COMING EVENTS

MEMBERS’ PICNIC – Sunday 7 December 2025 from 12 noon at the Field of Mars Visitor Centre
As usual, we hold this at the start of December to celebrate our achievements over the past year.
All members, their families and friends and anyone who has contributed to our work is welcome!
It will be interesting this year to see the progress on the track upgrades in the Reserve!
We will begin with a barbecue-and-salad lunch, and members who actively supported the work of our Society will be recognised.
There will be time for informal chat, a self-guided bushwalk, and afternoon tea before you leave.

WE TURN SIXTY! – Sunday 15 February 2026, 12pm-4pm at the Field of Mars Visitor Centre.
The decision to form our Society was made at an informal meeting in September 1965, and we held our official Inaugural Meeting at the St Thomas church hall in Orient Street Gladesville on 16 February 1966. We will celebrate our 60th anniversary with a special afternoon which will include displays of photos and information of our achievements over the years, and a chance to reminisce. Fortunately, some of our original members may be there, and will happily discuss our Society’s work and achievements over the years.

PAST EVENTS

On Sunday 2 November the Visitor Centre hosted the Cumberland Bird Observers Club's annual BBQ, with a walk led by our volunteer Cathy Goswell. About 25 members attended. It was a busy day, since by chance the Sydney Bird Club had also organised a walk in the Field of Mars, with over 40 participants.

YARNKNIT RUG RAFFLE PRIZE

Donated once again by Holy Spirit Yarn Group, you could be the lucky winner when the raffle is drawn at the AGM in early 2026. The handmade article is suitable for both winter and summer use. Keep it yourself, give it to a family member or friend or donate to a worthy organisation. Funds raised support the Society and the organisations we support.
Tickets are available at the Visitors Centre or buy online by transfer to our Bendigo Bank account: RYDE HUNTERS HILL FLORA AND FAUNA PRESERVATION SOCIETY INC, BSB 633-000, Account number 190716589.
Include your name and “raffle” in the transaction description, and please email your contact details to rhhffps@gmail.com
One ticket for $2, Three tickets for $5

PRESIDENT’S NOTE -

The NSW Government has recently adopted the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 which introduces many changes of concern to environmental groups.
These include Targeted assessment development (TAD), a Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) and a Development Coordination Authority (DCA).
TAD is a new development assessment pathway. Any development or class of development can be declared to be targeted assessment development.
When considering applications for targeted assessment development, consent authorities will expressly be prohibited from considering fundamental and important matters including:
•the likely impacts of that development, including environmental impacts,
•the suitability of the site for the development, and
•the public interest, which under NSW case law includes the principles of ecologically sustainable development and climate change impacts
The HDA has the power to do expedited site specific zoning and the Development Coordination Authority has the power to override the role of local councils and other specialised government agencies in land use and planning decisions.
The October edition of Wallumetta reported on the Societies objection to the proposed Julius Avenue Data Centre where the planning document revealed that the development will result in the removal of 509 trees. These are part of the important habitat corridor right next to Lane Cove National Park and the Great North Walk near Fairyland.
Under the new planning system reforms, this project may be declared a TAD and proceed without considering fundamental and important matters.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is planning a response to this new legislation and the Society is participating in this process. Options include timely consultation with the new decision making authorities, responding to regulations being introduced to give effect to the new legislation, responding to TAD projects and continued advocacy with elected representatives of the NSW Parliament.
Frank Breen, President

About RHHFFPS

The Society has been active in local conservation issues since 1966 and is well networked with the broader conservation movement across NSW.

The Society's Constitution states its Aims and Objectives as:

a. The education of the members and the community, particularly in the local area, in nature conservation and protection of the environment;

b. To promote ecologically sustainable land use and development;

c. To promote nature conservation including an adequate system of national parks, wilderness areas, nature reserves, wildlife refuges and corridors and urban bushland reserves; adequate protection measures for native wildlife;

d. Achieving satisfactory measures to safeguard the environment from all forms of pollution to ensure clean air, clean water and a healthy environment;

e. To work for the permanent retention and conservation of all natural areas in the local district and an increase in the area set aside for nature conservation and

f. To undertake the management of the Field of Mars Reserve with Ryde City Council as a major conservation project

We have a regular newsletter Wallumetta which is issued six times a year which attempts to update members on both local environmental issues and issues of wider impact. Our volunteer members keep the Visitors Centre open each weekend. Please contact us if you have concerns about threats to our local natural areas and the precious native fauna which depend on our sensitive bushland areas and waterways.

History of The Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society

In the mid 1960s, with an increasing amount of waste needing disposal, Ryde Council looked to an expansion of the small tip in the Field of Mars Reserve. Council proposed to pipe Buffalo and Stranger's Creeks to facilitate a landfill area to a depth of up to 15m feet which could then be re-developed into playing fields. Local residents united to form the Anti-tip Action Group and lobbied to reverse Council's plans for a tip at the Field of Mars. The tip was moved to Porter's Creek which to this day still requires substantial funds to control the environmental damage arising from past use as a tipsite. With the Field of Mars saved the Society was established in January 1966.

In September 1966, Ryde Council advised the Society that it agreed to their proposal to development of the Field of Mars Reserve as a flora and fauna sanctuary. Hard work over following decades has seen restoration of old degraded areas of the Field of Mars and protection of the area as a Wildlife Refuge. A Visitors Centre was built and then the Environmental Education Centre which is visited by about 10,000 students each year.