Where do our stories come from?

As a journalist, you never really know how you’re going to find your stories. 

It may be an idea that pops into your head; or an email from a politician, a council, a union or a sporting group. It might come from wading through council agendas and committee reports, or scouting social media for tidbits that could evolve into stories.

And then there are the stories that come via tips from readers. These are the tips we love most, as they often lead to the best stories.

Earlier this year one concerned local, Tony Butteriss, wrote to the Lorikeet about a proposal to build an AI data centre next to Lane Cove National Park. The development application for this centre revealed over 500 trees would need to be cleared. 

Butteriss leads the group Friends of Lane Cove National Park, which undertakes bushcare and conservation in the area. As the leader of this group, he knows how important the area is for the preservation of native flora and fauna. 

To help illustrate the video, we headed to the park and wandered around the bushland set to be cleared, so our audience could see for themselves what was at stake.

The electricity required by data centres such as the one in Lane Cove is set to triple in coming years and will have an impact on our ability to meet emission targets. And so, in covering a local story, we were able to touch on an issue of national import.

What we enjoyed most about this story though were all the great people we met who cared about the area: students, conservationists, scientists, avid bushwalkers, all of whom were happy to chat about these issues at length. 

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