Friends of Bungala River – 2026 YDRA Annual Report
A Report for the YDRA AGM.
The Friends of Bungala River ran up 842 volunteer hours for 2025. These hours were spent weeding, mulching, planting, watering and installing wire plant guards to protect the growing plants from being grazed by kangaroos.
We found that using the mulch this year was crucial for the survival of our plants due to the severe drought conditions towards the end of 2025. We have the use of a trailer set up with an IBC, electric pump and long hoses for watering.
There are 4 sites being revegetated in the Park, the newest is at the end of the foot bridge where we planted 6 different types of native grasses and have already added another 100 grasses this year.
The area was originally planted 15 years ago when the Yankalilla Council acquired the land and as these trees are now well developed, we are mainly planting bushes, low and high, ground covers and grasses.
In the Bungala River Estuary site, a concentrated effort was started in 2025 to remove the feral Olives and large Briar bushes and replace with local indigenous plants and this work will continue in 2026.
Working Bees for the Estuary are held every Friday morning, organised by Wayne Gibbs.
In 2025, we adopted the method of creating pods, in which there is a concentration of plants in a small fenced-off area. The advantage of the pods is that there are no plant guards needed, and weeding, mulching and watering are easier in the smaller area, where the plants can also grow naturally.
The Friends aim to keep developing and improving the Park for the community to enjoy.
We gave talks and tours to the local school’s year 3/4 classes in 2025 and hope to continue this association with the school this year and also as a part of the 2025 Nature Festival we held a Walk Through session event in the Park.
Our Working Bees in the Park are held monthly on the 3rd Friday of each month and all are very welcome. Contact us at the Fleurieu Environment Centre or email at fobr@flec.com.au
Cheers,
Lyndall Booth
