• Charles Sturt lecturer a guest speaker at river restoration workshop in Comboyne

A Charles Sturt University academic will be participating in a workshop that will show Comboyne area landholders how to maintain crucial habitats for frogs.

Lecturer in Environmental Management with the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences Dr Alexandra Knight is a guest speaker at the Hastings Landcare’s River Restoration and Management Workshop.

Dr Knight is a frog and wetland ecologist working at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie. She works with Landcare and ‘Friends of’ groups across eastern Australia to improve frog habitat and save endangered species. Dr Knight will discuss key features of frog habitat and how to improve it while also introducing participants to rare local frog species and their calls.

“Frogs are important indicators of the health of our landscapes,” Dr Knight said. 

“The Comboyne region is home to at least 17 species of native Australian frogs, including the spectacular Red-backed toadlet and the threatened Southern Barred Frog. Retaining native vegetation around streams, rivers and wetlands is important for their survival. 

“Some pesticides and herbicides are detrimental to frogs, so careful use when controlling weeds is required.”

This collaborative workshop will also feature Comboyne Streamcare coordinator, Marg Duffy, discussing weeds, fencing and native restoration. North Coast Local Land Services staff will outline the permissions required before carrying out work on local land and discuss recent erosion control projects and best practice management of riparian zones.

Participants will also go on a walk to investigate recent work by Comboyne Streamcare at Thone River while remaining alert for the chance to see platypuses.

The workshop is being organised by Hastings Landcare and is funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

The workshop will be held on Friday 24 February from 8.45am for a 9am start at the Comboyne Showground. Registrations for this free event must be made via the Eventbrite website.