Environment
Cockatoo Island has been greatly altered from its original state. Through quarrying and cutting and adding rock to the shoreline, the island has grown from 12.9 hectares to 17.9 hectares. That's the equivalent of an extra five football fields!
The landform is a sandstone knoll (like nearby Spectacle and Snapper islands). It rises eighteen metres above sea level and the sandstone geology is similar to the Woolwich and Drummoyne peninsulas.
A variety of woodland vegetation and shrubs once covered the rocky knoll. The original flora and fauna would have been an unusual mixture of species due to the isolation of the island, an absence of fire, lack of fresh water and the maritime location. After nearly two centuries of development almost all original species have been removed.
Today, some ferns, mosses and hardy shrubs grow between layers of rock on the cliff faces. There are large Moreton Bay Figs and Camphor Laurel trees on the northern side of the island.
The island is home to seagulls and its fig trees provide a food source for bats.
How we are caring for the island
We are caring for the Cockatoo's environment by:
- managing the flora and fauna remaining on the site and interpreting the original harbour landscape;
- improving the quality of stormwater runoff in order to reverse adverse impacts on the harbour;
- applying remediation strategies consistent with the range of proposed land uses while reducing any adverse environmental impact on the harbour.
Environmental best practice will be used to remediate contaminated areas of the island and to achieve environmentally sustainable forms of water, energy and waste management.
Our new campground is dedicated towards minimising its impact on the environment.
