Dragonfly Environmental

With Climate Change in the Coastal Zone, how do we Consult and Engage the Community?

Communicating Climate Change is very much a topic of today globally. With 80% of Australia’s population living in the coastal zone effective communication is essential in moving forward effectively.

Mia asks the question, will we have to disband our idyllic sea-side living and culture of owning the square of land beneath our dwelling? How does one tell people that the sea level is coming up, that there will be more storms, more rain, more days when the waves will wash away the sand and wash over the local pool so you can’t do your daily laps…

Mia’s presentation will provide you with practical information drawing on years of successful community engagement projects and presenting two case studies, the Bio-calendar Project and Eco-ferry Trips. Drawing upon stories shared from Indigenous Elders the presentation also provides other frameworks for relationship with the land and the places we hold as our own.

* presentation topic is currently pending approval from conference organisers

Rockdale City Council: Coolibah Reserve Bardwell Valley

DFE produced a clear Concept design Report for the restoration of a degraded wetland in Coolibah Reserve. This included an explanation of the design aims, a schematic diagram showing key features, concept design section through the wetland, and  advice on species type and numbers to be planted throughout. It also included advice on water levels, scour protection, headwall widening and spillway construction.  DFE were subsequently engaged to undertake all planting works following civil works by another contractor and the result has been a great success. They have also been engaged for the last 12 months to maintain the wetland and associated creek embankment works (also planted by DFE).

Ted Pirola. Senior Landscape Architect, Rockdale City Council

Port Botany, Ecological Maintenance

We found DFE to be a fantastic contractor. The quality of the work is always of a very high standard with direct supervision from management/owners.  DFE were always very conscientious about the work including schedules and cost.

We found DFE to always be willing to work longer hours and provide the needed resources at all times.  DFE worked closely with Baulderstone engineers and environmental manager at all times to ensure the work was completed in a timely manner. 

DFE are one of the most professional organizations I have worked with on large infrastructure projects.  They were always well mannered, polite and hard working.  Their efficiency and professionalism was consistent at all times throughout the project which lasted three years. The uniforms ad a nice touch! 

Quintin Pitts Environmental Manager Baulderstone Pty Ltd (NSW)

Port Botany, Ecological Maintenance

I have witnessed “before and after” snap shots of vegetation areas that Dragonfly have worked on and the results after work has been carried are very noticeable, plants are healthy looking and vegetation areas look vibrant and well maintained. The bush regenerating team spend time in ensuring that the work is done to a high standard. No detail overlooked or task too small. Highly recommended.

Ian Henderson  Landscape and Ecological Maintenance Manager Sydney Ports Corporation

West Arm Cabramatta Creek

We have been using Dragonfly for many years now to carry out bush regeneration works. They have always delivered a first class project at the completion of the maintenance period.

I would recommend them for bush regeneration works as we always get a prompt reliable service. Anytime we need something done it is done when they said it would be. We have used other companies in the past and found them to be a complete rip off putting in bills for maintenance works or replanting that was never done. Dragonfly actually do complete regular maintenance and do what they say they will.

Peter Watson Director – Rodmar Landscaping Services

Hornsby Shire Council

We have found Dragonfly to be highly professional in their approach to bush restoration and carrying out works under contract to Hornsby Council.

 Staff are prompt, reliable, open to suggestions, have broad restoration/landscape knowledge and carry out contract works as per specifications. On-ground works are completed with the time-frame. 

 From our experience Dragonfly is able to undertake a range of restoration techniques within a range of vegetation communities including our fragile Endangered Ecological Communities.   

Dragonfly have been involved in several restoration projects working with different staff members and have been obliging and easy to work with. Their staff and work is highly regarded by Hornsby Councils Bushland Team and Water Catchment team. We are happy to recommend them to other agencies.  

Donna Fitton,  Environmental Scientist – Bushland Operations, Hornsby Shire Council

Galston Retirement Village,

Professional sensible scope of work for the required task coupled with practical delivery and good response time.

Ben Humel, Director, Humel Architects Pty Ltd

There are a broad range of wetland definitions in use in Australia. Wetlands can be forests, marshes, open water and sometimes mostly dry.  An area is classified as a wetland as long as it is saturated with water for a long enough that flora and fauna adapt to the wet conditions. See the Office of NSW Environment and Heritage

A definition used by the Queensland Wetlands Strategy is:

“Area’s of permanent or periodic/intermittent inundation, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters’.

Why a need for Ecological restoration?

The loss of wetlands on our plant biodiversity is enormous with almost half of the world’s wetlands destroyed in the last two hundred years (Streever, 1999).  While wetlands continue to disappear at an exponetial rate we also see a directly related disappearance of many special, migratory birds that rely on wetlands for food and shelter during their incredible voyages.

The consequence of losing our wetlands not only affects the significant migratory bird populations but it also has detrimental impacts towards other important wetland functions. The loss of wetland areas upsets the regulation of river flow, reduces the filtering of pollutants and fertilizers and greatly decreases the spawning zone potential for some fish species. They also provide essential habitat for special plants, insects, and birds and play an imporant role in global carbon cycling.

Dragonfly Environmental has specialised in Ecological Restoration, Saltmarsh and Wetland Management, Riparian & Terrestrial corridor works in the Sydney Region over the past eight years.  André (BSc. Aquatic Science) has supervised the planting of over 2 million plants and currently maintains a number of wetlands, riparian zones, and terrestrial bushlands in the Sydney Region. The combined knowledge of best practice design with on-ground ecological restoration and maintenance experience make all Dragonfly Environmental projects a long-term success.

 Dragonfly Environmental has experience in working in all kinds of wetlands – Freshwater, Saltwater and Estuarine.

Litoria Fallax (Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog)

Dragonfly Environmental staff spotted this little beauty out in the field around the edge of the Moore Park Wetland.

Company directors Mia Dalby-Ball and André Olson are recognised Ecologists with over ten years experience each. Together with the Dragonfly Environmental Team, we have the ability to fulfil projects from pre-work assessments, through design to construction and long-term maintenance with excellent project management skills.  This ability combined with our hands-on experience results in quality outcomes, on time, and within budget and ensures long term success of our projects. Dragonfly Environmental has an excellent track record in delivering on a wide range of projects throughout Australia.

Our legacy of very successful on-ground work demonstrates that Dragonfly Environmental is an industry leader in large-scale ecological restoration projects.

We have a reputation for preparing high-quality environmental reports. Preparation of such documents requires knowledge of current state and local authority regulations, standards and practices that apply and the reporting requirements to satisfy the various approval processes.