The South Coast Wetland Carers Network, Shellharbour City Council Bushcare and staff from the Oak Flats Bowling and Recreation Club spent five hours at the reserve last Wednesday, clearing weeds and replanting.

Adam Woods, Conservation Volunteers wetland programs officer, said Oaky Creek was significant as a tributary to Lake Illawarra.

"All of the other creeks in the area have been reclaimed as urban, so there's not that many creek lines that still exist like this around the lake," he said.

"We're starting to see some change - last time we were here there were a few water dragons starting to bask in the sun so that sort of thing is good. Of course, the plant community here is getting more ... developed, so that's great as well."

Mr Woods said the network conducted field work every Wednesday, but Clean Up Australia Day was especially significant.

"It's the only nationally recognised day where everybody does something.

"We do spend a lot of time here doing bush regeneration work, but sometimes simple things like rubbish can get overlooked, so it's great to just step back and clean it up a little bit that way."