What is CBUS?

With a park at its heart, two streams, a beautiful beach and pockets of privately-owned native bush, Campbells Bay is already an urban wildlife haven. To help keep it that way, your Bush Society has founded CBUS — Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary, a community environmental scheme designed to embrace the bay’s natural assets and help enhance, protect and promote them. CBUS is your chance to hop aboard and participate by eliminating weeds, improving water quality and planting natives.

CBUS stakeholders include:

  • Centennial Park Bush Society (leader)
  • Pupuke Golf Club (leasing 40ha of Centennial Park) www.pupukegolf.co.nz
  • Campbells Bay Tennis Club (leasing space in Centennial Park) www.campbellsbaytennis.org.nz
  • Campbells Bay Community Association
  • Residents of Campbells Bay
  • The Wilcox family (owners of significant native bush in the northern valley)
  • Campbells Bay School (publicity, local children) www.campbellsbay.school.nz
  • The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board
  • Restore Hibiscus & Bays
  • Auckland Council Parks
  • Auckland Council Healthy Waters team

Where is CBUS?

The CBUS area is the catchment of Campbells Bay – the area bound by Aberdeen, East Coast and Kowhai Roads and the beach.  This green “island” has already been identified as an important link in the Northwest Wildlink chain of bush remnants, connecting the islands of the Hauraki Gulf to other North Shore reserves and the Waitakere Ranges.

How can you help?

By becoming weed-busters and water-watchers. Birds spread weed seeds and so do thoughtless gardeners who dump green waste on park perimeter areas. Weed eradication in our gardens is essential if we are to win the weed battle in the park. Large native trees on private land are treasures – they provide bird food and seeds for native regeneration. Much of our stream water starts in our backyards. Remember: keep it clean for the stream. We need hands-on help at working bees. Donations (yes please!) are tax deductible.

CBUS aims to:

  • Involve all stakeholders in a positive way
  • Increase the bay’s bird life
  • Improve stream and beach water quality
  • Safeguard the health of bush remnants and enhance the beauty of our bay by busting  the weeds
  • Raise awareness of which plants are pests and encourage their removal and replacement with non-invasive, bird-friendly natives and exotics
  • Manage animal pests like rats and possums

Structure and funding

Centennial Park Bush Society is CBUS’s parent body.  The Bush Society applies for grants from environmental funds, charities and council and welcomes donations.

To say, ‘This is my home and I care about it enough to protect it.’ is the essence of citizenship and to act on such words begins to move us from isolation to community.

Peter Forbes, Trust For Public Land, New Hampshire.

He serves his country best, who loves the land itself.

Sir Charles Fleming, New Zealand scientist and conservationist.