From left: Environmental Engineer Alexa McAuley from Civille, NPWS Bushcare volunteers Maree Giddens, Tracie McMahon and Rob Herbert, NPWS Field Officers Elissa McLaren, Eamonn Cunningham and Becky Chatfield, and Senior Field Officer Monica Nugent.
Story and photos by Hamish Dunlop
The National Parks and Wildlife Service in the Blue Mountains built a raingarden with the help of NPWS Bushcare volunteers. The garden filters water from the roof of the new shelter in Blackheath and slows runoff, limiting erosion. It reduces nutrient levels, disadvantaging introduced weeds. It’s a conversation starter too: what is a raingarden, and how does it work?
Key Points:
Raingardens are effective tools for stormwater management. They filter pollutants, reduce erosion, and give a leg-up to native plants over weeds by reducing nitrogen and other nutrients that weeds prefer.
Individuals and communities can build raingardens; they are relatively easy to construct and can be made from various materials.
Building raingardens can bring communities together and can be used as an educational tool.
Monica Nugent is the Senior Field Officer, Bush Regeneration at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Upper Mountains Area. She oversees bush regeneration activities and manages local NPWS volunteer programs. She tells me the new shelter, built next to the Heritage Centre in Blackheath, is primarily used for the Discovery Ranger Program. It’s a space for groups such as volunteers to use too.
“I thought the shelter would be a great place to showcase a raingarden,” Monica says. We had some Commonwealth funding available which enabled us to engage environmental engineer Alexa McCauley from Civille. Raingardens are an effective way to help manage stormwater at a local level,” she says.
“They slow water down and filter out excess nutrients such as nitrogen and other pollutants that collect on rooves. Nutrient enriched conditions favour introduced species, enabling them to thrive while discouraging native plants. If we can slow down the amount of stormwater run-off, we can reduce weed spread into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area,” she explains. “This helps natives to either hold strong or recover more successfully while also reducing sedimentation and erosion of our waterways.”
Raingarden Construction Overview
Watch our 6-minute overview of raingarden construction:
How does a raingarden work?
Alexa is mostly involved with large stormwater management projects, but she thinks that building raingardens is something communities can do to support the environment. “Raingardens are made from graded sediments, with local natives planted on top. Water off the roof or other stormwater, is fed into the top of the garden. The plants and fine sand filter out a substantial amount of nutrients and pollutants. At the bottom of the garden, the filtered water enters a perforated pipe covered by gravel and flows out.”
A side view of the Blackheath shelter raingarden. (Courtesy of Civille)
“You can build small ones out of planter boxes – anything really – or make a pit in the ground,” Alexa says. Generally, you want a container that is waterproof, but you can build ones in the ground. In that case, the filtered water can naturally soak down.
For any kind of raingarden, piping can be purchased from any of the major hardware stores, Alexa continues: “A few hand tools are required, mostly to work with the piping. In the Blue Mountains, the gravel and sand needed can be purchased by the bag, or from landscape and building suppliers.”
Building a raingarden
Monica, Becky and Elissa inspecting the sealed bed. The box is 0.8m deep, 0.8m wide and 2.4m long. Alexa says you don’t need to buy everything new. You could use an old, raised garden bed and seal it with silicone, or use some pool lining to make something else waterproof.
The three kinds of substrates: 10mm gravel (500kg), coarse sand (500kg) and fine sand (1000kg). There were also some bags of 20mm river stones for the top. Delivered, this cost $325 dollars.
Monica and Elissa measuring twice before cutting once! The hacksaw is visible next to Elissa’s knee. The green tarp is down to catch the little bits of plastic that are created during the cutting. This stops them getting into the environment.
Many hands solving the pipe puzzle. The joined pipes that funnel water into the garden are being positioned, to establish where to cut the downpipe. The simple pipe bracket used to fix the joined pipe sections onto the corner post of the shelter is not shown.
Starting to fill the bed with the gravel. You can see the perforated pipe running from the bottom of the vertical overflow pipe with its grate, to the outlet at the far end. If too much water comes off the roof and can’t be absorbed, it will run into the overflow pipe and not spill over the sides of the garden. This makes sure the flow of water can always be predicted.
Look at our handywork! Tracie, Alexa and Eamonn at the final sand levelling stage. Note the overflow pipe grate sitting a few centimetres above the top of the sand.
Tracie, Keith, Monica, Becky and Alexa talking about the plants. A thin layer of river stones has been added on top of the sand and the plants are being positioned. Monica says they should be local to the area. Ones that can withstand both wet and dry conditions are best. She says many of our local natives are suitable as they are naturally adapted to well drained, sandy soils. Sedges, grasses, small shrubs and even some ferns are appropriate.
The plants chosen for this bed include: Fishbone Water Fern (Blechnum nudum), Wallaby grass (Rytidosperma), Poa sieberiana, Branching Grass-flag (Libertiapaniculata), Ivy-leaved Violet (Violaceae hederacea), Flax lily (Dianella ), Laurel-leaf Grevillea (Grevillea laurifolia); Mint Bush (Prostanthera rotundifolia), River rose (Bauera rubiodes).
The shelter: ‘Come Friends, Listen’
One of Monica’s motivations for the rain garden workshop was to provide an upskilling opportunity for the volunteers and NPWS staff. It was also a way of recognising volunteers with a nice lunch, for the amazing work they do. “It’s great to be able to bring volunteers and NPWS staff together,” Monica says, “especially staff that don’t necessarily have much contact with volunteers. It strengthens relationships with the community and provides an educational opportunity.”
Becky Chatfield holding the name sign for the shelter
Becky Chatfield is a proud Kamillaroi woman and one of the NPWS staff at the raingarden workshop. She says the shelter where the raingarden has been built is a place where school children and others can come to learn about the environment and culture. “The shelter is on Dharug and Gundungurra Country,” she says. “It’s really fitting that it has an Aboriginal name, one that can inspire everyone.”
“Guwi midigaa ngarra means, ‘Come friends, listen’,” Becky explains. “It’s wonderful to be able to welcome people to listen to stories and learn.” Darug/Darkinjung woman Cindy Laws at NPWS proposed the name and Dharug women Aunty Corina Norman provided advice on the spelling and pronunciation. Becky and Field Officer Elissa McLaren created the sign in the NPWS work shed.
Volunteers’ Voices
Tracie McMahon was one of the NPWS Bushcare volunteers at the workshop. Rather than thinking about volunteering as a transactional exchange, she thinks about it as relational practice. “I started volunteering after the 2019/20 fires. While I was healing on Country, Country was healing alongside me. You’re out there with amazing people too, who know so much. You get to learn from them and spend time together. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
The power of collective and sustained action is something Tracie sees time and time again. “I find pulling out weeds meditative,” she says. In some ways, it seems like a small thing to be doing in a vast wilderness. But after a few hours, you’ve made a substantial pile of weed seedlings. What you also know is that you’ve stopped those thumb-sized plants growing to metres in height and spreading seeds.
Maree is another volunteer at the workshop. While we’re talking, everyone is busy around us. There’s an overflow of goodwill and a healthy dose of laughter. Like Tracie, she values the people interactions – she’s made some great friends.
There’s something else though, which comes to the surface. It’s about value, she concludes, but not specially for her, or us as a species. “I just love seeing the bush healthy,” she reflects. “Watching and learning is part of it, and we are part of it, but not in a way where it belongs to us.”
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Join Andy Mann, a 23 year old Lawson local, for their Eating for Earth session 🌏
Eating for Earth is a judgement-free plant-based educational workshop that all types of eaters are encouraged to attend. There will be a presentation about the environmental impact of diets, a discussion section, and best of all, food! The food will be fully plant-based.
Andy wants to help inform our passionate community about how we can better reduce dietary environmental impact.
The session will run from 11AM - 12PM on Saturday 4th July.
Other sessions include: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains Climate - Fashion Upcycling - Tai Chi and Qigong - Bushcare on the Planetary Health site - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
To register your place, visit our website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
We’re excited to announce the second Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place in Katoomba in October 2026.
This annual event will bring together growers, thinkers, makers, and community members to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share, and sustain food in a changing world.
Across the weekend, we’ll be exploring themes including: - Healthy soil and regenerative systems - Food and human health - Plant-based food futures - Home and community food resilience - Water-sensitive and climate-adapted growing - Indigenous food knowledge and systems - School food systems - Australia’s food procurement - Global food security challenges Expect a dynamic program of inspiring speakers, practical workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to leave you informed, empowered, and connected.
Key information Date: Weekend of 10th October 2026 Location: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba, NSW We’ll be announcing speakers and program details soon.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program, host workshops, run a stall or partner with us.
Do you struggle making the most of your veggie garden all year round?
Join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture on Saturday 4th July for her Permaculture Workshop: Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountains seasons, rather than battling against them.
During the two-hour session, you`ll cover crop selection for different seasons, what to grow from seeds vs seedlings, frost and wind protection, and nurturing your soil with a seasonal cycle.
Register for this and other sessions as part of our Skill Share Saturdays program via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
From Saturday 4 July, we are opening up the Planetary Health Centre for our monthly Skill Share Saturdays program: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Throughout each day, you can expect to find a variety of sessions focused on restoring the health of the planet, in terms of the environment, community and economy.
Sessions at the first event include:
- What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Plant-based eating - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion Upcycling and clothing reuse workshop
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Registrations essential.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program - please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested!...
🍃Volunteer weekly at the Planetary Health Centre 🍃
From next week, Tuesday 28th April, come and join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture from 10am - 12pm, to help with the management of the Planetary Health veggie gardens, where any surplus produce can be shared!
The gardening session will be followed by a complimentary tea or coffee in the Planetary Health cafe.
📆Day: Every Tuesday 🕙Time: 10AM - 12PM
📍Where: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia Street Katoomba (follow the pathways at each side of the building, round to the terrace and gardens).
What shall I bring? All you need to bring is water, gardening gloves and a hat.
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the first year Medical students from @notredamesyd for their Rural and Indigenous Immersion trip across Katoomba and Lithgow. Across two days, 150 students learnt about the link between human health and a healthy environment, the work of the @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth Initiative and the @bluemountainscitycouncil to create climate resilient communities, and got to explore our site using heat mapping tools....
Join Rotarians for Planetary Health on International Women`s Day, from 2.30-4pm Sun 8 March, for the opening of a portrait display to celebrate local women who have made a meaningful impact on protecting animals and nature. The photographs by Sue Lightfoot and others are part of a long-term initiative to build a living, community-driven database of women working to protect animals and the natural world.
The display will be open until 1 April, Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am–3.30pm at the Junction 142 Village markets (church space). As the project develops, community members will be invited to nominate women whose work deserves recognition.
The launch follows the Uniting Church and Plant Inspired`s monthly community luncheon from 12-2pm, which this month features the Older Women`s Network Blue Mountains. For more information contact 0434 691 496 (Teya)
In a world being threatened by war, greed, cruelty and selfishness, the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend will close with a gathering of people who have faith that kindness, generosity, love, creativity and community, and the healing of our land, are a better way forward. We`re thrilled that harpist Dawn Egan will be performing at this inspiring event in the Planetary Health exhibition space. Afternoon tea will be provided. Register to attend here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Had lunch yet? Head over to the Planetary Health Centre for these delicious offerings from @8thingskatoomba today (Sat 28 Feb): South Indian dosa, Korean bao, NY Cheese burger, Bali nasi, Mullum tofu fries, shoestring fires & red bean mochi!
Don`t miss hearing Andrew Skeoch at 2pm today at the Planetary Health Centre! He`s an acoustic ecologist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature` and uses technology to help identify the different `conversations` happening in the world around us. His presentations are a revelation! Reserve your spot here (link in profile under Planetary Health Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Experience the joy and sense of purpose that connecting to community, nature, and your own creativity can provide this weekend at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend. There will be delicious food and coffee, music, art, workshops, nature walks, talks, an Interfaith Gathering and the following stalls:
Food vendor: @8thingskatoomba Zensational Coffee Cart @blue_mts_conservation_society Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Blue Mountains Women`s Health & Resource Centre (BMWHRC) Greater Blue Mountains Rotary @permaculturematters Acoustic Ecologist and author of ‘Deep Listening to Nature’, Andrew Skeoch @lacebrookstitchery Sustainable death care BMCC Sustainability and Waste team BMCC Bushcare team View the full program and reserve your spot for a range of activities here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Are humans the only species capable of grief? While grief is often treated as a uniquely human experience, any animal capable of forming attachments also has the capacity to grieve. Join Teya Brooks Pribac, author of ‘Animal Grief and Spirituality: Cross-Species Perspectives’ at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Sat 28 Feb, as she reviews key theoretical foundations of cross-species grief. The flip side of deeply caring for animals is the grief we also feel when we lose them - beloved companion animals, wildlife, or animals harmed by human activity. By validating both nonhuman animal grief and human grief for other animals, this presentation invites a more compassionate and inclusive understanding of loss. Reserve your spot here (link in profile for Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Hamish Dunlop is a writer, visual artist and environmentalist. During his career he has worked in communications, as an academic at UNSW and ACU and more recently in the conservation space. He is currently completing a Diploma in Conservation and Ecosystems Management. He lives on the bush in Medlow Bath and is a passionate bush walker, gardener and cold-water enthusiast.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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