A heart-warming connection to a picturesque lake is helping protect the water wonder and create many friendships and memories.
Beautiful Lake Weyba, north of Peregian Springs and just west of Marcus and Sunrise Beach, spans 9.6 square kilometres.
It is home to diverse wildlife and many endangered species, as well as being an important fish breeding habitat.
On the last Friday of each month between 8am and 10am, you will find a group of passionate BushCare volunteers working together to improve the surrounding bushland for the lake’s overall health.
Not everyone is from the area, but all share a love of nature and are committed to making a difference.
The Lake Weyba Bushcare Group welcomes you to join them at a working bee whenever suits you. Activities always conclude with a delicious morning tea and a chat.
Or you could join a group in your local area. There are more than 30 that hold regular working bees across the Sunshine Coast.
By removing weeds and planting sedges, grasses, bushes, shrubs and trees, the Weyba crew helps to stabilise the bank. The plants prevent erosion and filter the stormwater run-off flowing into the lake.
Not only do the volunteers get joy from helping the environment near them – they also enjoy the other benefits being part of the group brings, such as building friendships, being active and improving fitness.
One of those volunteers is Jane Powell, who leads the BushCare group.
“We built our home on the western shore of Lake Weyba, 32 years ago,” Jane said.
“Our children grew up here, playing in the lake and on the shore. So many memories are woven here. Seeing the lake daily in all its moods is a touchstone for us.”
The group’s work is really important as Lake Weyba’s shores are made up of four different ecosystems that provide essential habitat for many threatened and endangered species, including the hop bush, red muttonwood, wallum froglet, wallum rocket frog, wallum sedge frog, glossy-black cockatoo, koala and greater glider, to name a few.
It also protects the endangered Mt Emu she-oak (Allocasuarina emuina), swamp stringybark (Eucalyptus conglomerata), swamp orchid (Phaius australis) and the wallum leek orchid (Prasophyllum wallum).
Formed in 2012 and forged through the passion of Jane and other local residents, the Lake Weyba Bushcare group strives for excellent bushland condition for Lake Weyba and the adjacent Noosa River.
During the group’s working bees, they hand remove environmental weeds and plant local natives in areas where it’s needed.
In the past, they have revegetated grassed areas to create a wider vegetation buffer for the Lake.
Jane said Bushcarers were a friendly, like-minded group.
“I have learnt so much about weeds and local flora,” Jane said.
“I’ve got to know neighbours I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and I love showing visitors the results of our work – the thriving newly planted areas, the weed-free areas.
“It feels as if we are making a difference, however small.”
Jane said she gets a sense of contribution from volunteering.
“It is a way of nurturing this place which has nurtured me and my family.”
Sunshine Coast Division 9 Councillor and Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said that through programs like BushCare, Council was working with the community to nurture and enhance our environment and quality of life.
“Thank-you and congratulations to the Lake Weyba BushCare group for all they have achieved,” Cr Suarez said.
“They are protecting vital habitats and fostering a sense of community and stewardship.”
Search “bushcare” on Council’s website at sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au to learn more.
