environment

More dumped asbestos in the non-urban area - who was the grub that did this?

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bobreidSat, 28/01/2023 - 2:51pm

Further to my article last Sunday, more dumped asbestos has been found in the non-urban area.

This pile was found by a non-urban landowner, and details have been reported to Council.

It is located on the corner of Somerset Avenue and Ballina Crescent, about 300m from Carrington Road. It has possibly been there for a few weeks.

Dumped asbestos sheeting in the non-urban area - who was responsible for this?

bobreidSun, 22/01/2023 - 4:30pm

A resident was recently going for a walk along Allandale Crescent north of the village, and went down a bush track towards the waterfront.

The resident was horrified to find a big pile of dumped asbestos sheeting. Most of it had been wrapped in black plastic sheeting, but some of it was loose on the top of the pile. The pile was quite large, it would need to have been transported there by a ute or small truck.

Dumping asbestos is highly illegal, and envrionmental vandalism.

Considering the remote out of the way location, whoever dumped it...

Walker Corporation in the news

janinerSat, 12/11/2022 - 3:49pm

Walker Corporation is the land developer that owns a significant proportion of the non-urban land at North Arm Cove.

The Corporation currently has an application in Moreton Bay Queensland that will impact Ramsar protected wetlands. Environmental groups such as Birdlife Australia are running a campaign to stop this development. For more information, google Save Toondah Harbour — Act for Birds. Comments on the draft EIS close on 6 December.

Oyster Debris Collected and Removed

Oyster lease debris janinerSun, 23/10/2022 - 5:04pm
Oyster debris washed up on the Esplanade

It has been a bad year for the oyster farmers in Port Stephens. Not only have there been huge stock losses due to QX disease in Sydney rock oysters, but there have also been several wild weather events which have damaged some of the infrastructure on the leases. Some of the long lines have broken on at least four separate occasions, with loss of baskets. These baskets float away and usually end up in the mangroves at the northern end of the Cove.

We also get oyster infrastructure washed up along the south facing shores. This material could come...

Dead Turtle

janinerSun, 16/10/2022 - 2:39pm

A dead turtle was found last week near Beauty Point.

Port Stephens has three types of turtles: green, loggerhead and hawksbill. The green turtle is the most common and can be identified by its tear shaped carapace and its large pair of flippers. Despite its name, the green turtle commonly has an olive brown to black carapace and a light-coloured body. The loggerhead is a bigger turtle with a large head. The hawksbill turtle is similar in appearance and size to the green turtle, but much less common.

Common causes of turtle fatalities are boat strike and incidental...

Aussie Bird Count

janinerSun, 09/10/2022 - 2:12pm
Water birds

You can help our scientists by participating in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count. It is on next week, 17-23 October, and only takes 20 minutes. You don't have to be an expert and you can do it on your phone or computer at any location you choose. Just search for “Aussie Bird Count” on your computer, or download the free app.

You are asked to only count birds that you can positively identify and leave the rest out. The app helps you to identify species based on their colour, size, shape and distribution. You can participate as many times...

Red Backed Toadlet

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bobreidSun, 04/09/2022 - 8:37pm

A neighbour contacted me a couple of days ago after finding some Red Backed Toadlets in her woodpile

These toadlets are a tiny, red toadlet that are endemic to coastal regions from just north of Sydney to south-eastern Queensland.

They are only about 35mm long.

They are poisonous to small animals and reptiles and people are advised that if they ever handle one they should not touch their eyes or mouth.

Koala and Dingo Drone Survey Presentation - Thursday 1st September at Tea Gardens

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bobreidFri, 26/08/2022 - 8:29pm

Wildlife conservation scientist Dr Ryan Witt from the University of Newcastle has recently been commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to carry out drone surveys for koalas and dingoes in the Myall Lakes National Park and in parts of Hawks Nest.  The drones use thermal imaging to identify animal body heat when flying precise transects across wooded areas.  This method of surveying is far more productive than traditional techniques, permitting much larger areas to be surveyed in a given time.

Port Stephens EcoUpdate

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bobreidSun, 03/07/2022 - 3:52pm

The June 2022 edition of the Port Stephens Econetwork EcoUpdate newsletter has been published.

It has articles on wombats, koalas, squirrel gliders, preventing burnout and the Sustainable House Day.

It can be accessed by clicking on this link: EcoUpdate June 2022

 

Southern Estuaries Coastal Management Program

janinerThu, 28/04/2022 - 3:56pm

Have Your Say: Midcoast Council

MidCoast Council is in the process of preparing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) for its Southern Estuaries including the areas of Wallis Lake, Smiths Lake, Karuah River, Myall Lakes, Kore Kore Creek and North Arm Cove. Estuaries are the areas where the freshwater from the river meets the salt water from the ocean.

The CMP will be a ten-year action program to help manage and protect our waterways.

You can have your say on the Mid Coast Council website or you can email the team at haveyoursay@midcoastcouncil.nsw.gov.au ....

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