NATURE
Tomaree Museum aims to document the geological and environmental history of the region and to protect and promote the Port Stephens environment by identifying challenges, risks, and opportunities for improved sustainability.
Tomaree Museum as a regional sustainability centre will provide a total system view of local sustainability issues such as:
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Protection of the unique natural environment and wildlife of Port Stephens.
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Preservation and promotion of local aboriginal history and culture.
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Local climate change impacts and strategies; the role of local businesses.
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Waste management, recycling strategies, and local pollution threats and carbon emission data.
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Local bush fire management history, resources and lessons.
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Future risks to the growth and sustainability of unique tourism assets including dolphin, syngnathid (sea horse) and whale watching.
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Port Stephens human population - demographics, diversity, risks eg pandemics.
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The history and future of key Port Stephens industries such as oyster farming, fishing.
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Environmental Lessons learnt from significant local historical events.
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Water - what have we learned about water management?
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Local farming practises.
Tomaree Museum aims to build a sustainability document record by encouraging the community and government agencies to provide articles, reports and analysis on these and other relevant themes
FLORA AND FAUNA
Goulds Petrel & John Gould Reserve
The Gould's petrel is a small bird which breeds almost exclusively on several small islands off Port Stephens on the New South Wales coast
Soft Coral
by Dr David Harasti
A video compilation of soft sponges and sea horses around the Port Stephens, Great Lakes area.
Port Stephens Dolphins
Around 90 to 120 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins live permanently in the waters of Port Stephens within the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park.
Black Marlin caught in
Worlds first
On 8th February 1913, Dr Mark Cowley Lidwill (1878-1969) became the first angler to catch a black marlin (Tetrapterus Indicus) with a rod and reel.
Whale Migration
An estimated 35,000 whales, mainly humpbacks and southern right whales, migrate along Australia's east coast between May and November each year.
Rabbit Plague,
Broughton Island
Successful rabbit eradication programs have been carried out on Broughton Island.
COUNTRY
Port Stephens Oyster
Industry
Oyster farming is the oldest commercial aquaculture industry in Australia commencing in the late 1800's.
Port Stephens Outer Islands
The outer’ islands of Port Stephens comprise two groups: Cabbage Tree, Boondelbah and Little Islands just outside the heads to Port Stephens
Karuah River
Karuah River is a drowned river estuary on the south-eastern slopes of Gloucester Tops and flows generally south-east and south before reaching Port Stephens at Karuah.
PARKS
Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park
Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park extends from Cape Hawke near Forster and south to Birubi Beach at the northern end of Stockton Beach.
National Parks
Tomaree National Park stretches along the coastline from the south head of Port Stephens (Tomaree Head) to Birubi Point.
Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park and Catchment Heritage Listing
The Marine Parks Association is proposing a bid for inclusion in the World Heritage site listing.
NSW State Conservation Areas
State conservation areas are lands reserved to protect and conserve significant or representative ecosystems