EcoUpdate: June 2026

Winter ❄️⛄ encourages some to linger indoors, for others it’s an ideal time to get outdoors. In Port Stephens, winter certainly offers an opportunity for us to appreciate and champion the natural beauty of this area through a variety of meaningful activities.

Whether that’s joining a walk🚶‍➡️ such as Tanilba Bay or Tin City, participating in local conservation efforts 🌱 like helping restore Tomaree National Park or taking action 📝✍️ to help preserve this remarkable area including writing to our councillors to protect ALL the Mambo Wetlands buffer zones.

Earlier this month, World Environment Day 🌏 shone a spotlight on the theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”, reminding everyone of our responsibility to care for the environment, helping us create a better future and a healthy world for generations to come.

In this EcoUpdate, we encourage you to embrace the spirit of the cooler season by dedicating some time to help safeguard our planet.

Liz Wynn & Sue Olsson
Co-editors

Hi from Liz ‍🙋‍♀️ – I recently joined the EcoNetwork team. Feel free to send any suggestions to Sue and I at ecoupdate@econetworkps.org.au

Next issue, submit stories by Sunday 12 July to ecoupdate@econetworkps.org.au

Visit the Apr/May edition

Swan Bay – DA appeal thwarted

In an important win for the environment, the Land & Environment Court has upheld Port Stephens Council’s refusal for a proposed tourist accommodation park at 1107 Swan Bay Road, protecting the vital habitat of the critically endangered Far Eastern Curlew. 👏🤎

Read about the importance of Swan Bay >>

Environmental primacy in Port Stephens planning

Iain Watt, marine scientist and President of EcoNetwork, is urging Port Stephens Council to prioritise environmental protection in their planning principles – ensuring our natural assets are at the forefront of decision-making rather than as obstacles to overcome. ✍️

Read more >>

Mambo Wetlands STOP PRESS 🛑 Your help is making a difference 👏🏼

In good news, Port Stephens Council have indicated they are considering reducing some of the proposed impact on the Mambo Wetlands buffer zones thanks to the 1700+ petition signatures demanding Council SAVE the remaining Mambo Wetlands buffer zone. It’s a start, however, they still intend to build so our work doesn’t stop there.

Mambo needs our help more than ever – we need to save ALL the buffer zone

Almost 70% of the Mambo Wetlands buffer zones has already been destroyed and our Council intends to destroy this even further to less than 10% of the original buffer.

We need to stop selling valuable environmental land for today’s economic gain and ensure it is there for future generations.

Read about why this proposed development must be stopped >>

👥 🗣️ Port Stephens Council must be more proactive in protecting our wetlands Read about the Community Forum >>

🦋 🐨 We must protect the biodiversity of the Mambo Wetlands Read about why the wetlands are so important >>

🌇 🏬 Mambo Wetlands needs better planning decisions Read about an alternate plan for Salamander Town Centre >>

Write to our Councillors and demand action >>

Stoney Ridge wildlife koala corridor to be protected 🐨🌳

Council planned to rezone land as part of Stoney Ridge Reserve to support a koala and wildlife corridor which will truly make a difference. More recent plans now include some limited housing as well. Is it as good as it could be?

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Story updates

Culturally-informed cool burn fire programs 🔥🔥

For the first time in NSW, cultural burning is being recognised as a vital Aboriginal practice through the Cultural Fire Strategy. This strategy has been released by the NSW Government following the recommendations of the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry and commits to removing barriers that have hampered cultural burning across the state.

World Environment Day recognised with the final Boat Harbour planting 🌏💚

A two-month massive planting effort around Boat Harbour’s entrances to the Tomaree Coastal Walk culminated in planting about 1700 trees, shrubs, ground covers and vines, for wildlife, soil stability, our enjoyment and restoring a tiny remnant of endangered littoral rainforest for the future. See the community involvement at the northern and southern entrances.

High Court bid to recognise coal-induced climate impacts locally ⚖️👏

Canberra’s High Court is currently grappling with the challenge of determining whether climate change impacts should be taken into account when assessing a mining project. The case of the Mount Pleasant Mine in the Hunter was heard 13 May with far reaching implications for the assessment of the local climate impacts of coal and gas projects in Australia.

Eco-extras 📢📢

Landcare Australia – Bupa Healthy Cities Landcare Grants offer $5,000–$25,000 (ex-GST) to environmental groups for establishing native plants in urban and peri-urban areas, promoting health for people and the planet. Applications close 13 July 2026. View the grant guidelines

Nature is good for business – and we now have numbers to show it. The Conversation, 18 May 2026
When we took 37 strangers into the urban bush, their loneliness began to ease. The Conversation, 18 May 2026

Recent advocacy submissions 📣 ✍🏻

EcoNetwork Port Stephens submissions to government agencies championing our environment and sustainability are here. Over the last few weeks, we submitted objections to the following developments:

🚧 Belvedere Donald St Nelson Bay

🛶 Swan Bay tourist development

🌱 Anna Bay service station

🐨 19 Gan Gan road rezoning

We always appreciate help with submission writing and interesting stories. There are so many other ways you can help if you have a little time to give. 🤗 Find out more >>

Community calendar

View all community events >>

JUNE

Sat 27 June Port Stephens marine creatures great and small 🪸 A special educational talk from Atlantis Port Stephens on our fascinating marine life

Sun 28 June Tea circle on climate conversations 🫖 An inspiring day of conversation, connection and action in Dungog

JULY

Wed 1 July Walk Newcastle’s waterways & byways – Stockton to Islington 🚶🏻‍➡️👣 Catch the Stockton Ferry for an easy walk alongside Newcastle Harbour and Throsby Creek

Wed 1 July Mambo & Soldiers Point Landcare 💚 Enjoy supporting thriving native habitats

Wed 1 July Webinar on dingoes 🐾 Covering broad, current and ancient knowledge of the dingo

Fri 3 July Tomaree bush regeneration 🌱 Help revitalise Tomaree restoring weedy areas

Sun 5 July Climate facts, consequences & choices ahead 📢 Join the conversation about climate science, weather and future planning in Dungog

Sun 12 July Walk Mambo Wetlands and beyond 🐨 Starting at Bob Cairns Reserve follow tracks in and around Mambo Wetlands

Sun 19 July The human whale Port Stephens 🐋 Create a giant human whale formation on the beachfront at Fingal Bay

Tue 28 July Save the date – Port Stephens Council Meeting 📌 Help urge the Council to reconsider their decision on the Mambo Wetlands buffer zone

Promote your environmental events on our community calendar

We welcome submissions to include your environmental or sustainability event for promotion within our Community Events Calendar and regular EcoUpdates.

Submit your event here >>

EcoNetwork Port Stephens

Our Vision: Ecologically sustainable communities existing in harmony with the natural environment.

Our Purpose: To support our members and to educate and advocate on environmental issues that impact Port Stephens communities.