Insurance for Glebe’s Landcare and Bushcare Groups
The Subcommittee is concerned about recent changes to the City’s insurance cover for its volunteer bushcare workers; there are currently six landcare groups in Glebe helping to care for our parks and reserves. The City’s Community Engagement Policy applies to these volunteer groups and provides $10 million public liability cover but each of our landcare groups is responsible for the payment of the policy excess, which is currently $500. It seems quite unreasonable to expect group-members to pay this cost personally when their role is to work voluntarily for no personal profit or gain to improve their local neighbourhood environment. Further, in comparison to some other local councils, the City will not include basic personal accident cover for its landcare volunteers! Elsewhere such insurance is offered at no cost to volunteers working in local parks and it is unacceptable that City does not offer such basic personal accident cover to its landcare volunteers.

The volunteers in Glebe enjoy helping to make our suburb greener. The current insurance arrangements, however, mean that volunteers who continue to donate their expertise and time, including supporting and encouraging participation of new volunteers, now have the added risk of personal financial liability. The Society has written to Ms Monica Barone, the City’s Chief Executive Officer, stating that the current insurance arrangements for their landcare and bushcare volunteers are unsatisfactory. They should be reviewed and appropriate insurance be provided that supports the community’s environmental efforts to add value to the City and its Sydney 2030 plans and policies.

Interpretative walk in Orphan School Creek Park
Sophie Golding, Urban Ecology Coordinator, City of Sydney, has asked Judy Christie to lead an interpretative walk in Orphan School Creek Park on Sunday 4 June from 10am. We will meet at the top of the stone steps at the northern end of Sterling Circuit. The City is promoting the event, with a media release and there will be a booking arrangement in due course – possibly through https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/. The walk is part of celebrating World Environment Day which is on Monday 5 June.