Creek Catchment Geography Survey INTRODUCTION Students from the University of Newcastle, as part of Summer Scholarship Research Projects, are conducting studies along creeks on the eastern side of Munibung Hill. Munibung Hill Conservation Society (MHCS) - a not-for-profit volunteer organisation with no paid staff - acts in an advocacy capacity for the preservation of the Munibung Hill area. As part of a Five-Fold Vision for Munibung Hill, MHCS seeks to preserve, restore and protect Munibung Hill, and promote this area as a place of learning, inspiration, rest, recreation and research. To help us with this work, we would like to hear what members of the community know about the creeks and wetland site in this area, how they may engage with these, and any concerns people may have for their future health. Information in the form of observations and stories is vitally important if we are to better understand what role creeks and wetlands play in our everyday lives. The research is based on Biddabah Creek, wetland and the wider catchment. We invite you to participate in this survey. Your responses may be anonymous. However, we welcome contact details of those who would like to talk in more detail about any of these questions and their responses. Quick and easy, the survey should take around 5-10 minutes to complete - on a computer, smart phone or tablet. Completed surveys can be submitted by clicking on the submit button at the end of the questionnaire. If you have any questions, please contact Stuart Carter at munibunghcs@gmail.com More information can be found at https://www.munibunghill.com/ Q.1: Biddabah Creek - no name signs - is located in the most important creek catchment on the eastern side of Munibung Hill. It has seven tributaries / waterways that flow into it. Most of these are hidden away, diverted into pipes running under streets and houses. Running from north to south, Biddabah Creek is an open-air watercourse that includes the wetland and swamp site either side of Windross Drive, Lakelands. It joins up with North Creek at Warners Bay before flowing into Lake Macquarie. Do you and/or members of your household take walks along Biddabah Creek or visit the wetlands or swamp area located near Biddabah Public School? YES NO If YES - Where do you walk? Does this include visits to the wetland or swamp site? Q.2: Do you have any memories of other things associated with local waterways? For example after heavy rain and flooding? YES NO If YES - In a few words, could you tell us a little more about this? Q.3: Do you think children have the same access to places of nature like creeks and streams, wetlands and swamps, that previous generations had? YES NO If NO - What has changed, why do you think this is the case? Q.4: Have you noticed any animals, especially birds, but also mammals, feral animals, near creeks and waterways in this area around Biddabah Creek - especially waterbirds at the wetlands on Windross Drive, Lakelands? YES NO If YES - Are you able to let us know which of the following species you have seen? BIRDS - Purple Swamphen, Chestnut Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Wood Duck, Ibis, Lorikeets, Noisy Miners, Kookaburra, Magpies. / MAMMALS - Bandicoots, Ring-tailed Possum / REPTILES - Turtles, Eels / FERAL - Fox, Roaming cats / Other - please list. Q.5: Have you noticed any changes along Biddabah Creek, such as as to the wetlands to the north or swamp area to the south of Windross Dive, Lakelands? YES NO If YES - In a few words can you tell us what some of these changes have been, or what you think has caused these changes? Q.6: Do you think we need to care for creeks and waterways, and especially wetlands, better? YES NO If YES - In a few words can you tell us what you think needs to happen to improve the health of local creeks and waterways? Q.7: Bush tracks and trails are great ways to safely experience the great outdoors for children and families. What do you think about the idea of a creek trail along the banks of Biddabah Creek?Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeQ.8: Connecting with nature is good for our health and wellbeing. Observing birds and other animals in their natural surroundings is better than seeing them in zoo enclosures. What do think about constructing a raised boardwalk with observation points in the swampland area on Biddabah Creek? (This is the patch of bush to the south of the creek crossing on Windross Drive, Lakelands)Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeQ.9: It's so easy to overlook that we live in catchments, downstream from someone else, and that the water from our streets and roofs ends up in Lake Macquare. Do you have any concerns or other things you would like to share with us? YES NO If YES - We would be pleased to hear what these concerns are? Q.10a: To help us understand a little about the community living within the Biddabah Creek catchment? In which age bracket are you? Under 18 19 - 30 31 - 50 51 - 70 Over 70 Q.10b: Can you tell us a little about your household? Number of adults, with or without children for example. Single Two adults no children Family with children Other Q.11: For how long have you lived in the area? Less than 6 months 7 months - 3 years 4 - 8 years 9 years or more Q.12: Finally, while each of us lives within a Munibung Hill creek catchment, some of us are closer to the actual stream bed, within what is referred to as the riparian zone - along the creek banks or close by. Is your residence close to Biddabah Creek? YES NO If NO. All the water that falls on Munibung Hill ends up running into one of 7 creeks that are tributaries of Biddabah Creek. Many of them are out of sight or look like drains. None of them have names. Do you feel any connection with these streams and waterways? If YES (you do), in a few words, would you be able to tell us about this?