Glebe’s Hill from Johnstons Canal, 2023 (Image: Andrew Wood)

By Andrew Wood, Convenor, Blue Wren Subcommittee, Bulletin 1/2026 (March)

Glebe’s Hill

The Society has continued to request that the City of Sydney designate Glebe’s Hill (next to Jubilee park light rail station) as a wildlife refuge. Last year we asked that the Johnstons Creek Parklands Master plan 2013 be revised and updated (see our letter). The 2013 Master Plan recommended that public access to the contaminated Hill could be provided by constructing elevated walkways and a viewing platform as well as pocket playgrounds. These recommendations, however, don’t seem to have taken into account the published contamination reports of 2010.

Also, the City decided to update its 2014 Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan. In January, the Society again asked that Glebe’s Hill become a wildlife refuge and a copy of our submission was sent to all Councillors. Cr Weldon’s office replied that our submission was ‘compelling … particularly the case for designating the Hill as a priority site or wildlife refuge’ and that they would follow it up for a response from the City.

Palmerston steps plantings, August 2025 (Photo: Anna Szanto)

Updates from the bushcare volunteers

Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group

Members will recall that last year a vandal pulled out or broke off at ground level all the native flora that the volunteers had planted in the park over the past two years. Judy Christie reports that this has greatly distressed members of the group and has called into question whether our work should continue in this area.  

Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group

Anna Szanto reported that five volunteers participated in our working bee on 1 February and that most of the seedlings we planted recently are thriving. Time was spent watering, weeding and picking up litter.

The City has given us a new 50m hose and hose reel, which is making watering much easier on our steeply sloping site. In this hot weather we’re watering the reserve twice a week, or as needed. To thicken the understorey and increase the diversity of plants, more seedlings will be planted in early May. Also, the City will shortly be installing a cage for onsite storage of the new hose and reel.

There have been daily sightings of brush turkeys on our site.