On Monday 6th November, 14 corporate volunteers from Spirax Sarco joined us for a conservation working bee at Carnarvon Golf Club.
This was Spirax Sarco’s third visit in 2023 to participate in conservation works with Creating Canopies on the course. We thank them for their continued dedication to this site.
Thank you Spirax Sarco for your continued conservation efforts at Carnarvon Golf Club. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Thank you Spirax Sarco for your continued conservation efforts at Carnarvon Golf Club. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Thank you Spirax Sarco for your continued conservation efforts at Carnarvon Golf Club. Photo: Matt Keighery.
During this conservation working bee the group participated in a range of activities, including the planting of 200 trees and shrubs to help cool down Sydney in the years to come.
Matt Keighery of the Creating Canopies team and Bev Debrincat, the Chair of Greater Sydney Landcare, led the day.
Collaborating for Conservation
Spirax Sarco joined Creating Canopies three times in 2023 at Carnarvon Golf Course. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Spirax Sarco joined Creating Canopies three times in 2023 at Carnarvon Golf Course. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Spirax Sarco joined Creating Canopies three times in 2023 at Carnarvon Golf Course. Photo: Matt Keighery.
Surrounded by the suburb of Lidcombe, Carnarvon Golf Course hosts so many golfers that the course must close for a number of days each year so that the Green Keeping Staff are able to safely undertake their maintenance.
The golf course is at the bottom of the drainage line and still has a local creek, Haslams Creek, flowing through it. This is an important element in the catchment that feeds into Duck River and the Parramatta River. And that makes it a perfect place for Landcare in Sydney.
Over the past few years, Greater Sydney Landcare has been planting and maintaining areas that the golf course has set aside for habitat including its two dams. It is assisted and supported in these efforts by Spirax Sarco, a large engineering company who has been providing staff and funds for important restoration work such as habitat rafts on the dams.
As well, the golf course volunteers provide their skills including with machinery so that each time the course closes we are able to get cracking.
Chomping Down on Alligator Weed
Rubbish and Alligator Weed were removed from two dams on the day. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Rubbish and Alligator Weed were removed from two dams on the day. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Rubbish and Alligator Weed were removed from two dams on the day. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Rubbish and Alligator Weed were removed from two dams on the day. Photo: Matt Keighery.
Our November visit was no exception. We had Spirax Sarco and community volunteers placing logs and planting for habitat alongside the dam and weeding areas that we have planted in the past.
We also tackled some of the Alligator Weed that threatens the water courses. Alligator Weed is a Weed of National Significance and the land manager, the golf course, has to be managing the weed. The weed can’t be taken off site, so it needs to be managed on the course.
Alligator Weed is a highly invasive plant and considered one of the world’s worst weeds. It poses a significant threat to waterways and floodplains due to its robust growth and the difficulty of controlling it.
The volunteers also hopped into kayaks to remove rubbish and some of the Alligator Weed in one of the dams and put it on plastic sheets to let it dry out, so that it could be safely managed.
Teaming Up For Success
Birding NSW also come along each time the course closes to record the ever changing bird species that use the course.
These Landcare days, happening regularly as they do, provide the continuity to tackle a catchment wide issue of stormwater management and at the same time extend and manage habitat which is significant for the wider Sydney community.
Thanks to Spirax Sarco for another great turn out of their people, the community and the golf course volunteers who all helped to make this a great Landcare day.
What Did the Volunteers Think of the Day?
Of the volunteers that gave feedback on the day, 100% rated the day as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, and ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the day was well organised.
The volunteers expressed enthusiasm and emphasised the event’s importance in addressing climate change and engaging the local community.
They found the environmental information shared about the area insightful and enjoyed the break from the work routine while contributing to a meaningful cause.
Favourite Moments From the Day
When asked, ‘What was your favourite part of the event?’ one volunteer expressed appreciation for the “opportunity to be outside instead of at a desk and to liaise with work colleagues out of the office while participating in something worthwhile for the environment.”
Another volunteer enjoyed “planting the trees and wishing them luck on their new journey” as well as “the ability to choose where you want to help.”
Learnings & Takeaways
When asked ‘What did you learn about the natural environment?’ one volunteer highlighted: “the importance of assistance to help maintain the natural environment in areas that have been modified by humans.”
Another mentioned, “simply putting mulch and logs around lakes encourages local flora and fauna.”
Thank you Spirax Sarco for your continued conservation efforts at Carnarvon Golf Club. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Thank you Spirax Sarco employees for a fantastic conservation working bee. Photo: Matt Keighery. 
Spirax Sarco joined Creating Canopies three times in 2023 at Carnarvon Golf Course. Photo: Matt Keighery.
Volunteer for Bushcare in the Cumberland Area
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Cumberland Area, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Get Involved in Creating Canopies
If you’d like to find out how to get free trees planted on your land, visit our Register Your Site for Trees page.
Come along and plant trees with Creating Canopies. Find out what events we have coming up on Greater Sydney Landcare’s Eventbrite page.
About Creating Canopies
Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare are planting 200,000 trees as part of the Greening our City program to help reduce urban heat in Greater Sydney. Proudly funded by the NSW Government.
