WetlandCare Australia -Projects Archive

Priority Wetlands - three years of success in protecting and restoring NSW priority wetlands

Over three consecutive years WetlandCare Australia and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) have provided funds directly to landholders for wetland rehabilitation and conservation in priority wetland areas. Funds were provided through the NRCMA by the Australian and NSW Governments and were targeted at landowners in specific high priority wetland areas:

• 2008/09 Simpsons Creek (Brunswick catchment), Red Rock (Coffs catchment) and Deep Creek (Nambucca catchment)
• 2007/08 Goolawah (Macleay Catchment), Tuckean (Richmond Catchment) and Cudgen (Tweed Catchment)
• 2006/07 Arakoon (Macleay Catchment), Limeburners Creek (Hastings Catchment), Maria River (Hastings Catchment) and Wooli River (Clarence Catchment).

Vegetation assessment in Tuckean Swamp	Vegetation assessment at Deep Creek

The Priority Wetland Project comprised two components:

1. To engage landowners in sustainable management and conservation of wetlands on private lands through providing funding for Incentive Property Vegetation Plans (PVPs) or Landholder Management Agreements (LMAs) and associated on-ground works

2. To develop priority wetland complex concept plans which examine wetland impacts and management options for each wetland complex

This highly successful project succeeded in rehabilitating and protecting more than 430 hectares of priority wetlands (from an initial target of 240ha), across the coastal NRCMA region. All on-ground works are secured under conservation agreements which will ensure the implementation and maintenance of these important wetland rehabilitation actions continue for at least 10 years at each site.

For further information about the project or to find out about wetland funding and rehabilitation in your area, please contact WetlandCare Australia on 02 6681 6169 or email ballina@wetlandcare.com.au