The Royal National Park – the world’s second oldest national park behind Yellowstone – spans a large part of the Sutherland Shire.
The Shire’s natural environment with its abundance of waterways and attractive bushland is both a blessing and a concern for its residents.
Water quality of the many waterways in the Shire, and protection of its natural environment, is important which is why council operates one of Sydney’s largest volunteer Bushcare programs.
In the Sutherland Shire there are 200 bushcare sites being cared for by over 700 active volunteers. In 2009 these volunteers contributed more than 18,000 hours of labour believed to be valued at more than $500,000.
As well as bush regeneration and weed eradication, the volunteers are involved in native seed collection, pest species eradication and a cane toad eradication project.
Bushfires are also a very real threat and Sutherland Shire Council is mindful of this by building and maintaining 13 Rural Bush Fire Service stations including a fire control facility.