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Why Green & Golden Bell frogs are jumping for joy

Did you know the site development of Sydney Olympic Park in 2000 wasn’t just effective in preparing the grounds for the upcoming Olympic Games, it was also essential for identifying a population of endangered Green and Golden Bell Frogs?  

It turns out, this identification of two frog species in 2000 went on to become the focus of a long-term program which not only resulted in the conservation of the original population, but also the establishment of two new self-sustaining sub-populations on newly-built habitats in the Kronos Hill / Wentworth Common precincts.  

In fact, as part of CVA’s Wild Futures campaign, important habitat corridors for the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) are continuing to be established at Sydney Olympic Park. This project, funded by the office of Fiona Martin MP (Member for Reid) via the Australian Government’s Communities Environment Program, is enhancing connectivity between breeding ponds for the largest population of this endangered species in New South Wales. 

To date, CVA with the assistance of Sydney Olympic Park Authority and loyal community volunteers have successfully removed over 400 square metres of invasive weeds and replaced them with over 1500 native grasses. 

This particular location has also been identified by the NSW ‘Saving Our Species’ program as key to the recovery of the species. 

The impacts were summarised by David Jones, Project Manager with CVA:

“this work is a significant contribution to the survival of the species through the expansion of frog habitat for foraging, refuge from predators and improved connectivity between breeding sites.” 

It’s not just the local amphibians jumping for joy either, this project will help to improve general ecosystem health for the enjoyment and benefit of the wider community. It will also increase local habitat and biodiversity, whilst removing invasive plants that can spread into residential properties, and assisting with litter collection for cleaner water ways.