Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance

 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

 Wolli Creek is a major tributary for Cooks River. The creek rises from springs at The Pole Depot, Penshurst, Penshurst Park, Olds Park, Narwee, and northern Beverly Hills. Wolli Creek is first mentioned in historic record during the December 1810 visit by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who passed over it following a visit to Townson farms at Kogarah Bay, then visiting Mrs. Hannah Laycock’s farm, “King’s Grove”, built between Wolli Creek and William Street. Old maps show a chain of ponds to Kingsgrove Road’s north, in the then creek bed. The land was clay with tea tree cover and large forests surrounding. The upper creeks converge into a single creek in Beverly Hills.

The municipal boundary for Rockdale, Hurstville and Canterbury is formed by the creek from Beverly Hills to it’s mouth at Cooks River, Tempe. In the past this has led to inter local government rivalry.

During the Great Depression (1929-1936), the southern creeks were bricked as State government unemployment projects organized by Hurstville Municipal Council. The creek is notorious for its flood prone nature. During the 1920s, low level flooding covered properties around King Georges Road, Beverly Hills and the Post Office was often inaccessible and known as the “Duck Pond” with water birds floated on the surrounding creek waters. Drainage could not contain the waterflow. The last major flood was in the early 1970s, when houses within 50 metres of the stormwater canals were inundated. Further north, East Hills Railway line was cut by flood waters at Bexley North. A diversion canal was built along Edgbaston Road, crossing below King Georges Road, Morgan Street and the railway line, taking water away from the shopping centre.

Our walk commences at Bexley North Railway Station, crossing to the north of Bexley Road, the creek is crossed and changes from cement stormwater canal to natural waterway. In recent times this bridged crossing became famous when evening news reports showed a driver being winched to safety from a car stranded in flooded creekwater on the bridge. Signs advise danger when heavy rain falls.

Entrance into Wolli Creek Regional Park is sign posted by a blue post with “TVT” (Twin Valley Track) just off an ashfelt path. From the bridge, the park and creek are overgrown by morning glory, privet and other noxious plants, but through the work of Wolli Creek Preservation Society and other bushcare organisations, the bushland behind this screen holds many wonders. Sydney Red Gum, Turpentine and other native trees form a magnificent canopy. The creek water is brown and holds evidence of recent heavy rainfall (domestic rubbish and other litter). A little further on a well signed water cleansing basin has been erected, taking stormwater from urban runoff, cleansing it before flowing into the creek. From this point the track follows an access road into a mowed grass meadow below housing, then enters another bushland area. Throughout this section invasive noxious plants flourish. A waterfall gully is seen and large native gums and turpentine flourish. The track is treacherous at this point where some backtracking may be needed by the unwary eye.

Crossing a metal bridge, over a creek, large Turpentines flourish, then the track opens into another mowed grass meadow beside the creek to the west of Earlwood RSL Club, on the eastern bank. In this area preparation is being made for native planting. The Creek continues in an overgrown state with privet and morning glory in profusion.

Crossing Hamill-Law Avenue, we leave the western portion of the Regional Park, entering the Central portion. Girrahween Park, a meadowed area, bordered by a bridged creek and a picnic area is crossed and some remedial work in being undertaken along the creek bank, water is a dirty brown and with willows and flame trees in profusion. During the 1980s the creek channel was cleared by a bucket and scoop, but much waste, lain on banks regenerated. Two channels were created between the road bridge an sewer aqueduct to the east.

The track follows an obvious sewer access trail, with overflow points along the way. Some magnificent native plants and trees and a profusion of butterflies are seen in this section. The track travels through damp sandstone, which once may have been rainforest type vegetation. Reaching its highest point, the track passes a number of natural sandstone overhangs, which may have been shelter for local aboriginal peoples. Unfortunately rock art of a different kind has defaced the sandstone. The track turns further north, passing a brick and cement tank, holding water. The tank seems quite old and is overgrown with vegetation.

Approaching Nanny Goat Hill’s base, Wolli Creek comes into clear view on a reeded sweeping bend. This area was previously a horse grazing area, but the peninsula was replanted by the Wolli Creek Preservation Society, forming a native bird habitat and wetlands. To the east of this wetland, Bardwell Creek enters Wolli Creek under the East Hills Railway line. The air is rich with bird calls. Walking around Nanny Goat Hill’s base, the track enters Turrella Reserve, leaving Regional Park’s Central portion. A short detour takes walkers to Nanny Goat Hill’s summit and excellent surrounding views.

Turrella Reserve and areas east and south were once Chinese Market Gardens. A weir was build conserving water for the gardeners. A Fish Ladder has recently been built allowing fish to traverse and breed above the weir. A substantial water quality project is being undertaken in the Reserve with a creek and saltmarsh project near completion. A large tree surveys the project as a centre piece. Weed eradication is underway and well placed signage describes past and future reserve use. Some willows will be removed from the watercourse, improving waterflow. From the weir to creek’s mouth, mangroves grow in abundance. Tidal flow is good, but rubbish abounds in the waterflow.

Moving to the northeast, the track enters the Regional Park’s Eastern section to Waterworth Reserve. Much work has been undertaken, removing lantana, privet, bamboo and other noxious plants in this area. One delight is walking down Jackson Lane, where a row of 1912 sandstone housed are seen, a pleasant reminder of yesteryear. A local resident stated houses are a good 10 degrees cooler in summer. Each is well loved and well kept. Moving towards the tiled sewer viaduct, more solid work has been undertaken by Wolli Creek Preservation Society, with a sign advertising vacancies for bushcare workers, a reminder that volunteers have made the walk a pleasure.

Crossing into Waterworth Reserve, a large sign reminds walkers this area was once property of Frederick Wright Unwin,a Sydney Solicitor, who build a bridge, connecting Sydney with Undercliffe. For some years this park was known as Tempe Tip where a famous resident, a deceased circus elephant, was buried without rites, on his demise.

The walk takes about 2.5 hours from Bexley North Station to Tempe Station. The track is easy walking most of the way with some climbing over sandstone. Wolli Creek Preservation Society is congratulated on their hard work, advocating for and maintaining the Regional Park.

Find out more

WolliCreek Preservation Society

Plan of management

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/PoMFinalWolli52-53Strategies.pdf

www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au/cooks-river/project-news/Page-5.html

Noxious Plants

Privet

Bob Wlashe reports: 

Support for World Heritage Listing of Royal National Park (RNP) continues to widen – confronting leaders of the campaign with great expectations of a not-too-distant decision, first by the Australian Government, second by the United Nations agency UNESCO.

Special visit to Sydney. Dr Geoff Mosley, leading authority on national parks, made a special trip from Melbourne to Sydney on September 5 to discuss ways to expedite the campaign. He is commissioned to write the main Report, and he presented three pages of “Selection Criteria” to an early morning meeting, after which he was driven to familiarise himself with key areas of the Park and its adjacent “Reserves” (Holsworthy Military Reserve, Garawarra State Conservation Area, Heathcote National Park).

Let’s improve on “stand alone” qualities. Dr Mosley says he believes RNP can achieve Listing based on its own magnificent “stand alone” features, but he suggests we should go beyond its abundant flora/fauna qualities by specifying also “cultural landscapes”, e.g. that RNP is one of the oldest in the world, is truly representative, and is wholly contained within a city – all these being properties that “combine the world of nature and man” including recreation, military uses, mining, science, education, and nature conservation.

What is the hoped-for time frame? With hard work being put in on his draft Report, Dr Mosley is aiming at presentation in December. It will pass though many critical hands, and will then assume final form by March 2012.

A role model for other areas of the Sydney Basin. We believe our final Report, by revealing new wonders, will stimulate the extension of the past work on features of Greater Blue Mountains National Park (part of the Sydney Basin) – and this could prompt other areas of the Basin to make claims for Heritage Listing. (The Basin extends from Batemans Bay in the south, to Newcastle in the north, and to Lithgow and Mudgee in the west.)

A “Lobby Book” will follow. Completion of the Report will be the signal to put together a very attractive “Lobby Book” containing supportive statements from authoritative persons, together with brilliant photos of key features of RNP. Armed with this, we will make approaches to MPs, Councillors and the media – that is, we will “go public” in a major way.

For more information:

www.firstnationalpark.org.au

Bardwell Creek is a major catchment for Cooks River. The Creek rises in Hurstville Local Government Area, before crossing into Rockdale City Council area at Croydon Road. One arm commences near Hurstville Station and joins a second arm rising at Woodville Park. This section was drained during the early 1900s. The system flows towards Bexley Golf Course, through bricked stormwater canals draining all Hurstville CBD gutters.

A second creek system rises at Hurstville Oval, flowing through closed drains before entering Bexley Golf Coarse. Bexley Golf Course has stormwater harvesting which cleanses water of all floating rubbish, before entering a small lake. Water then pumps to a south west corner retention dam and is used for watering the course, before flowing back into the stormwater system. Bexley Golf Course pays for removing rubbish from the creek system and siltation from the lake.

Flowing onwards the creek opens into bricked canals crossing under Stoney Creek Road, towards Bexley Swimming Centre. Another drainage canal enters the system on the swimming pool’s northern side. A strong sound of flowing water from the Swimming Pool canal here, maybe an overflow from the pool.

The creek continues through native bushland and reserve maintained by Rockdale Council. On a creek bend, evidence exists that a white substance has flowed down the canal wall from a development site. The valley is walled by sandstone and native vegetation. An upper level concrete path has been established called the Prime Ministers Walk. Commencing at Bexley Road, this walk has plaques commemorating all Australian Prime Ministers from Sir Edmund Barton to Julia Gillard. A new plaque is created with election of a new prime minister and a second plaque replaces the first when the prime minister leaves office.

Adjacent to Ellerslie Road, a pedestrian bridge crosses the creek and a grate has been established to remove floating rubbish. Unfortunately the centre panel has been removed allowing rubbish to litter the creek with plastic bags and other refuse as it changes from a bricked canal to natural creek. Bricked canal section is owned by Sydney Water and the natural creek is administered by Rockdale City Council. Recent heavy rains have increased this problem. Down stream magnificent Sydney Red Gums, wattles and turpentine are seen with majestic tree ferns. Some creek path sections have been sown with native kidney grass. The creek water is clean and small fish were observed.

The track passes below busy Bexley Road at Jubilee Bridge, built during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and opened by Hurstville Mayor, John Spoule, in 1897, an obelisk marking the occasion. At that period this portion of Rockdale Council was Bexley Ward attached to Hurstville Council.

North of Jubilee Bridge the Creek takes a turn for the worst, bushcare and water quality wise. A large drain empties into the creek to the bridge’s north and much floating rubbish covers banks, planting, trees and creek bed. Morning Glory, privet and other noxious weeds grow in profusion, smothering native trees and plants. Further on major bushcare projects have been undertaken with a whole valley bank cleared and native plantings made with degradable cover in place stopping erosion. In the centre are early colonial dwelling foundation ruins. Passing further north a lengthy traditional bushcare regeneration area was observed before entering Bardwell Valley Golf Course.

The course was created from a municipal garbage tip prior to 1969. At this point water becomes discoloured with siltation and the creek is barely visible from the bank, through undergrowth. Privet and other noxious growth abounds. Crossing from the east bank at the golf clubhouse over a bridge, be careful of low flying golf balls.

Leaving the golf course, the creek approaches Bardwell Road Bridge. The creek is better maintained, flowing into Coolibah Reserve. The Reserve is established on land, once cultivated as a local market garden. A boom is hung across the creek at this point catching floating rubbish. Crossing to the north bank, first sight is a gaggle of geese and ducks, obviously friendly and ignoring the “don’t feed” signs. They flock from the creek when humans approaching. The creek meanders through the reserve in two courses, where major restoration work has been undertaken with clean water flow and native vegetation, much different to the southern creek portion.

Bardwell Creek passes below East Hills Railway line to the south of Turrella Station, entering Wolli Creek and in turn, Cooks River and Botany Bay.

Impressive work has been undertaken by Wolli Creek Preservation Society, who provides bushcare personnel, Rockdale City Council, through its biodiversity programme and various State and Commonwealth bodies providing funding.

Major works are required to eliminate floating rubbish from urban runoff, especially from Hurstville CBD. Bushcare requires major funding and people power. But each small step helps the long term goal.

Learn more of Wolli Creek Preservation Society

www.wollicreek.org.au

 Cup and Saucer Creek, enters Cooks River to the east of Canterbury Road. This waterway is a concrete stormwater drain, emptying a large catchment encompassing Canterbury, Earlwood, Campsie, Clemton Park, Belmore and Roselands.

The creek was first noted in historical documents, when Governor Macquarie crossed it in December 1810, returning from Kogarah Bay and Mrs. Hannah Laycock’s farm “King’s Grove” following his vice regal visit throughout the colony.

While the creek meandered through open woodland, it later became orchards and farmland, then housing subdivisions. During the Great Depression, such waterways were bricked in as work for the dole programmes for unemployed men.

Adjacent to Benia Street, Canterbury, the stormwater drain flows over a 4 metre bricked wall, designating a change in geographical level. A photograph held in Canterbury Council Local Studies Collection shows this spot in 1901, with two young boys standing beside a raging waterfall. The photograph is dramatic reminder of the way things once were before suburbanisation. The upstream area previously contained industries with remnant noxious substances continuing to enter the water system. Observed noxious dumpings continue.

Local environmental custodians, the Cooks River Valley Association, hold monthly water testing at a newly constructed wetlands between Benia Street and Cooks River. For most people, clean water means no floating objects in the waterway, but that is only partly true. A large metal grate had been erected across the creek above tidal water level. Most floating objects are collected in this trap, removing tonnes of urban rubbish from the creek before it joins the Cooks down stream. The grate system is cleaned monthly by workmen using a grader.

Most water traveling down Cup and Saucer Creek (except in torrential rain periods), enters a crated channel, just above the 4 metre wall. This channel enters a pipeline carrying the water into a three pond wetlands. The wetlands filters the water with an outlet pipe returning cleaner water into the stormwater drain, near the creek mouth with Cooks River.

Gayle Adams and her team test the stream flow at two points:

The inlet stream: Just before the water flows into the wetlands, an access eye had been built. The eye is accessed by manually opening a plate, a sterile plastic bottle on a specially designed pole is inserted into the channel and a sample taken, which is labeled and recorded by the testing team, with observations noted.

The outlet stream: After the water has passed through the wetlands another access eye has been built. The process mentioned before is repeated with a second sterile plastic bottle, well labeled. Details are then recorded for later reference.

When each plate has been secured, a physical wetlands observation tour is made, recording water height, plant growth or damage, water cleanliness, creatures in residence, etc. On the day, two Purple Swamphens and their two chicks were observed and numerous frogs heard. Algal bloom mostly covering the second and third ponds, but this is seasonal. The Swamphens were actively digging up some of the sedges within the wetlands, feeding their chicks.

After this hard labour, the team returned to Gayle’s home, where sample testing was undertaken with stringent accuracy.

Big well done to Gayle and her team and the members of Cooks River Valley Association, who work tirelessly protecting the River and her tributaries.

Further information

Save our Trees – Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdqqoBpLoA

http://savingourtrees.wordpress.com/tag/cup-and-saucer-creek-wetland/

Project overview

http://210.247.145.33/MajorProjects/pdf/CooksRiverCommunityNewsletterDec2009.pdf

Cooks River Valley Association

www.crva.org.au