Revaluing our 'taken-for-granted' assets

Australia's second and third european (convict) settlements of Rose Hill and Toongabbie, after Sydney (Farm) Cove, were also significant Aboriginal contact sites. These Government Farm lands became the Governors Domain at the heart of Parramatta's river catchment, upstream of the tidal areas. These streams braid together to become Australia's Heritage River. The early Governors were very fond of their Domain, as a river ran through it. So, may it flow clean and healthy again.

The Heritage River© project flows-on from the pioneering eco-design efforts of the WHaT Bushcare group (Winston Hills and Toongabbie Bushcare) to reestablish the physical and historic connections between Parramatta and Old Toongabbie. In response to the increasing pressures of 'development' and change, that often add their cumulative environmental toll community bushcare and ecological restoration aim to raise the standard of local natural resource management.

Sometimes efforts to protect from destruction the living remnants of rich and varied ecology have required a fight. Already, there has been much unesscessary loss of rare trees, grasslands and natural streams that were once part of the rich natural and cultureal heritage of Parramatta and Australia. However gaining a feeling and understanding of the local species and biodiversity is within reach and ready for all to enjoy in rediscovering the landscape and stories of our first Heritage River.

As an example of successful re-valuing the Governors' Boundary Woodland project (1997 -present) identified endangered Cumberland Plain vegetation along the northern edge to Parramatta in Council Reserves in need of conservation and sustainable management.

Maintenance approaches seemed to have been stressing the rare Iron-bark Grey Box and Forest Red Gum trees with dieback and damaging their ground-layer of herbs, lilies, grasses and sedges. Harsh mowing regimes of the native species is undergoing a major shift towards long term weeding, value adding and allowing for flowering, seeding and seasonal habitats. Some suprising discoveries and recorded plants have been found by this community effort.

From an astounding 40 plant species recorded initially when mown a further 42 have been identified 4 years later in the grassland regeneration project.

The original "Toongabbee Road"

Todays Junction and Gibbon Roads were originally the "Toongabbee Road", which followed the northern boundary of the Government Farm, the 'New Grounds', that Governor Phillip established in 1791. One of the Bushcare project promoted stormwater infiltration to reduce urban runoff and flooding, and to use native-grass in 'natur-strips' to improve infiltration so as to revive the nearby original trees.