Natural Areas Management Unit

The Natural Areas Management Unit (NAMU) is part of the City of Gold Coast, Parks and Recreational Services Branch that is the Community Services directorate.  NAMU is one of many Council sections aimed at protecting the natural values of the Gold Coast.  NAMU's role is to increase the liveability of the Gold Coast through the active management of over the 13,000 hectares of natural area estate.  We have over 780 separate reserves throughout the City of the Gold Coast, which is one of the most biodiverse and rapidly expanding regions in Australia.

NAMU is divided into three sections:

• Operations and Assets
• Fire & Biodiversity Conservation
• Restorations

The Unit manages the direct future uses to protect natural systems, manages the hazard reduction burns program that reduces risks to adjoining properties and the active on-ground restoration works.  Implementation of these plans is undertaken by NAMU's Rangers, Bush Regenerators and Project Officers, with a view to ensuring that the community benefits with the best conservation outcomes.

The Unit engages with the wider community in many of it's activities and provides the opportunity for residents, visitors and school aged children to actively be involved.  These activities include nature based education workshops through the NaturallyGC program, getting your hands dirty by volunteering in a Bushcare or Landcare group through the Beaches to Bushland Volunteer Restoration program, or school aged children participating in the adventurous holiday program Walk on the Wildside.

See the below links to find out more information or how to become involved:-

Joining forces to upskill Queensland

 Council's Natural Areas Management Unit (NAMU) has partnered with Skilling Solutions Queensland to help restore Crane Creek that adjoins Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang.

The organisation provides the unemployed with the opportunity to gain skills in a specialised field by involving them in studies combined with hands on experience.  The team consists of ten students plus a teacher who will be on site four days a week until June 2013, undertaking various tasks.  They are currently studying Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management at Ashmore TAFE.  When on site at Country Paradise, the group will be involved in activities such as weed control and revegetation works along Crane Creeks riparian vegetation.  The works are guided by an ecological restoration plan with ongoing technical advice and site visits by a Council Restoration Officer.

The 13.25 hectare parklands was purchased by Council in 2011 as open space and is actively managed by the Nerang Country Paradise Association.  The site is also home to numerous volunteer groups including a Men's Shed, Healing Hooves program and Nerang Riverkeepers Group.

We look forward to seeing the group progress.  A fantastic initiative for Council to be apart of.   

For further information on our key programs and works, follow the links below.