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Freelance journalist and dumpling enthusiast based in Melbourne

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Stop watching the grass grow

Oliver Lees examines the case for an alternative lawn. This article appeared in issue 155 of Renew Magazine, published in April 2021. I have republished the article here with permission from the publisher. Like all facets of Australian life, our urban environments have undergone considerable change in keeping up with the demands of an increasingly…

Is hard rubbish really the best we can do?

This article appeared in a previous issue of Renew Magazine. I have republished the article here with permission from the publisher. It’s a sight of Australian suburbia as familiar as the eucalypt: piles of unwanted household items littering the nature strip. While the frequency and nature of these hard rubbish collections varies from council to…

Becoming a conservationist in your own backyard

This article appeared in issue 172 of Renew Magazine, published in July 2025. I have republished the article here with permission from the publisher. It’s no secret that right now Australia’s environment is under immense strain. Biodiversity Council Australia is clear in its assessment: we are facing a biodiversity crisis.   Australia is one of only…