Spring's Winged Thing: Bogong Moths  Are Back! On NSW South Coast + Butterflies this Season

Have you noticed there have been a lot of moths around the past few weeks? Mostly tan and white ones?

Maybe you have spotted one of the early Spring butterflies or those that are here all year round - the Common Crow Butterfly Euploea core  butterfly, or 'flutter-by' as we call them here.

People on the South Coast of New South Wales have seen Bogong Moths swarming on Friday September 25 2026 - something that has not happened for a number of years, and a good sign pygmy possums, for whom these moths are a primary food source, will be well-fed this Spring.

Hundreds of people have seen them coming from in Callala Bay, which is on the northern shore of Jervis Bay about 20 minutes drive from Nowra and 10 minutes from Culburra Beach.

People have been sharing photos of masses of them and one person said their grandchildren were having a great time dancing among them!

Late Saturday a southerly blew them into Pittwater - masses of them!

Photo: Katie Gardener, some of the Bogong Moths on her home's walls. Friday September 25 2026

Bogong moths are a keystone species for the health of alpine ecosystems in Australia. They are a crucial food source for critically endangered mountain pygmy-possums and many other high elevation species. Traditional Owners have long harvested migrating bogong moths as a plentiful and nutritious food source. Different groups gathered on the high plains to conduct important business and cross‑cultural ceremonies during the migration period.

Bogong moths fly annually in Spring from the warm inland plains of eastern Australia to aestivate, a form of dormancy during warmer periods, in the cooler alpine areas along the Great Dividing Range. The moths then return to these inland areas in autumn to breed when food resources are suitable for their larvae.

Mass migrations usually occur at night. Moths use the earth’s magnetic fields and light from the night sky to orient towards alpine areas of the Australian Capital Territory, the Victorian Alps and the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales.

Each year, every moth makes this huge journey for the first time. This behaviour shows an inbuilt ability to navigate long distances.

Bogong moth numbers suffered a catastrophic 99.5% decline between 2018 and 2021. In 2021, the Bogong moth was added as an endangered species to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species. 

The cause of the sudden population crash is likely due to:

• severe droughts
• fires impacting larval sites
• the use of pesticide
• predation by introduced species
• habitat loss
• light pollution diverting migrating moths from their paths.

The loss of any species is upsetting, but the rapid decline of Bogong Moths impacts many other species. Bogong moths are a foundation species in the alpine food chain and support much of the alpine ecosystem.

They are also nectar eaters and act as pollinators, and their huge reduction in numbers could have a significant effect, not only on the small mammals relying on them as a food source, but also on plants along their migration route and in the alps.

You can help Bogong moths and all the species that rely on them by:

• not using insecticides
• turning off unnecessary lights at night
• reducing your carbon emissions
• planting native alpine flowers such as Correa, eucalypts, tea tree and grevillea that attract this species.

Atop that, should any make their way to Sydney, as they once did in massive amounts, there is a project called 'Moth Tracker' where scientists are collecting sightings to gauge how this little flutter-by is recovering from the problems that have beset it for almost a decade now. See Moth Tracker: www.zoo.org.au/moth-tracker

There is also another project, 'Bogong Watch'. See: invertebratesaustralia.org/bogong-watch

Bogong Watch is an initiative of Invertebrates Australia. It is a program driven by a growing network of observers across Australia gathering and reporting sightings of Bogong moths to help map its epic migration.

Both of these ask you to upload a photo and tell them where it was taken so they can track the annual migration of the Bogongs and see what can be done to support more of them.

As we're now in the Spring School Holiday's break, and set for some lovely weather that may encourage more insects to take to the skies and fly across your home range, a few notes on what you may see in your garden that may help you identify which is which.

We start with the Bogong - fingers crossed we see some here in Pittwater too!

Bogong Moth Time Approaches – Spring in Australia – Eastern Coasts

Although some squirm when these beautiful insects and their season approaches, they are part of our natural balance and a sure sign that Spring is moving towards Summer.

The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a temperate species of night-flying moth notable for appearing in large numbers around major public buildings in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, during Spring (late September to November) as it migrates to the High Plains. The moth's name 'Bogong' is the same as the mountain ranges on the High Plains i.e. the Bogongs, and may mean 'Big Fella' hence the name for the mountains, or it may have been the name for the Moth which has been accorded to the mountains as their locale.

Indigenous Australians living in south eastern Australia were known to have feasted on the moths, benefiting from their rich fat reserves, particularly during the summer when the moths were plentiful. The moths were either killed or stupefied by the heat and smoke of torches, and then their bodies collected. Many Aboriginal band groups from the lowlands travelled to exploit this tasty, high protein and high fat resource, and so at any time during the summer, the population of human foragers could be upwards of 400 individuals. Moth collection activities were accompanied by appropriate ceremonies and rites of intensification, and most nearby groups held title to their own pitch for harvesting. Once collected, the moths were generally roasted and eaten whole. This cultural use is no longer practised. The term "Urri Arra" refers to the Bogong moth feasts that these Aboriginal people held.

A town, Bogong, in the Australian state of Victoria has been named after the moth. The Bogong moth Agrotis infusa is common throughout southern Australia. These brown to blackish moths have a wingspan of approximately 45 millimetres. Adults make lengthy migrations to spend summer months in large congregations in caves and crevices of rocks in the Australian Alps, notably in the region of the Bogong High Plains in Victoria. They are attracted to lights, like those seen at night in the Sydney and Canberra areas. 

They were notable in broadcasts of the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony on 15 September. Large numbers may enter houses or other buildings to rest during the day. In winter, adults disperse to pastures across inland New South Wales and Queensland to lay their eggs.

This subfamily are characterised by their stoutly built bodies covered with long dense scales. The larvae, collectively known as cutworms, are also stoutly built. They feed on a wide variety of plants (see list below). The name cutworm comes from the larvae's habit of cutting off plant parts during the night which they drag back to their burrows in the soil as food. The Bogong moth is univoltine (i.e. it has one generation per year). The Lepidopteran life cycle consists of four stages; ova (eggs), several larval instars (caterpillars), pupa (cocoon), and imagines (adults).

Photo: Donald Hobern from Canberra, Australia

VISITATION OF MOTHS - Little Damage Done

Entomologists of the Department of Agriculture are investigating a plague of moths which has afflicted many parts of the State in recent weeks. The moths have appeared in amazing numbers in the Mallee, the Wimmera, the Mornington Peninsula, and even in some of the outer suburbs. The moths in the Wimmera, which have caused some concern, are cram-bid, or grass moths, in the main, but so far very little dam-age has been caused. An entomologist said yesterday that they were confining their attentions almost entirely to "rubbish," though there had been one or two instances of their eating wheat. Some of the species have not yet been identified, and they are being bred in the department's laboratory for purposes of identification. It is at present considered unlikely that the plague will develop to serious proportions. It is expected that rain will drown the moths in the ground. A report from Queenscliff states that at the week-end moths arrived in huge clouds at sunset, and many died, having to be swept up from floors of houses and from paths.

Seagulls' Feast

What must have been the first "hatch" of the Bogong moth emerging from the tea-tree at Beaumar is is related by Mr.C. W. Wilson, proprietor-manager of Scott's Hotel, Melbourne. On Sunday evening at dusk Mr. Wilson saw a large flock of silver gulls above the shoreline wheeling, "backpedalling," and somersaulting in mid-air. Their antics were caused by their enthusiasm for a large swarm of Bogong moths, drifting out to sea in the still air. Some of the gulls were so gorged with the moths that they could scarcely fly, others seemed insatiable.

The Bogong moth (Euxoa infusa) has in countless numbers stopped trains, ob-scured lighthouse lights, and wrecked in-numerable gas mantles. When the moths emerge after heavy rain in early winter they swarm in millions. The aborigines used to make special trips to the Australian Alps to gorge on this delicacy. They occur in masses in rocky crevices and caves; hence the names Bogong High Plains and Mountains in Gippsland. VISITATION OF MOTHS. (1939, May 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12129340

THE BIG BOGONG. A Neighbour of Kosciusko. 

(BY J. J. B.)

The southern tablelands are rich in items of physiographical interest, for among other distinctions they embrace the highest mountain in Australia-Kosciusko. Not with-standing this prestige, Kosciusko is closely pressed when it comes to comparing altitudes above sea level; in far, the main range on which Kosciusko rests is studded with peaks culminating in rocky knolls, which, though not very conspicuous, run very close to Kosciusko on the altitude scale. There is no mountain, however, in the territory, which compares with the "Big Bogong"-as it Is familiarly known, or Jagungal as it is called in official circles-in downright majesty and impressiveness. Strangely enough, It is situated on a spur at a distance of four miles westerly from the main range, and this fact adds to its uniqueness. Its altitude Is 6755 feet, or 575 feet less than that of Kosciusko, but whereas the latter is located in the midst of a confusion of high altitudes, the Big Bogong stands out in singular glory. As the crow flies, the Big Bogong is distant twenty-two miles, and bears almost due north from the more famous summit.

In appearance the subject of this article gives the sightseer the Impression of restful grandeur. True, the Immediate summit and part of the western face is rocky, but the general effect Is not one of ruggedness. It stands as a huge monument facing the west, bare of timber on the upper slopes, grassed to within a few feet of the trigonometrical station, and generally conveying a suggestion of guardianship over the flocks and herds which frequent the grassy plateaux and valleys on all sides during the summer months.

Mount Bogong, at 1,986 metres (6,520 ft) the highest mountain in Victoria. This is the western flank towering above the town of Mount Beauty, taken looking east from Sullivans Lookout on the Tawonga Gap Rd. Victoria, Australia. Photo by John O’Neill, 9 May 2013 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME.

Various theories are given as to the origin of the name Bogong, the most popular being attributed to the aboriginal name for a huge moth, which is to be found around the summit at certain times of the year. This may have some truth In it, but the fact remains that there are numerous mountains in southern New South Wales and that part of Victoria adjacent, bearing the name of Bogong in some combination or other. There is the Rocky Bogong, Grey Mare's Bogong, and Dicky Cooper Bogong, all within ten miles, and there are the "Bogongs"-a nest of peaks situated easterly from Tumut.

The first name "Big" does not, it is thought, refer to big moths, but to the fact that the mountain is unusual, and therefore my the story is that Bogong in the dialect of southern aborigines euphoniously indicated a conspicuous mountain.

The Big Bogong is easily scaled on horse-back to within a few feet of the summit, the culminating point being an outcrop of andesite piercing the granite surroundings. Here a trigonometrical station has been erected, consisting of the usual cairn of stone supporting a post of squared timber. The galvanised iron vanes have been blown away by the force of wind and driven snow. A flash of lightning, some three or four years ago, struck the guy wire supporting the upright, and blast-ed out some 30 or 40 tons of the hard rock, scattering fragments as if by heavy explosive some hundreds of yards.

A LANDSCAPE OF PEAKS.

From the summit one may gaze for scores of miles in any direction until the distant landscape melts into space. To the north, Tabletop Mountain, a basaltic peneplain, Im-mediately attracts attention; to the north-west, the Round Mountain and Black Jack are prominent; to the south-west, Rocky and Grey Mare's Bogongs are conspicuous; and southerly, Dicky Cooper's Bogong appears like a pimple of rock behind which progressively one's eyes can discern Adams and Twynams' peaks and other points which hide or confuse the real Kosciusko; to the south-east the Kerries, which actually comprise a huge swell in the range, are easily seen. Beyond all these in any direction the landscape extends to beyond the power of the eye to discern.

In the Immediate foreground, 1000 feet lower than the summit, are extensive areas of grass land, with belts of timber and plain alternating. The Geehi River rises on the south-east, and the Tumut River immediately under the mountain an the west. Further westerly the Tooma River-named the Toolong locally-rises, and after meandering through plain and timber alternatively, eventually joins the Upper Murray. There are approximately 125,000 acres of good summer grazing country in the vicinity held by graziers under leasehold, and used extensively for re-lief pastures In times of drought.

Some day this territory will become the sanitorium for the Riverina, where relief from summer heat can be gained. Then the Big Bogong will surely be appreciated for its most remarkable appearance; for while there may be many mountains In Australia more rugged and forbidding, there is no other mountain like the Big Bogong. Patriarchal, he faces the sunburnt western plains, kindly visaged, inviting, beautiful in rounded simplicity. THE BIG BOGONG. (1930, June 14). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 19. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16679141

Common Crow Butterfly Euploea Core

You may be seeing a few of these butterflies around our area at the moment, the Common Crow Butterfly Euploea core.

It belongs to the crows and tigers subfamily Danainae (tribe Danaini). E. core is a glossy-black, medium-sized 85–95 mm (3.3–3.7 in) butterfly with rows of white spots on the margins of its wings. E. core is a slow, steady flier. Due to its unpalatability it is usually observed gliding through the air with a minimum of effort. As caterpillars, this species sequesters toxins from its food plant which are passed on from larva to pupa to the adult. While feeding, it is a very bold butterfly, taking a long time at each bunch of flowers. It can also be found mud-puddling with others of its species and often in mixed groups. The males of this species visit plants like Crotalaria and Heliotropium to replenish pheromone stocks which are used to attract a female during courtship.

It is found in southern Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Russia, and Australia. In its range E. core is found at all elevations, right from sea level up into the mountains to 2,400 metres (8,000 ft). It can be observed in all layers of vegetation and in all types of regions from arid land to forested areas. It can as commonly be seen gliding over the treetops as flitting about a foot off the ground searching for nectar flowers. In thick forests it is often seen moving along open tracks or following the course of a river.

Photo taken in Careel Bay, March 2023. Pic; AJG

The butterfly, being protected by its inedibility, has a leisurely flight. It is often seen flying about shrubs and bushes in search of its host plants. It visits a large variety of flowering plant species. When gliding E. core holds its wings at an angle just greater than the horizontal plane, maintaining its flight with a few measured wingbeats.

E. core is a nectar lover and visits flowers unhurriedly. It seems to prefer bunches to individual flowers. When feeding the butterfly is unhurried and is not easily disturbed. It can be approached closely at this time.  On hot days large numbers of these butterflies can be seen mud-puddling on wet sand. E. core is an avid mud-puddler often congregating in huge swarms along with other Euploea species as well as other danaids.

Eggs are laid on the underside of young leaves of the host plants. The egg is shiny white, tall and pointed, with ribbed sides. Just before hatching the eggs turn greyish with a black top. Throughout its life the caterpillar stays on the underside of the leaves. The caterpillar is uniformly cylindrical, vividly coloured and smooth. It has alternate white and dark brown or black transverse bands. Just above the legs and prolegs, along the entire body is a wide orangish-red band interspersed with black spiracles. 

The adult butterfly has a life span of 11 - 13 weeks. The adults feed upon nectar from various flowering plants, including eucalypts.

Phoracantha Semipunctata: The Australian Eucalyptus Longhorn

This week an insect with a pretty shell came inside the house. After taking a photo and looking it up we found out it is a  Eucalyptus longhorn, and a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. 

Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns (whose larvae are often referred to as roundheaded borers), are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body.

Native to Australia, the Australian Eucalyptus Longhorn has now spread to many parts of the world, including practically all countries where tree species of Eucalyptus have been introduced. It has been classified as an invasive pest species of Eucalyptus outside Australia.

Within Australia, Phoracantha semipunctata primarily seeks decaying trees and branches.

Phoracantha semipunctata are typically dark brown and beige in colour and are approximately similar in size measuring at around 2.3cm long. They are most active during the early dusk hours, and are found in populations within host trees, which are predominantly male-oriented. These host trees are determined according to the suitability of adult mating and oviposition, and the viability of larvae development.

There are 4 key processes that occur within its lifecycle — Egg, larval, pupation and adult.

Female Phoracantha semipunctata lay approximately a batch of 40 eggs, where eggs are laid below detached bark, present within stressed host trees.

After the eggs hatch, larvae emerge and begin acquiring nutrients from the cambium and phloem segments, excavating through the external layer of bark to consume in the inner bark and exterior xylem tissues.

Pupation will occur after larvae development. Larvae Phoracantha semipunctata, will establish pupal chambers, within the sapwood or in some cases the heartwood, where they will develop into adult beetles. Pupation may take up to 10 days.

After pupation, adult Phoracantha semipunctata will then begin digging themselves out the pupal chamber in which they will then create a 8-10mm opening in the external bark layer. The total life cycle of P. semipunctata varies; however, in host trees with high larvae competition, their total lifecycle may be significantly depleted and only span up to two months.

Phoracantha semipunctata eggs and larvae are subject to various natural predators which may diminish their viability during the development process. Braconid parasites, including Syngaster lepidus, and Bracon capitator have been recorded to have negative effects. These female wasps infuse a certain venom within the larvae, stopping any further development and feeding that can be done. 

There are also other species of beetle which lower larvae survivorship, including Trogodendron fasciculatum and Aeschyntelus vittatus. 

Trogodendron fasciculatum, the yellow-horned clerid, is a small beetle of the family Cleridae (checkered beetles). It too is native to Australia, and feeds on other insects.

Clerid beetle of the species Trogodendron fasciculatum (Schreibers) or yellowhorned clerid. Taken in January 2007 on a eucalyptus tree in Swifts Creek, Victoria, Australia. Photo: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos

Ants are also a problem for them as they simply carry the beetle eggs within Eucalyptus trees off to their own nest. 

The resilience of Eucalyptus species to these insects is best achieved by looking after these. Making sure there is sufficient water during long durations of dry condition helps as longhorns need dry trees that are not too well to thrive and 'bore' into them. 

Certainly not a 'boring' place to be though - seeing what comes indoors or what lives in the garden.

Sphinx Moths

This moth is a Acosmeryx cinnamomea, a species of in the family sphinx moths. Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths) is a family of Lepidoptera (Moths And Butterflies). They eat the leaves of Cayratia clematidea (wild grape), Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo vine), Cissus oblonga, Vitis vinifera (wine grape/edible grape), Vitis vinifera rupestris (ornamental grape). They are Nocturnal - Active at night. Their colour ranges from brown to grey. Their size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of either forewing: 49mm. 

As you can see, this one has a bald spot. Moths and butterflies constantly accumulate damage on their wings and bodies over time, and they're especially prone to loosing the delicate scales that coat their exoskeleton (which is usually visible as a 'bald spot' on the top part of a moth's thorax when it's been bumping around a light for a few hours). You can even get a sense of a moth's age by seeing how worn and tattered its wings are; newly emerged individuals are usually pristine, while older ones have frayed wings and patches of missing scales.

The species is found in North-Western WA, Northern NT, Far North Queensland and south along the coast through QLD, NSW to northern tip of VIC. The caterpillar grows to a length of about 8cms. The pupa has a length of about 4.5 cms. 

Tiger Moth

Finally, how about one more of the moths you are likely to see at present? This one flew in and hovered around the computer and then dived down the back of the desk, where there are heaps of cobwebs, on Friday morning at dawn - obviously coming indoors for the day - and reminding me to clean behind my desk! - whoops....

This is a Tiger Moth - an actual moth and not a aeroplane form some years past.

Unlike many other moths, Tiger Moths has bright orange bars and spots on its wings. They have striped abdomens which has given them their name. Most Tiger Moths fly at night but some are day-fliers. They do not fly very fast.

Most Caterpillars of the Arctiidae are covered in dense dark hairs, which gives them the name "Woolly Bears". The hairs can cause irritation in sensitive skin. The caterpillars are small to medium size. The caterpillars usually active during the daytime. If disturbed, they will roll into a tight spiral. 

Tiger Moths live on the coastal areas of eastern Australia. You will find Tiger Moths on plants usually around flowers, around water such as puddles and in the air.

After dark Tiger Moths emit ultrasonic clicks which can be picked up by insectivorous bats. These clicks warn the bats that the moth is unpleasant to eat, and also jams the bats’ sonar system.

The Tiger Moth is a food source for small birds. Luckily for the Tiger Moth, most predators know its marked patches of orange and black mean that the moth is distasteful or poisonous.

They love to drink the nectar from wildflowers and prefer an established garden, where they can also eat lichen. Lichen occurs when fungi and algae grow together. In rainforests and alpine forests it forms a large carpet on the ground. Keep a look out for grey, green or yellow patches on your backyard rocks and trees.

The de Havilland Tiger Moth

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ab initio training, the Second World War had RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

Additional overseas manufacturing activity also occurred, most of which took place during wartime. de Havilland Australia assembled an initial batch of 20 aircraft from parts sent from the United Kingdom prior to embarking on their own major production campaign of the DH.82A, which resulted in a total of 1,070 Tiger Moths being constructed in Australia. In late 1940, the first Australian-assembled Tiger Moth conducted its first flight at Bankstown, Sydney. Most Australian aircraft were delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), but several batches were exported, including 18 for the USAAF and 41 for the Royal Indian Air Force.

Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civilian applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft. Many Tiger Moths are now employed by companies offering trial lesson experiences.

de Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth, N81DH, in 1989. Photo: Towpilot - Own work

Some Narrabeen Lagoon Birds

by Joe Mills

Photographed September, 2026

Local Osprey eating its fish catch atop a pole at Narrabeen Lagoon ocean entrance

Middle Creek Reserve's lone White Egret fishing in its usual spot

nesting Masked Lapwing Plovers - in their usual spot at Sydney Sports Academy, Narrabeen, again this year

Young Kookaburra at North Narrabeen - Turimetta

Oystercatchers and White Faced Heron - fishing on Turimetta and Narrabeen

Middle Creek Reserve - lone White egret on shoreline

Middle Creek Reserve resident

Lapwing Plover nesting at Sports Academy, Narrabeen

Call-Out for Iconic Trees

A magnificent Grey Gum (E. punctata) example on the hill heading down Riviera Avenue with a Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata) growing alongside it. Pic: AJG/PON

Pittwater Natural Heritage Association AGM 2026

All members welcome - bring a friend!

About PNHA

With urbanisation, there are continuing pressures that threaten the beautiful natural environment of Pittwater. Some impacts are immediate and apparent, others are more gradual and less obvious.

The Pittwater Natural Heritage Association has been formed to act to protect and preserve the Pittwater areas major and most valuable asset - its natural heritage.

PNHA is an incorporated association seeking broad based community membership and support to enable it to have an effective and authoritative voice speaking out for the preservation of Pittwater's natural heritage.

Our Aims

• To raise public awareness of the conservation value of the natural heritage of the Pittwater area: its landforms, watercourses, soils and local native vegetation and fauna.
• To raise public awareness of the threats to the long-term sustainability of Pittwater's natural heritage.
• To foster individual and community responsibility for caring for this natural heritage.
• To encourage the Council and the NSW Government to adopt and implement policies and works which will conserve, sustain and enhance the natural heritage of Pittwater.

Some of our interests and concerns include:

• Native Tree Canopy
• "Wildlife Friendly" Gardens
• Weed Infestation
• Keeping our Waterways Healthy
• Beaches and Dunes

Find out more about PNHA and join in at: pnha.org.au

Avalon Armchair Gardeners: October 10 Meeting - Bush to Bowl 

Our next meeting at The Annexe Dunbar Park will be held on Saturday 10th October 2026 from 11am - 1.00pm

Our guest speaker is Clarence from Bush to Bowl based at Ingleside. It's a 100% Aboriginal owned social enterprise. It will be a hands-on workshop connecting community to country through traditional foodways. We'll explore native plants and bush foods, learning to identify, harvest and taste flavours rooted in over 60,000 years of culture. Leave with a deeper connection to the land beneath your feet and maybe a new favourite bush ingredient for your own kitchen

There will be some native plants and spices for sale

This will be a charged event and we encourage you to invite family, friends and neighbours to enjoy the experience. We will have bush tea and biscuits and a slice. The cost will be $20 per head and must be purchased online through Humanatix by 3rd October for catering purposes

Fran Colley and Celia Craig attended a presentation a few years ago and it was very enlightening

Any questions please don't hesitate to contact Celia direct.

Here is the link to purchase your ticket/s ($20)

Avalon Armchair Gardeners is an informal group for garden lovers to share knowledge, plants, social events and organise trips to open gardens, plant fairs and exhibitions. No plant knowledge or having your own garden required!

Avalon Annexe in Dunbar Park

New Crowther Report highlights significant impact of the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) on Koalas in South West Sydney: 9 koalas killed in 1 week as report is released

The Sydney Basin Koalas Network says it has recorded its highest number of koala deaths in a single night since it began collecting data in July 2022.

Four koalas were killed by vehicles last Friday night (September 18) in the Campbelltown LGA, including a mother and joey on an unfenced section of Appin Road near Mallaty Creek, and two on Georges River Road.

Another four were killed earlier in that week on Appin, Picton, Heathcote and Wills roads.

With another vehicle strike on Heathcote Road on Monday September 21 a total of 9 koalas have been killed in 10 days in South West Sydney. This location has become a hotspot after the Heathcote Road upgrade. 

This week clearing of nearly 3ha of habitat began for another Heathcote Road upgrade between Woronora River and Lucas Heights. 

The group's manager Stephanie Carrick said it's been devastating for volunteers.

"I believe four is the most that has been killed in one night that we are aware of," she said. 

''It is beyond belief that the NSW Government is telling constituents a wildlife crossing at Mallaty Creek is not needed. Koalas are running out of habitat and yet the Government is pushing through with cutting off 116ha of habitat at Mallaty Creek, which also forms the most direct link to the koala corridors at the Nepean, within the Chlamydia free zone. ''

"I want to spend my time with the community, highlighting the work we are doing, but at the moment all I'm doing is counting dead koalas." 

Ms Carrick believes habitat clearing for new housing in Sydney's southwest is contributing to a recent spike in koala deaths. 

"Wills Road in Long Point is a new [koala death location]. And I'm always concerned about the new roads because it means that koalas are moving around in different ways," she said. 

"I believe they are moving around in different ways is because there habitat is changing."

The loss of more koalas comes as an expert report by University of Sydney ecologist Professor Mathew Crowther, 'Western Sydney Strategic Assessment – Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan' prepared for  network partner Save Sydney’s Koalas and the Environmental Defenders Office was released.

The report has found that the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) is likely to significantly impact Habitat Critical to the Survival of the Koala (HCSK) as defined in the National Recovery Plan for the Koala, in particular east–west corridors essential for koala movement, dispersal, gene flow and meta-population processes in the Campbelltown population.

Professor Mathew Crowther’s findings are particularly significant given his previous role on the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer’s Independent Expert Panel established to assess the adequacy of koala protection measures within the CPCP’s Wilton and Greater Macarthur Growth Areas.

Figure 1: Important Koala Habitat as mapped in CPCP Sub Plan B, much of which will be cleared, modified or fragmented. 

The report identified 304 hectares of mapped habitat critical to the survival of the koala will be lost within the Wilton and Greater Macarthur Growth Areas. It further identifies the loss of approximately 242 hectares of important primary, secondary, and tertiary habitat corridors and found significant deviations between the CPCP assessment and the National Koala Recovery Plan, including reliance on habitat suitability rather than HCSK criteria, incomplete koala records and the use of offsets to justify habitat loss despite offsets being excluded from the Recovery Plan’s habitat-gain objectives. Based on the available information, the Assessment Report indicates that approximately 1,100.6 hectares of important or supporting koala habitat will be impacted by activities authorised under the CPCP (Assessment Report, Table 30-19).

The Assessment Report also provides specific estimates of impacts on mapped habitat critical to the survival of the koala and important habitat corridors, together with the methodology used to identify these areas. 

It also highlights that corridor severance from roads and housing, delayed revegetation, uncertain crossing effectiveness, inadequate fencing and the population’s low genetic diversity mean mitigation and offsets cannot adequately compensate for the immediate and potentially irreversible loss of functional habitat and connectivity.

Key Findings from the Crowther Expert Report:

• Breach of Federal Recovery Objectives: The CPCP violates Objective 1B of the National Koala Recovery Plan which requires a net increase in habitat (excluding offsets) every five years and the maintenance of stable populations. Offsets cannot replace immediate, irreversible corridor destruction.
• Mallaty Creek Corridor Omitted & Severed: The Chief Scientist’s Report recognised 6 koala crossings along Appin Road - 4 remain unbuilt. There have been 10 koala deaths in the last 12 months at the missing Mallaty Creek crossing point.
• Severe Landscape Fragmentation: Cutting primary (120 ha) and secondary (106 ha) corridors disrupts meta-population processes, isolating male koalas requiring ~50 ha home ranges and blocking juvenile dispersal.
• Synergistic Extinction Risks: Low genetic diversity, disrepair of exclusion fencing (e.g.,Picton Road), and the late-2024 detection of Chlamydia mean further habitat loss poses an existential threat to Sydney's last expanding koala population.

To address the failure to the CPCP to meet the National Koala Recovery Plan, the CPCP should be strengthened through an independent reassessment of Habitat Critical to the Survival of the Koala, legal protection of ALL functional east–west corridors including Mallaty Creek, minimum corridor-width standards consistent with Chief Scientist advice, and mandatory delivery of wildlife crossings and associated fencing before development impacts occur, the report.

1. Four Koala crossings on Appin Road as recognised in the Chief Scientist’s Report need to be built before any more development: that is, Beulah, Mallaty, Ousedale, Elladale in addition to Noorumba which still lacks vegetation. Formally incorporate and secure full, connected protection for the Mallaty Creek east-west koala corridor in local and strategic planning instruments.
2. All Koala corridors east-west and north-south meet the Chief Scientist ‘s recommendations: That is an average minimum of 390m–425m widths, and an absolute minimum corridor width of 250m. That is, A (Menangle Creek), B (Woodhouse Creek), C
3. (Nepean Creek), D (Mallaty Creek), E (Ousedale Creek) and F (Elladale Creek) and along the Nepean River. Suspend Section 146B activity approvals under the CPCP until independent mapping guarantees zero loss of functional koala corridors.
4. Fix Safety Fencing & Crossings: Immediately fund and repair broken exclusion fencing along Picton Road and build a functional wildlife crossing at the Mallaty Creek Appin Road blackspot.
5. Reject all CPCP modifications to Koala Habitat

Saul Deane, campaigner for the Total Environment Centre and member of Save Sydney's Koalas said: "Professor Crowther’s report confirms what local communities have feared: the CPCP is not a conservation plan, it is a blueprint for local extinction. While the NSW Government promises protection, koalas are dying on Appin Road because vital linkages like Mallaty Creek were ignored and left open to bulldozers. You cannot offset an endangered koala corridor that has been turned into a housing estate."

Damaging CPCP Modifications further Koala habitat destruction

''Rather than improve the CPCP, the Department of Planning have recommended a slew of more damaging modifications to koala habitat impacting every east-west Koala corridor.'' Sydney Basin Koala Network stated

''The Sydney Basin Koala Network strongly objects to the proposed Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) modifications, as they underestimate cumulative impacts and allow further fragmentation and loss of koala habitat and critically endangered ecological communities through inappropriate “avoided land” and offsetting arrangements. The NSW Government is allowing CPCP modifications through its established amendment process, but repeated site-by-site changes are progressively weakening the biodiversity principals of the plan by increasing development opportunities, reducing koala habitat and corridor protection, and undermining its original landscape-scale conservation objectives.''

Figure 2: Cumulative Impacts of CPCP modifications impacting every East-West koala corridor

''There are many options available to the Environment Minister to prevent the CPCP's significant, serious and irreversible impacts on the Koala. The 2027 five-year review provides a critical opportunity to incorporate Professor Crowther's new scientific information, address deficiencies in the original assessment and ensure that habitat loss and corridor fragmentation are avoided rather than retrospectively compensated through offsets.'' Sydney Basin Koala Network said

READ THE CROWTHER REPORT

• Feedback on biodiversity certification of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2026 - May 2026
• Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan To Facilitate Housing 'Enhanced' - March 18 2024 Update
• Saving Sydney's Koalas Requires Scrapping The Cumberland Plain Tree Museum Plan According To 25 Organisations: October 2023 Update
• Ringtail Posse 8: September 2023 - Saving Sydney's Last Koalas; Logging Stopped In Future Koala Park By Minns Government - ''Is There Time To Save Sydney's Last Koalas Too?'' Asks: John Illingsworth, WIRES, Sydney Wildlife Rescue, Save Sydney Koalas, The Sydney Basin Koala Network, The Help Save The Wildlife & Bushlands In Campbelltown Group, Appin Koalas Animal Rescue Service, Patricia and Barry Durham, Sue Gay, Save Mt. Gilead, Paola Torti Of The International Koala Intervention Group  
• Local MP's Call For Halt On Habitat Logging In State Forests: Logging Continues Within So-Called 'Great Koala Park' - 20% To Be Destroyed Before Koala Park Even Established Under RFA's That Run Until 2048 In NSW, Meanwhile, More Habitat Of Last Population Of Sydney Koalas To Be Razed For Profit - September 2023
• NSW Government 'Fast-Tracks' Destruction Of Endangered Wildlife, Habitat For Local Species and Community Consultation On Massive New Developments - November 2022
• Finalised Cumberland Plain Plan Released: 'A Developers Plan That Will Facilitate Extinction Of Sydney's Koalas' Locals State - A 'Tree Museum Plan' For Critically Endangered Woodplain - August 2022
• Bayview Koala Sanctuary - August 2012 History page
  
• Saving Ballina’s Koalas – Will Pittwater’s Mistakes Be Repeated? - March 2015
  
• Community Calls On Government To Put Koalas Before Developers For Once - June 2016; Mt. Gilead, Appin Road losses
• These Two Koalas Lost Their Mothers To Deforestation - November 2018 + Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan
  
• Mount Gilead Development Bulldozing Koala Habitat Approved: Resident Turtles To Go Too - The Beginning Of The End Of Campbelltown's Koalas - July 2019
• Summer Creature Features; Koala - Treed - 2012
• Saving Ballina’s Koalas – Will Pittwater’s Mistakes Be Repeated? - March 2015
• Koala Plans Receive Federal Government Approval - Ballina Highway; Update deliberate Destruction of Koalas Chosen - August 2016
  
• More Than 2.2 Million Hectares Of NSW Koala Habitat Could Be Cleared - October 2016 Pittwater Online Environment News
  
• Koala Sighted In Kosciuszko National Park for first time in 70 years - December 2016 Pittwater Online Environment News
  
• Australia: Place Of The Culling Fields, Koala Skins for Profit - August 2017
  
• Pacific Highway Koala Holocaust: Koala habitat destroyed - October 2017
• Koalas Now Safer Thanks To New Pacific Highway Signs - Ballina Highway  upgrade: 110 hectares of koala food trees planted, now they only have to NOT be hungry while they grow - February 2018
  
• Environment Groups Call On Premier To Halt Logging In Core Koala Habitat; Gladstone State Forest, near Bellingen - February 2018
  
• Berejiklian Government Allows Open Slather On Wildlife - March 2018
  
• Old Growth Forest Under Attack As NSW Government Winds Back Environmental Protections - May 2018
  
• New Analysis Shows Government’s Koala Reserve System Offers The Species Virtually No New Protection - June 2018 Pittwater Online Environment News
  
• Community Calls On Government To Put Koalas Before Developers For Once - Mount Gilead Development - June 2018
• Destructive Logging Laws Slammed By Government Scientists;  99% of koala habitat at risk from clearing - November 2018 Pittwater Environment News
  
• These Two Koalas Lost Their Mothers To Deforestation - December 2018 Pittwater Online Environment News
  
• As The Dust Of The Election Settles, Australia’s Wildlife Still Needs A Pathway For Recovery - May 2019
  
• A Report Claims Koalas Are ‘Functionally Extinct’ – But What Does That Mean? - May 2019
  
• Mount Gilead Development Bulldozing Koala Habitat Approved: Resident Turtles To Go Too - The Beginning Of The End Of Campbelltown's Koalas - July 2019 - Pittwater Online Environment News
  
• Fires Last Straw For Koalas: Extinction Now Imminent Unless You Speak Up - November 2019
  
• School Strike 4 Climate At Narrabeen: December 13, 2019 - Bushfires - wildlife deaths
  
• Call For Pittwater Support To Save Sydney's Koalas - August 2020
• Our Koalas Need A Win! - August 2020
• Good News For Koalas This Week From NSW Government: The New Guula Ngurra National Park Has Been Proclaimed + The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan Is Now Open For Feedback - August 2020
• Koala Extinction In NSW: The Facts And Directions For Action  - Community Forum At Warriewood - March 2021
• Pittwater Action To Save Koalas: What You Can Do To Help Prevent Their Extinction - April 2021
• Sydney's Last Koala Population Being Killed As Mount Gilead Development Cuts Down Trees With No Fauna Passes Or Protections In Place: Pittwater Demonstration Falls On Deaf Ears - December 2021 to January 2022
• Koalas Now Listed As Endangered In NSW - Qld - ACT - February 2022
• Residents Rally For Koalas At Manly On Save The Koala Day: Calls To Prioritise Wildlife, Stop Clearing Habitat - October 2022

offshore oil and gas rig clean up on the taxpayer

Received: September 24 2026

The Australian Greens have revealed taxpayers are once again on the hook for cleaning up the mess left behind once oil and gas corporations are finished with their offshore rigs.

The government has offered a blank cheque for the clean up of an oil rig off the coast of Western Australia, after the two companies running it declared insolvency.

A government document reveals that there are no costings for the clean-up, the Greens state.

The last time this happened, with the Northern Endeavour, the decommissioning was estimated to cost $325 million but has since required $850 million.

Despite a legal requirement for onshore mining companies to pay a bond for site clean-ups, there is none for offshore oil and gas companies.

This loophole was exposed in the Federal Court in August, and Labor has stated it will close this loophole through legislation next year.

In the meantime, big corporations are treating our oceans as a dumping ground for their old equipment and leaving the taxpayer liable for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in clean up fees.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Vanessa Bleyer, said:

“Our oceans cannot wait any longer for this Labor government to end the free ride for the corporations that are polluting our oceans.

“Renters have to pay a bond. So do onshore mining companies.  Yet offshore oil and gas corporations do not.

“There are 6000 kilotons of oil and gas infrastructure sitting in our oceans which will need to be cleaned up, at an estimated cost of $60 billion, otherwise it will continue to leach poison into our waters.

“The Australian Maritime Union wants this legislation, environment groups want this legislation, but the corporations do not.

“The government must stop acting in the interests of its corporate donors, and make these big oil and gas corporations clean up their act.”

West Gables biodiversity certification application: Have Your Say

An application has been made by Stockland Development Pty Ltd and Allam Land No. 11 Pty Ltd for biodiversity certification of land at Old Pitt Town Road and Boundary Road, Gables.

The application is open for public comment until 26 October 2026.

Biodiversity certification is a government created and sanctioned mechanism that enables developers to destroy habitat and wildlife. The certification process identifies areas that can be developed/destroyed after they are certified and measures to ''offset the impacts of development'' have been approved (money handed over). The NSW Government's Biodiversity Credits Market Sales Dashboard lists what can be bought or paid for - residents may be surprised by how cheap it is to accelerate extinctions.

This one is for around 76.42 hectares of land at West Gables.

The supporting documentation for this one points out, in just one instance, that:

'Three threatened microchiropteran bats were recorded as definitely present across the BCAA during surveys including.

• Micronomus norfolkensis (eastern coastal free-tailed bat) – ecosystem credit  species

• Miniopterus orianae oceanensis (large bent-winged bat) – dual credit species

• Myotis macropus (southern myotis) – species credit species

An additional four threatened microbat species were also potentially present, including.

• Falsistrellus tasmaniensis (eastern false pipistrelle) – ecosystem credit species

• Saccolaimus flaviventris (yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat) – ecosystem credit species

• Scoteanax rueppellii (greater broad-nosed bat) – ecosystem credit species

• Vespadelus troughtoni (eastern cave bat) – species credit species

Of these fauna species, only one requires offset to be calculated for impacts to habitat, being southern myotis. A species polygon has been provided for southern myotis and offsets calculated. Ecosystem credit species do not require the preparation of a species polygon. Dual credit species and species credit species require the preparation of a species polygon, unless there is no breeding habitat within the BCAA or within 2 km of the BCAA. No breeding habitat such as caves, cliffs, disused mines or tunnels were present within the BCAA or within 2 km of the BCAA. Therefore, no species polygon for eastern cave bat, or large bent-winged bat was required.'

The proposed BCAA is bordered by Old Pitt Town Road to the south and Boundary Road to the west, with future residential communities to the north, east and south. Remnant vegetation and regrowth vegetation is present belonging to three native plant community types (PCTs):

1. Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland - listed as critically endangered (to extinction)
2. Cumberland Shale-Sandstone Ironbark Forest, - listed as critically endangered (to extinction)
3. Southern Lower Floodplain Freshwater Wetland - listed as endangered (to extinction)

Gables is 52 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire. The Gables is a residential development within the suburb that is currently being developed by Stockland. It is the biggest master planned community in The Hills District and covers 330 hectares (820 acres). When The Gables was first planned in 2015, it was planned to comprise over 4,000 dwellings, a primary school, two sports fields, a 5.5-hectare (14-acre) town centre and a 4-hectare (9.9-acre) lake central to the development.

Celestino was the original developer of The Gables until March 2020, when Celestino sold the remaining 293 hectares (720 acres) of undeveloped land to Stockland for A$415 million. At the time of the sale, Celestino had already developed 994 dwellings.

As part of the biodiversity certification process, the applicant must make the application available on their website and invite the public to make submissions on the application. 

To view the application including the Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report and application form, and to make a submission, please visit West Gables Biodiversity Certification Application

After submissions close, the applicant must provide a report to the Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment that includes the applicant’s response to any submissions from the public.

Have your say 

You can submit your feedback on the proposed biodiversity certification until Monday 26 October 2026. 

You can provide your submission online at: www.stockland.com.au/west-gables 

$6 million for research on climate and mental health

Announced: Thursday September 24, 2026

The Australian Government states it is addressing the human health impacts of climate change, with $6 million for Australia’s leading researchers to study and combat the mental health challenges of climate change.

The Australian Government has awarded $6 million to 3 new research projects through the Medical Research Future Fund.  

Projects will study and devise methods to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by climate change, with a particular focus on First Nations people.

Adelaide University, the University of Melbourne and the Menzies School of Health Research have each been awarded almost $2 million each to research, advise on policy, and implement local community strategies. Each of these projects was identified through a competitive application process, and assessed by independent assessment committees.

Climate change disproportionately affects First Nations communities as the distress of unprecedented droughts, longer summers and continued extreme weather events lead to heritage and environmental loss. Two of the three projects will include a focus on the experience of First Nations communities. 

The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Women, stated:

“The grants from the Albanese Government will provide some of Australia’s top researchers with the funds they need to improve mental health support for Australian’s impacted by climate change.

“These projects will deliver a range of practical, community-led responses to emerging mental health challenges with an important focus on First Nations communities impacted by climate change.”

Assistant Minister McBride stated:

“Two in five young people experience mental health challenges each year. These aren’t just numbers - they’re our family, our friends, our teammates and our colleagues.

“We’re living through challenging times, and supporting the mental health of Australians remains a clear priority for the Albanese Labor Government.

“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to speak with a health professional at your local Medicare Mental Health Centre or reach out to headspace.”

If you need someone to talk to, please call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• QLife on 1800 184 527

Full details of the awarded grants are in the table below. 

NSW Snapper Harvest Strategy: Have Your Say

The government is seeking feedback on a draft harvest strategy for NSW Snapper. Share your views on the draft harvest strategy and management framework, which will contribute to the sustainable management of Snapper in NSW.

Public consultation commenced on 1 September 2026 and was initially set to close on 18 October 2026. The consultation period has been extended until 15 February 2027 to ensure opportunity for all stakeholders to provide feedback.

A draft harvest strategy for NSW Snapper has been developed, along with a new stock assessment identifying the stock is at sustainable but low levels.

Documents

• Draft NSW Snapper Harvest Strategy PDF (793.08 KB)
• NSW Snapper Stock Assessment PDF (3.29 MB)

The government states on the consultation webpage:

'Harvest strategies are a best-practice way to manage fisheries. They provide a clear plan for balancing environmental, economic, social and Aboriginal cultural interests while helping to keep fish stocks healthy for future generations.

A new integrated stock assessment has estimated the NSW component of the Snapper stock to be approximately 23% of unfished biomass. The assessment indicates the NSW stock has been building from lower levels since the 1990s, so there is some confidence stock biomass will continue increasing under similar catch levels.

The harvest strategy sets clear goals to build the NSW stock to target levels. The first goal is to build the stock to 30% of its unfished biomass. Over time, the aim is to build the stock further to 50% of unfished biomass.

To help achieve this building goal, the harvest strategy sets initial total annual catch (fishing mortality) to 300 tonnes per year, and a defined share to the commercial and recreational sectors. Assessment modelling estimates building to 30% of unfished biomass in 2035 under this level of total catch.

Based on current data, the following management changes would be needed to keep Snapper catches at or below the target level, and within sector shares. These arrangements will be reviewed and updated before commencement and as new information becomes available:'

*Recreational and charter boat limits are not proposed for Snapper.

**Current data indicates a monthly limit of around 950 kg per endorsement holder. Limits will be recalculated before commencement and for each fishing period.

Have your say by filling in a submission form HERE

Consultation will be open from Tuesday 1 September until Monday 15 February 2027.

Your feedback will help to finalise the harvest strategy and management actions to improve the long-term health of the NSW Snapper stock. Please review the harvest strategy and FAQs for further information.

NSW Yellowtail Kingfish Harvest Strategy: Have Your Say

The Government is seeking feedback on a draft harvest strategy for Yellowtail Kingfish in NSW. Share your views on the draft harvest strategy and management framework, which will contribute to the sustainable management of Yellowtail Kingfish in NSW.

Public consultation commenced on 1 September 2026 and was initially set to close on 18 October 2026. The consultation period has been extended until 15 February 2027 to ensure opportunity for all stakeholders to provide feedback.

The government states on the consultation webpage:

'A draft harvest strategy for NSW Yellowtail Kingfish has been developed, along with a new stock assessment identifying the stock as depleted.

Harvest strategies are a best-practice way to manage fisheries. They provide a clear plan for balancing environmental, economic, social and Aboriginal cultural interests while helping to keep fish stocks healthy for future generations.

A new integrated stock assessment has estimated the NSW component of the Yellowtail Kingfish stock to be approximately 5.5% of unfished biomass. The assessment indicates the NSW stock has remained at a relatively consistent but unresponsive level over the past 2 decades.

The harvest strategy sets clear goals to rebuild the NSW stock to healthy levels. The first goal is to rebuild the stock to 30% of its unfished biomass. Over time, the aim is to rebuild the stock further to 50% of unfished biomass.

To help achieve this rebuilding goal, the harvest strategy sets initial total annual catch (fishing mortality) to 120 tonnes per year, which will be shared equally between the recreational and commercial sectors (60 tonnes each). Assessment modelling estimates rebuilding to 20% of unfished biomass in around 9 years, and 30% in around 12 years under this level of total catch.

Recent average total catches are around 250 tonnes per year. Based on current data, the following management changes would be needed to keep Yellowtail Kingfish catches at or below the target level, and within sector shares. These arrangements will be reviewed and updated before commencement and as new information becomes available.

*A recreational catch and release only season may be needed if the bag, possession and boat limits are not sufficient to reduce recreational catch to 60 tonnes for each fishing period. The duration would be assessed based on updated recreational data.

**Current data indicates a monthly limit of around 650 kg per endorsement holder to maintain catch to 60 tonnes for each fishing period. Limits will be recalculated before commencement and for each fishing period.

Lord Howe Island waters are currently excluded from the proposed management changes, recognising Yellowtail Kingfish are likely to comprise a distinct, self-recruiting component of the eastern stock.

Have your say by filling in a submission form HERE.

Consultation will be open from Tuesday 1 September until Monday 15 February 2027.

Your feedback will help to finalise the harvest strategy and management actions to improve the long-term health of the NSW Yellowtail Kingfish stock. Please review the harvest strategy and FAQs for further information.

NSW Draft National Parks Establishment Plan: Have Your Say

The NSW Government is seeking community feedback on the draft National Parks Establishment Plan (the draft plan). (PDF: 19.74MB)

National parks play an important role in conserving biodiversity and protecting cultural heritage across NSW.

The draft plan updates the current National Parks Establishment Plan (2008), providing a clear framework for growing the national park estate to protect NSW's unique natural and cultural heritage for future generations. This includes how land will be assessed and prioritised for future investment.

The plan uses 7 assessment themes to support decision-making, including:

1. Conservation value
2. Ecological connectivity and resilience
3. Cultural heritage
4. Climate change adaptation and mitigation
5. Restoration and rehabilitation
6. Management effectiveness
7. Visitor experience

Your feedback will help shape the final plan by making sure a range of community perspectives and knowledge are considered.

Have your say

the government is seeking input from community members, stakeholder and interest groups to help:

• highlight priorities, concerns or gaps
• improve the clarity and practicality of the plan.

Review the draft plan and share your feedback by completing the survey or uploading a submission by 11.59pm Monday 12 October 2026. Visit the consultation webpage here

NSW consulting on Australia's first mandatory solar panel recycling scheme: Have your say

Opened: Monday September 21 2026
Closes: Monday 16 November 2026

The Minns Government is consulting on Australia's first mandatory solar panel recycling scheme to ensure valuable solar panel materials are recovered, reused and recycled rather than sent to landfill.

The proposed regulation will help drive investment and jobs in the solar recycling industry and support the potential development of a solar panel remanufacturing industry in NSW.

NSW leads the nation in solar uptake, with more than 1.18 million rooftop solar systems across homes, businesses, schools and community facilities. As these systems age, increasing numbers of solar panels are ending up in landfill.

Around 14,000 tonnes of solar panel waste is generated in NSW each year. This is predicted to increase to 89,000 tonnes by 2045.

The proposed mandatory product stewardship scheme would require solar panel brand owners to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products, helping fund collection, recycling and resource recovery across NSW.

Recycling solar panels is not simply about reducing waste. It is also about capturing valuable resources and creating new economic opportunities.

Valuable materials such as aluminium, glass, silicon, copper and silver can be recovered and reused in new products and manufacturing industries. As larger volumes of materials are recovered, NSW will be better placed to build local supply chains, strengthen manufacturing capability, encourage innovation and create skilled jobs across the state.

To help shape this opportunity, the NSW Government has released an issues paper alongside the draft regulation, seeking feedback on how the state can support the growth of solar panel recycling, remanufacturing and manufacturing industries.

Consultation will seek views from unions, industry, recyclers, manufacturers, researchers, local government, workers and the community on the opportunities, challenges and investment needed to build a circular economy for solar panels in NSW.

Feedback will inform the design of the mandatory product stewardship scheme with the aim of establishing a system that reduces waste, recovers valuable resources and positions NSW as a leader in solar panel recycling and circular manufacturing.

Submissions on the draft regulation and issues paper are now open. For more information and to have your say, visit /yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/solar.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“NSW has embraced rooftop solar, and now we’re making sure those panels don’t become tomorrow’s landfill problem. Solar panels contain valuable materials that can be recovered and put back to work.

“A mandatory product stewardship scheme can help build a circular economy for solar panels, while supporting new recycling and manufacturing opportunities here in NSW.” 

Garigal + Ku-ring Gai National Park: 1080 Operation

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes. 

The program is continuous and ongoing between 1 August 2026 and 31 January 2027 in Garigal National Park. Don’t touch baits or ejector devices. Penalties apply for non-compliance. 

Ku-ring Gai Chase Applies from Fri 31 Jul 2026, 10.25pm to Mon 01 Feb 2027, 2.26am. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes. The program is continuous and ongoing between 1 August 2026 and 31 January 2027 in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

All baiting locations are identifiable by signs.

Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

Fox baiting in these reserves is aimed at reducing their impact on threatened species.

For more information, contact the local park office on:

• Forestville 9451 3479 (business hours)
• NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)

Strategic assessment of NSW forestry underway - '20 more years of logging': Have your say

The NSW Government wants Canberra to approve 20 more years of public native, plantation, and private native forestry across its three Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) regions under a single program, with the sector’s exemption from national environment law ending on 1 July 2027.  

According to draft terms of reference the government released on Friday, two days after it entered a strategic assessment agreement with Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, signed for NSW by Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, the NSW Government is progressing its alignment with the new Commonwealth Government environment laws that affect the regulation of forestry operations by tasking the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to develop a Strategic Assessment for forestry operations in NSW.

The assessment by the NRC will cover public native forestry, plantation and private native forestry operations across forests sitting within NSW’s defined Regional Forest Agreement boundaries.

The long-standing exemption for forestry operations between the Commonwealth and NSW across large areas of NSW forests, known as the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA), will cease on 1 July 2027 following the introduction of new environment legislation by the Commonwealth in November last year.

'The RFAs in NSW cover forests in Eden, the North-East and Southern NSW and set obligations and commitments for forest management.' the government stated

'The assessment will consider the impacts from forestry operations on nationally significant animals, plants, habitats and places to ensure they are appropriately identified and managed.' the government stated

From 1 July 2027, forestry operations taking place in RFAs will need to comply with the same rules and standards as other industries covered under the EPBC Act.

The NSW Government is now releasing for public consultation the draft terms of reference for the strategic assessment.

'Once the strategic assessment is complete, the NSW Government will work on a long-term bilateral agreement with the Australian Government to accredit NSW forestry operations.' the government said

'The Minns Labor Government is continuing to develop a Forestry Industry Action Plan to ensure a sustainable forestry industry that is aligned with environmental and economic priorities.'

Consultation commenced on 18 September 2026 and finishes on 16 October 2026. Have your say via Strategic Assessment of Forestry in RFAs.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said:

“The Albanese Government congratulates the Minns Government on reaching this important milestone, which will deliver better protections for the environment and more certainty for industry.

“As part of our landmark national environmental law reforms passed by the Australian Parliament at the end of last year, RFA forestry will need to meet the same Federal environmental requirements as other industries.

“We’re providing up to $8.5 million to NSW to ensure it’s meeting national benchmarks, through the development of landscape-scale approval pathways like the strategic assessment.

“We believe in a strong and environmentally sustainable future for the New South Wales forestry industry, and we look forward to continuing work with the Minns Government on this.”

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“The Minns Labor Government is working with the Commonwealth to ensure forestry operations in NSW meet the same national environmental standards that are applied to other industries across Australia.

“This is an important step towards strengthening environmental protections in NSW.”

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“The Minns Government is committed to working constructively with the Commonwealth to secure a pathway that supports sustainable forestry, strong environmental standards and certainty for industry and regional communities.

“We will utilise the assessment and engagement process with the Commonwealth to deliver a more practical and efficient approval process for industry and support a sustainable domestic timber sector.”

20 More Years of Logging: Response from environment groups, scientists and frontline forest campaigners not in yet

The announcement comes a week after a coalition of environment groups, scientists and frontline forest campaigners welcomed an agreement between the federal Greens and Labor that will retain the Improved Native Forest Management method, removing the final hold up to legislating the Great Koala National Park, and securing major new protections for forests and the climate.

On Thursday September 10 The Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the agreement came days after more than 100 forest and climate campaigners, scientists, elected representatives and conservation organisations signed an open letter urging Senators to retain the method as a pathway to end native forest logging.

The outcome provides governments with a pathway to stop native forest logging, protect forests for 100 years and invest the millions of dollars needed to restore and manage forests damaged by decades of industrial logging.

The changes agreed to on September 10 will:

• create the first federal legal mechanism allowing states to ban coal and gas companies from using ACCUs generated through INFM projects, including preventing credits being channelled through third parties;
• increase the minimum reduction in native forest logging required across Regional Forest Agreement areas before projects can generate carbon credits, rising from 20 per cent to 25 per cent for projects registered from 2028 and 30 per cent from 2030; and
• close a loophole that could have allowed regrown native forests to be reclassified as plantations and excluded from the method’s protections.

Clancy Barnard, Forests Campaigner for Nature Conservation Council NSW, said:

“In NSW, the agreement will give legal force to the state government’s commitment to stop coal and gas companies accessing ACCUs generated via the INFM method.

“This is the first time we have seen a commitment that an entire class of ACCUs will not be sold to coal and gas companies.

"We hope these steps mark a shift in the carbon market toward higher integrity methods, and broader restrictions on offsets being used by fossil fuel projects.

“Of equal importance, every dollar of revenue generated through future INFM projects in NSW will be reinvested into forest management and restoration.

“If applied across NSW’s remaining public native forests, this would increase investment in ecological management and restoration by around 30 per cent.

“We applaud Labor and the Greens for working together to deliver these safeguards.

“We backed this method, after fighting to get key changes to it, because we believe it gives us one of the best opportunities to finally end native forest logging and invest in the restoration our forests desperately need.

“Securing a commitment that every dollar generated from future forest projects will go back into restoring and managing those forests is a major win for nature.

“Our forests desperately need that investment after decades of logging, degradation, invasive species and increasingly severe climate impacts.

“This means ending logging will not only stop the damage. It will help pay for the enormous job of bringing these forests back to health.”

Susie Russell, a long-term campaigner with the North Coast Environment Council, said:  

“We applaud the Greens, crossbench and government for working together to deliver these changes.

“Now it is time to not only end logging in NSW but invest in restoration and regeneration on a massive scale.

“Ending logging allows rainforest and wetter forest communities suppressed by decades of logging to return. It allows trees to grow old, hollows to form, soils and waterways to recover and habitat for koalas, greater gliders and other threatened species to be restored.

“It also allows us to invest properly in that recovery, with substantially more funding for ecological restoration, weed and pest control, threatened species recovery and long-term forest management.

“As our climate becomes hotter and bushfires become more dangerous, ending logging and allowing wetter forest communities and rainforest to recover is one of the most important things we can do to build their resilience.”

North East Forest Alliance President Dailan Pugh OAM, said:

“The end goal has always been to end native forest logging. Now that the NSW Government has a funded pathway to end logging of public native forests they have no excuse not to.

“They need to begin the transition now. Our Koalas, Greater Gliders and a myriad of other suffering wildlife need their homes urgently protected if there is an intent to save them from extinction. They can't wait any longer. 

“We expect the NSW Government will introduce legislation to enact the Great Koala National Park within a month, and urge them to now commit to ending logging of public native forests and move forward with other proposals to protect our high value native forests.

“Stop the logging now. Protect the forests. Then get on with the enormous job of helping them recover.”

No response from environment groups, scientists and frontline forest campaigners to Friday's announcement and opening for feedback of the state government's draft Strategic Assessment for forestry operations in NSW has come in as this week's Issue goes to publication.

What they are trying to save (3 examples):

Wombats

Koalas

Yellow-bellied Gliders

Image Credits: The Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Unlocking faster and simpler assessments and approvals through environmental law reforms

Announced: Wednesday September 9, 2026

The rollout of the Albanese Government’s landmark national environmental laws is continuing at pace, with consultation now open on the next stage of the reforms, the government stated this week.

With a significant number of EPBC Act amendments having already commenced, this round of public feedback will help to finalise the landmark reforms that deliver better environmental protections and faster and clearer approvals for all proposals including vital housing, energy and minerals projects.

Consultation papers released today are seeking feedback on reforms for:

• streamlining single project approvals
• enabling landscape approvals
• setting operating rules for the Restoration Contributions Holder
• improving operational approaches to all pathways and increase transparency.

The new National Environmental Standards announced last month were a major step in the reforms, providing clearer, more consistent benchmarks that must be met for decisions made by the new, independent National Environmental Protection Agency.

Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said public feedback was crucial as the Albanese Government rounds out its reforms to national environmental laws.

“These landmark reforms are helping to protect our environment while driving crucial housing, energy and minerals projects Australia needs,” Minister Watt said.

“I encourage all interested parties to have their say and to help shape the laws that will deliver the best outcomes for industry, the environment and our nation for generations to come.”

Consultation on this new stage of the environmental reforms is now open on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water’s Have Your Say website HERE.

The exposure draft will be released for public consultation later in the consultation period and submissions can be provided via the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s online consultation hub.

This round of public consultation will close at 9pm AEDT on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.

IPART Review of the water pricing framework for NSW data centres: Have your say on terms of reference

Have your say on our Draft Terms of Reference

The NSW Government has issued IPART a Draft Terms of Reference to review the water pricing and regulatory framework for data centres.

IPART is seeking feedback from all interested stakeholders on the scope of our review and the matters set out in the Draft Terms of Reference.

The review would recommend a framework for how data centre operators fund the upfront and ongoing costs of providing water services to them. Once the Terms of Reference are finalised, we will commence the full review and consult further with all stakeholders throughout that process.

Submissions on the Draft Terms of Reference close on 2 October 2026.

You can read the Draft Terms of Reference and IPART's Fact Sheet, and make a submission via the IPART website.

In preparing its advice, IPART is to consider the following matters:

1. Forecast capital and operating costs of connecting data centres to metropolitan water services

2. Demand risks of connecting large, high-intensity water users to existing supply sources and the impact on existing and future water customers

3. Supply augmentation costs and how these are allocated between data centres, existing and future water customers, and any other parties (including consideration of stranded asset risk)

4. Service levels required by data centres and how they differ from other large water users

5. The water security requirements of data centres and how these might be addressed in a regulatory and pricing framework

6. Safeguarding long-term water security (including drought management/water restrictions)

7. Incentivising data centres to optimise their use of water with energy consumption implications

8. NSW’s competitive position in attracting new investment and the broader economic benefits to NSW that data centres may provide including jobs, and investment in skills and innovation

9. A regulatory framework that provides for competitive neutrality for the different suppliers of water services (public water utilities, and Water Industry Competition Act 2006 licensees)

10. The approaches in other equivalent jurisdictions, as relevant.

11. Any other relevant legislative, policy, or environmental considerations that IPART considers may affect the water pricing and regulatory framework’s application to data centres.

The Factsheet states there will be additional opportunities to provide feedback during the review once IPART receive the final Terms of Reference from the NSW Government. 

IPART Webpage for consultation: www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/review/water/review-water-pricing-framework-data-centres

Background in August 2026 report: Framework for NSW Data Centres Released

Public comment opens on industrial port and dredging proposal threatening Exmouth Gulf-Ningaloo

• WA EPA has released Gascoyne Gateway’s environmental review documents for its proposed industrial port in Exmouth Gulf for public scrutiny. 
• AMCS-Protect Ningaloo is campaigning to stop the port that would attract shipping through a critical humpback whale resting and nursing ground, require extensive dredging and cause other wide-ranging impacts.
• Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo will become WA’s newest marine park and is under formal assessment for National Heritage listing – AMCS-Protect Ningaloo maintains that an industrial port would be entirely incompatible with these vital conservation measures.

Australians have 12 weeks to voice their concerns about the industrialisation of Exmouth Gulf after Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) today released the Environmental Review Document for Gascoyne Gateway’s port proposal for public comment. Submissions close 16 November 2026.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society states the proposal poses such widespread potential impacts to matters of national environmental significance that it has also triggered a federal assessment that will be part of this public comment period.

Gascoyne Gateway wants to build an industrial port 10km south of Exmouth town next to Qualing Pool – a rare freshwater oasis that the WA Government has earmarked as a class A nature reserve. The port would attract large vessels including fuel tankers, cargo ships, cruise liners and other heavy shipping into Exmouth Gulf, which the WA Government has earmarked for a marine park and which is under formal assessment by the Australian Government as a National Heritage treasure. 

This ecologically rich marine and coastal area is closely linked to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast and holds high conservation value. The area is home to many threatened and listed species, including dugongs, turtles, manta rays, sea snakes and dolphins, as well as corals, seagrass meadows, and sponge gardens. The proposed port would attract massive ships that would pass through a critical resting and nursing ground for one of the world’s largest humpback whale populations, posing serious threats of vessel strike and disturbance. 

Tens of thousands of people have joined AMCS-Protect Ningaloo, the Exmouth-based Cape Conservation Group and many local community members, in opposing the proposal since plans were first announced in 2020.  Over 20,000 emails have been sent to the current and past WA environment ministers calling for them to reject the proposal because it would fundamentally diminish the environmental values of Exmouth Gulf.

AMCS Chief Executive and Protect Ningaloo Director Paul Gamblin said: 

“The Gascoyne Gateway industrial port and dredging proposal is completely incompatible with the environmentally fragile Exmouth Gulf – Ningaloo’s Nursery – and would change this marine wonder forever.  

“An industrial port proposal, jutting nearly a kilometre into Exmouth Gulf and dredging of more than a million cubic metres of the seafloor in one of the world’s most important whale nursing grounds beggars belief.

“Tens of thousands of people have already made clear that industrialisation is unacceptable for Exmouth Gulf. People know that Exmouth Gulf obviously is no place for a port – its future is one of conservation and sustainable, light-touch economic activity, not industrialisation.

“Both the WA and federal governments have signalled that they are committed to protecting Exmouth Gulf so it’s time they made it clear that the future of this natural wonder is economic activity that treads lightly on its fragile environment. They must reject this proposal.

Cape Conservation Group Chair Denise Fitch said: “Exmouth Gulf is where Ningaloo’s whales rest and give birth, where our dugongs and manta rays feed. Dredging a port in the middle of this precious nursery goes against the spirit of stewardship that’s made Ningaloo the conservation and tourism success it has become. 

“Ningaloo is already under pressure from climate change. We’ve recently experienced unprecedented coral bleaching and seagrass damage from marine heatwaves, and further destruction from Cyclone Narelle. Now is not the moment to be adding industrial stressors to this fragile ecosystem. And this is no place for an industrial port. 

“We encourage those who know and love Ningaloo’s nursery to make a submission to the EPA and say no to this unwelcome proposal.”

Protect Ningaloo is calling on Gascoyne Gateway to do the right thing, as two other companies which pursued industrial projects in the Gulf have already done, and withdraw its proposal. 

Overview of Proposed Project

Gascoyne Gateway Ltd proposes to build, own and operate a multipurpose marine complex in Exmouth that will service a variety of vessels including but not limited to cruise liners and associated ecotourism activities, Defence and marine supply vessels. The project will not be utilised for livestock or iron ore.

The Proposal site is located 10 kilometres south of the Exmouth township and immediately south of the Ingram Street light industrial area; opposite the Exmouth landfill site and to the north of the Wilderness Estate residential area.

The proposal has a land-based component (including fuel storage and laydown, supporting marine facilities, desalination plant, renewables precinct, and access and utilities corridor), and a marine component (including marine infrastructure, vessel berths/channels, and anchorages).

An Environmental Review Document (ERD) has been prepared by Gascoyne Gateway Ltd in accordance with Environmental Protection Authority procedures and is released for public review.

The ERD describes the proposal, examines the likely environmental effects and the proposed environmental management procedures associated with the proposed development.

The Proposal includes a land based component (106.54 ha footprint within a 119.02 ha terrestrial development envelope) to support the marine infrastructure (61.63 ha marine footprint within and 79.44 ha marine development envelope) which includes a combination rock groyne and pylon steel construction to a berth-face. The berth face will require 13.5 m of cleared depth (at chart datum, equivalent to depth at LAT) to meet design vessel draughts, achieved by both natural depth and some dredging of sand and seabed limestone at the berth pocket. Marine construction includes piling and dredging, with dredge spoil used in the causeway construction. Three anchorage locations of 1nm diameter each are located in Exmouth Gulf approximately 9.5 km to the north east of the end of the causeway, within a nominal anchorage development envelope of 1153.14 ha. 

The ERD is available for download from Gascoyne Gateway Marine Complex | EPA Western Australia under 3. Assessment > Environmental Review.

The document is also available on the proponent’s website at Gascoyne Gateway Marine Complex.

Submissions should be made here: https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/assessment-and-compliance/gascoyne-gateway-marine-complex-per/

Submissions close November 16

PNHA Activities 2026

Our walks for 2026 are listed below. 

You are very welcome to bring friends and older children on these outings. Please book by emailing pnhainfo@gmail.com and include  your PHONE NUMBER so we can contact you in case of changes because of weather etc. 

Looking forward to getting out and about in our lovely area! 

Your PNHA Committee

Pittwater Natural Heritage Association

The Pittwater Natural Heritage Association has been formed to act to protect and preserve the Pittwater areas major and most valuable asset - its natural heritage.

PNHA is an incorporated association seeking broad based community membership and support to enable it to have an effective and authoritative voice speaking out for the preservation of Pittwater's natural heritage.

Our Aims

• To raise public awareness of the conservation value of the natural heritage of the Pittwater area: its landforms, watercourses, soils and local native vegetation and fauna.
• To raise public awareness of the threats to the long-term sustainability of Pittwater's natural heritage.
• To foster individual and community responsibility for caring for this natural heritage.
• To encourage Pittwater Council and the NSW Government to adopt and implement policies and works which will conserve, sustain and enhance the natural heritage of Pittwater.

Some of our interests and concerns include:

• Native Tree Canopy
• "Wildlife Friendly" Gardens
• Weed Infestation
• Keeping our Waterways Healthy
• Beaches and Dunes

Act to Preserve and Protect!

If you would like to join us, please fill out the Membership Form. Visit: https://pnha.org.au

Sunday September 27. Spring in the Bush: Terrey Hills

Meet 9am at corner of Mallawa Rd and Bulara St, Terrey Hills. Walk ends about 11am. With a focus on botany, we’ll see flowering plants in the Proteaceae plant family, waratahs, endangered Grevillea caleyi , and others in the major Australian Proteaceae plant family. You can choose to lengthen this walk which connects to the Perimeter Track. Birds, too.

Sunday October 25: Katandra by Night

Meet 6.45pm at Katandra Bushland Sanctuary on Lane Cove Rd Ingleside. Walk ends about 8.45pm. Sunset is about 7.15. The bush by night is wonderful. We hope to see fireflies again as on previous walks here in October. Bring a torch, or headtorch, preferably with a red light option so as not to dazzle possums. Moderate fitness needed for the bush track and steps. Limit: 15 people, so please book early. 

Sunday November 22: Deep Creek Reserve

Meet 9am in Deep Creek reserve, off Wakehurst Parkway. Walk ends about 11am. Birds and bushland. From the bridge across the creek we may see Dollarbirds, summer breeding migrants that nest in hollows, with their youngsters. Black Bitterns have been observed along the creek margins, so bring binoculars. 

Coming up at Kimbriki

Solar for apartment residents: Co-funding

Less than 2% of apartment buildings in NSW have solar installed, but the NSW Department of Climate Chnage, Energy, the Environment and Water are on a mission to change this.

Their Solar for Apartment Residents grant is co-funding shared solar panel installations on eligible apartment buildings and multi-unit dwellings and has already helped thousands of households.

They’ve extended the program to help more homeowners and renters reduce their energy bills and have also allocated extra funds through a separate Boost grant to help priority communities too.

Application closes: 4 December 2026, 5:00 pm

Share this with your Owners Corporation or Stata Manager and check your building's eligibility at: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/solar-for-apartment-residents-soar-grant-program

Dedicated alpine weather page part of latest BOM website improvements

The Bureau of Meteorology has delivered its latest website update.

In this release navigation has improved, there’s a new dedicated alpine weather page in time for the ski season, and the weather map has more place names.

Bureau of Meteorology CEO Dr Stuart Minchin said the update was a direct response to community feedback.

“Since launch, we've had requests for more locations to be added to the weather map,” Dr Minchin said.

“Our website is there to serve all Australians. We've now added more than 100 place names, primarily in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

“We'll be adding hundreds more in the months ahead.”

The weather map will now remember users’ most recent pan and zoom position, keeping the settings the same for the next time the page is viewed.

For example, if your last visit was a maximum zoomed-in view of Mount Isa, Queensland, this is the view you'll see next time you visit the rain radar.

“Changes like these will make it easier for everyone to find what they need,” Dr Minchin said.

Other changes include the UV Index being restored to the hourly forecast and updating the presentation of flood warnings.

A new alpine weather page provides weather map layers for snow, wind and temperature, and forecasts for snow resorts, towns, and remote areas in Australia's alpine regions in one page.

The updated Alpine regions page provides weather maps and forecasts for snow resorts, towns, and remote areas in Australia's alpine regions.

Alpine regions offers information across 2 tabs:

• Forecasts – alpine districts and locations
• Map – 3 hourly snow, wind and temperature forecasts.

Navigating the website has become easier with changes to tabs and page layouts on a number of key pages such as Forecasts and observations, Coasts and Oceans and state, territory and district pages.

“People have told us that navigating to forecasts and observations for districts and states was hard,” Dr Minchin said.

“We’ve paid close attention to this feedback.

“Combined with last month's search improvements, this will make it easier for regional web users to find out if their district is expecting rain or sunshine.”

Updates will continue to be made to the website in response to the feedback received from the community.

Information about recent changes is available at bom.gov.au/website-help/website-updates

The ski season starts on the June long weekend and runs until October's long weekend in NSW. 

The Kiandra Alpine Club's Snow Carnival, 1900. Photo: Kerry

Birdwood Park Bushcare Group Narrabeen

Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) Needs People for the Rescue Line

We are calling on you to help save the rescue line because the current lack of operators is seriously worrying. Look at these faces! They need you! 

Every week we have around 15 shifts either not filled or with just one operator and the busy season is around the corner. This situation impacts on the operators, MOPs, vets and the animals, because the phone line is constantly busy. Already the baby possum season is ramping up with calls for urgent assistance for these vulnerable little ones.

We have an amazing team, but they can’t answer every call in Spring and Summer if they work on their own.  Please jump in and join us – you would be welcomed with open arms!  We offer lots of training and support and you can work from the office in the Lane Cove National Park or on your home computer.

If you are not able to help do you know someone (a friend or family member perhaps) who might be interested?

Please send us a message and we will get in touch. Please send our wonderful office admin Carolyn an email at  sydneywildliferescueline@gmail.com

622kg of Rubbish Collected from Local Beaches: Adopt your local beach program

This Tick Season: Freeze it - don't squeeze it

Notice of 1080 Poison Baiting

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPE’s/ejectors) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) for the control of foxes. The program is continuous and ongoing for the protection of threatened species.

This notification is for the period to 31 July 2026 at the following locations:

• Garigal National Park
• Lane Cove National Park (baits only, no ejectors are used in Lane Cove National Park)
• Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
• Sydney Harbour National Park – North Head (including the Quarantine Station), Dobroyd Head, Chowder Head & Bradleys Head managed by the NPWS
• The North Head Sanctuary managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
• The Australian Institute of Police Management, North Head

DO NOT TOUCH BAITS OR EJECTORS

All baiting locations will be identifiable by signs.

Please be reminded that domestic pets are not permitted on NPWS Estate. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. Penalties apply for non-compliance.

In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

For further information please call the local NPWS office on:

NPWS Sydney North (Middle Head) Area office: 9960 6266

NPWS Sydney North (Forestville) Area office: 9451 3479

NPWS North West Sydney (Lane Cove NP) Area office: 8448 0400

NPWS after-hours Duty officer service: 1300 056 294

Sydney Harbour Federation Trust: 8969 2128

Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed

Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Recycling Batteries: at Mona Vale + Avalon Beach

Over 18,600 tonnes of batteries are discarded to landfill in Australia each year, even though 95% of a battery can be recycled!

That’s why we are rolling out battery recycling units across our stores! Our battery recycling units accept household, button cell, laptop, and power tool batteries as well as mobile phones! 

How To Dispose Of Your Batteries Safely: 

1. Collect Your Used Batteries: Gather all used batteries from your home. Our battery recycling units accept batteries from a wide range of products such as household, button cell, laptop, and power tool batteries.
2. Tape Your Terminals: Tape the terminals of used batteries with clear sticky tape.
3. Drop Them Off: Come and visit your nearest participating store to recycle your batteries for free (at Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Mona Vale and Avalon Beach).
4. Feel Good About Your Impact: By recycling your batteries, you're helping support a healthier planet by keeping hazardous material out of landfills and conserving resources.

Environmental Benefits

• Reduces hazardous waste in landfill
• Conserves natural resources by promoting the use of recycled materials
• Keep toxic materials out of waterways 

Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs

Stay Safe From Mosquitoes 

Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land: Survey

Report fox sightings

marine wildlife rescue group on the Central Coast

A new wildlife group was launched on the Central Coast on Saturday, December 10, 2022.

Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast (MWRCC) had its official launch at The Entrance Boat Shed at 10am.

The group comprises current and former members of ASTR, ORRCA, Sea Shepherd, Greenpeace, WIRES and Wildlife ARC, as well as vets, academics, and people from all walks of life.

Well known marine wildlife advocate and activist Cathy Gilmore is spearheading the organisation.

“We believe that it is time the Central Coast looked after its own marine wildlife, and not be under the control or directed by groups that aren’t based locally,” Gilmore said.

“We have the local knowledge and are set up to respond and help injured animals more quickly.

“This also means that donations and money fundraised will go directly into helping our local marine creatures, and not get tied up elsewhere in the state.”

The organisation plans to have rehabilitation facilities and rescue kits placed in strategic locations around the region.

MWRCC will also be in touch with Indigenous groups to learn the traditional importance of the local marine environment and its inhabitants.

“We want to work with these groups and share knowledge between us,” Gilmore said.

“This is an opportunity to help save and protect our local marine wildlife, so if you have passion and commitment, then you are more than welcome to join us.”

Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast has a Facebook page where you may contact members. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076317431064

• Ph: 0478 439 965
• Email: marinewildlifecc@gmail.com
• Instagram: marinewildliferescuecc

Watch out - shorebirds about

Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing

Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed

Mona Vale Dunes bushcare group: 2026 Dates

What’s Happening? Mona Vale Dunes Bushcare group catch-up. 

In 2026 our usual work mornings will be the second Saturday and third Thursday of each month. You can come to either or both. 

We are maintaining an area south of Golf Avenue. This was cleared of dense lantana, green cestrum and ground Asparagus in 2019-2020. 600 tubestock were planted in June 2021, and natural regeneration is ongoing. 

Photos: The site In November 2019, chainsaws at the ready. In July 2025, look at the difference - coastal dune vegetation instead of dense weeds. But maintenance continues and bushcarers are on the job. Can you join us?

(access to this southern of MV Dunes  - parking near Mona Vale Headland reserve, or walk from Golf Ave.) 

For comparison, see this image of MV dunes in 1969!, taken from atop the home units at the end of Golf Avenue. 

2026 Dates

Bangalley Headland WPA Bushcare 2026

Watch out for PNHA signs telling you about bush regeneration and our local environment. This is one of many coming up.

Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when

Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities

Bush Regeneration - Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment  

This is a wonderful way to become connected to nature and contribute to the health of the environment.  Over the weeks and months you can see positive changes as you give native species a better chance to thrive.  Wildlife appreciate the improvement in their habitat.

Belrose area - Thursday mornings 

Belrose area - Weekend mornings by arrangement

Contact: Phone or text Conny Harris on 0432 643 295

Wheeler Creek - Wednesday mornings 9-11am

Contact: Phone or text Judith Bennett on 0402 974 105

Or email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment : email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au

Gardens and Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater

November 2024

• A Turtle-y Awesome Rescue by Whale Beach SLSC + Shell us what you see this Summer: TurtleWatch needs your help!

January 2025

• Are Turtles not Safe in the Estuary? Green Turtle Killed in Pittwater Prompts Renewed Calls for Boaters to slow down, adhere to the speed limit

Pittwater's Birds

New Shorebirds WingThing  For Youngsters Available To Download

A Shorebirds WingThing educational brochure for kids (A5) helps children learn about shorebirds, their life and journey. The 2021 revised brochure version was published in February 2021 and is available now. You can download a file copy here.

If you would like a free print copy of this brochure, please send a self-addressed envelope with A$1.10 postage (or larger if you would like it unfolded) affixed to: BirdLife Australia, Shorebird WingThing Request, 2-05Shorebird WingThing/60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053.

Shorebird Identification Booklet

The Migratory Shorebird Program has just released the third edition of its hugely popular Shorebird Identification Booklet. The team has thoroughly revised and updated this pocket-sized companion for all shorebird counters and interested birders, with lots of useful information on our most common shorebirds, key identification features, sighting distribution maps and short articles on some of BirdLife’s shorebird activities. 

The booklet can be downloaded here in PDF file format: http://www.birdlife.org.au/documents/Shorebird_ID_Booklet_V3.pdf

Paper copies can be ordered as well, see http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/shorebirds-2020/counter-resources for details.

Download BirdLife Australia's children’s education kit to help them learn more about our wading birdlife

Shorebirds are a group of wading birds that can be found feeding on swamps, tidal mudflats, estuaries, beaches and open country. For many people, shorebirds are just those brown birds feeding a long way out on the mud but they are actually a remarkably diverse collection of birds including stilts, sandpipers, snipe, curlews, godwits, plovers and oystercatchers. Each species is superbly adapted to suit its preferred habitat.  The Red-necked Stint is as small as a sparrow, with relatively short legs and bill that it pecks food from the surface of the mud with, whereas the Eastern Curlew is over two feet long with a exceptionally long legs and a massively curved beak that it thrusts deep down into the mud to pull out crabs, worms and other creatures hidden below the surface.

Some shorebirds are fairly drab in plumage, especially when they are visiting Australia in their non-breeding season, but when they migrate to their Arctic nesting grounds, they develop a vibrant flush of bright colours to attract a mate. We have 37 types of shorebirds that annually migrate to Australia on some of the most lengthy and arduous journeys in the animal kingdom, but there are also 18 shorebirds that call Australia home all year round.

What all our shorebirds have in common—be they large or small, seasoned traveller or homebody, brightly coloured or in muted tones—is that each species needs adequate safe areas where they can successfully feed and breed.

The National Shorebird Monitoring Program is managed and supported by BirdLife Australia. 

This project is supported by Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and Hunter Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Funding from Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and Port Phillip Bay Fund is acknowledged. 

The National Shorebird Monitoring Program is made possible with the help of over 1,600 volunteers working in coastal and inland habitats all over Australia. 

The National Shorebird Monitoring program (started as the Shorebirds 2020 project initiated to re-invigorate monitoring around Australia) is raising awareness of how incredible shorebirds are, and actively engaging the community to participate in gathering information needed to conserve shorebirds. 

In the short term, the destruction of tidal ecosystems will need to be stopped, and our program is designed to strengthen the case for protecting these important habitats. 

In the long term, there will be a need to mitigate against the likely effects of climate change on a species that travels across the entire range of latitudes where impacts are likely. 

The identification and protection of critical areas for shorebirds will need to continue in order to guard against the potential threats associated with habitats in close proximity to nearly half the human population. 

Here in Australia, the place where these birds grow up and spend most of their lives, continued monitoring is necessary to inform the best management practice to maintain shorebird populations. 

BirdLife Australia believe that we can help secure a brighter future for these remarkable birds by educating stakeholders, gathering information on how and why shorebird populations are changing, and working to grow the community of people who care about shorebirds.

To find out more visit: http://www.birdlife.org.au/projects/shorebirds-2020/shorebirds-2020-program