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Farm It Forward produce for sale at Katoomba High School (Photo: supplied)

Story by Camille Walsh

As global food insecurity increases, research suggests that the ‘planetary health diet’ is one solution. This calls for a shift towards a plant-based diet and more local food production. Local social enterprise Farm it Forward is showing how this can be done in schoolyards and one backyard after another.

Key Points:

• The number of people suffering acute food insecurity increased from 135 million in 2019 to 345 million in 82 countries by June 2022.

• Farm it Forward is a social enterprise helping to grow local food security and community in the Blue Mountains and could be template for other communities.

• Small, collective actions moving through communities in fractal patterns, have the power to generate near instant, positive change and social transformation.

I first heard about Farm it Forward at a talk being given by Costa Georgiadis of Gardening Australia fame, at the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival in 2022. Costa was engaging with the audience in his trademark animated way and encouraging us all to live in a more environmentally conscious, sustainable way on this planet. He mentioned Farm it Forward, and (I will sheepishly admit) at the time I didn’t know what or who that was, but my interest was well and truly piqued.

Sometime later, I attended an event at the Planetary Health Centre called Imagining a Healthier Planet. It was at that evening, during the Q&A, that a woman stood up and spoke about the opportunities and challenges being faced by the social enterprise she’d co-founded and, you’ve guessed it, that enterprise was Farm it Forward and the woman, Manu Prigioni.

Manu Prigioni enjoying a coffee at Cassiopeia in Katoomba (Photo: Camille Walsh)

What captivated me immediately about Farm it Forward was the simple yet brilliant concept behind the enterprise – Farm it Forward will use a bit of your land, the team will grow food on it, and in return they’ll supply you with some of the fresh, organic produce they cultivate.

There is of course a little more to it than that, but this aspect combined with its broader socio-environmental ethos and motivation is, in today’s world, sheer, necessary genius.

I met with Manu recently on a misty Mountains day in a café in Katoomba to learn a little more…

The facts on Farm It Forward

Farm it Forward has evolved into becoming a registered charity and to provide a little more detail, in the team’s own words, they “facilitate regenerative food production on already available, unused land, using earth friendly community care practices, offering an alternative to further land clearing and over-dependency on centralised, large-scale unsustainable food production.” The team believes that food equity, food sovereignty and food security, strengthens local communities, making them more resilient and prepared for disasters.

In addition to this, Farm it Forward designs socio-environmental care programs for high school-aged young people. In 2024 its team set to work on a grow tunnel at Katoomba High School, working with students, First Nations people and youth peer support organisations, providing transformative learning programs, engaging participants in areas of regenerative food growing, First Nations-led bush regeneration, and finding ways to practically apply and embed the concept of caring for Country in our everyday lives.

Inside the Farm It Forward grow tunnel at Katoomba High School (Photo: Camille Walsh)

Back to the roots

I was curious to learn where all this began for Manu – what drove her to be a part of setting up an enterprise with co-founders Jack Galluzzi, Olive Awaritefe and Nick Grilanc that is so deeply compassionate and aware, and what motivates her and the current team to keep going. Let’s be honest, these kinds of grass roots ventures aren’t easy. They have heart and they are critical to our future on this planet, but there exists, what at times must feel like, a perpetual uphill battle when it comes to the securing of ongoing funding.

Manu spoke to me about her upbringing, spent mostly in Rome before emigrating to Australia at the age of 19. She speaks fondly of her father, someone she describes as a “deeply caring man” who grew up poor and, perhaps because of this, developed a profound practice of humanitarianism. Manu recalls, even as a young child, sensing the injustice of poverty and questioning why she was fortunate enough to have a roof over her head and food on her table, whereas others were not.

When Manu was just a baby, her five-year old sister passed away just six months after being diagnosed with cancer. As a child and continuing into her adult life, Manu has at times battled with the injustice of such loss and heartbreak. I am filled with admiration for this remarkable woman who has channelled profound personal tragedy into something good. Currently working on a PhD in Social Design, her desire to live in a connected world is put into daily practice. Manu and the team at Farm it Forward are shining examples of advocacy in action.

A bumper crop of carrots (Photo: supplied)

As our second coffees arrived, Manu opened up about living as an Autistic person. She was eager to dispel some of the myths surrounding life on the spectrum and society’s haste to engage in generalisations, such as the perception that people living with autism experience isolation or social disconnection.

Manu believes for her the opposite is true and has forged in her a strong sense of solidarity with others and a propensity to look for genuine things that make sense. It’s easy to see how these attributes have been woven into the fabric of Farm it Forward and just how much sense it all makes.

Seedlings aplenty, thriving in the grow tunnel (Photo: Camille Walsh)

Food insecurity

Food security, or rather food insecurity, isn’t a new topic of conversation but perhaps one that has become more firmly embedded in our collective psyches since COVID-19 when, for the first time, many of us faced sparsely stocked supermarket shelves due to pandemic-impacted supply chains.

Then came the war in Ukraine, which continues to significantly affect food supply, and the cost-of-living crisis. We’re now faced with a lack of food certainty that feels uncomfortable, perhaps even frightening.

According to William R. Sutton, Global Lead for Climate Smart Agriculture for the World Bank, the number of people suffering acute food insecurity increased from 135 million in 2019 to 345 million in 82 countries by June 2022.

The food crisis, however, extends back long before COVID and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: climate change and its impacts are fast becoming the major player. Rising temperatures, flooding and droughts have all severely impacted food production and distribution. Ironically, it’s our very need for food to feed growing populations that also contributes to global warming, with roughly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions coming from our planet’s food system.

Rich, well cared-for soil is one of the foundations of food security (Photo: Camille Walsh)

Carbon impacts of food production

Agricultural production more than tripled between 1960 and 2015. The outcome of this, initially at least, may have seemed to be a positive one, with the creation of an abundance of low-cost fare which played a significant part in staving off global food shortages. However, as stated in a United Nations Environment Program article from July 2020 discussing the topic of industrial farming, “It is not quite the bargain it seems” with estimates that this farming method is “fundamentally at odds with environmental health” and costs the environment the equivalent of over AUD$4 trillion every year.

In 2022 a University of Sydney study found that food transport alone constitutes 19 percent of global food emissions, equivalent to 6 percent of emissions from all sources. Researchers are urging those of us in wealthy nations who are able, to get in touch with our inner ‘locavore’ – someone who only eats food grown or produced within a 100-mile (161km) radius.

Nutritional ecologist and co-author of this study, Professor David Raubenheimer from the Charles Perkins Centre, said: “Prior to our study, most of the attention in sustainable food research has been on the high emissions associated with animal-derived foods, compared with plants. Our study shows that in addition to shifting towards a plant-based diet, eating locally is ideal, especially in affluent countries.”

There is another way

I remember as a child, wandering through my grandfather’s vegetable garden with its array of organically grown goodness and no pesticides in sight. There was a time when ‘organic’ wasn’t a proclamation that needed to be made because it was just the way things were done. Creating and tending to your own food garden however, for various reasons, is not an option for everyone.

Manu spoke to me about how Farm it Forward has observed and listened to the needs of its local community, with a focus on the provision of healthy, affordable produce that adheres to an ethos of sustainability and food security. What they’ve created is a template that can serve other communities, throughout Australia and the world. For us locally, we reap the benefits of not only the food they produce but the immeasurably positive impacts their programs have for our youth, and the building of a socially cohesive, compassionate and resilient community for us all.

A bountiful harvest, headed for local dinner tables (Photo: supplied)

Professor Karen O’Brien, from the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo, Norway, is someone Manu cites as a major influence. Professor O’Brien’s research into the human and social dimensions of climate change is packing a punch worldwide and her work around quantum social change is, thankfully, reaching a global audience.

She invites us to consider the necessity of interconnection based on values like equity, dignity, compassion, humility and love and how they should be applied to all of life; to deepen our awareness of fractal patterns that appear in nature (spirals, beehives, rivers, tree branches, leaves…) and for us to understand the relationship of our own individual actions on the whole.

In 2023, Manu presented a talk at TEDx Katoomba titled ‘Growing Communities’. I highly recommend a listen, if you’ve not done so already. In that talk, Manu speaks of the opportunities that Farm it Forward continues to present, for us to redesign the way we care for land, grow our food and look after one another. She encourages us to become ‘entangled agents of social change’ and shares her perspective that entanglement isn’t a messy thing, rather it’s beautiful, strong and resilient.

Manu’s TedX talk in Katoomba, 2023

Manu reminds us that “small, collective actions moving through communities in fractal patterns, have the power to generate near instant, positive change and social transformation.”

Locally grown & enjoyed

Farm it Forward’s actions include running fresh food programs selling vegetable boxes from the grow tunnel at Katoomba High School to the local community. The team focuses on strengthening collaboration with other local regenerative growers, to increase impact and volume, and to expand their veggie box and nature-based, mental health programs to other interested local public high schools, if funding permits.

A lack of ongoing funding, however, is an all-too-common obstacle to the survival of programs like those being implemented by Farm it Forward. In her response to the 2025 Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Strategy Discussion Paper, Manu writes:

Civic fresh food initiatives have been proliferating in Australia, but are not being adequately supported with regular federal funding (as opposed to sporadic, project-based small grant state funding), incentives and infrastructure to scale their impact. I support calls for a National Food Policy with cross-sector engagement between health, education, and agriculture. With adequate policy, funding and infrastructure, retro-fitting our public high schools with an embedded civic fresh food initiative managing the growing, selling and procurement of regeneratively grown fresh food would be one highly efficient way to tackle food and nutrition insecurity as well as a myriad of social, mental and physical health issues present in Australia. Embedded fresh food initiatives provide access to a larger network of local fresh food growers, promoting direct sales from local primary producers, making healthy, nutrient-dense fresh food more affordable due to a lack of mark-ups, and introducing a new, financially viable, socially connected employment pathway – that of civic fresh food growing – to young people, ie the next generation of fresh food growers.

As with every obstacle comes an opportunity, and to stave off feelings of overwhelm in what can sometimes feel like a disintegrating world, this is where we all come in. We can do what we can, even if it feels small. We can be a part of a movement that encompasses individual, collective and systems change.

A Farm It Forward backyard growing plot in the mid-Mountains (Photo: supplied)

We can support incredible initiatives like Farm it Forward, try our hand at growing a little bit of food, be mindful of stocking our pantries with produce less travelled, start composting, start conversations, learn more about Indigenous foods and practices, connect with others, connect with Country.

Take Action:

• Keep up to date, find out how you can get involved and support Farm it Forward here: Farm it Forward and here: Farm it Forward on Instagram

• Attend the inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Saturday 18 October at the Planetary Health Centre. Learn more and register here https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative

• Learn more about the Planetary Health Diet here https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/the-planetary-health-diet-and-you/

Hillier Windsor and Lyndall Crompton at Cliff View Farm on Shipley Plateau, Blackheath

Story and photos by Hamish Dunlop

Take a tour of the community gardens and farms in Blackheath and you’ll find alpacas, companion flowers, compost to die for, hundred-year-old ‘Shipley’ apple trees, native bees, friendly faces, wonky tomatoes, life philosophies and much, much more.

Key Points:

• Three community gardens and farms in Blackheath are making it an ‘Incredible Edible’ place to live.

• The gardens feed the community and support the spread of acclimatised seed.

• They also create environments for people to socialise, learn and get their hands in the dirt.

Cliff View Community Farm

Lyndall Crompton, the manager of Cliff View Community Farm, has given me excellent instructions. “Stay on Shipley Road. Go past the old RFS shed and after the metal plates on the road take the gate on the right.” I arrive early and hold the gate open for Lyndall to drive in. “Hamish?” she asks with a smile. She parks and asks where I’d like to start.

The garden is bursting with life. Annual and perennial beds run up the hill, interspersed with salvias and purple-flowering catmint. Among the beds is a growing frame-shaped sculpture made of dead Eucalypt branches and a metal archway with fragrant roses.

Fennel is going to seed and dead artichoke heads are ready for the chop. “We have a lot of flowers to feed the bees,” Lydall says pointing to the beehives in an adjoining paddock. “The hoverflies love the fennel and we’ve got comfrey up there: good for pollinators and compost.”

Volunteer Leo Dalton at work, with other volunteers and one of Hillier’s twins in the background.

Lyndall points out potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots as we pass the walk-in poly tunnel used for germination and seedling growth. “Carrots are one of my favourite crops!’ she says. A bit tricky to get going. If the seeds dry out too much they just don’t germinate.”

The carrots and other crops are covered with a fine netting and shade cloth can be pulled over the top if the sun is too intense. “The mesh keeps out some of the larger animals,” she says.  “The wood ducks and the bower birds. It helps with the harlequin beetles too.”

What community gardens give

Cliff View’s focus is food production. 95% of what is harvested goes to Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. Since July, 170kg of food has been donated. Last year it was around 350kg and 400kg the year before that. Lyndall provides 5 to 6 vegetable boxes on a fortnightly basis.

When there is a glut of vegetables, she takes a specific crop such as cucumber in to BANC. Volunteers take some too. Sometimes crops go to the Salvos in Katoomba who also put together food hampers.

Lyndall and her husband Jeffrery Crompton preparing the last hampers for 2023. (Images supplied)

Lyndall says people, including her and the volunteers, all benefit from the social element. Everyone gets on with things and at the end they sit under the pagoda above the garden and sip tea and chat.

“There’s a whole education component too,” Lyndall says. “I learned a lot from Lis at the Blackheath Community Farm when I first started volunteering. Margaret who is weeding down there owned a farm and Karen is really into orchards. A guy came and did a propagating workshop which is where I learned how to propagate apple branches off the trees using air layering.”

Lyndall with an ‘air layered’ branch on its way to becoming a new tree.

The earth also benefits. Cliff View is a no dig garden. Cardboard goes down to suppress the weeds and compost goes on top. The plants go in and sugar cane mulch is spread around to reduce moisture loss.

A grant from Susan Templeman’s office paid for a new rotational composting system. Green and brown material is successively turned into the next bin until it becomes rich and ready. This will enable the farm to be soil self-sufficient.

Green material comes from the garden and carbon comes from mucking out the goose and alpaca poo. Water comes from a solar-pumped dam fed by an underground spring.

The new composting bays.

Regenerative farming practices are important.

“We’re an organic farm here. We don’t use any chemicals to manage the weeds like many commercial farms do, including no dig operations. The weeds protect the soil until we want to plant something. The idea is that after you’ve harvested a crop, you haven’t depleted the soil. At the very least, the soil remains the same, or is left in better condition.”

Cliff View

Cliff View is owned by Roger Mackell who has a half share in Gleebooks. His daughter Hillier Windsor set up the garden in 2019 when her family lived in the small farmhouse above the garden. As Lyndall and I survey the gardens from amongst the pumpkins, Hillier arrives with her three-year-old twins. “Friends joked that I couldn’t just have a vegie patch, I had to have a vegie paddock!” Hillier says with gusto.

Garlic drying under cover.

“When I turn up and see big handfuls of people, and the garlic drying, and how idyllic it is… It’s so lovely to still have it being productive. Land to grow on is expensive and having space is a privilege,” she continues. “I did a permaculture course through Milkwood and I remember the concept of a fair share. Take what you need and share the rest.”

She tells me about her memories of coming up from Glebe as a child. “That’s where I developed an interest in growing. In winter we’d have soup. My dad and my uncle would be so proud that everything had come out of the garden, bar the wedges of parmesan on top.” Hellier says her father was excited for the land to continue to contribute to the community.

Gardens are a place to get a dose of ‘green time’.

There’s a natural pause in the conversation and the topic changes to mental health. “It’s just so good to come here and get down amongst the plants and soil,” Hillier says. “There’s research that suggests that just 10 minutes of ‘green time’ is enough to make a measurable difference. “Not just feeding the stomach, but feeding the soul,” Lyndall imparts. “There’s nothing like nurturing life and losing yourself in the garden to make for fairer weather.”

You can volunteer at Cliff View Community Farm on Thursday mornings from 9am. Follow the instructions at the beginning of the story. You can contact Cliff View via their Facebook page or Instagram.

Blackheath Community Kitchen Garden

Murals at the Kitchen Garden painted by Alex Grilanc with community collaboration.

I’m finding my way around the Catholic Church in Blackheath and a woman calls out to ask me if I’m all right. “I’m looking for Brian!” I say with intent and she points me in the direction I’m travelling.

I find Brian in the garden, sporting a well-used Bunnings hat. He greets me with bright eyes and a generous gaze. “The garden might look unmanaged to the uninitiated,” Brian says. “There a few more weeds than I’d like, but we follow organic principles. The grasses and dandelions are good for the soil life and pollinators.

Like Cliff View, the garden is filled with flowers, fruit and vegetables. Bees meander between rich purple dahlias and yellow calendulas. The thyme is in flower too with its beautiful lilac hues. It’s a lovely colour palette.

At the edge of the garden there’s a herb patch filled with parsley, lemon balm and bright orange nasturtiums. “The leaves and flowers of the nasturtiums are good for salads,” Brian explains.

A butternut pumpkin nestled happily on top of pine mulch provided by local contractors.

The garden is food focused. The fresh produce goes into making soups. The Catholic Church and the Uniting Church run a weekly lunch. They both contribute soup and share the running of it. It’s held at 43 Govetts Leap Rd in Blackheath every Monday. “People often come earlier,” Brian says. “Around 10. There’s tea on hand and people sit around and chat. Sometimes there’s cake and biscuits.”

Brian also takes garden offerings to the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. Some of the people who attend a Vinnies community group at the church on Wednesday mornings benefit from the garden too. Brian says it’s a group that focuses on getting people out and about and in contact with fellow community members. He tells me the Parish meeting room is open to other community groups.

A quick pick! Produce from the garden being harvested.

A tasty collaboration

People come to volunteer on a Wednesday morning and every second Saturday. Special events include planting potatoes in spring and compost workshops. Brian has teamed up with Red Door Café in Leura for composting. The garden gets coffee grounds, vegetable scraps and eggshells. The eggshells are dried in the sun, broken up and sprinkled around new seedlings. “It’s a great way to stop slugs and snails,” Brian says.

The garden started composting with standard black bins, but the vegie scrapes and garden waste outstripped the available space. A series of parallel stalls were built using pallets from Todarello’s and some corrugated iron donated by the Uniting Church. The garden shed was build using this iron too.

The recycled wood used was secured by a parishioner from a local building site. Sawdust comes from a furniture maker in Lawson to introduce greatly needed carbon into the green material.

 Brian Bright with compost bays made from recycled materials.

Seeds and Covid

The garden started with the planting of fruit trees during the COVID lockdowns. Netting bags hanging from some of the trees are weighted with fruit. Dying off plants that add to the wildness of the garden provide seeds that are propagated. Like the other community farms, Brian also gets seedlings from The Vegie Patch in Blackheath. “I haven’t met Mel yet,” Brian says, but someone from the Community Farm splits what Mel donates.”

Fruit trees planted during COVID thick with fruit.

Feeding the world

Brian tells me the garden was in part inspired by the words of Pope Francis. “The Pope talks about the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” explains Brian. “What we’re doing here is a practical response to that. It’s a no dig garden, so the plants and all the creatures including the soil microbes have a home. It’s a place people can come to be with themselves and be with others too. The soup lunches are supported and people in need can access fresh produce. Like all the people-focused farms in Blackheath, we’re here to support the community.”

Blackheath Community Farm

Blackheath Community Farm volunteers. L to R: Claire Lebanovits, Judith Wagner, Sasi Keosawang and Lis Bastian.

It’s a sunny Sunday morning and I’m rambling down a drive towards a collection of parked cars. Lis Bastian spots me through the raspberry tunnel and a burgeoning potato crop. “Hi Hamish!” she sings out.

This is my last stop on the Blackheath community farm and garden trail. It’s the end of the trail, but the beginning of the story. It was the first community farm in the village, aptly named the Blackheath Community Farm. It’s on land owned by Mountains Christian College. Lis ran a permaculture course at the College over seven years ago. This led to a proposal to use a portion of the grounds for a community farm and the College and community rallied to support the project.

Fried green tomatoes

When I step into the large wire-netted enclosure there is a hubbub of activity. A group of volunteers are standing around a thriving tomato plant. The exclamations and laughter centres on some conical looking fruit. Not your standard supermarket offering, but they have that pungency that reminds me of childhood time in the garden with Dad.

The ones that have come a cropper are collected and someone proposes a recipe for fried green tomatoes. Add caramelised onion, lashings of Worcestershire sauce, a little sugar and serve on fried eggs.

Coriander seeds ready for cooking and storing and reseeding.

This farm is a little different than Cliff View and the Community Kitchen Garden. Its mandate is to grow community first, then locally acclimatised seed and finally food.

Volunteers come on a Sunday between 10 and 1, but on blue-sky days, people hang around until 3. There’s always a communal lunch. People bring different dishes and Lis’s sourdough bread is broken.

Everyone does a walk round first and then people choose what they want to do. Gathering the week’s crop is always exciting. Recipes are swapped over lunch. Connections are made. Friendships developed. And those who simply want to be with the earth and its bounty are left to their quiet joy.

Ash on strawberry quality control, with dad Robin in the background.

Seeds

Lis tells me the Farm keeps seeds circulating. She says that collecting seeds is really important. If you find plants that grow well in the unique Mountains conditions, preserving those species starts with seeds.

In her early years in Blackheath, she started a micro business called Crazy Climate Seeds. The packets fittingly featured a cockroach with a pitchfork and the tagline “If they can grow in Blackheath they can grow anywhere”. The same pack has been adapted for Farm seeds which get sold at Open Days and Garlic Sale Days. People can obtain seeds too by contacting Lis directly. Plants that go to seed are left to do so. Seeds are collected, including some for cooking, like coriander.

“Some seeds, like the parsnip over there, only stay viable for 12 months,” Lis says. There is a lovely history here. The parsnips have been growing in the garden since its inception. They were given to Lis 25 years ago by Anne Jolliffe. Anne lived in Blackheath and was one of Australia’s first female animators. Notably, Anne worked on the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine animation. They are now fondly described as Anne’s parsnips.

Other plants, like the perennial scarlet runner beans, grow vigorously along the garden’s edge. They too are stalwarts of seasons gone by.

Scarlet runner beans with Mel’s potatoes flourishing behind the chicken wire.

Other people have contributed plants to the garden. Mel Michael who has recently taken over The Vegie Patch in Blackheath regularly donates seedlings. “All those different potatoes thriving along there are from Mel,” Lis says. “She’s so generous and has an eye out for community.” Vegetable scraps also come from Mel to feed the compost. Volunteers bring organic matter too and a woman who rescues rabbits brings carbon in the form of a poo/straw mixture.

The compost of life

Lis Bastian with some of week’s vegetable harvest.

The Community Farm reflects one of two strong strands of Lis’s approach towards planetary health. “It’s hands in the dirt, meeting with lovely people, exercise, Vitamin D and building community. This is one way to be healthier yourself, and to start creating better, healthier systems,” she says.

“There’s a quote from a book called Braiding Sweetgrass,” she continues: “I dream of a time when the earth will give thanks for its people. The earth is amazing,” she says. “With so little care it still gives so much. With a little help, it’s bountiful. My focus is on everything that creates and supports life, rather than destroys it.”

In her role as Senior Lead for Blue Mountains City Council’s Planetary Health Initiative her second focus is on broader systemic change and includes the power of media and storytelling to change our culture, by sharing what people are doing in the world to make a difference. “Someone once told me, Whatever you do, spend your life peddling hope,” she expounds. “It’s about sharing news that’s also life-giving.”

“Since I learnt about climate change decades ago, doing something about it has been paramount. Doing things, even small things, matter to the planet. They have a huge impact on how you experience the world too. I want to live fully to the edges of my life every day. Death is inevitable, but our ‘job’ as an integral part of the natural world, is to live, and support life, with all our being while we can.”

Take Action:

• Help feed people in the community by volunteering at a community farm.

• Be part of community building by hanging out with people and plants.

• Enhance your mental health by getting some ‘green time’ in your diet.

Key Points

• While emergency responders prioritised human life and property during Australia’s 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, there were few systems in place to protect wildlife or evacuate and care for domestic animals during and after the fires, exposing a gap in disaster planning.

• Neighbours, wildlife carers, veterinarians, landholders and volunteers rapidly organised evacuations, rescue efforts, feeding stations and supply networks, demonstrating the power of local knowledge and grassroots coordination.

• Fire ecology research suggests animals may be more vulnerable to fire than previously understood, and more research is needed to understand wildlife mortality and survival during and post-bushfire.

• Experts say that community-led efforts could dramatically improve outcomes for both people and animals during disasters with better funding, coordination and institutional support. Community networks offer a blueprint for the future as bushfires become more frequent in a climate-changed world.

By Starre Vartan

Republished via Mongabay under a Creative Commons license.

NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia — A wallaby with a joey tucked into her pouch grazes beneath towering eucalyptus trees. Black cockatoos wheel overhead, their wailing calls echoing across the green hills of Vanessa Hartley’s property on the South Coast of New South Wales in Australia. A kangaroo bounces away, seeking better forage. The russet and golden horses that wander nearby are used to the wildlife: They ignore the bounding animals and the bird cries.

Standing there on a blue-sky autumn afternoon, it was difficult to imagine that just a few years earlier this same landscape was engulfed in flames.

“It was full-on,” Hartley said, scratching her brindled sheepdog’s ears. “The horse poo was spontaneously combusting.”

During Australia’s catastrophic Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, roughly 95% of Jerrawangala National Park burned as repeated fire fronts swept through. The park borders Hartley’s property, where she rehabilitates abused and surrendered horses before partnering them with people experiencing mental health challenges and disabilities as support animals.

When smoke rolled over the ridgeline behind her pastures, Hartley posted a message on Facebook asking for help. Within an hour, neighbours and strangers arrived with trucks and horse trailers and evacuated all 19 of Hartley’s horses. “It made me cry knowing how supported we were,” she said.

After the fires passed, Hartley returned to find another crisis unfolding. The surviving wildlife had little food or water, and the land was quiet.

When she finally spotted a bedraggled wallaby (Phascolarctos cinereus), then another, she was relieved. “But they were exhausted, dehydrated and really skittish.” First, she built simple water stations for the wallabies, kangaroos (Macropus), greater gliders (Petauroides volans), quolls (Dasyurus maculatus) and birds that shared her land. “Then we had about 15 feeding stations, so we’d put about 30 fruit rings out a day.”

According to remote-sensing data, more than 30 million hectares (74 million acres) burned across the continent during the Black Summer fires. Entire towns were cut off and homes destroyed. Thick smoke blanketed major cities. Researchers later estimated that nearly 3 billion vertebrates and up to 240 trillion invertebrates were killed, injured, displaced or otherwise affected by the fires.

While emergency systems focused overwhelmingly on protecting people and property, thousands of volunteers quickly built their own networks to care for wildlife and domestic animals that were ignored in official bushfire planning.

Now, six years later, researchers, firefighters and wildlife rescuers say those community networks remain one of Australia’s greatest — and most overlooked — resources for protecting animals as climate-driven disasters intensify.

The not-so-forgotten animals

“It was a huge response from communities,” said Danielle Celermajer, a professor of sociology at the University of Sydney and author of the book “Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future.”

At the time of the Black Summer bushfires, Celermajer was living on a multispecies sanctuary in the Shoalhaven region, caring for dozens of animals, including pigs and donkeys, that share the land with wombats (Vombatus ursinus), superb lyre birds (Menura novaehollandiae), kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and wallabies. On Dec. 28, 2019, she realised that the huge Currowan State Forest Fire that had been lapping the river for weeks was about to cross it.

Like Hartley, she turned to Facebook, and within hours, trucks arrived.

“We evacuated animals to different places, and I quickly became aware of the networks that were operating,” Celermajer said.

The experience led her to team up with an interdisciplinary group of academics to create a major research project published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science in 2025. They wanted to learn what worked on the ground — and what didn’t — during the bushfires. “If you look at disaster management policy, there is no policy to protect or rescue animals,” Celermajer said. “The only subjects of concern for the state are human beings and human property.”

They examined how communities self-organised to care for wildlife, domestic and companion animals during the fires. Celermajer and her colleagues conducted 56 in-depth interviews over four days of community workshops. They consulted residents, wildlife carers, farmers and emergency personnel who had first-hand experience with animals during the disaster.

The research found that communities were often exceptionally well positioned to respond because of their local knowledge and existing relationships. These “coordinating mechanisms” are what’s key. That understanding led her team to develop a proof-of-concept app that could connect people needing assistance with those offering resources such as transport, feed, shelter or animal care.

The goal was not to replace community networks, but to strengthen them. Against what she describes as the “systematic anthropocentrism” of government institutions, dozens of documented community responses demonstrated that many people viewed both wildlife and domestic animals as fellow victims of a climate disaster.

“People do care,” she said. “They care about the fact that a human-driven catastrophe is having massive effects on beings other than humans.”

Learning more about fire and wildlife

Animals of all kinds were fed, watered or given emergency vet assistance — it wasn’t just beloved icons like koalas and wallabies, though there were dozens of news stories about those species. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) were rescued from dried-out creeks (and later returned, post-fire and post-drought). Volunteers gave pythons water. In Victoria, 19 endangered Spencer’s tree frogs (Litoria spenceri) were collected from areas ravaged by fire and taken into a captive-breeding program; they were threatened by post-fire waterway pollution, not the fires themselves.

One thing the experts agree on: There’s much more to learn about the best ways to help animals during and after fires. Knowing more about what happens to them when fire moves through a landscape could help experts and communities respond in smarter, better ways.

Scientists often divide fire impacts into two categories. There are the indirect effects that occur after a fire, such as habitat destruction and food shortages.

Then there are the direct effects: Whether animals survive the fire itself. “We know almost nothing about that,” said Phil Zylstra, a professor of fire ecology at Curtin University.

One reason is that it is difficult to study. Fires are dangerous. A blaze can change its trajectory with a shift in the wind and scorch through remote areas. Researchers rarely have the opportunity to track individual animals before, during and after a blaze.

As a result, a longstanding assumption has taken hold: That many animals are able to escape. But Zylstra and other experts say this may not be as true as people might hope, depending on the animal. Slower-moving animals or those that rely on climbing into treetops, like koalas and greater gliders, are especially at risk. “What I’m seeing,” Zylstra said of these more vulnerable animals, “is that they’re not okay.”

His research on greater gliders, an endangered marsupial that spends most of its life in the forest canopy, illustrates the problem. During fires, the tree hollows they call home — often found in standing dead trees — become deadly traps as flames enter cavities and burn upward, like in a chimney.

Other animals flee heat and smoke, only to find themselves displaced into already crowded habitat, or in human settlements that are often built right up to the edge of the bush.

Smoke itself is an underappreciated threat. During the Black Summer fires, researchers documented deaths among smoky mice (Pseudomys fumeus) located roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the nearest fire front. Autopsies found smoke particles had damaged their lungs. “Animals don’t have to be near the fire front to be affected,” Zylstra said.

The dangers extend beyond large bushfires. Zylstra argues that prescribed burns that are intentionally lit to reduce “fuel loads” — the quantity of combustible material — can also have significant consequences for wildlife.

Unlike wildfires, which typically advance as a moving front, prescribed burns are often ignited from multiple locations within a burn area, creating a wall of fire that encircles wildlife.

“There’s nowhere to run to,” Zylstra said. In the Warrungup Spring Reserve south of Perth in Western Australia, a prescribed burn killed 17 of 22 critically endangered western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), a mortality rate of roughly 77%.

What really helps wildlife

The broader question, Zylstra said, is whether fire management strategies are adequately accounting for wildlife at all. “We have this goal that we have to burn things,” he said. But native wildlife has evolved with occasional fire, not regular burns that eliminate habitat repeatedly every few years.

Not all fire scientists agree with Zylstra’s conclusions. But his research highlights a growing tension in Australia: How to protect human communities from bushfires while also safeguarding increasingly vulnerable wildlife populations?

Zylstra says serving one serves both, pointing to his 2022 study that shows mature forests have naturally low levels of undergrowth, which slows fires. Those forests also provide the best habitat for wildlife, including trees tall enough for threatened and endangered marsupials to escape into and survive.

Even when animals survive the flames, their challenges are often only beginning.

In the weeks after a bushfire, landscapes can become biological deserts. Water sources disappear. Grasses and shrubs have been torched. Tree canopies that once provided food and shelter are reduced to blackened trunks or inaccessible.

That’s when people like Mel Darer step in.

A wildlife rescuer and veterinary nurse in the state of Victoria, Darer has spent years helping coordinate aid during bushfire emergencies. Following fires, she always starts with the basics.

“Every animal needs water,” she said, which might be contaminated or nonexistent since drought usually precedes fire. “So water stations are massively important.”

Food is next. In fire-affected areas, volunteers like her often distribute hay, chaff, supplementary feed, fruit, vegetables and salt licks to help wildlife survive until vegetation begins to recover.

“It’s just a very basic roughage with a small amount of nutrients to try to get them through until the bush starts to regenerate,” she said.

During the Black Summer bushfires, Darer helped organise donations, veterinary supplies, animal feed and transport for both wildlife organisations and rural communities. Much that was donated proved useless, she said, which is why having a coordinator with knowledge of wildlife-specific veterinary needs, as well as bushfire experience, is important.

Shelters required medical supplies to treat injured animals, especially burn creams and bandaging materials. They also needed nutritional supplements, fluids and veterinary equipment like wallaby-sized splints and syringes appropriate for tiny marsupials.

Wildlife carers worked around the clock treating animals that survived the blaze, only to emerge dehydrated, starving or badly injured, that were often brought in by concerned members of the community.

Stronger support is needed

Darer has now volunteered her time through a number of bushfires. The most recent was in January 2026 in Victoria.

She says she hasn’t seen promised change in how the government works with community members, including increased access for volunteers.

Following Black Summer, government agencies, wildlife organisations and veterinarians worked to improve emergency wildlife response through new training programs and networks. One initiative, the Wildlife Emergency Support Network, was established to create a larger, accredited wildlife emergency response team that would quickly allow veterinary and wildlife experts into fire zones.

Many in the wildlife community hoped it would be a turning point. Instead, Darer says, recent fires suggest many of the same obstacles remain. “We are still excluded,” she said. According to Darer, government officials prevented wildlife organisations, veterinarians and trained volunteers from entering fire-affected areas for weeks.

“Three days is the time frame that you need to be getting to these animals to turn things around,” she said. “Weeks later is not going to be of any benefit.”

Even efforts to provide food and water to wildlife have sometimes encountered resistance from officials. Darer said she encouraged landholders to support wildlife on their own properties during recent fires by placing out water and supplementary feed where it was safe to do so.

“They know the wombats (Vombatus ursinus) that live there,” she said. “They know the mobs [of kangaroos and wallabies] that live there. They know this is the area where there’s some greater gliders.”

That local knowledge can never be replaced by government programs that are already stretched thin, according to Celermajer. That’s exactly why her team’s research found that “communities are actually very, very well placed to do this [rescue work]. But they have to have proper support.”

The volunteers working with Darer and Celermajer have told them that the loss of wildlife can be emotionally devastating. Hartley said that grief is also very familiar to her, causing tears to flow even years later.

After the fire, the marsupials large and small, birds, possums and countless other animals that called Hartley’s property home had lost food, shelter and access to water. She wondered if she had done enough, but the impact was real for the animals that were able to drink from the water stations that were quickly set up on her property, which still stand today.

She hopes they won’t be needed, but the reality is they may well be. Seasonal bushfires are now always on Australians’ minds, for good reason. This fire season, the Bureau of Meteorology has declared an El Niño event that forecasters say could become one of the strongest on record, raising the likelihood of the hotter, drier conditions that elevates bushfire risk.

As Australia’s fire seasons grow longer and more intense, community networks like Hartley’s and Darer’s may prove to be one of the country’s most fundamentally important forms of disaster preparedness for native wildlife.

Banner image: Koalas typically climb into the upper reaches of trees to escape fire, but during the massive Black Summer bushfires, this wasn’t always a lifesaving strategy. Many surviving koalas suffered extreme burns to their paws and other body parts and required intensive intervention from specialised wildlife shelters. Image by Till Niermann via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

This article was originally published on August 24, 2026 on Mongabay and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/rescue-networks-built-by-fire-saving-animals-from-australias-bushfires/

Nigel Bell outside his Katoomba studio (Liz Durnan)

Story by Liz Durnan

It’s a dream for many of us: a home among the gum trees, lounging on an elevated timber deck. But turning that dream into a reality in one of the most bushfire-prone regions in the country can be fraught with complexity. Here, architect Nigel Bell helps us navigate the fundamental design principles when building or renovating for bushfire resilience.

In the aftermath of Victoria’s catastrophic ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires which killed 117 people, Katoomba architect Nigel Bell facilitated the recovery and rebuild of one of the worst affected towns, Marysville, where fires took 43 lives and destroyed more than 400 homes.

With the crucial lessons from these 2009 fires and previous expertise as an architect specialising in designing for bushfire and climate change, Nigel and landscape architect Sue Bell, developed a workshop, Bushfire Resilient Design – Home and Garden which they hosted at Nigel’s Katoomba studio.

Slideshow from the Bushfire Resilient Design – Home and Garden workshop. Courtesy of Nigel Bell

Nigel outlined the design fundamentals for anyone wanting to build or retrofit a home in bushfire-prone areas, which is almost all of us who live here in the Blue Mountains.

“We are in the front line when it comes to having to consider bushfires,” Nigel says. “74 per cent of all properties in the Blue Mountains are officially bushfire affected.”

The first thing to consider, before building or retrofitting, is where a property is in relation to vegetation and bushland, and the slope of the land.

“Because the fundamental is that a fire will double in speed and intensity with every extra 10 degrees of slope,” Nigel says.

Slideshow from the workshop. Illustration by Greg Gaul

“And of course, in the Blue Mountains, we’re living on top of the ridge and the bushland is below us. When a fire starts, it travels with increasing speed up the hillside. The flame is leaning towards buildings, particularly if you’re building high, which is not a good idea. Build low into the ground wherever possible.”

What Nigel emphasises throughout this workshop is the importance of understanding that it’s ember attack – not flames – which most often ignite buildings. These may come ahead of the fire or they may follow hours, or even days, later.

“It’s burning embers that people need to keep in mind when they are designing, selecting materials and thinking about what’s around their house. Consider what embers will do on a timber deck. They can ignite a doormat and slowly burn away until it ignites the door and becomes unstoppable.

“With extreme winds, radiant heat and burning embers, it’s quite a combination that our buildings have to deal with.”

Slideshow from workshop. Illustration by Greg Gaul

When Nigel visited Marysville in the immediate aftermath of the 2009 fires, the community and agencies faced difficult decisions about how to rebuild the town: where to build, how to build and in some cases, whether to build at all.

Understandably, the town was still in shock and there were mixed feelings from many concerned, but a ‘revisioning day’ was held for the community to have their say about expectations for the future.

“We had to try to be positive and give people hope,” Nigel says. “We had 300 or so people turn up and close to 50 volunteer facilitators.

“We employed very distinct processes to work through cathartically, from the upset, the tears, the lament, into more positive territory, in a considered and deliberate way.”

Months later they held a design ‘charette’, which is a collaborative, community-driven planning and design process.

“Instead of calling in the high-powered designers from the capital cities, the people were directly involved in their own community recovery. And that has been part of the cathartic rebuilding.’

A combination of government agencies and local people participated in workshops for two and half days to discuss the fundamental issues, while a group of architects, planners, designers, engineers, water specialists and landscape architects listened in and worked on new design principles for the town.

This method of collaboration, Nigel says, was so much more inclusive, with the voices of those affected listened to and considered for future planning.

“Instead of the traditional way where angry and loud voices dominate and most people don’t get a chance to speak or they’re too intimidated, everyone has an equal voice and with good leadership, you get breakthrough solutions.”

The lessons from those workshops not only helped to rebuild Marysville and other communities, they are now informing Nigel’s workshops, including this one.

“The principles were clear in that town, in that the higher up the hillside you were, the more risk to your house.

One home that survived those fires stands out in Nigel’s memory: “It was cut into the hillside, and made of non-combustible, concrete blockwork, aluminium window frames and toughened glass windows.”

While all these elements played a part, Nigel credits the sprinkler system fitted by the owner as the main reason for the home’s survival: “A whole mist of water surrounded the building when the fire and burning embers passed through.”

Other houses that survived sat in gullies. Though the creek beds were dry, the remnant moisture was enough to save the houses, as the fire raced up the hill and took out other homes.

This leads Nigel back to the importance of location and the relationship of land and vegetation as a starting point. Next comes the form and materials of construction.

Slideshow from workshop. Illustration by Greg Gaul.

One of the key principles of designing to withstand bushfire is simplicity – of floorplan and roofs.

“If you have a house with all kinds of angles and kinks, that’s where the embers are going to catch,” he says. “Whereas, if you’ve got a more aerodynamic house on plan, but also in roof form, there’s a very good chance that the burning embers will continue on and not get caught.”

Complex designs can include dormer windows and gable roofs with tiles, where embers can get caught and ignite. This often happens underneath the roof and isn’t detected until it’s too late and the ceilings start to collapse.

Another key design principle comes down to the choice of materials. This is obviously limited by budget and the fire rating which every property is bound by – the Bushfire Attack Level, commonly known as the BAL rating.

BAL, downloaded from What is a BAL ? (Bushfire Attack Level) – Bushfire Prone Planning – BAL Assessments

When retrofitting or building, people need to think carefully about the recommendations, says Nigel, and it’s just as important for older properties, with one major weak point being windows and doors.

“Covering the entire window frame with metal flyscreens alone will cut down the radiant heat on the glass by up to 50 per cent. Then embers aren’t going to fester away in the corner of timber windows and doors.”

For existing homes, many timber decks would no longer be admissible in today’s restrictions. If you already have one, like the one Nigel points to in his own home, there are ways to make it safer without removing it completely.

“I’m not about to change that immediately but I will be putting a little corrugated metal skirt around the underside so that embers can’t get in underneath the deck.”

Slideshow from workshop. Illustration by Greg Gaul

It’s also important for people to reconsider what they store under the timber decks of elevated houses. Fuels or motor mowers containing fuel are definitely a no-no.

Materials for gutters are important too – metal guards and no timber thermoplastics.

While it’s not always possible to give hard and fast rules, because all properties will differ, as will all bushfires, there are a variety of bushfire attack mechanisms. “You just need to think where you are and what’s best in your particular circumstances,” Nigel says.

Nigel covers many of these latest mechanisms in the workshop, including sprinkler systems, metal shutters for windows and doors, even private bunkers (though many of these are not approved by Australian Standards).

Of course, the issue for many people with installing such mechanisms, and the restrictions on building materials, is the often prohibitive cost when building in high-risk areas.

“Unfortunately, no matter what you do, it is significantly more expensive if you’re in a high to extreme BAL area,” says Nigel. “It’s inevitable you will be paying considerably more than a standard expensive house price.

“The regulations are highly specific to what the BAL rating is. The windows, the doors, the decking, the wall materials, all require a fire rating before you will get permission to add to your home or build a new home.”

Nigel advises clients to consider moving their future home further away from native vegetation. Sometimes he may even ask them to re-consider building altogether.

“In some cases, I’ve said: ‘Look, I frankly don’t want to be involved in this project because you’re living along the edge of a distant ridge away from the main transport corridor, and you’re living in a bad bushfire situation.’”

Harsh as it might sound, it makes sense when you consider how closely Nigel worked with the Marysville recovery.

Slideshow from workshop. Illustration by Greg Gaul

Whether building from scratch, renovating, or living in an older Mountains home, we can all be more resilient by regularly maintaining our buildings and our gardens, and having a clear plan.

As Nigel says, “We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Part Two of this article will focus on gardening and landscape for bushfire.

Bushfire Resilient Design – Home and Garden was sponsored by the Katoomba Tool Library Toolo

Nigel Bell is an architect specialising in sustainable building. His practice, ECOdesign Architects, has represented the Australian Institute of Architects on the three ‘bushfire’ Australian Standards regulations (sprinklers, bunkers and construction) as well as giving evidence for the 2020 Royal Commission. For more on Nigel Bell and ECOdesign go to:

https://www.ecodesignarchitects.com.au/

See Nigel Bell’s article in Sanctuary here: Beating bushfire: retrofitting for safer homes in fire-prone areas.

This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.

By Richard Fuller, The University of Queensland and Rachel Oh, National University of Singapore.

The two of us can often be found in a patch of scrubby bushland, phone in hand, slowly scanning for plants. Or crouched behind a tree trunk with binoculars, pausing mid-breath to find the source of a bird call. It often feels like a treasure hunt. What will turn up today? And how can we share those observations with the world?

Activities such as these are part of citizen science, where volunteers record observations of the natural world and share them with others.

We are both professional ecologists, but our most joyful moments with nature often begin with a simple act: stepping outside and paying attention to it. And our research suggests these experiences may do more than support science. They may also benefit our mental health.

Some days it’s a common species we’ve seen a hundred times before. Other days it’s something unexpected that brings a surge of excitement.

Being outside like this can feel freeing. You focus on the present, move your body and think about where to place your feet, without worrying about your email inbox or endless other demands on your attention. You begin noticing small details you might usually rush past.

That sense of curiosity, connection and shared purpose is something many people recognise when they take part in citizen science.

Supporting mental wellbeing

Citizen science projects invite people to collect data about the natural world.

Platforms such as eBird, iNaturalist, FrogID and Redmap allow anyone armed with curiosity and a smartphone to record wildlife observations and contribute to scientific research. Millions of people around the world now take part in these kinds of projects.

In a recent study of citizen science participants, we examined how taking part in wildlife monitoring projects affects people’s mental wellbeing.

Participants consistently described feeling better after taking part. One volunteer told us:

I come home tired, but it’s a good tired. My head feels clearer, like I’ve pressed reset.

Another explained that learning to identify species changed how they experienced everyday walks:

I don’t just see “green” anymore. Now I notice the differences between plants, their ecological value and the pressures they face.

Part of the explanation is simple: spending time in nature is already known to reduce stress, improve mood and support mental wellbeing.

But citizen science goes a step further.

Rather than simply visiting a park, people actively engage with the environment. They observe closely, record what they see and contribute to something larger than themselves. This sense of purpose can deepen the benefits of being outside.

Citizen science is also inherently social. Many projects bring people together to collect data, share observations or learn from others. These interactions can help reduce social isolation, which is a major risk factor for poor mental health.

For some participants, particularly older adults, citizen science can also be empowering. It provides opportunities to use existing skills, learn new ones and feel that their contributions matter.

Taken together, elements of nature exposure, physical activity, learning and social connection create a powerful mix that supports wellbeing.

How you participate matters

Not all citizen science experiences are the same, and this may influence their health benefits.

In a 2025 study we explored this using a concept borrowed from public health called dose-response – how much participation is needed to produce benefits?

Three ingredients appear particularly important: frequency (how often someone takes part), duration (how long activities last) and intensity, which can include the richness of the environment, the diversity of species encountered or the depth of interaction between participants.

Short, one-off activities can still boost mood and encourage movement. But regular participation is more likely to produce longer-lasting benefits. Like exercise, small amounts done often may be better than one big effort followed by long gaps.

Citizen science can also bring physical health benefits. Many projects involve walking, bending, standing or light hiking. These activities support mobility and cardiovascular health.

For communities at risk of social isolation or physical inactivity, these benefits may be profoundly valuable.

How can citizen science do even more?

Despite this potential, most citizen science projects are not designed with health outcomes in mind. That means opportunities are being missed.

A 2025 study suggests even short nature-based citizen science activities can quickly improve mood and reduce stress.

Longer-term mental health conditions are influenced by many factors and usually require sustained support. Citizen science will not replace medical care. But it can help strengthen the foundations of wellbeing: positive emotions, physical activity, social connection and a sense of purpose.

At a population level, these building blocks matter. They build our ability to cope with challenges and recover from stress.

To maximise these benefits, citizen science projects must be inclusive. People who already feel connected to nature are more likely to take part.

But this is also the group that tends to report better mental and physical health, meaning participation can unintentionally reinforce existing health inequalities.

Field-based projects may unintentionally exclude people with mobility challenges, limited time or poor access to green space. Yet many of these individuals could contribute meaningfully if projects were designed with accessibility in mind.

Recognising citizen science not only as a research tool, but also as a way to support public health opens new opportunities.

When designed thoughtfully, citizen science can benefit both biodiversity and people. And for participants, it offers something simple but powerful: a reason to step outside, pay attention, and reconnect with the living world around them.

About the authors

Richard Fuller, Professor in Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of Queensland and Rachel Oh, Research Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Professor Lynne Madden from The University of Notre Dame presenting on the connection between human health and a healthy environment.

Recently around 160 first year medical students were introduced to Planetary Health and Dharug culture at the Planetary Health Centre, with presentations by Professor Lynne Madden from The University of Notre Dame Australia and Dharug man Chris Tobin.

Key Points:

• The Rural Clinical School of The University of Notre Dame in Lithgow and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre have been introducing first year medical students to rural medicine, Aboriginal Health and Planetary Health for three years.

• In Australia, heatwaves kill more people than all other natural disasters combined, and we need a whole-of-community response to reduce the impact of heat on public health and biodiversity.

• A healthy biodiverse environment supports human health.

Increasingly, medical practitioners are recognising the impact of the environment on human health and that we need to protect the health of our planet to safeguard human health.

For the last three years, The University of Notre Dame Australia has been bringing first year medical students to the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre and Notre Dame’s Rural Clinical School in Lithgow, to deliver its Rural Indigenous Immersion Program.

The focus is on rural medicine, Aboriginal Health and Planetary Health.

Chris Tobin discussing Dharug culture with medical students in the Planetary Health Centre Gallery

Last week around 160 students were introduced to Planetary Health and Dharug culture at the Planetary Health Centre, with presentations by Dharug man Chris Tobin, Professor Lynne Madden from Notre Dame, and Lis Bastian from the Planetary Health Centre.

A slide from Professor Madden’s presentation

With 2024 being the hottest year on record, within the hottest decade on record, assisting future doctors prepare for heatwaves has become an important focus area of these programs. Heat waves kill more people than all other natural disasters combined. For example, in 2024 the WHO estimated that 175,000 people die annually from heat stress in the European region.

“They are all preventable deaths,” stressed Professor Madden. “You can prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality if you’re aware. Some drugs you are going to prescribe,” she explained to the students, “are going to make people more heat sensitive. You’re going to have to be factoring this into your care.”

Professor Lynne Madden highlighted that a large section of the population, that includes babies, pregnant women, people on certain medications (including some anti-hypertensives), and people over 65, are more vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves because of a reduced capacity to thermoregulate.

“We actually know a lot more now about the physiology of thermoregulation. And some of that work has been done at Sydney University by Professor Ollie Jay, Professor of Heat and Health. Anything that Ollie writes is worth reading,” said Lynne.

Heat Effect on Human Body – From Series on Heat and Health in the Lancet co-led by Professor Ollie Jay (read more here https://airhealthourhealth.org/heatkills/ )

Professor Madden shared these simple evidence-informed solutions to help people cope with heatwaves:

Jay O, Capon A, Berry P, et al. Reducing the health effects of hot weather and heat extremes: from personal cooling strategies to green cities. The Lancet 2021.

You can watch Professor Madden’s full presentation here:

Through Lis Bastian’s presentation, and group exercises using thermal imaging cameras, the students learnt how surface temperatures can be dramatically higher than air temperatures (think about when you try walking barefoot on an asphalt road on a hot day!) and that a strategy to reduce impacts of heatwaves, and the ‘heat island effect’, is to ensure we use more natural surfaces which contain water.

Water cools areas in summer and warms them in winter. Grass, for example, is much cooler than pavers and woodchip or artificial surfaces. Colour is also important: light roofs and surfaces are cooler than dark surfaces.

Saskia Everingham demonstrating how to use a thermal imaging camera.

Students experimenting with thermal imaging cameras (NB. Blue Mountains Library has thermal imaging cameras available for loan and they can also be used to identify where cold air is entering your house in winter.)

Lis highlighted how children’s playgrounds, built with artificial surfaces, become dangerously hot in heatwaves, as this thermal photograph indicates: with hot artificial surfaces red and yellow, and grass and shade much cooler as indicated by blue.

The students broke into groups to address strategies to moderate temperatures both inside and outside the building.

Designing ‘Cooler’ Bus Stops

Six groups of students over the two days were given the task of designing a bus shelter for the Planetary Health Centre that would be accessible and provide a safe cool place to wait for public transport during heatwaves.

Discussing the bus stop outside the Planetary Health Centre

The students took this further and considered all weather conditions, coming up with a range of suggestions the Planetary Health Centre now hopes to use to apply for funding to build a bus shelter.

Together they addressed many aspects of what should be considered in designing better bus stops: providing shelter by adding a roof (and even roof garden), with surrounding trees for natural cooling shade, seating, water fountains, walls for protection from wind and rain, solar panels for electronic timetables and lighting to provide security for people waiting at night, emergency call services, information in braille, garbage bins, grassed areas and water for guide dogs, and ramps to improve accessibility.

‘The Shak’ could be the ultimate bus stop, a destination in itself!

At the end of the day one group took the concept of ‘cooler’ literally and amused everyone with their design for ‘The Shak’. Made out of recycled timber it included seating using recycled movie theatre seats and recycled sofa beds from Event Cinemas, as well as a Netflix screen to entertain people while waiting. The shelter was covered in solar panels to power the Netflix screen and fairy lights, and a dual electronic bus timetable that would indicate to bus drivers if people were waiting. The shelter also included an accessibility ramp, a water fountain, a bathroom, and a coffee shop!

Take Action:

• Learn more about heatwaves and human health at the Heat and Health Research Centre at Sydney University here:
  https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/our-research/research-centres/heat-and-health-research-centre.html
  

• Learn about creating cooler spaces for all species on our Circular Water page here https://bmpluriversity.org/circular-water/ (scroll to the bottom for Heatwave) and watch our video on the Urban Heat Island and how to use a thermal imaging camera here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_cb1jyQUlU&t=689s
  

• Learn about Sweltering Cities and their Busted Bus Stops program advocating for better bus shelters in Western Sydney here: https://swelteringcities.org/busted-bus-stops/

By Andrew King,The University of Melbourne

When major new climate change scenarios are released, there’s always strong interest. These scenarios lay out what our future climate will look like, depending on how fast we act to cut emissions.

But what was surprising about the seven new scenarios announced last week was that United States President Donald Trump took an interest.

Why? Because a high-emissions scenario – known as RCP8.5 and its successor SSP5-8.5 – had been removed. Under these worst-case scenarios, nations would make no effort to cut emissions and expand fossil fuel use. By 2100, carbon dioxide levels would almost triple, to 1,135 parts per million and the world would be around 4.5°C hotter than the pre-industrial period.

The climate scientists responsible for laying out the range of possible futures removed the RCP8.5 scenarios for a very good reason. Although often slow and incomplete, our efforts to tackle climate change have made a tangible difference. We have averted the worst climate future once thought possible.

The job is far from done. Emissions are at record highs and global warming is speeding up.

But the removal of this high-emissions scenario isn’t, as Trump and other climate sceptics have claimed, a sign of failed modelling, or that climate change was a hoax. It’s a sign the expansion of solar, wind, electric vehicles and batteries have slowed emissions growth.

How are these scenarios made?

Many climate impacts are becoming evident after about 1.4°C of warming – the level we’re roughly at now.

Because this period of extremely rapid climate change is due to human activities, it means we also have the opportunity to shape the future.

What will this look like? Will the world keep heating up, or will rapid action cut emissions and bring warming to a halt? The answer will make a big difference to the future humanity faces.

Predicting anything is difficult. But a group of scientists has created scenarios representing a range of possible climate futures.

Because the future is not set, scientists lay out a range of possible pathways for our future greenhouse gas emissions. They base them on what’s happened so far and what might happen in politics and technology over coming decades.

Then they select the emissions pathways deemed most plausible and then sample a range of different futures which are more or less optimistic about our fossil fuel use.

Scientific groups around the world then model these scenarios in depth using different climate models to ensure there’s a large amount of data available at global, regional and local levels.

These scenarios aren’t ranked by how likely they are. All are considered to be plausible futures. The huge range of temperature outcomes – approaching 2°C between the most and least optimistic scenarios by 2100 – points to how much of the future is in our hands.

Why the fuss about RCP8.5?

The two previous releases included two closely related scenarios – RCP8.5 and SSP5-8.5 respectively.

Here, “8.5” refers to radiative forcing – the level of extra heat (in watts) trapped per square metre by 2100.

In these worst-case scenarios, the world sharply boosts fossil fuel use. Unsurprisingly, this leads to very high amounts of global warming. Scientists have long argued over whether this was plausible in the first place.

None of the new scenarios are as pessimistic as RCP8.5/SSP5-8.5. The worst possible scenario now envisions high emissions leading to warming of around 3.5°C by 2100. That would still be very, very bad.

Sceptics acting in bad faith

Climate sceptics leapt on the removal of RCP8.5 as a sign the projections were wrong. These attacks were not made in good faith, but to cast doubt on climate science.

A clear eyed assessment is that RCP8.5 was removed because climate action is starting to work.

But while the worst outcome has been averted, we have also missed the window for the best future climate.

The new scenarios have no pathway as optimistic as the lowest emissions scenario from the last round of major climate projections. That scenario – SSP1-1.9 – envisaged strong climate action and rapid cuts to emissions, leading to global warming peaking at around 1.5°C.

Because global emissions haven’t yet begun to fall, the most optimistic new pathway would lead to warming peaking at about 1.9°C.

While we will definitely now pass 1.5°C, the hope is to only temporarily overshoot that level of warming while working to draw carbon dioxide back out of the atmosphere to get back to 1.5°C.

Our current emissions trajectory is somewhere in the middle – below the high emissions path but well above the most optimistic scenario. Based on current policies and countries’ actions, we’re looking at around 2.6°C warming by 2100.

You might wonder why we need to keep redoing these climate scenarios.

One reason: facts change on the ground. Solar keeps rolling out far faster than expected, but fracking has opened up large new fossil fuel deposits. Political shifts make climate action more or less likely.

Another is because our climate models are continually improving. The better the models get, the more accurate and detailed our projections of sea level rise and other climate impacts can be.

Yes, this is progress

Taking RCP8.5 off the table is a sign of progress – we’ve avoided the worst-case scenario. But we have also missed the best case future.

The next five years could play out in many different ways, leading to better or worse future climates. We must understand and prepare for what we’re facing – and double down on our efforts to create the best future possible.

Andrew King, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Hartley Rural Fire Service Volunteers Jacqui Evans, Ethan Forester and Kaitlyn McLaughlin at Get Ready Weekend

Story and photos by Tracie McMahon

In September each year, rural fire sheds across NSW, including Hartley, host Get Ready days to help their communities prepare. Hosted by local brigade members, they provide invaluable advice on local conditions and things you can do to prepare your property and family for fire season.

Key Points:

• A well-prepared property and bushfire survival plan are essential in bushfire prone areas.

• Access to water and properties are essential for reducing damage. If you have a accessible dam, pool or tank on your property, put a static water supply (SWS) sign at your property entrance, so the RFS knows water is available.

• If you have questions, want to volunteer, or would like to get to know the Hartley volunteers, they meet every Thursday 6-8 pm at the Hartley Rural Fire Service Shed, Mid Hartley Road, Hartley.

I’m quite surprised when I arrive at Hartley Shed for Get Ready Day. So much has changed since I was a member of this brigade over twenty years ago. ‘Back in the day’ we met monthly to train and organise back-burning, supported by one or two trucks, and I reckon I made a sausage sandwich or two.  I was expecting to happily indulge in a BBQ lunch, check out the trucks and equipment and be on my way. Instead, I am greeted by complex firefighting equipment, professionally prepared handouts and uniformed men, women and youths, ready to respond to the questions of their community.

Three tables are loaded with resources covering everything from bushfire survival plans for people, properties, and animals, to facts about lighting a fire at any time of the year. A dozen volunteers are available to answer questions. As I fill my bag with pamphlets, locals come for advice: asking questions about firefighting pumps, making decisions about when to leave, or initiating young children into the sights and sounds of fire season in Australia.

Christina Forester, Hartley Rural Fire Brigade Community Engagement Officer, explains that it is important that everyone assess their own risks, as every property and person is unique. The information available in the handouts has been prepared by experts to guide households through the steps involved in preparing for fire. All the resources on hand at Get Ready Weekend are also available online here: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare

Key steps recommended by the NSW Rural Fire Service to prepare for a bush fire.

Outside the shed there are three state-of-the-art fire vehicles, including a specialised unit designed for structural fires. Lewis and Logan Gurney, who at fifteen-years-of-age have been cadet members of the RFS for three years, point out some of the equipment they are learning to use. They will be able to work on a fireground at sixteen once they have completed the relevant training modules.

RFS cadets: Lewis and Logan Gurney explaining equipment used in structural firefighting

I ask the cadets how they feel about active firefighting and they tell me they are looking forward to completing their BF qualifications and assisting on the fire front. Their father, Corey Gurney, explains that even as cadets their efforts are highly valued. The brigade has over seventy members aged from twelve to almost ninety. Age and physical ability are no barrier to involvement as there are many unseen tasks involved in fighting fires.

Activities such as communications, preparing and delivering meals and supplies to firefighters, and social support are essential. Corey says when active firefighters return to the shed, it is a relief to just knock off and have a sleep, knowing that your fellow members will check and restock the truck ready for the next call. They are familiar with exactly what is needed and where it goes. 

In times of fire the shed is a magnet for locals dropping by to find out what is happening and what they should do. Non-firefighting volunteers take turns at the shed to ensure the community has an informed local face to answer their many questions.

Some volunteers have been with the brigade for decades, while others are more recent recruits. As they sit for a cuppa, I ask what it was like to be a brigade member during the 19/20 Black Summer fires. They explain that they had two trucks in operation from mid-November until the end of the event, doing back-to-back shifts. 

Hartley Rural Fire Brigade Volunteers at Get Ready Day, talking about their experiences

That fire season drew attention to the reality of living with fire in Hartley. They point to a well-thumbed map pinned to the shed wall showing the fire rating of Hartley. Red indicates bush fire prone land that can support or sustain a bush fire.

Red indicates areas within Hartley’s area of responsibility considered bushfire prone or able to sustain a bushfire.

Volunteers flick through phones showing me images of the fire front at Hartley Vale in the early hours of the morning. Instead of the fire cooling, as is common at this time of day, it is spiralling and feeding on itself. The tree canopy is crimson, shooting a golden rain of embers in all directions.

Black Summer fires in Hartley. Image supplied by Corey Gurney.

I am surprised as I hear the calm, assured voices in the footage, and I ask how they prepare themselves for such a dangerous task. Kaitlyn McLaughlin, a young brigade member, explains that she feels well trained and protected on the job. The truck windows are fitted with flame covers, and there are thick fire blankets quickly accessible. The exterior has a ‘halo’ to spray the truck with water, protecting it, and its occupants.

She and Logan Gurney offer a demonstration of the safety equipment.  As we sit in the cab surrounded by crackling radios and an array of levers and dials necessary to monitor conditions and the truck, I take the opportunity to ask Kaitlyn how she came to be a member of the brigade and what she has experienced as a volunteer.

Join me for a sample of the activities at Get Ready Day in Hartley as Kaitlyn shares her story:

Each of the volunteers has a similar story. They are here for their community. They tell me that is what Get Ready Weekend is about: helping the community prepare for fire season. I ask if there is anything locals should pay particular attention to? 

They indicate there are simple things that apply everywhere but are especially relevant in rural areas like Hartley.

How to Get Ready:

1. Maintain your yard and access. Ensure there is a buffer on the boundary of the property with short well-kept grass and that the property is accessible. Clear all debris and material that can burn and prevent access from around a property.  A fire truck requires a clearance of 3.5 metres high by 3 metres wide. In the last few seasons of plentiful rain, trees and shrubs may have grown or thickened. If a tree branch is lower than 3.5 metres it can strike the Halo equipment that protects the crew in the truck, endangering lives. In a fire situation there is not enough time to clear vegetation. Access routes for trucks should not be locked.

2. Have a mobile water source. A 1000L tank on a trailer with a firefighting pump is invaluable. Depending on use, the pump and water will last up to eight hours, buying valuable time for you and your property.  You should have a hose or hoses that reach all around the house.

3. If you have a dam, tank or pool on site make sure the RFS knows by placing a ‘SWS’ sign on the entrance to your property. Hartley RFS does not have mains water and is reliant on tank water at the shed, stands in Lithgow or Mt Victoria or static water supplies (dams, tanks, pools) on properties. You can pick up a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign at Hartley Fire Shed.

4. If you have a water tank, ensure it has Storz fittings. Storz fittings ensure fire hoses can be connected directly to a water source.

5. Notify the RFS and your neighbours of all fires over 1 square metre all year. Given the hilly terrain of Hartley, small yard burn offs or bonfires are easily noticed and frequently reported to the RFS by concerned neighbours and travellers. If the RFS are aware of the fire, it avoids unnecessary callouts.

Handy fridge magnet to remind our household to notify of burns greater than 1 m² ALL year round.

With the last few seasons of heavy rain, followed by the disruptions of COVID and road closures, I ask if there is a heightened level of risk this year, or if the level of destruction rendered by the Black Summer fires has reduced risk.  Corey Gurney indicates they are expecting another busy season.

“Everything that burnt in 19/20 could burn again. There is a lot of paddock grass, and it is drying out fast.” – Corey Gurney

Christina Forester explains that it is important to think about your bushfire plan every year and ensure both you and your property are prepared. The RFS website has tools to assist property owners to assess their risk and prepare. They also offer a one-off free AIDER service to assist infirm, disabled and elderly residents to prepare. If you do not have access to the internet, the RFS can be reached by telephone on 1800 679 737. This phone number is also linked to the National Relay Service for people with hearing or speech difficulty.

As I flick through the resources and consider my next question, a voice booms from the shed radio and it’s all go. There has been a truck breakdown on Mt Victoria Pass, and the brigade is needed. They grab helmets and coats, and one truck disappears, sirens blaring. The Gurney cadets roll up the hoses on the second truck as their father supervises. The driver has the engine running already, another brigade member seated inside. Corey checks all is in order, climbs aboard, and the second truck disappears. It took less than two minutes.

This brigade is not getting ready, they ARE ready.

Are you?

The thanks of a grateful community are greatly appreciated by the Brigade

Take Action:

• Prepare a Bush fire survival plan. The RFS guide can be downloaded at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-survival-plan

• Prepare your property. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/prepare-your-property

• Get to know your Brigade and consider volunteering. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/join-the-nsw-rfs. Hartley RFS meet every Thursday in Summer at Hartley Rural Fire Shed, Mid Hartley Road, Hartley. Or contact the brigade at community.hartleyrfs@gmail.com

By Vera Xia - Lecturer in Design and Urban Technology, University of Sydney

Sydney, like many other Australian cities, has a long history of urban farming. Market gardens, oyster fisheries and wineries on urban fringe once supplied fresh food to city markets.

As suburbs expanded, many farms in and around cities were converted to houses, roads and parks. The process is continuing.

But this isn’t the whole story. Urban farming is making a comeback in a different guise.

Underneath the Barangaroo towers in Sydney’s CBD, a basement carpark has been transformed into a farm. Trays of more than 40 different varieties of sprouts and microgreens grow under LED lights, often maturing within two weeks. Within hours of harvest, they’re in the kitchens of nearby restaurants.

The urban farmers use sensors, ventilation systems and smartphone apps to ensure growing conditions are ideal. From around 150 square metres, farmers produce about 5,000 punnets a week. Farms such as this one at Urban Green Sydney are part of a broader shift towards high-tech urban farming.

In my research, we asked what these new forms of urban farming mean for cities. Do they make cities and their far-flung food supply chains more resilient to climate change – or do they consume energy without enough to show for it?

Urban smart greenhouses work well for microgreens, herbs and several other crops. Vera Xia, CC BY-NC-ND

Greenhouse – or laboratory?

Greenhouses are a way of controlling the growing conditions for plants. The technology has deep historical roots, from early greenhouse experiments during the Roman Empire to progress in 15th century Korea and advances during the Victorian era such as the Wardian Case, which allowed live plants to survive long sea voyages.

Traditional greenhouses act as climate-controlled enclosures for plants. These days, smart greenhouses use sensors and digital monitoring to optimise, and often automate, plant growth.

Large-scale rural farms such as South Australia’s Sundrop Farms already demonstrate how smart greenhouses, renewable energy and desalination can power food production in harsh climates. Overseas, countries including Spain and China have rolled out smart greenhouses at scale in rural areas.

But these technologies are being urbanised, appearing in commercial buildings, rooftops and even domestic kitchens.

One of the best places to see what smart greenhouses look like is the Agritech Precinct at Western Sydney University. Here, researchers experiment with the “unprecedented control” of temperature, humidity and light the technologies permit on crops such as eggplants and lettuce.

The greenhouses use drones to water crops, robotic arms to harvest them and smart lighting systems to manage growth. Visiting these facilities doesn’t give you the sense you’re in a farm. It feels more like a laboratory.

Technologies like these are promoted in official plans for Greater Sydney, which call for “new opportunities for growing fresh food close to a growing population and freight export infrastructure associated with the Western Sydney Airport”, particularly in Sydney’s peri-urban areas.

Australia is funding research on improving these technologies as a way to future-proof food production.

Researchers are conducting similar experiments with smart greenhouses around the world, from the United States to the Netherlands.

Which crops work best in cities?

Smart greenhouses can’t do everything.

Grain crops need much more space. Fruit trees don’t work well with space constraints. Some vegetable crops don’t lend themselves well to intense high-tech production.

The cost of running LED lights and smart systems mean farmers have to focus on what’s profitable. Many hyped urban farming ventures have failed.

These challenges don’t mean the approach is worthless. But it does mean farmers have to be selective about what they grow. To date, crops such as tomatoes, leafy greens, and herbs have proven the best performers. These crops can be grown relatively quickly in space-restricted, repurposed urban areas mostly hidden from public view and sold to restaurants or individual buyers.

Smart greenhouses producing these type of crops have emerged in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.

Urban farmers often draw on the promise of sustainability and low food miles in their branding. But the technologies raise questions around equity. Do these farms share environmental and social benefits fairly across the city or are they concentrated in a few rich areas?

Smart greenhouses can optimise plant growing conditions – but come at an energy cost. Ann H/Pexels, CC BY-NC-ND

Smart greenhouse technology – at home?

The humble veggie patch is an Australian staple. But the shift to apartment living and larger building sizes risks crowding it out.

At household scale, smart greenhouses and apps are making it possible for some people to begin producing larger volumes of food in kitchens, balconies and backyards as a DIY method of boosting food security and self-sufficiency.

Compact growing appliances promise to automate production of fresh herbs and baby vegetables. Hydroponic grow tents can grow almost anything indoors (though they are commonly used for illicit crops). Maker communities are using open-source tools such as Hackster to automate watering, lighting and data collection.

Using these technologies at home seems positive, acting to boost home-grown food supplies and increase resilience in the face of food supply chain issues. In fact, it’s perhaps the most uneven frontier. Rather than working to spread smart agriculture across a cityscape, these approaches resemble prepping – efforts to boost individual household resilience.

Making best use of smart greenhouses in cities

At their best, smart greenhouses dotted around cities work to create controlled environments where food can be produced close to where it is eaten. These high-tech, climate controlled environments are often hidden from view.

They promise resilience against the disruption climate change is bringing to agriculture and shorter supply chains. But these food production technologies also risk deepening inequality if they’re mainly taken up by wealthy consumers.

Whether these technologies ultimately benefit cities will depend on how they are integrated and positioned within our urban systems.

For urban authorities, the challenge is to ensure these emerging methods of producing food in the heart of cities boosts resilience collectively rather than fragment it. It will take policy guidance to ensure the benefits of these smart farms are shared equally.

Vera Xia - Lecturer in Design and Urban Technology, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article >

Image: Robin Kutesa/Unsplash

Authors: Md Jaynul Abden and Jannatul Dil Afroze, Western Sydney University

Australia is getting hotter. Climate change is driving more frequent and prolonged extreme heatwaves and our homes are struggling to keep up. Alarmingly, many Australian houses – especially older ones – weren’t designed for these harsh conditions.

During a heatwave, large parts of the country’s interior can soar above 40°C. That’s not only uncomfortable but also dangerous, as extreme heat puts residents at serious health risk.

Heatwaves have caused more deaths in Australia than any natural disaster combined.

That’s where smart materials come in. They can significantly change some of their properties in a controlled manner in response to external stimuli, such as temperature. And they are being incorporated into materials such as bricks and roof cladding to make homes more resistant to heat fluctuations.

Air-conditioning can’t save us

The default fix? Turn on the air conditioner. But cooling our homes with machines comes at a cost. Our growing reliance on air conditioning creates a dangerous feedback loop: more heat leads to more energy use, which ultimately drives up carbon dioxide emissions if no solar power is available.

You might be surprised to learn that buildings are responsible for around 40% of global energy use and nearly one-third of carbon dioxide emissions. In Australia, up to 50% of household energy is consumed for heating and cooling depending on the climate zone – and demand peaks during heatwaves.

To reach net-zero emissions by 2050, we need more than just efficient appliances and rooftop solar. We need to rethink how homes interact with heat – and that’s where smart materials can make a real difference. Instead of simply blasting air-conditioning, we can build homes that actively respond to their environment.

An office building covered in air conditioners in Brazil. Image: Bran Sodre/Pexels

Homes that regulate themselves?

Imagine a material that passively absorbs excess heat during the day and releases it back into the home when temperatures drop at night, with no switches, no electricity and no noise. That’s the magic of phase change materials, a type of smart material. They are made from materials such as waxes, salts, fatty acids and plant-based oils, and come in the form of thin panels, microcapsules, and liquid-filled pouches.

These materials absorb heat as they melt and release it again when they solidify, acting like a thermal battery embedded in your roof tiles or walls. A thermal battery stores energy in the form of heat instead of electricity. This means your home can “charge” with heat when it’s warm and “discharge” that heat when it’s cool.

In summer, phase change materials absorb indoor heat during the day, which keeps living spaces cooler. At night, as outdoor temperatures drop, they release that stored heat. In winter, it’s the opposite.

Phase change materials can offer even greater thermal mass than traditional materials like brick, stone or concrete. And studies show they can reduce average building energy use by around 37% across various Australian cities.

But they do have a limitation under extreme or prolonged heat. If overnight temperatures remain high – as often happens during multi-day heatwaves – the material may not cool down enough to solidify. Once fully melted, it can no longer absorb heat, making it temporarily ineffective.

Reflective coatings

Like slipping on sunglasses on a sunny day, reflective coatings shield homes from the sun’s harsh rays. When applied to rooftops, they can lower indoor temperatures by up to 4°C. This means less reliance on air conditioning and lower energy bills – a simple, cost-effective way to beat the heat.

But there’s a catch: what works brilliantly in summer can backfire in winter. These reflective surfaces also bounce away the warmth you want during colder months. And instead of absorbing heat, your home gets chillier.

To build homes for a warming world, we need solutions for all seasons – smart materials that respond to their environment by blocking heat when it’s hot, and absorbing it when it’s cold.

The future is adaptive

Our homes need layered strategies. Imagine a roof that not only reflects intense summer heat but also works with phase change materials to absorb and regulate indoor temperatures year round.

In a recent study, led by this article’s lead author, Md Jaynul Abden, reflective roof coatings combined with phase change materials embedded in roof tiles and gypsum board were found to significantly improve home performance during simulated Australian heatwaves.

The results were striking: indoor temperatures dropped by 7.9–9.7 °C across cities, and energy savings reached up to 80.6%. Most importantly, indoor environments remained significantly more comfortable. This is a critical benefit during heatwaves, especially for vulnerable communities without air-conditioning.

By carefully balancing the reflection and absorption of materials, we can ensure they perform optimally. These solutions aren’t mainstream yet, but as heatwaves intensify and the demand for energy efficiency grows, adaptive roofing systems are likely to become common in new builds and retrofits within the next decade.

Md Jaynul Abden, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Western Sydney University and Jannatul Dil Afroze, Researcher in the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Urban butterflies are declining at alarming rates around the world (Photo: David Clode / Unsplash)

By Bethany Kiss, Mark Jacques and Sarah Bekessy – RMIT University

Native animals can make excellent neighbours. Blue banded bees pollinate our vegetable gardens. Microbats eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes a night and powerful owls keep rodents at bay. But could we go one step further, and change our homes to invite native animals in as housemates?

Cities are biodiversity hotspots and have an important role in tackling the extinction crises for animals, plants and insects. As cities continue to sprawl, our buildings have become increasingly important habitat for wildlife.

Animals are not the only ones to benefit. Evidence shows noticing wildlife at home can lead to better mental health. Co-habitating with wildlife can also help you feel more at home.

But how can we intentionally design our homes to co-inhabit with wildlife? That’s the question explored by When Wildlife Moves In, a new work at the National Gallery of Victoria. The work, created by the authors of this article, uses data from Wildlife Victoria to explore how homes can become shared ecological resources.

Here are eight easy ways to invite wildlife into your home and backyard.

1. Give butterflies a drink from your air con

Urban butterflies are declining at alarming rates around the world. At the same time, water dripping from air conditioners wastes millions of litres of clean water daily. Studies show this water is safe to reuse for nature.

Butterflies, for example, like to sip water from shallow water sources because they tend to get stuck in deeper water.

Solution? Leave an area of gravel beneath your air conditioner vent to create a “puddling” station for butterflies. This will transform what would otherwise go down our drains into habitat for a beloved pollinator.

2. Provide city birds with scarce nesting material

Leave natural materials such as twigs in your backyard for bird nests. (Photo credit: Jon Sailer/Unsplash)

The scarcity of natural nesting materials in cities poses challenges for some animals. Many are forced to get creative – sometimes incorporating dangerous or lethal alternatives such as plastics into their nests.

Solution? Leave a bowl out in your backyard providing nesting materials such as lawn clippings, native grasses, bark strips and untreated hair. This will help native birds such as the Australian magpie and the Pied Butcherbird.

3. Move indoor plants away from windows

Glass doors and windows are a serious threat to birds. (Photo by Laura Lauch / Unsplash)

In the United States alone, as many as a billion birds each year are killed or badly injured flying into glass.

Solution? Move indoor plants out of view through windows and doors so birds don’t mistake them for habitat. Or put anti-collision stickers on your windows, ensuring they are high contrast in colour and spaced no more than 5–10 cm apart.

4. Remove the concrete from your backyard

Wombats will make burrows under verandahs and homes. (Photo: David Clode/Unsplash)

Concrete slabs destroy soil microorganisms and prevent animals from digging and tunnelling to create nesting sites.

Wombats are ecosystem engineers. Their burrowing aerates soil, improves water infiltration and cycles organic material and nutrients. But urban development fragments their habitat and concrete foundations seal off natural soil ecosystems. When this happens, wombats adapt by creating alternative burrow systems under houses, decks and other human structures.

Solution? Remove the concrete slabs from your backyard and leave open soil with vegetation or a raised deck in its place.

5. Leave the cavities in your houses unsealed

A microbat happily ensconsed in a safe crevice in a roof cavity (Photo: Nils Bouillard / Unsplash)

Natural tree hollows are disappearing at an alarming rate due to urban sprawl and tree removals. It has forced microbats and other hollow-dependent species to seek refuge in dark spaces in our buildings, such as wall cavities, roof voids and building crevices.

Solution? Let the bats continue living in your building cavities. If you are bothered by them, wait until they leave, then provide a bat nesting box so they can safely continue living.

6. Plant the ‘missing’ layer birds need

Superb fairy wrens need understory to move about safely (Photo: Enguerrand Photography / Unsplash)

Australian cities are missing a crucial habitat layer — the “middle storey” between ground cover and tall trees. This gap in coverage allows aggressive species such as noisy miners to dominate, pushing out smaller native birds and threatening endangered species.

Solution? Plant more shrubs and bushes to create a bushy layer of 2-4 metres. This helps smaller birds such as Superb Fairy-wrens find places to hide. It’s also useful to include habitat elements such as log piles and rocks.

7. Keep your cats inside

Every free-roaming cat is a threat to wildlife. (Photo: Anaí Chew / Unsplash)

Feral and free-roaming cats collectively kill more than three billion animals a year in Australia.

Cats have played a leading role in most of Australia’s 34 mammal extinctions since 1788, and are a big reason why populations of at least 123 other threatened native species are declining.

Solution? “Catios”, or cat patios, allow cats to experience nature but keep wildlife safe from predators.

8. Build a frog sauna

A DIY frog sauna helps frogs avoid the deadly chytrid fungus (Photo: Anthony Waddle)

Some of the best wildlife-friendly ideas are surprisingly simple. Frog saunas, for instance, are small structures with frog-sized holes, made from black bricks or similar materials that heat up in the sun. These structures help fight chytrid fungus, a devastating disease that’s pushing many Australian frog species toward extinction.

Chytrid thrives in cold conditions but dies in heat, making these warm refuges potentially life-saving for local amphibians. Instructions for building your own frog sauna are free, requiring little more than recycled materials and a sunny spot in your garden.

A shared future

Australian cities are important for conserving biodiversity – and our homes can help. Thoughtful, intentional design can better support the species that need our support.

If you want to find ways to co-habitate with native wildlife, click here for more solutions.

When Wildlife Moves In is part of the exhibition Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday, showing at the NGV Ian Potter Gallery. The exhibition explores how designers are reshaping the products and systems that shape our daily lives.

About the authors

Bethany Kiss, PhD Candidate, RMIT University; Mark Jacques, Professor of Architecture, RMIT University. Director, Openwork Pty Ltd., and Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Blue Mountains residents were invited to Springwood to consult and suggest ideas for a Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan (Photo: Gabiann Marin)

Story by Gabiann Marin

Recently I attended a consultation day with Blue Mountains City Council to discuss a new Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan and the ways in which it could be implemented. I went as a resident and someone concerned about the future we are leaving on this planet, and a strong believer in the power of local change to have global effects. What transpired renewed my belief in our community, our council and our shared future.

Key Points:

• Blue Mountains City Council has held several consultations with the local community to get feedback and ideas for a Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan.

• The consultation day in Springwood was open to all residents and resulted in an array of ideas, talking points and connections from all involved.

The event room at Springwood Sports Club was filled with chatter as people from all over the Mountains came together to help plan and discuss pathways towards building a more resilient future for us all. Even as someone who has experienced how much the community cares about our natural environment and a positive future in the face of climate change, I was surprised to find so many people, of diverse backgrounds and opinions, heeding the call put out by the Council to help them create a feasible and effective climate risk assessment and adaptation plan.

That so many people were willing to give up their Saturday was inspiring, but more was yet to come as each small round table erupted into excited discussion when the facilitator of the day presented questions and prompts for workable solutions and community involvement.  This was no top-down information sharing – it was a fully interactive space which had been designed for open and positive exchange of ideas and insights. 

Scattered around the room on four large tables were markers, pens, stickers and reams of butchers paper for the groups to note down thoughts and ideas. The session was presented by Alex Dudley, climate and resilience analytics specialist and senior project manager at Resilient Co., an emergency management and climate resilience consultation agency which has facilitated similar groups across local government areas in Victoria and NSW. This, she told us, was the first time she had presented a version of the immersive consultation style event in the Blue Mountains.

“I’m so impressed by how positive and proactive everyone here is,” Alex remarked as the participants all moved around the room, adding suggestions for environmental, economic, social and cultural approaches to creating a more resilient local area.

Alex Dudley, Senior Project Manager for Resilience Co. led the interactive workshops (Photo: A. Dudley)

The positivity was helped by the process of the day itself – which started with the most important question of all. What do you love about living in the Blue Mountains? Answers ranged between the sense of community, access to nature and the relief of getting out of the frantic pace of the bigger towns and cities like Penrith and Sydney.

What came up repeatedly was that the national park, its environment and the animals which make it their home, are an important and valuable benefit of living in this unique part of the world. Everyone there had some sense of the need to protect and conserve that.

By starting the day here, everyone was settled into a strongly positive mindset, clear about what it is that they wanted to conserve, save or protect and this meant that the interactions were mostly proactive and positive. Of course, at an event that is in response to an unfolding climate emergency, in a place which often bears the brunt of bushfires, landslides and other natural disasters, there had to be talk about the environmental threats and the concerns we held for our homes and the land in which we lived.

Identifying these threats was done as an interactive exercise with each group looking at different aspects of the community and the landscape and discussing what were the biggest problems going forward. It could have derailed there, I have often seen that happen, but it didn’t. Whether it was due to excellent facilitation, or just the mindset of the people who attended, each problem was approached pragmatically.

There was no denial of the issues but there was a lack of cynicism and doomsaying that often accompanies such activities. The problems, although significant, were framed in a way that was solution-based. And that is what set this day apart from so many climate change events which I have attended.

The groups quickly moved onto solutions and suggestions to help the community to adapt in the face of increasing natural disasters in the next 10 years: a proposal that may seem quite ambitious but is showing some results within the overall progress that the council members and staff have already put in place.

BMCC’s Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan

The Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan has been developed over a series of consultations with experts, local government representatives and community and will include a prioritised list of actions designed to adapt and respond to climate risks. 

The development of this Plan was identified as a priority action in Council’s Towards Net Zero Plan 2024.

This plan, released as a document in 2024, is summed up in seven key approaches:

1. Reach net zero emissions in a way that is just, fair and doesn’t leave anyone behind.

2. Support each other to lower emissions by promoting connectedness and resilience.

3. Increase health and wellbeing by reducing polluting emissions and strengthening community.

4. Prioritise initiatives that reduce emissions as well as reduce costs for residents.

5. Honour the wisdom of First Nations People in Caring for Country.

6. Seek opportunities for emissions reduction projects to grow the local economy.

7. Embed a circular economy by focusing on avoid, reuse, recycle – and landfill as a last resort.

These goals share a defined connection – the importance of the community as a key stakeholder in the entire process. This is not something anyone can achieve alone and the council seems very aware of the importance of actively and continuously offering real opportunities for all of us to have a say, get involved and lend our knowledge, expertise and experience to the overall process.

Blue Mountains City Council’s Towards Net Zero plan has a mid-term goal of 45% carbon emission reduction by 2030

One Blue Mountains resident summed up the feeling when he remarked, “We can’t just leave this to council, and then whinge because we aren’t getting what we want; we all need to be working together.”  This comment was greeted with a surprising round of agreement. Everyone in that room was aware that we shared responsibility for the local area we lived in.

I am constantly reminded of how much knowledge and expertise there is within our community. People here have withstood catastrophic bushfires, have invested their own resources into bush care, land management and wildlife preservation and protection. They have fostered strong community connections and value resilience and cooperation within the villages in which they live, as well as with the local government that oversees the services they need.

As a storyteller for the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, I have been blessed to hear the stories of so many over the years who are making small and large differences. Yet in this room something close to alchemy was occurring. Those individual experiences and ideas were coming together to create innovative and feasible solutions and approaches to creating a world we all want to live in.

Participants discuss proactive solutions and ideas at the community event (Photo: BMCC, used with permission)

Sitting at my table was Lyn, a member of Resilient Blue Mountains which is a small community-led initiative working to unite different community and environmental groups to create change across the sometimes disconnected villages of the Upper and Lower Mountains.

The recent Sustainability Festival was just one of the great projects they have created. We also had a seasoned RFS volunteer and SES coordinator who understood the challenges and logistics of clear and present climate dangers and was able to inform our response with constructive first-hand information. Sitting on my other side was a community member interested in solar energy options, one of many throughout the room who were keen to engage with renewables but were unsure how best to approach the changeover.

Throughout the room people with engineering, animal welfare, bush regeneration, public relations, administration and community advocacy experience were able to share their insights, along with those who had interest and ideas but often lacked the platforms or opportunities to discuss their concerns or potential solutions.

Community-led solutions

By the end of the day there were five huge posters full of proactive ideas to address a variety of problems, from feral and invasive species to bushfire resilience to emission reductions, to community advocacy.

Some of my favourite ideas were also the least expected. Jeni, a first-time participant suggested changing the name of the Great Western Highway as it travels through the Blue Mountains to the Great Mountains Road – subtly changing the attitudes of those who crossed the Mountain to one of understanding and respect for this unique natural environment. This led to a greater discussion about better public transport and less reliance on cars and fossil fuels for getting around. 

Another great suggestion was a community advisory board set up as a continuous and open way for Council to get community feedback and ideas.  Others suggested more cooperation across other LGAs to help spread good ideas and initiatives beyond the fringes of the national parks, sharing ideas and learning from Lithgow, Penrith and greater Sydney shires. 

Connecting all the different organisations and community groups was another well-regarded suggestion. Renewable energy was perhaps the most popular discussion point, with communities wanting a shift from simple individual solar conversions to introduction of community solar batteries and solar gardens to help share solar across communities rather than focussing on individual households, something that the Council has already begun to explore with its Community Solar and Batteries project.

Similar community-based composting and waste ideas were also shared and widely embraced. Support for better home insulation, pumped water systems and more education and oversight on the use of pesticides and herbicides were also key talking points.

Solar sharing was a popular discussion topic on the day (Illustration: Creative Commons)

By the end of the day everyone felt heard and the suggestions, concerns and ideas were all carefully recorded to incorporate into the next stages of planning, not just for the Community Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan but for myriad council and community initiatives.

The positive vibe and important connections made on the day continue to play out. Resilient Blue Mountains has upped its volunteer drive and has welcomed a number of new interested members, while many of the participants continued the conversations with those they met on the day, potentially resulting in some innovative and accessible events, groups and implementation of some of the smaller more feasible community ideas.

The event followed on from previous consultations held throughout 2023 and 2024 (Photo: BMCC)

Take Action:

• Resilient Blue Mountains are actively looking for volunteers and are interested in any ideas or projects which it can help facilitate. You can contact them here: Resilient Blue Mountains

• If you want to know more about the BMCC Community towards Net Zero Plan you can access their 2024 document here >

• Visit the BMCC Sustainability and Resilience Hub: a great place to find out about resources, local organisations, local initiatives or add your ideas. You can find out more here: Sustainability and resilience hub

The ‘Laying In’ process at the Recompose funeral home in Seattle (Image: supplied)

“Every body can help the planet” is the tagline of Earthly Remains, a not-for-profit organisation set up to advocate for human composting as a more sustainable death care option in Australia.  At a recent meeting of Rotarians 4 Planetary Health, at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba, Rotarian Faye Woodward gave a fascinating presentation about a live petition before the NSW Parliament which is asking the NSW Government to recognise and regulate human composting, also called natural organic reduction or terramation, as a sustainable end-of life-option.

Key Points:

• Human composting transforms a deceased body into nutrient-rich soil, which offers a more environmentally conscious alternative to traditional death care practices. 

• Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here: LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – Signing ePetition – Recognise and regulate Human Composting as a death care option

• The first human composting facility has been operating in Seattle since 2020.

According to Faye, human composting is already legal in 14 states in the US, and in Germany. Recompose, the first human composting facility in the world, is in Seattle and has been operating since 2020. Recompose is part of a global movement of organisations working to advocate for climate healing, soil health and environmental justice. They offer virtual tours of their facility to anyone who would like to find out more. 

There is growing public support for alternatives to traditional death care practices, that can allow people to help the planet after they die. Cremation pollutes our air and there is a shortage of land for burial. 

What is Human Composting?

Human composting transforms a deceased body into nutrient-rich soil, which offers a more environmentally conscious alternative. The body is wrapped in biodegradable material and placed into a specially designed vessel filled with wood chips, alfalfa and straw. Over several weeks, naturally occurring microbes and beneficial bacteria break down the body, turning it into around 100kg of nutrient-rich soil.  This soil can be used to nourish plants, gardens and natural landscapes. The process mimics the natural decomposition that occurs in the soil but accelerates it in a controlled environment.

Faye, who is also a local funeral director and celebrant based in Katoomba, joined the funeral industry so that she could advocate for change from ‘inside the tent’. With a background as an environmental scientist, Faye is keen to offer her clients more sustainable death care options. 

Faye has connected with others through both the Australia-wide Natural Death Care Advocacy Network and local Blue Mountains Group, Eco Rest, and is part of the growing movement to establish a regulatory framework in NSW to ensure human composting can be both legally recognised and safely implemented.

Faye Woodward, Funeral Director and Celebrant at Linchpin Funerals (Image: supplied)

“Human composting is more than just an alternative to burial or cremation – it’s a statement of values and a commitment to planetary health,” says Faye. “By choosing this body disposal method, people can leave a legacy of environmental care for future generations. As human composting gains momentum, it offers a transformative vision for how we can honour life, even in death, and create a legacy of love, sustainability and renewal.”

Take Action:

• Sign the NSW Petition and circulate to others in your network!: Sign ePetition – Recognise and regulate Human Composting as a death care option

• Join a free virtual tour of the world’s first human composting facility: Tour Our Human Composting Facility | Recompose

• Join Eco Rest – Blue Mountains, Exploring Death Matters: Eco Rest – Blue Mountains

Kindlehill students learn how to reduce erosion at the Planetary Health Centre: view the video here

There is a little bit of magic happening on Wednesdays at the Planetary Health Centre as young volunteers from Kindlehill School, and Council staff, work together to create a demonstration site for the wider community. This hands-on program is inspiring all involved, including teacher Sarah Daniel. In her reflection on their Bushcare session, reprinted here, she was reminded of Arundhati Roy’s words that ‘another world is not only possible, she is on her way.’

Key Points:

• The Planetary Health Centre provides a diverse learning and volunteer program for the whole community, including an evolving demonstration site.

• From Bushcare to learning how to fireproof our homes and communities, and stop the erosion caused by stormwater, the Centre is showcasing how we can reduce the risk of disaster and restore the health of our planet for all species.

• Visit the Blue Mountains Planetary Health website at bluemountainsplanetaryhealth.com.au to learn more.

Sarah Daniel’s Reflection:

Last week year 9-10 started our practical project volunteering for the Planetary Health Initiative as part of our geography unit on climate change. When I started thinking of this unit, I admit I felt a bit tentative. The response in myself to the thought of climate change brings up feeling of overwhelm and fear, and this is not something that I want to cultivate in young people!

Working with the Planetary Health Initiative seemed like a good way to embed practical action on earth care and climate action into the work we are doing, to shift the conversation away from what seems impossible to what we tangibly can do.

Kindlehill students participating in Bushcare at the Planetary Health Centre

When we arrived, Lis Bastian shared an anecdote about the Bradley Method (the most common method of Bushcare used in Australia today). She shared this in guiding us with what we were doing, but also as a metaphor for our own lives. Michael Meade says we need metaphors to hang our heart on. This will be one for me!

The Bradley method was started by two sisters from Northern Sydney who were regenerating the bush around their home. The first principle is, rather than starting in the most disrupted, weedy and tangled places, look for the most beautiful and healthy. It could be around the base of a tree, or a crop of native grasses, or a flowering plant. Find that spot and begin slowly working outward.

Just like when we are looking into the world currently, perhaps in our personal lives when things are tough and tangled, or at the bigger picture with the multi-crises of our times, we ask ourselves: where is the beauty, the healthy, the place that is intact? This is the place we begin, slowly making our way out. Hearing this made so much sense to me. We have to begin with what we can manage, with something that lights us up, that gives us hope.

Lis pointed out a Native Elderberry. This plant, she said, would be a great place to begin. Each privet weeded out, meant that this plant had a chance to grow tall and strongly rooted, and as a pioneer plant, regenerating the land around it. The Native Elderberry, Lis explained, has a symbiotic relationship with the Elderberry Leaf Roller, a little moth that depends almost entirely on this plant to house its young as they grow.

The Elderberry Panax Leaf Roller is a moth whose larvae feed on the leaves of the native Elderberry Panax. These caterpillars create shelters by webbing leaves together and feeding on the foliage.

As we cleared the privet out from around it, I thought about the ripples that would come from this small action. The pollination that the moths would do; the bats, birds and frogs that would feed on it; the seeds of the native plant that would be spread to restore land instead of the privet. I could see widening circles of health rippling out, regenerating the ecosystem and therefore, restoring the soil, water, air and finally, the dance of climate.

Removing weed to allow the Elderberry Panax to thrive at the Planetary Health Centre

I could see that as the young people weeded, and pulled, that perhaps they thought that it was a very small act. Even insignificant. But the truth is, that if we all do something small every day, we make change. We pulled out around 250 privet plants, making space for lomandra, elderberry, native grasses. We made space for restoration, for the healing of our world.

Two of the students with one of the 250 privets the group removed.

I feel different now when I think about teaching about climate change. I am excited, full of the deep-seated knowledge of WHAT IS POSSIBLE! We have everything we need, the knowledge, the skills, the technology, the imagination, the loving communities, and incredible Earth and her living communities.

Arundhati Roy says, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” In this moment so can I.

Sarah Daniel, Kindlehill School

Last term the students helped fireproof the Centre by replacing vegetation adjacent to the building with gravel.

The finished work

In their second session this term, the students worked with Council’s Environment team to stop erosion on a slope using natural materials. This technique slows stormwater flows, builds soil and reduces water pollution downstream. Learn more here:

Take Action:

• Visit the Planetary Health Centre’s demonstration site to learn how to reduce disaster risk.

• Join the Planetary Health Bushcare group on the first Saturday of every month to learn more about how to regenerate bushland and to contribute to the restoration of the Planetary Health site. Contact Karen Hising (Bushcare Officer) via email at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623.

• Contact the Centre to arrange a group or school visit: planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553.

Briquettes made from sawdust at Against The Grain (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

When Dave Spees began making timber windows and doors out of his garage in 2006, he didn’t expect sawdust to become one of his biggest problems – or his most innovative solution.

Nearly two decades later, the Katoomba-based carpenter and founder of Against the Grain has turned the by-product of his craft into a sustainable, sought-after winter fuel. His compressed sawdust briquettes are now helping to heat homes across the Blue Mountains, all while dramatically reducing landfill waste.

Key Points:

• Dave Spees transformed his carpentry business’s sawdust waste problem into a sustainable heating solution by creating compressed briquettes for Blue Mountains residents.

• After initial challenges with a small press, a $200,000 German Weima machine now produces high-quality briquettes using only hydraulic pressure and premium timber sawdust.

• The briquettes have become a popular winter fuel staple, with up to 40 tonnes stored annually and strong demand from local residents.

From Craftsmanship to Climate-Conscious Innovation

Spees, a long-time Mountains local who grew up in Springwood, has spent his life working with timber: first as a carpenter and joiner, then as a bespoke window maker. By 2009 his window-making business had taken off, as had his production of sawdust.

“We were filling 10 to 12 industrial bins of sawdust every month,” Spears recalls. “It was becoming a serious stress. It didn’t feel right to just keep dumping it into landfill.”

That waste stream eventually led him overseas, where a trade expo in Germany opened his eyes to how European manufacturers were compressing sawdust into heating briquettes. In fact, they were using the briquettes to heat the factories. Nothing, he noticed, was going to waste.

Dave Spees (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

A Machine with Muscle

Back home, Spees invested in a small German briquette press and reworked his factory’s dust extraction system to feed it. But early versions of the briquettes – small, soft discs – weren’t quite hitting the mark.

“People liked the idea, but not the product,” he says. “They’d fall apart too easily, especially in fireplaces. We solved our dust problem, but we hadn’t cracked the briquette.”

After a few years of trial and error, Spees applied for a NSW Bin Trim grant, a government initiative aimed at managing commercial waste. The grant allowed him to purchase a high-capacity $200,000 Weima press – far more powerful and sophisticated than his first.

It was a risk, especially for a small family business. But the investment paid off.

Vacuum chutes collecting sawdust to send to the press. (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

Collected sawdust fed into the press. (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

Briquettes fresh from the press dropping into the container (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

The new press creates dense, high-performance briquettes using only hydraulic pressure – no glue, no additives. It has an 800mm diameter pipe that sucks the dust from each workbench into a huge external hopper, from which the briquettes are then compressed.

The external hopper (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

The mix includes offcuts of premium Australian hardwoods and imported timbers like rosewood, cedar and blackbutt – leftovers from Spees’ custom window and door work.

“They’re dry, clean-burning, and incredibly efficient,” he says. “People are often surprised by how much heat they generate.”

The briquettes for sale at Against The Grain’s Katoomba showroom (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

From Waste to Winter Warmth

The briquettes are now a staple for many Blue Mountains residents, especially older locals who can no longer split firewood. Spees stores up to 40 tonnes each summer in preparation for winter, when demand surges.

“We have regulars who come in with boxes to fill up,” he says. “It’s all self-serve. We don’t really advertise anymore – word’s spread.”

So much so that during especially cold or wet seasons, the briquettes have occasionally sold out. In those cases, Spees and his team keep a waiting list, prioritising vulnerable or elderly customers.

The sawdust comes from a wide range of timber sources, and balancing the composition to keep the press running smoothly remains an ongoing challenge.

“One minute we’re machining soft pine, the next it’s dense ironbark,” Spees explains. “That can jam the machine if we’re not careful. It’s taken years to get the settings right, but the support from Weima’s team in Germany has been incredible.”

Designing for the Fire

The story comes full circle in Spees’ own Leura home, which he designed around a fireplace with hydronic radiators – a nod to European efficiency.

“I always wanted to be able to heat my own home with the material we produce,” he says. “And now I can. We’re not just keeping warm, we’re closing the loop.”

The project exemplifies how sustainable thinking, paired with craftsmanship and persistence, can reshape an industry from the inside out.

From discarded sawdust to winter staple, Spees’ briquettes are more than just an alternative fuel: they’re a local blueprint for what small businesses can do when sustainability becomes part of the design.

Against the Grain also supplies boxes of kindling (Photo: Saskia Everingham)

Interested in trying the briquettes?

Against the Grain offers self-serve pickup from their factory at Unit 24-26, Megalong St, Katoomba. Supplies are limited in winter: best to bring your own box and get in early!

(Photo: Saskia Everingham)

Wentworth Falls Food Hall owner, Sereen Dirani with Rotary member, Allan Byrnes. (Photo: Viv Byrnes)

As challenges mount globally there is one group of community builders who, for 120 years now, have been strengthening the world’s social fabric and addressing ways civil society can help alleviate suffering and inequality; improve people’s quality of life; and create a more peaceful, healthier planet: whether it’s working to eliminate polio, providing Shelter Boxes to house families after disasters, developing Mental Health First Aid programs or providing Community Defibrillators, like the one recently installed outside the Food Hall supermarket in Wentworth Falls.

Key Points:

• Sudden cardiac arrest is Australia’s biggest cause of death and disability.

• Immediate CPR and defibrillation in the first few minutes may reverse a sudden cardiac arrest to save a person’s life.

• The Heart 180 Community Defib Program has partnered with Rotary in the Blue Mountains to provide public and accessible defibrillators to save lives.

Our communities are dotted with programs and infrastructure, funded and supported in other ways, by Rotary volunteers.

With clubs in over 220 countries and geographical areas, Rotary has created an evolving global network of people bridging political, religious and social divides and committed to uniting for the common good – something the world has never needed more!

Community Defibrillators Saving Lives: Chris Djekic explaining how to use Community Defibrillators at a Rotary meeting in Wentworth Falls

Since the middle of World War ll, Rotarians have been guided by a nonpartisan, nonreligious ethical guide called the Four-Way Test. It asks four questions: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”. 

On the 27 July 2025, the Planetary Health Centre hosted the launch of the world’s newest Rotary Club: Greater Blue Mountains Rotary. It’s a world-first collaborative club aiming to operate with more flexibility and less administration using a ‘hub and spoke’ model.

Greater Blue Mountains Rotary Launch at the Planetary Health Centre

Bringing together the expertise and resources of the former Blackheath, Katoomba and Central Blue Mountains Clubs, Greater Blue Mountains Rotary will act as a hub with a range of localised ‘spokes’ or special interest groups to offer more ways for the community to engage.

L to R: Rotary International Director, Jennifer Scott AM, Katoomba Rotarian Faye Woodward, Club President Barry Taylor and Michele Ellery, Rotary District Governor. (Supplied by Rotary)

The first community service project of this new Rotary Hub is to fundraise to provide rooming-in cribs for the maternity ward at Blue Mountains District Memorial Hospital.

“The Koorana Maternity Unit is the only maternity service between Penrith and Lithgow providing comprehensive antenatal, birthing and postnatal services. The hospital has four modern birthing suites, built in 2005. Our aim is to provide four Rooming-in cribs at a cost of $3000 each. They are a new design with a drop-down side, giving the mother easy bedside access to her baby,” said Barry Taylor, president of the new club. “This creates a natural and intimate maternal bonding experience and allows safe transfer of the baby, which doesn’t need to be lifted from the crib to be given to the mother.”

Rotarians have also been working with the Planetary Health Centre to offer learning programs like the monthly Fashion Upcycling program on Skill Share Saturdays. If you’d like to get involved contact Lis on 0407 437 553 or email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au .

Take Action:

• If you’d like to find out more, make a donation or join Rotary contact Barry Taylor on 0448 812 359.

• Do a CPR Course to help save lives.

• Become a GoodSAM volunteer and receive alerts to help in nearby CPR emergencies while the paramedics are on the way. Learn more here: https://www.goodsamapp.org/

The blast from the 1954 nuclear weapons test on Bikini Atoll (Image: Public Domain; US Dept of Energy)

On the 80^th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the Planetary Health Initiative and the Blue Mountains Peace Collective hosted a Peace Symposium and Community Picnic to provide pathways for everyone to take steps for a more peaceful future. The event kicked off ICAN’s Week of Action for the Abolition [of Nuclear Weapons] and everyone was asked to send a message to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to urge them to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in this term. You can add your voice to this urgent call here

Key Points:

• Nuclear Abolition Campaign: The symposium marked the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, urging Australia to sign the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons through ICAN’s Week of Action.

• Community-wide Peace Building: Over 130 participants heard diverse speakers emphasising that peace requires whole-of-community engagement, from addressing local social injustice to international diplomacy.

• Key presenters included Japanese journalist Harumi Hayakawa, Quaker Rosemary Morrow, Rotarian Jennifer Scott, artist Matilda Emmerich, ICAN Ambassador Robert Tickner, Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo Pramono, MP Susan Templeman, and Mayor Mark Greenhill.

The Blue Mountains Peace Collective reflected on the inaugural Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Community Picnic:

The foundations of sustainable peace must be built through a culture of peace in the minds and actions of people worldwide. As defined by the United Nations, the Culture of Peace is a “set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations” (UN Resolutions A/RES/52/13).

Real sustainable Peace is:
•    an end to violent conflict, 
•    an end to injustices, and 
•    a culture of peace. 

Peace is not something we achieve, peace must be worked for and practised daily, Dharug man, Chris Tobin, reminded the large audience gathered for the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Picnic. That Saturday, August 2^nd, truly was one of the coldest, wettest, most miserable days of winter, but Chris Tobin’s warm welcome and opening remarks set the tone for the symposium: peace is a whole of community need, the ‘business’ of all of us, at all times.

Chris Tobin’s opening address

The symposium was a collaboration of the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative and the Blue Mountains Peace Collective, held at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. The August 2^nd date was chosen to mark the 80^th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The symposium was thus part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons’ (ICAN) Week of Action.

Harumi Hayakawa on Peace in Japan.

With the effects of nuclear weapons and the necessity for communities to promote, work on and embrace peace in everyday life both front of mind, it was fitting that the first speaker of the day was Japanese journalist Harumi Hayakawa. Harumi reminded us of the very great human cost of war; of why working for peace is so important.

Later, in the lunch break, she helped children and adults to make the origami cranes that remain a poignant symbol of the desire for life of Sadako Sasaki, a child victim of the Hiroshima bomb.

Harumi teaching participants how to make origami cranes during the Peace Picnic.

Following on from Harumi, Jennifer Scott stated: ‘Peace is not the absence of war, it is the absence of want.’ Jennifer is an active Rotarian for peace. Both internationally and locally, Rotary engages in promoting peace through on-the-ground work (building education, ameliorating poverty), by providing peace studies fellowships and much more.

Jennifer, who works in education in Cambodia, encouraged the audience in hope, in doing what we each can do to develop a world where social justice makes peace possible.

Rotary International Director, Jennifer Scott

Similarly, Rowe Morrow OAM, in a video presentation, spoke of the long and influential work of Quakers toward a fairer and more peaceful world, whether that be through protest (Quakers being early among the protestors at Pine Gap), international activism (Quakers have a UN presence, as does Rotary) or local community support work.

Rowe Morrow speaking on Quakers and Peace

Attendees at the symposium ranged in age (it was great to see some children there) and this, too, was reflected in the morning session presentations. There was history of past peace actions: a screening of the 1946 documentary, ‘Indonesia Calling’, which movingly portrayed Australian Waterside Workers unionists refusing, and convincing others to join them in refusing, to service Dutch ships in Australian ports post-war. These ships were transporting armaments with the aim of the Dutch regaining control of the recently independent Indonesian population: united, local action helped prevent that outcome.

Peace Collective member Bruce Cornwell described past successful protests, and discussed potential future actions. Emerging activists, too, stood up to be counted: Year 11 student, Matilda Emmerich, already an artist and poet, presented her work, Where Hope Sits, giving older activists hope for the future.

Artist Matilda Emmerich

There was more hope and pertinent comment in the performances of Ecopella and the Bearded Ladies community choirs, and in the lunchtime activities, for children and adults alike, in origami, badgemaking, book learning (local bookshop, RoseyRavelston) and in sharing picnic food from Bibi’s Kitchen.

Ecopella Community Choir

The afternoon session, chaired by Nick Franklin, emphasised the importance of formal, governmental promotion of peace, particularly in working to abolish nuclear weapons. Robert Tickner, Ambassador to ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), pointed to Australia having already supported the banning of land mines, cluster munitions and other weapons of war – and argued, eloquently, that it is time the Australian government took the next steps and signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This signing, he suggested would also enable Australia to develop more independent foreign and strategic policies.

ICAN Ambassador, Robert Tickner’s presentation

Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill, member of the international Mayors for Peace, a group originally founded in 1982 by the mayor of Hiroshima, recognised the need for community action – campaigns against family violence, for gender equality and diversity, for example – as the essential supports for viable peace.

Mayor Mark Greenhill’s presentation

Our local federal member, Susan Templeman, outlined the federal government’s activities and policies in relation to the promotion of peace, noting that the Labor Party was committed to the signing of the TPNW (but when, the audience asked? When?).

Susan Templeman’s presentation

The three Australian representatives were joined by H.E. Dr Siswo Pramono, Indonesian Ambassador to Australia: the Indonesian government having become, in 2024, one of the 94 signatories to TPNW. Dr Pramono spoke as an advocate for Australia’s signing of the treaty to abolish nuclear weapons ASAP.

Dr Siswo Pramono’s presentation

Well over a hundred people filled the audience seats at the symposium and their questions and comments were an essential part of the ongoing conversation throughout the day. Given current events, many comments concerned the unjustified and unjustifiable imposition of unbearable conflict on the people of Gaza. Actions were discussed – sanctions, pressure on Australian and international politicians and governments, protests, local supports and more.

Australia’s problematic commitment to AUKUS and nuclear submarines received several mentions, as it should. The cost of these submarines could fund so much for so many Australians – reminding us all, yet again, that a world that favours war over peace is a world in which humans suffer terribly in conflicts, and also unnecessarily through lack of service provision, when money is instead spent on weaponry that kills.

Fortunately, early on the day, the news came through that the March for Humanity would proceed across Sydney Harbour Bridge the following day. We expected it then, and know now, that the march was HUGE and the Blue Mountains was brilliantly represented.

In all, the Peace Symposium of August the 2^nd was a remarkable event. As Robert Tickner said, ‘today (was) absolutely inspirational’.

With many thanks to all who volunteered and participated,

… the Blue Mountains Peace Collective.

Take Action:

• Add your name to the ICAN Australia petition to the Australian Government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons here

• Get involved with the actions of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective. Learn more here

• Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about actions you can take and to hear about our upcoming events

Sal Isaksen, owner of SalOn in Katoomba, is also a sustainable stylist and wardrobe consultant.

Story and photos by Linda Moon and Steve Krinks

With 23 secondhand shops to explore, including funky vintage clothing stores and multiple op shops, Katoomba is a growing hub for the circular economy. This comprehensive guide explains what’s on offer where and how to donate your unwanted stuff to help tackle the waste problem.

Jump to a section:

1. Vintage Clothing Stores

2. Charity Op Shops

3. Vintage & Antique Shops

4. Free Stuff

5. Donating Sustainably

Vintage Clothing Stores

1. SalOn

Address: Town Centre Arcade, Shop 5, 81/83 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780

Open hours: Weds–Sat 10.30am-4pm, Sunday 10.30am – 2.30pm

Contact: 0414 568 068

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/vintagewithsal/

What’s in store

Upmarket, designer and vintage secondhand female clothing and accessories. Shoes, belts, jeans, dresses and more. Women love the bargain room of $10 and under. “They spend ages in there,” says owner, Sal Isaksen. Prices are considerably cheaper than equivalent shops in Sydney. Sal is also a wardrobe consultant and sustainable stylist. Hire her to help you declutter and restyle your wardrobe or join one of her workshops. 

Getting there: 

SalOn is located in the Katoomba Town Centre Arcade, half-way down Katoomba St on your right as you walk down the hill. It’s 5 minutes walk from the train station.

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

SalOn welcomes fashion items (they must be in perfect condition) from individuals in return for cash or a store credit. Bring your items in, Sal says, and she’ll select anything suitable. 

2. Yesterday Store

Address: 130 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: 7 days, 10am-4pm. 

Contact: hello@shopyesterdaystore.com

Website: shopyesterdaystore.com

Socials: www.instagram.com/yesterday.store/ 

What’s in store

High quality, secondhand, vintage men and women’s clothing, mostly from the sixties to nineties. Includes some deadstock (never worn). Overalls, coveralls, work wear, army wear, jeans, tops, jackets, jumpers and denim feature strongly in the racks. There’s also a selection of caps, hats and dresses. Prices range from $15 for a shirt to a leather jacket for $280. They also sell boro mending kits and promote the philosophy of extending the life of garments through re-use and repair. 

Getting there: 

Yesterday Store is on the main drag of Katoomba street about halfway down on the same side as the churches. 

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

Yesterday Store doesn’t take stock from the general public. 

3. Forever Friday

Address: 132a Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: Thursday to Monday, 10am – 4pm (12pm – 4pm Sunday) 

Contact: 0411 959 474

Website: https://foreverfriday.com.au/

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/shop.forever.friday, https://www.facebook.com/shop.forever.friday

What’s in store

A newish arrival to the vintage clothing scene in Katoomba, Forever Friday has an ever-changing selection of funky vintage finds for women and men. Owner Rebecca is passionate about sustainability and reducing waste, and her fashion eye is finely honed when it comes to curating for the store. She also has a sustainable styling service under the moniker of Sustainable Fox.

Getting there: 

Forever Friday is next door to Yesterday Store, half way down Katoomba St, on your left as you descend the hill. 

4. Saint Joan

Address: 44 Lurline St, Katoomba

Open hours: Thursday to Saturday 10am – 4pm; Sunday 10am – 3pm

Contact: saintjoan.atelier@gmail.com

Website: https://www.studiosaintjoan.au/

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/saintjoan_____

What’s in store

The newest arrival on Katoomba’s vintage clothing scene, Saint Joan is located in a funky old building on Lurline St, parallel to Katoomba’s main street. The owner Charlotte describes it as the place to find curated vintage and slow fashion, predominantly for women but there’s a growing selection of vintage mens wear too.

Alongside a very fine range of vintage finds (with a focus on 60’s to 90’s clothing and quality fabrics using natural fibres) are the ‘slow fashion’ items – clothing and accessories hand-made by Charlotte and other small makers. These use vintage fabrics, upcycled into modern garments with a classic look. Recent hits in the current Katoomba winter include hot water bottle covers and vests made from upcycled woollen blankets.

There’s also a small selection of hand-made ceramics from local makers, and vintage homewares, jewellery, bags and shoes alongside hand-made beanies, scarves and socks.

In late September 2025, Charlotte plans to run workshops for people wanting to upskill in upcycling fabric and sewing – keep an eye on her socials to learn more.

Getting there

From Katoomba Street, turn down Church Lane (in between Katoomba Music and the Uniting Church) and follow it to Lurline Street. Turn right and Saint Joan is across the road on the corner of Leichhardt St. It’s a 10 minute walk from Katoomba Station.

5. DON Boutique

Address: 1/42 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: Friday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm

Contact: (02) 4787 9119

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/don.boutique.katoomba/, https://www.facebook.com/don.boutique.2024/

What’s in store

DON Boutique offers a solid selection of vintage women’s fashion alongside vintage collectibles, homewares, jewellery, as well as a selection of new giftware and other goodies.

Getting there

DON Boutique is near the top of Katoomba Street, opposite the Carrington Hotel. It’s upstairs, entered via a well marked doorway next to Katoomba Wines.

Charitable Op Shops

6. Salvos 

Address: 89 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

Website: https://www.salvosstores.com.au/stores/nsw/2780-katoomba-8701

Contact: (02) 4782 2080

What’s in store: 

Laid out like an all-in-one shopping centre, you’ll find dedicated sections for men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, handbags, shoes, children’s clothing and toys. A back room houses furniture, mattresses, linen, manchester and other furnishings. Upstairs are homewares, books, DVDs, CDs, electrical items (all tagged and tested). Prices cater to all budgets. The ‘O’ By Salvos range, for instance, features designer brands and unusual, standout designs.

“It’s all about funky and original,” explains Luke, the store manager. Salvos actively try to keep prices reasonable. You can score a Calvin Klein shirt here for $10 or a Tommy Hilfiger jumper for $6. Today, the most expensive clothing item in the store is $20. Shopping here is roomy and enjoyable. The plush, spacious change-rooms include a wheelchair accessible one. A Christian organisation, profits help fund charitable services and activities.

Getting there: 

Salvos is half-way down Katoomba street, a few doors away from Anglicare. It’s a five minute stroll from the train station.

How to donate goods: 

Salvos prefers donations during business hours, taken through their front door, but will open the back door for larger items when required. Items must be in good saleable condition. Donated mattresses must be in perfect condition. Unlike many other thrift stores, they accept electricals. For large items call the shop. Salvos do furniture collections.

They don’t accept computer monitors, printers, scanners and other hardware, building materials, car parts, waterbeds, CRT TVs (the old tube style), paint or chemicals, pressurised gas bottles, weapons (including replicas) or taxidermy animals. 

7. Anglicare Op Shop

Address: 103 Katoomba Street 

Open Hours: Mon – Fri 9.30am-5pm; Sat 10am – 4pm; Sun 10.30am – 2.30pm

What’s in store: 

Pre-loved items including clothing and accessories, manchester, books, records, furniture, homewares, furniture, bric-a-brac and toys. The new change-rooms are as roomy as anything you’d find in a upmarket boutique, if not better. Profits go back into the community. For those struggling with food costs, there’s a Food Pantry. For $12 locals can fill a bag with basic food staples like cereals, pasta, rice, passatta, noodles and canned tomatoes. 

Getting there:

Anglicare is situated in the centre of the Katoomba street shopping strip, on the corner of Katoomba St and Pryor Place.

How to donate goods: 

Anglicare accepts a wide variety of quality goods. Generally speaking, they don’t accept electrical items or helmets. Bring items in while the shop is open. For bulk or large donations, there’s delivery access at the rear of the shop. 

8. Vinnies

Address: 65-67 Waratah St, Katoomba

Open hours: Mon – Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm

Contact: (02) 4782 1068

Website: www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/shops/katoomba

What’s in store: 

Secondhand clothing, shoes, fashion accessories, books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, toys, jewellery, knick-knacks, kitchenware, household items, linen, curtains, sporting goods, bags and more. Profits support charitable activities of the St Vincent de Paul Society. 

Getting there: 

At the bottom roundabout of the Katoomba Street shops, turn left into Waratah Street. Vinnies is next door to the Katoomba Veterinarian. 

How to donate goods: 

Drop off donations of quality items during business hours. You can also place donations in the donation bin round the corner. Avoid leaving goods outside the bins as any weather damage means they can’t be used and have to go to landfill. Vinnies Katoomba doesn’t accept computers, printers and scanners, furniture, electrical items and like other op shops, anything ripped, torn, stained, broken, cracked or unusable. For donated furniture pick-up requests, call 1800 606 724.

9. Cancer Wellness Support, Katoomba Op Shop

Address: 2/27 Whitton St, North Katoomba

Open hours: Mon – Fri 9.30am-4.30pm; Sat 9.30am-3pm

Contact: (02) 4782 6076 Email: katoombaopshop@cancersupport.org.au

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/cancerwellnesssupport, https://www.instagram.com/cancerwellnesssupport/

What’s in store: 

Second-hand furniture, clothing, shoes, books, CDs, homewares, kitchenware, electrical and white goods, art, vintage items, linen, bric-a-brac, luggage, camping gear and more. “We will sell virtually everything that’s not life endangering,” says manager, Deb Foster. Most clothing items are sold using a simple pricing structure: $5 for all tops, pants, jeans and shorts; $3 for t-shirts; $10 for winter jackets; $10 for all dresses regardless of label. Books are mostly a buck each.  “We keep prices low,” Deb says.

In 2023, the shop was awarded “clothing reuse expert accreditation” from Charitable Recycling Australia. 95 per cent of unsold stock is recycled. Strategies to reduce waste include a ‘free table’ and bagging stuff for overseas or the council recycling depot. Proceeds support local people living with cancer by subsidising complimentary therapies. A locals favourite, the Cancer Wellness Op Shop also won WSABE 2022 winner of Excellence in Social Enterprise. “We try to be community-oriented,” Deb says.

Getting there: 

Cancer Wellness Support is located in North Katoomba and has free car parking. While away from the main drag, it’s always bustling. 

How to donate goods: 

Bring them in before 4pm Monday to Friday or prior to 2pm on Saturday, but nothing faulty or unusable. “If you would buy it, it’s fine for donating,” Deb says. They offer furniture pick up and delivery every Tuesday and Wednesday (from Lawson to Mount Victoria).

10. Blue Mountains & District (BMD) Cat Welfare Op Shop 

Address: 114 Bathurst Rd Katoomba 

Open Hours: 7 days a week 10am-4pm

Contact: 0414 953 992 

Website: https://www.bmdcatwelfare.com.au/op-shop-bmd-cat-welfare-katoomba.html

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/bluemtscats/

What’s in store?

Well-priced clothing, art, shoes, books, DVDs, LPs, purses, jewellery, homewares, collectibles and bric-a-brac. Due to space limitations, the focus is on higher quality items, so it’s well worth a browse. The store relies totally on the work of volunteers. All sales go towards helping, desexing and rehoming abandoned or homeless cats in need, which also reduces their impact on the environment. 

Getting there: 

The BMD Cat Welfare Op Shop is across from the rail station and cab rank (on the shop side of Katoomba).

How to donate goods: 

Come in business hours. Avoid leaving goods on the doorstep. The shop particularly welcomes donations of cat food, litter trays and cat litter. It generally doesn’t accept electricals and can’t take large items. It also doesn’t take things with fur, knives or other dangerous items, second-hand underwear, socks, or swimwear, opened toiletries and cosmetics or discoloured or damaged books or videos.  

11. Cat Defence Network Charity Shop

Address: 71 Waratah Street Katoomba

Open hours: Depending on volunteers, usually 10am-3pm, 7 days a week

Contact: Email catdefence@gmail.com or speak with a volunteer in the shop

Website: https://www.catdefencenetwork.org.au/

What’s in store: 

Bargain price secondhand and new, unused donated goods marked well below retail price. From hand cream, perfume and hand towels to jewellery, dog and kids toys, you’re bound to find a treasure or more. There’s also ornaments, clothing, kitchenware, books, CDs, manchester and stationery. All profits go towards supporting CDN cats (mostly desexing and helping injured street cats). To get desexing assistance, call in at the shop. Or call and leave a message on 0434 165 355.

Getting there: 

At the bottom roundabout of the Katoomba Street shops, turn left into Waratah Street. Cat Defence is across the road just past Vinnies. 

How to donate goods: 

Bring donations in when the shop is open. A small shop, Cat Defence doesn’t accept or sell furniture, electricals and anything made of bone, fur or feathers. At the time of writing they were also not taking clothing. To avoid waste they will refer items to other shops and put out a ‘free box’ from time to time. 

12. Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Research Garden Cottage

Address: 58 Megalong St, Katoomba

Open hours: Wed – Fri 10am-3.30pm, Sat – Sun 10am – 2pm

Contact: (02) 4782 7591

What’s in store:

The main attraction is the sprawling outdoor area. It’s filled with interesting outdoor furniture including bargain outdoor settings, tables, pots, plants, garden art plus household furniture and more. The inside of the house is a warren of rooms housing secondhand furniture, homewares, knick-knacks, paintings, books, picture frames, CDs, DVDs, records, old lighting, kids stuff and more. 

Getting there: 

The Garden Cottage Warehouse is located within the industrial zone of Katoomba. From Lovel street, Katoomba (the street running along the train line between South Katoomba to Leura), turn left into Wilson street, then right into Megalong street before you hit Bunnings.   

How to donate goods: 

Bring them in during opening hours.

13. Sweet Charity Op Shop, Junction 142 

Address: 142 Katoomba St Katoomba

Open hours: Thur – Sat 10am-4pm

Contact: (02) 4782 7458

Website: https://www.junction142.org.au/sweet-charity-op-shop/

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/SweetCharityOpShopJ142

What’s in store:

Slightly higher end (they don’t stock Kmart and Woolworths brands, for instance) secondhand items including clothing, shoes, books, CDs, DVDs, homewares, knick-knacks and jewellery. The store occasionally receives donations of new, unused goods from excess stock or closing down shops. They recently rescued shoes from Thompsons (currently for sale) destined for the tip. Profits support services to locals in need, including free hampers, clothing, showers, laundry services and more. 

Getting there

An activity of Leura Uniting Church and the community, Sweet Charity Op Shop is located at the back of Katoomba Uniting Church.

How to donate goods: 

Sweet Charity Op Shop accepts donated items (except for electricals, kitchen ware, underwear, children’s clothing and toys). They’d love more jewellery and quality clothing fabrics (like linen and wool). Deliver items during opening hours. It’s possible to drive into the carpark.  Donations, including clothing needs to be decent and quality. No stains or holes. “We’re big on dignity here,” says store manager, Rachel Perkins.  

Vintage & Antique Stores

14. The Post Mistress Vintage

Address: 59-61 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: 7 days, 10am – 5pm

Contact: 0401 026 064

What’s in store

Across two huge levels, The Post Mistress Vintage is brimming with thousands of rare and unique items including industrial furniture, glassware, crystal, porcelain, ceramics, brassware, homewares, clocks, watches, jewellery, art works, clothing, lamps, lighting, mid-century to antique furniture, movie props, prints, curios and collectibles.

Previously known as Katoomba Vintage Emporium, it changed hands in early 2025 and has taken on a new lease of life under the curatorial eye of the fabulous Kitty, who has big plans for the space!

Getting there: 

The Post Mistress Vintage is near the top of Katoomba St, just up from the (still closed) Paragon Cafe. It’s a two minute walk from trains and buses.

15. Foraged & Forged

Address: 2/118 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Open hours: Fri / Sat / Sun 10am-4pm

Contact: 0405 531 414

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/foragedandforgedkatoomba/

What’s for sale

The ‘Foraged’ part of the name refers to both the vintage goodies and super cute hand-made toys (using foraged fabrics), and the ever-changing selection of home-made delicacies using foraged ingredients from the owner’s permaculture garden in North Katoomba – such as the fermented kiwifruit chilli sauce and apple cider vinegar that were on offer when we visited. Free range eggs make an appearance too.

‘Forged’ refers to the collection of hand-forged fire pokers, tools, kitchen utensils and other implements, also made locally by the owner’s partner in Katoomba.

There’s a small collection of vintage clothing on offer (with expansion planned in the near future), hand-sewn and felted items, antiques across multiple eras, and a curated selection of small maker stationery items, candles, toiletries and grooming products. The owner Amanda also plans to open a sewing space in Aug/Sep 2025, with drop-in sessions and workshops for those wanting to up their hand-sewing skills. Watch their socials for details.

In short, a varied and fun mix of old and new, tasteful and tasty!

Getting there: 

Foraged & Forged is located just off Katoomba St, down a short driveway next to Aunty Ed’s (if you’re a local!). It’s in ‘vintage central’, a cluster of vintage stores with Sal-On, Forever Friday, the Yesterday Store, The Salvos Store and Anglicare all a stone’s throw apart. You’ll find them half-way down Katoomba St, about 5 minutes walk from the train station and buses.

16. Future Relics Emporium

Address: 69 Lurline St, Katoomba

Open hours: Thursday to Sunday 11am – 5pm

Contact: 0406 907 050

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/relicsemporium/

What’s for sale

Fancy a dark ages broadsword, or perhaps a long handled battle axe, to accompany your vintage clothing purchase? You’re in the right place. Future Relics Emporium, on Lurline Street in Katoomba opposite Katoomba RSL, is a quirky vintage store with quite a few strings to its bow. It opened in May 2025.

In addition to vintage clothing, antiques, furniture and collectables, there’s a solid range of medieval armory and weaponry, made with attention to period detail for use in re-enactment battles. Not sure how to wield a weapon? Sign up for one of their swordsmanship classes and get skilled up to join their regular re-enactments.

Three times a week (Weds, Thurs, Sat 6-9pm) Future Relics Emporium hosts Dungeons and Dragons sessions. Contact them directly to learn more.

Getting there: 

Future Relics Emporium is on Lurline Street, parallel to Katoomba St, and opposite Katoomba RSL. It’s two minute’s walk from the roundabout on Katoomba St, or a ten minute walk from the train station, and there’s a bus stop just across the road.

17. Macarthur’s Arcade

Address: 84 Katoomba St Katoomba

Open hours: 7 days 10am-5pm

Contact: (02) 4782 5768

What’s in store: 

Macarthur’s Arcade is a meandering expanse of absorbing antique items: electrical goods, vintage clothing, original paintings, clocks, furniture, ornaments, ethnic and indigenous artifacts, bric-a-brac and more. They also showcase items on their Facebook page and ebay store.

Getting there: 

The building is located in the main street of Katoomba, (on the left side if you’re coming from the Great Western Highway side), just past St Hilda’s church. 

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

They offer payment or store credit for suitable goods. Bring them in during store hours. Another option is to email in photographs. They can do whole house buys.

18. Mr Pickwicks Fine Old Books

Address: 84 Katoomba St Katoomba

Open hours: 7 days 10am-5pm

Contact: (02) 4782 7598; Email: pickwick@bigpond.net.au

What’s in store: 

Downstairs from Macarthurs Arcade, you’ll find Mr Pickwick’s: a haven for about 40,000 books (15,000 or so are listed on their internet site). About 90 per cent are secondhand, rare and antiquarian books. There’s also scores of CDs, LPs and DVDs to browse, plus sheet music. 

Getting there: 

The building is located in the main street of Katoomba, (on the left side if you’re coming from the Great Western Highway side), just past St Hilda’s church. 

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

Mr Pickwicks is always on the lookout for books, particularly in the likes of trade, philosophy, crime, sci-fi and antiquarian books. They don’t take encyclopaedias and most modern popular fiction. 

19. Black Antiques

Address: 186 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba

Open hours: Thur – Mon 10am-5pm; closed Tue, Wed

Contact: (02) 4782 4619; email: black.antiques@gmail.com

Website: www.facebook.com/BlackAntiquesKatoomba/

What’s in store:

With the vibe of an old archeology dig, it’s a dusty den of antiquity and quirky finds. The hoard includes the 1830’s engraving of a monkey, a Papuan canoe and a 70mm projector from the Orpheum Theatre in Cremorne.

Other items include garden paraphernalia, household goods, rustic and provincial items like agricultural machinery and ladders, pottery, vintage lighting, old maps, art photography, vintage and antiquarian books and various other general old wares and artifacts. Rex, the biz owner, is also a fan of what he calls “strange scientific stuff” – like laboratory apparatus and test equipment. The shop also does prop hire. 

Getting there: 

From the Great Western Highway, turn right at the roundabout just after you cross the railway bridge. You’ll find Black Antiques spilling out onto the street just past the Todarello’s fruit and veg store. 

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

No. Black Antiques doesn’t buy from the general public. 

20. Katoomba Antique Centre

Address: 116-118 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba

Open hours: Mon & Wed 10am-3pm; Thur – Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 10am-3pm.

Contact: katoomba.antiquecentre116@gmail.com

What’s in store: 

Manned by the big character of Steven Archer (auctioneer and valuer of Archers Auctioneers and Valuers fame), it’s a literal museum of treasures collected on his travels around the world. The relics here, mostly rare and unique cultural items, date from thousands of years old onward.

The treasures include art (from the Renaissance to the 18^th century), Buddhist icons, pottery, textiles, rugs, crafts, antique books, furniture, jewellery, medals, old silver and Japanese woodcuts. There’s an attached photographic museum featuring old cameras from the 1840s to 1950s, a book library and coffee shop/vegetarian eatery.

Getting there: 

Katoomba Antique Centre is just off the roundabout after you cross the rail line bridge into Katoomba off the Great Western Highway. 

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

No.

21. Memento Vintage & Antiques

Address: 69 Katoomba St Katoomba

Open hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

Contact: (02) 4782 4041

Socials: www.facebook.com/mementovintageandantiques; https://www.instagram.com/mementovintageandantiques

What’s in store: 

An eclectic collection of objects. “We don’t discriminate against any item,” we’re told. Among the treasure hoard, you’ll find Pokemon cards, fossils, Roman oil lamps, prints, paintings, books, comics, CDs, cassette tapes and records, designer fashion, 80s to 90s vintage clothing, shoes including a huge range of sneakers (and a pair of vintage Air Jordans on the day of the author’s visit), wood-block etchings, antique jewellery and art in all forms and ages. You can pick up a 1960s penny for $2 or a 1970s Vietnamese propaganda photo for $780.

Getting there: 

Memento is on the right hand side of Katoomba street as you head down the hill, just down from the Paragon Cafe (sadly still closed).

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

Memento doesn’t buy stuff from the general public. 

22. The Velvet Fog

Address: 76 Bathurst Rd Katoomba

Open hours: Tue – Sat 10am-5pm.

Contact: (02) 4782 5277; thevelvetfog@bigpond.com

Website: thevelvetfog.com.au 

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/thevelvetfogrecords/, https://www.instagram.com/thevelvetfog/

What’s in store:

Old LPs, hi-fi equipment, CDs, DVDs and music books (including bios, band histories and musical encyclopaedias). About 95 per cent of sale items are secondhand, according to business owner, Paul Tatz.

Photos: courtesy of The Velvet Fog

Getting there: 

The Velvet Fog is conveniently located directly across from Katoomba station.   

Can you trade in your secondhand goods here?

Yes. Paul buys from the general public and reckons he pays decently. In fact, he has a running advertisement in the local paper. Call or visit the shop during opening hours. He doesn’t accept or sell musical items other than valve amplifiers. 

Free Stuff

23. Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility

Address: 49 Woodlands Rd, Katoomba

Open hours: Mon – Fri 8am-4pm; Sat 10am-2pm

Contact: (02) 4780 5398

Website: www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/katoomba-rrwm-facility

What’s up for grabs?

The Reuse Shed offers free discarded but still useable items rescued from waste. Examples of potential finds include books, wardrobes, chairs and other household items.  

Getting there: 

The Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility is in North Katoomba on the same road as the Katoomba public hospital. To browse the Reuse Shed or bring in items, arrive at least 15 minutes prior to closing time and wear closed footwear. 

Bringing in unwanted items 

To offload stuff directly at the waste facility costs $48 for the first 100 kg of mixed waste. To drop off a mattress costs $34. Take advantage of free council pickups (offered to locals) and free drop off of specific items like car batteries, x-ray films, fluorescent globes and tubes, paint and white goods. The facility has a new Textile Recovery Bin where you can drop off textiles including clothing, shoes, hats, belts, outdoor soft furnishings, linen, cushions, pillows, blankets and soft toys. All materials, however, must be in decent condition, free of stains and rips.

Donating Sustainably

• Secondhand stores don’t accept anything broken, stained, soiled, torn, wet or unusable or used underwear or socks. If you wouldn’t buy it yourself or gift it to a friend, don’t expect others will. 

• Take donated items in during business hours. Avoid leaving items out where weather can wet or damage them. 

• Know what stores take what. Avoid donating indiscriminately. If unsure, and for non-standard items, try calling. 

• Electrical items in good, working condition are accepted by the Cancer Wellness Support Op Shop and Salvos, Katoomba. 

• Be aware that Christian and animal welfare charity shops won’t accept items in conflict with their values, such as weapons, drug paraphernalia or fur.  

• Take unsaleable items including textiles to the Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility

By Nick Whiterod, University of Adelaide and Sylvia Zukowski, University of Adelaide

Murray crayfish once thrived in the southern Murray-Darling Basin. The species was found everywhere from the headwaters of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers in the Australian Alps all the way down to Wellington in South Australia.

For thousands of years, First Nations people managed harvesting sustainably. But crayfish stocks crashed after European settlement. This was partly due to commercial and recreational harvest, which began in the late 1860s. At its peak in 1955, 15 tonnes of Murray crayfish were taken from the river in New South Wales and sent to markets in Melbourne and Sydney.

In South Australia, the commercial fishery was unsustainable by the 1960s and the species was no longer targeted. In the 1980s, Murray crayfish became a protected species in the state. But the damage was done.

Over-harvesting was not the only problem. Murray crayfish prefer free-flowing, oxygen-rich water, so they suffered from efforts to regulate river flows using dams and weirs. Poor water quality, including pollution from pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, made matters worse.

Murray crayfish disappeared from South Australia sometime in the past 40 years. Targeted surveys over a five-year period couldn’t find them anywhere in the state.

But that all changed in the winter of 2023 when our reintroduction program began. Now we’re preparing for the third release of crayfish and there are positive signs many crays from earlier releases are still going strong.

A species in need of support

Like many species from the highly threatened Euastacus genus, Murray crayfish grow slowly. It takes almost ten years for a female to reach sexual maturity, and she only produces a small number of eggs. Dispersal is also limited. This makes it hard for the population to recover in both number and range.

Following a recent assessment, the species Euastacus armatus is expected to soon be listed as vulnerable to extinction under Australia’s conservation laws.

Conservation actions such as reintroductions will be necessary to aid recovery of the species.

A long time coming, shaped by adversity

The idea of returning Murray crayfish to the river in South Australia is not new.

Two University of Adelaide ecologists, the late Keith Walker and Mike Geddes, first suggested it in the 1990s. They even conducted trials involving crayfish in cages to show sections of the river would be suitable for the species.

Then in 2007, the reintroduction idea was floated again. It was one of the main recommendations in a report identifying gaps in knowledge of the species.

But the idea really gathered momentum after disaster struck. Widespread flooding across the southern Murray-Darling Basin in 2010–11 led to a “hypoxic blackwater” event. This is where leaf litter and debris from the floodplain wash into the river, depleting levels of oxygen and causing mass deaths of both fish and crayfish.

This inspired further research into crayfish genetics, recovery potential and preferred habitat. It guided a 2019 strategy outlining how the species could be successfully reintroduced. A trial five-year reintroduction program in the New South Wales range of the species helped refine the strategy.

Then another Murray blackwater event in 2022–23, in NSW and Victoria, forced crayfish out of the water and up the riverbanks.

Vision of dying crayfish leaving the water, only to be consumed by predators or poached by people, prompted the community to respond. Guided by fisheries agencies and a fishing conservation charity, they rescued crays and held them safely in aquaculture facilities until they could be released back into the wild.

Many of these crayfish were later returned to the river where they came from. But a small number were held for release into SA as part of our new reintroduction program.

In a truly collaborative effort, a small environmental not-for-profit organisation, Nature Glenelg Trust, worked in partnership with a natural resource management agency, First Nations community, fisheries agencies from three states and a private aquaculture facility to turn the idea into reality.

Positive signs from crayfish releases

Murray crayfish were first released back into South Australia in winter 2023. It was a big moment for people who have long championed the species’ return.

A further 200 crayfish were released during winter 2024.

During each release, some of the crayfish were tagged with trackers. This has provided world-first movement and activity information. It shows all tagged crayfish being regularly detected, indicating they are flourishing.

Field surveys each season at the reintroduction site have also found the species alive and well, representing the first Murray crayfish found in the state for more than 40 years.

Returning a totemic and iconic species

The reintroduction of Murray crayfish into a closely guarded location in South Australia’s Riverland is both culturally and ecologically significant.

It signals the return of a important totem to the Erawirung people of the region, and provides a way to reconnect with the species.

Reestablishing a population of the species in South Australia, where hypoxic blackwater events have not been as severe, also provides insurance against extinction.

The species is considered a keystone species, meaning it plays a disproportionately large role in the ecosystem. So returning it to the river may have even greater ecological benefits.

The first of many steps

Reintroduction programs require ongoing commitment if they are to be successful. Extra crayfish will need to be added to the reintroduced population over the coming years.

The reintroduced population will continue to be monitored to ensure numbers are increasing and the range expanding. It will remain protected from fishing by local fisheries authorities.

If successful, further reintroductions may be undertaken into other parts of South Australia.

This initiative is a partnership between Nature Glenelg Trust and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from the landscape levies, with support from NSW Fisheries, Victorian Fisheries Authority, not-for-profit organisation OzFish Unlimited, North West Aquaculture, the River Murray & Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC), CSIRO and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA).

Nick Whiterod, Science Program Manager, Goyder Institute for Water Research Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Research Centre, University of Adelaide and Sylvia Zukowski, Senior Aquatic Ecologist, Nature Glenelg Trust. Adjunct Fellow, University of Adelaide

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.