An old polluted drain flows between the Sydney suburbs of Annandale and Lilyfield. The native bush was chopped down over a hundred years ago, swamps filled in and Whites Creek was turned into a concrete stormwater drain, forming a hostile environment for frogs and fish.

Then, Friends of the Earth had a vision to reduce pollution in Sydney Harbour by mimicking nature and using natural means.

AABR NSW is an incorporated association having members who are ecological restoration professionals, volunteers and people generally interested in restoration of natural areas.

Keeping in touch with NRM news in the remote north of Australia is easier than you think with three great e-news options: The Basin Bullet serving the Desert Channels in QLD, Gulf Links serving the Southern Gulf of QLD and The Fitzroy Basin Association e-news.

Southern Rivers CMA have launched an Indigenous Natural Resource Newsletter. The Koori Catch Up provides information about the SRCMA that might be of interest to the Aboriginal community. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the CMA, introduces the Koori Team that work for the CMA, and gives updates of regional events and funding opportunities. Future issues may contain stories from the SRCMA region, as well as other facts and fun.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2008 was Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People. Two events were planned in the Hawkesbury Nepean CMA, where the CMA in conjunction with WetlandCare Australia are developing management plans for important wetlands: Lake Bathurst and Paddy’s River.

Local people took the opportunity to look at land management works being undertaken by local authorities and find out about funding opportunities for wetland rehabilitation and management in their area.

The Community Environment Network (CEN) was formed in 1997 as an over arching body to support individuals and groups in Lake Macquarie, Wyong and Gosford who are working for the environment.

WetlandCare Australia has begun two community based projects for the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority. The project aims to improve the management of two priority wetland areas; Paddy’s River Wetlands and Lake Bathurst and the Morass.

The objectives of the two projects are to prepare a Plan of Management, recommending practical on-ground works solutions to improve and maintain the health of both of these wetland areas. The Plan of Management will be developed from recommendations from local landholders, the community and other key stakeholders.

The Conservation Partners Program is run through the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change. It supports landholders in voluntarily protecting and managing native vegetation, wildlife habitat, geological features, historic heritage and Aboriginal cultural heritage on their properties.

A Small Farms and Rural Living Field day will be held at Berry Showground 23 September 2007, 10:00am – 3:00pm.