Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)—Over the last 14 years, Bunya Park in Warners Bay has been completely transformed. Comparing aerial shots of the park, taken in 2007 and 2021, shows an astounding change.

The fruits of thousands of hours of labour by Lake Macquarie Landcare volunteers, the regeneration of Buna Park is proof of successful local efforts to remove weeds and revegetate key areas with native species.

Lizards, snakes, bandicoots, possums, tawny frogmouths, frogs and other wildlife have returned to the area as a result. Bare patches of ground have been transformed into a flora and fauna haven, all because of the hard work and commitment of local volunteers who have planted 7000 native seedlings over more than a decade.

In 2021 alone, and despite COVID forcing a significant reduction in on-site work, Landcare volunteers in Lake Mac contributed more than 9500 hours of work. They planted more than 5000 native specimens, propagated more than 55,000 seedlings and cleared invasive weeds from more than eight hectares of land. A big thank you to Lake Mac Landcare volunteers, and to the amazing Warners Bay Landcare in particular.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!