Who ya gonna call? Toad busters!

Working together to tackle toads in the Tweed

To learn more about how to collect cane toads, visit Council’s website.

Tweed residents are invited to join the annual Community Cane Toad Control Challenge with 2 toad busting challenges this February and March aimed at reducing the impact of cane toads on the local wildlife and environment. 

The challenges are timed for the warmer months when cane toads are most active. Each challenge has exciting prizes up for grabs for the teams who remove the most cane toads from their area during the week-long events.  
 
Cane toads are damaging, invasive pests that have significant environmental and social impacts on Tweed’s wildlife. They also have an extraordinary breeding capacity, with each female capable of laying up to 35,000 eggs per clutch and producing multiple clutches each year.  

Council’s Pest Animals Wildlife Protection Program Leader, Pamela Gray, said community-led toad control is currently one of the most effective ways for localised management of this pest. 

“A community-wide effort can be really powerful,” Ms Gray said. 

“We can establish safe havens for biodiversity in our backyards and free up food and breeding resources for native species.” 

In addition to the cane toad challenges, Council will be hosting a Cane Toad Control Information Webinar to give potential cane toad busters, and other members of the community, cane toad knowledge to help them protect their local environment.

The webinar will include tips on how to identify cane toads, cane toad control methods and steps to follow for RSPCA-approved humane euthanasia. Information about the webinar will be added to Tweed Shire Council’s cane toad webpage on Wednesday 28 January. 

For the cane toad busting challenges, community members are encouraged to team up with friends and family. The aim is to collect cane toads from their local area and then log the number of toads collected online to enter the draw for prizes. The team or individual who collects the most cane toads wins. 

“Get the kids outside and help protect our incredible environment together,” Ms Gray said. 

All cane toads collected can be delivered to designated drop-off points across the Tweed Shire or disposed of using humane euthanasia methods. 

Event details

Tweed Online Toad Busting Challenge #1  
Friday 30 January – Sunday 8 February 2025 
Register by clicking ‘Going’ on the Facebook event page. 
Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/1926140421320555/ 

Tweed Online Toad Busting Challenge #2 
Friday 27 February – Sunday 8 March 2025 
Event link will be available on Council’s website and social media channels following the first challenge. 

This event is being delivered by Watergum, a not-for-profit community environment group, under contract to Tweed Shire Council. If you have questions about the Tweed Cane Toad Challenge, please contact Watergum at canetoads@watergum.org or call 07 2103 5796. 

Find out more at tweed.nsw.gov.au/canetoads

Cane Toad challenge: Individuals and groups can sign up for the challenge

Share the Shore with the endangered pied oystercatcher

Over summer, several species of waders and seabirds nest on NSW’s ocean beaches and on the sandy shores, sandspits and islands within our estuaries.

These environments are rich with marine life that the birds feed on to raise their families. Many species of beach-nesting birds are under threat of extinction, largely due to disturbance by dogs, unaware beachgoers and four wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles on beaches.

Birds such as the pied oystercatcher, little tern, hooded plover and beach-stone curlew are on the brink, but with a few small changes to how use the beach we can help them thrive for future generations.

Read more at Big Volcano Places – Hastings Point: “Hastings Point / Cudgera Creek dog exclusion area

“Council has designated a dog exclusion area encompassing land east of Tweed Coast Road from Yugari Drive north to Peninsula Street, including all foreshore areas of the Cudgera Creek estuary and the beach north of Cudgera Creek mouth to the shoreline adjacent to the Peninsula Street beach access walkway.

The closure of this area to dogs is to protect significant shorebird and beach nesting bird habitat and reduce disturbance.”

See also Big Volcano Visitor Guide: Dog exercise areas Ballina Shire, Byron Shire, Gold Coast City Council and Tweed Shire

Sweetnam Park in Uki shines after major upgrade

A revitalised Sweetnam Park in Uki

Sweetnam Park in Uki is now flood‑resilient, welcoming and accessible, for locals and visitors to enjoy these summer holidays. 
 
The upgrade was funded through a $15.5 million package from the Australian and NSW governments to restore and improve community assets damaged by storms and floods. 

Sweetnam Park was badly damaged in the February 2022 flood. Council has rebuilt and improved the park with new facilities that make it safer, stronger and more enjoyable for residents and visitors. 
 
The upgrade includes: 

• play equipment for children aged 2 to 13, with inclusive features 
• natural play areas, including a cubby and climbing net 
• a half basketball court for youth 
• small skate element 
• seating and a drinking fountain 
• picnic table and shelter 
• connecting pathways 
• landscaping and tree planting. 

Manager Parks and Active Communities Murray Smith said the project has delivered a park that better meets the needs of the whole community. 

“The Australian and NSW Governments have backed projects that strengthen communities and keep them vibrant,” Mr Smith said. 

“This funding helped Council rebuild local infrastructure, giving families and friends better places to gather and enjoy.” 

“By upgrading parks and recreation areas to a higher standard, we’re making sure they can handle more frequent and severe weather.” 

“Inclusive playgrounds are vital because they give children and people of all ages and abilities a safe, accessible space to come together.” 

Sweetnam Park is now open and ready for families to enjoy. 

This project is one of 57 delivered in the past 2 years under the Community Assets Program. In the last 6 months, Council has also completed: 

• New Fingal Harbour public toilet 
• Bilambil Sports Complex East roof replacement and electrical upgrade 
• Jim Devine Fields car park 
• Ray Pascoe Park car park 
• Barrie Smith Fields car park 
• Ebenezer seawall and pathway 

These projects illustrate Council’s commitment to restoring and improving community facilities, so they are safer, more resilient and ready to serve residents and visitors.

See also Big Volcano Places – Uki, Mount Warning Road, NSW 2484

Road upgrades to begin at Lismore Waste Facility

Lismore City Council will soon begin essential upgrades at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre. 

The initial project involves full pavement rehabilitation of the road between the front gate and weighbridge, including kerb reinstatement and drainage, and will repair damage caused by the 2022 natural disasters and subsequent heavy vehicle usage.  

Entrance to Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre

To complete the upgrades safely and efficiently, traffic management will be in place from early February to late March, subject to weather and contractor availability. Operating hours will be reduced during construction, with the waste facility and the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens closing at 1pm daily.  

Council encourages residents and businesses to plan ahead and allow extra time when visiting.  

Once this initial upgrade is complete, construction and remediation of roads and hardstands further into the site will begin, as part of the delivery of an exciting new Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre Masterplan.  

“This is the start of a bigger vision: a safer, more efficient Recycling & Recovery Centre that supports our community and the circular economy,” says Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg.   

Work is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and will be undertaken by Ireland Civil Contracting.  

Lismore City Council appreciates the community’s patience and understanding as these important improvements are delivered.  

Further updates will be shared via Council’s website and social media channels.  

For more information, visit https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Flood-Restoration-Portfolio/Waste/FR-Lismore-Recycling-Recovery-Centre-upgrades   

The Wiiyaan – Tweed Regional Museum’s significant new exhibition now open

The new exhibition, The Wiiyaan, tells the 3 Brothers creation story that explains the origins of the Bundjalung Nation’s different tribes and their dialects.

Ancient origins, living culture: Museum unveils powerful Bundjalung creation story with new exhibition

Tweed Regional Museum unveiled a significant new exhibition, The Wiiyaan, when it re-opened to the public on Friday 9 January 2026.

The exhibition shares one of the most foundational creation stories of the Bundjalung Nation through contemporary cultural expression and community led storytelling.

Developed by Bundjalung Artist and Cultural Advisors Bijang and Kyle Slabb, The Wiiyaan brings to life the story of the Three Brothers, a narrative which explains the origins of the Bundjalung Nation’s different tribes and dialects across the Northern Rivers region.

Bundjalung Artists and Cultural Advisors Bijang and Kyle Slabb

The Wiiyaan are understood as an unbroken line of origin, the Ancestors of the Tweed Bundjalung people. According to the creation story, 3 brothers arrived by canoe with their families and journeyed north, south and west, forming distinct tribal groups and language variations.

In the southern dialect, the brothers are known as Mamoon, Birrung and YarBirrain, while in the northern dialect they are Yarbiri, Marming and Birin. Their story is deeply embedded in Bundjalung culture, lore and Country, with key locations marked by natural landmarks throughout the region.

The exhibition features digital and material illustrations created over several years by the local Tweed Aboriginal community, developed with creative and technical assistance from Ludo Studio, the Brisbane based Emmy®, Logie, BAFTA and AACTA Award winning studio, widely recognised for producing Bluey.

Ludo’s involvement supported the digital and visual components of the exhibition under the direction of the Bundjalung artists and community.

The works included in the exhibition were developed to ensure the continuation of traditional knowledge and have been shared by Elders and Knowledge Holders as a catalyst for passing stories forward to younger generations.

Artist and Cultural Advisor Kyle Slabb said the exhibition responds to the urgency of cultural transmission at a critical point in time.

“One of the considerations that we have to think about now and the time that we’re in, is what we pass on to the next generation. We’re the last generation of contact with traditional people in our community. Our kids’ generation never knew our grandmothers and grandfathers,” Mr Slabb said.

“During that transition, what doesn’t get passed on, you can lose. This project is part of that exercise for me — making sure every Bundjalung kid knows our origin story, understands our lore, and knows what connects us back.”

Tweed Regional Museum Acting Director Erika Taylor said the exhibition reflects the museum’s commitment to community driven storytelling and cultural authority.

“The Wiiyaan is a powerful example of what museums can be when they are guided by Cultural Knowledge Holders. This exhibition centres on Bundjalung voices, knowledge and lived experience while using contemporary tools to support cultural continuity,” Ms Taylor said.

“What makes The Wiiyaan so moving is its purpose. The Wiiyaan is a powerful act of cultural continuity. It shares a foundational Bundjalung creation story in a way that honours community authority and invites people of all ages to understand the deep cultural connections to Country that surround them every day.”

“This exhibition is about ensuring cultural knowledge is not lost but carried forward. It is an act of care for future generations, and it has been a privilege for the museum to support Bundjalung artists and Knowledge Holders in bringing this story to life.”

The Wiiyaan runs from 9 January 2026 until 18 July 2026 at Tweed Regional Museum, Murwillumbah. Entry is free. 
 
For more information, visit museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au 

Bundjalung Artists and Cultural Advisors Bijang and Kyle Slabb walking into the new exhibition.