environment

Prairie Nymphs are popping up all over the Cove

Information
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

Information
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

Information
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?

Information
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

Information
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...

Free Training-Migratory Shorebird Ecology and Identification

janinerSat, 31/10/2020 - 12:16pm

Hunter Local Land Services and BirdLife Australia are hosting a series of Shorebird Training Workshops to engage the local community with migratory shorebirds and train volunteers interested in being a part of shorebird surveys.

We will be running four workshops at:

1. Hawks Nest Golf Club (covering Port Stephens estuary) - November 11th
2. Coopernook Community Hall (covering Manning estuary) - November 24th
3.Hunter Wetlands Centre (covering Hunter estuary) - November 30th and December 2nd

Each workshop will entail a half day of theory covering an introduction on migratory shorebird ecology, shorebird identification and survey...

Aussie Backyard Bird Count- Can you help?

janinerSun, 18/10/2020 - 9:01pm
Crested tern

You can help our scientists by participating in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count. It is on this week, 19-25 October, and only takes 20 minutes. 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 app.

You don’t have to be an expert to participate. 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...

Weed of the Month

mpicklesMon, 07/09/2020 - 5:46pm

There are many weeds in the Cove, some are easy to identify and you may have noticed that there are some fast spreading weeds that will take over large sections of the forest and village – if we don’t control it!

The weed we can focus on now, that is flowering on properties and the verges, is Polygala, a purple flowering bush.

This has been widely cultivated as a garden ornamental - particularly in the temperate regions of Australia.

Now is an opportunity to remove these weeds easily pulled out by hand or...

Koalas in the Cove

mpicklesThu, 20/08/2020 - 11:33am

Lets make Koalas Welcome in the Cove

Over the last couple of years there have been sightings of a large male koala at the end of East Slope and more lately at the southern end of Cove Boulevard.

During spring male koalas have been sighted along Gorrengi Road in the last 10 years perhaps seeking out mates.

This is encouraging that koalas may be making use of the cove as territory.

How can we make koalas welcome?

Save as many trees as possible, especially wildlife food trees: ...

Phone Number for Oyster Debris

Oyster basket washed ashorejaninerTue, 11/08/2020 - 2:57pm
Oyster basket washed ashore in 2019

The wind and waves over the weekend resulted in many of the oyster baskets being flipped over. Sometimes in wild weather the baskets break free of their lines and wash ashore. We now have a new phone number to ring if any baskets or other oyster debris is found along the shore- 0492 987 195 .

Sometimes wild weather causes other problems.For example if any boats break free of their moorings and end up tangled in the leases you should also ring the above number as well as the Marine Rescue at Port Stephens on 02 4981 3585.

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