Elizabeth Durnan

Mar 10, 2024 | worldnomads.com | Elizabeth Durnan

The surge in short-term residential platforms has transformed the travel industry in recent decades. So why is the sector being blamed for everything from the housing crisis to overtourism worldwide? The rise and rise of Airbnb The issue with short-stay vacation rentals Are restrictions on STRAs justified? Balancing the tourism economy and affordable housing How travelers can help change the industry for the better Why choose a short-stay vacation rental?

Sep 26, 2023 | bluemts.com.au | Elizabeth Durnan

But a group of Blue Mountains volunteers are on a mission to save local wombats. I joined them to learn more. It feels like a covert operation. We’re dressed in sturdy shoes and warm clothes on a chilly day in the Megalong Valley, armed with makeshift poles to administer emergency treatment to sick wombats. I’m instructed to be as quiet as possible. It’s the middle of the day but we can’t risk scaring the wombats away. It’s vital they get their treatment if they have any hope of survival.

Aug 13, 2023 | katoombalocalnews.com | Elizabeth Durnan

Sue Bell in her Katoomba garden (Liz Durnan)By Liz DurnanThe garden is the first line of defence in a bushfire, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing liveable spaces for the rest of the year. Landscape architect Sue Bell explains how we can balance good garden design with sound bushfire principles. This story is the second in a two-part series on Bushfire Resilient Design – Home and Garden.

Jul 12, 2023 | katoombalocalnews.com | Elizabeth Durnan

Nigel Bell outside his Katoomba studio (Liz Durnan)Story by Liz DurnanIt’s a dream for many of us: a home among the gum trees, lounging on an elevated timber deck. But turning that dream into a reality in one of the most bushfire-prone regions in the country can be fraught with complexity. Here, architect Nigel Bell helps us navigate the fundamental design principles when building or renovating for bushfire resilience.

May 17, 2023 | katoombalocalnews.com | Elizabeth Durnan

Saskia and her dog Tucker with artwork Refuge in her studio (Liz Durnan)By Liz DurnanKatoomba artist Saskia Everingham reveals the inspiration behind three artworks and how art helps anchor her in an uncertain world. Around the time bushfires raged towards Saskia Everingham’s South Katoomba home in 2019, she was ready to give up on being an artist. Saskia had begun to feel that it was thankless work with little recognition, even less pay and a heap of rejection.