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Conservation Society in Mosman to Build World’s First Platypus Sanctuary

Plans are being made by the NSW Government and Mosman-based Taronga Conservation Society to construct the world’s first sanctuary for platypus, a species at risk of extinction due to climate change and drought.

There are currently plans in the works to construct a specialist facility that consists of ponds and burrows to provide platypuses with a safe environment where they can repopulate, be rehabilitated, and be studied.

The facility will be built 391km away from Sydney, set to finish construction by 2022. It will be able to house up to 65 platypuses. Given the creature’s highly specific needs to thrive, the platypus sanctuary will be able to give researchers insight on what environments and conditions they prefer.

Platypuses themselves are reclusive, curious-looking mammals that are semi-aquatic in nature, sporting fur, webbed feet, and a bill that helps them scoop up insects, shellfish, and worms. Despite the fact that platypuses are mammals, they lay eggs — a trait it shares with its close relative, the echidna — and live in small streams and lazy rivers.

They are considered a protected species, with fears that they might go extinct in the New South Wales region within the century. The droughts that followed the bushfires from 2019 to 2020 led to an increase in platypuses with climate-related injuries and illnesses.

The Taronga Zoo Sydney, managed by the Taronga Conservation Society, can be found at Bradleys Head Rd, open every day of the week from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit their website here. Follow the Taronga Zoo Sydney’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.

Residents in Affluent Mosman Neighbourhood Suffer from Smelly ‘Schitt’s Creek’

Residents of an affluent and leafy Mosman neighbourhood have been calling a nearby stormwater drain their very own Schitt’s Creek, not for the popular Emmy award-winning comedy series but for its longstanding stench.

Quakers Hat Bay locals said that they’ve been dealing with sewer smell for more than two years and they are concerned about the unbearable stench’s effects on the people, especially the children who play outdoors.

The homeowners recently received anonymous notes from a concerned group who questioned what Sydney Water and the contractors have been doing to fix this problem. The lavatory smell would sometimes last for a week and its odour is much more worse in the morning when residents are out for a walk or a jog.

According to reports, as many as 100 properties in this Mosman neighbourhood are affected by the lingering sewage stench.

In 2017, Sydney Water and its contractor started a $100 million once-in-a-generation repair and upgrade of the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer that stretches 28-kilometres across North Head at Manly. This tunnel collects about 25 percent of Sydney’s wastewater but the scope of the work has brought problems and delays.

A spokesperson for Sydney Water confirmed receiving reports of the stench and they have been trying to minimise the odour with ventilation systems, gas suppressants and a temporary access enclosure near Quakers Hat Bay and The Spit.

The agency has also hired specialists to monitor the reports or complaints and then dispatch odour control measures amidst allegations that the contractor is not adhering to conditions in their contract.

In the meantime, the residents are growing frustrated as they have been told different reasons for the delays, including COVID-19. The Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer upgrade was supposed to be completed in 2020.

Taronga Zoo Sydney Welcomes First Baby Koala In A Year

Meet Humphrey, the latest addition to Taronga Zoo Sydney and the first joey to be born in the enclosure in over a year.

Humphrey, an 8-month old koala joey, was named after one of Taronga Zoo Sydney’s foundation members and key supporters, backing the zoo’s efforts towards conservation and threatened species work. The joey had emerged from his mother Willow’s pouch in February, a full 8 months after being born — a regular occurrence amongst koalas.

Despite having four other siblings, Humphrey is the first joey to be born at this famous tourist attraction in more than a year, after a series of devastating bushfires ravaged the koala population in 2019 and 2020. He is expected to remain with his mother until he turns a year old, after which he is expected to mature and become more independent.

Only eight months old, Humphrey is still too young to leave his mother’s side.
Photo credit: Facebook/Taronga Zoo Sydney

Given the recent bushfires, koalas have not fared well in the wild and their numbers continue to dwindle. As urban development continues to invade their natural habitat, koalas become more at risk. Recent events have already shown that they are in danger of being hit by cars and their natural habitats are adversely impacted by land clearings.

In order to keep koalas safe, people must stay alert whilst driving during dawn and dusk when koalas are most active. Donating to koala enclosures and using recycled products also helps the environment, which helps increase a koala’s odds of survival.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is located in Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, open every day from 9:30AM to 5:00PM. For more details, visit their website. For any updates concerning special events, new additions to the zoo, and general information concerning wildlife and the zoo’s inhabitants, follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Pages & Pages Booksellers on Military Road Announces It’s Closing Shop

Pages & Pages Booksellers, an independent family-owned bookshop in Mosman, is closing its doors permanently.

The family announced in a post on Facebook that they have opted not to renew the lease thus the store, located at 878 Military Road, will officially stop trading on Friday, the 30th of August 2019.

*Photo Credit: Pages & Pages Booksellers*

Chris and Phil Page opened Pages & Pages Booksellers in Belrose in 1995 and secured a spot in Mosman a few years later. Their son, Jon, took over management and the bookshop prospered for 20 years.

However, the retail recession has hit the business in recent months and the family believes that the outlook could likely worsen. While a significant number of Mosman residents are lawyers, academics, journalists and doctors, most buy books online.

Pages & Pages Booksellers’ decision wasn’t abrupt. The bookshop downsized and also set up an online store to keep up.

“We have fought the rise and rise of online shopping and we met the challenge of eBooks head on. We have adapted and innovated to all the changes that have occurred to bookshops over the last 25 years,” Pages & Pages Booksellers’ statement read.

“However we have weathered one storm too many and we have decided that now is the best time to wind the business down before it becomes too late to leave on our own terms.”

Mosman Council Spit East Upgrade Shifts To Stage 2A

Photo Credit: Nelson Blue/Flickr

The Spit East Road upgrade in Mosman, which commenced in October 2018, has entered stage 2A of its work plan in March 2019. As a result, access to this area will be limited until the project’s completion in June.

The upgrade’s progress, however, has been on schedule and locals will soon be able to benefit from the following facilities:

Stage 1A	new bus bay, bus shelter new laneway by the foreshore	completed
Stage 1B	new bike hoops, waiting area seats new landscaping, trees & garden beds	completed
Stage 2A	new parking area, signages new footpaths to the commercial area	March to April 2019
Stage 2B	new paving, additional landscaping	May to June 2019

“The objectives of the Spit Road streetscape upgrade are to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility, mitigate flooding, enhance the landscaping and amenity of the area, and improve access to public transport,” as cited in the upgrade’s report.

Funding for the Spit East upgrade comes from the B-Line project sponsored by the State Government. The Council had a series of consultations with the public since 2016 to determine what should be prioritised in the upgrade.

Mosman Rowers Reopens This March With New Archie Bear Restaurant

Photo Credit: Mosman Rowers/Facebook

Mosman Rowers reopens this March with a refurbished building and a new restaurant, Archie Bear, to cater to its members and guests.

Not long ago, the clubhouse standing on Centenary Drive since 1911, nearly permanently closed its doors due to dilapidation and mismanagement.

Through a community drive that began in September 2018, however, Mosman Rowers was able to raise more than $110,000 to repair and update the structure. By November, the club also received 400 new member registrations made up of young professionals, thus ensuring the club’s longevity.

Hospitality group Bird and Bear is behind the operation and management of Archie Bear at the clubhouse. The company also owns The Sandy Bear in Clontarf and The Flying Bear in Kirribilli.

The new restaurant is on the ground floor of the three-storey structure. It has the capacity to seat 100 guests indoors and 40 people outside.

Meals served at the Archie Bear include an all-day menu consisting of breakfast and lunch choices. Members may order a bowl of porridge, poached eggs, smashed avocado on toast, a selection of pizza and burgers, or bacon and egg rolls with their cocktail drinks.

*Photo Credit:* *Mosman Rowers/Facebook*

On the second floor of the Mosman Rowers clubhouse is the Rowers Bar, while the top floor serves as a function room to be rented out to members and their guests.

The newly-refurbished Mosman Rowers is still a clubhouse, thus membership is required to avail of the perks. However, the restaurant is open to the public.

The Most Exciting Summer Activities at Taronga Zoo in Mosman

Photo Credit: Neal Wellons/Flickr

Create memories with your kids with a trip to the Taronga Zoo at Bradleys Heard Road in Mosman during the summer holidays. With over 340 species of animals, there’s truly so much to see at this harbourside attraction.

Expectedly, summers are a busy time at the Taronga Zoo because it’s teeming with guests. But it’s also the best time to go since the zoo prepares lots of activities that will make your visit unforgettable.

Marvel at the Dinosaurs

The Taronga Zoo’s newest attraction is an animatronic display of life-sized dinosaurs. There are currently 10 figures to ogle at the Dino Trail with their realistic sound and movements.

Dinosaur keepers will guide guests during the walks scheduled twice daily. The keepers are also the best persons to ask for cool dinosaur facts, which should be a great learning experience for the children. The visit also includes a fossil dig, where guests may get closer to some dinosaur species for a special selfie.

Watch the Shows and Talks

Visitors of the Taronga Zoo may look forward to different shows and talks every day so be sure to daily timetable before you go. Some of these activities are paid and some are free, while some can be a completely customized guided tour for specific guests.

Among the shows and talks guests may expect include a:

Seal show
Free flight bird show
Bug show
Movie screenings
A talk from various keepers of the animals, such as the tiger keepers, giraffe keepers, koala keepers, meerkat keepers, among others

These events usually take inside The Centenary Theatre.

Encounter the Animals

A visit to the Taronga Zoo doesn’t just involve looking at the animals or taking their pictures from afar. Guests can actually have a face-to-face encounter with koalas, penguins, giraffes, meerkats, elephants, tortoise and birds.

Visitors may also encounter tigers while riding a cable car or look at the elephant herd from atop the Sky Safari. It’s a fully immersive experience that’s incomparable to other zoos.

Before heading to the zoo, buy your tickets online and get a discounted rate. If you’re planning to make this a regular visit, it’s best to get an annual membership at the zoo for more discounts and privileges.

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Photo credit: www.mosman.nsw.gov.au
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