Lion Island penguins benefit from Hawkesbury cleanup
Penguins on Lion Island are among "the main beneficiaries" of clean-up of storm and flood debris from the lower Hawkesbury River, according to the NSW Environment Protection Agency.
An EPA director Ms Arminda Ryan said the clean-up had made waterways safer for the community, but also safer for wildlife with the marine life at Lion Island an excellent example.
"The shorelines of Lion Island in Broken Bay, home to many native species including threatened penguin colonies, has been cleared of washed-up debris including building materials, broken wood, and contents of sheds," she said.
"With penguin breeding season just around the corner, this clean-up is hugely beneficial for a species that suffers from marine pollution and could always use some help.
"The removal of debris will significantly reduce the possibility of entanglements and ingestion of plastics by wildlife and also allows the penguins easier access to their breeding spots on the island."
In a media release which failed to acknowledge the work of the local bodies such as the Clean4Shore group, Ms Ryan said the work was part of the state's largest ever clean-up of its shorelines, waterways and beaches following severe rain and floods in March.
She said EPA contractors had removed 1650 cubic metres of waste from the Hawkesbury River since clean-up works started in early April.
SOURCE:
Media release, 28 May 2021
Arminda Ryan, NSW EPA