Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare is calling for community volunteers to join three coastal and dune restoration events held across the region on 4 April and 5 April 2026. These habitat restoration days aim to protect local ecosystems by managing invasive species, with residents invited to assist at Arrawarra Headland, Woolgoolga, and Corindi Beach.
The upcoming events are part of a long-standing environmental effort coordinated by Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare. As an incorporated not-for-profit organisation, the group oversees volunteers at around 40 sites throughout the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area. Supported by the Coffs Harbour City Council Environmental Levy, the program has received $990,000 since 2000 to assist more than 300 active volunteers in their work.
The restoration work will take place at three specific locations. The Fuller Street Dunecare event is set for 4 April from 8:30 am to 11:00 am at Arrawarra Headland. On 5 April, volunteers are needed at Woopi Headland in Woolgoolga from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, and at Corindi Beach from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Participants will be working across various areas, including the Coffs Coast Regional Park, council reserves, and other public land, which is home to eight threatened ecological communities, such as the endangered Zieria smithii shrub.
A primary focus of these efforts is controlling invasive species like bitou bush. This plant is considered one of Australia’s worst coastal weeds and displaces native vegetation on dunes. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service manages a specific plan to reduce the impact of this weed through methods such as physical removal, spraying, and biological control. Addressing such threats is critical, as weeds cost Australia an estimated $5 billion annually and threaten biodiversity across the nation.
Alongside these local volunteer efforts, researchers from the University of Wollongong have been contracted by the state government to investigate how coastal weeds are managed across Australia. The research, funded by the Commonwealth Government, aims to identify best practice partnerships and the needs of those working to protect the environment. Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare acknowledges the Gumbaynggirr people as the traditional custodians of the land where these restoration projects occur.
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