Friends Of Mulwaree Ponds Landcare
New Goulburn Landcare group
Capacity building - LEP23-014-LLC04-4
The issue
The Mulwaree River riparian area, located at the end of Cole Street in Goulburn, has a 20-year history of tree planting and maintenance to care for and nurture it. Over this long period, Des Doyle, a Local Landcarer, has been involved in leading these projects, involving school, community and disability groups to participate and contribute.
In more recent times, weed species such as blackberry, privet, hemlock, ivy & cotoneaster had taken over much of the mid story and was choking out native species. The area again received attention earlier in 2025 when the Goulburn Mulwaree Council received funding through NSW Water to treat the weeds and carry out follow-up plantings.
The solution
Local community members recognised the need to again care for this public section of land along the Mulwaree River in Goulburn. They saw the opportunity and jumped on board with the council's weed removal and tree planting project in late Autumn 2025. This small group of residents and Goulburn Mulwaree Landcare members, along with the support of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, now meet monthly to manage the site and have been doing so since June 2025.
The impact
- Monthly maintenance includes weed removal, rubbish removal, cleaning, sweeping, re-staking and guarding plants
- Community built around caring for the environment.
- The group meets at the end of each working bee for a cuppa, sharing food, tea & coffee, and meaningful conversations in the backyard of a local resident
- The group receives frequent positive feedback from locals and tourists walking along the adjacent walking track.
Key facts
- Area = 1.4 ha
- Over 300 trees have been planted and maintained since May 2025
- Key weeds managed - Blackberry, Ivy, privet, hemlock & cotoneaster