Lawry Plunkett is attractive, a great asset to his community, and right beside Sydney’s most popular harbourside beach. But strangely, very few people know he’s even there. Lawry Plunkett is actually a four hectare reserve tucked away in a small gully, largely forgotten but less than 100 metres from the busy promenade and bustling cafes of Balmoral Beach.
Lawry Plunkett’s Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest supports over 110 species of native flora and 40 species of native fauna. It also contains an impressive cutting for the former Balmoral tram service which was decommissioned in 1958, and an Aboriginal shell midden. Unfortunately, like much of Sydney’s remnant bushland, the reserve is under pressure.
A history of inappropriately placed stormwater outlets, uncontrolled surface runoff, and the deterioration of the tramway’s original drainage system has contributed to the network of unnatural watercourses within the reserve. Stormwater pollutants have also reduced habitat value of the reserve and may affect water quality at Balmoral Beach. Bush regenerators have historically steered well clear of the area, and intrepid bushland officers have pondered the weeds and rubbish that existed where stormwater pipes met bushland in Lawry Plunkett. Lifeless remnants of Sydney Red Gums (Angophora costata) also provide an indelible reminder of the impacts of stormwater as flows make their way towards the few significant, but eroded creeks within the reserve.
With the support of a $303,412 grant from the NSW Stormwater Trust, Mosman Council is now conducting a project worth nearly $850,000 to restore and rehabilitate Lawry Plunkett. It is now among the largest integrated environmental project that Mosman Council has undertaken, and is combining stormwater, creek, bushland, education and heritage interpretation works. Single creek lines are being formed to confine stormwater flows from the pipe ends to join existing watercourses. This will help minimise the area of bushland affected by stormwater flows.
The new creeks are being protected and stabilised with sandstone boulders and native vegetation, incorporating series of gentle drop structures (waterfalls) to prevent erosion, and creek meander, and assist in the removal of sediment. Three Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQIDs) will be installed upstream of the new creeks to filter pollutants from stormwater.
A low key walking track will be constructed through the lower part of the reserve with interpretive signage to highlight areas of natural and cultural heritage. An extensive community education project is also being conducted. Work is underway and is due to be complete by August 2003.
