WetlandLink Newsletter - Archived

Werri Lagoon is a 1Ha wetland at the northern end of Werri Beach, Gerringong, NSW. Approximately 25% of its catchment area is rural floodplain, with a large proportion in dairy farming.

To reduce impacts from grazing practices, several successful management changes were undertaken by a dairy farmer, including the installation of an off-creek watering system. The wetland is now used as a demonstration site.

The restoration of Tom Thumb Lagoon, south of Wollongong, started with the community group, the Friends of Tomb Thumb.

Over the last 15 years the project has picked up and maintained a range of funding partners allowing over 6000 plants to be planted and numerous volunteers to be educated and involved in wetland management.

Works will include the introduction of innovative in-stream rehabilitation works, and associated riparian revegetation. Stream rehabilitation structures have been designed to enhance aquatic habitat, ensuring a diversity of: stream velocities; stream bedforms (pools and riffles); stream substrates (sediment sizes), and large wood debris.

A degraded wetland has been restored as a viable habitat for frogs and waterbirds, with many local trees and plants planted by volunteers from PACTEC. A number of interesting threatened species have been sighted in the area, including the Black-necked Stork or Jabiru and the Giant Barred Frog. By providing a shallow ledge for frogs and an island for a safe nesting refuge, the group has further enhanced the wildlife values of the adjoining Waterford Wetland area.

In response to overdainage of floodplains on the North Coast, assistance is being supported by extension and advisory services aiming to improve environmental management of acid sulfate soils (ASS) hot spot areas and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on relevant floodplains.

On-ground works to facilitate active management of the floodplains are to include in-drain structures to prevent low-lying areas from overtopping with tidal water, drain shallowing, rehabilitation of ASS scalds and the reintroduction of natural wetting and drying cycles, utilizing seasonally ponded freshwater and the re-establishment of native wetland species. Other floodplain on-ground works include the provision of off-stream watering points and fencing of waterways from livestock.

A PLAN to drop 40 tonnes of giant red gums into the Murray is expected to boost the breeding cycles of native fish, save the river’s ecology and right past environmental wrongs.

Thousands of logs have been pulled from the Murray in recent decades to dredge boating channels, and the Greening Australia group is about to reverse the practice by undertaking the first large scale re-snagging project in South Australia.

Greening Australia state chief Mark Anderson said removing snags had altered breeding habitats and had led to a decline in fish stocks.

Lismore Council is implementing a Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority funded project for the conservation and protection of significant wetlands in the Pelican Creek and East Coraki areas. These two areas are not well studied, but form important linkages between the more recognised Bungawalbin and Tuckean catchments of the Richmond River.

The project involves the development of site management plans for the two areas and the implementation of on-ground works to protect and rehabilitate wetland areas. On- ground works include riparian fencing, remnant fencing & corridors, bush regeneration (weeding & plantings etc), provision of off creek watering (pumps, tanks, troughs), and restoration of natural drainage & hydrology.

Great Lakes Council has commenced a series of programs and actions to ensure wetlands in their area are appropriately conserved, managed, and where required, restored. The program includes a number of elements including data collection, property acquisition, and the development and implementation of management plans. A new initiative involves integrating wetland management information with the LEP zoning process.

Through partnership funding and technical support from the Hunter/ Central Rivers CMA, Great Lakes Council has also commenced a strategic and targeted program to provide assistance to rural landholders to achieve NRM outcomes on their lands

Feral pigs are a significant issue for wetland managers and landholders with wetlands on their property. The pigs threaten the ecological communities they are found in by destroying native plants and killing native animals. Assistance and information for managing feral pigs on private property is available from the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB). Several community programs have been developed with input from the RLPB to coordinate feral pig control across large wetlands or diverse topography.

Nambucca Shire Council teamed with WetlandCare Australia has identified the need to install temporary drop board weirs that can be actively managed as the first step towards restoration. It is hoped that a three-year trial of active dropboard management will reinstate: a. the productive values of the backswamp for both grazing landuse and wetland flora and fauna; b. natural water level characteristics in backswamp wetlands; c. fish passage and estuarine habitat linkage to Nambucca estuary; and d. improve river estuary water quality discharge from the backswamp. Before the trial can begin, a range of government approvals and licences are required.

Many people would not immediately think of a large shallow estuarine lake that supports over a dozen commercial fishers as a wetland. However The Broadwater, a 2,800 ha off stream tidal waterbody averaging less than 1m in depth, is the largest estuarine wetland in the Clarence River estuary.

In 2003, a NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) desktop review determined that this submerged Crown land may well meet the criteria for listing as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

The Clarence Floodplain Project aims to rectify these problems while still providing flood protection when needed. Through this Project the Clarence Valley Council has embarked upon a successful program of active floodgate management.

Efforts to protect southern New South Wales’ estuarine, coastal and marine environments are to receive a $500,000 funding boost, courtesy of the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and NSW Government’s Catchment Management Authorities funding.

Funding is being made available by the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) for projects that address important estuary, coastal and marine issues in the coastal region between Wollongong and the Victorian Border.

The main aim of this funding is to implement priority actions under the many Estuary Management Plans, which local communities have put many years into producing.

As part of the ongoing focus on improving the health of our catchment, the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) has commenced the Wetlands Management Program. This Program will provide advice and funding to property owners to assist with the improvement of wetlands across the catchment from Goulburn to Lithgow and Gosford.

The ‘wise’ use of wetlands acknowledges that most wetlands are used by people in some way. This concept encourages wetland management as part of sustainable farm management.

In 2004-2005, an innovative group of 14 NSW councils – the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy group (HCCREMS) – developed a unique, cutting edge water management toolkit – Urbanwater.info.

Urbanwater.info is a web based tool that offers easy access to high quality, cross-disciplinary scientific and technical information, facilitating a holistic, total water cycle approach to water management. The site uses extensive links and references to relevant Australian and international manuals, articles, models, web pages and case studies, creating a rich, comprehensive, easy to use directory to water management information.

The Australian Government has just released new native vegetation
mapping products based on a recent update to the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS). The NVIS is the most detailed, up-to-date and accurate information source on Australia’s native vegetation, and has been collated through the active participation of all Australian state and territory governments. There have been a number of new information products developed for use by researchers, educators and natural resource managers.

This workshop is designed to enhance our knowledge of the structure and functioning of floodplain river ecosystems that underpin their management and sustainable use. Speakers include Professor James Thorp, Professor Klement Tockner, Professor Peter Cullen, Associate Professor Martin Thoms, Dr Tony McLeod, Dr Neil Saintilan and Dr Ben Gawne.

When: Thursday the 21st of September. Where: University of Canberra.

To register please contact: Ms Alie Cowood, Water Research Lab, University of Canberra, ACT 2601. Phone: (02) 6201 5453 Email: Alie.Cowood@canberra.edu.au

The NSW Vegetation Classification and Assessment (NSWVCA) project aims to classify the native vegetation of New South Wales into vegetation communities. The area to be covered is about 80 million hectares distributed across 18 IBRA bioregions

Despite the differences in the wetland types and the impetus to restore them, Dr Glamore found a mass of technical information, advanced administrative environments and custom made machinery …

The rehabilitation of tidal coastal wetlands and the remediation of acid sulfate soils can be facilitated through the restoration of tidal flushing regimes. Over 1000 floodgates that are in place on the NSW coast could be modified to restore natural tidal flushing. Dr William Glamore has proposed an 8 stage strategy to assist land managers to achieve an optimal outcome.

The biodiversity of aquatic insects in the wetlands found in an agricultural landscape in South-western Victoria were similar to the aquatic insect populations found in wetlands elsewhere, despite being used for grazing purposes.

This information suggests that wetlands on grazing properties may have conservation value and should be managed to protect them from threatening processes such as drainage.

The Sydney University Medical Entomology website http://medent.usyd.edu.au has easy to read fact sheets on mosquito borne diseases and Mosquito Management for Wetlands.

Water Regime of Wetland & Floodplain Plants in the Murray-Darling Basin is a summary of water regime information for native plants of lowland riverine systems within the Murray-Darling Basin. The report brings together sparse and dispersed published information. It is an excellent resource for persons and organizations involved in ecological aspects of river flow and wetland management.

This report provides an overview of the natural hydrology of the Darling Basin, the development that has occurred, and the effect this is having on river flows and groundwater resources. Some of this information can assist wetland managers.

The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship organises its research around four key issues which collectively address some of the most critical water resource challenges facing Australia; Urban water, Water Resources Observation Network, Great Barrier Reef catchment and Better Basin Futures research. Each theme is designed to capture the triple bottom line character of natural resource management

Floodgate management projects can require study in soil science, community consultation, ecology, planning law and more.

A guideline on the Department of Primary Industries website; Restoring the balance – guidelines for managing floodgates and drainage systems on coastal floodplains is a good source of information for individuals or groups contemplating a coastal floodplain drainage restoration project.

A brochure has been released by NSW DPI, MDBC, NSW CFA, NRAC under the Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation program ‘Making more fish … naturally’. The brochure provides an easy to read guide that illustrates actions landholders can take to make their farm fish friendly.

Restoration works that involve clearing, draining, filling or the construction of levees in wetlands to which SEPP 14 applies, require an approved EIS in relation to the works before the restoration can proceed

The Australian Government has produced a guide for landholders which provides information of a range of topics related to responsible wetland ownership. Links are provided to a range of government agencies and non government organizations

The Department of Natural Resources is currently developing macro water sharing plans for NSW. Water sharing plans set rules for sharing water between the environment and water users. They bring water users still operating under the Water Act 1912 into the one licensing system managed under the Water Management Act 2000. Water sharing plans run for 10 years.

The Threatened Species Conservation Act has been amended to establish a biodiversity banking and offsets scheme. The bio-banking scheme allows landowners to establish biodiversity credits on their land which can then be traded.

A best practice guideline has been developed specifically for bush regeneration on the Cumberland Plain. The booklet recognises the different impacts on and responses of bushland on shale soils, as opposed to the more frequently documented Sydney Sandstone Flora examples.

Freshwater Wetlands on coastal floodplains are an endangered ecological community found in Southern Rivers, Sydney Metropolitan, Hunter Central Rivers and Northern Rivers CMA regions.

Threats to this community include: land clearing, fragmentation, feral pigs and over grazing. Recovery actions to maintain and enhance Freshwater Wetland remnants include: public education, storm water management, the application of covenants, and site specific management plans.

This report outlines the roles and responsibilities of individuals, governments and non-government organisations in the management of Ramsar wetlands in NSW. It is important reading for any organisation or individual considering nominating their wetlands for Ramsar listing.

The Australian Floodplain Association (AFA) has been established to link and assist landholders (mainly graziers and dry land farmers) and their communities with scientists, agency staff, politicians and conservation groups in an effort to sustainably manage riverine environments.

OceanWatch Australia, supported by the Myer Foundation and the NSW Department of Primary Industries has produced this innovative and interactive environmental education resource to help primary school teachers and students learn about the importance of healthy catchments for healthy and productive estuaries and fisheries, and how to keep these environments healthy (focusing on the NSW Human Society and It’s Environment Syllabus).

Croaking Environment Resources have launched a new platform for environmental discussion in the Northern Rivers region. Anyone can log in to register their questions, comments or point of view regarding any environmental topic. Participation is open to the entire community. Anyone with internet access can visit the forum and read the discussions taking place.

Croaking Environment Resources provide the web space, the discussion topics that develop will be up to the members themselves. Queries can be directed by email to forum@croakingenvironment.com.au, or via the forum site directly.

The Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust invite you to join them at their inaugural Australian Birding and Nature Fair. The Fair, to be held in Leeton (NSW) from the 22-26 November this year, will enable you to see and learn about the wildbirds of inland South-Eastern Australia.

Nominations are now open for the annual South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Awards, which acknowledge people and programs that help make the waterways and catchments of South East Queensland healthy.

A total of $20,500 in prize money is available; with the winners of seven separate categories each receiving a cheque for $1,500 and a Healthy Waterways trophy. In addition, the category winner deemed to be the most innovative and collaborative by the independent judging panel will be awarded the $10,000 Grand Prize.

This article sets out guidelines for Natural Resource and Environmental Management bodies to consider when developing partnerships or consulting with Aboriginal communities. The guidelines relate specifically to work undertaken in the Bundjalung Nation (Northern Rivers) of NSW.

A Small Farms and Rural Living Field day will be held at Berry Showground 23 September 2007, 10:00am – 3:00pm.