Some desperately needed new homes are becoming available in Lake Macquarie, and it's all thanks to the efforts of Lake Macquarie Landcare. Coordinator Simon Lubinski says the inspired and cost-effective project, by Lake Macquarie Landcare has already seen new homes created in Teralba with many more planned for other areas of the region. But the project isn't aimed at helping humans, instead it's helping our native animals thrive and survive at a time when native vegetation is being cleared for housing projects. Under the Hollow Augmentation Program certain native trees are selected, and using a tool called a Hollowhog, are bored into to create artificial hollows. These hollows provide crucial long-term nesting sites for possums, gliders, birds and bats and support the broader ecosystem. The hollows are not only cheaper to create than traditional nesting boxes, but they will also last longer and mimic natural formations in trees. I thank Landcare volunteers for their vision and implementation of the program, which will protect biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of our environment for many years to come.