The Big Bourke Burr Pull: Healthy Rivers and Mind
During Landcare Week in August 2025 Western Landcare NSW initiated The Big Bourke Burr Pull, a community event encouraging people to 'pull a little or a lot' and do what they can for the river.
Capacity building - LEP23-021-38
The issue
The Baarka-Darling River is a significant environmental and community asset running through Bourke; however, sections of the riverbank can be difficult to access because of dense Noogoora burr infestations. The plant's hooked, thorny burrs attach easily to clothing, shoes, animals, cotton and wool. It spreads readily along waterways and across floodplains and can form dense thickets that restrict acess and compete with other native vegetation.
The solution
The Big Bourke Burr Pull provided a simple and inclusive way for community members to contribute according to their ability. Participants manually removed Noogoora burr, collected rubbish and helped beautify selected riverbank locations. The message, “Pull a little or a lot—do what you can for our riverbank,” removed pressure and encouraged broad participation. Mowing and hand-weeding were used as practical site-management approaches, creating an opportunity to observe how these methods may influence future burr growth and spread.
Our partners, NetWaste provided PPE for the event, and Bourke Shire Council offered the mowing, and a free BBQ for all.
The impact
The event demonstrated strong community spirit and increased local awareness of Noogoora burr and riverbank care. Removing weeds and rubbish made the selected areas cleaner, more welcoming and easier for people to access, rest and view the river. The activity also created a starting point for longer-term site observation. Revisiting the treated areas will help determine whether repeated hand-weeding and mowing can reduce the density and spread of Noogoora burr over time.
In June 2026, a small fire burned the areas that was not weeded, making it an ideal site to watch and review over time, the impact of weeding, mowing and fire in the reduction of Noogoora Burr.
A little hard work pays off for the river, and no more burrs in your socks!
Future activities could include before-and-after photographs, mapped treatment areas and seasonal monitoring of plant numbers. Community members could revisit the site before flowering and seed production to remove new plants and reduce further spread. Information about safely identifying, handling and disposing of Noogoora burr could also be included in future events. Continued collaboration with land managers, community organisations and local residents would support a coordinated and sustained approach to caring for Bourke’s riverbank.