Environmental restoration doesn’t end when the last plant goes into the ground—in fact, that’s just the beginning. Without consistent follow-up and maintenance, even the most promising projects can quickly unravel under the pressure of weeds and weather. Through the Restoring Catchment and Community Resilience program, Greater Sydney Landcare is changing this narrative as part of a partnership between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Great Eastern Ranges by investing in long-term site care and community involvement.
Why Ongoing Maintenance Funding is Critical After Environmental Programs
Environmental restoration projects are often celebrated at the moment of completion, when sites have been cleared of weeds, native plants have been established, and wildlife is beginning to return. But the true measure of success is not what happens in the first few months, but what endures in the years that follow. Far too often, maintenance funding is overlooked, leaving landowners, community groups, and, ultimately, nature itself with the burden of sustaining the site. This oversight can jeopardise years of hard work and investment.
The Perils of “Set and Forget” Restoration
When an environmental program wraps up, it’s tempting to assume that nature will take care of itself. However, most restored sites are in a fragile state for several years. Invasive weeds, like Arum Lily or Arundo donax, can quickly reestablish themselves, outcompeting young native plants before they’ve had a chance to mature and build up resilience. Community groups and landowners may not have the resources or expertise to keep up with these challenges, especially when weed infestations are severe or persistent.
This gap in ongoing support can undo years of progress. In the absence of maintenance, invasive species often rebound, and the hoped-for transformation of the landscape stalls, or worse, reverses.
Funding for the Long Haul
AWS is helping to flip this scenario on its head through its commitment to the Restoring Catchment and Community Resilience program. Unlike many funders, AWS has provided dedicated maintenance money to be spent over a five-year period. This funding allows contractors to be brought in for essential follow-up work, such as spraying or mowing weeds, and ensuring that restoration sites have the best possible chance to thrive.
Local Landcare groups, such as Buxton Landcare and Nangarin Estate Landcare, are central to these efforts. Their regular, skilled visits prevent noxious weeds from seeding and taking hold. On heavily infested sites, like the Douglas Park weir, staged removal is the only path forward. Contractors first cut down towering Arundo grass, then return to spray the rhizomes as they reshoot, sometimes up to three times, such is the persistence of this weed. Only when the rhizome is finally subdued does replanting begin. Encouragingly, at Douglas Park weir, the natural seed bank is already supporting native regrowth as the Arundo recedes.
A Vision for the Future
By year five, with sustained attention and resources, sites like Douglas Park weir can be transformed into healthy riparian bushland. For the first time in two decades, animals will be able to move unimpeded along the riverbank—a testament to the power of long-term investment.
It’s clear that maintenance is not a luxury but a necessity. All environmental programs should include dedicated funding for ongoing care. Walking away after initial success and hoping for the best is not only risky but it undermines the very goals of restoration. The lesson is simple: if we want resilient, self-sustaining landscapes, maintenance must be part of the plan from day one.
Get Involved
If you’re in the Wollondilly region and would like to get involved, please email: vanessa.gimellaro@greatersydneylandcare.org. Buxton Landcare or Nangarin Estate Landcare could always use more volunteers.
