The Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Conference concluded on the third day with a wet but productive field day to the Royal National Park on the 23rd May 2025. The day began at the Audley Dance Hall with a Welcome to Country delivered by Uncle Peter McKenzie from the La Perouse LALC . This was followed by some insightful presentations from the Royal Team Leader Ranger David Croft, Ralph Cartwright of the Friends of the Royal volunteer group, and an Australian first – an invertebrate DNA barcoding citizen science program led by Dr Ross Jeffree from the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre.
The group was transported through the Royal National Park to Bundeena observing some of the notable vegetation adaptations and responses to previous fire in the area thanks to a talk by National Parks Association’s Gary Schoer’s which posed the question – will more frequent and intense mega fires outwit the many tricks our plants have to resisting such stressors?
As a result of consistent rain, the afternoon presentations were delivered inside. Regardless, enthusiasm was high thanks to the engaging work of Andrew Denham’s team on habitat monitoring across fire regime components through the Applied Bushfire Science Program (ABSP). Followed by the second part of David Croft’s presentation. This session outlined the planning and operational complexities of hazard reduction processes and burn management strategies within the Park. The Bundeena indoor session concluded with a virtual presentation by the RFS on balancing environmental protection with risk management, focusing on a case study with the Red Crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis).
A welcome break in the rain provided the opportunity to get outside with the group travelling to the Bundeena/Jibbon Head Asset Protection Zone. Discussing some issues with building code and protection zones in such proximity to park boundaries. The ecologists among us pointed out some interesting observations including the scratch marks of a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) and the call of a Red Crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis) right by the path we were on.
“I enjoy the open forum and relaxed environment of a field day where conversations flow easy and people can engage easily with one another.” – A delegate from the field day.
Despite the rain, the 14th Biennial Bushfire Conference Field Day provided a unique opportunity to hear from passionate local experts on the protection of the Royal National Park, while connecting with other conference delegates.
To read more about the procedures and outcomes of the Bushfire Conference held across the two days prior to the field trip click here
This article was written by Campbell Goff, the Healthy Ecosystems Project Officer with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Program
Image: Bundeena/Jibbon Heads Park Boundary photo by Jay Wennington
