By Nick Sangster and Andrew Wood, Blue Wren Subcommittee, Bulletin 3/2024, May

Society’s annual biodiversity lecture – Wednesday 29 May

The Society’s 8th annual biodiversity lecture will be given by Thomas Astell-Burt (Professor of Cities and Planetary Health, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney) at 6 pm at Benledi, Glebe Library on Wednesday 29 May. The title of the lecture is ‘Regenerative Cities and Flourishing Communities: why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health.’

All Society members and friends are invited to attend the lecture; please accept your invitation by registering through Eventbrite as soon as possible, as space is limited. There is no charge for the event, which will be followed by finger food and a glass of wine.

Statutory Review of the Crown Land Management Act 2016

Pope Paul VI Crown Lands reserve in Glebe (Photo: Virginia Simpson-Young)

Recently, the NSW Government set up a review to determine: 

  • whether the policy objectives of the Crown Land Management Act remain valid, and
  • whether the terms of the Crown Land Management Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives. 

The Hon Stephen Kamper, MLA, Minister for Lands and Property, asked for replies to 26 consultation questions, and the Society answered those that were relevant to Glebe and Forest Lodge. The Society’s five-page submission was written by the Blue Wren and Planning Subcommittees.

The State Government provides information about the Review and will cover information about their consideration of submissions at 

Society’s meeting with Charlotte Fletcher, City of Sydney

Duncan Leys and Nick Sangster at the meeting with Charlotte Fletcher, the City’s Urban Ecology Coordinator (Photo: Andrew Wood).

Charlotte Fletcher is Council’s newly-installed Urban Ecology Coordinator. In addition to her brief to oversee natural resources, she is also the Grant Relationship Manager for the Society’s Innovation and Ideas Grant which is funding the University of Sydney’s study of Glebe’s Hill. On 3 April, Duncan Leys, Andrew Wood and Nick Sangster met with Charlotte to review two issues of interest to the Blue Wren Subcommittee.

The first was to consider a plan for the invasion of Casuarina trees (“she oaks’) that has occurred adjacent to Johnston’s Creek on the eastern side. This is an area that was planted with a diverse range of flora on completion of the Creek renaturalisation. Several plants have died. In addition, more than 70 Casuarinas have seeded or suckered from two older trees close to the banks. The problem posed by the Casuarinas is that as they grow and sucker theyand kill off other plants; in time, they will create a monoculture that diminishes plant and animal biodiversity. The meeting was held close to the one-year anniversary of when we first approached the managers of the site to remove small trees. Despite many approaches since, there has been no decision or action, although the trees have grown significantly since then. Pleasingly, at the meeting we were able to see the Council’s vegetation plan for the creekside areas, which stipulates removal of Casuarinas less than two metres in height. While this is encouraging, we still need action and a solution for the larger trees, which if not removed will continue to invade the area.

Casuarinas Johnstons Creek Glebe
Invasion of Casuarina trees (‘she oaks’) on the eastern side of Johnston’s Creek. (Photo Nick Sangster)

The second visit was to introduce Charlotte to Glebe’s Hill, which is nearby. This provided an opportunity to bring her up to date on the history of The Hill and the research project that the Glebe Society is managing. We believe this first-hand viewing was a great way for Charlotte to understand the project and its challenges.

It was an excellent meeting, and we look forward to building stronger ties with the City and working collaboratively on improving biodiversity of Glebe and surrounds.