Restoring Important Local Habitat
On Friday 26th September 2025, Greater Sydney Landcare welcomed a team of eight teachers from Marist Catholic College Penshurst (MCCP) for a corporate volunteering day at Landing Lights Wetland in Banksia (also known as Riverine Park Wetlands). The event was run in partnership with Bayside Council, which manages this important natural area.
Landing Lights Wetland is one of the last remaining saline wetlands along the Cooks River. It supports endangered ecological communities such as saltmarsh and provides habitat for threatened and migratory bird species. Some, like the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, travel from as far away as the Russian tundra to feed and rest here. Visitors to the site can often spot Red-rumped Parrots, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, and a range of ducks, rails, stilts and terns.
Helping Native Ecosystems Thrive
Under a warm spring sun, the MCCP team contributed a fantastic 24 volunteer hours to restoring this special ecosystem. Together they removed around 6 cubic metres of weeds and one bag of rubbish, directly improving the health and resilience of this important wetland habitat.
Weeds targeted included Celtis sinensis, Bidens pilosa, and Moth Vine (Araujia sericifera). Volunteers learned practical bush regeneration techniques such as cut-and-paint weed control, hand-weeding, and creating habitat piles. Their work will allow native saltmarsh and wetland plants space to recover, and support a thriving environment for birds and other wildlife.
Caring for a Local Gem
The day offered participants the chance to enjoy the outdoors and experience the satisfaction of hands-on conservation. After their morning’s work, the group took part in a guided walk through the wetlands and collected rubbish while they were at it, learning more about the site’s ecology and importance to Sydney’s biodiversity.
Greater Sydney Landcare staff Sabina Roe and Kylie Burrows, alongside Bayside Council’s Madeline Hourihan, led the day. “The group came with a very warm and conversational energy,” said Sabina. “They got stuck into the work and cleared a good area of weeds.”
Building Connection & Environmental Awareness
A mix of teachers attended the event as part of a staff development day. Many expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect with nature and give back to their local environment. The attendees said:
- “I never knew this wetland was here. I’ll have to come back with my son.”
- “Those vines get so big, like rope! It’s great getting them out and freeing the trees.”
- “I can see some of our students enjoying this.”
Their contribution helps ensure the wetlands remain a haven for wildlife and a place the community can enjoy for years to come.
Strong Partnerships for Lasting Impact
Corporate volunteering days like this one give organisations a practical way to support the environment while providing staff with a memorable, team-building experience. Each event delivers tangible on-ground results and strengthens community connection to nature.
Partnerships between Greater Sydney Landcare and councils like Bayside enable more restoration work to happen, bringing people together to protect Sydney’s valuable bushland and wetland habitats.
The day finished with a well-earned BBQ lunch cooked by Kylie—who fought the wind to keep the flames alive and won.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Bayside
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Bayside LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
