Importantly, the Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group has reported that the City has set up some personal accident insurance to cover all volunteers, up to the age of 75, working in Glebe’s parks. Whilst we are delighted to hear this news for the vast majority of our volunteers, we are not satisfied as our oldest volunteers would not be covered by this scheme. We will be continuing negotiations with the City on this matter – we still need to see the details of this insurance cover in writing.

Rozelle Bay Bushcare (previously known as Glebe Bushcare) continues to meet each Wednesday morning and has been removing Celtis australis from around the cricket pavilion in Federal Park and other weeds, including ‘morning glory’, from the foreshore park in front of the Anchorage home units. The removal of 175 trees, including old Morton Bay Figs, from Buruwan Park will be starting soon (see photo); garden seats and an advertising hording have already been taken from the Park. The Park, at the headwaters of the western end of Rozelle Bay, is to become part of the conversion of The Crescent into a five-lane freeway connecting City West Link/WestConnex with the eastern end of Johnstone St, Annandale.

A final photograph of Buruwan Park at the headwaters of Rozelle Bay looking east towards The Crescent .(image: Andrew Wood)

Hives for native stingless bees, provided by the City, have been erected in Palmerston Ave and Orphan School Creek parks and the bushcare volunteers have been noticing some bee activity. In Paddy Gray Reserve, volunteers have continued to water the native flora and the recent rain and cooler weather was badly needed. Most plants are OK although there have been some losses due to rampaging kids and dogs as well as the heat. A lack of care in the initial native plantings has taken its toll and it is important not to ‘throw the plants at the ground’ but to ensure a proper hole is prepared before inserting the plant. In the future, it will be better to have more frequent, smaller planting days and to utilise the supervision of experienced volunteers.

Update: The main activities of the Group during Andrew Wood’s absence overseas have been those of the various bush care groups. On 30 March the friends of Orphan School Creek held a working bee, following the recent much needed rain. A good roll up enabled a significant amount of work to be done. Keep this area in mind when spring comes around as there is always a terrific display of flowering natives.

There have also been useful talks between Council staff and the various groups regarding management plans for the various reserves in Glebe. And it does seem that, at last, there has been a resolution to the problem of insurance cover for volunteers working on council land.

Jeanette Knox