SiteMinder Improve Sydney Bushland

Corporate Volunteering Supporting Conservation Across Sydney

Greater Sydney Landcare’s Corporate Volunteering Program gives organisations the chance to make a direct and lasting contribution to the environment while building stronger teams. Across Greater Sydney, corporate groups are helping restore bushland, remove rubbish, and support citizen science projects.

One of the most significant and ongoing efforts is at Nurragingy Reserve in Doonside, where Greater Sydney Landcare has partnered with Blacktown City Council over many years to care for this important bushland park. Corporate volunteer groups have played a vital role in this effort, repeatedly returning to the site to remove weeds and, at times, to plant native trees and shrubs.

Long-Term Care at Nurragingy Reserve

SiteMinder is one of those returning partners. After joining Greater Sydney Landcare for a corporate volunteering day at Nurragingy in July 2024, they returned in August 2025 to continue the work of supporting the reserve’s restoration.

Weed control is an ongoing process—you can’t just clear an area once and walk away. If weeds are left unchecked, they quickly return and take over. By periodically removing them and maintaining the site over time, we reduce the weed seeds in the soil and create the space for native plants to re-establish and bushland to recover. Healthy bushland, unlike disturbed bush, is far more resilient to weed invasion.

A Big Effort, A Big Impact

On Friday 15 August 2025, 19 SiteMinder volunteers rolled up their sleeves at Nurragingy. Led by Greater Sydney Landcare’s Corporate Engagement Manager, Sabina Roe, and Environmental Field Officer, Kylie Burrows, the team contributed a massive 95 volunteer hours to bush regeneration!

Despite foggy beginnings and damp ground from recent rains, the skies soon cleared into a beautiful day—perfect for working outdoors.

A Major Boost for Bush Regeneration

The SiteMinder team made a tangible impact, removing a massive 50 cubic metres of invasive weeds from three areas of the reserve. In the first site alone, they tackled and cleared 15 cubic metres of:

• Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum psuedocapsicum)
• Paddy’s Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia)
• Moth vine (Araujia sericifera)
• Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum)
• Large leaf privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
• Bidens (Bidens pilosa)

They then moved to a second site near the Colebee Centre, where they pulled a further 25 cubic metres of privet. Under Kylie’s guidance, the final effort removed another 10 cubic metres of privet from a third location—helping restore valuable habitat for native plants and wildlife.

Protecting More Than Just Plants

The group also explored the reserve on a site walk, collecting 4 kilograms of litter along the way. Their efforts prevented plastic confetti and other waste from washing into waterways and polluting the environment.

In addition, the team joined Sabina in Streamwatch water quality monitoring, contributing valuable data to the Atlas of Living Australia. This combination of bush regeneration, litter collection, and citizen science shows the breadth of impact corporate volunteers can make in a single day.

A Team Effort That Lasts

Sabina praised the group’s enthusiasm: “They picked up on the different plants so quickly and showed a real curiosity about the work. This is the second year the SiteMinder team has joined us at Nurragingy, and it was a pleasure to work with them again.”

The volunteers themselves found the experience rewarding. “It’s fantastic looking back at where we have worked and seeing how much has been removed,” one said. Another added, “Now I’ll go for a bushwalk and just want to stop and remove all the weeds.”

Giving Back While Growing Together

The day wasn’t just about conservation—it was also about connection. Working outdoors, moving their bodies, and tackling challenges together gave the team a chance to bond in a way the office can’t match. They wrapped up with a barbeque lunch, celebrating both their collective achievement and the positive impact they’d made for nature.

Stronger Together

Thank you to SiteMinder for volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare and supporting conservation in our region once again, and a massive thanks to Blacktown City Council for partnering with us to care for nature.

Join Blacktown’s Bushcare Program

If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Blacktown area, you can volunteer to become a Blacktown City Council Bushcare volunteer, and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.

Come Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare

Greater Sydney Landcare has hosted dozens of companies for Corporate Volunteering days to restore Greater Sydney’s environment. Will yours be next? Download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack and get in touch.