Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance

The following are excerpts from the January Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society Newsletter.

GEORGES RIVER

The Georges River begins its journey approximately 60km south-west of Sydney in the town of Appin. From here the river flows north towards Liverpool, through the Chipping Norton Lakes Scheme, then east until it reaches Botany Bay. It was an important focal point for Aboriginal life and culture in the southern Sydney region, offering both food, transport and dreamtime links. The early 1800′s saw European settlers migrating to areas along the river and it became increasingly important as a transport route. There is some evidence of agriculture associated with early settlement, but this was limited by the ruggedness of the landscape and limited suitability for farming. Widespread clearing and expansion of urban development after WWII changed the landscape of the river and impacted on water quality. The prevailing view at the time was that intertidal areas (wetlands and swamps) were wastelands, unsightly and a threat to public health. Removing mangroves made it easier to dump waste to raise the ground to a “healthy” level suitable for sports grounds. Opposition to this devastation lead to the establishment of O.F.F. and other environmental groups from the 1950s. The NSW National Parks and

Wildlife Service (NPWS) was established in 1967 and the Georges River Combined Councils Committee [GRCCC] in the 1970s. www.georgesriver.org.au/

NATIVE VEGETATION – GEORGES RIVER N P

Georges River National Park (NP) is a small urban reserve of over 500 hectares with fifteen disconnected portions of mostly vegetated land that lie north and south of the river between Sandy Point and Salt Pan Creek, Lugarno. North of the river, the Park lies within an urban-residential setting.

The largest portion of the reserve is on the southern banks between Sandy Point and Mill Creek, and its southern boundary links to the Woronora Plateau. The first declaration of the Georges River reserve was in 1962 responding to dramatic human induced changes to the catchment area. It was designated a national Park in 1992.

Some remarkably undisturbed examples of the original environments remain. However, despite its proximity to a large urban population, the native vegetation had not been the focus of a detailed vegetation mapping study. NPWS saw the need for such a study with the results to be added to a recently completed map of native vegetation across the Sydney Catchment Area (SMCMA). This study h a s  n o w  b e e n  c o m p l e t e d . T h e first draft of its report was published in November; the final report will be out soon. www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parkmanagement/

DHARAWAL STATE CONSERVATION AREA

“The Bulli Seam Operations, BHP’S 30 year plan to longwall coalmine in the Appin to Wollondilly region, was approved 3 days before Christmas. The plan has been modified from its original proposal and now excludes any mining activity in more than 98% of the Area. (more…)

The follow is and excerpt from Rockdale City Council Environmental News

Bushcare

Been wanting to get involved in a hands on environmental activity that gets you outdoors where you learn new things? Check out our upcoming bushcare days below, no experience necessary, children welcome!. Please give the relevant bushcare contact a call if you are coming down.

Coolibah Reserve

Meet at end of Hannam St, Turrella

Wednesday 15 February 5:30pm to 7.30pm for bushcare & planting

Wednesday 14 March 5:30pm to 7.30pm for bushcare

Bushcare contact: Mia Dalby-Ball mia@dfe.net.au, 0488 481 929 (more…)

The following gleanings are from recent Oatley Faura and Fauna Society Newsletters:-

CAMPHOR LAUREL: A PEST TREE

It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental species about 1822 and established in the Sydney Botanic Gardens in 1854. Its value as an ornamental tree was actively promoted in municipal parks, gardens and school grounds. 10 years ago, OFF News noted that this tree was a pest, 

invading natural habitats all along the coast, with its root system damaging pipes, fences, foundations, and preventing the growth of other species. It reported that Kew Gardens in U.K. found the roots of camphor laurels to be covered with tiny oil exudation glands that seasonally pump toxins into the soil and water courses, and impact on native wildlife. Surprisingly still well regarded by some, camphor laurel is now a declared noxious weed, but not in all localgovernment areas.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ 

BIRDS IN OATLEY PARK

The Park provides a sanctuary for many species of birds, some of which nest within its boundaries Others simply use the park and itstidal boundaries as part of their wider search for food and shelter, returning regularly to the park, but nesting elsewhere. It is difficult to say exactly how many bird species can be found within the park at any one time; numbers vary depending on the season and availability of food. 

BIRDS OF OATLEY PARK

In a recent email to OFF, Warren Mallard made some interesting comments on the birds he remembers from Oatley Park in the 1950s. He notes, “Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were the most prevalent, and there were colonies of Dusky Wood Swallows nesting at the end of Lime Kiln Bay. Grey Thrushes also nested in the area. A White-breasted Sea Eagle nested for a number of years in a large Angophora costata   at the end of Lime Kiln Bay,but left once Peakhurst houses sprang up. Southern Yellow Robins were common, nesting with Silvereyes in the Melaleuca forest of Lime Kiln Bay. There were two species of Quail also in the park, and there were no Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Noisy Miners, Rainbow Lorikeets, or Scaly-breasted Lorikeets. ”Warren’s notes open up the question of how different is the birdlife now. Official lists are from about 1975 basedon much earlier observations. One list contains 114 species; another more than 145, so there is a need for a new list for Oatley Park, Lime Kiln Bay, and Oatley Heights Park, noting behaviour and locations. It will take some time to complete, as a number of birds are summer visitors or only vagrants. The completed list will then go on the OFF website.

PROTECT OUR NATIVE ANIMALS IN THE BUSH

Stay on walking tracks in bushland.

• Admire wild flowers and plants – do not pick them.
• Leave natural features such as fallen timber on the ground.
• Leave yabbies, tadpoles, and water bugs in the creeks.
• Remove all your rubbish from the bush.
• Use your compost bin for garden green waste.
• Walk, rather than ride a trail bike.
• Keep equipment and boots clean. Spray with 70/30 mix of metho & water to stop spreading the fungal disease , Phytophthora
• Keep pets at home, particularly cats, and especially at night.

RECYCLING FOOD SCRAPS

Food scraps such as banana peels, apple cores, vegetable trimmings, bones, eggshells, and pizza crust are a wasted resource in landfill. As they decompose, they generate methane, but when composted, they produce oxygen, valuable to soil and plant health. They can now be safely collected and processed, and a growing number of municipalities provide special food scrap bins.

www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/

Our thanks to Hon. Editor: John Davoren for his excellent Newsletter reports

Submitted by Tessa Barratt, Member Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands Group 

IMAGINE you are sitting on a bench in a quiet, green area, listening to the calls of birds whilst watching lizards tan on the rocks by the stream.  You’re in a well maintained clearing, surrounded by indigenous trees and bushes that host a variety of native animals.  Now imagine this same area overgrown with weeds and cluttered with rubbish and car parts, the stream choked with litter and foreign plants.  This is what the De Freitas Wetland used to look like, but now, thanks to council workers and dedicated volunteers, it is the haven formerly described.

The De Freitas Wetland is located near the Make Peace Oval athletics track and is fed by Prospect Creek, which meanders through Smithfield, Fairfield and Carramar.  The area was purchased by the Fairfield Council in the mid 90’s.  Since then, contractors and council workers have weeded and cleared the area, created a beautiful natural garden for visitors, planted new trees and installed Gross Pollutant Traps in the stormwater drains to protect the area from litter. 

More recently, members of the Fairfield Council and the Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands group participated in a tree planting event, the purpose of which was to enrich the area with native vegetation.  From 10 in the morning til noon, workers and volunteers filled a barren piece of land with new shoots.  After that they celebrated with a barbeque in the nearby garden.

The planting of native vegetation is essential for the regeneration of the area.  Without efforts to protect and restore our wetlands, they could soon disappear and the consequences to both humans and the environment could be dire. Wetlands play an important part in the health of our streams.  They filter silt and other pollutants, intercept runoff and protect the surrounding areas from flooding by regulating the flow of water.  They also provide vital habitats and breeding grounds for birds, fish and other creatures.  Many species of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) are endangered in our region and without community vigilance face a high risk of extinction.  

If you’re interested in preserving the local environment and want to contribute, the best way you can help is by joining one of the environmental community groups.  Fairfield City’s website (http://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au) provides a list of groups and a volunteer membership form.  If you sign up to this, you will be alerted of tree planting events, clean ups and more. 

Participating in community events provides people with an opportunity to work together to protect our natural surroundings; it is also a good way of making new friends and expanding your knowledge.  After taking part in such events as the tree planting in De Freitas, one comes away with a positive feeling of accomplishment and community spirit. 

For more information about these groups, contact the Fairfield Council on 9725 0222.

 Macarthur community and those living further afield, read with amazement, platypus had been found in Georges River. Many had dreamed, and some had thought they saw them in the upper reaches, and it was true. Sadly these iconic Australian natives were found trapped in yabby traps, dead.

Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser reporters, Robert Close and Megan Gorrey, report gruesome finds and outcomes in the paper (see below).

A local wildlife spotter found the drowned animal caught inside a yabby trap about 50 metres downstream from The Basin at Kentlyn.

Local koala expert, environmentalist and Advertiser columnist Robert Close was upset the animal was dead, but said the discovery of the fully grown, 48cm-long male platypus was still more proof of their presence in the river.

“It’s quite amazing we should have two sightings in two weeks when I’ve been looking for 20 years,” Dr Close said.

“The chance of having two incidents within two weeks is very slim.”

(Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser 09/11/2011)

Robert Close said, “In addition to the articles on the recent deaths of platypuses in the Georges River due to yabby traps and fishing lines, it must be stressed that it is illegal to use yabby traps in freshwater streams east of the Newell Highway.

These traps may be used legally only in farm dams and estuaries and require a fishing licence.

Unfortunately, a platypus was found drowned a few months ago in a crab trap at Maroota near Richmond, which is in the upper reaches of the tidal section of the Hawkesbury River, where crab traps can be legally used.

Once caught in a trap, platypuses have only two minutes to escape before they drown.

So people wanting to catch yabbies, should use the old manual methods.

The platypus is the world’s most unique mammal and we have it in our local bushland; let’s not risk its survival for the sake of a few yabbies.”

(Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser 23/11/2011)

Local NSW State member, Walt Secord raised the matter of platypus being trapped in State Parliament, asking whether the State Government would consider erecting signs warning fishermen against the use of traps in the region’s waterways.

“It is believed to be the first time in three decades that platypuses have been discovered in the Georges River near Campbelltown,” he said.

Georges River Environmental Alliance member Sharyn Cullis said the platypuses should prompt the Campbelltown council to pay more attention to local waterways.

“The discoveries make Campbelltown the double-whammy of wildlife really, to have koalas and platypuses.”

Campbelltown Council has announced it will install signs at main fishing spots along the Georges River to educate fishermen about responsible use of fishing line, tackle, plastic bait bags, nets and traps.

The council plans to erect the signs at key points along the Georges River and at Menangle River Reserve on the Nepean River.

It also plans to mount a public awareness campaign about the platypus and the need to protect its environment through information on the council’s website and the community newsletter.

(Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser 30/11/2011)

In a later article, Robert Close reported, “The recent serendipitous discovery of two dead platypuses in the Georges River, after fruitless organised searches over several years, has focused attention on the potential of the Georges River bushland — with its koalas, wallaroos, swamp wallabies, gliders, possums and echidnas — to become a tourist attraction.

The mammal diversity is not the only feature; the vegetation and ruggedness of the Georges River Gorge, of course, are superb and much more accessible than the mammals.

Then there are the birds which are many and varied and which often visit our suburban backyards.

Pam Hindes, whose home adjoins Spring Creek, shares her garden with a Satin bower bird and its bower and has the pleasure of watching the deep blue-coloured male performing in the bower. Even though I live three kilometres from the bush, bower birds occasionally visit but none has found our garden suitable for constructing a bower.

To my great delight this week, however, we were visited by three Gang-gang cockatoos, two of which had the distinctive red head and wispy crest of the mature male. These quaint grey parrots, with their wheezy rattle of a call are remarkably tolerant of humans and my visitors didn’t fly away as I approached with my camera.

Usually in December they would nest in tree hollows of tall mountain forests. They usually visit drier, lower woodlands in winter so I hope nothing is amiss. Their conservation status in NSW is “vulnerable”.

Other unusual visitors to my garden this week were a King parrot and a trio of Channel-billed cuckoos. The former, also red-headed in the male but with a green body, is usually found in rainforests or wet sclerophyll forests. The latter are very large cuckoos with massive bills and a raucous call that sounds like a kookaburra’s introductory notes.

Unfortunately they sometimes call all night! They’ve just arrived from New Guinea to where they’ll return in March after laying their eggs in magpies’ and currawongs’ nests.”

(Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser 14/12/2011)

Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance, reprints this information for members living beyond the Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser circulation area, congratulating the editor and reporters, especially Robert Close for their quality reporting of environmental matters.

Online articles:

www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/second-platypus-found/2351986.aspx

www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/mac-koala-platypus-drowns-in-trap/2367083.aspx

www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/platypus-sightings-spark-warnings-to-fishermen/2376111.aspx

www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/mac-koala/gorgeous-georges-gorge/2391774.aspx

Platypus facts:

Understanding Opera House Yabbie Traps, illegal in Georges River. www.aabio.com.au/documents/TrappingYabbieswithOperaHouseTraps.pdf