Close to 50 interested landholders, wildlife carers, Landcare groups and other community members came together in Kurrajong Heights on the 6th of May to learn about Glideways, Flyways and Stepping Stones in the Hawkesbury. The project forms part of the Great Eastern Ranges partnership with WIRES to support wildlife across south-eastern Australia still recovering from the devastating Black Summer bushfires.

Hosted by GER partner the Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network, the event was an opportunity for locals to learn how to get involved in efforts to support a host of animal species, including greater gliders and other gliding possums, spotted-tail quolls, powerful owls and koalas. A suite of community-led activities will be rolled out over the next 12 months to improve, expand and protect important habitats and track recovery, including citizen science surveys, restoration of private land and installation of nest boxes.

The community forum included a presentation by GER Chief Executive Officer Gary Howling and WIRES Chief Executive Officer Leanne Taylor of how the local effort fitted within the broader project, followed by talks from local Landcare groups, ecologists and wildlife carers. Federal Member for Macquarie, Suzanne Templeman MP, and GER Chair Bob Debus AM were also in attendance to support the initiative.

GER CEO Gary Howling says, “The community turnout and enthusiasm at the event shows the level of interest that people have in supporting their native wildlife and regenerating habitat to provide a safe harbour for animals in a landscape that was so heavily impacted by the bushfires.”

“The complementary nature of this community-led project means that landholders, community groups and wildlife carers can get involved in different activities that combine to create impact at the large scale needed.”

Glideways, Flyways and Stepping Stones in the region is led by the Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network alongside local Landcare groups: Mountains for Wildlife Bilpin, Colo Valley Landcare and Valley for Wildlife. This project is one of three related community efforts that make up the Glideways, Flyways and Stepping Stones initiative, with work being done by other groups in the upper Clarence Valley and Bega Valley.