This group helps to preserve for the community a unique Council owned area of bushland and wetlands, of high conservation significance - known as Woorabinda Bushland Reserves (the area was previously known as Stirling Linear Park, but renamed a more appropriate name, by Council, in 2014).
Woorabinda Bushland Reserves comprise an area of 34 hectares of bushland made up of 4 adjacent reserves namely Hender Reserve, Madurta Reserve, Woorabinda Reserve and Stirling Park.
The reserves are an important part of the Aldgate Creek sub catchment of the Onkaparinga river, and are home to a wide range of indigenous flora and fauna. These include, over 20 conservation listed fauna including the nationally listed Southern Brown Bandicoot and over 20 plants with conservation listing. The reserves are situated in a peri urban area within Stirling, Aldgate and Heathfield.
They are owned (or under the care and control) of the Adelaide Hills Council and contain the highest ranked natural biodiversity of any Adelaide Hills Council reserve. The reserves are a much used community resource for walking, picnicking, wildlife observation, photography, and relaxation.
The development of Woorabinda Environment Centre has been actively supported by Friends since the late 1990's. It became home to Conservation Volunteers Australia training progams, and home of local Waterwatch. Later home for NRM Education, as well as the NRM Green Web Project Officer.
Due mostly to funding difficulties these organisations have moved on but the centre is still used by local environment groups for meetings and workshops.
The friends group originated in 1989 to successfully oppose Council plans to subdivide Stirling Park for housing. Since then the group has prepared management plans, attracted more than $250,000 in grant funding, provided more than 45,000 hours of volunteer labour and established more than 40,000 revegetation tubestock.
The cornerstone of friends activities is bushcare with regular monthly weekend and regular weekday working bees. Individual members also undertake ad hoc work on a needs basis. The committee meets monthly.
The group publishes quarterly newsletters, a walkers guide to the reserves and holds regular information stalls at local public events.
In 2014 the friends participated in two special events to promote the Reserves: