Community Bushcare

Wehr Urban Habitat

Group meeting: Last Sunday of the month at 8.30am
Where: Wehr Urban Habitat, 61 McMillan Road, Alexandra Hills
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
This urban bushland park is known for its beautiful tallowwood trees and fruit trees planted by the Wehr family in years gone by. The Bushcare Group are restoring the site by removing the weeds and revegetating.

Birkdale Bush

Group meeting: Last Sunday of the month at 8am (summer) and 2pm (winter)
Where: Birkdale Bushland Refuge, 28-32 Leilani Drive, Birkdale
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
An important pocket of urban bushland in the Tarradarrapin catchment area maintained by a hard-working group of Birkdale residents.

Mary Street

Group meeting: First Saturday of the month at 7.30am
Where: Merrill & Bob Ovenden Reserve, 68 Agnes Street, Birkdale (access via Mary Street, behind Scouts Hall)
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A community group committed to seeing the ongoing restoration of a small bushland refuge for our local wildlife as well as the community.

St James's Park

Group meeting: Last Saturday of the month at 9am
Where: Whitehall Avenue Creek Corridor, 4A Whitehall Avenue, Birkdale
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A riparian wildlife corridor stretching along Tingalpa Creek. This active group of volunteers works to build on existing habitat and reduce weed numbers.

Capalaba Rotary

Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 6am (summer) and 6.30am (winter)
Where: John Fredrick Park, 2-14 Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
With a strong focus on highlighting local history, this group rises early each month to remove weeds along Tingalpa Creek and maintain previous large-scale native plantings.

Redlands IndigiScapes Centre

Group meeting: First Tuesday of the month at 3:30pm
Where: Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Work alongside experienced Community Bushcare Officers to help enhance the bushland at IndigiScapes, Redland City Council's environment centre. IndigiScapes has created a special onsite Bushcare Group that provides a great opportunity to learn about our endemic plant species. 

Black Swamp Wetland

Group meeting: Last Saturday of the month at 8.30am
Where: Black Swamp Wetland, Haggup Street, Cleveland
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A unique urban wetland environment within the centre of Cleveland. One of the longest standing Bushcare groups within Redlands Coast.

Oyster Point

Group meeting: Second Sunday of the month at 10am
Where: Nandeebie Park, 2-4 Coburg Street, Cleveland
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A beautiful foreshore Bushcare site that requires maintenance along the embankment.

Coochiemudlo Island

Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 8am in summer and 8:30am in winter
Where: Coochiemudlo Foreshore, Coochiemudlo Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A wonderfully diverse small island environment with abundant birdlife, protected wetlands and mangrove habitats. Regenerative work is generally focused on the foreshore dunes.

Point Lookout

Point Lookout Bushcare Group
Group meeting: Working bees are the second Sunday of the month at 8am
Where: Bushland surrounding Headland Park, Kennedy Drive, Point Lookout
Meeting point: Point Lookout Nursery, Kennedy Drive, Point Lookout

Point Lookout Native Nursery
Group Meeting: The Point Lookout Native Nursery is open every Thursday from 10am-12pm and the second Sunday of the month from 8am-10am*
*9am-12pm on Market Sundays
Where: Point Lookout Nursery, Kennedy Drive, Point Lookout
Meeting point: Point Lookout Nursery, Kennedy Drive, Point Lookout

Upper Weinam Creek

Group meeting: Third Sunday of the month at 8:30am
Where: Grevillea Street Bushland Refuge, 45-71 Muller Street, Redland Bay
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
This bushcare group works to maintain the lovely Grevillea Street Bushland Reserve which is part of the Weinam Creek corridor.

Moogurrapum Creek Corridor

Group meeting: Second Saturday of the month at 8am in Summer, 9am in Winter
Where: Penrose Avenue Park, 20 Penrose Avenue, Redland Bay
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A small but diverse patch of bushland located on the beautiful Moogurrapum Creek. The group work on the hand removal of environmental weeds to help native plants regenerate.

Karrawong

Group meeting: Most Tuesday mornings at 9:30am
Where: The Esplanade, Western Beach, Karragarra Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
The smallest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, but an important part of the island network for birdlife. Restoration work primarily focuses on the western beach area, using assisted regeneration techniques by removing environmental weeds to help our native plants regenerate.

Lamb Island

Group meeting: Every Thursday at 8:30am
Where: Clarkes Point Foreshore, Clarkes Terrace, Lamb Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Caring for our small pocket of “wild” on Lamb Island, an important cultural and heritage site.

Cow Bay

Group meeting: First Monday of the month at 9am
Where: Cow Bay Conservation Foreshore, 77-95 Beelong Street, Macleay Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Restoring and protecting the Cow Bay littoral rainforest – one of the rarest habitats on Redlands Coast.

Mersen Creek

Group meeting: Second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30am
Where: Cavendish Road, Russell Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Working to enhance the Borrows Street lagoon and Mersen Creek Corridor through tackling problematic weeds and revegetation.

Whistling Kite

Group meeting: First and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30am
Where: Whistling Kite Wetlands, 172-216 High Street, Russell Island
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A beautiful wetland environment on Russell Island with a dedicated group of Bushcarers working to maintain its unique diversity and encourage the resurgence of its delicate wildflowers.

Helen Street

Group meeting: The fourth Saturday of the month at 9am
Where: Willard Weber Reserve, 78 Queens Esplanade, Thorneside
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Willard Weber Reserve adjoining Tingalpa Creek is a bushland reserve renowned for its bird life. The group meet to remove weeds and revegetate this riparian wildlife pocket.

Penny Lane

Group meeting: Third Sunday of the month at 8am
Where: Penny Lane Bushland Refuge, 53 Fisher Road, Thorneside
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Penny Lane is a small but important woodland corridor in Thorneside. Through gentle weeding and occasional plantings, this community minded group are making a difference in a suburban koala habitat area.

Luke Street

Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 8am
Where: Eprapah Creek Corridor, 72-86 Luke Street, Thornlands
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A diverse pocket of riparian bushland that slopes down to scenic Eprapah Creek, providing important habitat for many species of birds and native fauna. The group meet each month to tackle weeds and maintain the area behind the Luke Street parkland.

Thornlands

Group meeting: Second Saturday of the month, 8.30am to 10.30am
Where: Thornlands Road Bushland Refuge, 62-62A Thornlands Road, Thornlands
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Enhancing an important wildlife corridor and wetland through weed management, planting and rubbish removal.

Egret Colony Wetland

Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 1:30pm
Where: Egret Colony Wetland, 23A Wilson Esplanade, Victoria Point
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Egret Colony is a significant wetland area and home to a great variety of waterbirds. This group meet each month to tackle weeds with the aim of increasing the buffer of native plants.

Hilliards Creek Park

Group meeting: First Saturday of the month at 7:30am in summer and 8am in winter
Where: Hilliards Creek Corridor, 47 Hilliards Park Drive, Wellington Point
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Tucked behind the historical Fellmonger Park along the scenic Hilliards Creek is our active Hilliards Park bushcare group. Some volunteers are keen photographers, often recording the numerous bird, insect and fungi species found in their patch. 

Station Street Wetland

Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 8:00am
Where: Station Street Wetland, 58-70 Saw Mill Drive, Wellington Point
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
An important urban wetland area that provides habitat for an array of birdlife and other fauna including koalas. This is a large bushcare zone that includes varied regional ecosystems from saltmarsh vegetation and mangrove shrubland to open casuarina forest, melaleuca and eucalyptus woodland.

Group meeting: Second Thursday of the month (except January)
Where: Various locations on Redlands Coast
Our Bushcare Birders visit some picturesque locations, recording bird identification data whilst enjoying a leisurely stroll. Bring your binoculars and cameras to monitor bird life in a variety of Redlands Coast bushland reserves.

Walk locations can change at short notice for a variety of reasons such as inclement weather. An email is sent out prior to the event to confirm the location as well as advise of track grade and expected walking distance. Please ensure that your level of physical fitness is suitable for the planned walk. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact the Community Bushcare Office prior to the event to discuss.

Email: bushcare@redland.qld.gov.au  Phone: 3824 8611

Upcoming outings  

When: Thursday 9 April 2026, 7:30am 
Where: Mount Cotton Community Park (-27.637079, 153.247410)
Meeting point: Grassed area between the carpark and toilet.
Parking: There is a car park next to the duck pond at the park.
Toilets: Public toilets available next to car park.
Track grade: An easy walking loop around this urban parkland.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.

When: Thursday 14 May 2026, 7:30am 
Where: Station Street Wetlands, Wellington Point (-27.497575, 153.246036)
Meeting point: Mid-way along Saw Mill Drive, just before the second chicane.
Parking: Along Saw Mill Drive.
Toilets: No public toilets.
Track grade: A flat but uneven walking track through casuarina woodland alongside estuarine saltpan that can be boggy in parts.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking boots, warm jacket, hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers as mosquitoes are likely at this location all year round. Bring a raincoat if showers are forecast. 

When: Thursday 11 June 2026, 7:30am 
Where: Orchard Beach Foreshore South (-27.635546, 153.310927)
Meeting point: Cnr Waterval Drive and Penzance Drive.
Parking: Along Penzance Drive.
Toilets: Public toilets available mid-walk.
Track grade: Mostly paved footpath or grassy verge for approximately 2.5km along the foreshore, through casuarina woodland and through a pocket of sub-tropical rainforest.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking boots, warm jacket, hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers. Bring a raincoat if showers are forecast. 

Group meeting: Various dates. Please email bushcare@redland.qld.gov.au for the next date and location.
Where: Various locations on Redlands Coast
Learn how to monitor the health of waterways through hands-on activities in our local creeks such as surveying water bugs and recording dissolved oxygen levels and other indicators of water quality.

When: Wednesday 18 March 2026, 9:30am

Where: Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, 17 Runnymede Road Capalaba (-27.547335, 153.217851)

Redlands Waterway: A tributary of Coolnwynpin Creek

Meeting point: IndigiScapes Reception

Toilets: Public toilets available within IndigiScapes centre

What to bring: Water bottle

What to wear:  Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers as mosquitoes are likely to be out and about. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.

Registrations via Eventbrite – Search Events IndigiScapes

When: Wednesday 24 June 2026, 9:30am

Where: Pistachio Court Park, Birkdale (-27.495673, 153.210357)

Redlands Waterway: Part of the Tarradarrapin Creek catchment

Meeting point: Footpath on the corner of Almond Avenue, Walnut Court and Pistachio Court Birkdale

Toilets: No public toilets

What to bring: Water bottle

What to wear:  Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers as mosquitoes are likely to be out and about. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.

Registrations via Eventbrite – Search Events IndigiScapes

When: Wednesday 26 August 2026, 9:30am

Where: Luke Street Parkland, Thornlands (-27.584939, 153.272299)  

Redlands Waterway: Eprapah Creek

Meeting point: The end Luke Street Parkland, opposite 63 Luke Street on the bend.

Toilets: No public toilets

What to bring: Water bottle

What to wear:  Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers as mosquitoes are likely to be out and about. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.

Registrations via Eventbrite – Search Events IndigiScapes

When: Wednesday 18 November 2026, 9:30am

Where: Hilliards Creek Park, Wellington Point (-27.510012, 153.249051)  

Redlands Waterway: Hilliards Creek

Meeting point: Hilliards Creek pedestrian bridge linking Fellmonger and Hilliards Creek Parks.

Toilets: No public toilets

What to bring: Water bottle

What to wear:  Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers as mosquitoes are likely to be out and about. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.

Registrations via Eventbrite – Search Events IndigiScapes

Group meeting: Last Tuesday of the month excluding January and December
Where: Various locations on Redlands Coast
Our Bushcare Seeders are led by an experienced Community Bushcare Officer and/or Nursery Manager to identify and collect seed used to propagate native plants in the IndigiScapes Nursery.

Walk locations can change at short notice for a variety of reasons such as inclement weather. An email is sent out prior to the event to confirm the location as well as advise of track grade and expected walking distance. Please ensure that your level of physical fitness is suitable for the planned walk. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact the Community Bushcare Office prior to the event to discuss.

Email: bushcare@redland.qld.gov.au  Phone: 3824 8611

Upcoming outings

When: Tuesday 28 April 2026, 9:00am
Where: Chatsworth Circuit, Capalaba (-27.542919, 153.189735)
Meeting point: Meet on Chatsworth Circuit near the Capalaba Fire and Rescue Station and Police Station.
Parking: Street parking available on Chatsworth Circuit, Capalaba
Toilets: No public toilets
Track grade:  Tracks are well maintained but may be uneven under foot. Suitable for most fitness levels. 
What to bring: Water bottle and hiking sticks if required.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking boots, a warm jacket, wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers. Bring a raincoat if showers are forecast.
You will find: Open forest to woodland with a good mix of understory species such as slender westringia, ground orchids and golden glory pea. This remnant vegetation is dominated by scribbly gums and has a wide variety of other canopy and emergent species.

When: Tuesday 26 May 2026, 9:00am
Where: Ford Road Conservation Area, Sheldon (-27.60868, 153.18422)
Meeting point: Ford Road Car Park
Parking: Ford Road Car Park in the Neville Lawrie Reserve
Toilets: No public toilets
Track grade:  Tracks are well maintained but can be uneven underfoot. Suitable for moderate fitness levels as tracks are steep in places and we will cover a good distance. 
What to bring: Water bottle and hiking sticks if required.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking boots, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and trousers. Temperature may have dropped so bring a winter coat and a raincoat if showers are forecast.
You will find: A large reserve with a diverse range of flora amongst eucalypt forest as well as rainforest gullies. A favourite spot for seed collection in the region.

Group Meeting: This group is temporarily inactive.
Where: Various locations on Redlands Coast
The Weed Weavers group visit various Bushcare sites to gather introduced weedy vines which they use to weave into all sorts of things, like baskets and artwork. What a wonderful way to spend a morning, weeding followed by sitting together weaving amongst like-minded individuals.

Steps to starting a new Bushcare group:

1. Take time to review and understand the program objectives detailed below.
2. Complete an application form, ensuring you meet the criteria below.
3. Submit your application form for assessment by the Senior Community Bushcare Officer. Applications will be assessed against the essential and significant criteria listed below.

Applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application within 4 weeks.

Essential criteria

• Community Bushcare Program has capacity to include a new group.
• Proposed Bushcare site must be a conservation reserve managed by Council.
• Proposed site needs to be safe for volunteers to work in.
• Proposed Bushcare group objectives align with existing and future Council management plans and strategies for management of bushland corridors.
• The motivation and aims of the group/convenor align with the Community Bushcare Program and Council policies and guidelines.
• The group members agree to sign up to the Better Impact volunteer database and undertake requirements of being a Council volunteer including signing the insurance and registration form and completing code of conduct training every 2 years.

Significant criteria

• The work required at the site can be achieved by volunteers.
• The group will retain, respect and improve biodiversity values.
• The group is prepared to undergo training.
• The group is committed to the long term outcomes of the site.
• The group has six or more interested adults at time of application.
• The group provides evidence to support their commitment.
• The group is agreeable to work within the area designated by the Community Bushcare team/Officer.
• The group or project will foster community ownership of local bushland.

Program objectives

Redland City Councils Community Bushcare Program is designed to facilitate and support community engagement opportunities for volunteers to restore natural areas in Council managed reserves.

This is achieved through Community Bushcare Program activities such as group working bees, community plantings, corporate plantings, specialty group activities, citizen science activities, training workshops and environmental education. Bushcare objectives are to:

• Improve and maintain biodiversity and habitat through community stewardship.
• Educate volunteers and the community on the natural environment of Redlands Coast.
• Support Council’s policies and strategies for biodiversity outcomes.
• Develop community capacity to engage in bushland regeneration, conservation, and bushland management through Bushcare groups and community plantings.
• Provide a safe work site and suitable activities for volunteers.
• Engage volunteers in citizen science through iNaturalist projects, E-bird surveys and water quality monitoring.

What activities do Bushcare volunteers do?

Bushcare groups meet on a regular basis and carry out tasks such as bush regeneration, weed control, removal of litter, revegetation, erosion control, seed collection and citizen science activities.

What is a Bushcare group and what are their responsibilities?

Council has a number of Bushcare groups operating across the city supported by the Community Bushcare Program. A Bushcare group is a collective group of volunteers working in designated Bushcare areas approved by Council. Bushcare group responsibilities are to:

• Improve conservation values of Council owned natural areas through volunteer engagement.
• Work within designated Bushcare areas (zones) as approved by the Community Bushcare Program.
• Undertake approved Bushcare activities including terrestrial weed control, bush regeneration, revegetation, litter collection and citizen science activities.
• Undertake best practice environmental restoration practices in line with the South East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework.
• Welcome new volunteers into the group and provide an inclusive environment for all volunteers.
• Adhere to objectives that align with Council strategies and policies.
• Use only local native plants supplied by the program that are based on regional ecosystem plant lists suitable for the area.
• Have a long-term commitment to restore the Bushcare area.
• Report fire ants in Bushcare areas to Community Bushcare Team and Biosecurity Queensland.

Volunteers and Convenors

Bushcare groups are made up of volunteers and a designated convenor, who leads the group and manages volunteer administration. You can email bushcare@redland.qld.gov.au for a copy of these role statements.

Non compliance

If non compliance issues arise with a Bushcare group, the Community Bushcare team will work with the group to resolve any issues. Bushcare groups that fail to rectify non compliance to one or more of the following points can be closed if the group:

• doesn't undertake four working bees per year
• doesn't submit Volunteer Attendance and Risk Assessment Forms (C form) in a 12-month period
• makes no reasonable attempt to accommodate an extension visit by a Community Bushcare Extension Officer
• breaches the Employee Code of Conduct
• breaches health and safety requirements
• work plans/activities don't aligning with Council plans and policies including this guideline
• activities in breach of local, state or federal legislation.