James Tugwell
Batemans Bay, NSW
James Tugwell is a reporter in the ABC South East NSW newsroom, filing for radio, TV and online from the Batemans Bay bureau. Before joining the ABC, he worked in regional newspapers along the NSW South Coast.
Latest by James Tugwell
Hazard reduction burns increase risk of severe bushfires, report finds
Traditional fire management strategies such as hazard reduction burns, logging, and the thinning of undergrowth have increased the flammability of forests, new research has found.
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As another school year begins, what does the future hold for the class of 2023?
By Emily JB Smith, Kelly Gudgeon, Jodie Hamilton, Tobi Loftus, James Tugwell, Lauren Smith, and Charlie Mills
As another school year begins, the ABC speaks to 10 recent high school graduates from all over country Australia about their hopes, dreams and fears for the future.
People come from all over the world to these NSW beaches, but most visitors miss the story
The rocky headlands at Dark and Myrtle beaches tell a story more than 150 million years old, from before the Sydney Basin formed. It's a story anyone can read — if they have eyes to see it.
Whereabouts of jawbone from whale believed mistaken for a submarine and bombed still a mystery
Long Beach folklore has always included the legendary story of the whale mistaken for a submarine during WWII. New research is helping residents confirm the truth and track down the animal's missing jawbone.
This surf town is swapping boards for mountain bikes and becoming a global tourism destination
Hundreds of kilometres of some of the world's best mountain bike trails have been created within a few hours' drive of Narooma on the NSW south coast, and tourists are coming from everywhere to try them out.
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Fires, floods and COVID-19 brought the oyster industry 'to its knees' but storage tanks are shoring up its future
Wet storage tanks are helping protect New South Wales' $35 million oyster industry from weather events and could help the industry expand into overseas markets.
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'First case of its type' sees forestry body sentenced for felling trees needed by hundreds of native species
Four trees thought to be more than 150 years old were found felled in an area of NSW that had been largely burnt by bushfires just months before.
Ballistics expert questions calibre of guns being used to cull brumbies in national park
A NSW upper house inquiry into the aerial shooting of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park has been told that the choice of weapon was behind the high number of shots required to kill the horses.
If you've parked your car in the bush, it's likely you may have had a secret visitor. They can cause more damage than you imagine
Rodents can cause vehicles to be written off entirely by gnawing through wiring and casings — and it's more common than you may think.
Aerial shooters pick off 270 feral horses in two days as Kosciuszko cull ramps up
The latest wild horse survey shows NSW government has a big task ahead to reduce numbers in Kosciuszko National Park from 17,000 to 3,000 in the next four years.
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The 'bedlam' of fire emergencies can be triggering for some kids. Firefighter playdates are out to change that
Sirens, smoke, windy days and heatwaves can spark a trauma response in children who have lived through devastating bushfires, but these crews are trying to lessen the fear.
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How this week's wild storms might affect your Christmas Day lunch
More than 80 oyster farms on the NSW South Coast remain closed after severe storms and flooding hit this week. It's a flip of the coin as to whether they'll be open in time for Christmas.
Storms that sent a 'torrent of water' through homes eases in parts of NSW but it's not over yet, BOM says
By Kelly Fuller, Penny Burfitt, James Tugwell, and Romy Gilbert
As wild weather that brought flash flooding to parts of New South Wales eases, a thunderstorm warning remains in place for much of the state and authorities continue to respond to emergencies.
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Scoring a hole in one is rare, so what about four on the same hole?
Tony Riches once believed he would never get a hole in one, but after 46 years of trying his dream came true. Now, luck has struck four times and he's a world record holder.
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Rowers dodge sharks, overcome ocean currents to complete first Torres Strait surf boat crossing
A crew member says island residents laughed when told of the 250-kilometre attempt but at no point did the rowers think they would come up short.
A 'living shoreline' of saltmarsh and oyster beds is working to protect this town, naturally
In low-lying Narooma on the New South Wales south coast, an award-winning initiative is creating a "self-healing" barrier against erosion and rising sea levels.
Cultural fishing practices given a leg up to help break into commercial fishing sector
Three Indigenous-owned corporations will receive government support, as they prepare to commercialise something they've been doing for thousands of years.
Can we solve one of the ocean's thorniest problems by eating it?
When abalone diver Chris Theodore noticed sea urchins destroying his fishery he started harvesting the marine menaces as a culinary delicacy. Now a Senate inquiry wants to see the industry boom.
NSW wildlife park celebrates 'perfect birth' of Subira the zebra
The baby boy only came into the world a week ago, but he's already racing around his enclosure and captivating all who come to see him.
Geographers have studied sand movement on this beach for more than 50 years. Here's what they've learnt
Sand movement has been recorded on this beach on the New South Wales southern coast since 1971. It's one of the longest data sets in the world, and holds important clues for the future.
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Senate inquiry into invasive 'Pac-Man of the ocean' proposes growing Australian sea urchin industry
A sea urchin that is rapidly spreading in warming oceans and overgrazing on kelp to the point it is creating marine deserts should be harvested for human consumption, a Senate inquiry has found, as it seeks ways to manage the native species.
Discovery of 'one in a billion' native plant sparks hope for more purple flowers
Indigenous horticulturalists have taken 21 cuttings of the first known purple Banksia spinulosa. But it remains to be seen whether they will flower, and what colour the petals will be.
Australian-first 'love machine' helps re-colonise little penguin population locally extinct for 30 years
When two little penguins recently came ashore on NSW's far south coast and mated they were, without knowing it, pioneers in re-establishing a colony that had been locally extinct for decades.
'We're getting out of here': People remain cut off from their homes after NSW South Coast fire
By Millie Roberts, James Tugwell, and Adriane Reardon
Locals affected by the Coolagolite blaze expressed their thanks to firefighters as they wait to be able to return back to their homes.
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Red-bellied black snake in the bedroom as summer heats up
A red-bellied black snake in the master bedroom of their holiday accommodation has frightened tourists on the south coast. It's only the start of what could be a very slithery season.