In the foreword to Beyond the Untidy Fringe, the history of the Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society, Jeff Angel of the Total Environment Centre wrote, “There’s no doubt that having strong contacts in, and a real understanding of government decision making, is of great benefit to those seeking change.” From the beginning the Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society entered into local politics and developed programs in partnership with the Council, although not necessarily in agreement with all Council decisions.
Architect Doug Stuart was instrumental in organising a survey of Lane Cove’s bushland and was a mainstay of the Society, spearheading environmental activism. He was President for a decade from 1991 and continued to monitor Development Applications and write countless submissions when they had the potential to affect the environment.
Lane Cove Council has honoured the memory of Doug Stuart, one of our founding members, with a commemorative sign at the commencement of the Lane Cove Bushland Park. The 600m loop walk will now be known as the Doug Stuart Track. Doug’s wife Norma joined Mayor Pam Palmer and our Councillors on Saturday morning 8 May, 2021 to unveil the sign
Members of the Society were Councillors and Mayors including Rosilyn Baxter, who in her 21 years on Council, “…worked tirelessly to promote LCB&CS aims.” As one member said, “Ros deserves a medal”. In 1994 Ros received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[2]
The Society has brought the fight for the preservation of the environment to local, state and federal authorities, organising ‘Meet the Candidate’ election events and writing submissions. In 2016 The Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society joined other community organisations in successfully resisting the State Government’s plan to amalgamate Lane Cove with Hunters Hill and Ryde Councils.
Here members of the Society, including Bill Henningham, a past mayor of Lane Cove, Alasdair Stuart, Graham Holland and Doug Stuart stand outside the meeting to make submissions to the Greater Sydney Commission.
Battlers for the Bush
Read more about Battlers for the Bush
The field trip recounted the stories of community activism in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. The activism began as an attempt to conserve and protect urban bushland on Sydney’s Lower North Shore and contributed to the development of assisted natural bush regeneration, an important approach to natural area management used to this day.
Part two follows the second stop of the tour to Lane Cove Golf Club where guests listened to Norma Stuart and Shauna Forest recount the story of the battle to save Lane Cove Bushland Park. The campaign began to prevent bushland being bulldozed to make way for an extension to a golf course, but it also became the beginning of Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society, a community environmental advocacy group.
Following the talk, Lane Cove Council’s Bushland Team guided Landcare conference participants through the reserve. They discussed areas of interest including the endangered Hygrocybe fungi (Waxcaps), one of the many species that was saved by the efforts of community members including Ray and Elma Kearny which will benefit future generations and our natural environment.
BMAC
The Society has three permanent places on the committee of BMAC, the Bushland Management Advisory Committee. In 2016 BMAC celebrated its 25th anniversary and awards were presented on the night. The speech given on the occasion by the Mayor, Deborah Hutchins can be read here.
The history of the relationship of the Society with BMAC is told in a speech made at the 25th Anniversary by Rod Tudge, past Mayor of Lane Cove. The summary is below and the full speech can be read here.
From the Lane Cove River, if you look at Hunters Hill, you will see trees between the houses; if you look at Lane Cove, you will see houses between the trees. All this is due, in no small part, to the Lane Cove Bushland Management Advisory Committee and the Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society.
The Bushland Management Advisory Committee (BMAC) had its genesis in the 1960s and 70s when Lane Cove Council was the first council to adopt the Bradley regeneration technique 1978. The Council’s Tree Preservation and Landscape Policy was first adopted not long after in 1983.
A report concerning damage from runoff in gullies led to a recommendation that bushland management plans be developed. The Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society (LCB&CS), working in collaboration with Council staff, including Jack Hartman and the Bushland Management Manager, Bruce Stuckey in particular, developed these plans.
The first Plan of Management for Bushland in Lane Cove was adopted in 1990 and resulted in the appointment a Manager and BMAC to coordinate and evaluate the bushland program. BMAC is the only known such committee having direct internal administrative connections to their local council and this has been the real strength of the committee.
In Lane Cove, bushland management includes bush regeneration, track and bush drainage works, development assessment and environmental planning. by Council staff, contractors and volunteers. The plan of management was revised in 1995/96 and regularly thereafter ever 5 years.
A Development Control Plan (DCP) 1 – Control of Development Adjacent to Bushland was adopted by Council in 1994.
In this 25th Anniversary year, some long serving members of BMAC should be noted, including Norma Stuart, Lynne Mcloughlin, Frances Vissel, Susan Butler, Margaret Bergomi and Rosilyn Baxter.
BUSHKIDS
In 2010 young mothers and Society members, Corinne Fisher, Anne Proudfoot and Alyson Hayes were instrumental in establishing the very popular Bushkids program to engage young children with nature and to encourage a life-long love and care of the environment. In 2016 the Council partnered with the Society to further develop and run the program with a permanent coordinator.
Outdoor Nature-centred Activities
Outdoor nature-centred activities are offered during school terms for 2 to 5 years and during school holidays for 2 to 10 years. Activities are open to all families residing in the Lane Cove Council and surrounding areas. Programs are produced each term and for school holidays. Activities include: a bush walk for older children down into the beautiful Bushland Park valley, Grandparent’s Day, Nature’s Nightlife, ‘”Owl Babies”, the bees of the Australian bush, exploring leaves – all accompanied by nature activities. Information and bookings through the Council website.
PUBLICATIONS
The Society has assisted in the publication of a number of books including Judy Messer’s book Growing the Native Plants of Lane Cove which is now available for download from the Council website.
A member of the Society, Don Dove, wrote the first Bushwalks in Lane Cove in 1982 which is now in its 7th edition. The latest version is seen here on the Society stall in the Plaza and it is also available at Lane Cove Council and in the library.
BUSHWALKS
We regularly organise Free Guided Walks in our beautiful local bushland, in Lane Cove National Park or in other scenic locations such as the native plant sanctuary at North Head, Manly. Guest experts, joining with our Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society experts, lead the walks. Click here to check out our current Guided Walk.
Alternatively, use our website guide to enjoy these walks on your own or with friends. Click here to explore a range of Self-Guided Bushwalks.
In 2021, we’re celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our foundation and have conducted walks in the Lane Cove Bushland Park beside the Golf Course off River Road. This special area of bushland was preserved for the benefit of all by the campaign of local residents in 1971. They protested the proposed extension of the golf course into the bushland and in the process, founded the Society.
Other walks we’ve conducted include: Venteman’s Reach, Lane Cove National Park- Fiddens Wharf Track, Bell bird & River Bushwalk, Mowbray Park, Lane Cove North and Lane Cove National Park surrounds, Warraroon Reserve to Tambourine Bay, Field of Mars Reserve, Lane Cove Mangrove Walkway & Lane Cove Valley Walk to Sugar Loaf Point on the western bank of Lane Cove River and Spring Wildflower Walk in North Head, Manly.
Participants are advised of the requirements and grade of the walks, such as condition of the tracks and stone steps, and Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society’s plant experts lead walks.
PLANT STALLS
The Society organises two stalls per year, Spring and Autumn, in the Lane Cove Plaza to encourage growing indigenous plants and provide information on environmental issues and activities, locally and nationally. members of the Society are available to discuss plants that are suitable to grow in Lane Cove gardens or balconies as well as provide general information about the Society’s activities.
