Another Step Towards Healthier Coastal Dunes

Twelve enthusiastic Bitou Buster volunteers rolled up their sleeves on Saturday 27 June to tackle the dreaded mother of millions, which have exploded along The Boulevarde at Winda Woppa bush strip over the past two years.
Working along the fence line between the Kururma Crescent and Jacabba Street, the volunteers set about clearing the mother of millions infestations ranging from tiny seedlings to mature flowering plants. The bright red flower heads certainly made it easy to spot where the worst outbreaks were.

By the end of the morning, the Bitou Busters had filled 26 bags and one red wheelie bin with mother of millions—a remarkable achievement from a combined total of almost 18 hours of volunteer labour.

The day's work also provided an opportunity to educate the community. Two couples stopped to chat with the group. While the volunteers were usually thanked for their efforts, this time they were asked why the volunteers were removing such "pretty flowers."
It was explained to them that despite its attractive appearance, mother of millions is a highly invasive, toxic weed. Each plant produces hundreds of tiny plantlets that quickly establish new colonies, forming dense infestations that smother native vegetation, prevent natural regeneration and degrade our precious dune ecosystems. The plant is also highly poisonous to pets and native wildlife, with ingestion potentially causing heart failure. 

Despite the bleak grey skies and chilly winter temperatures, the Bitou Busters stayed warm through hard work. There was plenty of laughter and lots of friendly conversation as we gathered for a group photo and of course, well-earned hot coffees at Benchmark afterwards.

The volunteers are hoping to organise a couple of "commando" working bees over the coming weeks to tidy up a few additional sites before returning to The Boulevarde next month to continue the battle against the mother of millions.

Trish the Bitou Busters Co-Ordinator said a sincere thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and energy today. 
“Your efforts are helping to protect our beautiful coastal bushland for future generations,” she said.

​27 June 2026