Sustaining Liverpool Autumn 2023

SUSTAINING

LIVERPOOL

Male Galahs have brown eyes while the females have red, they nest in tree hollows ideally close to water.

In this issue

Bats in Backyards Program

Early Childcare Program

Asbestos Collection

Summary of River Health

Galah Eolophus roseicapilla

We have a wonderful environment here in Liverpool and we want to keep it that way. One of the best ways to do that is by teaching our children about the importance and benefits of looking after our land and amazing animals.

That’s why our environment team has been working with Council’s childcare centres to educate our children about eastern long neck turtles, butterflies, native bees, leaf insects and other aspects of the environment.

It’s not just children we are working with.

We're also linked with Western Sydney University and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, on the “Bats in Backyards” project as part of the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program. We’re looking for citizen scientists to scan the skies for insect-eating bats with specially provided bat detectors to learn how bats use different landscapes across the state. Volunteers are needed in western Sydney as well as Narrabri, Grafton, and Wellington.

Council’s bi-annual residential asbestos collection program will run again from 22 to 26 May 2023. This allows residents to dispose of up to a maximum of 10 square metres of bonded asbestos materials (also known as ‘fibro’) free of charge.

Council has now brought back mini recycling stations into our local libraries. Now you can you can drop off X-rays, smoke detectors and small household e-waste items (no batteries please) such as entertainment remotes, handheld radios, mp3 players and game console controllers. Community Recycling Centres are made possible by funding from the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Our drive-through facility can also take a whole range of bulky and problem wastes for recycling such as paint, e-waste, and clean polystyrene foam from packaging.

What would you like to see more of in Sustaining Liverpool?

We welcome your ideas - email us erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au!

PROGRAM BACKYARDSBats in

It’s no trick – if you volunteer to be part of the latest Saving our Species project, you’re in for a treat as the Department of Planning and Environment is seeking citizen scientists to scan the skies for insect-eating bats in four key locations.

The ‘Bats in Backyards’ project is being delivered by the NSW Government Saving our Species program in partnership with Western Sydney University and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, with Liverpool City Council participating.

Volunteers are needed in Western Sydney, Narrabri, Wellington, and Pillar Valley near Grafton in the first phase of the project, aimed at learning about how bats use different landscapes across NSW.

Saving our Species Senior Threatened Species Officer, Dr Joanna Haddock, advised that the Bats in Backyards pilot project is open to expressions of interest, with volunteers needed from November 2022 to April 2023.

“Small, insect-eating bats are found everywhere in Australia and private land provides crucial habitat,” Dr Haddock said. “This can include connected remnants of native bushland, hollow-bearing trees, unpolluted waterways, paddock trees and green spaces in cities.

“Bats historically have been portrayed as villains, but they are in fact our friends, as voracious predators of insect pests – eating mosquitos, biting midges and crop pests by the billions.

“Bats in Backyards enables anyone to contribute to conservation by recording bat calls.

“Participating citizen scientists will record bat calls for up to five days using a supplied bat detector.

“The bat detector picks up the high frequency echolocation calls from bats flying high overhead; bats we don’t see or hear. “The recordings will be analysed by scientists and each property owner will receive a personalised report detailing each bat species detected and their preferred habitat and food. “This will give us important information about where the bats fly, forage and roost.

“I’d urge anyone in our target areas to consider being a batman, woman or person, you don’t get to save Gotham City, but you could help save a species,” Dr Haddock said.

To find out more and register your interest in the Bats in Backyards project visit www.savingourspecies.online/bats

No Robins needed, but are you our Batman?

EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAM COMMUNITY RECYCLING

One of the best ways to improve our environment is to teach young children about its importance.

The environment team has been working with the Council’s childcare centres to run environmentally friendly, fun activities for the children. So far six lessons have been completed, with themes based on a particular interest of the children. Is the river muddy, eastern long neck turtles, butterflies, native bees and leaf insects have all been a hit. The program usually involves exploring nature, a lesson & bush craft. Private child care centres can express an interest in being involved in this program by emailing erp@liverpool.nsw.gov.au

ASBESTOS COLLECTION

MONDAY 22 MAY – FRIDAY 26 MAY

Council’s bi-annual residential asbestos collection program will run again from 22 to 26 May 2023.

Residents can dispose of a maximum 10 square metres of bonded asbestos materials (also known as ‘fibro’) at no cost. Please note that eligibility criteria apply, so check that your property is included and that the materials you have are eligible to be collected under this program.

Please call Council’s Customer Service team on 1300 36 2170 to register your interest, providing your name, contact and phone details, and e-mail address (if available), and the address of the property where the materials are located.

www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/services/wasteand-recycling/free-asbestos-removal-2023

Alongside your yellow lid co-mingled recycling bins, we also offer other options for those difficult to recycle items. Our community recycling centre at the Rose St Depot is a drive through facility which is able to take a whole range of bulky and problem wastes for recycling such as paint, e-waste, clean polystyrene foam from packaging, household and vehicle batteries, household and vehicle oils, X-rays and smoke detectors. Additionally, we are always looking to expand the items we accept. Drive in and see our friendly team!

We have also brought back mini recycling stations into our local libraries. At these stations you can drop off X-rays, smoke detectors and small household e-waste items (no batteries) such as entertainment remotes, handheld radios, mp3 players and game console controllers.

BULK HOUSEHOLD WASTE DIVERSION STICKERS

Council’s waste department recently introduced new stickers which will be appearing on non-compliant materials found in household clean-ups which are recyclable through the community recycling centre. We are doing this to further educate our community and increase the patronage of the facility and to increase the diversion of waste from landfill. In particular, materials which can be problem wastes include e-waste, paint, bulky cardboard and styrofoam from packaging. At the community recycling station, we can easily and quickly take these items off your hands and process for recycling.

Community Recycling Centres are funded by NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Lacking outdoor space or want to have nature inside?

Create a Plant Terrarium

1. Soak mulch, small bark and sticks overnight and let them drain well for a few hours.

2. Next add about 10cm of soil to create the conditions of the forest.

3. The soil will absorb any excess moisture, but make sure it is not soggy as this will grow mould and bacteria and might start to smell due to the lack of oxygen.

4. Add about 15-20cm or more of soaked and drained mulch and bark chip.

5. Add soaked branches, small logs, and rocks.

You can create a mini microclimate for plants to grow in a terrarium. Use a dedicated terrarium, upcycle an old fish tank, or glass container.

6. Add small ferns and other small indoor moisture loving plants of your choice. Your local plant nursery can help with plant selection if you are unsure.

7. Use a spray bottle to dampen all the added materials in the terrarium to mimic rain and close the lid. As a rough guide, a typical closed terrarium will need to be topped up with water every couple of months. More so if you regularly ventilate your terrarium.

8. All done. Sit back and enjoy your plant terrarium. It makes a great present for family and friends, especially if you upcycle.

Record fines for non-compliant development signals need for builders to get the site right

As construction costs remain at record levels, builders and developers are urged to check and maintain erosion and sediment controls on building and construction sites to avoid incurring costly fines.

The call for greater compliance comes following the recent Get the Site Right inspection Blitz Week in which $596,064 in fines were issued – the highest amount since the campaign began in 2016.

Nineteen councils across Sydney and parts of regional NSW inspected 654 sites, of which 361 sites (55%) were found to be compliant – a one per cent increase on the May 2022 campaign.

Offences ranged from sediment tracking off the site, to no stabilised access point and building supplies stored on the nature strip.

By law, builders and developers are required to have a comprehensive erosion and sediment control plan for their site. Activities that cause a pollution incident can incur fines from $8,000-$15,000 for each incident.

of the public are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to their local council or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.

Source: georgesriver.org.au/news/record-fines-non-compliant-developments-signals-need-builders-get-their-site-right

Members

RIVER HEALTHSummary of

The amount of rainfall in 2021/2022 across the Georges River catchment was extreme. This unusual period of flooding and higher than average rainfall, throughout the Georges River catchment has had a profound effect on the Georges River and its tributaries. Flooding generally has a deleterious effect on waterways causing increased contaminants, erosion and sediments flowing into the freshwater and estuarine environments.

The flooding and frequent rainfall events across the Georges River catchment have impacted the river health grades and may have skewed the results. Overall, the Freshwater Grades were positively impacted, meaning the water quality is ‘Fair ‘surprisingly. The more pristine bushland sub catchments at the headwaters were negatively impacted with some of their grades reduced from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Good.’

Conversely, some of the urban sub catchments, such as Prospect Creek, improved their grade from ‘Poor’ to ‘Fair’. Overall, the Estuary Grade was ‘Fair’, dropping a grade since 2019/2020. This was probably caused by an increase in pollutants and nutrients being flushed from the urbanised area and entering the estuarine environments due to flooding and frequent rainfall events.

Source: georgesriver.org.au/learn-about-the-river/summary-river-health-grades-2021-2022-and-each-council-area

Marion Huxley testing water quality at Cabramatta Creek

• 5 March Clean-up Australia Day 2023

• 18 March Global Recycling Day 2023

• 21 March International Day of Forests

• 22 March World Water Day

• 26 March Earth Hour

• 27 April Stop Food Waste Day 2023

• Sunday 7 May – Saturday 13 May International Compost Awareness Week Australia