Update
Our Biodiversity Conservation Strategy was adopted by Council on 25 August 2025. View the final version here.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our draft strategy.
We exhibited our draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for feedback from 7 May - 6 June 2025.
We received 12 online submissions via this website and 17 email submissions.
Some key changes were made based on community feedback:
- The conservation status of threatened species were updated, including for the White's Seahorse
- The Sooty Oystercatcher, Eastern Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagle were included in the Threatened Fauna section
- The Key Habitat Area table was updated to include the Eastern Water Dragon population and seahorse hotels at Parsley Bay
- The Magenta Lilly Pilly description updated for clarity
- A reference to Powerful Owl nest sites was removed
- The Action Plan was updated as follows:
- Backyard Habitat Program action now includes a reference to small bird habitat and sightings
- An action regarding the management of riparian vegetation in Woollahra’s waterways has been added
- Inclusion of Royal Australian Navy as a land manager (HMAS Watson)
- The priority of action ‘Assess the feasibility of retrofitting artificial habitat structures to seawalls and other marine infrastructure’ has been raised to ‘medium.’
Overview
Woollahra Council recognises the importance of protecting the natural environment, supporting healthy ecosystems, and adapting to climate change, in fact its one of the key themes of our Community Vision, Mission and Values.
In 2015, we created our first Biodiversity Conservation Strategy which guides our approach to biodiversity conservation across the Woollahra Local Government Area. We have recently updated it and we are now asking the community for feedback.
The updated draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy covers:
- Our vision for biodiversity and achievable objectives
- A description of our local natural environment
- The identification of key habitat areas in our local area
- A summary of the key threats to biodiversity in our local area
- An action plan to guide the protection and restoration of biodiversity in Woollahra.
The key objectives identified in the Strategy are:
- To conserve, restore and improve terrestrial biodiversity and enhance habitat connectivity through our urban forest
- To improve the health and resilience of freshwater ecosystems
- To improve the water quality and habitat value of foreshore and marine ecosystems
- To improve our understanding of biodiversity
- To engage with the community in enhancing biodiversity conservation.
Have your say
Next steps
After the public exhibition period, we will review all feedback and make any required amendments to the Strategy. A final report for adoption will be presented to Council in mid-2025.
