Island estuary clean ups:

In 2019, the Land Council made a commitment to begin to clean up our islands in the Port Stephens estuary. We decided to start with the largest Island which is Dowadee, as it has particular significance to some of our local Worimi families.

There is only a narrow window of opportunity to work on the island due to it being a habitat for endangered wading birds. With the help of Fisheries (Department of Primary Industries) we removed large amounts of debris and rubbish that has accumulated over decades in the 2019 season. We were due to start weed control works in April 2020, once the birds had fledged. Unfortunately our efforts were interrupted when COVID19 hit in Australia.  We plan to be back and commence the weed control works around Easter time in 2021.

The second island will be Bulls Island where feral animal control will be conducted.

2019 – Relation of Dowadee Island to the mainland. Illegal dumping and Bitou Bush

Hexham Swamp and the Hunter Wetlands National Park

The Green Team have been treating the weed Juncus Acutus in and around the National Park for almost a decade. Work is presently occurring on a 23ha site at Hexham Swamp. Treatment of this weed helps increase coastal saltmarsh, which is an endangered ecological community within NSW.

Tanilba Bay – environmental rubbish removal

We all know that illegal dumping is problematic everywhere, and it isn’t any different for the residents of Tanilba Bay and surrounding suburbs.

We have received a grant from the NSW Environment Protection Authority to remove a number of car bodies and assorted household goods from a site at Tanilba Bay. Over the next six months we will be removing the offending articles, erecting signage and deterrents. We will then start to remove the exotic Pine Trees growing on the site, which pose an increased threat of fire to nearby residents. Eventually the site will be placed on our register of sites requiring regular monitoring.

Before

Black Creek,  Cessnock

After

Black Creek, Cessnock

Before

Mallabula Bushland Reserve

After

Mallabula Bushland Reserve

Before

After