Community Planting Day Proposed for Baywood Chase Lake
- 11th August 2026
- Council & Advocacy
- 4 min read
Help us restore one of Suffolk Park's most important natural assets.
Over the past few months, Baywood Chase Lake (affectionately known as "Bird Lake" by local residents) has become one of the biggest environmental conversations in Suffolk Park. Our Mayor Sarah has taken up the cause and brought the issue before the Byron Greens.
Following overwhelming community support in SPCA's recent Bird Lake survey, the project continues to gather momentum, with growing collaboration between residents, environmental organisations, Council & local experts.
Now there's another exciting opportunity on the horizon, 36 years in the making!
At Byron Shire Council's meeting on 20th August 2026, Councillor Elia Hauge will present a Notice of Motion supporting practical actions to improve the health of Baywood Chase Lake while longer-term planning for the Tallow Creek catchment continues.
One of those actions is something many of us can be directly involved in. Thank you Elia & Sarah!
A Community Planting Day
The Notice of Motion proposes bringing together Byron Shire Council, SPCA's Environmental Working Group, local Landcare volunteers & the Byron Coast & ICOLL Centre to explore a community planting day around the tributaries that feed Bird Lake.
The goal is simple.
Planting appropriate native species upstream can help slow stormwater, improve habitat, filter pollutants before they reach the lake & strengthen the health of the wider catchment over time.
It's a practical project where the community can make a real difference. Our time has come.
More Than Just Planting Trees
This isn't simply about planting a few seedlings.
It's about creating a long-term partnership between the community, Council & environmental organisations.
Future opportunities could include:
By working together, we can help restore the lake while building a stronger connection between our community & the environment we all value.
Why The Lake Matters
Built in 1990, Baywood Chase Lake was designed to collect & treat stormwater before it enters Tallow Creek.
Over time, however, investigations have identified declining water quality, including elevated nutrients, extremely high levels of cyanobacteria causing blue-green algae, low dissolved oxygen, sediment build-up & habitat loss.
Importantly, Baywood Chase Lake drains directly into the Tallow Creek ICOLL which forms part of the Arakwal National Park & the Cape Byron Marine Park.
As we've recently highlighted:
Everything in the catchment is connected by water.
Improving the health of Bird Lake has benefits well beyond the lake itself.
What Council Will Consider
Councillor Hauge's Notice of Motion asks Council to investigate practical management options that could be implemented before the completion of the broader Tallow Creek Coastal Management Program.
It also proposes:
If adopted, it would provide an important step towards turning 14 years of technical reports into practical on-ground action.
Register Your Interest
At this stage, we're simply seeking expressions of interest.
If the project proceeds, we'd love to know who might like to become involved.
Whether you'd like to:
- Help at a community planting day
- Assist with ongoing landcare
- Support habitat restoration
- Help improve water quality
- Participate in citizen science or community education
- Share equipment, expertise or volunteer time
...we'd love to hear from you.
You don't need any experience, just a willingness to help.
Together We Can Make a Difference
For many years, Baywood Chase Lake has been known as a problem.
Together, we have an opportunity to help make it part of the solution.
By working alongside Council, environmental organisations & local volunteers, we can help restore habitat, improve water quality & create a healthier future for one of Suffolk Park's most important natural assets.
Register your interest below & help us demonstrate that our community is ready to be part of the solution.
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