By Emma Rooksby, coordinator of Growing Illawarra Natives
This is the last in the 'gardening for' series for now, and hence time to take a step up and beyond! Let's all garden for Platypus. It sounds pretty unusual and niche, doesn't it? Perhaps something that is only possible for folks with a large acreage with waterfront onto a beautiful wide creek or river? Not for everyone?
In fact, each and every one of us in the Illawarra can potentially influence the future of Platypus in our region, through how we garden, farm, build, travel and generally live our lives. Why? Because many the waterways in the region are current, potential or past habitat for this iconic species, the Platypus.
Each and every one of us who has anything to do with local creeks has some ability to help Platypus thrive.
They love slow-flowing waterways, with the occasional deeper pool, fringed with Indigenous shrubs, trees and lots of Lomandras (Lomandra longifolia). This can be achieved along many local waterways, as long as there is sufficient setback for buildings and other built form.
The image below shows an example of a modified waterway at the University of Wollongong, which has been planted out with a range of indigenous vegetation. There are no Platypus in this waterway, but Byarong Creek, of which it is part, was historically home to the species.
Sadly, in many local waterways, Platypus are no longer present. But that's not to say we can't help make the waterways suitable for them in future.
With Platypus reintroduction activities happening in the Royal National Park just to our north, we can make the case for reintroduction in the Illawarra region too, just so long as the waterways can be kept clean and free of coal wash and other pollutants.
- Do: Add Lomandra (Lomandra longifolia) and local native trees along your waterway. Watch for Platypus when you're in the area. Plant as many trees, shrubs and ground covers as you can to increase the soil's water infiltration and absorption, and reduce runoff into local creeks. This is something valuable you can do even if you live quite some way from a creek.
- Don't: Remove (native) trees, add paving, wide driveways or other additional hard surfaces, let dogs run into creeks, or allow cleaning products (think car washing products) to wash into the stormwater system.
And if you're lucky enough to live near a waterway where Platypus are known to be still present, including Mullet Creek in West Dapto or Macquarie Rivulet, get involved in caring for the creek through a local Bushcare or Landcare group.
For example, Stream Hill Landcare at Integral Energy Park cares for a waterway where Platypus have been sighted in recent years. They always welcome new volunteers.
