‘Cornerstones of conservation’: ‘Platypus’ Pete Walsh gives approval to new self-guided rivulet tours
New self-guided platypus walks along the Hobart Rivulet inspires hope for the threatened species.
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Student Lewis Hoggins is just one of the army of South Hobart Primary School students who have been busy creating signage along the Hobart Rivulet walking track.
But, it’s all for a good cause.
Self-described platypus lover Lewis has been sharing the plight of the now iconic Hobart Rivulet platypus through posters for those embarking on the self-guided Platypus Walk featured in the Beaker Street Festival.
“I liked including the platypus on the poster and supporting the platypus because it’s endangered,” Lewis said.
“I have included a platypus, some rubbish around it and the recycle symbol and the recycle bin.”
South Hobart Primary School principal Anne Reeves said about half the school provided pictures for the signage that show messages like ‘Protect Our Platypus: A Community Effort’ and ‘One Of A Kind: Bird-like, Duck-like’.
“We had a whole year group last year who learnt from Pete Walsh about the platypus and how to protect it,” she said.
“Then the City of Hobart reached out to get the student’s help with signage for the walk.”
Ms Reeves said this education and opportunity was vital for the students who will be the future protection of the species and environment.
“They’ll be the people in the future who will make the decisions about the environment and the animals that live in it,” she said.
“They’re very conscious about the impact that they have.”
Platypus expert ‘Platypus’ Pete Walsh said the collaboration and education involved with installing the signage are “cornerstones of conservation”.
“It’s really important to protect the platypus here,” he said.
“Scientists around Australia really regard them as the canary in the cage in terms of platypus living in an urban area.”
The self-guided walk is part of new initiatives by the Hobart City Council to improve the condition of the rivulet, one of four major waterways in the council area.
Invasive crack willows will be removed and replaced with native plants while a new Gross Pollutant Trap on the McRobies Gully stormwater line will prevent litter and sediment from entering the rivulet.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the project has tapped into the “community passion” for the rivulet.
“These signs are just temporary for Beaker Street Festival, but they have been the catalyst for fantastic artworks and stories,” she said.
“I hope we can see them become a permanent part of the rivulet.”
The Platypus self-guided walk runs between Gore Street and Tara Street in South Hobart.
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