environment

Hyacinth orchid

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bobreidTue, 08/12/2020 - 9:00pm

Over the past few days I've noticed some pretty orchids in flower near the Community Centre.

The first of these is Dipodium variegatum - the blotched hyacinth orchid. I found it in the garden on the edge of Yallarwah Park.

Hyacinth orchids are saprophytes, which means a leafless plant that obtains nourishment from decaying wood or plant matter, usually in association with a fungus.

Prairie Nymphs are popping up all over the Cove

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bobreidTue, 17/11/2020 - 9:05pm

In the past week lots of small purple flowers have been popping up in lawns all over the Cove.

These flowers are commonly called Prairie Nymphs - scientific name Herbertia lahue. They flower around about now, and this year they seem to be quite prolific.

They are small, only a few centimetres wide and a few centimetres high, with three prominent outer petals, and three tiny inner petals, with complex patterning in the centre.

They are a member of the iris family from Chile and Argentina, and are called "Prairie Nymph" in the southern US states.

MidCoast Council - Draft Port Stephens Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

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bobreidThu, 05/11/2020 - 12:44pm

Council has undertaken a floodplain risk management study and plan for the northern foreshores of Port Stephens, which includes North Arm Cove, Bundabah, Carrington and Pindimar.

A draft of this study is now on public exhibition until 9 December 2020.

The study uses updated elevation data to accurately map inundation in the area based on previous studies undertaken in 2010. 

The study can be downloaded from the following link:

North Arm Cove Stormwater Management Plan

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bobreidTue, 15/09/2020 - 9:22pm

MidCoast Council prepared a comprehensive stormwater management strategy for North Arm Cove in 2017. Drainage works undertaken in the Cove are based on this strategy. 

Council has now published the strategy on its web site.

It can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

https://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Coastal-River-Management/Flooding-Management

Do you know who owns these containers?

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bobreidSat, 29/08/2020 - 7:13am

Two large containers were left on Eastslope Way, just south of Water Street, a few years ago.

0n 27 August a MidCoast Council Ranger put abandoned articles tape and stickers on them. The stickers state that the containers are regarded as abandoned articles and will be removed by Council if the containers are still there after 28 days.

If you own, or know who owns these containers, please contact the Council on council@midcoast.nsw.gov.au and let them know. 

Contact details for oyster infrastructure washed ashore

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janinerTue, 24/12/2019 - 2:54pm
Oyster basket

The oyster farmers have asked us to report any infrastructure that washes ashore off their leases. They will then come and collect their infrastructure. The infrastructure has a dollar value to the oyster farmers but left loose in the water it is a source of pollution, so it is in everyone's interests for the debris to be collected. The basket in the photo washed ashore in early December. It had about two hundred immature oysters which are worth about 0.75c each when mature.

The oyster farmers also asked us to let them know if there is any damage to...

NACCAi drainage subcommittee report - resident review and feedback requested

Information
bobreidSun, 28/02/2021 - 11:49am

In 2017 MidCoast Council engaged consultants to prepare a drainage strategy for North Arm Cove. This strategy made many recommendations for improving drainage in the Cove.

A link to this strategy was placed on the website in September 2020 – you can view it by clicking on this link -  2017 drainage strategy.

Do We Want Short Term Rentals and Dual Occupancies?

janinerSun, 14/02/2021 - 3:55pm

Tony and Pat have raised the issue of why we like to live in North Arm Cove and the changes that will happen if dual occupancies are allowed.

There are three types of dual occupancy- duplexes, detached separate dwellings and granny flats. Governments of all persuasions like them because they provide affordable housing and they make the best use of existing services such as water, electricity and sewerage, meaning that greenfield areas do not have to be opened up.

We live in a special area without two of those major services, water and sewerage. In addition, we are...

Tide to Tip Estuary Clean-up, put out your rubbish

janinerSun, 14/02/2021 - 3:23pm

The Annnual Tide to Tip Estuary Clean-up will be held in our area on Wednesday, 17 February.

If you have retrieved any waste from the waterway and still have it on site, please leave it visible on the shore. Local oyster farmers (and others) will move through the area at high tide on Wednesday and collect any rubbish they find. If you live near any parks or public land, you can help by piling up any rubbish from these areas as well. If you know of any concentrations of shoreline rubbish outside the village area, please send a screenshot...

Water pollution- is it safe to swim?

janinerSun, 03/01/2021 - 8:46pm

We have had a lot of rain in the past two weeks and the Cove waters are a muddy brown colour. The colour is caused by both silt and tannins (from the breakdown of vegetation), and it is an indicator that the water may be polluted. One measure of pollution is the bacterial content in faecal coliforms. If the level exceeds 150 faecal coliforms per 100ml the water is unsafe for swimming.

There is a long history of water testing in the Cove for the oyster industry. After heavy rain, it takes about 6 days for the bacterial levels...

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