Research and Community Projects

Our region is a microcosm of the major economic, social and environmental challenges facing the populated coast and hinterlands of Australia. It contains major centres of coastal population growth and urban migration, resulting in heavy demands on ecological, social and economic infrastructure.

Its rural areas face the challenges of sustainable natural resource use and management and economic and social viability in an increasingly urbanised society.

The region is the state's major centre of coal mining, coal export and coal-based electricity generation. The region also contains some of the state's most precious and sensitive ecosystems ranging from complex estuarine waterways and wetlands to unique sub-alpine forests. Many of these ecosystems contain rare or threatened species. Many of these natural assets provide challenges for their future management as well as opportunities.

Climate change adds an extra layer of complexity to managing the environmental and economic future of the region, however, the extent to which climate change will impact in the medium to long term is still unclear.

The research and communication programs and projects of The Farrell Institute for the Environment operate within this complex and dynamic context.

The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment in partnership with our local community, business, industry and government is making a significant investment into the sustainable future of our beautiful region and country.

By conducting research and community projects using ground breaking science and technologies, best practise processes and education we can help ensure that the diversity, health, provision and experience of nature that we now enjoy will be here for future generations.

The research and community partnership projects TFI is currently undertaking include:

Completed Projects

TFIP006: Sensitivity of the NSW coastline to wave climate change and the investigation of associated hazard definition schemes.

TFIP005: Sustainability in Tourism Pilot Project.

TFIP004: Investigation of the impacts of future developments and water management in the Wyong Shire on amphibians and their habitats.

TFIP003: Occurrence and impact of an introduced fungal disease pathogenic to amphibians at the Sydney Olympic precinct.

TFIP002: A novel oyster model for detection of estrogenic compounds in estuarine ecosystems.

TFIP001: Distinguishing contaminant export from mixed land use to estuarine environments (Tilligerry Creek, NSW).