WINDY winter weather this past week with locals looking forward to spring, now only a week away.

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Last week was  National Science Week inspiring locals to think and engage with science.

How? Well cut to  Dr Neil Jordan who is currently bush bashing in the Myall Lakes National Park, with his team from the Centre for Ecosystem Science, the University of NSW, Taronga Zoo and National Parks.

Geared up with cameras, sound recorders and GPS collars, his team are tracking dingos to work out how they communicate and how they own territory (their scent and sound), to inform the development of non-lethal management strategies.

Locals can help by reporting dingo sightings to Dr Jordan’s  Carnivore and Coexistence Myall Lakes Dingo project at the website https://carnivorecoexistence.info/myall-lakes-dingo-project/.

To celebrate the (pending) warmer weather, MidCoast Libraries have launched the Nourish to Flourish Festival, featuring free and fun live streamed events to prepare homes and help out our environment for spring.

For more information and to book into sessions covering spring gardening, probiotics and sourdough baking, to name a few, go to https://library.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Events/Virtual-Nourish-to-Flourish-Festival-Spring-Garden

Staying on Council, the next Ordinary Council meeting is Wednesday 26 August with the Disability Inclusion Action Plan Progress Report 2019/20 on the agenda but with no mention of the planned upgrades to the Tea Gardens local swimming pool: NOTA is still waiting for a response about the planned pool upgrades.

Also on the agenda is a report card on their Delivery Program and Operational Plan (July 2019-June 2020) with lots of projects on track but improvements needed in waste water management and regional business development.

Council will be busy with their spring capital works program, which includes road improvements for Ogden St, Tea Gardens (upgrading school parking) and at Coorilla Street, Hawks Nest.

Road upgrades will also be progressing for the townships along the Bucketts Way corridor out to Stroud.

On the crime front, this week locals reported a number of vandalism and property crime online.

At the Tea Gardens Puma petrol station, the car wash is out of action due to the metal cash boxes being stolen.

Vandalism and rubbish dumping also remain ongoing problems in local parks.

Research shows that communities are much safer when locals care for and protect public spaces as well as their homes.

No matter how many times even small incidents happen, speak up; everyone can safely photograph and/or report issues to the local  Police, Council, Environmental Protection Authority or to relevant support services for help – we can help prevent serious incidents through showing community limits and support.

Needing a short road trip to safely stop cabin fever?

Check out the beautiful  Bulahdelah court house museum, shipped out from England and reassembled brick by brick in 1886 and open every Saturday 9am-3pm: contact 4997 4741.

Or visit the Barrington high country, recently snow capped, winding through Bulahdelah, up Markwell Road, then out to the upper Myall and end up at scenic Gloucester, once the haunt of local outlaw Captain Thunderbolt.

Considering crafts at home? Woody’s Garden Centre has a pallet of broken coloured pots for mosaic artists: drop in to pick out some pieces and start a class at the renown Myall Community Art and Craft centre: contact (02) 4997 0270.

Back at the popular North Arm Cove Community Hall, the Myall Coast Line Dancers are back in full swing every Monday from 2pm: contact Paul 0438 639 150.

Stay safe and only 17 weeks until Christmas.

By Sandra MURRAY