From dilapidated farm land to bird paradise along river systems

"Australians are all too familiar with the devastating environmental changes caused by extreme events such as floods, bushfires and cyclones. Yet gradual but consequential environmental changes brought about by urban expansion, the spread of invasive weeds and animals, and climate change often pass unnoticed."

"The park was established in 1984 on what was largely cleared farmland, bordered by a narrow strip of river red gums along the Yarra River. Since then, it has been transformed by extensive planting of trees and shrubs into a mix of woodland and open grassed areas for recreational use. Two ephemeral wetlands provide habitats for waterbirds."

"Urban environments, green spaces and parks, especially those connected along river systems, play a key role in conservation. They offer a variety of food, they facilitate bird movements through cities and towns, and they allow populations to spread into urban residential areas that otherwise have depleted bird communities." >>
https://theconversation.com/800-visits-to-a-suburban-park-inside-an-epic-40-year-birdwatching-quest-283593
#biodiversity #birds #habitat #UrbanExpansion #sprawl #CitizenScience #conservation #rivers #DilapidatedFarmLand #FarmingAU #LandMangement

Lingering loopholes in the new national environment laws

"The federal government says it fixed Australia's 'broken' environmental laws. Koala advocates disagree."

"Environmentalists believe the EPBC Act has (Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) allowed habitat to be gradually lost, with multiple projects approved within the same area. Habitat loss on the Redlands coast has contributed to an 80 per cent drop in koala numbers over the last 25 years." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-16/brisbane-koala-advocates-question-national-environment-laws/106748658
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #LandClearing #laws #regulation #sprawl #koalas #extinction

Koalas are once again experiencing population declines across Australia.

"Koala numbers crashed across Australia 100,000 years ago. Global glacial cycles are likely to blame." The koala "is now listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. "

"...Recent declines have generated a similar bottleneck over a much shorter time window, due to the historical and continued removal of suitable koala habitat. This is made worse by other threats such as hunting, disease, vehicle strikes, feral dog attacks and bushfires." >>
https://theconversation.com/koala-numbers-crashed-across-australia-100-000-years-ago-global-glacial-cycles-are-likely-to-blame-284558
#biodiversity #wildlife #koalas #habitat #NSW #NSWLogging #sprawl #cars #dogs #pets #RoadKill #FossilFuels #climate

Welcome to Australia,
where you can have a wealthy private school or
koala habitat but not both,
First Dog on the Moon >>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/jun/03/welcome-to-australia-where-you-can-have-a-wealthy-private-school-or-koala-habitat-but-not-both

Image: First Dog on the Moon, Guardian
#biodiversity #wildlife #koalas #values #trees #sprawl #bulldozing #Australia

Koalas at risk of death once seven-day temperatures rise beyond 27C
Nutritional and climate refugia for koalas

"Extreme heat is a major factor in the number of deaths and hospitalisations of Australians every year....An analysis of 11,862 koala rescue admissions to NSW animal hospitals found the marsupials were more likely to die when the seven-day average maximum temperature was greater than 27 degrees Celsius."

"Dr Mella said water stations could be left out as well as shade structures built for koalas in hot regions like north-west NSW. We do that for cattle and we do that for animals that we use for our needs, so we really should be doing it for wildlife as well."

When koalas rests low to the ground in the shade trying to beat the heat they are usually chased and injured by dogs and car. >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-05-27/koala-deaths-linked-to-a-few-extra-degrees-of-heat/106722276
#Koalas #refugia #FossilFuels #heatwaves #drought #climate #cars #sprawl #dogs #NSW #MassMortalities #widllife #extinctions #DomesticAnimals #HeatRelatedRisks #biodiversity

Crashes at Lavenders Bridge, North Bellingen

* Just a short time ago two women were killed and another seriously injured after a motorist 'lost control' near the notorious Lavender Bridge and smashed into two cars parked at the riverside swimming spot. >>
https://coffscoast.newsofthearea.com.au/a-woman-has-tragically-died-in-a-crash-at-bellingen-on-thursday-afternoon

* Today there was another serious incident involving two e-bikes. An ambulance was seen at the crash zone. An injured person was seen lying on the ground. (The ambulance is visible on the Kombu Flood Camera at 2026-05-24 11.26 ) >>
https://kombuwholefoods.com.au/floodcam/

* The long road to a bike-friendly Australia >>
https://mastodon.au/@Bellingen/116626357349183983

* In the design of the new 'Lavenders Bridge Replacement' bikes and foot traffic do not seem to be a feature. A lot of bitumen was smeared over the river banks to facilitate the convenience for cars (parking).

Image: North Bellingen, Lavender Bridge Black Spot by design

#MobilityDesign #LavendersBridge #cars #motorists #infrastructure #climate #ActiveTransport #footpaths #SharedStreet #cyclists #ProtectedBikeLanes #dehumanisation #sprawl #suburbia #traffic #aggression #RoadRage #RoadTrauma #CarDependency #FossilFuels #BellingenShire #accidents #crash #pedestrians

The long road to a bike-friendly Australia
and the dehumanisation of cyclists

* "At the rate Australian cities are building cycling networks, a cohesive system is probably decades away. What’s taking so long?

"NSW wants to double active transport trips in 20 years...But at the rate Australian cities are building cycling networks, a cohesive system is probably another 50 years away, experts speaking to The Fifth Estate warned. Progress is slow. (One bike bridge was recently installed in Melbourne after 37 years of lobbying and discussion.)"

"A 2024 report by The Australia Institute points out that less than 1 per cent of federal road funding goes to active transport infrastructure."

"Richter was one of 49 bike riders who died on Australian roads last year, up on the average of around 38 deaths per year between 2012-23. (Thousands more were hospitalised with serious injuries during that period.)." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-24/active-transport-cycling-bikes-cities-safety/106710436

* Dehumanization of cyclists predicts self-reported aggressive behaviour toward them: A pilot study >>
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847818308593?dgcid=author

#MobilityDesign #cars #motorists #infrastructure #climate #ActiveTransport #footpaths #SharedStreet #cyclists #ProtectedBikeLanes #dehumanisation #sprawl #suburbia #traffic #aggression #RoadRage #RoadTrauma #CarDependency #FossilFuels #Australia

IMAGE: Children on scooters on a 'normal' Bellingen bitumen streetscape lacking a footpath or a cycle path. Nothing is protecting the flesh and blood from metal and steel.