Weed fighter helps environment

Jamberoo resident Roger Lyle is proof that it’s not always easy being green, but the environment will thank you for it in the long-run.

As a member of Jamberoo Futurecare, Roger has a long-standing interest in sustainability and caring for the environment.

Mr Lyle has lived on his Jamberoo property for more than 15 years and, after witnessing the overwhelming presence of weeds, he devised a project to increase bio-diversity in the area.

“I realised the importance of our natural flora, but it was being covered by weeds like lantana,” he said.

“I decided to do something about it so I started to clear the lantana and it just became a long-term project.”

With a high animal presence on his property, Mr Lyle found that most natural plants were trampled or chewed, so he had an electric fence built to separate the animals and allow the plants to grow.

“It’s a process of natural regeneration rather than constantly re-planting – it allows the plants to grow naturally.”

His work in bio-diversity was of interest to Kiama Council and their Sustainable Kiama program with Roger becoming a community champion for sustainability.

“I see weeds as a major bio-diversity issue in the municipality so I want to try and make people realise it and take responsibility.

“It really comes down to the landowners as pretty much all of Jamberoo Valley is privately owned.”

Mr Lyle said that people have to want to make the choice to live sustainably and gain the skills to exercise bio-diversity in their own homes.

“You can do it but you do have to be prepared to do it over a long period of time.

“There are no silver bullets or fancy sprays, you just have to keep at it and take a bite sized approach – don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.”

The Lyles also participate in WOOFER, a program devised to match international willing workers with organic farmers to learn about the environment.

“It’s a great program – we get the extra horsepower and help around the property and for the visitors it’s a form of cultural exchange.”

Council’s Sustainability Project Officer, Byron Robinson, believes that the Sustainable Kiama project will allow residents to get a hands-on approach to environmental awareness.

“It sounds like a buzz word but sustainability is a major issue and we are trying to increase its presence in the public eye. We want people to live more sustainably and one of the best ways to do that is to put them in contact with people in the community who do live in an environmentally-friendly way.”