Book helps Queanbeyan understand the bush

Jason Tozer

Dr Böhm is helping the people of Queanbeyan get closer to the bush

24 October 2006: The University of Canberra has continued to help Queanbeyan residents become more involved in their bush environment with a 90-page booklet titled Bushwise in Queanbeyan.

The booklet is a joint effort between the University, the Queanbeyan City Council and Carwoola Landcare Group and is part of the NSW government’s 'Our Environment – it’s a living thing' project.

The University’s involvement was led by environmental science lecturer and course convenor Margi Böhm and head of landscape architecture Dianne Firth.

Resource, Environmental and Heritage Science students worked with Dr Böhm to research topics like native animal, bird, reptile and plant species, water conservation and other issues related to living with bush while Dr Dianne Firth provided the information on cultural context, horticultural issues, garden design and construction and took the lead in the final stages of editting the booklet.

“Queanbeyan City Council approached me to be part of the working committee and then invited us to make a submission,” Dr Böhm said.

“I employed a bunch of undergraduate students to survey Queanbeyan residents last September by door-knocking on randomly selected streets and then spend a few weeks analysing the data and writing a report.”

The outcomes of the survey were then used by the working committee to guide the development of the booklet.

The booklet offers a wide range of information including innovative garden design, respecting native wildlife and preparing homes for the bushfire season.

Dr Böhm says the booklet’s aim is to inform residents about the bush around them and make efforts in conservation and has been warmly received.

“It was a fascinating experience to talk with people about how they perceive their relationship with the bush,” she said.

“Most people were interested in things quite different to what the booklet ended up delivering but even so, the booklet has had excellent reviews by the community.”

The booklet adds to the environmental awareness Dr Böhm and her students have achieved with Queanbeyan school students as part of a mentoring program which began several years ago.