Urban Rivers. Friends largest ever grant

Part of the Federal government’s $200 million Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Friends of Lane Cove National Park’s grant of $366,900 is one of over 50 projects awarded funding through an open competitive grant application process.  

This three-and-a-half-year project will focus on the removal of invasive weeds and the restoration of ten areas within three EPBC listed Threatened Ecological Communities between the weir and Sugarloaf Point.

More information on the $200 million Urban Rivers and Catchments Program can be found at

 Urban Rivers and Catchments Program - DCCEEW

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Friends of Lane Cove National Park, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and City of Ryde

Transuban Community Grant

The Mars Creek bushcare group have once again appreciated the support of their neighbour, Transurban, receiving $8000 in the 2024 round of the Transurban Community Grant Program. As the winner of the People’s Choice Award, the initial grant of $7000 was topped off by an additional $1000.

The grant will fund work by a bush regeneration contractor, removing a dense plume of weeds emanating from a drainage line from the Macquarie University playing fields. With easier access, the Mars Creek volunteers will do follow up work, increasing the amount of healthy bushland on their site.

Water Testing equipment, a NSW election commitment.

As a result of a commitment made by City of Ryde Councilor Penny Pederson when standing for the seat of Lane Cove in the last state election, Friends of LCNP have received a $5,000 grant to purchase water testing equipment and set up a volunteer group to test on a number of creeks running into the Lane Cove River. The equipment and training were provided by Greater Sydney Landcare who coordinate the Stream Watch Program in the Sydney area.

If you are interested in assisting with this project please contact Friends of LCNP.

NSW Department of Primary Industries Fish Habitat Grant:

‘Connecting Communities’

This grant of $22000 is designed to connect a restored area mainly consisting of the two Endangered Ecological Communities, Sydney Salt Marsh and Swamp Oak Flood Plain Forest with an area that had previously been restored, in large part by National Tree Day plantings of around 5000 local native plants. The area focused on by this grant had been highly degraded by dredging during the 1960s which had resulted in a dense growth of weeds, particularly Giant Reed, Privet and Balloon Vine. Restoration has been a cooperative project with bush regeneration contractors, Friends of LCNP volunteers and other community groups including Ryde TAFE and Tzu Chi Buddhist Association.

This Project has been assisted by the NSW DPI Fisheries’ Recreational Fishing Trust’s “Habitat Action Grant Program”

 The “Habitat Action Grant Program” is financed from funds generated through collection of the recreational fishing licence fee in NSW and is managed by NSW DPI Fisheries on behalf of the Recreational Fishing Trust.

Commonwealth Community Environment Grants

In 1999 the Federal Government introduced the Commonwealth Community Environmental grants scheme. Friends of LCNP were successful in obtaining five grants with a total value of $50000. The grants were for Dalrymple Hay Nature reserve, helping to conserve one of the largest remaining areas of Blue Gum High Forest; Sugar Loaf Point for bank stabilisation and restoration of a degraded area; Bush regeneration in an area adjacent to the Great North Walk; and assistance for the Wallalong Weeders bushcare group. The fifth grant was for assistance in the preparation of the National Tree Day site in River Avenue, Chatswood West. Unfortunately because of Covid-19 the Tree Day was cancelled in 2020, however the local bushcare group managed some socially spaced planting and a group from Ryde TAFE also helped. The area is now being prepared for more planting in 2021.

Working with local business: A continuing success story

Brother International have been supporting the work of the Friends of LCNP for ten years. Each year they visit the park, from their nearby offices in Macquarie Park, work in the Tunk’s Hill area of the park and then make a donation to fund ongoing maintenance and restoration. In 2020, to celebrate ten years of the association between our organisations, Brother donated $10000. Over the years they have contributed more than $50000 to bush regeneration, in addition to the many hours of volunteer work.

This is a great example of a partnership between Friends of LCNP and a local business. Most successful regeneration projects need long term commitment.

See more photos.

Tzu Chi Buddhist Association

The Tzu Chi Buddhist Association has been a major partner with Friends of LCNP for over twelve years. They are particularly interested in planting trees. They regularly visit at least three times per year, and have worked on many sites under all weather conditions, helping Friends to meet grant requirements.

NSW Heritage Near Me Grant for the Restoration and Reuse of Jenkins Kitchen

Friends won a $100000 grant from NSW Heritage Near Me, to restore this 1854 building and transform it into an interpretation centre for the park..

The Kitchen was originally built as the ‘stand alone’ kitchen for the homestead, Millwood, that was built on this site by the pioneer Jenkins family around 1855. Unfortunately the house burnt down in the 1940s soon after the area became a park. The kitchen survived but had had hard use over the years as a store and office.

See more about the restoration and opening of Jenkins Kitchen as an interpretation centre.

You can find out more about the history of the area and some of the ‘characters’ associated with it in HISTORY.

Local Council Community Grants

Friends of LCNP have had regular support from two of our local councils.

Ku-ring-gai Council has an ongoing environmental grants program and have regularly supported both the Quarry Creek and the Hampshire Avenue groups.

City of Ryde Council also has a community grant scheme which most recently has supported the employment of a ‘Trainer’ on the Sugar Loaf Point bushcare site.