About Community Bushcare
Community Bushcare volunteers play an important role in restoring local conservation areas across Redlands Coast.
With more than 32 active Bushcare groups, we offer unique opportunities for passionate volunteers to work together in partnership with Council to improve our local nature reserves.
Each group brings together like-minded members of the community who participate in hands on activities such as bush regeneration and habitat restoration at regular working bees and Bushcare events.
Learn more about Community Bushcare with Ranger Stacey.
Why join Community Bushcare?
Volunteering is a great way to connect with nature, meet like-minded people, learn new skills, share knowledge and make a difference to the local environment.
Council provides groups with equipment, materials, training and the support of a dedicated Bushcare Officer.
Bushcare brings the community and Council together to restore conservation areas by:
- bush regeneration practices
- planting local native species
- removing weeds and rubbish
- monitoring flora, fauna and water quality
- collecting native seed for propagation
- citizen science activities
- community plantings.
Sign up to our newsletter and learn about our upcoming community plantings, events and the Bushcare Program.
Complete an application below and our helpful Community Bushcare team will get you connected with a group nearby. Be sure to choose your Bushcare Group from the list below.
Join Community Bushcare - Complete your application
Be sure to choose your Bushcare Group from the list below.
Find a Bushcare group
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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.Pittwin Park
Group meeting: Fourth Saturday of the month, 8am
Where: Capalaba Regional Park, 17-19 Pittwin Road North, Capalaba
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A small pocket of bushland adjoining Capalaba Regional Park with a group of passionate local residents. -
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 LookoutPoint 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 9am.
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, 8am to 10am
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. -
Intrepid Drive
Group meeting: Second Saturday of the month at 9am
Where: Eprapah Creek Corridor, 29 Bunker Road, Victoria Point
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
Revegetating and managing weeds along a strip of bushland that is well-used by wildlife.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.Wellington Woods
Group meeting: Third Saturday of the month at 9am
Where: Duncan Street Bushland Reserve, 28 Farnham Street, Wellington Point
Meeting point: Locations vary please contact the Community Bushcare Team
A social group of long-serving Bushcarers who work in a small remnant corridor for local wildlife.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.Upcoming outings
When: Thursday 10 July 2025, 7:30am
Where: Crystal Waters Park, Riesling Street Thornlands (-27.558304, 153.256997)
Meeting point: Corner of Chateau and Riesling Streets
Parking: Along Riesling Street
Toilets: No public toilets
Track grade: An easy walking loop around the lake but there is a lot of ground to cover so be prepared for a steady walking pace.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat and sun safe clothing. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.When: Thursday 14 August 2025, 7:30am
Where: Sandy Camp Road Wetlands Reserve (-27.435675, 153.149326)
Parking and meeting point: Sandy Camp Road Car Park opposite Iona College, Wynnum
Toilets: No public toilets
Track grade: An easy walking loop around multiple wetland areas. There is a lot of ground to cover so be prepared for a steady walking pace.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat and sun safe clothing. Wear a raincoat if showers are forecast.When: Thursday 11 September 2025, 7:30am
Where: Victoria Point Beach Front Walk, (-27.563997611390512, 153.30559878481537)
Meeting point: Corner Orana Esplanade and Point O’Halloran Road, Victoria Point
Parking: Along Orana Esplanade, Victoria Point
Toilets: No public toilets
Track grade: An easy walk along the waterfront on a concrete path.
What to bring: Water bottle, hiking sticks, camera and binoculars. We expect to see shorebirds so you may want to bring a chair, beach umbrella and a camera tripod.
What to wear: Sturdy enclosed walking shoes, a wide brimmed hat and sun safe clothing. Wear 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. -
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.Upcoming outings
When: Tuesday, 29 July 2025, 9:30am
Where:Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area, Mt Cotton
Parking: Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area - day use area. Corner of West Mount Cotton and Schoeck Road
Meeting point: Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area - entry at day use area
Track grade: Challenging - long distance, with steep slopes and uneven bushwalking tracks. Work up a sweat and raise the heartbeat. Good fitness required.
You will find: We will venture into a small patch of endangered rainforest with a creek meandering through it. This rainforest gully is home to large blue quandong trees, bangalow palms and sandpaper figs. Please be aware of steep sections in this track and bike riders.When: Tuesday, 25 August 2025, 9:30am
Where: Kidd Street Conservation Area, Redland Bay
Parking: Kidd Street car park.
Meeting point: Northern end of Kidd Street next to Kidd Street Conservation Area
Track grade: Moderate, with some steep slopes and/or long distances. Average fitness required.
You will find: This reserve is a favourite due to its understory of wildflowers and grass tress. Less common species are often discovered in this location. -
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.
Community Plantings
Make a difference across Redlands Coast by joining one of our major planting events. These family-friendly events are open to everyone—just register when spots open, show up on the day, and get involved! Our friendly Bushcare Officers will be there to guide you every step of the way. No tools or experience needed.
As a result of community plantings, Redlands Coast now has 4.5 hectares of additional wildlife habitat for Council’s conservation corridors including:
- more than 8,000 koala food trees
- 71,200 native plants to support biodiversity
- over 1,000 glossy black cockatoo food and nesting trees planted across the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Koala community planting: Join our next planting and support our urban koala population creating additional wildlife habitat.
National Tree Day planting: A Planet Ark event giving you the opportunity to participate in Australia’s largest community planting day. Do your bit for the environment on Redlands Coast, join our next planting.
Glossy Black Cockatoo planting: The glossy black cockatoo is a secretive bird found on North Stradbroke Island, the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and occasionally on Redlands Coast mainland. Make a difference for this rare and threatened bird species by joining this community event to expand their habitat.
Visit our community plantings events page for more details.
Additional information
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Please note: We're not accepting new group applications at this time.
For your information only
Steps to starting a new Bushcare group:- Take time to review and understand the program objectives detailed below.
- Complete an application form, ensuring you meet the criteria below.
- 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 results of the 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 6 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.
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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 4 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.
For more information on the Community Bushcare Program please email bushcare@redland.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3824 8611.