Save Manly Dam Bushland

19/08/2026

FAREWELL TO GREAT GUY.

It is with much sadness that we report that our friend Wol Bron passed away suddenly on Monday night. Wol was a proud member of the Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee and became involved in several campaigns to conserve local bushland from development. He also helped initiate the Mermaid Pools Restoration Project in Manly Vale. He loved our wonderful local environment and stepped up so many times to help protect it. He will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences to his wife Jo and family.

18/08/2026

MIGHTY MANLY CREEK ?

The Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee recently organised a community walk along Manly Creek to Manly Lagoon (picking up discarded rubbish along the way). We found areas of neglect, areas of inspiration and hidden wonders along the way. Leaving Mermaid Pools (where volunteers continue to transform a former dump site) we crossed David Thomas and Millers reserve to Warringah Golf Club -meeting GM Mark who guided us along that section of the creek and advised of plans to revegetate the waterway with local native plants and restore a piped section to nature . Onto Nolan Reserve where Emma and Mike talked of nesting box installation and the amazing bush regeneration carried out by volunteers (orchestrated by Tom). Then Emma, a student from UNSW Water Lab updated us on her floating mangrove platforms which formed part of the Halo project. Lastly as the waterway broadened Mel and Michella from Manly Lagoon friends talked of their groups great initiatives to improve the areas environmental health. In 1788 Arthur Phillip and his team explored Manly creek as part of one of the earliest ever European expeditions in Australia. Indigenous heritage goes back millennia. It is also an important conduit for native fish that need to breed upstream . But in some areas the invasive weeds, siltation and discarded rubbish is beyond shocking. The report card says “promising” - but as a broader community we should be looking after our precious waterways much better than this

Clean Up Australia UNSW Water Research Laboratory

https://manlydambiodiversityproject.org
https://www.manlylagoonfriends.org
https://project-halo.org

14/08/2026

WHEN COSTA CAME TO MERMAIDS.

(Flashback to 2014).

Checkout out short video below featuring Climbing Galaxias discoverer Andrew Lo.

Costa finds out about a group of local residents who came together to clean up and revegetate a historic local waterway behind Manly Beach in Sydney

10/08/2026

THE CLIMBING GALAXIAS SURVIVES.

But for how long?

The latest report commissioned by NSW Environment Protection Authority suggests that following the massive sediment pollution events from the new Forest High School build at Allambie Heights in 2024 this prehistoric fish is still present in the sensitive Manly Dam catchment . But inside the report the story is much gloomier. Numbers have plummeted and viability is low. That’s why we need Northern Beaches Council to urgently adopt the raft of management recommendations to ensure that the vulnerable creeks and bushland are not subject to ongoing degradation. This video traces the amazing story of a very precious creature.

Also check out the great Manly Observer article which exposed the terrible flow of mud which put this fish in peril
https://manlyobserver.com.au/finding-galaxias-a-search-for-northern-beaches-rare-prehistoric-fish/

Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst Nature NSW Peter Hannam NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust Guardian Australia Native Fish Australia Sue Heins, Mayor Northern Beaches Council Kristyn Glanville https://manlydambiodiversityproject.org

08/08/2026

Thanks Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst for your supportive advocacy on this issue.

Yes it is good news that the Climbing Galaxias have not been totally eliminated from the Manly Catchment as a result of shocking pollution events emanating from the new Forest High school construction site.

But the NSW Environment Protection Authority commissioned report highlights that the fish is now in serious decline and that the population may now be unviable.

A previous report also conducted by Ecologist Sonya Ku recommended a number of management actions designed to protect the fish which can be viewed on our website

https://manlydambiodiversityproject.org/

We are hoping that now (with the help of local politicians and Northern Beaches Council they will be enacted.


Nature NSW Manly Observer The Sydney Morning Herald Guardian Australia Peter Hannam

04/08/2026

YOUR INVITATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM.

Dear all, our friends at the Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment have some concerning news.

Apparently the NSW State Government intends to rezone most of the Narrabeen lagoon catchment (55 square km) to C3 - which will allow the construction of dwellings -with Council consent.

This has worrying ramifications. They invite you to their forum and AGM where this and other issues will be discussed

Thursday 20th August, 2026 - 6:30 pm

At the Coastal Environment Centre, Pelican Path, Lake Park Rd,
Nth Narrabeen

Forum Guest Speakers
Ron Patton – Outgoing President, FoNLC
Topic: Changes to the Local Environment Plan (LEP) for the Northern Beaches local government area and their impact the bushland of the Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment
Angus Gordon - Former General Manager, Pittwater council and Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board to the University of NSW’s Water Research Centre.
Topic: Siltation of Middle Creek due to disturbance in the upper catchment.
Supper will be served following the forum.

Annual General Meeting will follow supper. All are welcome to attend.

For catering and capacity purposes, please RSVP here if attending. https://rb.gy/qtorte

More info. www.narrabeenlagoon.au

27/07/2026

Survey to assist in Manly Dam conservation efforts.

Hi everyone.

You may have seen recently how students from Sydney University are involved in returning native wildlife (such as bush rats or bogles) in our area that have been lost from local reserves (Sydney Morning Herald 25.7.26). As part of this program they are asking residents what they think about "rewilding" with a special focus on Manly Warringah War Memorial Park. I am including the link to the survey below. It would be great if they got lots of positive responses to encourage this work. There may be future opportunities for those interested to get more directly involved.

https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=N4TA89DCHKPHPTNL

04/07/2026

Please sign this petition to combat the proliferation of plastic.

03/07/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE AS THE DEADLY H5 BIRD FLU SPREADS.

One of our great supporters, Sydney Darts, has sent us the following information:-

This bird flu virus could be an absolute disaster for our birds and animals. With the virus now circulating locally, the most impactful thing everyday people can do is to act as an early warning system for our native wildlife while actively preventing further spread.Here is exactly how you can make a difference on the ground:

1. Be the Eyes on the Ground (Avoid, Record, Report) If you spot sick or dead birds, or marine mammals while out on the beaches or coastal trails, you are the frontline of detection. The strict protocol is: Avoid: Keep your distance. Do not touch the animal, its feathers, or the area around it. Keep dogs strictly on a leash and ensure they don't sniff the carcass. Record: From a safe distance, take a photo or video. Note the exact date, time, and location—dropping a GPS pin on your phone is the most helpful thing you can do. Note the type of animal and how many are affected. Report: Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. This is a 24/7 line that will route your sighting to the correct local authorities so they can assess if a biosecurity team needs to test or safely remove the animals.

2. Contribute to Citizen Science. Researchers are relying heavily on public data to track the ecological impact. Once you have called the hotline, you can log your sighting in BirdLife Australia’s Birdata app. They recently launched a "Bird Impact Tracker" specifically to monitor disease hotspots and population trends, which directly guides local conservation decisions.

3. Practice Local Biosecurity. The virus survives well in damp environments and bird droppings. When you are visiting wetlands, nature reserves, or even local parks: Clean your gearing scrub the mud and organic matter off your shoes and hiking boots before and after your walk. This prevents you from accidentally tracking the virus from an infected site to a clean one. Stop backyard feeding: If you usually leave food or water out for wild birds, stop for now. Birdbaths and feeding stations encourage unnatural crowding and cross-species mingling, turning a backyard into a superspreader site.

Nature NSW Northern Beaches Council

https://birdlife.org.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor0s4FyrYAqvSltUCm3z_N2viQCSyMt8IUt0EtFsm4kQmlGx1E4