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Welcome to the March edition of Sustainable Shellharbour. We’ve invited conservation biologist Ana Gracanin to share her amazing insights into life in the canopy with Hollows as Homes for our Nature talk in the Library. It’s not too late to Step Up and register for Clean Up Australia Day this Sunday, March 5. We’re also featuring the great work being done by the Warilla Dunes Bushcare group. Remember to set your alarm and turn off for Earth Hour on March 25 at 8.30pm. We've got info on Bushcare, The Tinkerage, Small Grants opportunities, Hazards Near Me, The Seed Library, Local Land Services, WEA short courses, Sustainable House Day and what veggies you should be planting now. Enjoy! 

Nature Talks in the Library: Hollows as Homes

Why Hollow There! The importance of tree hollows for Australian native fauna.   

In Australia, 303 native wildlife species rely on hollows formed inside of trees! In this intriguing session you will learn all about how hollows are created, how different animals use them, and what happens inside of them. We will also learn about how different technologies and nest boxes are used to overcome the loss of hollows in urban areas, and about how you can support wildlife in your own backyard.   

Ana is a Conservation Biologist, about to complete her PhD at the University of Wollongong. She specialises in all things tree-dwelling, from gliders to possums to quolls. She is an avid wildlife photographer in her spare time too and loves to communicate science and capture the secret life of animals that live in the canopy. 

Date: Thursday 16 March 

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm 

Location: Shellharbour Civic Centre - City Library 

Click here to register for your FREE spot
Image credit: Ana Gracanin

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.

Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday March 5, 2023 

Help keep our city beautiful & protected from litter this Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 5 March!  

Get involved & join an existing Clean Up group here 

All registered Clean Up Australia Day participants will be entered into a draw for the chance to win 1 of 10 $20 Bunnings vouchers!  

For more info head to -  https://www.cleanup.org.au/  

Council's Environment, Natural Areas and Waste Teams Stepped Up Today


In preparation for Clean Up Australia Day this Sunday the Environment Team arranged a Clean Up event at Picnic Island this morning. A team of 23 eager volunteers cleared  27.5 kg of recyclables, 18 kg of general waste and 40kg of metal debris. It’s not too late to Step Up. We encourage you to get involved. Thousands of small steps make a big difference - together we can all be part of the solution. Register for Clean Up Australia Day today!

Paint a Powerful Owl

We are so lucky to be surrounded by inspiring flora and fauna. In this session you’ll learn how to paint a Powerful Owl, using watercolor paints.

What you'll do:

Treat yourself to a creative afternoon dabbling in watercolours. Using images as a reference, and your own creative flare (yes you have this in you!) paint a gorgeous owl using various watercolour techniques.

No painting experience necessary. All materials provided.

Knowledge required

No painting experience required.

Who should attend?

This workshop is best suited to adults, however ages 12+ are welcome

Click here to register your spot! (Cost is $20.00)

2023 Small Grants Program

Do you belong to a community group that has a great idea to restore, rehabilitate & reconnect with your local environment? 💚                                

Grants of up to $4000 are available to get your ideas out of your head & into the ground! 💡🌱 

Don't miss this opportunity, applications close 15 March! 

To apply visit: https://hb.org.au/grants 

Earth Hour - Saturday 25 March, 8:30pm - 9:30pm

Born in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organisations in more than 180 countries and territories to take tangible environmental action for over a decade. More recently Earth Hour has strived to bring the pressing issue of nature loss to the fore. The movement recognises the role of individuals in creating solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges and harnesses the collective power of its millions of supporters to drive change.  

Where to sign up?  

Sign up at earthhour.org.au, to help make a difference to our planet and one lucky person will have the chance to win a dream wilderness escape for two on the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk departing October 10, 2023 with the Tasmanian Walking Company, featuring accommodation at the award-winning Bay of Fires Lodge nestled in the treetops with a breathtaking view over Mt William National Park, and a night at Forester beach camp.

Hazards Near Me is now live

In February the NSW Rural Fire Service app Fires Near Me NSW was updated to include additional information about other emergencies from the NSW State Emergency Service. Fires Near Me is now called Hazards Near Me.

You can find current information about local emergencies on Hazards Near Me. The app shows information provided from emergency services on: 

  • bush fires 
  • floods  
  • advice on what to do to stay safe. 

The app also provides other warnings and activities in your area: 

  • fire danger ratings 
  • total fire bans 
  • hazard reduction activities. 

The app can send you push notifications when there are new incidents or when information changes. 

If you already have the Fires Near Me app on your device, download the update in your app store. 

To download the app, use the links below for your Android or iOS device: 
New App: Hazards Near Me
iOS
Android

D'harawal Seasons 

Time of Burran – Gadalung Marool – hot and dry (Jan – Mar) 

The behaviour of the male kangaroos becomes quite aggressive in this season, and it is a sign that the eating of meat is forbidden during this time. This is a health factor; because of the heat of the day meat does not keep, and the likelihood of food poisoning is apparent. 

The blooming of the Weetjellan (Acacia implexa) is an important sign that fires must not be lit unless they are well away from bushland and on sand only, and that there will be violent storms and heavy rain, so camping near creeks and rivers is not recommended. 
Source: dharawal-annual-cycle-poster-cropped.pdf

Acacia implexa - hickory wattle

Veggies to Plant in Autumn 

March is a great time to plant these veggies: 

  • Garlic 
  • Leek 
  • Onion 
  • Shallots 
  • Beetroot 
  • Silverbeet 
  • Spinach 
  • Carrot 
  • Celery 
  • Broccoli 
  • Brussels sprouts 
  • Cabbage 
  • Cauliflower 
  • Chinese Greens 
  • Kale 
  • Kohlrabi 
  • Radish 
  • Rocket 
  • Broad Bean 
  • Potato 
  • Tomato 
  • Lettuce 

Always follow the recommendations on the packet or label when planting, for correct spacing between plants to give them enough room to grow. To avoid a surplus 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, sold at Council's Nursery, 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 02 4221 6191 or at nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au They're open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm (except public holidays). 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. 

To learn more about food gardening check out our Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide

Oak Flats Seed Library

Autumn/Winter seeds are arriving at Oak Flats Seed Library!
 
Did you know that you can borrow two packets of seeds FREE each time you visit Oak Flats Library? Choose from 20 varieties of easy-to-grow open-pollinated varieties, including vegetables, herbs and flowers.
 
Autumn is sometimes thought of as a time when plant life is beginning to shut down, in preparation for Winter, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s a perfect time to enjoy the milder weather and sow seeds for all sorts of veggies and flowers. In Autumn root veggies get established, brassicas mature, and flowers grow strong, so you’ll be able to gather a bouquet of spring blooms.
Our new Autumn/Winter sowing varieties include beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, kale, onions, sweet peas and snapdragons, as well as lettuce, cauliflower and a variety of herbs.
 
Come and visit the Oak Flats Seed Library and discover the joy of growing your own food at home!”

Bushcare Bio - Warilla Dunes

There are typically around 6 to 8 volunteers along with a Council co-ordinator who contribute for a couple of hours at each meeting. Our ages span 3 generations from 28 to 81 years old so we have a great and involvement depth to our ongoing discussions. Of course there is always a morning tea to close out the meetings.   The Warilla dunes are relatively narrow, bounded by the beach and Osborne Pde on the western side. The signature trees in the hind dunes are the tall coastal banksias which attract the beautiful yellow tailed black cockatoos. The superb wrens dart around in the foliage close to the ground and are usually seen beside the shared pathway.  

The dunes are also great for weeds. The three most common here are the asparagus fern, whose spiky fonds can grow up 3 metres in length, turkey rhubarb and mother of millions. 

Our group meeting typically involves collecting any rubbish - in the early days this included lounge chairs, car tyres, washing machines and various containers. Now it is mostly wind blown litter. We also select an area to remove weeds and plant out with natives provided by Council’s nursery. Some of us have become quite skillful in the safe removal of the asparagus ferns. It is a team effort for getting out the larger entrenched ones. Council provide all the tools and bags for the rubbish and weeds.     

New volunteers are always welcome. There is no obligation to come to every meeting. Any extra help is always appreciated. The dunes are seen by a relatively high amount of passing pedestrian traffic using the shared pathway. Our contribution highlights the importance of locals getting involved in caring for our local unique environment. We have also successfully lobbied for public amenities in the area such as the solar power lights and seating along the shared pathway.

Bushcare and Landcare

Bushcare and Landcare volunteer groups provide an incredible service greening our city and improving the local environment.  

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

Blackbutt Forest Bushcare  

Meeting points vary each month. For more details, contact Russell (group Co-ordinator) on 0466 977 125. Next dates:  

  • Sunday 5 March (9am – 12pm) 

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. For more details, contact Christine on 0439 114 955. Next dates:  

  • Sunday 5 March (1pm – 4pm) 

Oakey Creek Bushcare  

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

  • Saturday 11 Match (9am – 12pm) 

  • Wednesday 22 March (9am – 12pm) 

The Watercourse Bushcare  

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

  • Sunday 19 March (9.30am - 11.30am) 

Tullimbar Landcare   

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

  • Saturday 25 March (8am – 11am) 

Warilla Dunes Bushcare 

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

  • Saturday 11 March (8am – 10am) 

Don’t forget to be sun safe! Bring along your hats, sunscreen, water bottles and sunglasses to the working bees. 

New Bushcare Group Alert - Flinders! 

We are still hoping to start a new Bushcare group at Currambene Reserve, Flinders. If you are interested please contact Mirko on 0405 695 935. 

Check out our Caring for Bushcare Brochure here

Mass Planting Day - Round 2

We have been working to restore & protect our beach dunes at Shellharbour North Beach. 🌊 
We recently planted another 1300 seedlings back into their natural habitat, all seeds have been locally sourced and grown by us in our native nursery! 🌳🌱 
This was the second in a series of mass planting days funded by a Sydney Water undertaking. The project includes spraying, weed removal & planting. 🌿 

Weed of the Month

Fleabane (Conyza spp,)

This common grey, hairy annual can grow to about a metre high and produces copious seeds in summer which are dispersed by the wind. Originally a native of South America it was probably introduced with horticultural plants. There are a number of Fleabane species in Australia. 

It produces masses of fluffy white flowers throughout the year. It’s seedbank persists for up to 3 years and in response to fire is likely to resprout. Light stimulates germination. Soil type and burial depth has significant effects on seed persistence and emergence.  

 It has been confirmed as glyphosate resistant, which means that over the many years of trying to control the weed by chemicals, Fleabane has developed a resistance to the chemical. Although it can be controlled with chemical at the early stage of growing, the best way is to remove by hand and bag. So, if you are out and about and see some Fleabane best to attack while plants are young to avoid prolific seeding. 

Wild Rabbits

Rabbits have the potential to have a major impact on grazing, native flora, horticultural industries and gardens in the South East region. They occupy a wide range of habitats, including native and modified grasslands, woodland, heath and forest, often achieving high densities in some agricultural and suburban areas. 

Rabbits cause erosion and land degradation by destroying plants and grasses. They also propagate weeds. 

We do need help and information in locating rabbits in the Shellharbour LGA. If you sight a wild rabbit, please report it using the free FeralScan App (links below) 
iOS
Android

Pet rabbit owners are encouraged to vaccinate their pets against Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) before The South East Local Land Services roll out the next feral rabbit control program in late March. Contact your local vet to ask if they have vaccine in stock.

If you are interested in volunteering to assist Local Land Services with their work, they offer a free online course here, and please email the Council Environment team at pestmanagement@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au to inform us of your interest.

The Tinkerage - Thurs & Fri  tinkering sessions are on

Reviva Dunmore run “The Tinkerage” which is a community space for making, repairing, and re-purposing things that would otherwise end up in landfill. Bring along items from home or find something in the shop to repair. 

Tinkerage sessions run: 
Thursdays: 9:30am - 2:00pm  
Fridays: 10:00am - 3:00pm 
Participation by gold coin donation.  

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.
For more information, please email tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au or contact Anita on 0416 148 202. 

Spoon Jewellery workshop @ The Tinkerage 

Join the incredibly talented Bonnie Herft for her spoon jewellery workshop at The Tinkerage. In this Saturday workshop Bonnie will share with you some of her skills so you can transform used silver-plated spoons into stunning jewellery pieces. This hands-on workshop will see you walk away with your own spoon ring. 

The Tinkerage is a safe and fun learning environment for all members of the community aged 16 years and older and focuses on building reuse and repair skills in our community.  

BYO (optional) salvaged silver spoon or fork (silver plated/EPNS NOT stainless steel) 

You must wear enclosed protective shoes.  

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. 

To book your spot, please contact Anita on 0416 148 202 or tinkerage@resourcerecovery.org.au

Click here to register for your FREE spot

In the Neighbourhood

WEA are running some interesting short courses for people who would like to know more about our local plants and wildlife.

Wild Birds of the Illawarra  – one 4-hour session in the field 

Wollongong’s Wonderful Plants  – A deep dive into what makes the Illawarra area one of the most floristically diverse regions in the world. 

Presented by the developer behind Growing Illawarra Natives. 

 

This web resource includes the very useful Local Plant Finder tool and a Facebook group that links to a community of native plant enthusiasts across our region ready to answer your local plant questions.

Sustainable House Day

Sustainable House Day gives us the opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most inspirational sustainable homes, and learn from the people who designed them, built them, and live in them.  

 

Did you know households generate at least one fifth of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The products, technologies and knowledge to make our homes and personal transport greener already exist, so reducing the carbon emissions from our households is a key opportunity to reaching Shellharbour’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions. 

Reducing the carbon intensity of our houses has the extra benefits of saving money and creating homes that are healthier and more comfortable to live in. 

Many Australians are overwhelmed by the amount of information on what actions they can take in their home or rental properties and need guidance sifting through sources and opinions. Sustainable House Day provides important advice and resources that help Australians put their desire to live more sustainably into action. 

Sustainable House Day will be complemented by a month of online in-depth webinars offering a deep-dive into a range of sustainability topics led by experts, architects, and homeowners.  

Click here for online event info + bookings
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.
The events/opportunities listed in this ‘In the neighbourhood’ section are other free sustainability initiatives that may be of interest. They are not managed or endorsed in any way by Council.
Copyright © 2019 Shellharbour City Council All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Shellharbour City Council, Locked Bag 155, SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE, NSW 2529

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Shellharbour City Council · 76 Cygnet Avenue (Corner Cygnet and College Ave) · Shellharbour City Centre, NSW 2529 · Australia

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