native turtles

[Paddy]

Hi i'm looking at getting my first turtle and was wondering if anyone knows where i might be able to find out about turtles native to the sydney inner west and if i'd need a licence?

[ecofrog]

You guys have 5 native turtle species- the Sydney basin turtle (Emydura macquarii), Snake necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis). Less common is the Northern snapping turtle (Elseya dentata), Broad shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa) and the Mary river turtle (Elusor macrurus). You will need a Licence in NSW and it is illegal to remove animals from the wild!

This should help you with what you need. DECC | Complete outline of the NSW reptile licensing system (PDF - 117KB)

[Paddy]

Excellent! Thanks for that and don't worry i only want to add to the local turtle population not subtract.

[Paddy]

One more question if i may? I was planning one building a pond in my front yard, which is well secured from cats and such things, and wanted to keep a turtle in it. I live in the inner west of sydney and the local council have been developing a wetlands system in the park directly behind me, in which a few snake-necked turtles and several types of frogs have now taken up residence (the frogs are also residents of my front and back yard). The pond would be in about an hours full sun each day in winter and about two hours in summer, it would consist of a sandy/rocky bank section for sunning, a pond section with plants, and a small water fall feature to cover pump and filter. do you think this sounds like it would work and if so would it need heating? Any ideas or comments would be much appreciated as i'm new to all this and don't wish to cause any distress or discomfort to the turtle when i get it. Cheers!