A workshop for local government outdoor officers Being Aware about Biodiversity

About the presenter (Facilitator to insert own information) Name Background Qualifications Current employment/business Connection with/ interest in the Parramatta River catchment

What is today about? Understanding yours and council’s legal responsibilities Checking your performance Sharing experiences with peers Tips for what to do - and not do Knowing who else to talk to in council

Who is here today? Please introduce yourself Name Where you are from Your job at council

The main issues: Looking after habitat Managing weeds Using chemicals in the workplace Understanding impacts on water quality -nutrients -erosion -sediment control -stormwater runoff

Workshop organised by the Parramatta River Catchment Group

What is good about Sydney? What do you like doing in your spare time? What do you like most about the natural environment in Sydney? Have you had any interesting experiences with native wildlife or in natural areas?

Biodiversity – what is it? The variety of living things and their interactions. Individuals - populations of single species and their habitat needs Ecosystems - the interactions within and between species Gene pools - the “coding” for the variety within species Example: Wollemi Pine In Sydney there are thousands of plant and animal species. More diverse than all of Great Britain! In Sydney there are thousands of plant and animal species. More diverse than all of Great Britain!

Biodiversity in the Parramatta River catchment 32 Endangered Fauna Species 12 Endangered Ecological Communities Many important fish breeding sites 31 Endangered Plant Species

Remember the small things we sometimes can’t see.. and what lies beneath

Interactions of living things

Why is Biodiversity important? It enhances our quality of life Natural areas provide breeding places for native animals Greater species diversity promotes survival of all life forms Genetic diversity is valuable for science and medicine It is the right thing to do. Plants and animals have a right to exist. It’s the law!

Any good news? If you had to tell a visitor a good news story about the condition of the Parramatta River, what would you say?

Some Good News: Parramatta River Catchment Air quality is improving Water quality is improving Community awareness and involvement is on the increase Laws have more teeth and have been applied strongly in some cases Councils in the Sydney region are world leaders in rehabilitating degraded natural areas Council funding allocations have increased

How we damage natural areas Pollution of land and water Clearing and damaging bushland areas Introducing weeds or feral animals Domestic animals Over use and inappropriate recreation

Poor work practices Sediment and erosion control Tree management Chemical use and disposal Nutrient and stormwater runoff Dumping Poor clean up procedures (sites and equipment) Damage to soils (compaction and disturbance)

Who cares about the environment? Biodiversity is one of the top 5 issues of concern 78% of people surveyed were concerned about environment problems Source: Who Cares About the Environment survey DECCW 2009

Community Expectations of Council

NSW Local Government Act (1993) Council’s responsibilities fall within the requirement for: Ecologically Sustainable Development Takes into account ‘future generations’ Puts environmental protection measures in place Values biodiversity

Your everyday actions Think about something that you know to do/not do in the workplace for environmental reasons. E.g. Do put waste in the bin Do not pour waste oil down a drain Council staff are role models! You are visible to the community and they watch your practices as a benchmark for what is acceptable. Council staff are role models! You are visible to the community and they watch your practices as a benchmark for what is acceptable.

Your council’s actions Name one thing that you or your council does well in relation to environmental management. How does this protect biodiversity? What have been the main reasons for this action taking place?

The bigger picture Rain falls here Or here Flows to here A catchment is an area where all surface runoff collects to a common point

Courtesy of Fisheries Ecosystems section, Industry & Investment NSW

The Parramatta River catchment from above

Looking closer Connecting Bidjigal Reserve, Lake Parramatta Reserve and Upper Toongabbie Creek

Closer again Duck River and Waddangali Woodlands

Look at the aerial photos laid out Find an area you’re familiar with Can you see a site you work at? Your home? Where are some of the sensitive environments in your vicinity? How are they connected to your work activities and the Parramatta River?

Tea break