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Welcome to the September issue of Sustainable Shellharbour. This month we have details of two upcoming online Nature Talks - one with Dr Karl about climate change and another with David Finlay about astronomy and our night sky. We’re also encouraging you to share your connection to fair food, and are calling out for any information about changes to the Grey-headed Flying-fox camp at Blackbutt Forest. Keep reading for more details.
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Online Nature Talk - Astronomy and our night sky
On Thursday 30 September from 6pm – 7:30pm via Zoom, you can join us for an introduction to the wonders of our night sky with local astronomy expert David Finlay. A talented astro-photographer, David will share his stunning images of the Milky Way, the moon and star-trails, as well as time lapse photographs and video.
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Image by David Finaly.
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You’ll learn how to begin star-gazing from your own backyard: how to identify star-forming regions, star clusters and galaxies, constellations, and planets including Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus. This event is designed for adults and children 10 years+.
David Finlay is a local astronomer who holds regular stargazing workshops. He runs ClearSkiesTV, a science-based YouTube channel which has over 7.5 million views. David has worked closely with Curtin and Monash Universities to hunt meteorites, and has even collaborated with NASA on one of their long-range space balloon projects.
This event is hosted by Shellharbour City Libraries and Shellharbour City Council’s Environment team. Find out more and book your free spot through Eventbrite.
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Image by David Finaly.
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Online Nature talk - Climate Change with Dr Karl
Join the popular Dr Karl on Tuesday 12 October from 6pm as he talks about his Little Book of Climate Change Science, and explains the facts behind global warming, and how we can fix the future. (We can!)
Ask Dr Karl your questions, and learn how we can make a difference with solutions to human-induced climate change, in a fun 'Nature Talks at the Library' event that is both informative and hopeful. This event is designed for adults and children 10 years+.
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Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM loves science to pieces, and has written 47 books. He is well known for sharing his science knowledge on TV and radio, and online via social media. Dr Karl is a lifetime student and has completed multiple degrees in physics and mathematics, biomedical engineering and medicine and surgery.
This event is hosted by Shellharbour City Libraries and Shellharbour City Council's Environment team. We’re committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Book your free spot through Eventbrite.
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Have you seen our Grey-headed Flying-foxes?
Have you seen our Grey-headed Flying-foxes recently? Council has been monitoring our local colony of Grey-headed Flying-fox (which we call a camp) within Blackbutt Forest for over a decade. At the beginning of winter we noted that the camp had vacated Blackbutt Forest, and the flying-foxes have not returned.
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Grey-headed Flying-foxes are important pollinators of native plants.
Image by Andrew Mercer.
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The Environment Team at Council are gathering information to help us understand why these animals may have left Blackbutt Forest, and if they have perhaps relocated to another area within the region. Flying-fox camps are dynamic, and animals actively move between camps up and down the east coast.
If you have any information regarding these animals, or have noticed the enlargement of another camp, or establishment of a new camp in the area, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Council’s Environment Team on sustainability@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au or 4221 6111 if you have any information.
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Grey-headed Flying-foxes photographed at Blackbutt Forest in 2020 by Lachlan Hall.
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LED lighting upgrade in Council buildings
As members of the Cities Power Partnership, Shellharbour Council made a pledge to Adopt best practice energy efficiency measures across all Council buildings, and support community facilities to adopt these measures.
We have recently completed a project replacing the old lighting across 17 Council buildings and facilities with new LED efficient lighting.
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The installation of LED lighting is calculated to reduce energy consumption in Council buildings by 140,093kW per annum, and also reduce Council’s carbon footprint by 226 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
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Connecting Over Fair Food 2021
Join Food Fairness Illawarra this World Food Day and Fair Food Week by sharing your connection to fair food! See the below image and Connecting Over Fair Food website for more information on how you can participate. |
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Think fair, local and sustainable e.g. your community garden, you and your veggie patch, cooking, dinner with the household, your favourite local producer or produce.
All entries will go into the draw for one of six $50 vouchers to your favourite local producer or business! Entries close on World Food Day, October 16.
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Recording and info from our Nature Talk on urban biodiversity
Thanks to everyone who joined in our first online Nature Talk last month on urban biodiversity. We had a fantastic time hearing from Dr John Martin, a Research Scientist at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. His fascinating presentation focused on how Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Australian White Ibis, and Australian Brush-turkeys are adapting to life in the city.
You can view a recording of the presentation and a summary of what was covered here at Library at Home.
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Please note BushCare and LandCare working bees are currently on hold due to COVID restrictions.
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Image 'The Underdog' by Deniz Ahishali.
"Most of us walk or drive along the lake without thinking much about these tall fluffy reeds. They're often ignored, much like the people in the background of your favourite TV show. But they have a name you know? Phragmites Australis. And they've got super powers of sorts, too! They're great purifiers that can help remove micro-pollutants and heavy metals from our magnificent lake, making them superior to other aquatic plants! You heard it here first: Phragmites Australis - not just a pretty (fluffy) face!."
Deniz's image was selected as a highly commended entry in the Landscapes and Native plants 18 years and over category of the 2021 Wild About Shellharbour Nature Photography Competition.
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Weed of the month - Crofton weed
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Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) is a rapidly spreading shrub with creamy white flowers visible right now. Mature Crofton plants can produce 10,000 -100,000 seeds per year. The seeds are very light and travel on the wind, allowing them to travel long distances to previously non-infested areas.
Crofton is particularly invasive on cleared land but has also made its way into riparian corridors and creek-lines up and down the east coast of Australia.
It is of particular concern to horse owners, as the seeds can be inhaled and cause heart and lung damage including respiratory failure and death. Horses may preferentially graze on Crofton over feed or grass.
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Crofton is quite easy to hand-weed as it doesn’t have a deep root system. All green waste should be properly disposed of in a red top bin to limit spread.
Please see the NSW Weed Wise website for more information.
In the image below, can you spot one of our bush regeneration staff in amongst the Crofton? |
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The little green bag for the big green bin
You asked, we listened. Soon, all households in Shellharbour City will receive a FREE 6 month supply of Little Green Bags delivered directly to their home, making FOGO even more convenient. Estimated delivery is between late September and late October 2021.
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Veggies to plant in spring - Council nursery open for phone orders
Signs of spring are in the air, and now is the time to start thinking about planting:
• Zucchini
• Pumpkin
• Cucumber
• Basil
Council’s plant nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats is currently open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm for phone orders only (no browsing). You can ring to place an order on 4221 6191. Please note they will be closed for this Thursday 23 September for stocktake.
For information on food gardening ideas check out Council's Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide on Council’s website.
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In the neighbourhood
The events/opportunities listed in this ‘In the neighbourhood’ section are other free sustainability initiatives happening in the region. They are not managed or endorsed in any way by Council. If you would like to submit details of local, free sustainability related events for consideration to be included, please email sustainability@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
Saving Our Species webinars
September is a special time for the NSW Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) Program as it's biodiversity month. Several free webinars are being held online – check here for upcoming webinars, and here for recordings of recent webinars.
Rebuilding forests in Milton
Tuesday 28 September, 12.00pm-1.00pm
This information session presents current broad and targeted forest rebuilding opportunities available through the Local Land Services, Milton Rural Land Forest Recovery Project and the Saving our Species program.
Which Glossy is that and what is she eating? Flossies and feed trees
Wednesday 29 September, 12.00pm-1.00pm
Learn how to identify a female Glossy black-cockatoo and propagate their favourite food.
iNaturalist – Great Southern BioBlitz and free online beginners workshop
The 2021 Great Southern BioBlitz is on from October 22 – 25, were everyone is encouraged to record observations of wild plants, animals and fungi using the iNaturalist app.
To help you get ready, the Great Southern BioBlitz team are running a free online workshop to learn about using iNaturalist on Tuesday 28 September. Find out more and register here for 'A beginners guide for using iNaturalist.'
Sustainable House Day
Organised by Renew, Sustainable House Day provides the opportunity to explore of Australia’s most unique and inspiring homes. The main free online event on 17 October will be preceded with a month of webinars – find out more here.
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COVID-19 updates from Shellharbour City Council
In response to the evolving situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), Council is doing all it can to protect the wellbeing of our customers, our community and our staff. In line with the current Public Health Order, and stay at home restrictions, we have made some changes to our services.
For the latest updates, please check Council’s COVID-19 updates page and Facebook page.
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