Friends of Dee Why Lagoon

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Dee Why, NSW
Friends of Dee Why Lagoon

Friends of Dee Why Lagoon are dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of the Lagoon waterbody and the surrounding Wildlife Refuge.

Formed in 1980, the Friends of Dee Why Lagoon are dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of the Lagoon waterbody and the surrounding Wildlife Refuge. As well as promoting the value of preserving the Lagoon in its natural state, the Friends work actively in bush re-generation via a weekly group (Thursday 7 - 9am) and the third Sunday of each month (9 - 12 noon). If you would like to becom

e a member in any capacity, please email us. Current issue(s)
Inadequate control of sediment flow to the Lagoon from building sites in the Dee Why Town Centre

02/04/2026

2.4.26 – Clear skies again thank goodness. Avon drain was our target today.
The section of the embankment near the Avon drain grid is looking fantastic with all the native plants thriving. Unfortunately, further along the embankment the Hydrocotyle is thriving! See photo of a small patch where the Hydrocotyle was removed. It took over an hour and lots of digging to clear that small section and trying not to interfere with the native plants. Our old enemy, Turkey Rhubarb (Acetosa Sagittata), has popped up again and it was hard work to get to the corms. Luckily these were small - they look like small beetroots – see photos

26/03/2026

26.3.26 – Clear skies today after being too wet last Thursday.
Everyone worked in Zone G today. A lot of us were on our knees removing the Ehrharta which, unfortunately, has been flourishing after all the rain! The other photo shows 3 of the guys hard at work.

23/03/2026

Rain stopped our session last Thursday 19 March, but good news is the 4 swan cygnets can now fly! They all flew to Narrabeen Lagoon and returned to DY lagoon. Our great photographer, Suse, says they have flown over the ocean and again returned to the lagoon.

05/03/2026

5.3.26 – Zones E and G were our targets again - the soil was easy to dig due to the rain.
3 of us worked in Zone E. I only found one piece of Pigeon Grass where I was working. Janine and Daphne worked on removing the leftovers from last week.
I found an area that had large holes dug in the ground. Wonder what animal did that – bandicoots perhaps? see photo.
Richard and Jeffery worked in Zone G and Janine identified another native in that area: Hop Goodenia. It’s a fast-growing native shrub with bright yellow dainty pansy or nasturtium-like flowers from spring to autumn which attract native pollinators. Found almost everywhere in Australia in the wild which makes it very adaptable for gardens. Very variable, from a low groundcover to an open shrub - see photo

26/02/2026

26.2.26 – Zones E and G were our targets. Overnight rain softened the soil which made removing w**ds easier. At the back section of Zone E there was a large patch of Pigeon Grass (Setaria sphacelata) which needed removing.
South African Pigeon Grass is regarded as an environmental w**d in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
It can form dense stands preventing natural plant regeneration and can transform infested area into open badlands. Also known as: African bristle grass, canary seed grass, common setaria, golden bristle grass, golden millet, golden setaria, golden Timothy, Kazungula setaria, pigeon grass, setaria, Rhodesian grass, African pigeon grass.
A w**d of roadsides, waterways (i.e. riparian areas), grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, parks, disturbed sites and waste areas in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Australia. Occasionally also found in warmer temperate and semi-arid regions.
The other members of the group tackled Zone G and are making good headway in this difficult zone
26.2.26 – Zones E and G were our targets. Overnight rain softened the soil which made removing w**ds easier. At the back section of Zone E there was a large patch of Pigeon Grass (Setaria sphacelata) which needed removing.
South African Pigeon Grass is regarded as an environmental w**d in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
It can form dense stands preventing natural plant regeneration and can transform infested area into open badlands. Also known as: African bristle grass, canary seed grass, common setaria, golden bristle grass, golden millet, golden setaria, golden Timothy, Kazungula setaria, pigeon grass, setaria, Rhodesian grass, African pigeon grass.
A w**d of roadsides, waterways (i.e. riparian areas), grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, parks, disturbed sites and waste areas in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Australia. Occasionally also found in warmer temperate and semi-arid regions.
The other members of the group tackled Zone G and are making good headway in this difficult zone

13/02/2026

12.2.26 – we commenced our bushcare session in Zone B which runs between the Hawkesbury and Avon drains. There was plenty of Morning Glory, Trad and a few Ochna to remove. On the positive side; there was the lovely native, Hibbertia scandens, to admire, although there was only one small yellow bloom at the moment –photo attached of this lovely native. After that strenuous work it was time to review each zone as to how they were fairing ‘w**d-wise’.

16/01/2026

Bushcare hasn't resumed yet, but will soon. This photo of the Avon drain shows how quickly the Hydrocotyle takes over and how the native grass, Microleana, is spreading.

18/12/2025

18.12.25 - a lovely morning working in Zone E & G. We got to work removing the patch of Pigeon Grass that was growing at the back end of Zone E - see photo. Richard and his crew did more hard digging in Zone G.
We then had our annual Xmas drinks at James Meehan Reserve and luckily found a bit of shade. Unfortunately no-one remembered to take a photo!!
Our group will commence again around mid January 2026.

11/12/2025

11.12.25 – Rain overnight so the ground was nice and moist which makes removing w**ds easier. Worked in Zone G where there was plenty of Ehrharta to remove – see photo of the cleared area.
More hard work done in this Zone removing a very large Asparagus fern by those with a bit of muscle – see photos. We are starting to see a big improvement along Zone Gs fenceline.
Did a quick check of Zone E and discovered a patch of Pigeon Grass (Setaria sphacelata) which comes from South Africa. Pigeon Grass is regarded as an environmental w**d in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
It can form dense stands preventing natural plant regeneration and can transform infested areas into open badlands. Also known as: African bristle grass, canary seed grass, common setaria, golden bristle grass, golden millet, golden setaria, golden Timothy, Kazungula setaria, pigeon grass, setaria, Rhodesian grass, African pigeon grass.
Its a w**d of roadsides, waterways (i.e. riparian areas), grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, parks, disturbed sites and waste areas in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Australia.

04/12/2025

4.12.25 – No rain for a while and for the first time the water in the Avon drain stopped about 25 metres passed the drain grid – see photo.
Richard worked again in Zone G with the help of Marie and the rest of us tackled Zone B. As mentioned before this zone was cleared of all ground cover to try and eliminate all the w**ds. Today we had to look carefully to find the Trad (Wandering Jew), Morning Glory and Asparagus Fern. See photo of Adrian examine a plant. One of the natives, Hibbertia Scandens, was in flower – it has a beautiful yellow flower – see photo.
We then moved to the Avon drain to remove more of the Hydrocotyle – see photo.

27/11/2025

27.11.25 – Clear skies today after the massive downpour yesterday – 1 large tree branch down near the Avon drain.
More work along the Avon drain removing the Hydrocotyle. Hoping for a photo soon which doesn’t show any hydrocotyle!
Did a rec of our Zone D looking for Trad (Wandering Jew) and only found one spot with a very small amount - yeah! However, closer to our Zone C (Avon drain area) was a different matter. We didn’t clear it all so will target it next Thursday.
A NZ Xmas Bell (ALSTROEMERIA psittacine) had popped up in Zone D. Its Common names are: Christmas lily, lily of the Incas, Inca lily, parrot alstroemeria, parrot flower, parrot lily, Peruvian lily, princess lily, red parrot beak.
Plants of this genus grow from a cluster of tubers. They send up fertile and sterile stems; the fertile stems of some species reaching 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in height.
We usually get a lot of it popping up in Zone B – see photo.
We had a visit from a Water Dragon which decided to soak up a bit of sun at the Avon drain – see photo.

Address

PO Box 563
Dee Why, NSW
2099

Website

http://www.fodyl.asn.au/

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