September 29 - October 27, 2024: Issue 635

Humpback Whale Pod off Avalon Beach: filmed October 1 2024 - heading south!

Footage by Tim Seaton of Tim Seaton photography

Tim Seaton Photography
Sydney based landscape and drone photography. 
All images are available as prints.
Founder of @sky_and_sand_digital

Daylight saving 2024 start date: Sunday 6 October 2024

Time: 2am Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
Clocks are moved forward by 1 hour to 3am, giving you more daylight in the evening.

Daylight Saving 2025 ends in NSW on Sunday 6 April 2025
Time: 3am Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
Clocks are moved back 1 hour to 2am, giving you more daylight in the morning.


Discussion paper: Review and report into the NSW wildlife rehabilitation sector

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Ms Trish Doyle MP, is leading the NSW wildlife rehabilitation sector review (the review). The review will provide recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, on opportunities to improve support to the wildlife rehabilitation sector and associated veterinary sector. 

The review will be completed, and a report submitted to Minister Sharpe by 30 October 2025.

The review involves consulting with stakeholders in the wildlife rehabilitation sector and veterinary practices who provide essential support. Through this consultation process, the review will:

  • examine current practices
  • evaluate previously implemented strategies
  • identify ongoing challenges
  • discuss areas of future opportunity.

Process for this review: Date Action

  • 9 September – 30 November 2024 Discussion Paper public consultation (submissions open)
  • November – March 2025 Engagement with stakeholders via roundtables and site visits
  • 1 December – 28 February 2025 Survey open to all members of the rehabilitation sector
  • February – May 2025 Consideration of submissions, surveys and meetings to collate review report
  • June - September 2025 Compilation and approval of report
  • October 2025 Review report provided to Minister for the Environment

NSW has different types of wildlife rehabilitation service providers. They can be:

  • home-based and part of an overarching organisation (such as WIRES)
  • a central facility where volunteers go (such as Friends of the Koala),
  • part of an exhibited animal facility (such as Taronga Conservation Society)
  • a sole operator at home (that is an individual licence holder).

Five facilities have a veterinary wildlife hospital attached.

Wildlife rehabilitation groups face a range of challenges including:

  • changing social demographics that affect volunteer participation
  • mental health and wellbeing of volunteers
  • funding of rehabilitation services
  • resources to support volunteers
  • shortage of skilled vets and veterinary nurses
  • the need for secure buildings and facilities.

The sector relies on volunteer labour and support, community fundraising and community in-kind donations. The work of wildlife rehabilitation sector volunteers was estimated to be worth around $27 million a year, according to the results of a survey of wildlife rehabilitators.

NSW leads the wildlife rehabilitation field in Australia with an organised sector to do this critical work. An integrated, future focused continuing strategy is needed to support the sector, and ensure the sector is well connected so that care for native wildlife is available in all parts of the state.

Read and download the Discussion Paper here

How to have your say

Stakeholder participation is vital to the success of the review, and you are invited to make a submission on this discussion paper.

Throughout this discussion paper we share some messages from recent stakeholder consultations. These messages are indicative, not a complete representation of the views or issues, which will expand as the consultation continues. The government shares these messages to promote consultation and seek your reactions. They do not necessarily reflect the government’s position.

The discussion paper outlines questions for you to consider when making your submission. The questions are a guide to particular issues, but you are welcome to comment on other aspects of the sector. If you have relevant examples, data and research, ideas or issues you would like to raise as part of the review, please include them in your submission.

The government looks forward to hearing from you about what is and is not working well, and where the review should focus its attention.

Making submissions

Email your submission to review.wildliferehab@environment.nsw.gov.au

Post a written submission to:

Wildlife Rehab Sector Review
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Submissions on the Discussion Paper close November 9, 2024

Bushfires on the Manly to Barrenjoey Peninsula: MP for Wakehurst Sounds a Warning

Wednesday September 25, 2024, in NSW Parliament

Mr Michael Regan, MP for Wakehurst: 

On Saturday 21 September many in the Wakehurst electorate became all too aware of just how vulnerable we are to bushfires. At around 1.30 p.m., a scheduled hazard reduction burn at Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls escaped containment lines and quickly gathered pace towards homes in Cromer Heights. As smoke filled the sky, many across the northern beaches wondered if everything was okay. It was not. The situation quickly escalated and, by 3.00 p.m., residents in Cromer Heights were being told that it was too late to leave and they needed to actively monitor their properties for burning embers and put out spot fires. Luckily, no lives or properties were lost, and the fire was quickly contained.

As always, I give a massive thank you to all our firefighters—almost 300 in total and many of them volunteers—and a special shout‑out to Beacon Hill and Belrose rural fire brigades from my electorate. Out‑of‑control bushfires threatening lives and property can seem incongruous with comfortable suburban life in metropolitan Sydney. But on the northern beaches, where there is significant urban-bushland interface areas, the threat is very real. History teaches us this much. There have been numerous bushfires on the northern beaches over the years, including in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1990s. The most damaging in recent history was in 1994 when 37 homes were destroyed. While the past is instructive, we know it is no longer an accurate indicator of future conditions. In a rapidly warming world, we are now in uncharted territory when it comes to bushfire risk. And conditions will be more challenging, not less.

Greg Mullin, AO, was the Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner from 2003 to 2017 and is a leading voice on bushfire management and risk. He is also a local and has been a volunteer firefighter on the northern beaches since the 1970s. He lays it out like this: Bushfire risk in the area is worsening as a result of climate change, and the effectiveness of traditional mitigation tools such as hazard reduction burning, asset protection zones and construction standards are limited because of the increasing intensity of bushfires. Greg was out with the crews on the weekend and emphasised to my office just how difficult the job for firefighters is now. Just two weeks ago, it was too wet to burn; this week there was a runaway fire. So the window for hazard reduction burning is now small and getting smaller. When speaking with Greg, he said, "Saturday was 24 degrees. Can you imagine a day of 44 degrees and gale force winds?" The reality is we have to confront the likelihood, perhaps inevitability, of that scenario.

I draw attention to the fire on the weekend and future intensifying bushfire risk on the northern beaches to highlight the profound recklessness of the proposed Lizard Rock/Patyegarang planning proposal. The proposal would see a whole new subdivision of at least 450 low-rise homes—with additional granny flats, no doubt—surrounded by bushland in Oxford Falls, very close to where the fire got out of control on Saturday. Greg Mullins' submission to the Lizard Rock/Patyegarang rezoning proposal states:

If established, the new homes will adjoin Garigal National Park and other contiguous areas of bushland comprising coastal heath and dry sclerophyll forest that is highly flammable and results in fast-burning, intense bushfires that produce burning embers that can travel significant distances under the right weather conditions to ignite homes, gardens, and other areas of bushland. There will only be a single lane, narrow road for egress, and this would be rapidly cut off by intense flames in the event of a fire, as it was in 1979 and 1994, preventing evacuation of residents and fire services from entering.

In no uncertain terms, he also states:

The Patyegarang proposed development should not proceed due to extreme, and worsening, bushfire risk and lack of suitable evacuation paths for residents.

I continue to be steadfast in my opposition to the Lizard Rock/Patyegarang rezoning proposal. I share the frustration of many in the community that the proposal remains live in the planning system and that decision‑making for the proposal has been so slow. It is almost a year since the rezoning proposal went on public exhibition in November 2023. Over 1,500 public submissions were received by the department of planning. The original gateway determination stated that the rezoning should be finalised by June 2024. Instead, I learnt through questions on notice that the proponent is being granted an extension to prepare their response to the issues raised by the public and other government agencies during the consultation.

Once they have prepared their response to submissions, the proposal will again go to the Sydney North Planning Panel for a decision. The indicative time frame given for this is towards the end of 2025. This week I have asked further questions on the timeline from here, including when the community submissions and government agency comments on the proposal will be released. In light of all the evidence, further demonstrated on Saturday, how can we possibly, in good conscience, put the lives of residents and firefighters at such risk? This reckless, bushfire trap of a development must not proceed.

Mona Vale Road East Fauna Crossing: A bridge to …where?

Pittwater Natural Heritage Association has been involved with the on-going struggle for fauna corridors in Ingleside since our campaign to save the Warriewood Escarpment which led to the creation of Ingleside Chase Reserve in 2006.

In 2016 after years of campaigning, we thought we could see success with the release of a map by the NSW Department of Planning showing, as part of a plan for residential development in Ingleside, a fauna corridor which would connect Ingleside Chase Reserve with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

We were further encouraged, when, after our concurrent campaign with Transport for NSW we were notified that they would cooperate with the Department of Planning by agreeing to build a fauna bridge and a fauna underpass across Mona Vale Road East. This would create an unbroken connection from Ingleside Chase Reserve, through Ingleside, to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

The fauna crossings actually came to pass, as motorists travelling on the upgraded eastern section of Mona Vale Road can see, and we have seen photos of animals crossing the fauna overpass showing that they work.

So, all good? No, because in the intervening years the Ingleside Precinct residential development was scrapped, meaning there is no commitment from the Dept. of Planning, who owns the land adjoining the fauna bridge, for their promised fauna corridor from the fauna bridge to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

PNHA is now embarking on a new campaign to have the bushland owned by the Dept of Planning on the western side of Mona Vale Road east, which adjoins the fauna crossings, added to Ingleside Chase Reserve so it will be permanently protected in public ownership. We will keep you up to date with the progress of our campaign.


Photo: Mona Vale Road east showing Ingleside Chase Reserve on the left side and on the right side, the Department of Planning land, which PNHA wants added to the reserve.

Update: PNHA Spring Newsletter, no. 101, September 2024

Catherine Park, Scotland Island Landscape improvements plan: Have Your Say

Closes: Sunday 13 Oct. 2024

Council have now modified the original concept plans (excluding vehicle access and parking) and are seeking community feedback on the modified design.

Note: Vehicle management will be resolved as part of the Scotland Island Traffic Management Plan review following the recent decision by Transport for NSW.

Community feedback will help council clarify what is important to local residents and park users. Have your say by completing the comment form here: https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/catherine-park-scotland-island


Modified plans: NBC


New Books by local author for Primary students On our natural environment

Retired teacher and PNHA member Sylvia Saszczak has written and illustrated several delightful books about local wildlife and bushland. PNHA is supporting Sylvia’s project to have her books introduced into local primary schools, for teachers to read to children, and so the books can be in each classroom’s Reading Corner.

Says Sylvia: “I agree with the saying: You only protect what you love, and you can only love what you know. That’s why I think children need to learn about and connect with the native flora and fauna around them.

In Pittwater we are fortunate to still have some areas of native bush, so children are able to engage with the natural environment. I believe that we should encourage this connection.

Unfortunately, when children start to read and enjoy books, they are immersed in the natural environment of England (hedgehogs, rabbits, squirrels and blackberries) or the US (racoons, bears and chipmunks), because so many of the books we use are published in the UK and the US. The reading schemes, which are used to teach reading in our schools, also usually come from these countries.

So, when I retired from primary teaching, I started writing and illustrating my own stories about the local environment. I use Snapfish to publish my books online then give them to my local school. My efforts have been richly rewarded by the enthusiasm of my young audience.

I am very grateful to members of PNHA who have given me a great deal of encouragement and support.”

Can you help promote these books to schools? Would you like some for your family?

Contact pnhainfo@gmail.com for more information and a list of titles and prices. 




Pics: Sylvia and Possum Rescue, the range of books available, and From Possum Rescue - how a rescued possum is released back into the bush.

PNHA AGM 2024 + 30th Anniversary picnic lunch

When: October 13 Sunday 11.30-2.00

Where: at Katandra Bushland Sanctuary, Lane Cove Rd Ingleside.

David Seymour, chairman of Katandra Bushland Sanctuary – a Crown Reserve - will lead us on a bushwalk through this wonderful wild place. We can choose to follow a short walk of about 1 km or the more challenging 2 km track through rainforest remnants with creeks and fern-fringed pools.

Our famous PNHA cards will be available, still a bargain at $2.00 each.

This is also a chance to renew your PNHA membership if needed. No need to bring cash as we now can accept credit cards.

Thank you very much to all those who have already renewed PNHA memberships and made donations.

October 26 Saturday 7pm to about 9pm: Katandra Bushland Sanctuary By Night.

We will check out nocturnal activity in Katandra’s forest.

Will we see fire-flies as we did last year? Be sure to bring a torch and wear boots.

Please RSVP for these activities to pnhainfo@gmail.com including your mobile number for catering purposes and so we can contact you in case of doubtful weather.


Katandra Bushland Sanctuary Open Season 2024

Katandra is open to visitors 10am to 4pm every Sunday from July to October (inclusive). Group visits can be organised at alternative times.

Katandra is a sanctuary for flora and fauna where the wildflowers are their most colourful during spring but all year round there are opportunities for bird watching. The sanctuary covers 12 hectares and is situated on the Ingleside/Warriewood escarpment. Choose to follow a short walk of about 1 km or the more challenging 2 km track through rainforest remnants with creeks and fern-fringed pools.

Katandra Bushland Sanctuary is a Crown Reserve administered by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and managed by the Katandra Bushland Sanctuary Trust.

The Sanctuary was established following a gift of land to the people of NSW by Harold Seymour and was dedicated on 27 October 1967.

Find out more at: katandrabushlandsanctuary.com/home


NSW Forestry Industry Action Plan: Have Your Say

Consultation period
From: 12 September 2024
To: 13 October 2024

The NSW Government has stated it has established an Independent Forestry Panel to lead consultation on the sustainability of current and future forestry operations in NSW, ahead of the NSW Government developing its Forestry Industry Action Plan. The Forestry Industry Action Plan is intended to outline the path NSW will take to ensure a sustainable timber industry that aligns with the government’s key environmental priorities.

The Independent Forestry Panel is chaired by Peter Duncan AM, with members Professor Mary O’Kane AC and the Hon. Mick Veitch.

The Panel will engage with community, environment, and industry stakeholders to ensure that a broad range of views are appropriately considered by government, including from the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities, local government, business, related industries, tourism, scientific experts and the Commonwealth Government.

The Panel is now calling for written submissions from all interested parties that address the following topics: 

  1. Sustainability of current and future forestry operations in NSW.
  2. Environmental and cultural values of forests, including threatened species and Aboriginal cultural heritage values.
  3. Demand for timber products, particularly as relates to NSW housing, construction, mining, transport and retail.
  4. The future of softwood and hardwood plantations and the continuation of Private Native Forestry in helping meet timber supply needs.
  5. The role of State Forests in maximising the delivery of a range of environmental, economic and social outcomes and options for diverse management, including Aboriginal forest management models.
  6. Opportunities to realise carbon and biodiversity benefits and support carbon and biodiversity markets, and mitigate and adapt to climate change risks, including the greenhouse gas emission impacts of different uses of forests and assessment of climate change risks to forests. 

You can make an online submission to the Independent Forestry Panel by following the link under the Online consultation heading below. Submissions will be open to 13 October 2024. 

Your submission will be published on the Panel web page, which is hosted on the Independent Planning Commission website. Find out more information about the Panel and the submission process and procedures. 

The Panel will also undertake other modes of stakeholder engagement during this process. Register to receive email updates on the progress of the Independent Forestry Panel consultations.

Make an online submission: Independent Forestry Panel 


Background in:

For Those Whose Home Is Among The Gum Trees: Scamps, Labor Members, Greens, Australians at Local, State + Federal Level call for a Cessation of Habitat Destruction as NSW Government begins an 'Forestry Industry Action Plan' Consultation 

Next steps to tackle problematic plastics for a cleaner and safer NSW: Have Your Say

The NSW Government is seeking community and industry feedback on new proposals to tackle problematic plastic waste, promote more reusable and recyclable alternatives, and help NSW drive down plastic litter by 30% by 2025.

The NSW Plastics: The Way Forward action plan outlines possible steps to further reduce the impact of plastic litter and create a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment.

Most of the proposals bring NSW into line with other jurisdictions which have moved ahead of NSW.

An eight-week consultation is being launched to seek feedback from community members, businesses, industry, environmental groups, scientific and regulatory organisations and others.

In 2022–23, NSW generated around 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste – almost 110 kilos per person – but only 14% of that was recycled.

Globally, around 8 million tonnes of plastic leak into our oceans every year. That pollution severely impacts marine wildlife, and it's estimated almost half of all seabirds and sea turtles are likely to have ingested plastic.

The NSW Government consulted on the NSW Plastics: Next Steps discussion paper, attracting more than 5,000 responses up to February 2024. They showed overwhelming public support for stronger action on plastic waste. Government has also been speaking directly to industry and other stakeholders.

The NSW Plastics: The Way Forward action plan builds on this collaboration and proposes new initiatives including:

  • Phasing out items where non-plastic alternatives already exist, like plastic lollipop sticks, pizza savers and plastic food tags for bread, bakery and pantry items.
  • Introducing design standards for single-use plastic cups, food containers and their lids to ensure they are easily recyclable.
  • Phasing out the supply of unnecessary plastic barrier bags.
  • Bringing NSW into line with other states and phasing out the release of helium balloons as well as plastic balloon sticks, clips and ties.
  • Requiring food service venues to accept reusable cups for hot and cold takeaway beverages.
  • Phasing out food packaging made of foamed plastic, as in Western Australia, including food trays, loose-fill packaging, and moulded or cut packaging.

This feedback will inform further action to tackle problematic plastic items, which could include legislative change.

You can find NSW Plastics: The Way Forward and provide feedback online: https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/nsw-plastics-way-forward.

Feedback is open until November 4 2024

Minster for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

"Unless we take action, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

"We all want a healthier environment for humans and animals, with fewer problematic plastics.

"The phase-out of certain single-use plastics in NSW in 2019 has resulted in a 77% reduction in the number of banned single-use plastic items found in litter, but there are still too many takeaway food containers and plastic drink bottle lids strewn across our environment.

"We've listened to the concerns of businesses and industry, as well as environment and community groups. And now we'd like their feedback on the specific initiatives proposed in NSW Plastics: The Way Forward so we can take further action."


Household rubbish plastic bags for recycling. Image Credit: Rosie Nicolai

It’s magpie swooping season: how to avoid that click near your ear

Magpies are starting to nest around Australia – which means swooping season is upon us. Here’s how you can help keep yourself (and your neighbourhood magpies!) safe this swooping season!

Why do magpies swoop?

When magpie breeding season begins, so too does the swooping.

Swooping usually occurs when the magpies have young in the nest, or just after the young have fledged, when they are at their most vulnerable to predators.

Magpies swoop to protect their chicks from whatever they perceive as nearby threats. To a magpie, the faster you’re moving, the greater the threat – which is why cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers are common targets.

People often assume that swooping by magpies is aggressive behaviour, but experts agree that it is generally a defence strategy aimed to deter potential predators which may harm the young birds. Unfortunately, people fit into this category.

But despite their reputation, magpie attacks are relatively rare – less than 10% of males swoop people, and research suggests it’s a learned behaviour.

Most magpies don’t swoop, and of those that do, only a tiny minority actually make contact. Most of the time, birds will make a harmless (though often terrifying) near miss, accompanied by beak clicking.

Where (and when) swooping season occurs

Typically, the breeding season for Australian Magpies is from August to November – with swooping regularly recorded each spring across the mainland and virtually everywhere magpies occur.

Swooping season usually commences first in the northern parts of the magpies’ range, and then progressively moves southwards, with records in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales usually starting in July and August. This contrasts with southern Victoria, where swooping season peaks in September. However, earlier reports are not unknown throughout their range.

Did you know: magpies rarely swoop people in Tasmania – but the reason for their relaxed attitude to people is unknown.

How to avoid being swooped

To reduce the risk of being swooped by a magpie, try these steps:

1. Keep your distance: If you can, it’s best to avoid the area during swooping season – usually for a month or so while chicks are still in the nest. Otherwise, it’s best to keep a safe distance from their nest and move quickly through the area: magpies typically swoop pedestrians within 50 metres of their nest, or 100 metres for cyclists.

2. Get off your bike: if you’re on a bike, it’s safest to get off and walk away. Attaching cable ties to your helmet or a flag to your bike will also help direct swooping birds away from your face.

3. Wear sunglasses and a hat or helmet to help protect your face while walking or riding near swooping magpies. You can even try drawing a pair of eyes and wearing them at the back of your head, as birds are less likely to attack if they think you’re watching them.

What to do if you get swooped by a magpie

If you do get swooped, try to stay calm.

Move quickly and safely out of the area and don’t try to scare away or fight the bird. Magpies are very intelligent and can recognise faces, so you don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons!

To a magpie, if you run away screaming with arms flailing, this confirms you’re a threat that needs swooping.

Make friends (not enemies!) with your local magpies

Remember: swooping magpies are only trying to protect their family.

Magpies are one of Australia’s most common and widespread birds, especially where there are people – so it’s important that we can co-exist peacefully with them in our cities, suburbs and towns.


Info: BirdLife Australia

Photo: A friendly Narrabeen magpie. Pic: Joe 'Turimetta Moods' Mills 

Select Committee on PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) opens for submissions

The Senate Select Committee on PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) was appointed by resolution of the Senate on 22 August 2024.

The committee is due to report on or before 5 August 2025.

Terms of Reference

1. That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances), be established to inquire into the extent, regulation and management of PFAS, with particular reference to:

a. the extent of data collection on PFAS contamination of water, soil and other natural resources;

b. sources of exposure to PFAS, including through environmental contamination, food systems and consumer goods;

c. the health, environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of PFAS;

d. challenges around conducting and coordinating health and exposure research into PFAS, including the adequacy of funding arrangements and the influence of the chemicals industry over the evolving body of scientific evidence on the health effects of PFAS, including in respect to First Nations communities;

e. the effectiveness of current and proposed federal and state and territory regulatory frameworks, including the adequacy of health based guidance values, public sector resourcing and coordination amongst relevant agencies in preventing, controlling and managing the risks of PFAS to human health and the environment;

f. the role, liability and responsibility of government agencies and industry in the production, distribution, contamination and remediation of PFAS, including obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and other relevant principles and international conventions;

g. international best practices for the environmentally sound management and safe disposal of PFAS;

h. the adequacy and effectiveness of government engagement with and support for communities disproportionately affected by PFAS contamination, including fair and appropriate compensation schemes;

i. the effectiveness of remediation works on specific sites and international best practices for remediation and management of contaminated sites;

j. international best practices for environmental and health risk assessments, reduction and management of PFAS contamination and exposure;

k. areas for reform, including legislative, regulatory, public health and other policy measures to prevent, control and manage the risks of PFAS to human health and the environment, including the phasing out of these harmful substances; and

l. any other related matters.

The committee invites individuals and organisations to send in their opinions and proposals in writing (submissions).

How to make a submission

Permaculture NB Upcoming Events

MUSHROOM CULTIVATION WITH CLARA ROZA

When: Thursday September 26th 7:30pm - 9pm 
Where: Narrabeen Tramshed (upstairs Lakeview Room)

At September's public meeting we're very excited to have Clara Roza of Claras Urban Mini Farm talking to us all about the various approaches to growing a wide variety of mushrooms wherever you live!

Clara will be going over:
- Making up an Oyster Mushroom grow bucket for growing indoors
- Growing Wine Cap and Portabello Mushrooms outdoors in gardens
- Growing Shitake and Oyster mushrooms on inoculated logs
- Safely cooking and foraging local mushrooms

We hope to see you there!
Entry is by donation ($5 recommended).

Organic Teas & Coffees available for a small donation to PNB. We warmly invite you to bring along a small plate to share at the meeting.

We'll have the swap table set-up so if there's' any produce, plants, or useful items you wish to bring along to swap/share please do!

To book your space, link below (bookings not essential, but they do help us with planning):

Aussie Bird Count 2024

BirdLife Australia: Registrations are NOW OPEN for your favourite event of the year – the Aussie Bird Count!  

Mark your calendars for 14th-20th October and get ready to join Australia’s biggest birdwatching and citizen science event. Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or just starting out, this is your chance to connect with nature in a fun and easy way. 

Register here: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/  

We can’t wait to come together and count birds this October – stay tuned for more Aussie Bird Count updates coming soon!  


Artwork by Angharad Neal-Williams

Barrenjoey access trail closed on weekdays until november

NPWS Notice

Barrenjoey access road is closed on weekdays from Monday 8 July 2024 to Thursday 31 October 2024 due to construction works. Pedestrian access to Barrenjoey Lighthouse will be via Smugglers track.

The Smugglers track is a grade 3 walking track – mostly stairs. It is a steeper and more challenging walk to the top of the headland. Please consider your ability prior to ascent.
For further information please call the local area office.




NSW community's opinion sought on coal mine regulation

Community members across NSW are being asked to give their feedback on the regulation of coal mines, with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) conducting a statewide consultation.

EPA CEO, Tony Chappel, said it’s an important opportunity to ensure licences are operating as intended, to protect the health of the community and environment.

“We’re committed to ensuring all mines in NSW are operating environmentally responsibly, and to get a gauge on this it’s key we hear directly from those living in proximity to these sites.

“Our team is continually working closely with licensees to ensure they are complying with their strict licence requirements, including limits on noise, dust and water quality.

“This is an opportunity for us to take a look at the sector as a whole and see if we can increase consistency in regulation or community transparency through more reporting or monitoring.

“All feedback will be carefully considered, and we won’t hesitate to make necessary changes to strengthen operating requirements,” Mr Chappel said.

This feedback will complement the statutory five yearly reviews of coal mine licences with many licences due for review this year. 

Climate change is an important consideration for the EPA. Environment protection licences across NSW will be proactively updated to align with the EPA’s Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2023-26 to progressively minimise emissions and exposure to climate risks.

Public consultation will open on 21 August 2024 and continue until 2 October 2024. To learn more, you can access the public consultation and Have Your Say at https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/state-wide-coal-mine-consultation.

Coal mine licences and pollution monitoring results provided by licensed industry operators are available on the EPA’s Public Register.

Echidna Love Season Commences

It's time to slow it down on the roads! Echidnas breed from mid-June to early September in NSW, so from now on, male echidnas begin to actively seek out females to mate.

Echidnas are most active in the lead-up to their Winter mating period, so if you live in an area with lots of native bush nearby, you may have a small spiny visitor. 

Echidnas live solitary lives but in breeding season, the female is suddenly very popular and up to 10 males will start to follow her around. This courtship can last up to a month, at which time the female will make her choice from the remaining males. 

The females breed every 3-5 years – they do not have a proper pouch but the mammary glands swell up on either side of the belly when an egg develops and the egg is laid directly into it. A blind, naked puggle emerges from the egg about 10 days later. Milk is secreted through special pores on the female’s belly. Puggles are suckled in this rudimentary pouch for two or three months. When the puggle develops spines and becomes too prickly, the mother will build a nursery burrow for it.

Unlike many other native animals, Echidnas are relatively unafraid of people and can pop up in the most unexpected places.

If you see an echidna and it is NOT injured please leave it alone and DO NOT approach it and do not attempt to contain it. Never relocate any healthy echidna as it risks them losing their scent trail or leaving young unattended in the burrow. Echidnas have a type of inbuilt GPS which we don’t want to interrupt.

The best thing to do in this situation is for everyone to simply to leave the area for a period of time, allowing the echidna to make its own way. If you have a pet please keep it contained well away from the animal, and you will find that the echidna will move away as soon as it is sure it is out of danger, and feels secure.

If you do find a distressed or injured echidna over the next few months, please call Sydney Wildlife Rescue For 24/7 Emergency Rescue or Advice, Ph: 9413 4300 or WIRES on 1300 094 737.



Photo: a Mona Vale echidna. Picture courtesy Alex Tyrell

Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs

The Berry Collective at 1691 Pittwater Rd, Mona Vale collects them for Oz Bread Tags for Wheelchairs, who recycle the plastic.

Berry Collective is the practice on the left side of the road as you head north, a few blocks before Mona Vale shops . They have parking. Enter the foyer and there's a small bin on a table where you drop your bread ties - very easy.

A full list of Aussie bread tags for wheelchairs is available at: HERE 


Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed

Details:

Stay Safe From Mosquitoes 

NSW Health is reminding people to protect themselves from mosquitoes when they are out and about this summer.

NSW Health’s Acting Director of Environmental Health, Paul Byleveld, said with more people spending time outdoors, it was important to take steps to reduce mosquito bite risk.

“Mosquitoes thrive in wet, warm conditions like those that much of NSW is experiencing,” Byleveld said.

“Mosquitoes in NSW can carry viruses such as Japanese encephalitis (JE), Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), Kunjin, Ross River and Barmah Forest. The viruses may cause serious diseases with symptoms ranging from tiredness, rash, headache and sore and swollen joints to rare but severe symptoms of seizures and loss of consciousness.

“People should take extra care to protect themselves against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne disease, particularly after the detection of JE in a sentinel chicken in Far Western NSW.

The NSW Health sentinel chicken program provides early warning about the presence of serious mosquito borne diseases, like JE. Routine testing in late December revealed a positive result for JE in a sample from Menindee. 

A free vaccine to protect against JE infection is available to those at highest risk in NSW and people can check their eligibility at NSW Health.

People are encouraged to take actions to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of acquiring a mosquito-borne virus by:
  • Applying repellent to exposed skin. Use repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Check the label for reapplication times.
  • Re-applying repellent regularly, particularly after swimming. Be sure to apply sunscreen first and then apply repellent.
  • Wearing light, loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts, long pants and covered footwear and socks.
  • Avoiding going outdoors during peak mosquito times, especially at dawn and dusk.
  • Using insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units and mosquito coils to repel mosquitoes (mosquito coils should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas)
  • Covering windows and doors with insect screens and checking there are no gaps.
  • Removing items that may collect water such as old tyres and empty pots from around your home to reduce the places where mosquitoes can breed.
  • Using repellents that are safe for children. Most skin repellents are safe for use on children aged three months and older. Always check the label for instructions. Protecting infants aged less than three months by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting, secured along the edges.
  • While camping, use a tent that has fly screens to prevent mosquitoes entering or sleep under a mosquito net.
Remember, Spray Up – Cover Up – Screen Up to protect from mosquito bite. For more information go to NSW Health.

Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land: Survey

This survey aims to document mountain bike related incidents on public land, available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K88PSNP

Sent in by Pittwater resident Academic for future report- study. The survey will run for 12 months and close in November 2024.

Report fox sightings

Fox sightings, signs of fox activity, den locations and attacks on native or domestic animals can be reported into FoxScan. FoxScan is a free resource for residents, community groups, local Councils, and other land managers to record and report fox sightings and control activities. 

Our Council's Invasive species Team receives an alert when an entry is made into FoxScan.  The information in FoxScan will assist with planning fox control activities and to notify the community when and where foxes are active.



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


Watch out - shorebirds about

Summer is here so watch your step because beach-nesting and estuary-nesting birds have started setting up home on our shores.
Did you know that Careel Bay and other spots throughout our area are part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)?

This flyway, and all of the stopping points along its way, are vital to ensure the survival of these Spring and Summer visitors. This is where they rest and feed on their journeys.  For example, did you know that the bar-tailed godwit flies for 239 hours for 8,108 miles from Alaska to Australia?

Not only that, Shorebirds such as endangered oystercatchers and little terns lay their eggs in shallow scraped-out nests in the sand, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Threatened Species officer Ms Katherine Howard has said.
Even our regular residents such as seagulls are currently nesting to bear young.

What can you do to help them?
Known nest sites may be indicated by fencing or signs. The whole community can help protect shorebirds by keeping out of nesting areas marked by signs or fences and only taking your dog to designated dog offleash area. 

Just remember WE are visitors to these areas. These birds LIVE there. This is their home.

Four simple steps to help keep beach-nesting birds safe:
1. Look out for bird nesting signs or fenced-off nesting areas on the beach, stay well clear of these areas and give the parent birds plenty of space.
2. Walk your dogs in designated dog-friendly areas only and always keep them on a leash over summer.
3. Stay out of nesting areas and follow all local rules.
4. Chicks are mobile and don't necessarily stay within fenced nesting areas. When you're near a nesting area, stick to the wet sand to avoid accidentally stepping on a chick.


Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing

Possums in your roof? Please do the right thing 
On the weekend, one of our volunteers noticed a driver pull up, get out of their vehicle, open the boot, remove a trap and attempt to dump a possum on a bush track. Fortunately, our member intervened and saved the beautiful female brushtail and the baby in her pouch from certain death. 

It is illegal to relocate a trapped possum more than 150 metres from the point of capture and substantial penalties apply.  Urbanised possums are highly territorial and do not fare well in unfamiliar bushland. In fact, they may starve to death or be taken by predators.

While Sydney Wildlife Rescue does not provide a service to remove possums from your roof, we do offer this advice:

✅ Call us on (02) 9413 4300 and we will refer you to a reliable and trusted licenced contractor in the Sydney metropolitan area. For a small fee they will remove the possum, seal the entry to your roof and provide a suitable home for the possum - a box for a brushtail or drey for a ringtail.
✅ Do-it-yourself by following this advice from the Department of Planning and Environment: 

❌ Do not under any circumstances relocate a possum more than 150 metres from the capture site.
Thank you for caring and doing the right thing.



Sydney Wildlife photos

Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed

Pittwater Online News has interviewed Lynette Millett OAM (WIRES Northern Beaches Branch) needs more bird cages of all sizes for keeping the current huge amount of baby wildlife in care safe or 'homed' while they are healed/allowed to grow bigger to the point where they may be released back into their own home. 

If you have an aviary or large bird cage you are getting rid of or don't need anymore, please email via the link provided above. There is also a pressing need for release sites for brushtail possums - a species that is very territorial and where release into a site already lived in by one possum can result in serious problems and injury. 

If you have a decent backyard and can help out, Lyn and husband Dave can supply you with a simple drey for a nest and food for their first weeks of adjustment.

Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when

For further information or to confirm the meeting details for below groups, please contact Council's Bushcare Officer on 9970 1367 or visit Council's bushcare webpage to find out how you can get involved.

BUSHCARE SCHEDULES 
Where we work                      Which day                              What time 

Avalon     
Angophora Reserve             3rd Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 
Avalon Dunes                        1st Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 
Avalon Golf Course              2nd Wednesday                 3 - 5:30pm 
Careel Creek                         4th Saturday                      8:30 - 11:30am 
Toongari Reserve                 3rd Saturday                      9 - 12noon (8 - 11am in summer) 
Bangalley Headland            2nd Sunday                         9 to 12noon 
Catalpa Reserve              4th Sunday of the month        8.30 – 11.30
Palmgrove Park              1st Saturday of the month        9.00 – 12 

Bayview     
Winnererremy Bay                 4th Sunday                        9 to 12noon 

Bilgola     
North Bilgola Beach              3rd Monday                        9 - 12noon 
Algona Reserve                     1st Saturday                       9 - 12noon 
Plateau Park                          1st Friday                            8:30 - 11:30am 

Church Point     
Browns Bay Reserve             1st Tuesday                        9 - 12noon 
McCarrs Creek Reserve       Contact Bushcare Officer     To be confirmed 

Clareville     
Old Wharf Reserve                 3rd Saturday                      8 - 11am 

Elanora     
Kundibah Reserve                   4th Sunday                       8:30 - 11:30am 

Mona Vale     
Mona Vale Beach Basin          1st Saturday                    8 - 11am 
Mona Vale Dunes                     2nd Saturday +3rd Thursday     8:30 - 11:30am 

Newport     
Bungan Beach                          4th Sunday                      9 - 12noon 
Crescent Reserve                    3rd Sunday                      9 - 12noon 
North Newport Beach              4th Saturday                    8:30 - 11:30am 
Porter Reserve                          2nd Saturday                  8 - 11am 

North Narrabeen     
Irrawong Reserve                     2nd Saturday                   2 - 5pm 

Palm Beach     
North Palm Beach Dunes      3rd Saturday                    9 - 12noon 

Scotland Island     
Catherine Park                          2nd Sunday                     10 - 12:30pm 
Elizabeth Park                           1st Saturday                      9 - 12noon 
Pathilda Reserve                      3rd Saturday                      9 - 12noon 

Warriewood     
Warriewood Wetlands             1st Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 

Whale Beach     
Norma Park                               1st Friday                            9 - 12noon 

Western Foreshores     
Coopers Point, Elvina Bay      2nd Sunday                        10 - 1pm 
Rocky Point, Elvina Bay           1st Monday                          9 - 12noon

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


Ringtail Posses 2023

Far south coast of NSW preparing for potential bird flu outbreak in wildlife

The NSW Government stated on September 7 2024 it is taking action to prepare for a potential wildlife emergency if a dangerous strain of avian influenza reaches Australian shores this Spring.

H5N1 is a highly contagious strain which is affecting bird species and some mammals overseas. It has seen mass deaths of wild birds and marine mammals as well as animals that prey or scavenge on birds.

Australia is the only continent that has not yet detected cases of H5N1 avian influenza. But migratory birds pose a risk of introducing it from the north and from Antarctica.

The NSW Government recognises the risk to wildlife, ecosystems, food security, the economy and potentially human health.

Several locations on the far south coast of NSW have been identified as high priority sites for risk assessment and response planning. Work is underway at Barunguba – Montague Island Nature Reserve, which is home to bird and seal colonies.

The island is considered a potential risk from an H5N1 incursion due to the large number of migratory birds arriving to breed over the coming months. Response strategies will also consider the risk to little penguins and fur seals.

If this strain of bird flu arrives in Australia, communities can assist with early detection by reporting what they see. Symptoms of avian influenza usually appear in several or all birds in a flock and include:

  • lack of coordination, arched head, paralysis, seizures, tremors
  • conjunctivitis, nasal secretions, laboured breathing
  • unusual sudden death.

Members of the public and wildlife carers who see dead or symptomatic birds are advised to take the following steps:

AVOID

Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment.

Do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead wildlife.

RECORD

Record what you see, including the wildlife, location and surrounding area, using video and photographs.

REPORT

Report any unusual sickness or mass deaths of wild birds (more than five birds) to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The NSW Government is taking a range of actions to prepare for the potential arrival of bird flu. They include:

  • The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is working closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) which is the lead agency for an H5N1 outbreak.
  • Setting up an H5N1 taskforce with a specific focus on risks, preparedness and response to outbreaks in wildlife. It is working with other agencies and non-governmental organisations including wildlife carers.
  • Conducting species risk assessments that identify species most at risk, and then assessing priority locations. They include the Little Penguin colony at Manly in Sydney and offshore islands and estuaries where there are important migratory bird or marine mammal colonies.
  • NSW agencies participated in an Australian Government led, all jurisdiction H5N1 preparedness exercise in August. Another exercise is scheduled for September.

The recent outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry in Australia have been the H7 strain not the H5N1 strain of current concern.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe stated:

'Australia is yet to be hit by this dangerous strain of bird flu, but NSW is taking action to prepare for its potential arrival.

'The NSW Government is working closely with experts across government and across state borders to prepare for risks and respond to any outbreaks.

'It is difficult to stop the spread of avian influenza in wild birds, but we are getting the message out now so government agencies, wildlife groups and communities are ready to Avoid, Record, Report.'

Countdown is on for world-leading Australian environmental summit

September 24 2024

Speakers for the world’s first Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney from 8-10 October have been announced.

Leaders and experts joining Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek at the event include Nature Positive Initiative Convenor Marco Lambertini, Global Environment Facility CEO and Chair Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Centre for International Forestry Research, World Agroforestry CEO Dr Eliane Ubalijoro, Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM, and Nature Finance Council Chair Ken Henry AC.

The sessions and site visits will cover a range of topics including:

  • driving sustainable ocean economies and ‘blue finance’
  • developing nature reporting frameworks
  • business leadership on sustainability
  • boosting First Nations leadership in nature repair
  • showcasing nature repair in practice, across landscapes, seascapes and borders.

Repairing nature is a huge job and governments can’t do it alone.

The Summit is the next step towards turbocharging private sector investment in nature repair.

Hosted by the Federal and NSW governments, the Summit brings together Ministers, experts, environmental groups, businesses, First Nations people, community leaders and scientists.

View the program and speaker list at Global Nature Positive Summit.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek stated:

'Australia can be a global leader in protecting and restoring nature, and stopping biodiversity loss, and we can do it in partnership with business and society.

'This world first summit will bring together global leaders to discuss next steps for a nature positive future, so that our kids and grandkids will be able to enjoy the wild places we love today.'

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe stated:

'Getting nature on the path to recovery is as important as tackling climate change.

'Nature positive, and investing in nature, are newish concepts – and they are key to turning around destruction and pollution of land, waterways and air, and of stopping biodiversity loss.

'We must all be the stewards of protecting what’s left and restoring what’s been harmed.'

'Extinct' mammals return to Sturt National Park

September 24, 2024

The NSW and Federal Governments have announced two more ‘extinct’ species have been returned to Sturt National Park in far western NSW as part of a ground-breaking partnership between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Wild Deserts consortium.

The release of 20 Western Quolls (a carnivorous marsupial related to the Tasmanian Devil) and 20 Burrowing Bettongs (a macropod that lives in extensive underground warrens) at Sturt National Park means that 13 mammal species listed as extinct in NSW have now been returned to the national park estate.

The Western Quoll and the Burrowing Bettong disappeared from NSW almost 100 years ago, driven to local extinction by feral cats and foxes. Feral cats alone kill 1.5 billion native animals every year.

The release at Sturt National Park came from a breeding program at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and from the Arid Recovery project in South Australia.


Western quoll getting ready for release. Credit: DCCEEW


The reintroduction of locally extinct mammals is possible because of the creation of a network of large feral cat and fox-free areas across NSW national parks. Feral-free areas have been established in three national parks, including the largest (9,570 ha) feral cat-free area on mainland Australia at Mallee Cliffs National Park, a 5,800 ha area in the Pilliga (both in partnership with Australian Wildlife Conservancy) and two 2,000 ha feral-free areas at Sturt National Park. Another 7 feral-free areas are nearing completion across NSW.

Feral-free areas have a critical role to play in saving species from extinction, restoring depleted populations and managing genetics. However, the long-term challenge remains how to restore wildlife populations ‘beyond the fence’.

At Sturt National Park, scientists have released two species, the Western Quoll and Greater Bilby, from a protected feral-free zone into a Wild Training Zone, which is a 10,000 ha area protected by a conservation fence. It contains a much lower density of feral cats than the surrounding landscape.

This research will test whether some threatened species can survive in the presence of low cat densities, including developing enhanced anti-predator behaviours.

Unfortunately, there is currently no tool which effectively reduces cat densities across an open landscape. The NSW and Australian Governments are undertaking a range of initiatives designed to unlock the secret to effective cat control:

  • Releasing the national Feral Cat Threat Abatement Plan later this year.
  • Establishing the first dedicated feral cat shooting team in NSW National Parks.
  • Supporting the development and deployment of innovative traps such as Felixers (a box using lasers, cameras and AI to spray feral cats with a toxic gel).
  • Trialling cat baits.
  • Supporting long-term research into genetic solutions, for example, to prevent cats having female offspring.

The 13 species reintroduced to the feral-free area network are doing very well. Wild populations have more than tripled for species such as the Bilby, Golden Bandicoot and Brush-tailed Bettong.

The Australian Government recently awarded a $2.1 million grant under its new $11.4 million Threat Innovations program for the development and trial of advanced AI wildlife camera monitoring and Felixers – some which will be rolled out across Sturt National Park.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek stated:

'The Albanese Government is serious about protecting our precious native species – and that’s why we’re tackling one of their biggest killers. Feral cats are dangerous predators, contributing to two thirds of Australia’s mammal extinctions and pushing over 200 threatened species to the brink of extinction.

'The return of 13 locally extinct species to Sturt National Park in NSW is a big win for conservation, innovation and our ongoing war on feral cats.

'We’ve invested more than $60 million in projects nationwide to combat feral cats – including $2.1 million in the development of advanced AI wildlife camera monitoring which will be trialled at Sturt National Park.'

NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

'These are the first Western Quolls in NSW for almost a century and the 13th locally extinct mammal returned across NSW. It’s a big moment in our quest to reverse the loss of biodiversity across NSW.

'This is not just about the return of individual species. It is about restoring ecosystems which depend on Bilbies, Bettongs and other ecosystem engineers to support the landscape by digging, spreading seeds and boosting water and nutrient cycles.

'The Minns Labor Government is committed to protecting what’s left and restoring what has been harmed, and it’s wonderful to see this in action in Sturt National Park.

'We are fortunate to partner with amazing scientists and researchers from UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science and Ecological Horizons, Taronga Conservation Society and Australian Wildlife Conservancy and we thank them for their important work.'

Wild Deserts Project and Director of the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Sydney, Professor Richard Kingsford said:

'It has been fantastic to work with our project partners in realising this ambitious plan.

'We could not have done this without the bilbies and quolls we have released into the wild from Taronga Conservation Society and bilbies, quolls and bettongs from Arid Recovery.

'We also thank those who have provided philanthropic funding to support these and other projects.'

Principal Wild Deserts ecologist, Dr Rebecca West stated:

'It has been incredibly exciting to release 20 western quolls and 100 bilbies into the Wild Training Zone area.

'Seeing their tracks in the red sand for the first time in around a century and radiotracking them daily to check their survival has been a thrill, especially as so far, they are surviving well in the training zone, where we are reducing feral cat numbers to low numbers.

'The research at Sturt National Park is critical because it will help identify whether some threatened mammal species can survive with a low density of cats. This can help inform a long-term plan for the return of species in open landscapes.'

Taronga Conservation Society Australia Chief Executive, Cameron Kerr AO said:

'We’re incredibly proud of our vital conservation breeding program for the endangered Western Quoll.

'In just three years, with the support of essential philanthropic funding, Taronga has produced 90 Western Quolls for release, including 44 animals that are now fit and ready to be released back into the wild.

'Earlier this year, 16 Western Quolls were released into Wild Deserts, marking the return of this species to NSW. This remarkable achievement is a testament to Taronga’s multidisciplinary conservation team, working across the Taronga Sanctuary in Dubbo and Taronga Zoo Sydney.

'With the last recorded Western Quoll in NSW dating to 1841, this species is now being brought back from the brink thanks to the collaborative efforts of Taronga, our partners, and supporters.'


Bilby being released. Credit: DCCEEW


Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, The Hon. Tanya Plibersek  with Team 'Reverse Extinctions!'. Credit: DCCEEW

NSW Government grants ACEREZ transmission operator’s licence for Central-West Orana REZ

September 25, 2024

The NSW Government has announced the states' first Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is one step closer to delivering electricity into the grid after ACEREZ Partnership (ACEREZ) was granted a transmission system.

ACEREZ, a consortium of Acciona Concesiones, Cobra and Endeavour Energy, was selected by the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) as the preferred network operator to deliver the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system, following a rigorous competitive tender.

The NSW Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe granted the licence, which will enable ACEREZ to design, construct, own and operate the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system, which will connect renewable energy projects within the REZ to the existing Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong load centres.

When operational, the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system will unlock 4.5 gigawatts of network capacity, allowing generation and storage projects to connect at scale. This is expected to deliver $3 billion in net benefits for NSW energy consumers, drive $20 billion in regional investment and support 5000 jobs during peak construction.

The Central-West Orana REZ is a vital component in the government’s roadmap to powering the state with affordable, clean and reliable energy.

The decision follows the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) recommendation to the NSW Minister for Energy on ACEREZ’s application for the licence, published in its final report.

In granting the licence, the Minister included several licence conditions, some unique to ACEREZ, which were recommended by IPART and developed in response to public consultation, including consultation with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, EnergyCo and ACEREZ. These are intended to support safe and reliable operation of the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system. An important condition to support social licence is a requirement for ACEREZ to become a member of an external dispute resolution scheme.

A copy of the ACEREZ transmission operator’s licence, along with IPARTs final recommendation report, are available on the IPART website.

Background:

Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap

The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is NSW’s pathway to powering the state with affordable, clean and reliable energy for everyone. It sets out how we are transitioning the electricity network to one that will keep the lights on and put downward pressure on energy prices for years to come. The Roadmap will support the delivery of at least 12 gigawatts of new renewable energy generation and 2 gigawatts of long-duration storage by 2030.

Energy Corporation of NSW

EnergyCo leads the design, delivery and coordination of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and priority transmission in a way that benefits consumers, investors and regional communities. This includes the new transmission lines infrastructure required to connect generation projects within each Renewable Energy Zone with the electricity grid.

Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal

IPART is an appointed regulator under the Roadmap to help NSW electricity consumers get safe and reliable services at a fair price. Alongside its regular duties, IPART is responsible for undertaking performance audits of the entities delivering the Roadmap and prepares an annual report on the exercise of Roadmap functions by the Consumer Trustee, the Financial Trustee, the Infrastructure Planner and the Regulator.

Going forward, IPART is also responsible for monitoring for compliance by ACEREZ with the transmission licence in the Central-West Orana REZ.

ACEREZ

ACEREZ, a consortium comprising Acciona Concesiones, Cobra and Endeavour Energy, was selected by EnergyCo as the preferred network operator to deliver the Central-West Orana REZ transmission system. following a competitive tender process. EnergyCo entered into a commitment deed with ACEREZ in December 2023.

A name for the state’s newest National Park: Cuttaburra

September 17, 2024

The state’s newest national park has been named Cuttaburra National Park, in recognition of its key geographical features which are unique to the north-western corner of NSW.

Cuttaburra National Park stretches across 37,700 hectares 150 km north-west of Bourke and protects vital wetlands, threatened ecological communities and an array of rare species.

It has been named after Cuttaburra Creek which runs through the park for 20 kilometres, and the surrounding Yantabulla Swamp Cuttaburra Basin.


Cuttaburra. Photo Credit: Joshua J Smith Photography

The new national park has been created from the former Comeroo, Muttawary and Maranoa stations which were acquired by the NSW Government last year.

Surveys have confirmed the park is home to at least 158 native animal species and 292 plant species. 12 animal species are listed as threatened species, including the brolga, stripe-faced dunnart, yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat and the eastern fat-tailed gecko.

More than one quarter of the new park stretches across Yantabulla Swamp, which hosts thousands of internationally protected migratory shorebirds as well as up to 50,000 waterbirds including threatened freckled ducks and many other species.

The park has a broad range of landscapes including stony mulga hills, grassy open floodplains, woodlands, swamps, the Cuttaburra and Burrawantie creeks and the Maranoa Waterhole.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to protecting and restoring biodiversity in the state’s north west. Cuttaburra National Park connects more than 100,000 hectares for conservation when combined with Brindingabba National Park and the Yantabulla and Naree properties, which have permanent conservation agreements with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

Cuttaburra National Park lies in in Paroo and Warrego River country. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will work with the Aboriginal and local community on future management and how to reflect the previous pastoral history into the park. For example, the station names could be incorporated into precinct or campground names.

The purchase was funded by the NSW Government with support from The Nature Conservancy Australia which brokered generous co-funding contributions from the Wyss Foundation and the Holdfast Collective, Patagonia’s non-profit shareholder.

Key programs are underway in Cuttaburra National Park including feral animal and weed control, fire management, conservation cultural projects and the development of visitor experiences and facilities. Planned visitor opportunities include campgrounds, driving tours and provisions for bird watching and nature exploration. Recruitment is underway for staff to manage the park.

Statewide, 8.3 million hectares or 10.4% of NSW is now protected in the national parks estate.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe stated:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to turning around biodiversity loss and restoring habitats and ecosystems. Acquiring land to convert into a national park is one of the ways we do this.

“This new national park will protect many native plants and animals, including a dozen listed as threatened species, as well as one of Australia’s most important wetlands.

“Creating Cuttaburra National Park will ensure people from across NSW, and around the globe, will be able to visit and explore this area for themselves. I have been lucky enough to see first-hand the new park’s creeks, woodlands, open floodplains, stony mulga hills and wildlife – and I’m pleased the area will be protected for generations of visitors to come.”


At Comeroo, Melissa Hams NPWS with Minister Penny Sharpe.

NSW Government states Koalas protected under agreements with New England landholders

September 17, 2024

The Government has stated it is permanently protecting another 4,148 hectares of habitat on private land – including 1,692 hectares of koala habitat – via new koala conservation agreements in Armidale and Uralla.

The NSW Government stated it is committed to ensuring the long-term survival of koalas in the wild. This important koala habitat is now protected, forever, and makes a significant contribution to the survival of this iconic species.

The agreements struck between private landholders and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust have been registered on title and will protect important habitat for koalas, as well as the regent honeyeater and critically endangered native vegetation.

The Northern Inland Koala conservation tender invited landholders to set a price to protect significant habitat on their land.

Almost $9 million has been invested in the tender so far, with successful landholders to receive annual payments under agreed management plans which may include activities such as pest animal and weed control, fencing and revegetation.

Payments are made to landholders to manage their conservation areas under an agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. Agreed management actions may include activities such as pest animal and weed control, fencing and revegetation.

These agreements mean that the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust has achieved its 2025 goal to secure 200,000 hectares of private land under conservation agreements a full 12 months earlier than predicted.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe stated:

“The conservation efforts of landholders across NSW are critically important to preserve habitat and protect our endangered species, especially koalas.

“This tender means we have already reached our target of protecting 200,000 hectares of private land by 2025, and secured quality habitat for koalas in one of the highest priority areas in the state, forever.

“It’s wonderful to be able to announce these conservation agreements during Save the Koala Month.

“More than 70% of land is privately owned in NSW, so these agreements are vital to add to the growing network of protected koala habitat across the state.”

Release of zoo-bred birds boosts critically endangered Regent Honeyeater numbers

September 16, 2024

In a significant step towards the conservation of one of Australia’s most critically endangered birds, 49 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters have been released into the wild on Wonnarua country in the lower Hunter Valley.

Regent Honeyeaters are a unique species of songbird found only in south-eastern Australia and are known for their striking black-and-yellow ‘embroidery’ markings. Once abundant from Queensland to South Australia, their numbers have dwindled to just 250 to 300 birds in the wild.

The 2024 NSW Regent Honeyeater release is the third large-scale release on Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council land, and the fifth release state-wide, as part of a national effort to save the species.

The latest release on Wonnarua Country involved the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, BirdLife Australia and Local Land Services.

This work is led by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program which has provided more than $1 million as part of the National Regent Honeyeater Recovery Plan, with additional support from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian National University.

More than 200 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters have now been released in NSW.

Members of the public can contribute to ongoing efforts to track the survival and movements of the Regent Honeyeater by reporting sightings to BirdLife Australia at www.birdlife.org.au/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-regent-honeyeater

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This latest release of nearly 50 Regent Honeyeaters bred at Taronga Zoo is an exciting step forward in the NSW Government’s plan to save this critically endangered species.

“NSW is home to creatures and plants that live nowhere else on this planet. The Minns Labor Government is taking action to ensure they exist here, for generations and centuries to come.

"I’d like to thank the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, who have generously made their land available for the third time, helping us give this beautiful bird every chance of survival.”

Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Tara Dever said:

“The time to start protecting the Regent Honeyeater is now. Its protection starts with every man, woman and child in Kurri Kurri and beyond understanding that this bird is significant to them. The golden sunlight of their wings reflects the warm beauty of the Tomalpin Woodlands and Kurri Kurri itself.

“My grandparents and their parents before them had flocks of Regents in their backyard at Stanford Merthyr; we want our grandchildren to have them in theirs. The Regent Honeyeater is still here because this place of Kurri Kurri, this salty water place, is a good place, it’s special Country.

“It’s time to let people know how special it is. This piece of Wonnarua Country at the foot of old Tumblebee Mountain is as much a part of everyone who has grown up here as it is of the Regent Honeyeater itself.”


Photo: Jss367

NSW Consumer Energy Strategy to save money and power across NSW

September 16, 2024

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled its Consumer Energy Strategy: Powering our People and Communities, which will make it easier for households and businesses to access energy saving technologies like solar, batteries and energy efficiency upgrades, that will help reduce their energy bills and ease cost of living pressure.

The strategy is designed with people at the centre, committing $290 million in new funding and outlining 50 actions to help households and small businesses cut their energy bills to help address cost of living pressures and increase the uptake of energy savings technologies.

Last year the NSW Government commissioned the independent Electricity Supply and Reliability Check Up.

The Check Up recommended that a NSW Consumer Energy Resources strategy be developed, which was accepted by the NSW Government.

Key actions outlined in the strategy that the NSW Government has committed to implementing include:

  • Developing a new incentive and rebate scheme to help households upgrade to energy saving technologies.
    • This includes a $238.9 million new Home Energy Saver program with financial support targeted towards eligible households. The program will be designed and rolled out by the end of 2025.
  • Introducing new home energy ratings from 2025 so renters and buyers have more information about the cost of heating and cooling their potential homes.
  • Setting the first targets in Australia for solar and battery uptake, virtual power plant participation (which allows solar panels and batteries to share their capacity across the grid) and installation safety.
    • This includes a target of 1 million households and small businesses having access to both a rooftop solar and battery system by 2035, rising to nearly 1.5 million by 2050.
  • Improving the safety and reliability of installations by increasing the number of electrical safety inspectors.
  • Providing practical resources and outreach so people can make informed decisions to improve energy efficiency and cut bills. This includes funding community organisations to conduct outreach.

The actions outlined in the strategy will build on the good work that is already underway and will contribute to our vision for the future of energy in NSW, where all households and small businesses can enjoy the energy security, climate, health and cost of living benefits of energy saving technologies.

These actions have been developed through close consultation with industry and the community.

The Consumer Energy Strategy comes on top of the $435.4 million for annual energy bill rebates and debt relief, $200 million to support the roll-out of public EV charging stations and $175 million to make energy savings upgrades for 24,000 social housing homes.

To view the full NSW Consumer Energy Strategy and for more information, visit www.energy.nsw.gov.au/energy-strategy

NSW Premier Chris Minns stated:

"There are many houses across the state that are too hot in summer, too cold in winter, and as a result, energy prices and costs for the household skyrocket.

"Through the strategy, we are making it easier for households and small businesses to access the cost saving benefits of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, while they reduce their emissions.

"Having more energy saving technologies in homes and small businesses is the best way to help households and small businesses reduce energy bills, reduce emissions and improve electricity grid reliability."

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe stated:

"Our vision is for NSW to be a leader in the energy transition, and this strategy is a crucial step towards achieving that goal.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for residents and small businesses to benefit from the energy transition, creating a more sustainable and affordable energy future for all.

"By prioritising accessibility and equity, we are empowering households and small businesses to upgrade their homes and businesses. This will not only lower energy bills but also benefit our environment.

"The NSW Consumer Energy Strategy is our plan to supercharge the energy transition and put households and small businesses at the centre of this work."

$1.1 million awarded to NSW Environmental Researchers

September 16, 2024

‘Living’ boulders and seed production are some of the innovative environmental research projects to secure a share of $1.1 million from the NSW Environmental Trust.

Six projects have been selected to progress their ground-breaking research that will help give NSW threatened species a better chance of survival in our changing climate.

The innovative projects trial new technology, test theories and think outside the box when it comes to developing strategies to save our species. Some of the projects receiving environmental research grants this year are:

  • Sydney Royal Botanic Garden & Domain Trust – awarded $135,435 to assess, monitor and improve seed production and genetic diversity to deliver high quality, climate-resilient seeds for native plant restoration projects.
  • Macquarie University – awarded $199,981 to evaluate the first ever in-water trials of Living Boulders, rock-shaped habitat modules that sustain diverse marine ecosystems and establish the evidence base for Living Boulders as an eco-friendly approach to shoreline protection.
  • Australian National University – awarded $199,824 to identify species(s) that pollinate underground orchids and the feasibility for training detection dogs to more reliably detect threats.
  • The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals NSW – awarded $200,000 to work with First Nations communities in Western NSW to reduce the predation on threatened species.
  • University of Wollongong – awarded $198,727 to look at how peatlands in the Snowy Mountains will respond to climate change and quantify their value as carbon stores and water sources.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe statd:

'Climate change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, so it’s critical that today’s scientists are looking at the best ways we can mitigate against impacts while there is still time.

'This research will provide invaluable data that will help to shape our collective conservation and cultural efforts for years to come.

'I look forward to seeing the results from these innovative projects and how they will contribute to our state’s conservation efforts.'

Discover the secret lives of grey-headed flying foxes with new flyingfoxcam

September 17, 2024

An exciting new initiative that combines cutting-edge technology, environmental conservation and education has been unveiled at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve.

BatCam, a live-streaming camera project launched by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) provides viewers with an intimate look at the secret lives of the Grey-headed flying-fox, an unsung hero of pollination and a threatened species in NSW.

The BatCam allows anyone, anywhere to log on and watch these remarkable creatures from dawn to dusk daily. Viewers can observe their natural behaviours, such as socialising and grooming, fostering a deeper appreciation for these essential pollinators.

The grey-headed flying-fox is listed as a vulnerable species under both NSW and Federal law. Their population is in decline due to habitat loss and climate change.

The BatCam is not just for casual viewers; it's also an invaluable tool for NPWS staff to monitor the health of the flying-fox colony. The camera, mounted on a telescopic pole, provides high-canopy views and can be lowered for maintenance and cleaning.

Extensive environmental assessments were conducted to ensure that the installation and operation of the BatCam would not negatively impact the environment or the well-being of the flying-foxes. The camera's zoom function allows for close-up footage without disturbing the animals.

BatCam is the second wildlife camera on the NPWS visitor website, joining the ever-popular brush-tailed rock-wallaby cam in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

This live-streaming camera project is part of a larger NPWS interpretation effort to raise awareness of Assets of Intergenerational Significance (AIS) species and sites, enhance visitor experiences, and foster greater citizen engagement.

For more information visit NPWS online flyingfoxcam

Types of land on the Biodiversity Values Map: September 2024 Update

The Biodiversity Values Map is prepared by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under Part 7 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Date: 13 Sep 2024

Publisher: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Cost: Free

Language: English

ISBN: 978-1-922318-58-9 / ID: EH20240271

File: PDF 3.95 MB / Pages 30

Download here

This document provides a description of the types of land that can be included on the Biodiversity Values Map. This includes a brief description of the type of land, the organisation that develops and maintains the mapping and the process they follow and where more information can be found.

First published in March 2020; reprinted April 2024 and September 2024 with amendments

Threatened Species Framework annual report

2021–22 and 2022–23

This is the first report published under the framework and includes an overview of relevant programs and initiatives and highlights the achievements during both the 2021–22 and 2022–23 financial years.

Date: 6 September 2024

Publisher: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

ISBN 978-1-923200-70-8 ID EH20240175

File PDF 6.8MB Pages 35

Download Here

Related publications

NPWS Threatened Species Framework for zero extinctions - 7 September 2024

NPWS threatened species status report - 6 September 2024

EPA invests over half a billion dollars to build a circular future

September 19 2024
Over the last decade, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has awarded more than half a billion dollars in grants helping industry, councils, businesses, universities and community groups deliver more than 3,000 projects.

The funding has been invested in a diverse range of projects to restore, protect and enhance the NSW environment.

NSW EPA Acting CEO, Stephen Beaman said over the last decade we’ve supported more than 960 organisations, delivering thousands of projects to help drive better environmental outcomes and a circular economy.

“The investments we’ve made over the past decade have been critical to driving NSW towards a circular economy and diverting 4 million tonnes of waste from landfill,” Mr Beaman said.

“We’re proud to support a range of innovative projects, from research helping to reduce problems in the plastic industry, to grassroots community projects that are making a real difference on the ground and driving down activities like illegal dumping and littering.

“Shortly we’ll be offering new funding for our Circular Plastics Program to help companies reduce the use of hard-to-recycle plastics, like soft plastics, and increasingly choose to use recycled plastic in new products.

“We’re investing in our future, and together we can tackle the big issues from climate change to ensuring we have the right infrastructure in NSW.”

Investments have included:
  • Close to $6 million awarded to 64 Aboriginal Land Councils and groups to help reduce the impacts of illegal dumping, litter and waste on Aboriginal land, and investments in waste management projects, employment and education in Aboriginal communities across NSW. This funding has helped to remove over 1931 tonnes of material from Aboriginal lands since 2015.
  • $43 million for industry and councils in the last two years through the Remanufacture NSW and Organics Infrastructure programs, with over $110 million in co-investments to support new infrastructure critical to our transition to a circular economy.
  • $69 million to roll out Food Organics and Garden Organics collections across NSW households and businesses by 2030, supporting new collection services, increased food rescue and expanded facilities to divert over a million tonnes of food and garden waste each year from landfill.
To learn more about our grant programs, please visit the EPA webpage: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants

Illawarra illegal tyre dumper caught Red-handed

September 25, 2024
A Wollongong man has been issued three penalty notices, totalling more than $60,000, for allegedly dumping waste tyres within the Macquarie Pass National Park.

Following a report from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of an illegal dumping hotspot, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) teamed up with the agency and located more than 2000 waste tyres dumped in the Macquarie Pass National Park.

NSW EPA Director Operations, Adam Gilligan praised the collaborative investigation with NPWS to identify the person of interest.

“After the discovery of more than 2000 waste tyres we began a covert investigation at the site,” said Mr Gilligan.

“Together with NPWS we installed five covert cameras around the site capturing an individual arriving in a vehicle, parking directly above a small entry to the bushland and rolling several tyres down the embankment.

“We found evidence the individual visited the National Park on multiple occasions across an extended period and dumped tyres.

“Illegal dumping is a selfish act, and it poses serious potential threats to our environment and surrounding wildlife. This deliberate, criminal behaviour will not be tolerated, and we won’t hesitate taking regulatory action.”

NPWS Illawarra Highlands Area Manager, Andrew Wall welcomed the fines issued.

“The offences occurred in heavily wooded bushland that is highly vulnerable to bushfire. Given the location and amount of waste tyres, we are pleased to have supported the EPA in identifying and stopping the incident right at the source,” said Mr Wall.

The EPA and NPWS are working to remediate the site and ensure it’s safe. The offender may be required to pay for agency clean-up costs at a later date.

We encourage the community to report suspected illegal dumping activities via the NSW EPA’s Environment Line on 131 555 or by email info@epa.nsw.gov.au.

New funding for Councils to go FOGO

September 16, 2024
The third round of the NSW Government’s $46 million Go FOGO grants program is now open, supporting councils across the state to roll out food organics and garden organics waste collection services to residents.

Councils can claim up to $50 per household to support the transition to FOGO, with additional payments available for areas with a high proportion of multi-unit dwellings. Funds can be used to support the roll out of infrastructure such as green bins and kitchen caddies, education and staffing.  

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has also launched ‘Starting Scraps’, a free FOGO education program co-designed with councils and Monash University’s BehaviourWorks to ensure households can make the most of their new service.  

NSW EPA Executive Director of Programs and Innovation, Alexandra Geddes said the new resources are a fantastic way for councils to get the message out and help communities use FOGO well.  

“FOGO recycling has great benefits for communities, councils, and the environment, but we know that asking people to change their habits at home can be challenging,” Ms Geddes said. 

“This is the biggest change to household waste services since the introduction of the yellow lid recycling bin. That’s why we’ve worked closely with educators and behaviour change specialists to create resources that can help people feel confident to recycle their food and garden scraps. 

“FOGO is not only a great circular solution for food waste, but it also drives down emissions. For every tonne of food waste we divert from landfill, we’re also preventing 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide reaching our atmosphere.” 

Almost half of NSW’s councils already have or are planning to roll out their FOGO service. The NSW Government is reviewing feedback on a proposal to mandate FOGO recycling statewide.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the Go FOGO grants program allocated more than $16 million to 19 council areas across NSW, supporting recent service roll outs in the Inner West, Murrumbidgee, Leeton Shire and Lithgow.  

Applications to Round 3 are open until 19 November 2024. 

For more information about the EPA’s Go FOGO grants, go to: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund/go-fogo-grants    

For more information about the new Starting Scraps resources, go to: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund/go-fogo-grants 

Failure to clean up waste costs Central Coast man nearly $200,000

September 10, 2024
Central Coast man, Mr Thomas Hughes has been fined more than $112,000 for failing to comply with a Court order requiring the removal and disposal of waste at a property near Muswellbrook.

On 31 July 2019, Mr Hughes, the sole director, company secretary, and sole shareholder of a home construction company, was convicted of two waste offences after illegally burying thousands of cubic metres of building and demolition waste at a rural property in Sandy Hollow NSW.

Mr Hughes was fined and ordered to remove the waste and remediate the land at his own cost. Following amendments to the Court order, Mr Hughes was required to complete those works by 31 March 2023.

The EPA commenced proceedings in the Land and Environment Court after Mr Hughes failed to comply with the Court order to remove the waste.

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Executive Director of Operations, Jason Gordon, welcomed Mr Hughes’s conviction.

“Those who do the wrong thing and illegally dump waste will face the consequences including cleaning up,” Mr Gordon said.

“Mr Hughes was ordered to dig up and dispose of the waste. He then failed to finish the clean-up after being given an extended deadline, which was more than three years after the orders were made.

“The delay in clean-up was unacceptable and resulted in further harm to the environment. The dumped waste included construction and asbestos materials and the impacted land remained unvegetated and subject to soil erosion.”

The Court found the offence caused actual and potential harm to the environment due to the nature of the waste. It caused land degradation and had the potential to contaminate groundwater and the surrounding soil and pose a significant risk to human health due to the presence of asbestos.

“Illegal dumping threatens the health of our communities and environment. Failure to dispose of waste correctly will not be tolerated and we will hold dumpers to account,” Mr Gordon said.

Mr Hughes was also ordered to pay the EPA’s legal costs totalling more than $80,000. It’s the first time the EPA has prosecuted an individual in the Land and Environment Court for this type of offence.

Supporting businesses to drive down food waste

September 20, 2024
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is supporting more businesses to reduce and recycle their food waste as part of a $4 million program for NSW councils, peak bodies and other organisations working with food-wasting businesses.

Organisations can now apply for the second round of the EPA’s Business Food Waste Partnership Grants and receive up to $200,000 to increase awareness of food waste and implement best practice programs for recycling and avoidance. 

The first round of the grants saw $1,663,232 awarded to nine organisations, including the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, the NSW Department of Education, the Hunter New England Local Health District, the Better Business Partnership in Sydney’s north shore and the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation.  

NSW EPA Director Major Programs, Kathy Giunta said helping sectors leverage their networks was an effective way to reduce food waste on a large scale.  

“We generate an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of food waste per year in NSW and retail, hospitality and institutions, like schools, hospitals and aged care facilities, are responsible for around 37 percent of this waste,” Ms Giunta said.  

 “We need to change the conversation around food waste within these organisations and help support better habits including food waste avoidance, increased donations and source-separated collections and recycling. 

“Avoiding food waste can help businesses save money, while donating more food can help those in need. 

“Ultimately, diverting food from landfill helps drive down greenhouse gas emissions, reducing businesses’ carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable economy.” 

The Business Food Waste Partnership Grants are open until 14 November.  

For more information or to apply for the grants, go to: Business food waste partnership grants (nsw.gov.au) 

To join an information session on 17 October about these grants, register here

New research reveals why the mighty Darling River is drying up – and it’s not just because we’re taking too much water

Milton Speer, University of Technology Sydney and Lance M Leslie, University of Technology Sydney

Water flows in mainland Australia’s most important river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, have been declining for the past 50 years. The trend has largely been blamed on water extraction, but our new research shows another factor is also at play.

We investigated why the Darling River, in the northern part of the basin, has experienced devastating periods of low flow, or no flow, since the 1990s. We found it was due to a decrease in rainfall in late autumn, caused by climate change.

The research reveals how climate change is already affecting river flows in the basin, even before water is extracted for farm irrigation and other human uses.

Less rain will fall in the Darling River catchment as climate change worsens. This fact must be central to decisions about how much water can be taken from this vital natural system.

A quick history of the Darling

map showing the Murray Darling catchment in bright green
Murray Darling catchment map. Martyman/Wikimedia, CC BY

The Darling River runs from the town of Bourke in northwest New South Wales, south to the Murray River in Victoria. Together, the two rivers form the Murray-Darling river system.

The Indigenous name for the Darling River is the Baaka. For at least 30,000 years the river has been an Indigenous water resource. On the river near Wilcannia, remnants of fish traps and weirs built by Indigenous people can still be found today.

The Darling River was a major transport route from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

In recent decades, the agriculture industry has extracted substantial quantities of water from the Darling’s upstream tributaries, to irrigate crops and replenish farm dams. Water has also been extracted from Menindee Lakes, downstream in the Darling, to benefit the environment and supply the regional city of Broken Hill.

A river in trouble

Natural weather variability means water levels in the Darling River have always been irregular, even before climate change began to be felt.

In recent years, however, water flows have become even more irregular. This has caused myriad environmental problems.

At Menindee Lakes, for example, fish have died en masse – incidents experts say is ultimately due to a lack of water in the river system.

Periods of heavy rain in recent years have dramatically improved water flows.

But in between those episodes, water levels and quality have declined, due to factors such as droughts, expanded water extraction, salinity and pollution from farms.

Compounding the droughts, smaller flows that once replenished the system have now greatly reduced. Our research sought to determine why.

What we found

We examined rainfall and water flows in the Darling River from 1972 until July 2024. This includes from the 1990s – a period when global warming accelerated.

We found a striking lack of short rainfall periods in April and May in the Darling River from the 1990s. The reduced rainfall led to long periods of very low, or no flow, in the river.

Since the 1990s under climate change, shifts in atmospheric circulation have generated fewer rain-producing systems. This has led to less rain in inland southeast Australia in autumn.

The river system particularly needs rainfall in the late autumn months, to replenish rivers after summer.

The periods of little rain were often followed by extreme floods. This is a problem because the rain fell on dry soils and soaked in, rather than running into the river. This reduced the amount of water available for the environment and human uses.

In addition to the fall in autumn rainfall, we found the number of extreme annual rainfall totals for all seasons has also fallen since the 1990s.

We also examined monthly river heights at Bourke, Wilcannia and Menindee. We found periods of both high and low water levels before the mid-1990s. But the low water levels at all three locations from 2000 onwards were the lowest in the period.

Ensuring water for all

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Ensuring steady water supplies for human use has always been challenging.

Falls in Darling River water levels in recent decades have largely been attributed to water extraction for farm dams, irrigation and town use.

But as our research shows, the lack of rainfall in the river catchment – as a result of climate change – is also significant. The problem will worsen as climate change accelerates.

This creates a huge policy challenge. As others have noted, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan does not properly address climate change when determining how much water can be taken by towns and farmers.

Both the environment and people will benefit from ensuring the rivers of the basin maintain healthy flows into the future. As our research indicates, this will require decision-makers to consider and adapt to climate change.The Conversation

Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney and Lance M Leslie, Professor, School of Mathematical And Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

‘Vegetarian’ possums eat meat when the weather’s cold

Timothy Christianto, Shutterstock
Patrick Finnerty, University of Sydney and Thomas Newsome, University of Sydney

When dead animals are left lying around in nature, who takes advantage of the free feed – carnivores or herbivores? The answer may surprise you.

In Australia, people tend to think carnivores – such as dingoes, ravens, foxes and wedge-tailed eagles – lead the clean-up crew.

But our new research shows common brushtail possums – often thought to be herbivores – also dine on animal carcasses.

Understanding when and where brushtail possums scavenge is important. It can improve our knowledge of how carcasses are disposed of in nature, and how nutrients cycle through ecosystems.

Seeking a nutritious meal

Scavenging may provide specific essential nutrients otherwise lacking in herbivore diets.

Carcasses often contain much greater levels of crude protein than leafy greens do. Similarly, chewing on bones, may increase the intake of calcium and phosphorus, two key minerals essential for growth.

Scavenging on carrion may also help herbivores meet nutritional requirements in regions where typical food resources may be restricted during some seasons. Similarly, in times of drought, thirst may also drive herbivores to scavenge in an attempt to extract fluids from carcasses.

Though it may seem gruesome, scavenging is crucial to healthy ecosystems. Clearing carcasses from the landscape by feeding them back into food chains recycles nutrients into living systems.

Our previous research has found native marsupial herbivores feasting on the dead.

In alpine Australia, possums accounted for 61% of all recorded carcass scavenging – a proportion far surpassing species more typically considered carcass consumers.

In our latest research, we wanted to understand the factors that influence carrion consumption by brushtail possums in different ecosystems.

What we did

We monitored fresh eastern grey kangaroo carcasses across both alpine (Kosciuszko National Park) and temperate (Wolgan Valley, Greater Blue Mountains National Park) regions in New South Wales. We also compared sites in both open (grassland with no canopy cover) and closed (woodland) habitats, in cool and warm seasons.

At each carcass, we used a remote camera “trap” to record scavenging behaviours.

We found possums were one of the main scavengers, often feeding from carrion more than typical scavengers such as dingoes and ravens.

Possum scavenging rates varied by habitat and season. Regardless of region, possums scavenged exclusively in closed canopy habitats under the trees, probably for protection from predators and other scavengers such as dingoes, red foxes, and wedge-tailed eagles.

Montage of camera trap images showing brushtail possums at kangaroo carcasses
Our cameras captured many images of brushtail possums at kangaroo carcasses. Image A) a sole brushtail possum, B) a group of possums feeding on a carcass, C) a confrontation between two brushtail possums at a carcass, D) vigilance at a carcass, E) shows a confrontation between a feral cat and a brushtail possum at a carcass. Patt Finnerty

Out in the cold

Possum scavenging activity varied according to the season.

In temperate regions, possums scavenged only in winter when other food resources were limited.

In alpine areas, where food is scarce even in summer, possums scavenged year-round. But they still ate more from carcasses in cooler months. This may be necessary for possums to get the nutrition they need when other normal food resources — such as leaves, flowers and fruit — are limited.

Competition between scavengers may also change with the seasons. For example, in alpine regions, we saw fewer large scavengers such as dingoes in winter, possibly reducing competition and making it easier for possums to access carrion.

During warmer months, insect activity increases. These tiny scavengers often start eating a carcass within minutes of its death, accelerating its decomposition. It means animals such as possums have less time to feed on the carrion.

Flexible ‘herbivores’ around the world

Previous research has shown many herbivore diets are more flexible than previously thought. All over the world, certain plant-eaters have been found scavenging on animal remains – especially when other food sources are limited, such as during drought or after fire.

In Africa, hippopotamuses were found to have consumed flesh from the carcasses of other animals. In the United States, white-tailed deer fed on discarded fish.

Similarly, on a small island off Cape Town, introduced European fallow deer ate dead rabbits. On the Eurasian tundra (treeless plains), reindeer devoured lemming carcasses. In Italy, crested porcupine ate dead pigeons.

These are all still primarily herbivorous animals, they just happen to dip into carcass resources when they need to.

A hippopotamus with a wide open mouth, on the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana
My, what big teeth you have. All the better for eating other animals. Hippos are not always strictly herbivorous. Gaston Piccinetti, Shutterstock

Improving our understanding of ‘bloody hungry’ herbivores

Our study found brushtail possums are an important scavenging species across several Australian ecosystems. It also highlights how scavenging can vary with a region, season and habitat.

Understanding the unusual foraging behaviour of the common brushtail possum could also help inform more effective wildlife management. Specifically, understanding how carcasses can support possum populations during cooler months in places like New Zealand, where they are considered an invasive pest, may lead to more effective control measures.

Our methods could also help scientists understand herbivore scavenging in other environments. This may provide valuable insights into complexities of food webs and how nutrients move through ecosystems.The Conversation

Patrick Finnerty, Postdoctoral research fellow in conservation, University of Sydney and Thomas Newsome, Associate Professor in Global Ecology, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Endure – or peter out? Here’s what Northern Rivers organisers and Stop Adani can teach us about building climate groups

mantisdesign/Shutterstock
Amanda Tattersall, University of Sydney

Over the last decade, several groups in Australia have successfully mobilised against fossil fuel interests. But which ones have gone the distance?

The urgent global threat of climate change might suggest groups running large-scale campaigns are the ones likely achieve lasting change. But my research suggests groups focused on local efforts are often more successful.

I’ve studied coalitions and campaigns, the climate movement and people-power globally. I’ve found groups with strong local roots can evolve and endure better than larger, more dispersed groups.

The trajectory of two major environmental groups in Australia demonstrate the point.

The first is focused around the Northern Rivers in New South Wales. There, the threat of gas extraction in the 2010s prompted the community to start organising through the national anti-gas group Lock the Gate. When floods struck the region in 2017 and 2022, many organisers shifted focus to form a new, successful alliance.

The second is the Stop Adani group. Organising began around 2010 after plans for the giant Adani coal mine in central Queensland were announced. The group successfully reduced the size of the proposed mine, but energy behind the movement dwindled.

Examining the way these groups organised and operated – and how long they lasted – offers lessons for others.

Northern Rivers

The Northern Rivers region has attracted environmentally-minded people from the 1960s peace movement onward. This activist history was almost certainly not considered by gas companies when they began planning large-scale fracking operations.

Locals began meeting under the banner “Lock the Gate”. In 2014, they launched the Bentley Blockade camp-in on land earmarked for gas extraction. The campaign worked and the Northern Rivers remains gasfield-free.

When unprecedented floods hit in 2017 and 2022, locals involved in Lock the Gate shifted focus. They formed the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance to work on mutual aid and ongoing resilience.

Stop Adani

In 2010, the multinational Adani Group announced plans for the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. Climate groups around the country were outraged.

People began campaigning against the mine, initially locally focused on the coal port. By 2017 the campaign became national under the banner Stop Adani.

By 2017, Stop Adani had built a national strategy coordinating more than 100 community groups across many cities and regions. The movement used public pressure to slow progress. It reduced but did not stop the mine, which began exporting coal in late 2021.

Who was in these groups?

To tackle the gasfield threat, Northern Rivers residents doorknocked neighbours and local councils voted to declare their region gasfield free. Lock the Gate organisers deliberately set out to make their group as representative as possible.

Disagreements were inevitable. Farmers worried about the effect of gasfields on groundwater while environmentalists focused on the climate. But their relationships in the same place helped maintain unity. This broad base also meant opponents couldn’t write them off as “angry greenies”. As organiser Annie Kia has said, the movement “maximised self-organisation”.

By contrast, my analysis and interviews have shown Stop Adani involved local groups mostly comprised of white, middle class, well-educated urban women from the east coast. This made it easier to find agreement. But individual groups were smaller and less diverse than the Northern Rivers group.

Who designed the strategy?

Northern Rivers organisers tapped experienced campaigners to create the strategy. This helped overcome tensions within the broad coalition and arguably drove more creativity.

The Stop Adani strategy was done nationally. Community groups were invited to plan coordinated local actions. The led to effective public pressure on banks financing the mine, and other organisations.

But national-local separation comes at a cost, as my research has found. Local groups tasked with carrying out a national plan and had less ability to build their own plans.

Framing matters

Both groups focused on stopping fossil fuel extraction, but their framing differed.

Northern Rivers residents were motivated by a range of concerns, from avoiding damage to water tables to tackling climate change. To harness these motivations, the group framed their demand positively – fighting for a gasfield-free Northern Rivers region.

Stop Adani was built on a simple negative: stop the mine. This drove urgency and led to high levels of participation. But it also prompted a backlash, such as tense stand-offs between Central Queensland residents and a convoy organised by Bob Brown against the mine in 2019.

The stark framing created a challenge in negotiating with government. But success is not always black or white. State and federal governments slashed the size of the mine to just one-sixth the size of the original plans.

The negative framing also made it hard to retain participants. When years of protests failed to stop the mine, mass participation fell away.

But Stop Adani didn’t give up. In recent years, Traditional Owners have kept up the pressure on the mine’s financial and political backers.

What does success look like?

Stop Adani and Northern Rivers had very similar goals: stop the mine, stop the gasfields. By this metric, both groups were largely successful.

But Northern Rivers organisers also focused on building a broad movement beyond the usual environmentally-minded people. That’s why the group is still going strong, even after gas plans were defeated.

This is a remarkable community asset. When much of Lismore went underwater in 2022, state and federal help was slow. So community groups sprang into action, pooling resources and cooperating during the immediate emergency and the long clean-up.

Other communities now look to the Northern Rivers as a model of ground-up disaster recovery.

Their success should give us hope. As the climate warps, groups with strong community roots are well-placed to lead the response to the changing demands of the climate crisis.The Conversation

Amanda Tattersall, Associate Professor in Urban Geography and Host of ChangeMakers Podcast, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Animals in the machine: why the law needs to protect animals from AI

Mark Brandon, Shutterstock
Lev Bromberg, The University of Melbourne; Christine Parker, The University of Melbourne, and Simon Coghlan, The University of Melbourne

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered concern about potentially detrimental effects on humans. However, the technology also has the potential to harm animals.

An important policy reform now underway in Australia offers an opportunity to address this. The federal government has committed A$5 million to renewing the lapsed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy. Consultation has begun, and the final strategy is expected in 2027.

While AI is not an explicit focus of the review, it should be.

Australians care about animals. The strategy could help ensure decision-makers protect animals from AI’s harms in our homes, on farms and in the wild.

Will AI harms to animals go unchecked?

Computers are now so developed they can perform some complex tasks as well as, or better than, humans. In other words, they have developed a degree of “artificial intelligence”.

The technology is exciting but also risky.

Warnings about the risks to humans include everything from privacy concerns to the collapse of human civilisation.

Policy-makers in the European Union, the United States and Australia are scrambling to address these issues and ensure AI is safe and used responsibly. But the focus of these policies is to protect humans.

Now, Australia has a chance to protect animals from AI.

Australia’s previous Animal Welfare Strategy expired in 2014. It’s now being revived, and aims to provide a national approach to animal welfare.

So far, documents released as part of the review suggest AI is not being considered under the strategy. That is a serious omission, for reasons we outline below.

Powerful and pervasive technology in use

Much AI use benefits animals, such as in veterinary medicine. For example, it may soon help your vet read X-rays of your animal companion.

AI is being developed to detect pain in cats and dogs. This might help if the technology is accurate, but could cause harm if it’s inaccurate by either over-reporting pain or failing to detect discomfort.

AI may also allow humans to decipher animal communication and better understand animals’ point of view, such as interpreting whale song.

It has also been used to discover which trees and artificial structures are best for birds.

But when it comes to animals, research suggests AI may also be used to harm them.

For example, it may be used by poachers and illegal wildlife traders to track and kill or capture endangered species. And AI-powered algorithms used by social media platforms can connect crime gangs to customers, perpetuating the illegal wildlife trade.

AI is known to produce racial, gender and other biases in relation to humans. It can also produce biased information and opinions about animals.

For example, AI chatbots may perpetuate negative attitudes about animals in their training data – perhaps suggesting their purpose is to be hunted or eaten.

There are plans to use AI to distinguish cats from native species and then kill the cats. Yet, AI image recognition tools have not been sufficiently trained to accurately identify many wild species. They are biased towards North American species, because that is where the bulk of the data and training comes from.

Algorithms using AI tend to promote more salacious content, so they are likely to also recommend animal cruelty videos on various platforms. For example, YouTube contains content involving horrific animal abuse.

Some AI technologies are used in harmful animal experiments. Elon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink, for instance, was accused of rushing experiments that harmed and killed monkeys.

Researchers warn AI could estrange humans from animals and cause us to care less about them. Imagine AI farms almost entirely run by smart systems that “look after” the animals. This would reduce opportunities for humans to notice and respond to animal needs.

The unexpected impact of AI on animals with author Professor Peter Singer.

Existing regulatory frameworks are inadequate

Australia’s animal welfare laws are already flawed and fail to address existing harms. They allow some animals to be confined to very small spaces, such as chickens in battery cages or pigs in sow stalls and farrowing crates. Painful procedures (such as mulesing, tail docking and beak trimming) can be legally performed without pain relief.

Only widespread community outrage forces governments to end the most controversial practices, such as the export of live sheep by sea.

This has implications for the development and use of artificial intelligence. Reform is needed to ensure AI does not amplify these existing animal harms, or contribute to new ones.

Internationally, some governments are responding to the need for reform.

The United Kingdom’s online safety laws now require social media platforms to proactively monitor and remove illegal animal cruelty content from their platforms. In Brazil, Meta (the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp) was recently fined for not taking down posts that had been tagged as illegal wildlife trading.

The EU’s new AI Act also takes a small step towards recognising how the technology affects the environment we share with other animals.

Among other aims, the law encourages the AI industry to track and minimise the carbon and other environmental impact of AI systems. This would benefit animal as well as human health.

The current refresh of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, jointly led by federal, state and territory governments, gives us a chance to respond to the AI threat. It should be updated to consider how AI affects animal interests.The Conversation

Lev Bromberg, PhD Candidate and Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne; Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne, and Simon Coghlan, Senior Lecturer in Digital Ethics, Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The biodiversity jukebox: how sound can boost beneficial soil microbes to heal nature

Jake M Robinson, Flinders University and Martin Breed, Flinders University

In a race against time, scientists are exploring new ways to restore natural systems. Alongside traditional methods such as planting trees, reducing pollution and reintroducing native species, a surprising new tool is emerging: sound. Ecologists can harness sound to bring life back to degraded ecosystems.

On land and at sea, natural soundscapes are being replicated to stimulate growth, reproduction and even communication among species. Sound is already being used to restore oyster beds and coral reefs.

In our new research, we found beneficial plant microbes are also receptive to sound. We used high-frequency white noise to stimulate a fungus that promotes plant growth. The noise is a bit like the sound emitted in between channels of an old-fashioned radio.

This adds a new dimension to restoration projects. Imagine using tailored soundscapes to restore wetlands, forests or grasslands, simply by artificially amplifying the sonic cues that attract wildlife, stimulate growth and rebuild relationships between species. We see a bright future for this “biodiversity jukebox”, with tracks for every ecosystem.

Sound as an ecological tool

In healthy ecosystems, everything from animal calls to water trickling underground creates a sonic landscape or “soundscape” that ultimately supports biodiversity.

Conversely, the soundscapes in degraded ecosystems are often diminished or altered. This can change the way species behave and ecosystems function.

Marine biologists were among the first to explore sound as a tool for restoring Australia’s southern oyster reefs. Intact oyster reefs provide habitat for many species and prevent shoreline erosion. But pollution, overharvesting and dredging almost wiped them out more than a century ago.

It turns out playing sounds of healthy reefs, namely snapping shrimp, underwater encourages baby oysters to settle and grow. These sounds mimic the natural environment of thriving oyster beds.

The results have been impressive. Oyster populations show signs of recovery in areas where soundscapes have been artificially restored.

Similarly, fish support healthy coral reefs by grazing on algae that can otherwise smother corals. Playing the sounds of healthy coral reefs can attract young fish to degraded reefs. This helps kickstart reef recovery.

The power of sound in plant microbiology

Building on these successes, we ventured into new territory. In our new research we used sound to stimulate the growth of soil microbes.

These microbes play an essential role in plant health. Some promote nutrient uptake in plants, others protect against disease. But these communities of microorganisms can be diminished and disrupted in degraded soils, hampering plant growth and ecosystem recovery.

We wanted to find out whether specific sounds could encourage the growth of these beneficial microbes. We ran a series of experiments, to test the effect of sound on the growth and reproduction rate of a particular fungus known to stimulate plant growth and protect against diseases.

We grew the fungus in the laboratory in 40 Petri dishes and subjected half of them to treatment with sound. We played a sound recording similar to the high-frequency buzz of white noise for 30 minutes a day over five days. Then we compared the amount of fungal growth and the number of spores between the two groups.

In technical terms, the frequency was 8 kHz and level was 80 dB, which is quite loud, like the sound of a busy city street or vacuum cleaner, almost loud enough to damage hearing.

We used a monotonous sound for experimental reasons, because it is easy to control. But a more natural or diverse soundscape may be even better. We plan to do more research on this in the near future.

We found sound stimulated the fungi, increasing the growth rate by more than seven times and the production of spores by more than four times compared to the control (no sound).

Why sound works

Why does sound have such a powerful effect on ecosystems? The answer lies in the way organisms interact with their environment.

Sound travels almost five times faster in water than in air, making it an efficient means of communication for marine life such as oysters, fish and whales.

Trees detect the soundwaves produced by running water, and their roots move towards the vibration.

We already know sound influences the activity of microbes. We think it stimulates special receptors on the membranes of the microbes. These receptors might trigger a response in the cells, such as switching genes responsible for growth on or off.

Is sound the future of restoration?

Microbes support plant life, help maintain soil structure, hold water and store carbon. By stimulating beneficial microbes with sound, we may be able to improve large-scale restoration projects. This approach may also support regenerative agriculture, where farming works with nature rather than against it.

The author, Jake Robinson, crouching near the ground holding some soil while looking at the camera, smiling
The author, Jake Robinson, in the field. Flinders University

Our next steps include refining the sound patterns that are most effective in different ecosystems. We then need to scale up our research to test different sounds in diverse environments. We envisage creating a “biodiversity jukebox” of beneficial sounds to enhance ecosystem health.

It’s clear what we hear – and don’t hear – profoundly influences the environment. So we’re also interested in noise cancellation. By this, we mean barriers to protect ecosystems from potentially undesirable noises. For instance, we’re asking questions such as: do traffic and industrial noises harm the ecosystem?

As ecosystems face increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat destruction, sound can become a powerful tool for restoration.

While the science is still in its infancy, it has huge potential.

Ultimately, sound-based restoration might offer a low-impact and cost-effective approach to help ecosystems recover. The future of restoration could be as much about what we hear as what we see.The Conversation

Jake M Robinson, Ecologist and Researcher, Flinders University and Martin Breed, Associate Professor in Biology, Flinders University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come

Lynda Disher/Shutterstock
Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Charles Darwin University; Matthew Abunyewah, Charles Darwin University, and Patrick Brandful Cobbinah, The University of Melbourne

Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem. That’s what urban mining does.

We commonly think of mining as drilling or digging into the earth to extract precious resources. Urban mining recovers these materials from waste. It can come from buildings, infrastructure and obsolete products.

An urban mine, then, is the stock of precious metals or materials in the waste cities produce. In particular, electronic waste, or e‑waste, has higher concentrations of precious metals than many mined ores. Yet the UN Global E‑waste Monitor estimates US$62 billion worth of recoverable resources was discarded as e‑waste in 2022.

Urban mining can recover these “hidden” resources in cities around the world. It offers sustainable solutions to the problems of resource scarcity and waste management. And it happens in the very cities that are centres of overconsumption and hotspots for the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.

What sort of waste can be mined?

Materials such as concrete, pipes, bricks, roofing materials, reinforcements and e‑waste can be recovered for reuse. Urban waste can be “mined” for metals such as gold, steel, copper, zinc, aluminium, cobalt and lithium, as well as glass and plastic. Mechanical or chemical treatments are used to retrieve these metals and materials.

Simply disposing of this waste has high financial and environmental costs. In Australia, about 10% of waste is hazardous. Landfill costs are soaring as cities run out of space to discard their waste.

The extent of this fast-growing problem is driving the growth of urban mining around the world. We are then salvaging materials whose supply is finite, while reducing the impacts of waste disposal.

People at a recycling plant sort waste plastics.
Many plastics can be recycled and turned into new products. MAD.vertise/Shutterstock

What’s happening globally?

In Europe, the focus is largely on construction and demolition waste. Europe produces 450 million to 500 million tonnes of this waste each year – more than a third of all the region’s waste. Through its urban mining strategy, the European Commission aims to increase the recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to at least 70% across member countries by 2030.

In Asia, urban mining has focused on e‑waste. However, the region recovers only about 12% of its e‑waste stock. Rates of e‑waste recycling vary greatly: 20% for East Asia, 1% for South Asia, and virtually zero for South-East Asia. China, Japan and South Korea are leading the way in Asia.

Australia is on the right track. Our recovery rate for construction and demolition materials climbed to 80% by 2022 — the highest among all types of waste streams. However, we recover only about a third of the value of materials in our e-waste.

Africa has also recognised the growing value of urban mining resources. Regional initiatives include the Nairobi Declaration on e‑waste, the Durban Declaration on e‑Waste Management in Africa and the Abuja Platform on e‑Waste.

Urban mining solves many problems

The OECD forecasts that global materials demand will almost double from 89 billion tonnes in 2019 to 167 billion tonnes in 2060. The United Nations’ Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 shows the amount of waste and costs of managing it are soaring too. It’s estimated the world will have 82 million tonnes of e‑waste to deal with by 2030.

These trends mean urban mining is becoming ever more relevant and important.

Urban mining also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions. Unlocking resources near where they are needed reduces transport costs and emissions. Urban mining also provides resource independence and creates employment.

In addition, increasing recovery and recycling rates reduce the pressure on finite natural resources.

Urban mining underpins circular economy alternatives such as the “deposit and return” schemes that give people financial incentives to return e‑waste and containers for recycling in cities such as Singapore, Sydney, Darwin and San Francisco. By 2030, San Francisco aims to halve disposal to landfill or incineration and cut solid waste generation by 15%.

What more needs to be done?

Governments have a role to play by adopting and enforcing policies, laws and regulations that encourage recycling through urban mining instead of sending waste to landfill. European Union laws, for example, mandate increased recycling targets for municipal waste overall and for packaging waste, including 80% for ferrous metals and 60% for aluminium.

In Australia, 2019 legislation prohibits landfills from accepting anything with a plug, battery or cord. Anything with a plug is designated as e-waste.

Product design is an important consideration. A designer must balance a product’s efficiency with making it easy to recycle. Products with greater efficiency and easy-to-recycle parts are more likely to use less energy, lead to less waste and hence less natural resource extraction.

Our urban mining research documents a more sustainable approach to product design. Increasing product stewardship initiatives are expected to encourage better product design and standards that promote reuse and recycling, producer responsibility and changes in consumer behaviour.

Good information about the available resources is essential too. The Urban Mine Platform, ProSUM and Waste and Resource Recovery Data Hub collect data on e‑waste, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and building and mining waste. These centralised databases allow easy access to data on the sources, stocks, flows and treatment of waste.

Traditional mining is not the only method for extracting raw materials for the green transition. Waste is set to be increasingly recycled, reducing demand for virgin materials. A truly circular economy can become a reality if governments develop and apply an urban mining agenda.The Conversation

Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Lecturer in Sustainability| Business and Accounting Discipline, Charles Darwin University; Matthew Abunyewah, Research Fellow, The Australasian Centre for Resilience Implementation for Sustainable Communities, Charles Darwin University, and Patrick Brandful Cobbinah, Associate Professor of Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The medicines we take to stay healthy are harming nature. Here’s what needs to change

Shutterstock
Lauren T. May, Monash University and Manuela Jorg, Monash University

Evidence is mounting that modern medicines present a growing threat to ecosystems around the world. The chemicals humans ingest to stay healthy are harming fish and other animals.

Modern pharmaceuticals have revolutionised disease prevention and treatment. But after our bodies use medicines, they excrete them. Eventually, the chemicals can end up in rivers, oceans and soils.

This is a problem, because medicines designed to treat humans can also affect other species in serious ways, changing their bodies and behaviour. The chemicals can also pass through food webs and affect animals higher up the chain.

Urgent action is needed to design drugs that work on humans, but don’t harm nature.

Water from a drainage system enters a creek in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Wastewater entering rivers can harm aquatic life. Shutterstock

Evidence of harm

In the past two decades, studies have emerged showing the extent to which medicines persist in nature.

In August this year, Australian researchers found the antidepressant fluoxetine – sold under the brand name Prozac, among others – can harm male guppies in ways that affected their body condition and breeding.

Research in 2022 examined pharmaceuticals in rivers in 104 countries of all continents. It found pharmaceutical contaminants posed a threat to the health of the environment or humans in more than a quarter of locations studied.

In 2018, a study of watercourses and surrounds in Melbourne found more than 60 pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic invertebrates and spiders.

Researchers in the United States have found hormones in the contraceptive pill have caused male fish to produce a protein usually produced by female fish. This “feminisation” led to collapses in fish populations.

And a psychoactive drug found in wastewater effluent has been found to alter wild fish behaviour and feeding.

Three guppies (side view), top male, bottom females
The antidepressant fluoxetine – sold under the brand name Prozac, among others – can harm male guppies. Per Harald Olsen, Wikimedia, CC BY

Benign by design

So how do we solve this problem?

More effective and economical wastewater treatments must be developed to remove pharmaceuticals from wastewater before it is discharged into the environment.

In addition, researchers developing pharmaceuticals must adopt a “benign by design” approach across the entire life of a drug.

From the outset, drugs must be designed to decompose quickly and fully after being excreted by humans. It’s possible for drug scientists to alter the chemical and physical properties of drugs so after humans excrete them, the active ingredients mineralise, or change form, to base substances such as carbon dioxide and water.

Traditionally researchers have designed drugs not to break down, either on the shelf or in the human body. While these properties remain important, drug developers should ensure medicines degrade quickly once in the environment.

A woman in a lab coat holds two pills
Researchers should adopt a ‘benign by design’ approach to pharmaceutical design. Shutterstock

Taking action

The principles of sustainable drug discovery should be included in Australia’s academic curriculum.

This would hopefully produce a generation of drug researchers who prioritise, where possible, medications that don’t harm the environment.

Regulation is also needed to ensure “greener” drug development. The International Pharmaceutical Federation last year took steps in this direction. The global body, representing more than 4 million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, released a statement calling for all medicines to be rigorously tested for environmental risk.

The European Medicines agency has gone even further. It requires the environmental risk of a medicine to be assessed before it’s approved for use.

The assessment considers a medicine’s chemical properties, potential ecological harm and where in the environment it may end up, such as water or soil. Pharmaceutical companies are also required to produce waste management plans that minimise environmental impact.

Research has found Australia lags behind on introducing similar requirements for environmental risk assessments for medicines.

By prioritising eco-friendly practices, the pharmaceutical sector can contribute to a healthier planet, while continuing to provide safe and effective medicines.

Everyday Australians can also take action to reduce environmental pollution from medicines. The federal government’s Return Unwanted Medicines project allows household drugs to be returned to pharmacies for safe and correct disposal.

By dropping off old medicines to your local chemist – instead of flushing or throwing them away, as some people mistakenly do – you can help look after fish and other wildlife in your area.The Conversation

Lauren T. May, Senior Lecturer and Group Leader, Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University and Manuela Jorg, Research Fellow & Lab Head in Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Monash University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

How we created a beautiful native wildflower meadow in the heart of the city using threatened grassland species

Matthew Stanton, CC BY-NC
Katherine Horsfall, The University of Melbourne

A city street may seem an unusual place to save species found in critically endangered grasslands. My new research, though, shows we can use plants from these ecosystems to create beautiful and biodiverse urban wildflower meadows. This means cities, too, can support nature repair.

Species-rich grassy ecosystems are some of the most threatened plant communities on the planet. Occupying easily developed flat land, grassy ecosystems are routinely sacrificed as our cities expand.

In south-east Australia, the volcanic plains that support Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs were once grasslands strewn with wildflowers, “resembling a nobleman’s park on a gigantic scale”, according to early explorer Thomas Mitchell. But these exceptionally diverse, critically endangered ecosystems have been reduced to less than 1% of their original area. The few remnants continue to be lost to urban development and weed invasion.

A mix of seeds from native grassland ready for sowing
A mix of the seeds used to create the meadow. Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

Unfortunately, efforts to restore the grasslands around Melbourne have had mixed results. In 2020 the City of Melbourne took matters into its own hands. Recognising it is possible to enrich the diversity of birds, bats and insects by providing low-growing native plants, the council set a goal to increase understorey plants by 20% on the land it manages.

Creating a large native grassland in inner-city Royal Park would help achieve this goal. Adopting a technique used by wildflower meadow designers, we sowed a million seeds of more than two dozen species from endangered grasslands around Melbourne. All but one of these species established in the resulting native wildflower meadow.

A native wildflower meadow under eucalyptus trees near a city road
The recreated native wildflower meadow is close to an inner-city road. Matthew Stanton, CC BY-NC

What were the challenges at this site?

Existing restoration techniques remove nutrient-enriched topsoils full of weed seeds before sowing native seeds. The target plant community can then establish with less competition from nutrient-hungry weeds.

However, this approach could not be used at the Royal Park site. Topsoil removal cannot be used on many urban sites where soils are contaminated or there are underground services. Alternative approaches are needed to reduce weed competition while minimising soil disturbance.

I saw a possible answer in the horticultural approaches used to create designed wildflower meadows.

Workers rake away mulch from among eucalyptus trees to prepare an area for sowing seed
Preparing the selected site in Royal Park by raking away mulch. Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

While still rare in Australia, designed wildflower meadows can increase the amenity and biodiversity of urban environments. They also reduce the costs of managing and mowing turf grass. These meadows are designed to be infrequently mown or burnt.

Wildflower meadow designers typically use an international suite of species that can be established from seed and persist without fertiliser or regular irrigation. An abundance of flowers makes people more accepting of “messy” vegetation. Recognising this, designers select a mix of species that will flower for as much of the year as possible.

A person spreads seed by hand across a sand layer among eucalyptus trees
Seed being spread by hand across the prepared area in April 2020. Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

To reduce competition from weeds, these meadows are often created on a layer of sand that covers the original site soils. The low-nutrient sand buries weed seeds and creates a sowing surface that resists weed invasion from the surrounding landscape.

However, the grasslands around Melbourne grow on clay soils, not sand. Would these techniques work for plants from these ecosystems?

A deep sand layer controls weeds and slugs

To find out we sowed more than a million seeds on sites with two depths of sand (10mm and 80mm) and one without a sand layer in Royal Park. Within one year, 26 of the 27 species sown had established to form a dense, flowering meadow across all sand depths. These plants included three threatened species.

white everlasting daisy flowers in a grassland
The hoary sunray, Leucochrysum albicans subsp. tricolor, is one of the endangered species in the native wildflower meadow. Marc Freestone/Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, CC BY-NC-SA

Crucially, the deepest sand layer reduced weed numbers and therefore time spent weeding.

Interestingly, slugs played a role in determining the diversity of the native meadow. South-east Australia’s grasslands have largely evolved without slugs. As a result, seedlings lack chemical or physical defences against grazing by slugs, which can greatly reduce species diversity in native meadows.

Again, sand provided a real benefit. Fewer slugs occurred on the deepest sand layer compared to bare soil. The suggestion that sand can deter slugs is consistent with meadow research in Europe.

Recently germinated seeds poke up through a protective layer of jute
By September 2020, seedlings are growing on the prepared plots. The roof tile in the foreground is for monitoring slug numbers. Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

Now to repair nature in all our cities

Our research gives us another technique to reinstate critically endangered plant communities. We can use it to bring nature back to city parks and streets.

Working in urban contexts also unlocks other advantages. There’s ready access to irrigation while the meadow gets established and to communities keen to care for natural landscapes. Creating native wildflower meadows in cities also helps native animals survive, including threatened species that call our cities home.

People will be able to engage with beautiful native plants that are now rare in cities. Enriching our experience of nature can enhance our health and wellbeing.

A mix of grasses and flowering plants under eucalyptus trees next to a path in a park
The meadow’s plant community was established by November 2020, six months after sowing. David Hannah, CC BY-NC

My colleagues and I trialled these approaches with the support of the City of Melbourne. We are continuing our research to improve the scale and sustainability of native wildflower meadows in other municipalities.

Native wildflower meadows and grassland restoration projects could genuinely help Australia meet its commitment to restore 30% of degraded landscapes. But first we need to invest much more in seed production. Reinstating native species on degraded land requires a lot of seed.

Once seed supply is more certain, we will be able to bring back native biodiversity and beauty to streets, parks and reserves across the country.


I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the project took place, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people of the Kulin Nations, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge my colleagues listed as co-authors on the research paper that formed the basis of this article: urban ecologists Nicholas S.G. Williams and Stephen Livesley, and seed ecologists Megan Hirst and John Delpratt.The Conversation

Katherine Horsfall, PhD Candidate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

New video shows sharks making an easy meal of spiky sea urchins, shedding light on an undersea mystery

Author provided
Jeremy Day, University of Newcastle

Long-spined sea urchins have emerged as an environmental issue off Australia’s far south coast. Native to temperate waters around New South Wales, the urchins have expanded their range south as oceans warm. There, they devour kelp and invertebrates, leaving barren habitats in their wake.

Lobsters are widely accepted as sea urchins’ key predator. In efforts to control urchin numbers, scientists have been researching this predator-prey relationship. And the latest research by my colleagues and I, released today, delivered an unexpected result.

We set up several cameras outside a lobster den and placed sea urchins in it. We filmed at night for almost a month. When we checked the footage, most sea urchins had been eaten – not by lobsters, but by sharks.

This suggests sharks have been overlooked as predators of sea urchins in NSW. Importantly, sharks seem to very easily consume these large, spiky creatures – sometimes in just a few gulps! Our findings suggest the diversity of predators eating large sea urchins is broader than we thought – and that could prove to be good news for protecting our kelp forests.

A puzzling picture

The waters off Australia’s south-east are warming at almost four times the global average. This has allowed long-spined sea urchins (Centrostephanus rodgersii) to extend their range from NSW into waters off Victoria and Tasmania.

Sea urchins feed on kelp and in their march south, have reduced kelp cover. This has added to pressure on kelp forests, which face many threats.

Scientists have been looking for ways to combat the spread of sea urchins. Ensuring healthy populations of predators is one suggested solution.

Overseas research on different urchin species has focused on predators such as lobsters and large fish. It found kelp cover can be improved by protecting or reinstating these predators.

a sea urchin eating kelp
Sea urchins feed on kelp. Nathan Knott

In NSW, eastern rock lobsters are thought to be important urchin predators. The species has been over-fished in the past but stocks have significantly bounced back in recent years.

But despite this, no meaningful reduction in urchin populations, or increase in kelp growth, has been observed in NSW.

Why not? Could it be that lobsters are not eating urchins in great numbers after all? Certainly, there is little empirical evidence on how often predators eat urchins in the wild.

What’s more, recent research in NSW suggested the influence of lobsters on urchin populations was low, while fish could be more important.

Our project aimed to investigate the situation further.

lobster under a rock
Eastern rock lobsters are thought to be major urchin predators. Flickr/Richard Ling, CC BY

What we did

We tied 100 urchins to blocks outside a lobster den off in Wollongong for 25 nights. This tethering meant the urchins were easily available to predators and stayed within view of our cameras.

Then we set multiple cameras to remotely turn on at sunset and turn after sunrise each day, to capture nocturnal feeding. We used a red-filtered light to film the experiments because invertebrates don’t like the white light spectrum.

We expected our cameras would capture lobsters eating the urchins. But in fact, the lobsters showed little interest in the urchins and ate just 4% of them. They were often filmed walking straight past urchins in search of other food.

Sharks, however, were very interested in the urchins. Both crested horn sharks (Heterodontus galeatus) and Port Jackson sharks (H. portusjacksonii) entered the den and ate 45% of the urchins.

As the footage below shows, sharks readily handled very large urchins (wider then 12 centimetres) with no hesitation.

Until now, it was thought few or no predators could handle urchins of this size. Larger urchins have longer spines, thicker shells and attach more strongly to the seafloor, making them harder to eat.

But the sharks attacked urchins from their spiny side, showing little regard for their sharp defences. This approach differs from other predators, such as lobsters and wrasses, which often turn urchins over and attack them methodically from their more vulnerable underside.

In fact, some sharks were so eager to eat urchins, they started feeding before the cameras turned on at sunset. This meant we had to film by hand.

Footage captured by the researchers showing crested horn sharks eating sea urchins. Horn sharks generally do not pose a threat to humans.

A complex food web

Our experiment showed the effect of lobsters on urchins in the wild is less than previously thought. This may explain why efforts to encourage lobster numbers have not helped control urchin numbers.

We also revealed a little-considered urchin predator: sharks.

Lobsters are capable but hesitant predators, whereas sharks seem eager to eat urchins. And crested horn sharks are an abundant, hardy species that is not actively fished.

When interpreting these findings, however, a few caveats must be noted.

First, sharks (and lobsters) are not the only animals to prey on urchins. Other predators include bony fishes, and more are likely to be identified in future.

Second, other factors can control urchin numbers, such as storm damage and the influx of fresh water.

And finally, it is unsurprising that we found a key predator when we intentionally searched for it by laying out food. Tethering urchins creates an artificial environment. We don’t know if the results would be replicated in the wild.

And even though we now know some shark species eat sea urchins, we don’t yet know if they can control urchins numbers.

But our research does confirm predators capable of handling large urchins may be more widespread than previously thought.The Conversation

Jeremy Day, PhD researcher, University of Newcastle

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Australia may be facing another La Niña summer. We’ve found a way to predict them earlier, to help us prepare

Mandy Freund, The University of Melbourne

Meteorologists are again predicting a possible La Niña this summer, which means Australia may face wetter and cooler conditions than normal.

It would be the fourth La Niña in Australia in five years, and highlights the need for Australians to prepare for what may be an extreme weather season.

Typically, a La Niña or its counterpart, El Niño, signals its arrival earlier in the year. Signs of this potential La Niña are emerging fairly late. That’s where new research by my colleagues and I may help in future.

La Niña and El Niño explained

La Niña and its opposite phase, El Niño, are created by changes in ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean’s equatorial region. Together, the two phenomena are known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation.

The oscillation is said to be in the positive phase during an El Niño and the negative phase during a La Niña. When sitting between the two, the cycle is in neutral phase.

Earlier this month, the World Meteorological Organization said there was a 60% chance of La Niña conditions emerging by year’s end.

In the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put the likelihood at 71%. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology is in “watch” mode, predicting a 50% chance of a La Niña weather pattern forming later this year.

La Niña occurs when strengthening winds change currents on the ocean surface, pulling cool water up from the deep.

The winds also cause warm surface waters in the western Pacific and north of Australia, bringing increased rainfall and clouds. This usually means above-average rainfall and cooler temperatures for Australia, particularly in the east and north.

Conversely, an El Niño weather pattern generally brings hotter temperatures across Australia, and less rainfall in the east and north.

a graphic showing gradients from blue to red
The Bureau of Meteorology is in La Niña ‘watch mode’. Bureau of Meteorology

Paths of destruction

La Niña or El Niño events can cause devastation around the world.

The El Niño in 2015–16, for example, caused crops to fail and affected the food security and nutrition of almost 60 million people globally.

In Australia, El Niño events can bring increased risk of drought, bushfires and heatwaves, and water shortages.

Meanwhile, rainfall associated with La Niña conditions can lead to greater crop yield. But particularly heavy rainfall can wash crops away. It also heightens flood risks for some communities.

These far-reaching impacts mean it’s essential to plan ahead when a La Niña or El Niño is on the cards. But predicting these events has always been tricky.

Both types of events usually develop in the Southern Hemisphere autumn, peak in late spring or summer, and weaken by the next autumn. But it’s now late spring without a clear La Niña declaration. Why the delay?

Climate change is one factor. The Bureau of Meteorology says as oceans absorb heat from global warming, it’s harder to spot the specific warming patterns linked to La Niña.

The sheer complexity of the ocean-atmosphere system adds to the difficulty. The computer models used to predict El Niño and La Niña are improving all the time. But scientists still need more information on deep ocean processes, and how winds affect the oscillation.

Predictions are hardest during the Southern Hemisphere’s autumn. That’s because the cycle then is very susceptible to change – teetering at a point where either a La Niña or El Niño could develop.

That’s why the earliest an El Niño or La Niña can be predicted is usually around May or June.

But new research offers a way to predict the events much earlier – and start preparing if necessary.

Better, earlier forecasts

The study, which I led, assessed the likelihood of La Niña or El Niño events occurring in succession – either in the eastern or central region of the Pacific Ocean.

This distinction is important. For Australia, El Niño and La Niña events peaking in the Central Pacific, close to our continent, have greater impacts here compared to those peaking in the east, closer to South America.

We analysed weather observations, and the sequence of past El Niño and La Niña events, over the past 150 years. We also examined climate models for future changes in transitions between El Niño and La Niña events.

From this, we determined the likelihood of an El Niño or La Niña occurring in two consecutive years.

We found most El Niño events are followed by neutral conditions the next year (with a likelihood of 37–56%).

But La Niña behaves differently. In 40% of cases, a Central Pacific El Niño could follow an Eastern Pacific La Niña. And there is a 28% chance of two consecutive La Niña events in the Central Pacific.

These results allow for more advanced predictions. By identifying patterns in this way, the odds of an El Niño or La Niña can be predicted up to a year in advance.

ocean with mountains and clouds in background
El Niño or La Niña are the result of complex interactions between winds and sea in the Pacific Ocean. Shutterstock

Looking ahead

So, what does our research suggest for Australia? Will a La Niña develop here this year?

From September last year, Australia experienced a strong Eastern Pacific El Niño. So our findings suggest there is only a 17% chance of La Niña this year.

If the La Niña arrives, it will likely peak in the Central Pacific, potentially affecting Australia rainfall. But overall, any La Niña that develops this late is likely to be weak and relatively short-lived.

Our research also found that as climate change accelerates, the El Niño Southern Oscillation is likely to shift. For example, the odds of two consecutive El Niños peaking in the central Pacific region will likely increase. And we can expect fewer calm, neutral years between events.

We hope our research enables more accurate, long-range forecasts, giving communities additional time to plan and prepare.The Conversation

Mandy Freund, Lecturer, Climate Science Geography, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Breathing may introduce microplastics to the brain – new study

Michael Richardson, Leiden University and Meiru Wang, Leiden University

Small plastic particles are everywhere: in the soil where our food is grown, in the water we drink and in the air we breathe. They got there from the plastic we throw away, which ends up in landfill sites, rivers and seas. There the plastic waste slowly breaks down, releasing tiny particles called microplastics and even tinier nanoplastics into the environment.

Microplastics are also increasingly being found throughout the human body. We are not sure how they got there, though there are three probable routes. We may ingest microplastics when we eat and drink, or breathe them into our lungs, or absorb them through our skin. Another route has recently been suggested, whereby microplastics get up our noses and from there into our brains.

For a long time, it was thought that the human brain existed in splendid isolation from the rest of the body. The so-called blood-brain barrier, a special layer of cells, protects the brain from all manner of pathogens and harmful substances. However, we now know that the blood-brain barrier can be breached because small plastic particles have been found in the human brain.

New research has suggested that the blood-brain barrier has at least one vulnerable spot where microplastics may be able to get into the brain. This potential entry point was suggested by researchers at the Freie Universität Berlin and the University of São Paulo. It is in the nose, where there are special nerves, the olfactory nerves, that detect smells.

The olfactory nerves run from the inside of the nose, through the skull, and then directly into part of the brain called the olfactory bulb. The researchers suggest that microparticles breathed into the nose may somehow get transported along the olfactory nerves and into the brain.

The researchers came to their conclusions by analysing tissue samples from residents of São Paulo who had died and undergone routine coroners’ autopsies. They removed the olfactory bulbs from these brains and analysed them using a variety of techniques.

Eight out of the 15 brains studied had microplastics in their olfactory bulbs. However, these eight samples had only 16 microplastic particles between them, which is perhaps some comfort.

Those 16 plastic particles included fragments, spheres and fibres, and were made of polypropylene, nylon and other plastics. Some of the fibres could have come from clothing. This makes sense because laundering clothes made from synthetic fibres is a significant source of microplastics in the environment.

Some of our small plastic particles are missing

The new study is just one of many that has reported the presence of small plastic particles in the human body. Most of these studies are about microplastics, which are particles up to five millimetres in size. Very few studies have looked for nanoplastics in the human body.

Nanoplastics are less than one-thousandth of a millimetre in size – so tiny that it is difficult to detect them without special equipment, and few scientists have easy access to this equipment.

The reason nanoplastics are important is that, unlike microplastics, they are well-documented to be harmful to living cells. This is because nanoplastics are small enough to get inside cells. Once inside, they can kill the cell.

Nanoplastics have been shown to kill cells in animal embryos. This can lead to birth defects in animals if the embryo is exposed to a high dose of nanoparticles.

Fortunately, there is no evidence that humans have suffered any great increase in birth defects in recent years. Maybe the placenta is able to stop microplastics and nanoplastics from reaching the foetus.

We need to know much more about the presence of microplastics – and especially nanoplastics – in the human body. And we need to know how they get there in the first place.

This makes the new Berlin-São Paulo study so interesting. It suggests a potential entry point, from the nose into the brain. This leaves us with the question: what potential risks are posed to our health by microplastics and nanoplastics? The jury is out, but perhaps feeling a little more nervous than before.The Conversation

Michael Richardson, Professor of Animal Development, Leiden University and Meiru Wang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology and Nanotoxicology, Leiden University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics. Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on notice

Shutterstock
Karen Raubenheimer, University of Wollongong

It’s been 20 years since a paper in the journal Science showed the environmental accumulation of tiny plastic fragments and fibres. It named the particles “microplastics”.

The paper opened an entire research field. Since then, more than 7,000 published studies have shown the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, in wildlife and in the human body.

So what have we learned? In a paper released today, an international group of experts, including myself, summarise the current state of knowledge.

In short, microplastics are widespread, accumulating in the remotest parts of our planet. There is evidence of their toxic effects at every level of biological organisation, from tiny insects at the bottom of the food chain to apex predators.

Microplastics are pervasive in food and drink and have been detected throughout the human body. Evidence of their harmful effects is emerging.

The scientific evidence is now more than sufficient: collective global action is urgently needed to tackle microplastics – and the problem has never been more pressing.

microplastic and debris on large sheet
shutterstock. Shutterstock

Tiny particles, huge problem

Microplastics are generally accepted as plastic particles 5mm or less in one dimension.

Some microplastics are intentionally added to products, such as microbeads in facial soaps.

Others are produced unintentionally when bigger plastic items break down – for example, fibres released when you wash a polyester fleece jacket.

Studies have identified some of the main sources of microplastics as:

  • cosmetic cleansers
  • synthetic textiles
  • vehicle tyres
  • plastic-coated fertilisers
  • plastic film used as mulch in agriculture
  • fishing rope and netting
  • “crumb rubber infill” used in artificial turf
  • plastics recycling.

Science hasn’t yet determined the rate at which larger plastics break down into microplastics. They are also still researching how quickly microplastics become “nanoplastics” – even smaller particles invisible to the eye.

A graphic of where microplastics come from, including paint, textiles, personal care products and tyres

Measuring the microplastic scourge

It’s difficult to assess the volume of microplastics in the air, soil and water. But researchers have attempted it.

For example, a 2020 study estimated between 0.8 and three million tonnes of microplastics enter Earth’s oceans in a year.

And a recent report suggests leakage into the environment on land could be three to ten times greater than that to oceans. If correct, it means between ten and 40 million tonnes in total.

The news gets worse. By 2040, microplastic releases to the environment could more than double. Even if humans stopped the flow of microplastics into the environment, the breakdown of bigger plastics would continue.

Microplastics have been detected in more than 1,300 animal species, including fish, mammals, birds and insects.

Some animals mistake the particles for food and ingest it, leading to harm such as blocked intestines. Animals are also harmed when the plastics inside them release the chemicals they contain – or those hitch-hiking on them.

plastic bag and fragments in water
Microplastics in the environment could more than double by 2040. Shutterstock

Invaders in our bodies

Microplastics have been identified in the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat – including seafood, table salt, honey, sugar, beer and tea.

Sometimes the contamination occurs in the environment. Other times it’s the result of food processing, packaging and handling.

More data is needed on microplastics in human foods such as land-animal products, cereals, grains, fruits, vegetables, beverages, spices, and oils and fats.

The concentrations of microplastics in foods vary widely – which means exposure levels in humans around the world also varies. However, some estimates, such as humans ingesting a credit card’s worth of plastic every week, are gross overstatements.

As equipment has advanced, scientists have identified smaller particles. They’ve found microplastics in our lungs, livers, kidneys, blood and reproductive organs. Microplastics have crossed protective barriers into our brains and hearts.

While we eliminate some microplastics through urine, faeces and our lungs, many persist in our bodies for a long time.

Graphic of a body showing where microplastics get in, with red markers pointing to locations

So what effect does this have on the health of humans and other organisms? Over the years, scientists have changed the way they measure this.

They initially used high doses of microplastics in laboratory tests. Now they use a more realistic dose that better represents what we and other creatures are actually exposed to.

And the nature of microplastics differ. For example, they contain different chemicals and interact differently with liquids or sunlight. And species of organisms, including humans, themselves vary between individuals.

This complicates scientists’ ability to conclusively link microplastics exposure with effects.

In regards to humans, progress is being made. In coming years, expect greater clarity about effects on our bodies such as:

  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress (an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants that damages cells)
  • immune responses
  • genotoxicity – damage to the genetic information in a cell that causes mutations, which can lead to cancer.

What can we do?

Public concern about microplastics is growing. This is compounded by our likely long-term exposure, given microplastics are almost impossible to remove from the environment.

Microplastic pollution is the result of human actions and decisions. We created the problem – and now we must create the solution.

Some countries have implemented laws regulating microplastics. But this is insufficient to address the challenge. That’s where a new legally binding agreement, the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty, offers an important opportunity. The fifth round of negotiations begins in November.

The treaty aims to reduce global production of plastics. But the deal must also include measures to reduce microplastics specifically.

Ultimately, plastics must be redesigned to prevent microplastics being released. And individuals and communities must be brought on board, to drive support for government policies.

After 20 years of microplastics research, there is more work to be done. But we have more than enough evidence to act now.The Conversation

Karen Raubenheimer, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

With a million home batteries, we could build far fewer power lines. We just need the right incentives

Scott Hamilton, Monash University

It’s no secret Australia has abundant and cheap renewable energy, especially wind and solar power. But yes, there are times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. We need energy storage to get us through those still nights and dreary days.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reports investment in storage capacity continues to increase, filling gaps left by retiring coal-fired power stations. But it warns sufficient storage is needed to ensure electricity supply is reliable throughout the transition.

Energy storage is the special sauce that makes renewables work anytime, anywhere and everywhere. Being able to send this stored renewable energy back to the grid on demand makes the most of the existing electricity network, including transmission lines.

We need both short- and long-duration storage to maintain energy security. This will enable renewable energy to be collected, stored and dispatched when needed. AEMO forecasts reliability levels can be maintained over most of the next ten years if programs and initiatives already established are delivered on time and in full. But we can’t afford any delays.

Storage on the grid

Old-fashioned power stations burning coal tend to run continuously, which helps make the electricity grid stable and reliable. In contrast, renewables need to be backed with storage such as batteries to provide a continuous supply of electricity.

The modern electricity network is being designed to handle the power produced when the sun is shining brightly and the wind is blowing hard, at the same time. But this only happens about 25% of the time.

Similarly, transmission lines are being built to a maximum capacity. But we could get by with fewer transmission lines if we store more solar and wind power for later. That’s why many renewable generation projects include storage on site or nearby, and why it also makes sense to have batteries in our homes or communities.

Charging an electric car at home, plugged in during a sunny day in an open-air carport
Some electric vehicles are ‘home batteries on wheels’. Carlos Horton, Shutterstock

Australia has some of the world’s biggest batteries

The 300 megawatt Victorian Big Battery, near Geelong, is the biggest in Australia and one of the biggest in the world. It can store enough energy to power more than a million homes for 30 minutes.

The federal government is also funding six large-scale batteries through the Capacity Investment Scheme. This includes a 350MW energy storage system on the site of the Jeeralang Power Station, near Morwell in the Latrobe Valley. But the title of the nation’s biggest battery will soon be handed to the 850MW Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales.

What’s next?

Other emerging battery systems could power the future. For example, new lithium-sulphur batteries deliver more energy per gram and last longer than existing lithium-ion batteries. This has been achieved simply by adding sugar.

Australia has all the critical minerals needed to make batteries (lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt). But about 90% of the batteries we currently use come from China.

The 2024 National Battery Strategy vision is for Australia is a globally competitive producer of batteries and battery materials by 2035.

Battery booster scheme needed

Australia has the policy settings and incentives about right for building grid-scale storage systems. But almost half the effort in getting to 82% renewables by 2030 will come from consumers – mainly rooftop solar systems, backed by home and business battery storage.

We have just passed the point at which the payback period for small-scale batteries falls within the product’s lifetime, making the upfront cost worthwhile.

But government incentives are still needed to make it more affordable to install small-scale solar batteries. This would help families and businesses reduce their power bills, gain better control of when and how they produce energy, and build a more resilient energy system.

More than 300,000 solar power systems are installed on Australian homes and businesses each year. The total reached more than 3.7 million systems at the start of this year. With the right ambition and policy settings, we could have similar rates of uptake in home batteries – going from about 250,000 at the moment to more than one million by 2030.



What’s more, electric vehicles are essentially large “batteries on wheels”. They can be plugged in at home to provide backup power in blackouts, or at times of peak demand.

Government incentives are also needed here to drive the further uptake of electric vehicles in the domestic, commercial and industry sector. The upfront price of an EV is too high for many Australians. Perverse incentives such as the diesel rebate are also slowing the switch in some sectors such as mining.

Australia is already a world leader in rooftop solar. With the right policy levers, we can also lead the world in home energy storage.

The energy storage toolkit

Batteries alone aren’t enough. As the penetration of renewables increases, the importance of long duration energy storage technologies will increase. In general, these technologies provide more than eight hours of energy storage using various electrochemical, mechanical, thermal and mechanical means.

Beyond batteries, other energy storage solutions include pumped hydro such as Snowy 2.0, “green gravity” using mine shafts, green hydrogen and concentrated solar thermal power plants.

Get smart about storage

Many energy storage options are readily available now and could be manufactured in Australia. We have the technology to empower communities, create thousands of new jobs and help save the planet.

If we’re smart about it, we can even get by with fewer transmission lines and less bulky electricity infrastructure.The Conversation

Scott Hamilton, Adjunct associate professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Our electricity workforce must double to hit the 2030 renewables target. Energy storage jobs will soon overtake those in coal and gas

Wanwajee Weeraphukdee/Shutterstock
Jay Rutovitz, University of Technology Sydney; Chris Briggs, University of Technology Sydney, and Elianor Gerrard, University of Technology Sydney

The electricity workforce will need to double in five years to achieve Australia’s 2030 renewable energy target, our new report finds. More than 80% of these jobs will be in renewables. Jobs in energy storage alone will overtake domestic coal and gas jobs (not including the coal and gas export sector) in the next couple of years.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) updates its Integrated System Plan every two years. It’s a blueprint for the energy transition from coal to renewable energy. The plan lays out scenarios for how the electricity system might change to help put in place all the elements needed to make the transition happen.

AEMO and the RACE for 2030 co-operative research centre commissioned the Institute for Sustainable Futures to undertake modelling on the workforce needed for this transition. The “step change” scenario in the Integrated System Plan is broadly aligned with the 2030 renewables target. Under this scenario, we found the electricity workforce would need to grow from 33,000 to peak at 66,000 by 2029.

Rooftop solar and batteries together are projected to account for over 40% of these jobs. Wind farms will employ around one-third and solar farms just under 10%. Jobs would also treble in transmission line construction to connect renewables in regional areas to cities and other states in the next few years.

Job projections in the National Electricity Market under the ‘step change’ scenario that aligns with the 2030 renewables target. Author provided

Job growth would surge in a ‘renewable energy superpower’

In the “green energy export” scenario, Australia becomes a “renewable energy superpower”. The country uses renewable energy to export green hydrogen and power heavy industry. In this scenario, the electricity workforce would almost treble to 96,000 by the late 2020s.

By 2033, after construction peaks, more than half of electricity sector jobs will be in operations and maintenance. This applies to both the step change and green energy export scenarios.

A significant employment downturn is projected during the 2030s. But in the green energy export scenario jobs then climb steeply again to a peak of 120,000. This projection reflects AEMO’s expectations of when green export growth will occur.

New South Wales is projected to have the most renewable energy jobs in the 2020s. However, Queensland would become the largest state for renewable jobs (especially in wind farms) in the green energy export scenario.

Projected total job numbers by scenario. Author provided

What are the other possibilities?

“Progressive change” is another scenario in the Integrated System Plan. For this scenario, we modelled slower growth in renewable energy. It reflects constraints on the economy and supply chains (including labour and minerals) for renewables.

In an “enhanced manufacturing” scenario, local renewable energy manufacturing increases. Our modelling found it could create a peak of 5,000 extra jobs.

Importantly, these projections don’t include upstream jobs in supply chains for the sector (for example, increased mining to supply the resources that renewables need) or electrification of homes.

Creating this many jobs is very challenging

Our modelling shows the workforce needs to grow very rapidly to make Australia’s energy transition happen. Unfortunately, the challenges of building this workforce are daunting. They include:

  • there’s a shortage of almost all key occupations in demand for the electricity sector – electricians, engineers, construction managers – according to Australia’s Skills Priority List

  • “extraordinary growth” forecast by Infrastructure Australia in other major infrastructure projects, such as transport, which will compete for many of the same skilled workers

  • under AEMO’s scenarios, employment will be subject to boom-bust cycles, which increases the risk of skill shortages and damaging impacts, such as housing shortages, in regional areas

  • Australia has relied heavily on skilled migrants – and will look to do so again – but many parts of the world are chasing the same workers.

The International Energy Agency has noted:

Labour and skills shortages are already translating into project delays, raising concerns that clean energy solutions will be unable to keep pace with demand to meet net zero targets.

What can be done to avoid skill shortages?

Some action has been taken to increase the workforce. The federal government, for instance, is subsidising apprentices under the New Energy Apprenticeship program.

But action isn’t happening at the scale and pace required.

What else can be done?

Firstly, Jobs Skills Australia and Powering Skills Organisation (which oversees energy skills training) have outlined ways to increase the system’s capacity to train more skilled workers. This includes creating better pathways into renewable energy for students, especially in recognised Renewable Energy Zones.

Secondly, Jobs Skills Australia has noted the need for renewable energy businesses to increase their intakes of apprentices. It recommends expanding the Australian Skills Guarantee to include generation and transmission projects.

The guarantee has set mandatory targets for apprentices or trainees to complete 10% of labour hours on Commonwealth-funded major construction and information technology projects (A$10 million plus). It could also be applied to major government funding programs for renewable energy and transmission. These include:

  • the Capacity Investment Scheme, a government tender program to support a large volume of new renewables and storage projects

  • Rewiring the Nation, a $20 billion fund for transmission lines

  • grants from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Thirdly, government tenders could moderate the peaks and troughs in employment by limiting the maximum and minimum volumes built each year.

Fourthly, including more women and First Nations Australians can increase labour supply and workforce diversity. Only one-in-two First Nations Australians are employed compared to around two in three in the wider population. Yet they account for around one-in-ten people in some major Renewable Energy Zones.

Government pre-employment programs, working with industry and First Nations groups, could also increase the supply of workers. These could have a dramatic social impact too.

It’s a challenging problem whichever way you look at it. We need rapid change to build renewable energy capacity before coal plants retire and to tackle climate change. But that depends on growing the workforce amid skill shortages.

There’s a range of ways to increase the supply of workers and improve local outcomes. But we are running out of time. Urgent action is needed.The Conversation

Jay Rutovitz, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney; Chris Briggs, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, and Elianor Gerrard, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

‘Breakthrough discovery’: Indigenous Rangers in outback WA find up to 50 night parrots – one of Australia’s most elusive birds

Rachel Paltridge, The University of Western Australia; Clifford Sunfly, Indigenous Knowledge, and Nicholas Leseberg, The University of Queensland

In arid inland Australia lives one of Australia’s rarest birds: the night parrot. Missing for more than a century, a live population was rediscovered in 2013. But the species remains elusive.

Until recently, Australia’s known night parrot population numbered in the tens of birds, scattered across desert in Queensland and Western Australia.

But our research team – consisting of Indigenous rangers and scientists – has made a breakthrough discovery. We’ve detected the largest known night parrot population in the world: perhaps as many as 50, living in WA’s Great Sandy Desert, on land managed by the Ngururrpa people. Our results are published today.

Urgent action is needed to protect these vulnerable populations and ensure the night parrot doesn’t go missing a second time, perhaps for good.

night parrot illustration
The night parrot lives in arid inland Australia. Pictured: an 1890 illustration by Elizabeth Gould. Wikimedia, CC BY

A highly mysterious species

The night parrot was once found throughout Australia’s arid inland, but its numbers plummeted in the late 19th century.

The bird was not definitely recorded for more than 100 years, until a dead bird was found near Boulia in western Queensland in 1990. Another dead bird was found in Diamantina National Park, also in western Queensland, in 2006.

In 2013 a small population was found by naturalist John Young in south-western Queensland. That area is now a wildlife reserve.

Night parrots are notoriously difficult to detect. They build tunnels in dense spinifex and hide there by day, emerging at night to forage. They are known only from populations in remote south-west Queensland and central and northern Western Australia. The species is critically endangered.

In Western Australia, Indigenous cultural knowledge about the species includes stories about how difficult the bird is to find. There are also whispered stories of mothers telling children the night parrot’s call was the sound of an evil spirit, and warning them not to stray from camp.

A video explaining the night parrot project.

What we did

The Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area is in the Great Sandy Desert. It comprises vast areas of sandplains and dunefields, and smaller areas of floodplain and spinifex which are key night parrot habitats.

three people standing around a square device on pole
The researchers recorded night parrots using ‘songmeters’. Ngururrpa Rangers/Facebook

Ngururrpa Rangers worked with scientists to learn how to use sound recorders to search for night parrots. We then searched for the birds on Country between 2018 and 2023.

We combined the rangers’ detailed knowledge of habitats, water and seed resources with geology maps, satellite imagery and fire history data. From this we selected 31 potential roosting areas, then deployed sound recorders called “songmeters” at those sites.

We wanted to detect the night parrots’ distinctive calls which consist of whistles, croaks and bell-like sounds.

The acoustic data we gathered was then analysed to extract any bird calls in the night parrot’s frequency range. Potential detections were verified using a reference library of known night parrot calls.

Our results

We detected night parrot calls at 17 of 31 sites. Of these, ten were roost sites, where night parrot calls were detected in the hour after sunset and the hour before sunrise.

Individual night parrots are thought to have unique calls. We analysed how many different calls we could hear, and how loud they were (which can tell us when birds are calling from different locations). From this we built a picture of the identity and number of individuals regularly occupying a site.

We extrapolated this across the 58 patches of potential night parrot habitat on the Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area. We concluded up to 20 roosting areas may be occupied by night parrots.

Based on the numbers at roosting sites where we recorded calls, we estimate 40–50 night parrots could be present in the Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area.



Fire and predators pose grave threats

Once we found the night parrot populations, we wanted to know what threats they faced.

We used camera-traps to identify predators and also collected their scats (poos) to analyse their diets.

Indigenous woman holds feather
Ngururrpa Ranger Kathryn Njamme with a night parrot feather. Ngururrpa IPA

Dingoes were the predator detected most frequently in night parrot roosting habitat. Our cameras captured them ten times more often than feral cats. And we found dingoes regularly eat feral cats at night parrot sites.

Based on information from other areas, we suspect cats are a key predator of night parrots. Dingoes could be important in suppressing cat numbers and helping the parrots survive. So, attempts to limit predators in night parrot habitat should not harm dingoes.

We also analysed 40 years of satellite imagery to assess the threat of fire to night parrots’ roosting habitat. Based on the vegetation types and flammability of surrounding landscapes, we found bushfires sparked by lightning are a much bigger threat to night parrots in the Great Sandy Desert than in Queensland.

Strategic aerial and ground burning, to reduce fuel loads, already occurs in the Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area. As our knowledge of night parrots improves, these programs can become more targeted to protect key night parrot areas.

people stand in spinifex-dotted landscape
Ngururrpa Rangers using ‘Felixer’ devices to selectively control cats in night parrot habitat. Ngururrpa IPA

Keeping night parrots alive

A long-term monitoring program for night parrots on Ngururrpa Country should be established to help better understand and protect this vitally important population.

And the remote, wild nature of the landscape should be retained. This means minimising disturbance from people and vehicles, and continuing to exclude livestock and weeds.

Ngururrpa Ranger Clifford Sunfly exlpains how rangers want to help protect night parrots into the future:

We would like to spend more time on Country to find where [night parrots] are and understand what they are doing.

We want those scientists to come and help us catch some night parrots and tag them. We also need more snake-cams (inspection cameras) too and more songmeters. And a kit for collecting scats for DNA.

One day we would love to have our own research facility for doing our night parrot surveys. It would be our dream to have our own research base on Ngururrpa.The Conversation

Rachel Paltridge, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ecology, The University of Western Australia; Clifford Sunfly, Ngururrpa Ranger, Indigenous Knowledge, and Nicholas Leseberg, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Scientists discover heat-tolerant corals hidden in plain sight. Could it help protect the Great Barrier Reef?

Wikimedia, CC BY
Melissa Naugle, Southern Cross University; Emily Howells, Southern Cross University, and Line K Bay, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Just as individual humans handle stress differently, so do corals. Even coral colonies of the same species, growing side by side, vary in their tolerance to pressures such as heatwaves.

In research published today, we discovered surprising new evidence of variable heat tolerance in corals. As the world’s oceans warm, these differences are important.

Earlier this year, the world’s fourth global mass bleaching event was declared. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered five mass bleachings since 2016 – most recently this past summer. The declarations followed the world’s warmest year on record.

To keep the world’s coral reefs healthy and functioning, global carbon emissions must be dramatically curbed to reduce the rate of ocean warming. As humanity works towards that goal, interventions may buy time for corals to survive in their warming environments.

What we did

The heat tolerance of corals can be measured by analysing their responses to elevated water temperatures. Our research involved measuring the bleaching thresholds of more than 500 colonies of the tabular coral, Acropora hyacinthus.

Acropora hyacinthus is a common coral that forms “tables” of tiny branchlets. This species is both ecologically important and highly vulnerable to heat waves, making it a prime candidate for conservation.

The characteristic colour of coral is provided by algae living inside its tissue. The algae also provide most of the coral’s nutrition. When water temperatures get too high for too long, the coral expels the algae, causing it to bleach and starve.

While at sea, we visited 17 reefs to scuba dive and search for Acropora hyacinthus. We then brought samples of these corals on board a research vessel to conduct experiments.

Our specially designed portable experiment system contained 12 tanks set to four different temperatures. Coral fragments were placed in each tank and subjected to short-term heat stress at different temperatures.

Afterwards, we measured the amount of pigment left in the coral fragments, which directly aligns with the amount of algae left in the coral’s cells.

We then determined each coral’s bleaching thresholds - in other words, the temperature at which the coral’s pigmentation drops to 50% of its healthy level. This allowed us to understand how much variation exists and where the most heat-tolerant colonies live.

So what did we find? Under our experiments, the amount of pigment retained under high temperatures varied from 3% to 95%. This means at high temperatures, some coral colonies completely bleached while others seemed barely affected.

Of the 17 reefs we studied, 12 contained colonies with bleaching thresholds in the top 25%. This means heat-tolerant corals could be found at most of the reefs we sampled.

Nature versus nurture

Corals handle stress differently for two reasons: nature and nurture.

Each coral has a unique “nature” or genetic makeup that can affect its heat tolerance. Our results suggest corals found across the entire Great Barrier Reef may hold unique genetic resources that are important for recovery and adaptation.

However, aspects of the marine environment may nurture, or hinder, a coral’s heat stress response. These include water temperatures, nutrient conditions, and the symbiotic algae living inside coral tissue.

We found corals living in warmer regions, such as the northern Great Barrier Reef, can handle higher water temperatures. However, because the water is so warm in these areas, the corals are already pushed close to their temperature limits.

Corals in the southern Great Barrier Reef cannot handle temperatures as high as their northern neighbours. Our findings suggest these corals can tolerate more warming above their local temperatures than corals to the north.

These tolerance patterns may affect which corals survive marine heatwaves.

Giving our reefs a future

Our findings have potentially important implications for the ability of corals to adapt to warmer seas under climate change.

The results may also inform reef restoration and conservation efforts. For example, heat-tolerant parent corals could be selectively bred to produce offspring better suited to warmer waters.

The success of such programs depends on the extent to which a coral’s genetic makeup controls its tolerance to heat. So, the next step in this research is investigating these genetic differences.

Selective breeding trials are already underway, using the most heat-tolerant corals identified in this study.

When it comes to protecting our coral reefs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is imperative. However, interventions such as selective breeding may be useful supplements to give coral reefs the best future possible.The Conversation

Melissa Naugle, PhD Candidate in Coral Ecology, Southern Cross University; Emily Howells, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Biology, Southern Cross University, and Line K Bay, Research Program Director, Australian Institute of Marine Science

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Pittwater Reserves: histories + Notes + Pictorial Walks

A History Of The Campaign For Preservation Of The Warriewood Escarpment by David Palmer OAM and Angus Gordon OAM
A Stroll Along The Centre Track At Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park: June 2024 - by Kevin Murray
A Stroll Around Manly Dam: Spring 2023 by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
A Stroll Through Warriewood Wetlands by Joe Mills February 2023
A Walk Around The Cromer Side Of Narrabeen Lake by Joe Mills
America Bay Track Walk - photos by Joe Mills
An Aquatic June: North Narrabeen - Turimetta - Collaroy photos by Joe Mills 
Angophora Reserve  Angophora Reserve Flowers Grand Old Tree Of Angophora Reserve Falls Back To The Earth - History page
Annie Wyatt Reserve - A  Pictorial
Aquatic Reflections seen this week (May 2023): Narrabeen + Turimetta by Joe Mills 
Avalon Beach Reserve- Bequeathed By John Therry  
Avalon Beach This Week: A Place Of A Bursting Main, Flooding Drains + Falling Boulders Council Announces Intention To Progress One LEP For Whole LGA + Transport Oriented Development Begins
Avalon's Village Green: Avalon Park Becomes Dunbar Park - Some History + Toongari Reserve and Catalpa Reserve
Bairne Walking Track Ku-Ring-Gai Chase NP by Kevin Murray
Bangalley Headland  Bangalley Mid Winter
Bangalley Headland Walk: Spring 2023 by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
Banksias of Pittwater
Barrenjoey Boathouse In Governor Phillip Park  Part Of Our Community For 75 Years: Photos From The Collection Of Russell Walton, Son Of Victor Walton
Barrenjoey Headland: Spring flowers 
Barrenjoey Headland after fire
Bayview Baths
Bayview Sea Scouts Hall: Some History
Bayview Wetlands
Beeby Park
Bilgola Beach
Bilgola Plateau Parks For The People: Gifted By A. J. Small, N. A. K. Wallis + The Green Pathways To Keep People Connected To The Trees, Birds, Bees - For Children To Play 
Botham Beach by Barbara Davies
Bungan Beach Bush Care
Careel Bay Saltmarsh plants 
Careel Bay Birds  
Careel Bay Clean Up day
Careel Bay Playing Fields History and Current
Careel Creek 
Careel Creek - If you rebuild it they will come
Centre trail in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Chiltern Track- Ingleside by Marita Macrae
Clareville Beach
Clareville/Long Beach Reserve + some History
Coastal Stability Series: Cabbage Tree Bay To Barrenjoey To Observation Point by John Illingsworth, Pittwater Pathways, and Dr. Peter Mitchell OAM
Cowan Track by Kevin Murray
Curl Curl To Freshwater Walk: October 2021 by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
Currawong and Palm Beach Views - Winter 2018
Currawong-Mackerel-The Basin A Stroll In Early November 2021 - photos by Selena Griffith
Currawong State Park Currawong Beach +  Currawong Creek
Deep Creek To Warriewood Walk photos by Joe Mills
Drone Gives A New View On Coastal Stability; Bungan: Bungan Headland To Newport Beach + Bilgola: North Newport Beach To Avalon + Bangalley: Avalon Headland To Palm Beach
Duck Holes: McCarrs Creek by Joe Mills
Dunbar Park - Some History + Toongari Reserve and Catalpa Reserve
Dundundra Falls Reserve: August 2020 photos by Selena Griffith - Listed in 1935
Elsie Track, Scotland Island
Elvina Track in Late Winter 2019 by Penny Gleen
Elvina Bay Walking Track: Spring 2020 photos by Joe Mills 
Elvina Bay-Lovett Bay Loop Spring 2020 by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
Fern Creek - Ingleside Escarpment To Warriewood Walk + Some History photos by Joe Mills
Hordern Park, Palm Beach: Some History + 2024 Photos of park from top to beach
Iluka Park, Woorak Park, Pittwater Park, Sand Point Reserve, Snapperman Beach Reserve - Palm Beach: Some History
Ingleside
Ingleside Wildflowers August 2013
Irrawong - Ingleside Escarpment Trail Walk Spring 2020 photos by Joe Mills
Irrawong - Mullet Creek Restoration
Katandra Bushland Sanctuary - Ingleside
Lucinda Park, Palm Beach: Some History + 2022 Pictures
McCarrs Creek
McCarr's Creek to Church Point to Bayview Waterfront Path
McKay Reserve
Milton Family Property History - Palm Beach By William (Bill) James Goddard II with photos courtesy of the Milton Family   - Snapperman to Sandy Point, Pittwater
Mona Vale Beach - A Stroll Along, Spring 2021 by Kevin Murray
Mona Vale Headland, Basin and Beach Restoration
Mona Vale Woolworths Front Entrance Gets Garden Upgrade: A Few Notes On The Site's History 
Mother Brushtail Killed On Barrenjoey Road: Baby Cried All Night - Powerful Owl Struck At Same Time At Careel Bay During Owlet Fledgling Season: calls for mitigation measures - The List of what you can do for those who ask 'What You I Do' as requested
Mount Murray Anderson Walking Track by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
Mullet Creek
Narrabeen Creek
Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment: Past Notes Present Photos by Margaret Woods
Narrabeen Lagoon Entrance Clearing Works: September To October 2023  pictures by Joe Mills
Narrabeen Lagoon State Park
Narrabeen Lagoon State Park Expansion
Narrabeen Rockshelf Aquatic Reserve
Nerang Track, Terrey Hills by Bea Pierce
Newport Bushlink - the Crown of the Hill Linked Reserves
Newport Community Garden - Woolcott Reserve
Newport to Bilgola Bushlink 'From The Crown To The Sea' Paths:  Founded In 1956 - A Tip and Quarry Becomes Green Space For People and Wildlife 
Out and About July 2020 - Storm swell
Out & About: July 2024 - Barrenjoey To Paradise Beach To Bayview To Narrabeen + Middle Creek - by John Illingsworth, Adriaan van der Wallen, Joe Mills, Suzanne Daly, Jacqui Marlowe and AJG
Palm Beach Headland Becomes Australia’s First Urban Night Sky Place: Barrenjoey High School Alumni Marnie Ogg's Hard Work Realises Long-Held Dream For Everyone
Pictures From The Past: Views Of Early Narrabeen Bridges - 1860 To 1966
Pittwater Beach Reserves Have Been Dedicated For Public Use Since 1887 - No 1.: Avalon Beach Reserve- Bequeathed By John Therry 
Pittwater Reserves: The Green Ways; Bungan Beach and Bungan Head Reserves:  A Headland Garden 
Pittwater Reserves, The Green Ways: Clareville Wharf and Taylor's Point Jetty
Pittwater Reserves: The Green Ways; Hordern, Wilshire Parks, McKay Reserve: From Beach to Estuary 
Pittwater Reserves - The Green Ways: Mona Vale's Village Greens a Map of the Historic Crown Lands Ethos Realised in The Village, Kitchener and Beeby Parks 
Pittwater Reserves: The Green Ways Bilgola Beach - The Cabbage Tree Gardens and Camping Grounds - Includes Bilgola - The Story Of A Politician, A Pilot and An Epicure by Tony Dawson and Anne Spencer  
Pittwater spring: waterbirds return to Wetlands
Pittwater's Lone Rangers - 120 Years of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase and the Men of Flowers Inspired by Eccleston Du Faur 
Pittwater's Great Outdoors: Spotted To The North, South, East + West- June 2023:  Palm Beach Boat House rebuild going well - First day of Winter Rainbow over Turimetta - what's Blooming in the bush? + more by Joe Mills, Selena Griffith and Pittwater Online
Pittwater's Parallel Estuary - The Cowan 'Creek
Pittwater Pathways To Public Lands & Reserves
Resolute Track at West Head by Kevin Murray
Resolute Track Stroll by Joe Mills
Riddle Reserve, Bayview
Salvation Loop Trail, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park- Spring 2020 - by Selena Griffith
Seagull Pair At Turimetta Beach: Spring Is In The Air!
Some late November Insects (2023)
Stapleton Reserve
Stapleton Park Reserve In Spring 2020: An Urban Ark Of Plants Found Nowhere Else
Stony Range Regional Botanical Garden: Some History On How A Reserve Became An Australian Plant Park
The Chiltern Track
The Chiltern Trail On The Verge Of Spring 2023 by Kevin Murray and Joe Mills
The 'Newport Loop': Some History 
The Resolute Beach Loop Track At West Head In Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park by Kevin Murray
Topham Track Ku-Ring-Gai Chase NP,  August 2022 by Joe Mills and Kevin Murray
Towlers Bay Walking Track by Joe Mills
Trafalgar Square, Newport: A 'Commons' Park Dedicated By Private Landholders - The Green Heart Of This Community
Tranquil Turimetta Beach, April 2022 by Joe Mills
Turimetta Beach Reserve by Joe Mills, Bea Pierce and Lesley
Turimetta Beach Reserve: Old & New Images (by Kevin Murray) + Some History
Turimetta Headland
Turimetta Moods by Joe Mills: June 2023
Turimetta Moods (Week Ending June 23 2023) by Joe Mills
Turimetta Moods: June To July 2023 Pictures by Joe Mills
Turimetta Moods: July Becomes August 2023 by Joe Mills
Turimetta Moods: August Becomes September 2023 ; North Narrabeen - Turimetta - Warriewood - Mona Vale photographs by Joe Mills
Turimetta Moods: Mid-September To Mid-October 2023 by Joe Mills
Warriewood Wetlands - Creeks Deteriorating: How To Report Construction Site Breaches, Weed Infestations + The Long Campaign To Save The Warriewood Wetlands & Ingleside Escarpment March 2023
Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Reserve
Whale Beach Ocean Reserve: 'The Strand' - Some History On Another Great Protected Pittwater Reserve
Whale Migration Season: Grab A Seaside Pew For The Annual Whalesong But Keep Them Safe If Going Out On The Water
Wilshire Park Palm Beach: Some History + Photos From May 2022
Winji Jimmi - Water Maze

Pittwater's Birds

Attracting Insectivore Birds to Your Garden: DIY Natural Tick Control small bird insectivores, species like the Silvereye, Spotted Pardalote, Gerygone, Fairywren and Thornbill, feed on ticks. Attracting these birds back into your garden will provide not only a residence for tick eaters but also the delightful moments watching these tiny birds provides.
Aussie Backyard Bird Count 2017: Take part from 23 - 29 October - how many birds live here?
Aussie Backyard Bird Count 2018 - Our Annual 'What Bird Is That?' Week Is Here! This week the annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count runs from 22-28 October 2018. Pittwater is one of those places fortunate to have birds that thrive because of an Aquatic environment, a tall treed Bush environment and areas set aside for those that dwell closer to the ground, in a sand, scrub or earth environment. To take part all you need is 20 minutes and your favourite outdoor space. Head to the website and register as a Counter today! And if you're a teacher, check out BirdLife Australia's Bird Count curriculum-based lesson plans to get your students (or the whole school!) involved

Australian Predators of the Sky by Penny Olsen - published by National Library of Australia

Australian Raven  Australian Wood Duck Family at Newport

A Week In Pittwater Issue 128   A Week In Pittwater - June 2014 Issue 168

Baby Birds Spring 2015 - Rainbow Lorikeets in our Yard - for Children Baby Birds by Lynleigh Greig, Southern Cross Wildlife Care - what do if being chased by a nesting magpie or if you find a baby bird on the ground

Baby Kookaburras in our Backyard: Aussie Bird Count 2016 - October

Balloons Are The Number 1 Marine Debris Risk Of Mortality For Our Seabirds - Feb 2019 Study

Bangalley Mid-Winter   Barrenjoey Birds Bird Antics This Week: December 2016

Bird of the Month February 2019 by Michael Mannington

Birdland Above the Estuary - October 2012  Birds At Our Window   Birds at our Window - Winter 2014  Birdland June 2016

Birdsong Is a Lovesong at This time of The Year - Brown Falcon, Little Wattle Bird, Australian Pied cormorant, Mangrove or Striated Heron, Great Egret, Grey Butcherbird, White-faced Heron 

Bird Songs – poems about our birds by youngsters from yesterdays - for children Bird Week 2015: 19-25 October

Bird Songs For Spring 2016 For Children by Joanne Seve

Birds at Careel Creek this Week - November 2017: includes Bird Count 2017 for Local Birds - BirdLife Australia by postcode

Black Cockatoo photographed in the Narrabeen Catchment Reserves this week by Margaret G Woods - July 2019

Black-Necked Stork, Mycteria Australis, Now Endangered In NSW, Once Visited Pittwater: Breeding Pair shot in 1855

Black Swans on Narrabeen Lagoon - April 2013   Black Swans Pictorial

Brush Turkeys In Suburbia: There's An App For That - Citizen Scientists Called On To Spot Brush Turkeys In Their Backyards
Buff-banded Rail spotted at Careel Creek 22.12.2012: a breeding pair and a fluffy black chick

Cayley & Son - The life and Art of Neville Henry Cayley & Neville William Cayley by Penny Olsen - great new book on the art works on birds of these Australian gentlemen and a few insights from the author herself
Crimson Rosella - + Historical Articles on

Death By 775 Cuts: How Conservation Law Is Failing The Black-Throated Finch - new study 'How to Send a Finch Extinct' now published

Eastern Rosella - and a little more about our progression to protecting our birds instead of exporting them or decimating them.

Endangered Little Tern Fishing at Mona Vale Beach

‘Feather Map of Australia’: Citizen scientists can support the future of Australia's wetland birds: for Birdwatchers, school students and everyone who loves our estuarine and lagoon and wetland birds

First Week of Spring 2014

Fledgling Common Koel Adopted by Red Wattlebird -Summer Bird fest 2013  Flegdlings of Summer - January 2012

Flocks of Colour by Penny Olsen - beautiful new Bird Book Celebrates the 'Land of the Parrots'

Friendly Goose at Palm Beach Wharf - Pittwater's Own Mother Goose

Front Page Issue 177  Front Page Issue 185 Front Page Issue 193 - Discarded Fishing Tackle killing shorebirds Front Page Issue 203 - Juvenile Brush Turkey  Front Page Issue 208 - Lyrebird by Marita Macrae Front Page Issue 219  Superb Fairy Wren Female  Front Page Issue 234National Bird Week October 19-25  and the 2015 the Aussie Back Yard Bird Count: Australia's First Bird Counts - a 115 Year Legacy - with a small insight into our first zoos Front Page Issue 236: Bird Week 2015 Front Page Issue 244: watebirds Front Page Issue 260: White-face Heron at Careel Creek Front Page Issue 283: Pittwater + more birds for Bird Week/Aussie Bird Count  Front Page Issue 284: Pittwater + more birds for Bird Week/Aussie Bird Count Front Page Issue 285: Bird Week 2016  Front Page Issue 331: Spring Visitor Birds Return

G . E. Archer Russell (1881-1960) and His Passion For Avifauna From Narrabeen To Newport 

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Returns To Pittwater by Paul Wheeler Glossy Cockatoos - 6 spotted at Careel Bay February 2018

Grey Butcher Birds of Pittwater

Harry Wolstenholme (June 21, 1868 - October 14, 1930) Ornithologist Of Palm Beach, Bird Man Of Wahroonga 

INGLESIDE LAND RELEASE ON AGAIN BUT MANY CHALLENGES  AHEAD by David Palmer

Issue 60 May 2012 Birdland - Smiles- Beamings -Early -Winter - Blooms

Jayden Walsh’s Northern Beaches Big Year - courtesy Pittwater Natural Heritage Association

John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Mammals of Australia  by Dr. Fred Ford - Between 1850 and 1950 as many mammals disappeared from the Australian continent as had disappeared from the rest of the world between 1600 and 2000! Zoologist Fred Ford provides fascinating, and often poignant, stories of European attitudes and behaviour towards Australia's native fauna and connects these to the animal's fate today in this beautiful new book - our interview with the author

July 2012 Pittwater Environment Snippets; Birds, Sea and Flowerings

Juvenile Sea Eagle at Church Point - for children

King Parrots in Our Front Yard  

Kookaburra Turf Kookaburra Fledglings Summer 2013  Kookaburra Nesting Season by Ray Chappelow  Kookaburra Nest – Babies at 1.5 and 2.5 weeks old by Ray Chappelow  Kookaburra Nest – Babies at 3 and 4 weeks old by Ray Chappelow  Kookaburra Nest – Babies at 5 weeks old by Ray Chappelow Kookaburra and Pittwater Fledglings February 2020 to April 2020

Lion Island's Little Penguins (Fairy Penguins) Get Fireproof Homes - thanks to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Fix it Sisters Shed

Lorikeet - Summer 2015 Nectar

Lyre Bird Sings in Local National Park - Flock of Black Cockatoos spotted - June 2019

Magpie's Melodic Melodies - For Children (includes 'The Magpie's Song' by F S Williamson)

Masked Lapwing (Plover) - Reflected

May 2012 Birdland Smiles Beamings Early Winter Blooms 

Mistletoebird At Bayview

Musk Lorikeets In Pittwater: Pittwater Spotted Gum Flower Feast - May 2020

Nankeen Kestrel Feasting at Newport: May 2016

National Bird Week 2014 - Get Involved in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count: National Bird Week 2014 will take place between Monday 20 October and Sunday 26 October, 2014. BirdLife Australia and the Birds in Backyards team have come together to launch this year’s national Bird Week event the Aussie Backyard Bird Count! This is one the whole family can do together and become citizen scientists...

National Bird Week October 19-25  and the 2015 the Aussie Back Yard Bird Count: Australia's First Bird Counts - a 115 Year Legacy - with a small insight into our first zoos

Native Duck Hunting Season Opens in Tasmania and Victoria March 2018: hundreds of thousands of endangered birds being killed - 'legally'!

Nature 2015 Review Earth Air Water Stone

New Family of Barking Owls Seen in Bayview - Church Point by Pittwater Council

Noisy Visitors by Marita Macrae of PNHA 

Odes to Australia's Fairy-wrens by Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen and Constance Le Plastrier 1884 and 1926

Oystercatcher and Dollarbird Families - Summer visitors

Pacific Black Duck Bath

Painted Button-Quail Rescued By Locals - Elanora-Ingleside escarpment-Warriewood wetlands birds

Palm Beach Protection Group Launch, Supporters InvitedSaturday Feb.16th - Residents Are Saying 'NO' To Off-Leash Dogs In Station Beach Eco-System - reports over 50 dogs a day on Station Beach throughout December-January (a No Dogs Beach) small children being jumped on, Native birds chased, dog faeces being left, families with toddlers leaving beach to get away from uncontrolled dogs and 'Failure of Process' in council 'consultation' open to February 28th 

Pardalote, Scrub Wren and a Thornbill of Pittwater

Pecking Order by Robyn McWilliam

Pelican Lamps at Narrabeen  Pelican Dreamsong - A Legend of the Great Flood - dreamtime legend for children

Pittwater Becalmed  Pittwater Birds in Careel Creek Spring 2018   Pittwater Waterbirds Spring 2011  Pittwater Waterbirds - A Celebration for World Oceans Day 2015

Pittwater's Little Penguin Colony: The Saving of the Fairies of Lion Island Commenced 65 Years Ago this Year - 2019

Pittwater's Mother Nature for Mother's Day 2019

Pittwater's Waterhens: Some Notes - Narrabeen Creek Bird Gathering: Curious Juvenile Swamp Hen On Warriewood Boardwalk + Dusky Moorhens + Buff Banded Rails In Careel Creek

Plastic in 99 percent of seabirds by 2050 by CSIRO

Plover Appreciation Day September 16th 2015

Powerful and Precious by Lynleigh Grieg

Red Wattlebird Song - November 2012

Restoring The Diamond: every single drop. A Reason to Keep Dogs and Cats in at Night. 

Return Of Australasian Figbird Pair: A Reason To Keep The Trees - Aussie Bird Count 2023 (16–22 October) You can get involved here: aussiebirdcount.org.au

Salt Air Creatures Feb.2013

Sea Birds off the Pittwater Coast: Albatross, Gannet, Skau + Australian Poets 1849, 1898 and 1930, 1932

Sea Eagle Juvenile at Church Point

Seagulls at Narrabeen Lagoon

Seen but Not Heard: Lilian Medland's Birds - Christobel Mattingley - one of Australia's premier Ornithological illustrators was a Queenscliff lady - 53 of her previously unpublished works have now been made available through the auspices of the National Library of Australia in a beautiful new book

7 Little Ducklings: Just Keep Paddling - Australian Wood Duck family take over local pool by Peta Wise 

Shag on a North Avalon Rock -  Seabirds for World Oceans Day 2012

Short-tailed Shearwaters Spring Migration 2013 

South-West North-East Issue 176 Pictorial

Spring 2012 - Birds are Splashing - Bees are Buzzing

Spring Becomes Summer 2014- Royal Spoonbill Pair at Careel Creek

Spring Notes 2018 - Royal Spoonbill in Careel Creek

Station Beach Off Leash Dog Area Proposal Ignores Current Uses Of Area, Environment, Long-Term Fauna Residents, Lack Of Safe Parking and Clearly Stated Intentions Of Proponents have your say until February 28, 2019

Summer 2013 BirdFest - Brown Thornbill  Summer 2013 BirdFest- Canoodlers and getting Wet to Cool off  Summer 2013 Bird Fest - Little Black Cormorant   Summer 2013 BirdFest - Magpie Lark

The Mopoke or Tawny Frogmouth – For Children - A little bit about these birds, an Australian Mopoke Fairy Story from 91 years ago, some poems and more - photo by Adrian Boddy
Winter Bird Party by Joanne Seve

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

Surfers for Climate

A sea-roots movement dedicated to mobilising and empowering surfers for continuous and positive climate action.

Surfers for Climate are coming together in lineups around the world to be the change we want to see.

With roughly 35 million surfers across the globe, our united tribe has a powerful voice. 

Add yours to the conversation by signing up here.

Surfers for Climate will keep you informed, involved and active on both the local and global issues and solutions around the climate crisis via our allies hub. 

Help us prevent our favourite spots from becoming fading stories of waves we used to surf.

Together we can protect our oceans and keep them thriving for future generations to create lifelong memories of their own.

Visit:  http://www.surfersforclimate.org.au/

Create a Habitat Stepping Stone!

Over 50 Pittwater households have already pledged to make a difference for our local wildlife, and you can too! Create a habitat stepping stone to help our wildlife out. It’s easy - just add a few beautiful habitat elements to your backyard or balcony to create a valuable wildlife-friendly stopover.

How it works

1) Discover: Visit the website below to find dozens of beautiful plants, nest boxes and water elements you can add to your backyard or balcony to help our local wildlife.

2) Pledge: Select three or more elements to add to your place. You can even show you care by choosing to have a bird appear on our online map.

3) Share: Join the Habitat Stepping Stones Facebook community to find out what’s happening in the natural world, and share your pics, tips and stories.

What you get                                  

• Enjoy the wonders of nature, right outside your window. • Free and discounted plants for your garden. • A Habitat Stepping Stone plaque for your front fence. • Local wildlife news and tips. • Become part of the Pittwater Habitat Stepping Stones community.

Get the kids involved and excited about helping out! www.HabitatSteppingStones.org.au

No computer? No problem -Just write to the address below and we’ll mail you everything you need. Habitat Stepping Stones, Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University NSW 2109. This project is assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust

Newport Community Gardens

Anyone interested in joining our community garden group please feel free to come and visit us on Sunday at 10am at the Woolcott Reserve in Newport!


Keep in Touch with what's happening on Newport Garden's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newportcg/

Avalon Preservation Association


The Avalon Preservation Association, also known as Avalon Preservation Trust. We are a not for profit volunteer community group incorporated under the NSW Associations Act, established 50 years ago. We are committed to protecting your interests – to keeping guard over our natural and built environment throughout the Avalon area.

Membership of the association is open to all those residents and/or ratepayers of Avalon Beach and adjacent areas who support the aims and objectives of our Association.

Report illegal dumping

NSW Government

The RIDonline website lets you report the types of waste being dumped and its GPS location. Photos of the waste can also be added to the report.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA), councils and Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) squads will use this information to investigate and, if appropriate, issue a fine or clean-up notice. Penalties for illegal dumping can be up to $15,000 and potential jail time for anybody caught illegally dumping within five years of a prior illegal dumping conviction.

The Green Team

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This Youth-run, volunteer-based environment initiative has been attracting high praise from the founders of Living Ocean as much as other local environment groups recently. 
Creating Beach Cleans events, starting their own, sustainability days - ‘action speaks louder than words’ ethos is at the core of this group. 

Australian Native Foods website: http://www.anfil.org.au/

Wildlife Carers and Organisations in Pittwater:

Sydney Wildlife rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife. From penguins, to possums and parrots, native wildlife of all descriptions passes through the caring hands of Sydney Wildlife rescuers and carers on a daily basis. We provide a genuine 24 hour, 7 day per week emergency advice, rescue and care service.

As well as caring for sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife, Sydney Wildlife is also involved in educating the community about native wildlife and its habitat. We provide educational talks to a wide range of groups and audiences including kindergartens, scouts, guides, a wide range of special interest groups and retirement villages. Talks are tailored to meet the needs and requirements of each group. 

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Found an injured native animal? We're here to help.

Keep the animal contained, warm, quiet and undisturbed. Do not offer any food or water. Call Sydney Wildlife immediately on 9413 4300, or take the animal to your nearest vet. Generally there is no charge. Find out more at: www.sydneywildlife.org.au

Southern Cross Wildlife Care was launched over 6 years ago. It is the brainchild of Dr Howard Ralph, the founder and chief veterinarian. SCWC was established solely for the purpose of treating injured, sick and orphaned wildlife. No wild creature in need that passes through our doors is ever rejected. 

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People can assist SCWC by volunteering their skills ie: veterinary; medical; experienced wildlife carers; fundraising; "IT" skills; media; admin; website etc. We are always having to address the issue of finances as we are a non commercial veterinary service for wildlife in need, who obviously don't have cheque books in their pouches. It is a constant concern and struggle of ours when we are pre-occupied with the care and treatment of the escalating amount of wildlife that we have to deal with. Just becoming a member of SCWC for $45 a year would be a great help. Regular monthly donations however small, would be a wonderful gift and we could plan ahead knowing that we had x amount of funds that we could count on. Our small team of volunteers are all unpaid even our amazing vet Howard, so all funds raised go directly towards our precious wildlife. SCWC is TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Find out more at: southerncrosswildlifecare.org.au/wp/

Avalon Community Garden

Community Gardens bring people together and enrich communities. They build a sense of place and shared connection.

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Avalon Community Garden is a community led initiative to create accessible food gardens in public places throughout the Pittwater area. Our aim is to share skills and knowledge in creating fabulous local, organic food. But it's not just about great food. We also aim to foster community connection, stimulate creative ideas for community resilience and celebrate our abundance. Open to all ages and skills, our first garden is on the grounds of Barrenjoey High School (off Tasman Road)Become part of this exciting initiative to change the world locally. 

Avalon Community Garden
2 Tasman Road
North Avalon

Newport Community Garden: Working Bee Second Sunday of the month

Newport Community Gardens Inc. is a not for profit incorporated association. The garden is in Woolcott Reserve.

Objectives
Local Northern Beaches residents creating sustainable gardens in public spaces
Strengthening the local community, improving health and reconnecting with nature
To establish ecologically sustainable gardens for the production of vegetables, herbs, fruit and companion plants within Pittwater area 
To enjoy and forge friendships through shared gardening.
Membership is open to all Community members willing to participate in establishing gardens and growing sustainable food.
Subscription based paid membership.
We meet at the garden between 9am – 12 noon
New members welcome

For enquiries contact newportcommunitygardenau@gmail.com

Living Ocean


Living Ocean was born in Whale Beach, on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, surrounded by water and set in an area of incredible beauty.
Living Ocean is a charity that promotes the awareness of human impact on the ocean, through research, education, creative activity in the community, and support of others who sustain ocean health and integrity.

And always celebrating and honouring the natural environment and the lifestyle that the ocean offers us.

Our whale research program builds on research that has been conducted off our coastline by our experts over many years and our Centre for Marine Studies enables students and others to become directly involved.

Through partnerships with individuals and organizations, we conceive, create and coordinate campaigns that educate all layers of our community – from our ‘No Plastic Please’ campaign, which is delivered in partnership with local schools, to film nights and lectures, aimed at the wider community.

Additionally, we raise funds for ocean-oriented conservation groups such as Sea Shepherd.

Donations are tax-deductable 
Permaculture Northern Beaches

Want to know where your food is coming from? 

Do you like to enrich the earth as much as benefit from it?

Find out more here:

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What Does PNHA do?

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About Pittwater Natural Heritage Association (PNHA)
With urbanisation, there are continuing pressures that threaten the beautiful natural environment of the Pittwater area. 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. Please contact us for further information.

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 Council and the NSW Government to adopt and implement policies and works which will conserve, sustain and enhance the natural heritage of Pittwater.
Act to Preserve and Protect!
If you would like to join us, please fill out the Membership Application Form ($20.00 annually - $10 concession)

Email: pnhainfo@gmail.com Or click on Logo to visit website.

Think before you print ; A kilo of recycled paper creates around 1.8 kilograms of carbon emissions, without taking into account the emissions produced from transporting the paper. So, before you send a document to print, think about how many kilograms of carbon emissions you could save by reading it on screen.

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

Pittwater's Environmental Foundation

Pittwater Environmental Foundation was established in 2006 to conserve and enhance the natural environment of the Pittwater local government area through the application of tax deductible donations, gifts and bequests. The Directors were appointed by Pittwater Council. 

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About 33% (about 1600 ha excluding National Parks) of the original pre-European bushland in Pittwater remains in a reasonably natural or undisturbed condition. Of this, only about 400ha remains in public ownership. All remaining natural bushland is subject to encroachment, illegal clearing, weed invasion, feral animals, altered drainage, bushfire hazard reduction requirements and other edge effects. Within Pittwater 38 species of plants or animals are listed as endangered or threatened under the Threatened Species Act. There are two endangered populations (Koala and Squirrel Glider) and eight endangered ecological communities or types of bushland. To visit their site please click on logo above.

Avalon Boomerang Bags


Avalon Boomerang Bags was introduced to us by Surfrider Foundation and Living Ocean, they both helped organise with the support of Pittwater Council the Recreational room at Avalon Community Centre which we worked from each Tuesday. This is the Hub of what is a Community initiative to help free Avalon of single use plastic bags and to generally spread the word of the overuse of plastic. 

Find out more and get involved.

"I bind myself today to the power of Heaven, the light of the sun, the brightness of the moon, the splendour of fire, the flashing of lightning, the swiftness of wind, the depth of the sea, the stability of the earth, the compactness of rocks." -  from the Prayer of Saint Patrick