Bronte Gully Ecological Restoration Update

Bronte Gully is a shady oasis and the largest non-grassy greenspace in our highly urbanised LGA, with a waterfall to the west and creek running through the base of the gully.

Bronte Park was identified as one of Waverley’s best fauna habitats in our 2010 Biodiversity Survey. Native wildlife that calls this urban sanctuary home include:

  • Brushtail Possums
  • Large and Medium-Sized Birds, such as Wattlebirds, Rainbow Lorikeets, Currawongs, Tawny Frogmouth and Noisy Miners
  • Reptiles, such as Eastern Water Skink and Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard
  • A wide range of Invertebrates including bees, at least six species of butterflies as well as beetles, dragonflies and damselflies
  • Microbats such as Gould’s Wattled Bat, and the Grey-headed flying fox which is a threatened species under both state and commonwealth legislation.

As early as 1993, a Survey and Rehabilitation Strategy was prepared for the restoration of the Gully.

Bronte Gully has been infested with weeds for decades, including large areas of Giant Reed and areas with severely entrenched exotic aerial vines and Coral Trees. The treatment of these weeds is time-consuming and costly, particularly since Council banned the use of glyphosate. Other challenges include the continuing vandalism of terracing and plants in the gully by persons unknown (the northern side of the gully is popular with people building bmx tracks and cubby houses). The Bronte Gully Ecological Restoration Action Plans (ERAP) seeks to address this. Broadly, the ERAP guides the restoration and the transformation of the Gully from weed infested to a biodiverse native haven for plants and animals.

The ERAP has divided the Gully into zones, to ensure the staged restoration of the gully. Staged restoration is critical for retaining existing habitat values, avoiding erosion, and time works to align with Council budget cycles. Each zone, especially on the northern side of the gully, needs significant weed control and erosion control works prior to planting. The weed control and erosion control work in each zone may take many years, but this is essential to avoid maintenance cost blowouts post-planting.