SCCG Making Waves ~ September 2026

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Biodiversity Month  

September is national Biodiversity Month. This is a good time to sit down and chat to your family, friends and colleagues about what biodiversity is and how we can better support the unique biodiversity of Australia.  

Here are some tips from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on what you can do to support biodiversity everyday.  

  • Create a natural habitat in your backyard
    Look at plants that are native to your region and find out if any are threatened. Create a backyard sanctuary for local birds and wildlife and extend this to your nature strip. 
  • Take action on weeds
    Find out more about the weeds in your region. Check out what’s considered a weed in  and how you can stop the spread at weeds.org.au(external link) 
  • Help look after biodiversity in your area
    Check out bush regeneration groups through your local council website. They’re a great way to connect with like minded people, get some exercise and connect with country.  
  • Be a responsible pet owner
    Make sure your cat is de-sexed and either keep it indoors or invest in an outdoor cat run. Be sure to keep your dog on a lead when in natural areas. Together you and your furry friend can protect our rich biodiverisity. 
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle
    Look at ways to avoid and reduce waste and increase what you recycle.  For more information on tips for recycling at home visit: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/tips-recycling-home
  • Start your own compost bin or worm farm for food waste.
    By composting food and organic waste, we can all help reduce waste and create healthy soils. 
  • Be careful about what you put down your drains 
    Things like oils and chemicals can end up in our waterways and seas and harm animals and plants. Instead of using commercial cleaning chemicals, try using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Find out more about chemical management here: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/reducing-pollution

The Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 contains three goals to support biodiversity: 

  • Goal 1: Connect all Australians with nature 
  • Goal 2: Care for nature in all its diversity 
  • Goal 3: Share and build knowledge 

So let’s work together this month to better build protect our environment.  

Have your say on the next environmental protection reforms 

The SCCG encourages you to read about the changes to the Environment Protection Reforms. The Australian Government’s new national environment laws were passed by Parliament on 28 November 2025. Some of these new laws have already commenced with the next stage due to begin on or before 1 December 2026. 

This next stage of the reforms will: 

  • Streamline single project approvals 
  • Enable landscape approvals 
  • Set rules for the Restorations Contributions Holder to operate 
  • Improve operational approaches to all pathways and increase transparency. 

This will make environmental assessments and approvals faster and simpler. 

 You can have your say on these new reforms HERE until the 13th October.

Bird Flu Update 

The Avian Bird Flu H5 is still spreading through wild bird populations across Australia. All levels of government have committed to mitigation measures across the country and there are currently no detections in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or livestock in NSW, and the risk to human health remains low. For up to date information visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu#news