Celebrate the Discovery of Platypuses in The Hills this August
Published on 03 August 2023
Photo Credit: Dr Michelle Ryan.
The Hills Shire Councill is celebrating the discovery of a local platypus population during the month of August.
Council has teamed up with a local environmental group, the Cattai Hills Environment Network (CHEN), to bring residents a series of FREE workshops about these egg-laying mammals (monotreme) that were found in The Hills earlier this year.
The Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi, believes this discovery is a significant triumph for the community and encourages residents to learn more about these fascinating Australian natives throughout August, which is also known as ‘Platypus Month’.
“Finding platypus living in The Hills, especially the urban parts, is truly amazing,” he said.
“These findings mean our waterways and the local environment are attractive places for these incredible animals to live and thrive.
“To share the story of platypus being found in The Hills and to ensure their survival - especially as our community grows and our local waterways become even more important - we are running workshops to educate residents about these creatures and what we can all do to protect them.”
Council is also actively supporting the positive efforts of CHEN and a Western Sydney University research team, which have made a remarkable discovery of numerous healthy platypuses in the Cattai Catchment area, which spans from Castle Hill to Cattai.
The team, which Dr Michelle Ryan leads, have been monitoring the local platypus population to understand more about this species and its habitat better.
According to Dr Ryan, gaining more knowledge about these animals can help guarantee their continued existence.
“It is important that we all do our part to protect platypuses and ensure they remain in the waterways of The Hills for generations to come,” Dr Ryan said.
FREE workshops happening in August include:
Platypus Discovery and Riverbank Restoration on Friday 4 August at 10:30am–12pm, at Castle Hill Library: Join CHEN to learn more about the platypus and their natural environment, including the plants that grow along riverbanks. Attendees will also learn how they can get involved in bushland restoration. Suitable for adults. Cost: FREE.
Platypus Month Little Eco Warriors Event on Thursday 17 August at 4pm-5pm at Castle Hill Library: Children can enjoy an educational talk and activities about platypuses. They will also learn how they can help sustain their local waterway. Suitable for children. Cost: FREE.
Bushcare event on Sunday 20 August at 9am-12pm at Connelly Way in Kellyville: Help Council and Bushcare volunteers remove invasive weeds along the Cattai Creek Catchment and plant native species that are suitable to support a platypus habitat. Enjoy a FREE barbecue after all the hard work. To register: www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Upcoming-Events-Activities/Connelly-Way-Bushcare.
Storytelling about Platypus in The Hills on Saturday 26 August at 12pm-2pm at the Annangrove Community Environment Centre: Come and celebrate platypus month by hearing from CHEN about the platypus discovery in The Hills, the story of 'Bluey’ and share stories and information about the platypus. FREE catered lunch. Suitable for adults and families. Cost: FREE
To register your interest and learn more, visit Council’s events webpage: https://tinyurl.com/yv3ckbtf.