Dates for Doing November-December 2025

 Visit the calendar for updates

https://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

Friday 21 November from 3pm - Coal Point Public School Reunion

Coal Point Public School, Coal point Rd

Saturday 22 November, 9am–12pm, Aussie-Made, Aussie-Owned Showcase

Toronto Community Hub, 97 The Boulevarde.

Friday 28 November at 10 am, 16 Days of Activism Launch

at Toronto Library. Beforehand, the community is invited to gather at Toronto Town Square from 9.15 am for a walk against domestic violence, leaving at 9.30 am

Monday 8 Dec CPPA Monthly Meeting 

3-4:30 pm Progress Hall, 197 Skye Pt Rd, Coal Point

Wednesday 10 Dec TASNG Meeting

5-6:30 The Hub,
97 The Boulevarde, Toronto

Thurs 18 Dec,11-12:30 CPPA Lunch , Progress Hall

Volunteers, Sponsors & members lunch , RSVP

Locals Landcaring -
Every Thursday
8am-12(or part thereof)

Tools & training provided
Morning tea at 10am

• 20/11 Stansfield
• 27/11 Punti wetlands
• 4/12 Stansfield with Bush regen team
• 11/12 Punti creek reserve
• 18/12 Stansfield & Volunteers lunch
• Summer break
• 15/1/26 Hampton St Link,Puntei Pk end

Crocodile Point (TASNG)
1st &3rd Wed
8:30-10am. Meet under the Fennel Bay bridge

Want to join Us?
Receive weekly emails about landcaring and what we will be doing, send a request to Ros cppalandcare@gmail.com

Celebrate Local at the Aussie-Made, Aussie-Owned Showcase

Buying local has never been more important, and our community is leading the way. The Toronto Community Hub is hosting an Australian Made, Australian Owned Showcase, celebrating what’s crafted, created and produced right here, by Australian hands and Australian businesses.

Saturday 22 November, 9am–12pm,

Toronto Community Hub, 97 The Boulevarde.

The showcase is all about helping locals make informed choices that support home-grown talent and keep money circulating in our community. It’s a chance to discover quality goods made with care, from local artists, artisans and crafters.

There’ll be stalls selling handmade textiles, pottery, metal art, essential oils, beauty products, wooden furniture for little ones, and baked treats. Many stallholders will also be sharing details about their workshops and classes, perfect if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at something new.

A special display of everyday pantry staples will highlight Australian owned and made brands available in our local shops, so you can see how easy it is to buy local every day.

There’s also a monster raffle, a hamper brimming with Australian-made and owned goodies, from homewares and pantry treats to unique local pieces. The raffle will be drawn in the week before Christmas.

So come along for a cuppa and morning tea, browse the exhibits, and get your Christmas shopping sorted locally. You’ll be supporting Australian makers, backing local business, and celebrating the creativity that makes our community shine.

No tickets required, just drop in!

Coal Point Public School Platinum Anniversary

Coal Point Public School will celebrate 

its Platinum Anniversary on 

Friday 21 November from 3pm.

All students, past and present, along with their families and community members, are invited to join an afternoon of reminiscence and fun.

There’ll be food vans, games, and commemorative bricks and school memorabilia on display.

Reconnect with old schoolmates by joining the Coal Point Public School Alumni at facebook.com/groups/coalpointalumni.

We’re also collecting historical photos or memorabilia for a digital slideshow. Please email secretary@coalpoint-pandc.org.au if you can contribute.

There are orders being taken for memorabilia, umbrellas and can coolers, order here.

The CPPS are also building a commemorative brick wall that community members may purchase a brick. Order your brick here

End-of-Year CPPA Volunteers, Members and Sponsors Lunch - Dec 18

Before the year winds down, we’re gathering to say thank you, to our Landcarers, Chronicle deliverers, members and sponsors who’ve all helped make our community a little more connected.

Join us for a friendly End-of-Year Lunch at Progress Hall, Thursday 18 December, 11am–12:30pm.

This year, the invitation is extended to all members and sponsors, a wonderful chance to catch up, see the new kitchen in action, share stories and enjoy local camaraderie.

It will be catered, with a $10 contribution towards the catering. 

Join in the $5 secret santa which always provides a laugh and plenty of festive spirit.

If you’ve been meaning to join the CPPA, drop by and fill out a form while you’re there, new faces are always welcome.

Please book your spot for the lunch by Monday 15 December to help with catering numbers. 

As we wrap up the year, we offer heartfelt thanks to every volunteer, neighbour and friend who’s helped nurture our bushland, brighten our hall and strengthen our community spirit. We couldn’t do it without you.

Toronto Sunrise Rotary - Supporting Safe and Healthy Communities - Local and National Action

16 Days of Activism

From 25 November to 10 December, communities around the world mark the United Nations 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign calls for a world where every woman and child is SAFE, ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE.

In 2022-23, one Australian woman was killed every 11 days by a current or former partner. About 4.2 million adults, one in four women and one in eight men, have experienced partner violence since age 15.

Rotary Clubs across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific are responding with the campaign message:

We Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence,

We Say YES to Respectful Relationships.

The Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise are inviting locals to take part in the 2025 16 Days of Activism events. From Monday 24 November, knitted artworks will appear in the Toronto Foreshore Park, wrapping trees in purple themes, the colour of respect and remembrance, and sharing information on how to get help. A special survivor-made piece will also be displayed in the Toronto Library.

There are many services that provide help for victims, survivors and those who want to change their behaviour. Information and support are available through Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, CALM, and Lake Macquarie City Council’s community-led projects.

A launch event will be held on Friday 28 November at 10 am at Toronto Library. Beforehand, the community is invited to gather at Toronto Town Square from 9.15 am for a walk against domestic violence, leaving at 9.30 am. Please wear purple to show your support for safe and respectful relationships.

In October, the Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise raised $24 000 for Jenny’s Place, a domestic-violence support service expanding into the Westlakes area. The lively “Pig Day Out” at the Toronto Hotel featured piglet races, auctions and community fun, all contributing to this impressive result. CEO Dawn Walker thanked Rotary, sponsors, 100 Club contributors and community supporters for helping women and children rebuild their lives.

Rotary’s care extends beyond Lake Macquarie with the club doing their bit to help eliminate trachoma, a preventable eye disease still affecting remote Indigenous communities in Australia, the only developed nation where it persists. The club supports Rotary’s national End Trachoma campaign, delivering Hygiene Kits to a remote community childcare centre 350 kilometres west of Alice Springs. These kits, of hand-sown bags, and locally stocked items, support the Families as First Trainers program, which teaches hygiene and disease prevention in early childhood.

By embedding hygiene knowledge early and improving living conditions, Rotary aims to eliminate trachoma and promote lasting health equity across remote communities.

Rotary’s message is simple, through awareness, action and respect we can all help create communities that are safe, healthy and caring for everyone.

Have Your Say on Housing in Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie City Council is asking residents to share their thoughts on how and where future homes should be built, and your voice matters.

Two important consultations are now open. The short Housing Strategy survey (closing 30 November 2025) invites ideas on how to provide more housing choices that suit our growing and changing community.

You can take part at shape.lakemac.com.au/housingstrategy.

The Housing Diversity Development Control Plan (DCP) review (submissions close 24 November 2025) focuses on the design standards that guide new housing types, such as dual occupancies and medium-density homes. 

Details are at   shape.lakemac.com.au/housingdiversitydcp.


Council decisions on housing shape the future of every neighbourhood. Please take a few minutes to share your views, thoughtful local input now will help keep our area liveable, inclusive and sustainable.

Can you help...Organise social events, donate for the comfy corner, join our hall helpers roster?

Celebrating 80 Years of Progress – Our Oak Anniversary

Next year marks the Oak Anniversary of the Coal Point Progress Association, 80 years strong and still growing. Like our local she-oaks, we’ve stood strong through the years, weathering storms and change, our roots deep in community care, for our people, our bushland and our beloved Progress Hall.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re planning a few special events in the hall and are forming a small sub-committee to help make it happen. If you enjoy bringing people together, sharing stories or lending a hand, we’d love you on board.

Come along to the Volunteers Lunch on Thursday 18 December for a chat, or speak with a committee member. Let’s make our 80th, our Oak Anniversary, a year to remember, and celebrate this rare and remarkable community achievement.

Hall helpers wanted

Our freshly renovated Progress Hall is busier than ever, and we’d love a few more hands to help keep it sparkling, comfy and welcoming.

We’re creating a “comfy corner” with a couple of easy chairs, a rug and a coffee table. If you’ve got any of these items you’d like to donate, please send a photo to cppasecretary@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch.

If you can spare a little time for hall care, we’re putting together a cleaning roster to share the load. The jobs are small, the company’s good, and your help makes a big difference. Chat with one of the committee members or drop us an email if you’d like to lend a hand.

TASNG Update - October update

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) was highly commended in the 2025 Tidy Towns, Keep Australia Beautiful, awards for its waste-avoidance campaign and advocacy.

This year they joined Clean Up Australia Day at Lions Park, where volunteers helped spruce up the area. Thanks also to the Boomerang Bags makers, many of their handmade bags have been shared with local charities through the Toronto Library hub.

Landcaring continues at Crocodile Point, under the Fennel Bay bridge, with access now much easier thanks to the new bitumen road at Lions Park. Council’s Green Team will soon lend a hand with the work there. TASNG is also keeping weeds in check at the Awaba Road garden in Toronto West.

The Pamper Care project is receiving Christmas donations at the Toronto Pub Choir on 4/12/25. Council will soon be asking businesses on The Boulevarde and the wider community for input on safety options around the wheel stops.

Learning at Landcare - Citizen Science and The Good, The Bad ,The Ugly

From the Awabakal seasonal calendar, we’re now entering Wunal, the hot time on Awabakal Country. Days are humid, nights are warm, mosquitoes are biting, and many animals are breeding and active. Afternoon storms often sweep in with lightning and heavy rain, though in some years Wunal brings dry heat and drought instead.

Australia, including Awabakal Country, moves to the rhythm of El Niño and La Niña, global climate cycles that shape whether Wunal brings rain or dryness. Climate change now adds further complexity, with hot weather sometimes arriving earlier or lasting longer. Toward the end of Wunal, as koyiwon (rain) increases, the weather begins moyiyakowa, cooling again.

This awareness of seasonal change reminds us that Country is constantly shifting and that caring for land means observing its patterns closely.

Learning through Citizen Science

In September, Landcare members learned about the iNaturalist citizen-science platform. We’ve since launched a Coal Point project, where locals can log sightings of plants and animals. These observations build a record of the area’s biodiversity and changes over time, valuable data for the community and researchers alike. 

One of our most exciting finds came from a bundle of decaying weeds, a blackish blind snake (Anilios nigrescens). These fascinating, non-venomous snakes spend most of their lives underground, eating ants, termites and their larvae. With their smooth scales, small dark eyes and tapering snout, they look a bit like shiny earthworms. They “taste” the air with their tongue to follow insect trails and use their upper jaw to rake prey into their mouth.

Blind snakes are part of the intricate food web of our bushland, preyed upon by owls, feral cats and foxes. Keep an eye out, though you’ll more likely find signs of them than the snakes themselves.

The Good: Spring in Full Bloom

Coal Point has been showing off a spectacular spring. Gardens are glowing, pollinators are busy, and the bushland is full of life and colour. Our native plants have put on a dazzling display, providing food and shelter for birds, insects and small creatures.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone contributing to this beauty, our Landcare volunteers, hall users, citizen scientists and those simply caring for their patch of land. You all help keep the peninsula flourishing.

One local plant to watch for over summer is Bursaria spinosa, known variously as Whitethorn, Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria or Christmas Bush, and by the Dharawal names geapga and kurwan. This hardy, prickly shrub provides safe nesting spots for small birds. Its mid-summer flowers are creamy and sweetly scented, attracting butterflies and many other insects. Later, they form coppery, purse-shaped seed pods, hence the Latin name Bursaria (purse) spinosa (spiny). It’s a great native for gardens, growing 3–4 metres tall in sun or light shade with moderate drainage. A light prune keeps it bushy.

You’ll see Bursaria flourishing in West Ridge and Stansfield reserves, two of many local bushland pockets lovingly tended by our volunteers.

The Bad: Spanish Moss on the Move

Another plant catching our attention is Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), also known as Old Man’s Beard. While pretty hanging from trees, this air plant can smother and damage its hosts in humid conditions. Without roots, it grows in long, silvery chains that can block sunlight and weigh down branches until they snap.

Spanish Moss has been spotted growing wild on Coal Point. You can help track its spread by recording sightings on iNaturalist under the project Tracking Spanish Moss in Australia.

When recording, note the distance from cultivated sources, host species (if known), urban or bushland location and the number of clumps.

If you love Spanish Moss in your garden, please keep it contained. If you find it in bushland, record it, then carefully remove and bin it. Let’s stop this escapee before it shades out and smothers our native trees.

The Ugly: Bagged but Not Beautiful

Finally, a plea from the Threlkeld Reserve team. During a recent Landcare morning, volunteers found four plastic bags of dog poo dumped in the bush. These weren’t the compostable kind, just ordinary plastic, left behind.

Please, if you’re walking your dog, use the compostable green Council bags and dispose of them in the green-waste bin. Our volunteers already give their time to look after the land, let’s not detract from their joy. Most dog owners do the right thing. Be one of them.

Learning from the Land

As Wunal’s warmth builds, Coal Point continues to hum with life, birds calling, cicadas buzzing and the scent of native flowers in the air. Each season brings lessons about resilience and renewal, and Landcare is one way we learn from Country while giving back.

Whether you’re a regular Thursday morning Landcarer, a hall helper, or simply someone who takes “one weed out each walk,” your care counts. Together we keep this place healthy, for people, wildlife and the next generation learning to love the land as we do.

What’s On at Coal Point Progress Hall

There’s lots happening at your local community hall , we’d love to see you there!

• Healing Moves Yoga & Therapy (with Kas)Mondays & Wednesdays 5:30–6:30pm, plus every second Saturday 9:00–10:00am.
• Stay tuned for Kas’s Chakra Workshop Series beginning early next year.
• Sound Bath Meditations (A Soulful Way with Kara) Every second Tuesday from 4 November (please check the calendar for any changes).
• Pilates & Group Fitness (with Deb) Fridays 7:45–8:45am.

Follow our Facebook page for class links & contact details and for enquiries or to connect directly with class facilitators.
Facebook page: CoalPointProgressAssociation/

We have recently had the pleasure of hosting Mobile Cheese & Yoghurt Making Classes, run by the wonderful team at mobilecheeseclass.com.au. These workshops were a hit, and we’re hopeful they’ll be back offering more delicious learning experiences soon.

We are also very pleased to welcome back Fran Davy and her nourishing Day Retreat by the Lake, supporting mind–body connection and community wellbeing.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to have Lake Macquarie U3A joining us at the hall next year with a selection of their engaging lifelong-learning groups. Planned sessions include a Wine Appreciation Group on Tuesdays 11:30am–1:00pm, and a Fibre & Textiles Group on Wednesdays 9:30am–12:00pm. To learn more about U3A and their wonderful range of programs, visit: https://lakemacquarie.u3anet.org.au/

Our hall is a beautiful, light-filled community space equipped with a modern kitchen, making it a welcoming venue for art and music groups, social gatherings, workshops, and special celebrations. We are always keen to see more community use, particularly for weekend events and ongoing group bookings throughout the week. Do you need a back-up wet weather venue?

For bookings and enquiries, please contact Cath Fairs, details about hall hire are here. To check current activities and availability, please visit our calendar
https://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

We look forward to seeing you at the hall soon!

DAs In Play 15/9/25 to 8/11/25

The CPPA endeavours to provide a summary of active applications in our area as outlined in the table. Please consult LMCC’s website for a full listing

• DA = Development Application
• BC = Building Information Certificate
• TA = Tree Assessment
• CC = Construction Certificate
• CDC = Complying Development Certificate
• REF = Review Environmental Factors
• SC = Subdivision Certificate.
• MU = Mixed use
• RFB = Residential flat Building

Our Hall, Our Bush, Our Community – Join or Renew

Now is a time to make a small investment in our local community by joining or renewing your CPPA Membership. 

Your membership supports 

• the upkeep of our hall. It is not a council building. The hall and backyard is owned and maintained by the CPPA. We seek grants for renovations and manage everything associated with having this community space available for our community to use.

• keeping us connected with the Chronicle. By sharing local news, events and council’s plans and strategies, we keep our community informed and aware

• our landcare team that looks after our local bushland keeping the weeds at bay and providing us with a calming and nurturing backdrop to our daily lives as well as a space for local wildlife to take refuge and threatened species to survive.

Our membership fees have only increased $4 in the past 20 years, the 2026 increase reflects this recalibration.

To join the CPPA it is $15/individual and $25/household and there are 1 and multi-year renewal options.

The forms attached and below equire endorsement by financial members and the Committee members can do this for any applications. 

CPPA Membership Application & Renewal forms 

Form to download or Online form with payment
(we need a few details when you are joining)

or 

if you are renewing, we already have your details

Individual renewal      Household renewal

Dates for Doing Sept-October

Visit the calendar for updates

https://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

CPPA Monthly Meeting

Monday 13 Oct

3:30-5pm Progress Hall, 197 Skye Pt Rd-

TASNG

Wednesday 8 Oct

5-6:30 The Hub,

97 The Boulevarde.

An Intro to Ethics

Wednesday 1 Oct
@ Progress Hall

Pig Day Out

Sunday 5th Oct

@ Toronto Hotel

Tools & techniques provided

Morning tea at 10am

25/9 Stansfield with Bush regen team

2/10 Threlkeld

9/10 Burnage

16/10 Kilibinbin

23/10 Burnage

30/10 Gurranba

6/11 - Puntei Creek Wetlands

Crocodile Point (TASNG)

1st &3rd Wed

8:30-10am. Meet under the Fennel Bay bridge

Want to join Us?

Receive weekly emails about landcaring and what we will be doing,

cppalandcare@gmail.com

Pig Day Out – Raising Funds for Jenny’s Place in Westlakes- 5 Oct- Toronto Hotel

Toronto Sunrise Rotary is bringing fun, colour and community spirit to the Toronto Hotel on Sunday 5 October with their much-loved Pig Day Out. This year, the stakes are even higher with all proceeds going once again to support Jenny’s Place, a vital local service for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Jenny’s Place has been helping women and children in the Hunter for over 40 years, offering crisis accommodation, outreach, legal and emotional support, and pathways to safer, healthier futures. With plans now underway to expand services into the Westlakes area, local support has never been more important. Domestic violence is sadly a reality in every community, and having accessible, specialised services close to home can make all the difference.

Pig Day Out promises to be a family-friendly extravaganza. Gates open at 11 am, with the first of five piglet races kicking off at 12 noon. Between the races, there’ll be delicious food and drinks, a jumping castle, face painting, superheroes to meet, and of course plenty of laughs and squeals from the track. Best of all entry is free.

By coming along, you’ll not only enjoy a day of entertainment but also contribute to a cause that saves lives. Jenny’s Place helps women recognise unhealthy relationships, provides safe spaces when they need to leave, and connects families with housing, financial and emotional support. The new service planned for Westlakes will extend that lifeline even further.

Toronto Sunrise Rotary has a proud tradition of combining fun with fundraising, and this event is a great chance to show support, catch up with neighbours, and help strengthen our community’s safety net.

So mark your calendar for Sunday 5 October at the Toronto Hotel. Come for the pigs, stay for the community, and leave knowing you’ve made a difference.

FoodWorks Opens at Carey Bay Shopping Village

There’s a lot to be said for having a local corner store. When you’re halfway through cooking and realise you’re missing a key ingredient, being able to pop down the road, grab what you need, and be back in under ten minutes is a blessing.

If you’re shopping for one, FoodWorks makes it a pleasure instead of a chore. You can drop in, have a chat, check out the bargains, and head home with just the right amount. For older friends and neighbours, it’s an ideal environment, easy to access, not overwhelming, and a chance to stay active and engaged while bumping into familiar faces.

At the other end of the spectrum, kids can learn the basics of shopping in a safe and contained way. Understanding how the store is organised, finding items, and paying at the counter are great life skills. Before long they’ll be able to pop down on their own to pick up milk or bread, get some exercise and learn independence along the way.

A local shop is also good for the budget. Big supermarkets are designed to tempt us into impulse buying. At FoodWorks you’re more likely to stick to the list, and save money.

The FoodWorks franchise is large enough to keep prices comparable and supplies fresh. Gluten-free and dairy-free options are available, alongside everyday essentials like Epsom salts for relaxing baths.

The CPPA welcomes the FoodWorks crew to Carey Bay and thanks them for making local life a little more local.

Thinking it Through – Ethics with Henry Wellsmore

The first of our Ethics sessions at Progress Hall brought together a thoughtful group of 15 locals curious to explore some of the big questions of life: what does it mean to act ethically? and how do we decide what is “right” when opinions, laws and beliefs differ?

Henry Wellsmore led the discussion, drawing on his decades of experience in counselling, ethics and community work. Henry reminded us that ethics is not the same as personal opinion, gut feelings, professional etiquette, public policy or even religion and law. Rather, ethics is about human flourishing and wellbeing. It is prescriptive, it asks what we should do. It has overriding importance, applying across cultures and contexts.

Participants considered the influences that shape our own value systems. Family upbringing, education, politics, religion, and lived experience all play a role in how we weigh up what’s “right” and “wrong”. We also looked at several of the major ethical theories:

Deontology (Immanuel Kant), which focuses on rules and duties regardless of outcomes.

Consequentialism (Bentham, Mill, Singer), where the morality of an action depends on its results, seeking “the greatest good for the greatest number”.

Virtue theory (Plato, Aristotle), which looks to character and motives rather than rules or results.

Human rights, recognising both “positive” rights (such as the right to healthcare) and “negative” rights (such as liberty).

Each theory has strengths and drawbacks. Taken together, they offer different “lenses” for examining a dilemma. As Henry noted, none of this is rocket science, but it’s not easy either. The value lies in slowing down, considering multiple perspectives, and recognising that ethical decision-making takes effort.

The upcoming second session will recap the ground covered, provide space for questions, and introduce the other main models of ethics. If time permits, Henry will also present a practical framework for approaching ethical dilemmas:

identify the issue and conflicting values,

consider who is involved,

outline possible actions,

weigh up potential consequences from each ethical perspective,

then make a reasoned decision.

It’s a problem-solving approach that encourages reflection rather than snap judgement.

Join us on Wednesday 1st October, 10am–12 midday (cuppa from 9:30am) at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd, Coal Point. A gold coin donation will help cover costs.

Bring your curiosity and your questions, this promises to be another stimulating morning of learning and conversation.

Book in here or scan the QR code.

Sustainable buildings and batteries

A Policy update via renew.org.au

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is proving hugely popular, over 40,0000 batteries installed since July this year. Interestingly, households aren’t just choosing the expected 10 kWh batteries, the average is already 17 kWh and growing. Thanks to modular designs and low add-on costs, it’s predicted that average system sizes could soon reach 25 kWh. This trend is set to cut excess solar exports at midday, reduce curtailment, and lift wholesale prices and feed-in tariffs, creating stronger incentives for solar households.

Following the Economic Reform Roundtable, the government announced that 2025 National Construction Code updates will be released this year, and the 2028 updates will be delayed until 2029, perhaps a better outcome that was initially mooted prior to the meeting.

An updated Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings was released in mid-August. A national strategy for Commonwealth, State and Territory action across all buildings, it commits to a net zero building sector by 2050, with new emphasis on resilience, health, comfort, and affordability.

And on electric vehicles, debate continues over a road user charge (RUC) to make up for lost revenue from petrol taxes. With some advocates suggesting a RUC should apply to all vehicles now, indications are that the government is only considering applying it to EVs at this stage, a move that risks slowing EV uptake.

Celebrating Our Backyard Biodiversity

September is Biodiversity Month, a time to celebrate the richness of life around us. Here along the Coal Point peninsula, we don’t need to travel far to be reminded of just how lucky we are, our reserves, link tracks and lake foreshore are buzzing with life.

There’s so much to love about our beautiful and biodiverse bigger backyard. Every Thursday the Landcare crew revels in the joys of Mother Nature. And every Tuesday we get a wonderfully-crafted reminder of where we’ve been, what we’ve done and where we’re going from Ros, our Landcare coordinator.

Over the past month the team gathered at sites like Hampton Street Link, Gurranba Reserve and Puntei Creek. We tackled invasive plants that threaten to smother the bush. We’ve been pulling out swathes of Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum delagoense), hacking back Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata), and keeping an eye on the surprise arrival of Australian Umbrella Tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum) seedlings, a native species but not from this part of the country.

Clearing weeds may sound unglamorous, but every thistle uprooted or tangle of Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica) removed gives native plants room to breathe. It means Basket Grass (Oplismenus aemulus), Scurvy Weed (Commelina cyanea) and young Grevillea sericea can flourish. It means flowers return to the bush, and with them the bees, birds and lizards.

And what a cast of creatures still call our peninsula home. In recent weeks, landcarers have encountered a resident blue-tongue lizard, a secretive Blackish Blind Snake (Anilios nigrescens), and the usual chorus of birdlife. Just last month, Pandorea pandorana and Clematis glycinoides were in bloom, adding to the colour of spring.

These small weekly efforts add up. Together, they keep the bush in balance and remind us that biodiversity isn’t an abstract idea, it’s the living world right at our back door. The resilience of our native plants and animals is something to be celebrated, and it depends on community care.

This Biodiversity Month, take a walk through your local reserve, pause to notice the small flowers pushing through the leaf litter, or the rustle of skinks underfoot. Every sighting is a reminder: we are fortunate indeed to live among such abundance.

And if you’d like to lend a hand, the Landcare team meets every Thursday morning. Come for the weeding, stay for the cuppa and company, and help keep our backyard brimming with life. Visit the CPPA calendar to see where we will be. 

Learning at Landcare with Pam

From the Awabakal seasonal calendar:

Spring is blooming season on Country, with plants and muraban (flowers) in full bloom. The tibin (birds), aru (insects) and other animals that come to feed on their pollen and nectar pick up their activity for the year. Many tibin are breeding and laying yero (eggs), and the binaibaan (goanna) climb trees to feed on the eggs.

Depending on the climate of the year, Spring may start earlier or later, with warmer weather in August and September bringing an early start, or a longer Takarir delaying the flowering of plants and the arrival of animals.

Country is waking back up. Muraban are blooming and many animals are raising young hatchlings. The weather is wirobakiliko (heating up), kicking off much of the season’s activity.

This knowledge reminds us that our work on the peninsula is part of something much older and larger. When we see flowers opening, birds nesting, or goannas climbing, we are witnessing Country in motion, seasonal patterns that have guided life here for thousands of years.

Which Black-eyed Susan?

Why we use scientific names

What’s in a name? There’s a beautiful, vulnerable plant that grows locally on the West Ridge, on the low-nutrient soils of the Awaba Soil Landscape. It’s a clumping shrub, with single or multiple stems that stretch 30–60 cm long. The stems are often leafless, edged with narrow wings that give them an angular look. Along the stems, delicate flowers droop downwards, usually in fours, with petals ranging from white to soft pink through to deep purple.

This plant is commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, but its scientific name is Tetratheca juncea, affectionately called TJ.

BUT there’s also an invasive weed with the very same common name. This Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) is a vigorous perennial climber, scrambling 3–4 metres high . Its triangular leaves form dense mats, while its orange or yellow flowers with dark throats are eye-catching but destructive. After flowering, hairy seed capsules form, helping it spread. More often though, its escape comes via dumped garden waste. On Coal Point it is a major problem, smothering native plants.

And if that wasn’t confusing enough, Rudbeckia hirta, another “Black-eyed Susan,” also known as Yellow Coneflower, hails from North America. It’s a daisy-like plant growing up to a metre tall, with many cultivated varieties.

So we have three very different plants, all called Black-eyed Susan. This is why Landcare uses scientific names. Botanical names cut through the confusion, and once you start using them, it’s a bit like learning a new language. It’s good for the brain, helps us be precise, and even opens the stories behind the names:

• Tetratheca = “four cells or lobes” for the four-petalled flower
• juncea = “rush-like,” describing its long, slender stems

While Tetratheca juncea isn’t currently available for sale, there are many local native plants that make excellent understorey options for home gardens. You can find tubestock at the Lake Macquarie Landcare Nursery, 80 Toronto Road, Booragul, open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8.30am–3pm, or by appointment.

All the details on the very special Tetratheca juncea are here 

Alternatives to plant instead of Thunbergia alata are here 

Stansfield Reserve Project Underway

On Thursday 14 August, the much-anticipated Origin Energy–funded bush regeneration project at Stansfield Reserve got underway, bringing together professional bush regenerators and local volunteers.

The day began early with Suzanne Pritchard taking Sally Alldis from the Bushland and Rainforest Restoration & Consulting (BARRC) team on a tour of the reserve. This walk provided an overview of the site’s potential and challenges, including the effects of a past burn, neighbour concerns and the extent of weed invasion.

By 8am, ten local landcarers gathered at Progress Hall with project leader Sally and her colleague Jenni to discuss the strategy. Maps in hand, the group soon moved into the reserve, forming a line across the ridge and working upwards; gravity has an impact on seed dispersal. Targets included Ground Asparagus (Asparagus aethiopicus), Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) and Corky Passionfruit (Passiflora suberosa).

Sally and Jenni shared tips on best practice removal, including “rafting” weeds into nearby shrubs to decompose naturally. Even the stubborn asparagus crowns were managed by stripping their water vesicles to prevent regrowth and once hung in a tree was easy to keep track of who had been where.

Morning tea back at the hall offered cakes, biscuits and plenty of conversation before work resumed. With further days planned this year and follow-up next year, the project marks a strong start in restoring this important reserve right behind our community hall.

BARRC in the bush days: 25 Sept, 20 Nov at Stansfield Reserve.Meet behind the Hall, 197 Skye Pt Rd.

CPPA Committee September update

Your CPPA committee has been busy keeping the community connected and the bush cared for.

On the money front, our rates rebate came through thanks to LMCC and some tireless advocacy, a real relief for our finances. Insurance with Landcare NSW has also been renewed, giving us peace of mind while we get on with the work. A grant writing workshop added fresh skills to our toolkit so we can chase more funding for projects.

At Progress Hall, improvements are on the way. Plans are forming for better disability access and bathroom renovations. The gutters are cleared, and some sagging insulation removed, though not before a ringtail possum moved in. A new nest box has been installed to give it a proper home.

Landcare continues to shine, with several sunny days and the Origin grant supporting Stansfield Reserve’s recovery. Rabbits have been identified as a challenge at Threlkeld Reserve, and the eastern part of Coal Point, while Cath’s tawny frogmouths were spotted again, albeit with-out chicks this season.

Ideas are bubbling for future gatherings, 80th Anniversary celebrations with music and dance, holiday programs, with grants to help bring in the right people to run them.

If you've got some thoughts on any of the above get in touch cppasecretary@gmail.com

DAs In Play 17/7/25 to 14/9/25

 The CPPA endeavours to provide a summary of active applications in our area as outlined in the table. Please consult LMCC’s website for a full listing

• DA = Development Application
• BC = Building Information Certificate
• TA = Tree Assessment
• CC = Construction Certificate
• CDC = Complying Development Certificate
• REF = Review Environmental Factors
• SC = Subdivision Certificate.
• MU = Mixed use
• RFB = Residential flat Building

Dates for Doing

Visit the CPPA calendar to see what's happening at the Hall and where we are landcaring


CPPA Monthly Meeting 10 Aug
3:30-5pm Progress Hall 197 Skye Pt Rd- Members welcome

TASNG AGM
Wednesday 13 Aug
5-6:30 The Hub, 97 The Boulevarde.
All Welcome.

An Intro to Ethics Wedesday 27 Aug @ Progress Hall



Landcaring around the Reserves

Tools & techniques provided
Morning tea at 10am

• 31/7 Stansfield
• 7/8 Puntei Creek
• 14/8 Stansfield
• 21/8 Puntei Creek
• 28/8 Hampton St Link
• 2/9 West Ridge

Crocodile Point (TASNG)
1st &3rd Wed
8:30-10am. Meet under the Fennel Bay bridge

Want to join Us?
If you would like to receive weekly emails about where we are landcaring and what we will be doing? Email Ros cppalandcare@gmail.com

Sorting It Out: Ethics, Emotions and Everyday Arguments

Ever found yourself in a heated discussion, certain you’re right—only to realise the other person is just as sure they are?

Ethics is often described as helping us work out “what should happen.” But in the real world, “should” isn’t always so straightforward. That’s where this thought-provoking session steps in.

Join us for a lively and enlightening morning exploring how ethical thinking can help navigate disagreement—without diving into division. Instead of reacting from the gut, we’ll look at how ethics provides tools and models for more reasoned, compassionate decision-making.

Led by Henry Wellsmore, the session will unpack the common misconceptions around ethics and explore the big question: How do we sort through complex options when more than one answer seems right? Expect an engaging mix of ideas, examples, and practical frameworks to take into everyday life—whether in community, work, or kitchen table conversations.

This is a chance to grow skills in respectful dialogue and build bridges of understanding, especially when facing those thorny “hot topics” that tend to divide us.

It’s also a chance to meet some locals and enjoy a cuppa!

When: Wednesday 27 August

Where: Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd, Coal Point

Time: 10am-12 (doors open from 9:30am for a cuppa and a catch up

RSVP or more info contact Cath: m: 0405 297 830
cppa.hall.bookings@gmail.com

Entry : Gold coin donation

All welcome – bring a curious mind and a willingness to listen, learn and (maybe) look at “being right” a little differently.