Rangers rewarding rubbish

removers Eurobodalla Council rangers will launch a pilot program this weekend that for the first me will reward people with shopping vouchers if they are spo ed doing the right thing with li er.

From tomorrow, plain clothes and uniformed council rangers will be on patrol across the Shire looking for anyone li ering – a par cular focus will be on cigare e bu s dropped on the ground that can end up in our region’s waterways. Those caught doing the wrong thing face on-the-spot fines of up to $450.

However, in a first for Eurobodalla rangers, they will also be on the lookout for anyone seen picking up li er that may not be theirs or going out of their way to ensure their rubbish is disposed of properly. The focus is also on smokers disposing of cigare e bu s Coles Supermarket regional manager John Appleby has provided twenty $25shopping vouchers to be given away as part of the pilot program.

with their waste.

“It’s a beau ful part of the world,” Mr Appleby said, “so we should do everything we can to keep it that way and even if this inspires just a few people then that’s a good outcome. We have got a real responsibility to help find solu ons.”

Eurobodalla Council ranger Rory Hogan said the focus was the environment and to change people’s behaviour – not just with fines but also by rewarding good behaviour. “This is the first me we have trialled a reward program and hope that other businesses may also get involved in the future by offering vouchers.

“It’s a new idea and a good way of having a posi ve reinforcement for doing the right thing.”

Sustainability project officer, Mimosa Henderson, said the reward pilot program was part of round two of The Cigare e Bu Bin Project run with the NSW Environment Protec on Authority. As part of this project there are now over 30 cigare e bu bins throughout the Shire.

She said at one site, near the Dalmeny Playground, there had been an increase in people’s use of the bu bins by more than two thirds a er they were installed.

Iconic South Coast Island Nature Reserve dual named in recognition of cultural significance

The NSW Government has officially given Montague Island Nature Reserve a dual Aboriginal name, in honour of the cultural significance of the island to the Yuin people.

Right: Left to right: Bruce Toomey, Jo Issaveris, Shannon Fields, Graham Moore, Kane Weeks, Lynette Goodwin, Jacky Puckeridge, Vivian Mason, Roz Fields, Bunja Smith, Dr Michael Holland, Minister Penny Sharpe, Shannon Fields, Anita Mongta

Attending the naming announcement was Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland who told The Beagle “It has been an honour to have been present at the Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve name change ceremony, which would not have been possible without the long-standing efforts of the traditional owners.”

Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve, off Narooma on the NSW south coast, is valued as a significant ceremonial area and resource gathering place. In addition to its Aboriginal cultural values and state-listed European lighthouse heritage, the nature reserve protects several seabird species including the endangered Gould’s petrel, one of the largest little penguin colonies in NSW, and Australian and New Zealand fur seals. The island is recognised in the international Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected Areas, for its excellence in protected area management. The process of renaming Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve was initiated by the Aboriginal traditional owners to recognise the cultural heritage of the site.

Yuin Elder Uncle Bunja Smith said of the announcement “From Mother mountain Gulaga, came the two sons. Najanuka and Barunguba. We know this because it is in our stories and our songs. “As an Aboriginal Man and a Yuin Elder, I am filled with emotion to be standing here today with the ministers and our local member, to hear the word "Barunguba" sounded out as it should be! “I know this will delight all our Elders and Tribes people past, present and emerging.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe added “I am delighted to be in this stunning location to officially announce the dual name of Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve.

“The cultural significance of Barunguba has been passed down by ancestors to the traditional Yuin custodians of the Far South Coast and I acknowledge the effort of the traditional owners in leading this name change. “The Aboriginal name will sit alongside the non-Aboriginal name and I look forward to seeing Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve become widely and commonly used.”

WIRES News:

On Monday, 26th June, the local WIRES branch released a male Powerful Owl back into its territory a er almost nine months in care.

The owl was originally found in the Surf Beach area by WIRES member Liz while out walking her dog. Her dog alerted her to the weird behaviour of the owl and it was quickly contained and transported to the Raptor Coordinator, Sandy Collins.

Powerful Owls are a vulnerable species.

"In the few years I have been Raptor Coordinator I have only had to rescue and treat two of them,” said Sandy.

The owl was assessed and had feather damage as well as a luxated lens in one eye. A er the owl was stabilised it was transported to the Raptor Recovery Australia (RRA), near Fitzroy Falls, for rehabilita on with WIRES' Head Raptor Veterinarian, Jana Schader.

The owl was cared for and rehabilitated over the months it took for its feathers to moult, as well as, to ensure he could hunt with the lens issue. Luckily Powerful Owls use hearing more than sight for hun ng. ‘Bates’ as he was nicknames by the staff proved to be an efficient hunter.

He was finally given the all clear and returned to within 150m of his rescue site on Monday night. Four members of WIRES a ended the release a er dark. Within 30 seconds of opening the box the owl quietly took off into the night, hopefully to reunite with his partner for the breeding season.