Biodiversity and Water Research

Western Sydney Insect Infestation

Dr Markus Riegler from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, together with Blacktown City Council have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to identify the key characteristics of the current psyllid infestation in the endangered remnant Cumberland Plain Woodlands (PDF, 80.07 KB) (opens in a new window).

Additionally at UWS Enid Blyton’s, from the School of Social Science and Psychology, is completing an honours project on the displacement of these special trees in Western Sydney parks and gardens that are under attached from psyllids, which are tiny sap sucking insects that mostly attack native plants. Grey Box Gum to become ‘faraway trees’ in Western Sydney. To read the full article visit Grey Box Gum to become ‘faraway trees’ in Western Sydney (opens in a new window).

Jewel Beetle Identification

UWS Hawkesbury Cumberland Plain Remnant Woodland is listed on the Australian Heritage Database as including a Castlereagh Jewel Beetle Habitat and Movement Corridor. The woodlands support a unique assemblage of Jewel Beetle fauna and are an important habitat of four nationally rare Jewel Beetle species and a further eight species that are nationally uncommon. Forty-four species of Jewel Beetles have been recorded from the area which make it one of the most diverse sites in the Sydney region. In terms of numbers of beetles the area is also among the richest sites in the Sydney region.

The UWS Office of Sustainability has partnered with the UWS School of Health and Science and the Australian Museum to prepare a Jewel Beetle Identification Kit for use in the Cumberland Plain. The kit will be available in an online format and in hard copy and showcase up to 30 jewel beetles.

Expanding our use of Reclaimed Stormwater

For the past 30 years, UWS has been using recycled water and stormwater to irrigate agricultural and horticultural areas of Hawkesbury campus. In 2009, we extended our use of stormwater to include historical areas of the campus. In 2010, we installed new irrigation lines around the student accommodation villas and lodges to facilitate irrigation of the lawns and gardens in that area with stormwater. Since then we have also installed new irrigation systems around Fairy Circle and the Quad.

To further extend our use of stormwater and, hence, reduce our reliance on potable water, we are currently designing extensions to the existing irrigation system on the Hawkesbury campus. The extension will consist of a combination of pop-up sprinklers and sub-surface irrigation, which will allow us to enhance the lawns and gardens in historical areas of the campus and reduce the risk of damage to those areas caused by dry conditions and drought.

Please see UWS Water Initiatives (PDF, 54.64 KB) (opens in a new window) for further information.

WISER Network

The Water and Land Management Innovation and Strategy Enhancement Partnership in Peri-urban Research (WISER) Network has brought key water stakeholders together for water management cooperation at regional and national levels. This collaboration will work on water management and planning issues that are emerging due to population growth in urban areas and land use changes in peri-urban areas surrounding our major cities and towns.