Platypus decline: First south-east Queensland, then northern Queensland

"In communities in south-east Queensland, we're certainly starting to hear that narrative that they're not seeing them...Dr Brunt said a comparison of historical records of platypus sightings with a recent survey of their populations in south-east Queensland had shown a marked decrease in numbers."

"It is not something she wants to see repeated in north Queensland, and Dr Brunt is part of a push to have platypuses recognised as "vulnerable" under the national Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act." >>

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-15/platypus-marian-vulnerable-conservation-register/106562272
#Platypus #Biodiversity #EPBCAct #sprawl #suburbia #HabitatDestruction #extinction

A chilly Canberra sunday morning: grandson is still asleep, grand-dog is on my bed, and I have a cup of tea and a mastodon home feed to read before I contemplate getting up. I love Sundays!

#Suburbia #Sunday #Canberra

Suburban sprawl and public transport deserts

"From the 1950s, sprawling low-density suburbs have been built on the assumption that households would own cars and that public transport was unnecessary."

“It’s really too late to do much in the short term, because we’ve spent 70 years planning in the other direction...The hole has been dug.”

“If we’re interested in equity and justice in our cities, then we need to be providing people, no matter where they live, with a good quality level of public transport access that allows them to get jobs, services and education that are available to people in inner-city areas." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/10/fuel-crisis-australia-public-transport-not-an-option
#FossilFuel #petrol #CarDependency #Suburbia #sprawl #biodiversity #extinction #PublicTransportDeserts #MobilityDesign #inequality #war #ClimateDisruption #CarMinds #malls #parking #obesity #walking #infrastructure #SmallShops #TyrannyOfDistance

The next few days are definitely going to be hectic - 2 house guests - one the grand-dog (blue heeler) and the other the almost 3 year old grandson. Neither has seen each other in several months. Both are somewhat used to being the centre of attention. Both like to snuggle with me on my bed. So it could be interesting. 😁

#Suburbia #Family

Hype for the Future 145L: Broomfield, Colorado

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/03/25/hype-for-the-future-145l-broomfield-colorado/