Parkcare

What is Parkcare? 

Our Parkcare program aims for ecological sustainable management of our region’s parks and reserves through community ownership of the natural environment.

We support community members to become actively involved in Parkcare group activities.

What do Parkcare groups do?

Parkcare groups give Shoalhaven residents and visitors a hands-on way to improve their local environment. Parkcare activities include:

  • Mowing and vegetation control
  • Landscape construction and maintenance
  • Weed control programs
  • Re-vegetation
  • Parks infrastructure installation and restoration projects
  • Pathway construction and maintenance
  • Training and education

How Council supports Parkcare groups

Our on-going support of community Parkcare groups includes:

  • Technical Support

    • Council employs a Parkcare Coordinator who assists Parkcare groups with technical advice, training, project planning, grant applications, supply of equipment and materials as well as with their on-ground works

  • Public Liability insurance and Personal Accident insurance

    • For all approved Parkcare activities and volunteers (aged between 10 and 90 years) working on Council owned or managed land
    • Please refer to Council's Volunteer Induction Handbook – Health, Safety and Behavior for further details of the requirements and limitations of the insurance cover available to volunteers under these policies

  • Provision of materials

    • Tools, herbicide, safety equipment, plants, mulch etc. for approved Parkcare activities

  • Education and training (where necessary)

    • Includes providing technical information on herbicide use, native plant identification, weed identification and removal techniques

Why join Council's Parkcare program?

By participating in a Parkcare group or project you can contribute to improving your local parks and reserves in a hands-on way. You and future generations can enjoy the benefits of your work.

We support and work closely with the community on local enhancement and rehabilitation projects.

How to start a new Parkcare project 

Before getting your hands dirty, you should take these three essential steps first:

  1. Collect information and talk to others

    • Find out if there is interest in your project from others in the local area and find out who owns the land

  2. Prepare a plan for your site

    • Define your aims, and what you are going to do to achieve the aims – our Parkcare program requires you to prepare a plan for your Parkcare project before starting and our Parkcare Team can assist with this

  3. Safety on your site

    • To make sure your site is safe, and to ensure other volunteers' safety isn't compromised Council ask you attend a short on-site safety induction which will be run by our Parkcare Team at your site

How to get involved

Parkcare groups in my area

Volunteering

You can get involved and make a difference in the Shoalhaven in a hands-on way.

Are you interested in volunteering in Parkcare?

Volunteer today

Our Parkcare Newsletter

Read all about the activities of our Parkcare groups in our Parkcare Newsletter. You can even signup to receive a copy for yourself.

How you can help without joining a Parkcare group

You can make a difference in the Shoalhaven in other ways:

Contact Us

Related Links

Related Documents

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