New measures to protect one of the Tweed’s most beloved birds

Safeguarding of osprey population taken to new heights with interactive website and calls for community help – This November, Council is shining a spotlight on one of the Tweed’s favourite top-order predators – the osprey, listed as vulnerable to extinction in NSW.

To help educate the community about the local osprey population, Council has launched a new webpage and online StoryMap – a tool which provides an informative, fun and interactive way for residents and kids to engage and learn about these amazing birds.

Ospreys are integral to biodiversity in estuarine ecosystems and their presence in waterways can be an indicator of good waterway health.

Council’s Team Leader Coast and Waterways Tom Alletson said working to protect the local osprey population has been a focus of Council’s for many years.

In March this year, Council installed this artificial osprey nesting platform at Hastings Point Holiday Park. The nest was relocated from its precarious location on a light pole on the Hastings Point Tweed Coast Road Bridge.

“Ospreys in the Tweed are much admired and cherished by locals and tourists alike,” Mr Alletson said.

“Council is working to ensure ospreys are secure in the wild, their habitat is protected and restored and they remain an iconic member of our community for future generations.”

Council is also urging the community to help the local osprey population in three ways:

• Dispose of fishing line and tackle responsibly.
• Help monitor nest sites during breeding season from March to November – contact via Council’s website at tweed.nsw.gov.au/osprey.
• Protect and rehabilitate estuarine osprey habitat for future generations via Council’s River Health Grants scheme.

Mr Alletson said in the Tweed Shire, osprey observations have been recorded from the Tweed Coast to the upper limits of Tweed River Estuary at Murwillumbah.

“As we last recorded in the 2022 breeding season, there were 27 artificial and two natural nests in the Tweed Shire, with 20 active breeding sites,” he said.

An osprey overlooking its artificial nest site on the Tweed Sand Bypass jetty. Photo: Dean Lock

“We’d love the community to help monitor ospreys to find new nesting sites or keep an eye on the ones that are there. We want to ensure this species not only survives, but flourishes, and continues to breed successfully in the Tweed.”

The removal of established, native riparian vegetation over time in the Tweed has significantly reduced suitable nesting sites and habitat connectivity for the local osprey population. In the absence of tall, mature trees, the majority of the Tweed’s vulnerable osprey population now rely on artificial nesting structures during their annual breeding season, from March to November.

Installation of secure, artificial nesting structures for osprey and riparian restoration and revegetation are key to Council’s holistic approach to improving the health of local waterways.

Protecting the Tweed Coast osprey population is one way Council is looking after the Tweed’s environment for future generations to enjoy.

To learn more, visit the new StoryMap interactive site or find out how you can volunteer to monitor nesting sites, visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/osprey.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.

Green alert for blue-green algae in Oxley River

Bray Park Weir amber alert remains in place, Clarrie Hall Dam alert downgraded – Tweed Shire Council has issued a green alert for blue-green algae in the Oxley River after low algae levels were detected at the Tyalgum Weir.

Although a green alert means algae is present in low densities in the waterway, tap water across the Tweed remains safe to drink and bathe in.

Today, Council also downgraded its alert for Clarrie Hall Dam, with reduced algae levels recorded in the waterbody.

The amber alert for blue-green algae at the Bray Park Weir issued in October 2023 remains in place.

The Tyalgum Weir pictured on Monday 6 November. Council has issued a green alert for blue-green algae in the Oxley River at Tyalgum.

Council’s Water and Wastewater Operations manager Brie Jowett warned the community and visitors to stay clear of the affected waterways and not to eat fish caught from them.

“Council always takes a precautionary approach with blue-green algae and we are advising against any recreational activities that involve contact with the affected water,” Mrs Jowett said.

“If anyone comes into contact with the algae, we advise them to rinse it off with fresh water and seek medical advice if symptoms appear.”

Scientists from the NATA-accredited Tweed Laboratory Centre are testing the affected waterways twice a week.

Mrs Jowett said tap water throughout the Tweed remained safe to drink and bathe in despite the alerts.

“We source the Tweed’s tap water from the Oxley and Tweed rivers but our water treatment processes are robust,” she said.

Council advises against any recreational activities that involve contact with waterways where algae is present. If you come into contact with the algae, rinse it off with fresh water and seek medical advice if symptoms appear.

“We remove blue-green algae from affected water when blooms occur, so our tap water remains perfectly safe to drink and bathe in.”

Blue-green algae occurs naturally and can reproduce quickly in still or slow-flowing water, when it is warm and sunny and the water is nutrient-rich.

Affected water may appear to have a green paint-like scum on the water or near the edges, or greenish clumps. It can have a musty odour.

Warning signs are being placed near the Oxley River at Tyalgum to inform the public of the presence of blue-green algae and any potential risk.

Warning signs remain along the Tweed River upstream of the Bray Park Weir.

For the latest, visit Council’s website at tweed.nsw.gov.au/waterandwastewater. For more information on blue-green algae, visit waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.

Long awaited breakthrough for Tyalgum community with access to flood-damaged road restored

By Sarah Waters

Tyalgum residents can now save a lot of time getting to and from home following the long-awaited opening of Tyalgum Road.

A temporary access road, through the landslip site near Tyalgum Village, was opened on Monday, October 30.

Tyalgum resident Bruna Sutherland said it was an exciting development.

“It’s a huge change … it’ll save me at least half an hour of time on the weekends,” Ms Sutherland said.

“It’s a better road too, it’s not that winding, so I’m very happy that it’s open again,” Ms Sutherland said.

Tyalgum resident Bruna Sutherland is pleased she no longer has to drive an alternative route via Chillingham to get back to her hinterland home.

An extreme landslide (100 meters in height) which occurred during the February-March 2022 flood took out a section of Tyalgum Road.

The severely damaged section of road was instantly closed to traffic, leaving residents of the hinterland village no choice but to travel the longer alternative route via Chillingham.

In March this year, a local contractor was appointed to undertake the road’s major restoration.

The stabilisation and construction of the single-lane temporary access road was the first stage of fixing the flood-damaged road.

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said it was a big relief for everyone to finally see it open again.

“The repair of the extreme landslip just outside of Tyalgum is the biggest and most complex of all of our restoration jobs in the Tweed following last year’s devastating flood,” Ms Cherry said.

The major landslide that took out a section of Tyalgum Road during the 2022 floods.

“But thankfully, we will see cars, motorbikes and bicycles travel through this important community connector road once again.

“It has been a difficult and complicated process for the project team and contractor SEE Civil to get to this point, but it has been even more difficult for residents who have been impacted by this road closure and we thank them for their patience,” she said.

Council’s Manager Infrastructure Delivery Tim Mackney said while the slip was currently stable, heavy rainfall had the potential to create movement.

In the event of detected ground movement or heavy rainfall in the coming months the new access road may have to be closed while the permanent work to fix the slip continue.

Council will advise the community any changes or the need to temporarily close the access road should a concern arise.

The contractor remains on-site at Tyalgum Road, continuing work on the reconstruction of the permanent road which is due to open by March 2025.

For more 2022 floods news, click here.