Tweed Platypus Project
The diverse and beautiful freshwater streams and rivers in the Tweed Shire are home to an amazing and ancient animal, the platypus. The platypus has ancestors dating back over 110 million years ago and it is one of only two kinds of mammals in the world (aside from the echidna) that lays eggs (a monotreme). The platypus has strong genetic links with reptiles and birds and is of immense scientific interest.
The Tweed Platypus Project aims to protect and rehabilitate platypus habitat and secure platypus populations in the shire. We still know very little of platypus behaviour and population trends in the Tweed. To get a better understanding of where platypus live and their conservation needs, Council is collecting sighting records and assisting community groups and individuals to establish platypus watch surveys.
Council has produced a beautiful and information-packed platypus poster which is available for free at Council offices in Murwillumbah or Tweed Heads. Landowners can contact Council for information on how to make their waterways platypus friendly. Schools and community groups are welcome to contact us for a resource kit or for further information.
Where do platypus live?
Platypus live only in Australia. They live as far north as Cooktown in Queensland and down to Tasmania. It is primarily nocturnal, living in creeks and rivers from cold highland areas to tropical rainforests. It’s presence in our waterways can be a good indicator of the health of our environment, however we still know very little of this iconic animal’s lifestyle in the Tweed. We know the platypus is widespread in the Tweed, but there are very few sightings that have been recorded and little information available on where it lives and its numbers. In many areas across Australia platypus are struggling due to drought, temperature increases, pollution, habitat degradation, and loss, fish traps, illegal trapping and predation by feral or domestic animals.
How You Can Help
Platypus in burrow doorway
We all have a role to play in protecting this shy little Australian!
- Report platypus sightings - fill out the online Platypus Sighting Report Survey or print out the Platypus Sighting Report Form (69kB PDF), fill it in and return to Tweed Shire Council. Council is collecting platypus sightings to better understand where they live and whether populations are increasing or decreasing and how we can help. Records will be kept confidential and the information will be used to identify what education and conservation actions are needed to help protect platypus populations.
- Download an app - the Australian Platypus Sighting iPhone app can be used to report sightings from your smartphone.
- Contact Council for a Platypus Pack on tips to spot and report platypus sightings; or to assist in organising a Platypus Watch group in your local waterway.
- Report illegal fishing activity such as the use of banned ‘opera house’ style yabbie traps that drown platypus and other air breathing animals such as turtles. Call NSW Fisheries hotline 1800 043 536. A description of an opera house net and further information can be found on NSW Primary Industries Fact Sheet
What can be done to protect platypus on my property?
Platypus populations are generally highest in numbers in freshwater environments that have permanent pools surrounded by a mix of native shrubs, trees and groundcovers providing stable undercut banks. Overhanging vegetation provides excellent cover for platypus to feed and stable banks allows platypus to create complex burrows for resting and raising young. A diverse mix of native species with strong matted roots protects creek and river banks against erosion and shades the water surface which maintains water quality.
Waterways containing cobbled stones on the creek bed, and natural woody debris such as logs and large branches provides healthy habitat for aquatic invertebrates, the main food source for platypus. Stabilising creek and river banks from erosion can reduce sand and fine sediments from entering the waterway and smothering aquatic habitats that directly support platypus populations.
- Retain logs and large branches wherever possible in streams, rivers and lakes to contribute to the quality of platypus habitat.
- Protect creek and river banks from stock trampling, particularly within 10m of the water’s edge in areas where platypus may occur.
- Maintain or replace native groundcovers, shrubs and trees to stabilise banks and increase infiltration of rain and nutrients into the soil. A list of suitable plant species for Tweed sub-catchments is available here Species by Location Planting Guide (2.13mB PDF)
- Carry out weed removal activities in an environmentally sensitive manner that avoids erosion and maintains as much protective cover as possible on the banks.
- Reduce sediment, herbicide and fertiliser run-off into waterways to protect water quality.
- Reduce or eliminate barbed wire in creeks and waterways as platypus can become entangled.
- Cover water pump intake points with mesh or a grill – platypus can be sucked into them.
- If you are a landowner in the Tweed Shire, consider applying for a River Health Grant to protect our waterways. More information see River Health Grants (981kB PDF).
More Information