Wa Wa Nee was one of the biggest acts to emerge from Australia in the 80s.

Steve Williams and Paul Gray formed the band in 1985. After signing to CBS records in 1985, the band quickly rose to fame. Hits ‘Stimulation’ & ‘I Could Make You Love Me’ ensured the band smashed records, becoming the first band in Australia to have two top 10 singles in the national charts simultaneously.

In 1986 the band released their highly anticipated self titled debut album achieving platinum status. Sugar Free became their third consecutive top 10 hit ‘Sugar Free’ and a top 20 hit ‘One and One (Ain’t I Good Enough) followed.

With the immense success the band was having in Australia, they soon set their sites on the illusive United States market. In 1987 ‘Sugar Free’ hit the Top 40 charts in America with the band appearing on beloved US TV shows; American Bandstand with Dick Clark, Top of The Pops, The Late Show with Arsenio Hall and many others.

‘Can’t Control Myself’ and ‘So Good’ peaked in early 1989 reaching Top 30 in Australia and the band’s album ‘Blush’ peaked at #27. After the release of ‘I Want You’ in 1989, the band decided to disband.

After Wa Wa Nee, Steve Williams was asked by Paul Christie to join The Party Boys performing on the single ‘Do Wah Diddy’. Williams continued to tour in James Freud’s band and Richard Clapton. Steve moved to Europe and soon found a new passion, teaching music.

After returning to Australia, Steve was sought after performing with the likes of Swanee, Ray Parker Jr, Real Life, Lee Kernaghan, and Brian Cadd. Steve soon became a long time member of Australian Led Zeppelin band Zep Boys and became a mainstay in Choirboys with Mark Gable.

In 2006, Steve worked with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and in 2008 accompanied the ASO and Deep Purple’s Jon Lord for an Australian tour. Steve has also been invited to perform for Australian touring musical productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Man from Snowy River, Singin In The Rain and Elvis The Musical.

Steve (pictured above) currently tours with Matt Finish and is a member of Absolutely 80s featuring Brian Mannix (Uncanny Xmen), Ally Fowler (Chantoozies) and many others. In 2022, Steve was inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame.

Steve has assembled an ace band to celebrate Wa Wa Nee’s music live, the way it should be heard. If you are a Wa Wa Nee fan you’ll not want to miss the opportunity to be transported back to the late 80s with this special show. It’s happening at The Palais, Hepburn, on Saturday September 30.

Victoria’s fire services are calling on households to keep the safety of their electrical equipment front of mind after a recent clothes dryer fire destroyed a home.

Firefighters responded to the dryer fire in Berwick which started in the middle of the night earlier this month. Thankfully the three residents escaped unharmed, but firefighters worked for 30 minutes to control the blaze, which had extended through the roof space and quickly engulfed the whole house.

The CFA is warning that once a house fire starts it can spread rapidly and engulf your home in a matter of minutes. By adopting fire-safe habits and reducing potential hazards there is a lot you can do to protect yourself and the people you live with.

In an average year, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) respond to more than 3,000 residential fire incidents across the state. Too many of which are preventable.

Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman, AFSM said Victorians should be wary of overloaded power boards, phone and laptop chargers and electric blankets.

“Electrical hazards in the home are a common cause for house fires these days, but you can greatly reduce your risk by taking some simple safety measures,” Commissioner Freeman AFSM said.

“Make sure you’re not overloading power boards. Don’t leave your phone charging overnight. And never put electrical appliances like hair straighteners and laptops on soft surfaces.

“Take the time to service your ducted heating and clean your range hood and oven regularly, prevention is the best policy when it comes to fire safety.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the Berwick dryer fire is a relatable reminder to residents to check their appliances are in good working order with good air flow around them.

“Using damaged or faulty electrical equipment and appliances can result in a fire, so please, play it safe, and only use certified electrical tradespeople to repair faulty appliances,” CO Heffernan said.

“No one thinks a house fire is going to happen to them, but CFA attended 137 electrical fires last year and we’ve already responded to 84 this year.”

“To prevent a fire from igniting, take the time to check your home office is set up safely, with no loose cables, overloaded power boards or double adaptors and switch off any appliances at the wall when they’re not being used.”

For as little as $20, households can help safeguard their homes and loved ones by purchasing and installing affordable smoke alarms in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas.

Remember, for electrical appliances:   

• Using damaged electrical equipment and appliances can result in a fire. Only use appliances in good working order. 
• Turn off all electrical appliances at the power point when not in use and ensure your home office is set up safely.
• Don’t use double adaptors.
• Only use power boards according to manufacturers’ instructions, never overload or have loose cables, and check regularly for damage.
• Ensure monitors, laptops, televisions and other equipment have good air flow around them and are not in confined spaces or covered.  
• Only use certified electrical trades people to repair damaged/faulty electrical appliances, wiring or equipment.
• Do not charge electrical devices like phones and laptops on soft surfaces such as couches and beds.
• If you are going away on holiday, make sure to turn off power to electrical appliances and let a neighbour know you are away. 

Shaye Topaz was five months pregnant when she was given notice by her landlord. 

‘We were luckier than others given that we were given three months to find somewhere new. This was pretty generous,’ she told a recent hearing for the inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis in Victoria. 

Ms Topaz is a small business owner and mother of three who lives in Lakes Entrance. 

She was one of five people from rural and regional Victoria who shared their experience of the rental market with the Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee. 

‘So we have between five and probably 20 people per viewing coming to see these houses competing with each other, which is not a nice feeling in a small community. ‘

Shaye Topaz, Lakes Entrance renter

Despite allocating an extra $100 for rent she and her partner found very few affordable homes in their area available to lease. 

‘We began seeing properties. Many, many people were showing up at these viewings,’ she said.

‘So we have between five and probably 20 people per viewing coming to see these houses competing with each other, which is not a nice feeling in a small community. We all know each other. We all want each other to be happy and healthy and well, and to have housing over our heads. But here we were competing with people in the same situation as us looking for somewhere to live for their families, somewhere safe to be.’ 

After months of searching Ms Topaz and her family finally found a place to rent, but it was less than ideal with a narrow ladder-like staircase that she fears is a hazard to her children. 

‘If we weren’t so desperate we would not have accepted this property but we really needed somewhere to live. Finding a space was emotionally and physically exhausting,’ she told the Committee. 

It’s a common story across rural and regional Victoria. Bradley Thomas, Hepburn Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, told the hearing that rental stress in his area is more than 50 per cent, far higher than the state average of 12 per cent. 

And, he says, that is affecting the ability of local businesses to serve the tourism industry. 

‘We’ve had a number of examples recently, particularly in businesses not being able to open seven days a week. Just because they can get the staff but can’t find housing for them,’ he said. 

‘So I’ve got multiple businesses in our community that have decided to only try four or five days a week, to reduce the number of staff that they need.’ 

Similar issues affect Swan Hill, where seasonal workers struggle to find suitable places to live, according to Heather Green, Director, Development and Planning for Swan Hill Rural City Council. 

‘The going rate for a mattress on a floor in a house for a seasonal agricultural worker is about $150 a week,’ she said. 

‘The failure to provide those extra homes could mean an annual gross regional product loss ranging between $200 million and one billion dollars.’

‘There could be 10 people living in a standard three-bedroom house. Not ideal circumstances for our workers.’ 

Chair of Rural Councils Victoria, Mary-Ann Brown told the Committee that rural Victoria will need 87,400 new dwellings over the next 15 years.  If supply doesn’t meet that growing demand, then the state’s economy will suffer.

‘The failure to provide those extra homes could mean an annual gross regional product loss ranging between $200 million and one billion dollars,’ she said.

The inquiry is exploring the challenges faced by Victorian renters and identifying factors contributing to the low availability and high costs of rental properties.  

The Committee is also examining barriers to first home ownership and the impact this has on rental stock. 

The inquiry will look at options to alleviate insecurity, increase availability, and affordability issues faced by Victorian renters. It will consider the adequacy of regulations governing the standards and conditions of rental housing, the impact of short-stay accommodation on the rental market and a range of other issues. 

The Committee intends to table its final report, including recommendations, to the Victorian Parliament by 17th November 2023. 
 

Two teenagers were seriously injured and two were on the run following a collision involving a stolen car in Epping last week.

Emergency services were called to the two-car collision at the intersection of Civic Drive and McDonalds Road about 2.25am last Tuesday.

Police were told a white MG hatch was seen travelling at high speeds before it appears to have run a red light and collided with another vehicle.

It is believed two people from the MG have run from the scene leaving two teenagers in the car seriously injured.

The 16-year-old female and 13-year-old male were both been taken to hospital under police guard.

The 30-year male driver of the other car received minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Local police with assistance from the Dog Squad searched for the pair who ran from the scene, while a check of the car has confirmed the vehicle was stolen.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

A gaping hole was left in a property when a car crashed through through the walls in recent days.

CFA crews from Hastings Fire Brigade responded to the runaway car over the weekend (August 12-13), after it crashed through a house leaving a gaping hole in the wall. 

Working together with Bittern Fire Brigade, Langwarrin Fire Brigade, Hastings SES, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria, crews were able to isolate the power to the house before approaching the vehicle once it was deemed safe to do so as the ignition to the car was still turned on.  

Captain of Hastings Fire Brigade, Craig Densley said, “When we arrived, Police were already on scene and the driver was attempting to get out of the vehicle, with an off-duty nurse assisting police and trying to assess the driver for injuries.” 

 “It was fortunate that the house was fitted with an electrical safety switch that tripped the power as multiple walls of the house were impacted, and the result could have been worse.” 

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, however the driver is believed to have suffered a medical episode leading up to the collision. 

According to some estimates the Victorian space industry employs 2,300 people across 250 space related businesses, like Lockheed Martin, Marand, Cablex, ESSWeathertech and others.

By the standards of huge national space agencies like NASA, or even private corporations like SpaceX, the local industry is small. But, while the challenges are great, so is the potential. 

Some of that potential is explored in a new paper from the Victorian Parliamentary Library, which surveys the history, opportunities, policy context and ambitions of the space industry and places it in a national context. 

“Australia’s space industry is small but straddles a broad mix of endeavours both looking out to space and looking back down to Earth,” the paper says. 

Australia wide the industry employs more than 15,000 people, a number expected to rise to 25,000 by 2028. 

The Australian Space Agency (ASA), formed by the federal government in 2018, is the country’s chief space industry body. The paper notes the ‘ASA is ‘industry-focused’, aiming at ‘transforming, inspiring and creating a competitive environment for the space sector to grow, and advancing Australia’s competitiveness and role as a responsible actor in civil space’.’ 

The paper examines the breadth of the space industry in Victoria and its applications. A number of current issues are driving research and innovation within the space industry. However, opportunities for growth are also coupled with a number of challenges to established players and new entrants.  

The paper was produced for National Science Week 2023.

Long-time Love Police pals Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball Gomez are returning to Australia…and they’re playing The Palais, Hepburn.

Following a successful run of the country as a duo in 2022, the boys just wanted more. Featuring intimate live performances filled with an array of work spanning the 20+ year career of both their band Gomez and solo work and the odd cover throw in.

As a band, Gomez have toured countless times and have amassed a huge loyal fanbase and the acclaim of critics worldwide including a Mercury Music Prize for their debut album in their home country some 25 years ago.

As a duo, Ben and Ian’s joyful and harmonious performance brings together a bit of blues, indie-pop and folk-rock into a music-lovers feast fit for all ears.

They are bringing their pal BUDDY, along for the ride too. Musical majesty and shenanigans are pretty much guaranteed with their Palais, Hepburn gig happening Saturday, September 23.

A group of outer-Melbourne CFA members are preparing to feel the burn when they take on the stair climb challenge next month.

The Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb 2023 will take place on Saturday, 2 September.  

Participants will climb 28 floors of Crown Metropol Hotel wearing 25kgs of turnout gear and beathing apparatus to raise money and awareness for depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide. 

Kallista-The Patch CFA Captain Peter Toender has once again rounded up a group of enthusiastic stair climbers to take on the challenge this year.  

Brigade members Richard O’Brien, Luke Maclean and Graham Barrow will join Peter in scaling 28 floors in firefighting gear to raise money for the cause. 

“Mental health is very important to our brigade and it’s been a focus for us following a pretty challenging few years in a row responding to tragic incidents,” he said. 

“We’ve been participating for four years straight now, so we’re keen to continue pulling together a team for this. 

“It’s a really great cause and one we’re passionate about.” 

Peter said it’s always been a great achievement to make it to the top and hopes the team can repeat their success again this year. 

“It’s a really good activity to do together as a team and as a brigade,” he said. 

“We don’t have a goal and are just happy giving it a go and raising money for a good cause, so if anyone is willing and able to support us, that would be much appreciated.” 

Last year, Kallista-The Patch Fire Brigade raised more than $1940 as part of the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb. 

To support the brigade and the stair climb’s causes, donate online at www.firefighterclimb.org.au/donations/donate/cfa/kallista-the-patch. 

A fire that engulfed a shed in Kyneton’s Warren Street earlier this month was successfully contained by the quick actions of more than 30 firefighters.

The quick response ensured the fire, that broke out on Monday August 14, didn’t spread to neighboring buildings, and support from brigades including Woodend, Carlsruhe, Tylden and Macedon was crucial to control the situation.

The incident was reported to Triple Zero shortly before 4pm and crews arrived swiftly. They were faced with a shed and fencing well alight, and explosions were occurring.

A vehicle, multiple boats, and trailers were consumed by the intense blaze. Fortunately, there was only one minor injury to a resident.

The power company, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria attended the incident.

“Our firefighters did a great job to contain the fire within about 20 minutes and prevent further spreading to nearby buildings,” Incident Controller Josh Gamble said.

The CFA fire investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a faulty lithium battery power hub, and it was confirmed that the fire was not suspicious.

This incident serves as a significant reminder to the community regarding safety precautions. Incident Controller Gamble stressed that while the occupant had followed all lithium battery handling protocols, it is important to purchase only compatible, Australian-certified batteries or chargers from reputable Australian retailers.

Also, do not leave batteries or devices unattended while charging and ensure they are charged on a sturdy, non-combustible surface with proper ventilation.

With the warmer weather approaching, CFA encourages the public to check sheds and garages to make sure that flammable liquids are stored in appropriate containers. Proper storage should be in a well-ventilated area, clear of electrical equipment and other potential heat and ignition sources.

The Central Goldfields Shire Council’s Immunisation team is running free immunisation sessions in Talbot and Dunolly from now until November. 

The sessions are free for all vaccinations on the National Immunisation Programs, and for all ages.

The sessions are to focus on reaching those who may not travel regularly into the nearby town f Maryborough or other larger centres, and are to ensure vaccinations are readily available for everyone.

TALBOT

The sessions are being held at Talbot ANA Hall – corner of Heales and Ballarat Street. All sessions will be held between 8.15 and 10am on the following dates:

• Thursday 21 September
• Thursday 19 October
• Thursday 16 November

DUNOLLY

Sessions are being held at the Dunolly Kindergarten – 94 Maude Street. All sessions will be held between 10 to 11.30am on the following dates:

• Wednesday 27 September
• Wednesday 25 October
• Wednesday 22 November

The council says bookings are preferred for all sessions and that they can be made via the Central Goldfields Shire Council’s civic administration centre.

A busy Ballarat intersection became safer this month following the installation of a new roundabout. 

The upgrade to the Ring Road/Gregory Street intersection in Alfredton was jointly funded by the Australian Government and the City of Ballarat.

The $1.1 million project received over $560,000 in Australian Government funding under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program and the City of Ballarat contributed $573,102 from its 2022-23 budget.

Work started in February 2023 and is now fully complete. Across all four phases of the LRCI program to date, City of Ballarat has been allocated almost $11 million to fund local road and community infrastructure priorities. 

Of nine local projects nominated under the program to date, four have now been completed.  The LRCI program is currently funding more than 9,500 projects nationwide.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King: “Programs such as LRCI are important to local communities and support local governments, especially in the regions, in funding priority infrastructure projects. This new roundabout at Gregory St and Ring Road is a fantastic example of that. 

“We’re working in partnership with City of Ballarat, and councils across Australia to deliver the upgrades that get people home safely, get people home quickly and support connected communities.” 

City of Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson: “As Ballarat grows, this important upgrade will ensure safer travel connections for motorists between Gillies Street to Link Road.
“Our investment to upgrade this intersection demonstrates that we are committed to delivering a better Ballarat.”

Tenders have opened this month for the next part of Ballarat’s MR Power Park Masterplan, with installation of a water drainage basin near Morgan Street next on the list for the park.  

The basin is the starting point to the wetlands and boardwalk at MR Power Park and is implementing the Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan, a plan that provides direction for future urban development within the west of Ballarat.  

Native landscaping, including granite sand paths around the drainage basin will be constructed to give the area a natural feel.  

During storm events, the basin can hold up to 30,000 cubic metres of storm water and delivers best practice water quality objectives.  

MR Power Park is a vital community facility for the residents of Sebastopol and is now home to extensive play equipment including a flying fox and basketball court. Pedestrian paths have been constructed around the park, and a fenced dog park is also available.  

A youth skate space, seniors exercise facilities, AFL goal posts, barbecues and public toilets complete the large 22 hectare public space.  

The large open space at MR Power Park sits right on the cusp of a residential growth zone. There are now many residents living near the park, that was once just paddocks.

Last year, as part of the early works prior to commencing the drainage basin and road earthworks, 36 cypress trees have been removed on the southern side of Morgan Street, Sebastopol, in accordance with the City of Ballarat Tree Management Plan 2018-2022.

Approximately 380 metres of Morgan Street, between Crown Street and Grant Street will be widened and raised to allow for more traffic and assist in water flow to the drainage basin and decreasing flooding events.  

The City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said Sebastopol is a thriving community, and providing facilities for residents to use is essential.  

“It’s great to deliver many different and important facilities for MR Power Park to allow it to be a space for all, and an important space for the surrounding residential areas,” he said,  

“While we are constructing an important piece of engineering for this area, it’s great to see that it will be delivered to fit in with the natural environment and also ensure that during storm events, water will have somewhere to go.”  

The delivery of the MR Power Park drainage basin is part of the long-standing Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan.

Implementation works will be funded by the City of Ballarat using developer contributions raised under the Ballarat West Development Contributions Plan, a plan that provides a vision for the sustainable development of Ballarat’s west.  

Development contribution plans make possible the development and timely delivery of infrastructure to new communities in the Ballarat West Growth Area to create liveability, connectivity, and social wellbeing. Development contributions fund major infrastructure projects such as drainage, roads, intersections, and recreational open spaces. 

The Ballarat City Council has invited community feedback on where rest stops, seating and crossings should be located along the Glenelg Highway Bike Path.

The City of Ballarat is currently designing the 3.4 kilometre bike path along the Glenelg Highway which will connect Delacombe Town Centre and the Yarrowee River Trail.

The Glenelg Highway Bike Path works will create a shared path connecting Delacombe Town Centre and the Yarrowee River with provision of safe off-road cycling is a key aspect of transitioning Ballarat towards a more sustainable future.

While the council is designing the whole path now, delivery will take place in three stages with the first stage focusing on safer crossings for Phoenix College funded for delivery this financial year.

Glenelg Highway Bike Path Stages Design works have been endorsed by the Spotlight on Sebastopol Community Reference Group and supported with funding from the State Government. This reference group is composed of local community members and is tasked with selecting key projects to improve the accessibility, walkability and amenity of Sebastopol and surrounding areas.

The Proposed Design

The proposed location for the path is the southern side of the Midland Highway utilising the shoulder and on road space between the kerb and existing trees. This alignment is guided by the need to safely access Phoenix College and the recent intersection works at Midland Highway. Where possible, existing parking and access will be retained or improved. Raised wombat crossings are proposed at intersections and crossroads.

In a media statement the council has said that “existing trees that are healthy will be retained and new opportunities for additional tree planting will be identified”.

Rest points are proposed along the path with seating, bins and cycling infrastructure like hoops and bike repair stations.

The stated goals of the project are:

• facilitate active transport for commuters and students with safe, raised crossings for Phoenix College.
• create a safe, comfortable riding and walking path for recreation with links to the Yarrowee River Trails.
• increase pedestrian and cyclist safety through a dedicated path and raised crossings at intersections.
• preservation of existing healthy trees through pruning and mulching.
• increasing provision of greening and natural shade through tree planting.
• creating seating nodes or rest points with cycling infrastructure.

Stage 1 construction is funded and will see the link between Phoenix College and Beverin Street built in 2024. Design of the full path is funded by Regional Roads Victoria (RRV).

Stage 1 construction works are funded by Regional Development Victoria’s Spotlight on Sebastopol program with construction of future stages dependant on availability of funding opportunities.

The City of Ballarat has joined CitySwitch – a free national program that helps office-based businesses reduce emissions and their environmental impact, and is urging office-based businesses to jump on board.

Under the program, CitySwitch assists businesses to map a pathway to net zero emissions and connects them with other businesses on the journey.

Participants are encouraged to reduce their office energy use, switch to renewable energy and take part in the circular economy, among other key net zero focus areas.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the CitySwitch initiative to de-carbonise businesses aligns with the City of Ballarat’s transition to a net zero municipality.

“The City of Ballarat is excited to offer CitySwitch to Ballarat’s office-based businesses,” he said.

“This free program will help businesses implement and promote environmental sustainability initiatives while accelerating climate action.”

There are more than 500 businesses Australia-wide participating in the CitySwitch program, spanning the finance, legal, engineering, advertising, architecture and health sectors. These businesses accounted for 19 per cent of Australian office space in 2022.

In 2021, businesses participating in the program saved $62.6 million by making their properties more energy efficient.  

The program assists businesses to measure their emissions, reduce their waste and energy use, and shift to 100 per cent renewables. Businesses can offset their emissions and become carbon neutral, join the circular economy and green their supply chain.

CitySwitch upskills, mentors and educates businesses and their teams, and helps them to become climate resilient. Businesses receive tools and support for each point along the way.

In 2018, Ballarat Council acknowledged the climate emergency and the need for urgent action. In 2019, Council adopted the Carbon Neutrality and 100% Renewables Action Plan 2019-2025 for its corporate emissions.

In 2022, the council adopted the Ballarat Net Zero Emissions Plan, with an aspirational target of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 for the Ballarat community.

Greening Australia and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia are teaming up to plant more than 19,000 food and nesting trees to entice one of the nation’s rarest birds back to the mainland.

Kangaroo Island is the last refuge for the South Australian subspecies of glossy black-cockatoo – which is smaller but has a bigger bill than glossies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

In 1995 the subspecies was heading towards extinction with fewer than 200 SA glossies left on Kangaroo Island. The Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program, with local community support, turned that around boosting the population to about 454 by 2020.

From left to right: Ben Sanders (WWF-Australia), Ed Vercoe (landholder), & Andrew Woodroffe (Greening Australia) among thousands of newly planted sheoaks that will hopefully entice glossies back to the mainland. © WWF-Australia / thinkMammoth

But in a major setback, the 2019-20 fires burned 54% of feeding habitat and 38.5% of known nests on Kangaroo Island, according to the KI Glossies Recovery Program. With reduced food supplies, flock sizes in some fire impacted areas on western Kangaroo Island are now smaller.

The fires highlighted an urgent need to re-establish habitat for glossies on the Fleurieu Peninsula, just across from Kangaroo Island.

It would improve the species’ resilience by providing additional foraging and breeding grounds, hopefully increasing numbers and spreading out the population.

The glossy flock on eastern Kangaroo Island, unaffected by the fires and closer to the Fleurieu, continues to grow and it is hoped they will expand their range across Backstairs Passage if enough habitat is created.

Ed Vercoe talks to Greening Australia’s Andrew Woodroffe. © WWF-Australia / thinkMammoth

The SA Glossy Black-Cockatoo – which feeds almost exclusively on seeds from drooping sheoaks – disappeared from the mainland in the 1970s after decades of clearing decimated sheoak woodlands.

“On the Fleurieu alone, there were 22,000 hectares of sheoak woodland but only about 2% remains. Greening Australia and WWF are rebuilding quality habitat and we’re really excited that this could potentially bring glossy black-cockatoos back to the mainland,” said Ben Sanders, forests program manager, WWF-Australia.

The timing is right with a confirmed sighting of a Glossy Black-Cockatoo visiting Fleurieu Peninsula last year, likely in search of a new food source following the fires.

“If we plant it, hopefully they will come, make little cockatoo babies, and then spread out and multiply,” said Andrew Woodroffe, Senior Program Officer with Greening Australia.

In total 19,000 trees, across three sites, are being planted. They’re a mix of drooping sheoaks for food and eucalypts such as the river red gum and pink gum to one day provide nesting hollows.