, Muogamarra Nature Reserve
The Milsons Passage bush regeneration site is part of Muogamarra Nature Reserve on the Hawkesbury River. This location was an old house site with historical rock wall foundations and terracing. Previously the area has been cleared of native vegetation and was heavily invaded by weeds. As natives were replanted in 2008, Floating Landcare followed this up by removing the tree guards, as well as weeding around the plantings and the historic foundations. Twenty-three volunteers removed more than 40 bags of weeds such as agaves, crofton weed, mother of millions and watsonia.
"A chance to discover areas that are not accessible by road and meet great people. A fun boat ride and rewarding outdoor gardening." Julie Wilson, Mooney Mooney resident
"It's very encouraging to see such a large group of volunteers devote a Saturday to restoring our environment." Wendy Grimm, Hornsby Australian Plants Society member
Hungry Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Hungry Beach, on the western side of West Head, is a peaceful white sandy beach with views across to Patonga. The volunteers and National Parks staff worked together to stop the spread of weeds, particularly mother of millions, from moving into the bushland behind the beach.
"I enjoy visiting places I wouldn't otherwise get to and it was a great day of meeting new people." Lynne Springett, Hornsby Council Bushcare
"Love going to work by boat. It was a stunningly beautiful site to work." Prue Lyge, Field Officer, National Parks and Wildlife