Environment
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee
Posted on 11th June 2022
Professor Dieter Hochuli from Sydney University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences gave the Society’s 7th Annual Biodiversity Talk in May on how nature survives and thrives in urban environments, and why it matters to us humans. Research has shown that non-native plants and weeds are not all bad. Some can provide vital floral resources for urban pollinators and great habitat for small birds. Read also about the recent activities of the local bush/landcare groups.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee
Posted on 11th November 2021
The main news was the celebration on October 19 of Norma Hawkins’ 99th birthday and the planting of a tree in her honour. In other news, the Council has released for comment its Draft Plans of Management for Glebe’s crown lands and Sydney Water’s naturalisation work on the Johnstons creek/canal has been completed.
Glebe’s environmental assets
Posted on 6th November 2021
Eva Ancher, who is in Year 6 at school, lives in Glebe. Read her thoughts on the our local environment.
Position vacant – environment convenor
Posted on 4th October 2021
The Glebe Society is looking for a new convenor for the Environment Subcommittee. Are you interested?
Blue Wren sighting in Glebe!
Posted on 7th September 2021
In May this year two Superb Fairywrens were spotted at Glebe Point, the first confirmed sighting since 2016
Protecting our environment – sewage pumping stations serving Glebe
Posted on 14th September 2021
Four low level sewage pumping stations serve Glebe and surrounding areas, part of a network constructed at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries in response to the outbreaks of typhoid which plagued Sydney from the 1870s to 1890s. Built at a time when small-scale utilitarian buildings were given as much careful attention as public buildings.
2021 Craney Small Grants to support biodiversity projects in local preschools and schools
Posted on 11th July 2021
Small grants awarded to SDN Preschool Glebe, Explore and Develop Preschool, Annandale and Glebe Public School. to foster biodiversity. Thanks to the late Jan Craney, former convenor of the Society’s Blue Wren Subcommittee.
What about wildlife corridors in the Bays West area?
Posted on 15th July 2021
Balmain resident and Society member Keith Stallard argues that establishing eco-corridors in the Bays West area could help with badly-needed ecological regeneration.
Glebe needs a nursery for local native plants
Posted on 17th July 2021
On 1 May, Janet Wahlquist, President, wrote to the Lord Mayor on behalf of the Blue Wrens Subcommittee which has identified a need for a native plant nursery in the LGA. See the Lord Mayor’s response.
Biodiversity lecture, 2021
Posted on 8th July 2021
The Glebe Society’s annual biodiversity lecture this year focussed on the fascinating creatures in Sydney harbour and along the coastline
Glebe Society goes in to bat for the Bay
Posted on 5th June 2021
A report from the Community Consultative Committee for the construction of new Sydney Fish Market. Issues with dust, noise, heavy metal pollution, traffic and the impact on rowers were raised.
Opposition to proposed Glebe Island concrete batching plant
Posted on 4th June 2021
The Glebe Society has objected to a proposal for a Concrete Batching Plant and Handling Facility at White Bay. Among other things, it could have a negative impact on the desirability of restoring the Glebe Island Bridge as a pedestrian and cycleway.
Draft Greening Sydney Strategy
Posted on 22nd May 2021
City of Sydney is currently consulting on their draft Greening Sydney Strategy. It would aim to increase overall green cover to manage urban heat, create more opportunities to connect with nature and create greater biodiversity.
News from Blue Wren Subcommittee
Posted on 7th March 2021
the Glebe Society has made a comprehensive submission to the City of Sydney on our Crown Lands.
Progress on Johnstons Creek naturalisation
Posted on 27th February 2021
Construction started in January 2020 and is expected to finish mid-2021, weather permitting (according to Sydney Water’s website).
‘On the verge’ – it’s not easy being green
Posted on 2nd January 2021
“Some days I wish I had full PPE, as my days seem so long and the onslaught unrelenting. I live on the street, I have no money, few resources. I accept I am low in the pecking order.” Who am I?
The next big thing in recycling is here
Posted on 1st January 2021
City of Sydney is partnering with RecycleSmart to make it easier for us to recycle items that can’t go in the yellow lid recycling bin.
Society’s 8th Annual Spring Bird Survey
Posted on 1st January 2021
This year’s annual bird survey took place on Sunday 1 November. A total of 16 people signed on at 6.45 am in Paddy Gray Reserve in Hereford St and were allocated to ten survey sites across Glebe and Forest Lodge including streets, parks and along waterways.
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee
Posted on 29th December 2020
Updates about recent activities of the Society’s busy Blue Wren subcommittee and volunteers.
Public Spaces Ideas Competition
Posted on 21st October 2020
Glebe Society member, Asa Wahlquist has entered the Idea for a public walk around the foreshores of Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays into the Public Space Ideas competition.
Painted River Project – Updated
Posted on 11th October 2020
The year six students at Forest Lodge have a tradition of leaving a gift for the students who follow them. The plan this year is for a mural featuring Johnstons Creek
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee – October 2020
Posted on 16th October 2020
Get involved with the Spring Bird Survey on Sunday 1 November 2020; and hear what’s been happening in local habitat creation.
Palmerston Avenue Park Upgrade
Posted on 16th October 2020
The City of Sydney began its works to improve the park land in Palmerston Ave in late July. It should be finished by the end of the year. The plan is multifaceted. It will provide a greener space, remove noxious weeds, improve drainage and allow people to move around more easily.
Environment Subcommittee Annual Report 2019-2020
Posted on 16th October 2020
The proposed new Sydney Fish Market building has been the main focus of the Environment Subcommittee for the past year. Activities have included attending stakeholder meetings about the proposed plan and lobbying politicians.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2019-2020
Posted on 17th October 2020
The Subcommittee has 13 members and met in person on four occasions during the year. The volunteers of our bushcare/landcare groups in Glebe continued to work to value, retain and enhance biodiversity in Glebe and Forest Lodge, and its bays and foreshores, for current and future generations. Not surprisingly COVID-19 impacted on our activities in the second half of the year. We did not hold our regular meetings, our autumn party (to which all our bushcare volunteers are invited) and the award of the Craney Biodiversity Grants to our local preschools and schools were cancelled, and the annual biodiversity lecture was postponed. Further, no planting days were organised by our buschcare volunteers from mid-March until July, when they recommenced in Orphan School Creek Park under the COVID-safe rules set-up by the City.
Inquiry into the Problem of Feral and Domestic Cats in Australia
Posted on 31st August 2020
Studies have shown that each roaming pet cat is responsible for killing 186 reptiles, birds and mammals per year. Read the Society’s submission to the Federal Government’s Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy inquiry into the problem of feral and domestic cats in Australia.
Blackwattle Bay and its creeks
Posted on 9th July 2020
Since Blackwattle Bay is currently threatened with overdevelopment this may be the right moment to look back at a little of its history and that of the creeks that drained into it. A little exploration inland from Sydney Cove when Philip and the ‘First Fleet’ arrived would have brought them to a freshwater creek running […]
