Landcare paddlers complete epic 172 km journey down the river

The “Source to Sea” campaign was part of Landcare Week and aimed at drawing attention to the great work of the many landcare groups working along the river.

After starting at Warragamba Dam on Saturday 5, the team pulled up tired and weary on the beach of Pittwater on Wednesday 9 September.

"What a spectacular journey," said Alex Muir from the HNCMA. "We have had so much support along the way with hundreds of landcarers, local residents and passionate supporters of the river joining in the paddle or dropping in to visit us.

"We've travelled through spectacularly beautiful sections of the river as well as areas that are clearly struggling."

"In particular I want to thank members of the Hawkesbury Rainforest Network for their help organising the event and managing the support boat including Robin Woods, Karen Grey and Ross Dunstan," said Mr Muir.

In the Hawkesbury area, the paddlers visited the Yellomundi Aboriginal Landcare Group,

the Bass Fishing Club, Navua Community Group, Clarkes Island Landcare Group, Hawkesbury Harvest organisers, Cattai Catchment Landcare Group, Currency Creek Landcare, Tizzana Landcare at Ebenezer, Friends of the Colo & Colo Valley Landcare Group, Macdonald Valley Landcare Group and Mangrove Creek Bushcare Group.

"One of the groups the paddlers met up with was the Colo Valley Landcare Group, which now has over 100 members after forming in 2007. There's a huge sense of commitment and interest in landcare in that valley," said Mr Muir.

"The group explained Lantana has spread rapidly throughout the valley in recent years infesting roadsides, farmland and bushland reserves. The group have been devoting to beating this threat in the valley with concerted action over the next two years.

"There were so many stand-out groups we visited along the river who displayed great dedication and interest in protecting the river," said Mr Muir.