Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance Inc.

03/11/2026

November plastic-free living challenge: Shop with less packaging.

This month, look for ways to avoid unnecessary plastic when shopping.

🥕 Choose loose fruit and vegetables

🥕 Bring produce bags

🥕 Buy in bulk when possible

🥕 Choose reusable containers

You don't have to change everything.

Just start with one swap.

Take the challenge!

03/11/2026

🌿🐝 Coen is an ARC DAATSIA Fellow in the School of the Environment at The University of Queensland. His research and teaching spans environmental sciences, animal ecology, Indigenous studies, and science and technology studies.

Coen's work currently spans several connected areas: native stingless bee science; herpetofauna and ecological physiology; Indigenous Data Sovereignty; and ethics and epistemology in environmental research. His current projects are focused on how culturally significant organisms are studied, monitored and cared for.

Coen is a trawlwoolway pakana related to northeast lutruwita (Briggs, Johnson, Hearps family) and is accountable to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Coen grew up as a visitor to many lands in so-called Australia and currently is living on Yuggera land at Tulmur.

We're excited to have Coen sharing his knowledge and insights. Join us at ESA2026-Register Now - https://esa2026.org.au/

03/11/2026

4.2 MILLION TONNES. Australia’s plastic use just hit a record high, and voluntary measures aren’t cutting it.

To turn the tide, we need federal legislation that mandates:

1️⃣ Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), hold big polluters financially accountable for the entire lifecycle of their packaging.
2️⃣ Mandatory Reuse Targets, build real infrastructure for refillable and reusable systems, not just downcycling.

It’s time to stop making plastic pollution the consumer’s problem. We need enforceable law now.

03/11/2026

For Meriton, Little Bay Cove is a commercial development opportunity and big gamble. For those of us who live here, it is our home and our community.

When residents purchased their homes, they did so on the understanding that Little Bay Cove would be developed in accordance with an established Masterplan providing approximately 450 dwellings in low-rise buildings of two to five storeys. Around half of those homes were completed by 2018, leaving approximately 225 dwellings yet to be built.

Instead of completing that Masterplan, Meriton pursued successive proposals for substantially higher-density development with thousands of units in up to 27 storey high towers, creating years of uncertainty for the community.

Since its formation, Save Little Bay has consistently supported sustainable development, not opposed development itself. We recognise Sydney's housing shortage and have repeatedly called for the remaining land to be developed rather than left vacant and landbanked by Meriton. We look forward to welcoming new families into Little Bay, provided development respects the character of the area and the capacity of local infrastructure.

The latest proposal represents a significant departure from Meriton's previous high-rise ambitions. We acknowledge that the proposed buildings are now limited to two to five storeys, consistent with the scale envisaged by the original Masterplan. After years of community opposition to high-rise rezoning, this is a welcome change in direction.

However, 505 additional dwellings would still represent more than double the approximately 225 dwellings originally envisaged for the remaining land. That is a substantial increase in density which must be subject to rigorous planning assessment.

We are also concerned about Meriton's decision to pursue the State Significant Development pathway. If the Minister accepts the HDA's recommendation, the development would be assessed and determined at State level rather than through the usual local or regional planning process, reducing Randwick Council's direct role in determining the future of this important site.

Our concern is that the initial 505-dwelling proposal could become a stepping stone towards further increases in density through subsequent modifications or applications. Given Meriton's long history of pursuing substantially greater development yields at Little Bay Cove, we believe this concern is reasonable. We will be looking for clear assurances that the current proposal is not the beginning of another incremental push for higher density, and that existing planning controls will be respected throughout the development process.

Our focus will also be on ensuring that any development is supported by adequate infrastructure, particularly public transport, road intersections, cycling connections, schools, healthcare and other essential services. Little Bay's transport network is already constrained, and additional housing must be accompanied by realistic plans to address those pressures.

Randwick Council's recently adopted Little Bay Cove Development Control Plan provides clear guidance for the future development of the precinct, reflecting the original Masterplan and the expectations of the local community.

The HDA's recommendation is not a development approval. We will carefully scrutinise the detailed plans when they become available and remain committed to ensuring that development proceeds sustainably, without rezoning or a return to high-rise proposals.

Sydney needs more homes, but it also needs responsible planning, especially in sensitive locations such as Little Bay. The two should go hand in hand.

Matt Thistlethwaite MP Michael Daley MP Randwick City Council

03/11/2026

Hakea dactyloides | Finger Hakea

The delicate cream-white flowers of Hakea dactyloides are arranged in clusters along its branches, creating a beautiful display among the long, narrow leaves.

Commonly known as Finger Hakea, this species is native to eastern Australia and is found in heathland and open forest, particularly in New South Wales.

A member of the Proteaceae family, Hakea dactyloides produces woody seed follicles that protect its seeds until they are released.

Its flowers also provide a valuable food resource for nectar-feeding wildlife.

Photo: Alan Fairley

03/11/2026

Dr. Linda Behrendorff is a Senior Ranger (Natural Resource Management) with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, based on K’gari (Fraser Island) within Great Sandy National Park. With more than 25 years of experience working in one of Australia’s most iconic protected areas, Linda is a passionate advocate for threatened species conservation, landscape management, and collaborative approaches to caring for Country.
Linda leads the K’gari collaborative fire management program and oversees wongari (dingo) risk mitigation, invasive species management, and ecological restoration initiatives across the island. She holds a Bachelor of Protected Area Management and a PhD from The University of Queensland, where her research examined the health, diet, ecology, and conservation management of the K’gari wongari population.
Since 1999, Linda has worked closely with and observed the K’gari wongari, developing a deep understanding of the population’s ecology, behaviour, and the complexities of managing one of Australia’s most recognised and often debated wildlife species. Her research and collaborative publications have helped challenge long-held misconceptions and improve understanding of this unique island population, contributing to evidence-based conservation and management outcomes.
Throughout her career, Linda has built strong partnerships with Traditional Owners, researchers, local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders. She is a regular contributor to community forums, public workshops, media discussions, and scientific publications, sharing insights on conservation challenges ranging from threatened species management to fire ecology and invasive species control.
Linda’s broader interests include fire ecology, landscape-scale conservation, ecological restoration, and the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful environmental outcomes. Join us at ESA2026 in Brisbane 29 Nov-4 Dec.

03/11/2026

03/11/2026

Sydney Water is managing two related but different challenges: reducing overflows from the existing wastewater network, and planning infrastructure to accommodate population growth. 💧

The Liverpool Water Cycle Management Project is part of Sydney Water’s Malabar System Investment Program and proposes upgrades to wastewater treatment infrastructure in south-west Sydney. The project includes upgrades to the Glenfield Water Resource Recovery Facility and Liverpool Water Resource Recovery Facility, construction of a new advanced water treatment plant at Liverpool, and new pipelines to transfer treated water and treatment by-products. 🏗️

A key component of the proposal is the treatment of up to 155 megalitres of wastewater per day before the water is discharged to the Georges River. The treatment process being investigated includes ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection, which are designed to remove particles, bacteria, viruses, dissolved salts and other contaminants. 🔬

Potential discharge locations along the river are still being investigated, including an area near Kentucky Reserve, Georges Hall. The final alignment and infrastructure locations may change as investigations continue. 📍

Before any approvals are granted, the project will be subject to environmental assessment processes that will consider issues such as water quality, ecology, heritage, traffic, noise and construction impacts. The proposal is expected to be publicly exhibited in 2027, providing an opportunity for community review and feedback. 🌿💬

To find out more, see Sydney Water’s project page and latest factsheet, links are in the comments. 🔗

03/11/2026

01/11/2026