Welcome to the June issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month we’re thrilled to invite you to a Nature Talk in the library featuring ‘Sharks Research and Management’ with Dr Amy Smoothey, and a Constructed Wetlands Workshop with Dr Swapan Paul. We provide updates on World Environment Day Workshops, new nest boxes in Blackbutt Forest, Tinkerage Workshops, FOGO Achievements, and Bushcare & Landcare groups. We also invite you to provide feedback on the Draft Community Gardens Strategy and Horsely Creek Flood Study. Read on for more.

Nature Talks are back in the Library with Sharks Research and Management

Sharks fascinate and frighten us; but understanding more about these captivating animals can help protect sharks and keep people safe.  

Join Dr Amy Smoothey, a Marine Ecologist working at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, to learn about the biology and ecology of sharks along the East Coast of Australia. For over 12 years, Dr Smoothey has led research projects for the NSW Shark Management Program, which aim to increase protection for beachgoers while minimising harm to sharks and other marine life. Amy joins us at the Shellharbour Civic Centre to discuss the latest research from the NSW Shark Program and unlock the secret lives of sharks in NSW waters. 

This event is aimed at adults and children 8+ years.  

Book your free spot for Thursday 16 June 2022 at 6:00pm through Eventbrite. 

The Nature Talks program is coordinated by Shellharbour City Libraries in partnership with Shellharbour City Council’s Environment team. These free monthly events are designed for the community to hear from presenters involved in biodiversity conservation and research, nature photography and wildlife care.

Constructed Wetlands Workshops

We invite you to join Wetland Ecologist, Dr Swapan Paul, to learn about constructed wetlands in Shellharbour.  

Dr Paul will join us at Shellharbour Civic Centre to provide free community education workshops, followed by a site walk-around at local wetlands on the 29th and 30th June.  

Event Details 

29th June 2022

10:30-12:00 Community Information Morning Session at Shellharbour Civic Centre  

13:30-15:00 Community Information Afternoon Session at Shellharbour Civic Centre  

16:00-17:00 Site walk-around of Brindabella Wetland and Shell Cove Wetland 

30th June 2022

10:00-10:30 Community Information Morning Session 

12:30-14:00 Community Information Afternoon Session 

15:00-16:00 Site walk-around of Flinders Village Green Ponds 

Keep an eye on our Shellharbour City Council Facebook Page for the Eventbrite links to book your spot. 

Celebrate World Environment Day with Environmentally Friendly Workshops! 

Everybody Makes: Natural Dyeing

Create something beautiful using natural dyeing techniques! 

Led by handwork specialist, Sarah Fletcher, even beginners will get gorgeous, naturally beautiful results at this environmentally friendly session. Discover how to create your own natural dyes using plants, before diving in to dye your own tea towel and pillowcase using leaf printing and tie-dyeing techniques. All material supplied. 

This class is suitable for adults. 

Price: $10. 

Book your spot for Thursday 16 June 2022 at 10:00am-12:30pm through Eventbrite.
Bookings open 02/06/2022 at 12pm. 

Foodies: Beetroot Relish and Caramelised Onion Chutney

Learn the art of preserving vegetables in chutneys and relishes to capture the goodness of in-season produce! 

In this hands-on workshop, led by culinary teacher Sonya Ankerholz-Potts, you'll make two delicious preserves to take home: caramelised onion chutney and beetroot relish. It's a great way to celebrate World Environment Day by reducing waste, saving money, and enjoying local and seasonal produce year-round. 

This class is suitable for adults. 

Price: $10. 

Book your spot for Thursday 23 June 2022 at 10:30am-12:30pm through Eventbrite.
Bookings open 09/06/2022. 

DIY Terrariums

Celebrate World Environment Day with this special gardening project!  

You will be creating your very own Terrarium using Australian Ferns and Moss, as well as other decorative and practical features. This program is potentially messy, so please don't wear your best clothes! All materials supplied. 

This class is suitable for adults. 

Price: $5 

Book your spot for Monday 20 June 2022 at 10:30am at Warilla Library at Eventbrite.
Bookings open 07/06/2022. 

OR 

Thursday 30 June 2022 at 10:30am at Oak Flats Library Eventbrite.
Bookings open 13/06/2022. 

STEAM STUDIO: Solar Powered Boats

Are you looking for creative, easy and fun science-based activities? Join our special Environment Day inspired STEAM Studio session where we put together our coolest creation yet: Solar Powered Boats! 

This class is suitable for children aged 10+, younger children will struggle with the complexities of this project. 

Price: FREE 

Book your spot for Wednesday 15 June at 4:00pm-5:00pm through Eventbrite.
Bookings open 01/06/2022 at 12:00pm. 

Fauna Monitoring in Blackbutt Forest

Last month, Ana Gracanin (UOW PhD Conservation Biologist), Stephen Fox (Senior Arborist), and Bronwyn Anderson (Environment Team) installed an additional 6 nest boxes in Blackbutt Forest. This is a continuation from our installation in December, bringing the total to 9 nest boxes and 1 motion sensor camera.

During last year’s BioBlitz in Blackbutt Forest, 2 Sugar Gliders were found in one of our nest boxes. In December 2021, we installed a motion sensor camera to capture images and evidence of these small marsupials. Upon recent inspection of the next box, it looked like the Sugar Glider had vacated the nest box.  

After review of the motion camera footage recorded, we were thrilled to discover that the Sugar Glider had visited the nest box area, along with some other local native species; Brushtail Possums, Rainbow Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, and a Currawong.

We are very excited to know that Sugar Gliders are still in the area and look forward to sharing more captured images of our wildlife in Blackbutt Forest. The additional nest boxes installed will provide habitat for Sugar Gliders, Possums, and Kookaburras.
We extend our thanks again to UOW Team Quoll for the generous donation.

Let’s Chat – Check out our Draft Community Garden Strategy

Be part of shaping Shellharbour’s future by reviewing our Draft Community Garden Strategy.  

The draft strategy is available to view on Councils Lets Chat Page. 

Community gardens can create a fun and lively space to grow a community hub and fresh produce for everyone to enjoy. We know that many love community gardens in Shellharbour already and want the process of planting, establishing and maintaining gardens on council-owned land to be clear and accessible for everyone. 

Council’s experience with previous community gardens and community consultation has identified the need for a formal strategy, policy and process to be developed. So, we have created a Draft Community Gardens Strategy.  

Submissions are invited and will be received until 4.00 pm 25 June 2022. 

Submissions must be received in writing and can be provided in several ways:   

• Sent by email to council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au 

• Mail your submission to:   

  The Chief Executive Officer   

  Locked Bag 155   

  Shellharbour City Centre, 2529 

• Complete the ‘Tell Us What You Think’ online form through Council's Let's Chat Page.

Let’s Chat – Horsley Creek Flood Risk Management Study & Plan

We are in the process of reviewing and updating the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for the Horsley Creek catchment and we need your help!
 
We know the catchment is subject to flood risk and inundation, so we are committed to investigating solutions to reduce the impact of flooding. 

It is intended that the updated Horsley Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan will include a program of flood management options and initiatives for Council and emergency services to implement in the study area. 

To share your feedback, submit it through the online form on Council’s Let's Chat Page. 

Measure your Carbon Footprint with ClimateClever 

ClimateClever is Australia's first community-wide carbon reduction platform, allowing businesses, households and schools to measure and manage their carbon footprint, take actions to reduce it and even go carbon neutral.  

Click here to find out more and access this free service. 

The Tinkerage - Thursday and Friday Sessions on

The Tinkerage is a community-use space for the making, repairing, and re-purposing of things that would otherwise end up in landfill. 

Tinkering sessions are back on from 9:30am to 2pm on Thursdays and 10am to 3pm on Fridays, with participation by gold coin donation. 
 
COVID-safe measures in place and bookings strictly limited to 9 people. Please contact Anita to book your place on 0416 148 202 or tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au.  

Located behind the Reviva Tip Shop at Dunmore Recycling and Waste Disposal Depot, the Tinkerage is a joint venture between Shellharbour City Council and Resource Recovery Australia. 
  
Check out their Instagram page here. For enquiries email tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au, or phone the Reviva Shop on 4237 5193.  

Tinkerage Tool Skills Workshop at The Tinkerage 

Join Anita Johnson on Saturday 11th June from 10am to 3pm to learn how to use a variety of tools safely and efficiently. Develop hands-on skills for life, that you can use to repair or up-cycle things around your home. 

Participants must wear enclosed shoes. 

Tickets: The Tinkerage workshops are free for residents of the Shellharbour City Council local government area. A $40 participation fee applies for non-Shellharbour City Council residents, this is payable on the day of the workshop. 

BYO: earplugs, goggles, and gloves. 

Note: Tinkerers must be over 16 years of age and wear enclosed protective shoes at The Tinkerage. 

Places are strictly limited. Bookings for the Tinkerage workshops can be made by emailing tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au, phoning 0416 148 202, or via Eventbrite. 

All Combined BushCare Planting Day

Bushcare has had a rough trot over the past year due to COVID restrictions and high rain falls. To kick off the Bushcare program again, we are holding a planting day for all Shellharbour Council Bushcare groups, and for anybody thinking about joining a group. This event is to promote and regenerate community in Natural Areas.  

Come along for a fantastic day of planting, meet and greet, and a Sausage Sizzle to finish it off. Reunite with your groups and meet some friendly new faces.  

Date: Sunday 5th June 

Time: 9am – 12pm 

Location: Meet at the main top Blackbutt car park. Entrance is from Blackbutt way. 

BushCare and Landcare Groups

BushCare and LandCare volunteer groups provide an incredible service greening our city and improving the local environment. Working bees are now back on, with COVID safe measures in place. Why not join in a working bee and see what it's all about?  

Below are the following dates, times and locations for meet ups this month. Feel free to contact Mirko who is acting Council’s Natural Areas Supervisor if you have any questions on 0405 695 935. 

Oakey Creek BushCare 

The group meets at the Oakey Creek Reserve, located at 1 The Esplanade. Contact Council on 4221 6111 for details. Next Dates:  

• Wednesday 8th June, Wednesday 22nd June (9am – 12pm) 

• Saturday 11th June (9am – 12pm) 

Warilla Dunes Bushcare

The group meets in the north side of the surf club on Osborne Parade. Next dates: 

• Saturday 11th June (8am-10am) 

The Watercourse

The group meets at Campaspe CCT Albion Park. For more details, please contact Council on 4221 6111. Next dates: 

• Sunday 19th June (9.30am – 12.30pm) 

Tullimbah LandCare  

The group meets at Elizabeth Brownlee Reserve (end of Digby Close, Albion Park). Contact Ruth Jenkins for details on 0402 027 221. Next dates: 

• Saturday 25th June (9am – 11am) 

Koona Bay Bushcare 

The group meets at the reserve gate entrance, located at 29 Bridge Ave. It runs on the first Sunday of each month. Next dates: 

• Sunday 5th June (1pm – 4pm) 

• Sunday 3rd July (1pm-4pm) 

Blackbutt Forest 

Meeting points vary each month. Please call Russell (group Co-ordinator) on 0466 977 125 for further information. Next dates: 

• All combined Bushcare Planting day: Sunday 5th June (9am – 12pm) 

• Sunday 3rd July (9am –12pm) 

As we get into the cooler months, don’t forget to still be sun safe! Bring along your hats, sunscreen, water bottles and sunglasses to the working bees. 

Weed of the Month

Sea spurge is an environmental weed that threatens native flora and fauna in coastal areas. 

It grows as a small multi-stemmed perennial shrub, with fleshy pale green leaves and flowers. 

Sea spurge is a weed of the coast as it prefers sandy, free draining soils, and has salt-tolerant seeds. It can cause major infestations, with mature plants producing over 5000 seeds per year.  

It grows in thick patches along beaches anywhere from the high-water mark to the rear dunes, although it can invade nearby inland areas.  

This weed threatens coastal areas by: 

• Preventing natural movement of sand along beaches 

• Altering the natural shape and structure of dunes 

• Damaging nesting areas for threatened shorebirds 

• Threatening native vegetation and reducing the number of native plants 

• Hindering beach access for community members  

• Releasing poisonous sap that is an irritant to skin and eyes

Natural Areas Update

Mosquito Orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)

The Natural Areas team found this native Mosquito Orchid at our Pimelea Grant site from our Department of Primary Industries and Environment Saving our Species program grant. 

Lake Illawarra Coastal and Estuaries management Grant

The Natural Areas team are planting 500 trees, undertaking weed removal and large Date Palm Poisoning as a part of our Lake Illawarra Coastal and Estuaries management Grant. See before and after shots of some progress to date. 

Veggies to Plant in June

Winter is arriving, but in our relatively mild coastal climate you can still be adding things to your veggie patch. It’s a good time to think about planting: 

• Snow peas
• Snap peas
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Rocket
• Broccoli 

When planting, always follow the recommendations on the packet or label for correct spacing between plants to give them enough room to grow. To keep the harvests coming over a longer period and avoid a surplus of produce all at once, try a few small plantings two to three weeks apart. 

A good layer of mulch will help your veggies and herbs thrive. Sugar cane mulch is sold at Council's Nursery and is a great mulch option for veggie beds.  

If you're keen to add veggies and herbs to your garden, head into Council's Nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats, or contact them on 4221 6191 or at nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au. They're now open Monday to Friday 7.30am - 3.45pm (except public holidays), with social distancing and COVID-safe measures in place.  

Staff are happy to help you with advice on what to plant when, what’s easy to grow, what can be grown in a pot and how to prepare your soil for the next crop.  

For information on food gardening ideas check out Council's Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide. 

Shellharbour City Libraries also have a great selection of gardening books.  

FOGO Achievements

Since introducing the Little Green Bags, Shellharbour City households have made some amazing achievements.  

Recent random kerbside bin audits have shown that our contamination rate has dropped from 2.8% to 2.3%. Keep up the great work Shellharbour! 

We would love to hear your experience with FOGO and Little Green Bags on Councils Let's Chat Page. 

New Single-Use Plastic Bans from June 1 

Single-use plastic is designed to be used once and then thrown away, posing a huge threat to our environment. Plastic packaging and single-use plastic items make up 60% of all litter in NSW.  

In a commitment to phase out problematic plastics, the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 declares the items to be banned in NSW. These bans will prevent nearly 2.7 billion plastic items from entering the coastal, marine and bushland environments of NSW over the next 20 years. 

From 1 June 2022 the following will be banned: 

• The supply of lightweight plastic bags 

From 1 November 2022 the following will be banned: 

• Single-use plastics straws, stirrers and cutlery 

Click here to read more. 

Flying-fox Habitat Restoration Grant Program 2020-2030 

Council’s Environment Team has been successful in securing $160,000 of grant funding through the LG NSW Flying-fox Habitat Restoration Grant Program 2020-2030. This will go towards planting and long-term establishment of 30,000 new plants at sites in Blackbutt Forest Reserve and Croom Reserve, as well as community engagement and education.  

The project will improve foraging habitat for our local Grey-headed Flying-fox colony, while also reducing conflict with residents by drawing them away from food trees in contentious areas. The new vegetation will also be more than 75m away from any houses to minimise the potential for noise disturbance.  

There will also be opportunities for community involvement in the project, through volunteering on tree planting days, education events, Citizen Science, and more.  

This project is part of the Flying-fox Habitat Restoration Program assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust in association with Local Government NSW. Shellharbour City Council will be partnering with the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative to deliver this project. 

Last Month’s Nature Talk was a Success! 

Last month's Nature Talk on ‘Mission Mushroom’ with Alison Pouliot was a success, with 40 community members attending the event in the Civic Centre Library.  

Alison was a fantastic presenter, leaving everyone wanting to know more.  

Don’t forget to book your free spot for this month’s Nature Talk about Managing Sharks with Dr Amy Smoothey (Book here: Eventbrite) 

In the Neighbourhood  

World Environment Day - June 5th

World Environment Day is the largest international day for the environment. It is led by the United Nations Environment Programme and held annually on June 5th. 

This year, the theme is “Only One Earth”, with the focus on “Living Sustainable in Harmony with Nature”.  

To celebrate, you can build your Earth Action Number, which is a specific goal or action you will do to live more sustainably, and a way you will accomplish it. Click here to check it out.  

You can also check out these tips on sustainable living.