Join us for FREE Wildlife Event in Mindarie Park

Local residents are invited to join our FREE Wildlife and Reptile show 10am Sunday 29 March at Mindarie Park.

A family and crowd favourite, this event provides the opportunity to get a closer look at our native animals, particularly reptiles that live around Stringybark Creek.

10am Free Reptile Show
11am Free sausage sizzle and guided bushwalks

We are partnering with Lane Cove Council to bring this event to our community.

Council are also running a photo competition in March encouraging locals to snap a photo of local wildlife. See below for information about the competition.

Bushcare group plants 50 new plants

Our Wilson’s Creek Bushcare Group has been busy re-generating the Batten Reserve on the creek line down from the access pathway off Elizabeth Pde, near where it intersects with Epping Rd and backing onto 11-17 Johnston Crescent.

During our March session we planted 50 new plants between the bush walk pathway and the creek.

This is an area we weeded in our December and February sessions.

Can’t wait to see these natives beauties grow.

If you are interested in joining us we meet on the first Tuesday of the month from 9am-11am for weeding, plant and bush re-generation. Just send an email to bushcare@lanecove.nsw.gov.au noting you are keen to join our group. We would love to have more volunteers. It’s really rewarding!

Clean Up Success – Reduction in many items

Our annual Clean up Australia Day event on Sunday 1 March was a resounding success.

77 local volunteers aged from 4-75 years including members of the Lane Cove Girls Guides, Lane Cove Scouts, Mayor Clr Merri Southwell, West Ward Councillors Katie Little and Rochelle Flood and Councillor Caleb Taylor joining forcing with local residents to clean up our local bushland and streets filling 30 bags with rubbish including 4 bags of recycling waste.

The great news is that there has been a huge decrease in plastic bags over the years, with only two bags collected from the bushland area this year down from over 100, 7 years ago. Banning plastic bags has made big difference.

There has also been a significant decrease in aluminium cans with only 50 cans collected this year, a reduction in over 300 from previous years. The Return and Earn scheme is working!

And there is a large reduction of disposable coffee cups, with only 12 collected, compared to around 100, 5 years ago.

The big problem this year was a large number of nitric oxide canisters, 20 of them were found by the Scouts under Epping Bridge, along with 35 spray cans. We hope this is not a sign of a larger problem in our community. We have reported the nitric oxide canister find to the police.

There is always an array of miscellaneous items including building products, scooter frames, metal, polystyrene, yoga mat pieces and even a garbage bin was retrieved by an industrious local resident.

The SBCRA Committee want to thank everyone who participated for their great community spirit and for helping us to keen our local environment clean.

We know many of you enjoyed the free BBQ as well!

Clean up Australia Day – Sunday 1 March

Help us clean up our beautiful bushland and surrounding streets at our annual Clean Up Australia Day event. And have a free sausage courtesy of Lane Cove Council for morning tea.

Date: Sunday 1 March
Time: Register between 8am and midday
Location: On grass verge opposite 66 Johnston Crescent, adjacent to Pedestrian Overpass ramp
Bring: Gloves, hat, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle
Wear: Clothes suitable for walking through the bush and enclosed shoes

We will supply clean up bags. Great morning for the whole family. You can join us for as long as short as you like and turn up anytime between 8am and midday.

Join our newest Bushcare Group

The Wilson’s Creek Bushcare Group started in November 2025 and meets 9am-11am on the first Tuesday of the month. This group looks after the eastern end of the Batten Reserve bushland from where Elizabeth Pde joins Epping Rd down to the Harry Howard bushwalk sign at the bridge at the bottom of 29A Johnston Crescent.

We are looking for new members. It’s a great way to help look after our local bushland and meet local people.

If you are interested either contact us or register with Lane Cove Council Bushcare directly bushcare@lanecove.nsw.gov.au

Christmas celebrations Sunday 7 December

Join us from 5.30pm on Sunday 7 December at Tantallon Oval to celebrate Christmas and meet your neighbours and local residents.

Bring along a plate of food to share.

Parents of younger children, Santa will visit so if you would like them to receive a gift bring a wrapped gift with their name of it.

AGM update and 2025/2026 Committee

Lane Cove Council General Manager, Louise Kerr addressed our 2025 AGM last night engaging with a packed room of local residents at the Tantallon Oval Pavilion on a wide range of issues including residential development, developer contributions, traffic management, protection of our bushland, resident safety, Council funding, community engagement, and the importance of youth engagement.

Louise acknowledged the “high bar” that Council has to maintain with Lane Cove winning “most liveable suburb” again this year. She also committed to setting up a meeting with local residents and Council staff to progress traffic issues raised in the meeting.

Council Mayor Merri Southwood, Deputy Mayor Rochelle Flood, and Councillors Caleb Taylor, David Roenfeldt and Helena Greenwell were also in attendance and we thank them for their support of our community.

During the AGM we acknowledged the outstanding services of outgoing President Guy Hallowes who served as SBCRA President for 10 years, and outgoing Vice President Kylie Bryden-Smith, who served in this role for over 15 years. Both are staying on the Committee to support the transition of the new Officers.

We have a great team for the SBCRA Committee for 2025/26.

Congratulations to the newly elected SBCRA Officers and Committee members, and thank you for your commitment to serving our local community.

• PRESIDENT: Geoff Graham
• VICE PRESIDENTS: Suzanne Varrell and Danielle Downes
• TREASURER: Deborah Hill
• SECRETARY: Alasdair Stuart
• COMMITTEE: Di Hallowes, Mary Jane Maliphant, Natalie Koster, Kylie Bryden-Smith and Guy Hallowes

AGM 11 November, Tantallon Pavilion

Join us for our 2025 SBCRA Annual General Meeting at Tantallon Oval Pavilion from 6.30pm on Tuesday 11 November.

Lane Cove General Manager Louise Kerr will be addressing the meeting about plans for our area, and Mayor Merri Southwood and West Ward Councillors Katie Little, Scott Bennison and Rochelle Flood have also been invited.

We will also be electing the Committee members and officer roles for 2026.

Hope to see you there.

Bushcare Big Day Out 2025

Join us for a FREE family event including tree planting, nature care activities and a morning tea with special guest Karen Smith from the Aboriginal Heritage Office who will tell us how Cameraygal people tended and sustained their environment right where we are planting.

Bookings – https://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Activities-Programs/Nature-Connections-Walks-and-Talks
DETAILS
Sunday 7th September
9am-midday
Mindarie Park, Lane Cove North (cnr Kullah Pde and Mindarie St)

Wear suitable clothes for planting and walking through the bush.

Living with Wildlife Mindarie Park 30 March

All members and local residents are invited to this event on Sunday 30 march at Mindarie Park

As well as the native animals there will be a sausage sizzle and a raffle