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Origins and major projects
The Friends of Berowra Valley Regional Park Incorporated is a group of volunteer members of the community interested in making the Park more accessible to the community. The diverse academic, business
and personal skills of members allows the group undertake projects as community services that otherwise may not be done within the management structure. The Friends group was officially established at an ordinary meeting of Hornsby
Shire Council on 21 April 1993. The group operated for many years as a Special Committee of Hornsby Shire Council and enjoyed considerable support from
Council during those years.
In 1983, before the establishment of the Friends, the former Elouera Bushland Natural Park Trust published A Guide to Elouera Bushland Natural Park, an 80 page A4 illustrated introduction to the
parklands. Along the way, the original Elouera Bushland Natural Park was greatly enlarged and reclassified twice to become Berowra Valley Regional Park. .Some officers and members of the original Trust remain involved as members of
the Friends..
In about 1995 the Friends began preparation of a new greatly enlarged edition, A Guide to Berowra Valley Regional Park with 245 pages and 400 colour images. Noted expert academic authors were invited to provide content for the peer-reviewed publication Support provided by Council was instrumental to the financial success of the book publishing project.
In 2006, Council reduced its involvement in the management of Berowra Valley Regional Park. The Friends then became an incorporated Community Service
Organisation so as to more fully support its own operations as an independent group dedicated to assist the managers of the Park. The Friends has continued its support by developing bush walking resources, holding
public awareness events and providing information directly and through printed and digital media.
Berowra Valley National Park was created on 24 August 2012 under the management structure of the NSW Government. To deal with some land title matters, several small areas of land amounting to less than
10ha, remain under the previous management structure as Berowra Valley Regional Park.
Friends of Berowra Valley Regional Park Incorporated Today
- The Friends has supported the almost lifelong work of some of its own members and those of similar organisations to achieve the ranking of the Park as a National
Park;
- The Friends retain close contact with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure that all proposed projects meet the requirements of the Park’s Plan of
Management.:
- Present projects include a large comprehensive map “A Walking Guide to Berowra Valley National Park” will be released early in 2013 with details of all formal walks, sites and entry points and facilities;
- Check this web site for the announcement of release details and for access to digital copies of the companion “Guide to Berowra Valley Regional Park”.
- While the Friends is numerically a small group, new members are always welcome to add their special skills to the promotion of the great
public resource the Park represents. See the Contacts Page
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