About Envirolink
Our organisation
Envirolink was formed in 2000 and has a 20 year history of providing environmental advocacy on the Northern Beaches, coordinating bushcare, and campaigning to protect local bushland, beaches, and lagoons.
Executive
- President and Public Officer - Conny Harris
- Vice President - David Palmer
- Treasurer - Donna Powell
- Assistant Interim Treasurer- Tom Hazell
- Minutes Secretary - Lynne Collett
- Pam Rawling
- Jacqui Marlow
- Ann Sharp
Northern Beaches Bushland Guardians core volunteer team
- Conny
- Kristyn
- Pam
- Sarah
- Rachael
- Deb
- Marion
- Sue
- Susan
- +Assistance from many others!!
Our history
During the early 1990's the NSW State Government established a number of Catchment Management Committee's, one of which was the Sydney Northern Beaches CMC. This aimed to co-ordinate a wide range of natural resource management activities which impact on the current and future sustainability of the land, waterways and marine environment, stretching from Manly to Lion Island. The CMC enabled greater community participation and encouraged integration of the resources, knowledge and abilities of government with those of the community. This committee was very active and received a grant of $161,600 from the Natural Heritage Trust for its 1999-2000 Greenlink Project. When the CMC's were disbanded in mid 2000, a new voluntary community group called the Northern Beaches Community Landcare Inc was formed to continue some of the excellent work that was being done by SNBCMC, including the Greenlink Project. NBCL became the proponent for the Greenlink Project and funding of $140,400 was received for 2000-2001 funding. The group changed its name to Northern Beaches Envirolink Inc in April 2001.
Our link with the future
Envirolink has a long history of connecting different community and environmental groups on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and recognising our shared history and passions. In 2005 we produced a booklet acknowledging these efforts.
Our past projects
Greenlink Greenlink was a $1 million community based collaborative project, supported in part by Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funds, that aimed to establish a link between areas of remnant vegetation in the Warringah, Pittwater and Manly Local Government Areas of Sydney by co-ordinating the on-ground works of volunteer groups and other organisations. The project had funding allocated for the period 1999 to 2001. Read our final report online here.
The inspiration for Greenlink came from the Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils' Green Web-Sydney: A vegetation Management Plan for the Sydney Region. The plan identified areas of existing remnant bushland and proposed revegetation sites along corridors, aiming to increase the habitat areas and allow for movement and genetic exchange of flora and fauna. This document has recently been adopted to a blueprint for the distribution of grant funding throughout Sydney.
Greenlink also seeks to develop links and co-operative relationships with industry, schools, Councils and communities in the area. The publicity, education, recruitment and liaison are important facets of the project. Highlighting Greenlink's status as a true community project is the fact that the proponent, Northern Beaches Envirolink, Inc (NBE) is an entirely voluntary organisation with no external funding or administrative support.
Greenlink also sought to develop links and co-operative relationships with industry, schools, Councils and communities in the area. The publicity, education, recruitment and liaison are important facets of the project. Highlighting Greenlink's status as a true community project is the fact that the proponent, Northern Beaches Envirolink, Inc (NBE) is an entirely voluntary organisation with no external funding or administrative support.
The project area stretches from McKillop Reserve, Harbord in the south to the Warriewood Wetlands in the north. It follows the lines of Dee Why and South Creeks, the north shore of Narrabeen Lagoon and includes the Warriewood Wetlands area.
The key objectives of the project were to:
- Amalgamate the efforts of community groups, Councils and private land holders into one project with compatible priorities
- Halt the degradation of remaining natural bushland remnants by the removal of weeds, revegetation and regeneration.
- Extend these areas by reclamation of degraded / cleared land or reconstruction of natural waterways
- Facilitate the development of community groups, both existing and through recruitment and establishment
- To facilitate the involvement of local industry with schools and state departments to control environmental problems at the source
- To link up remnant bushland on the Green Web, such as the Warriewood Wetlands and the Bicentennial walk incorporating Pittwater, Warringah and Manly Councils.
The Greenlink project components have involved a range of rehabilitation, restoration and revegetation activities throughout the Northern Beaches area. Almost all of these activities have been conducted by volunteers, with the support of the local councils. The Natural Heritage Trust funding has enabled these groups to continue, expand and consolidate their work by providing for contractors, tubestock, fencing and other essential items.
Greenlink Achievements
- Living demonstration that vision can be realised
- improved linkages Pittwater to Manly
- original 8 groups expanded to 15 with enhanced skills
- around 12,000 community hours
- about 1,000,000 + weeds removed
- profound financial leverage, over $3 output / $1 NHT
Other projects
Bitou Bush and Boneseed Control Project The Northern Beaches Envirolink Inc received funding from Environment Australia for a regionally co-ordinated project to undertake mapping and control works on Bitou Bush and Boneseed - two of our most important coastal weeds. The project is focused on Long Reef Headland, which is one of the last strongholds for Bitou Bush along Warringah Council's managed coastline, and along the northern peninsula and Lion Island. The funding will be used to undertake detailed surveys, private property inspections, community awareness and publicity campaigns and to implement biocontrol strategies. The project is a combined effort of Warringah and Pittwater Councils, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, local community groups and contractors.
Greenlink Walk Project (Peter Miller is project mentor)A natural 4km walk right around Griffith Park and Long Reef Golf Course. The Northern Beaches Envirolink Inc has been awarded Envirofunds for the Greenlink Walk Project which circumnavigates Long Reef golf course. Preliminary work has already been carried out and a brochure is being prepared. A successful initiative to establish 'non mowing areas' has been adopted and native plants are already regenerating in these targeted areas. More (PDF)
Tick Ecological Research Project (Jo Tulau is project mentor)
Purpose: To educate the community on how to minimize exposure and provide correct procedures to remove ticks properly.
Noxious Weeds Project (Cheryl Bate is project mentor)
Seed funding and an appropriate funding grant are required for this important project.
Advocacy The NBE has participated in
- advice to various community groups
- specific objections to selected developments
- John Fisher Park Plan of Management
- Brookvale Oval and brick works representation on various committees
- Education. Displays have been prepared for the Greenlink Project