Wetland Care Australia - Archived Projects

Repaired wetlands:

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Completed Projects:

100 Acre Swamp
WetlandCare Australia and a group of Nambucca Valley landholders have secured funding through the Federal Governments Envirofund Drought Recovery initiative to help protect the values of 100-acre swamp from the impacts of drought.

Baseline Data Snapshot of Ten Managed Lower Murray Wetlands, SA
Crucial scientific data will be gathered to establish baseline conditions prior to implementing wetland repair actions, and for adaptive management of priority wetlands.

Bungawalbin Wetland Health Project
This project, funded by the Myer Foundation, is nearing completion. WCA's Garry Owers has been developing management plans, with farmers, to improve creek water Quality by decreasing black water events and the negative effects of the oxidation of potential acid sulfate soils. Detailed elevation surveying, an essential part of hydrological assessment, has determined the area to be "dished" in the middle with drains artificially lowering the water table. Drains could be potentially weired to high tide level, with the approval of affected landowners, and effectively contain up to 80% of current acidic discharges.

Cane Toad Control Project
WetlandCare Australia is working with the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA), landowners and community groups to help control the spread of Cane Toads throughout the Clarence Catchment.

Cattai Wetland Project Plan of Management
The Cattai Wetland Project Plan of Management (18 August 2005) has been placed on public exhibition prior to Greater Taree City Council implementing the works program recommended by WetlandCare Australia.

Coastal Floodplain & Acid Sulfate Soil Management Projects - Bellinger and Nambucca

Condition Assessment and Prioritisation of Targeted Wetland Complexes (NRCMB)
WetlandCare Australia and NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) have formed a partnership to complete the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Board (NRCMB) Condition Assessment and Prioritisation of Targeted Wetlands Project. This partnership brings together an experienced team that is able to fulfil the objectives, provide links to other projects and services required to ensure the success of this project over the next 12 months (Nov 03 – Nov 04). The project provides the basis for an investment strategy for wetland rehabilitation in the NR CMB that will place it at the forefront of NRM planning of this kind in Australia.

Conservation of Black-necked Stork & Comb-crested Jacana in Bungawalbin Catchment (Northern NSW)
WCA's Garry Owers is working on this project (funded by NSW State Wetland Action grants through DIPNR) and is due for completion in November 2005. Jacana are listed as vulnerable and black-necked storks (BNS) are listed as endangered under NSW threatened species legislation.

EEC Wetlands Project - Coastal Endangered Ecological Communities

Farms, Fish and Floodgates Extension Program
The Farmers, Fish and Floodgates Extension Program is funded by NSW Environment Trust and is a comprehensive 'learning by doing' extension package for farmers and landholders to improve water quality and fish habitat. The Clarence catchment will be the focus area (70%) with additional sites in the Macleay (10%) and Richmond Catchments (20%).

Fencing For the Future: Fence 1.5ha of wetland vegetation to prevent stock access and improve biodiversity habitat
Thanks to OneSteel, Waratah's new Fencing Grants Program, WetlandCare Australia has received a grant of $1205.00 including GST that has enabled the group to fund the fencing of a 1.5ha wetland rehabilitation area within a private property in Knockrow, NSW.

The wetland zone found within this property had been largely unprotected and exposed to intensive grazing. These grazing practices had resulted in the inhibition of wetland vegetation and the intrusion of pastural grasses. The aim of this project was to protect the wetland vegetation from destruction by stock and to encourage natural regeneration of wetland vegetation.

Fish Unlimited
Wetland Care Australia recently launched an innovative environmental project called Fish Unlimited, which aims to repair over 130 ha of fish habitat stretching from Tweed Heads to Ballina NSW, over the next 18 months. Wetland care believes that in five years time this wetland repair project could equate to an extra five million fish - or more than four times the annual commercial catch in the region.

Gurra Gurra Lakes, Riverland, SA
Gurra Gurra Lakes was Wetland Care Australia's flagship project over the previous years. Commenced in 1998 and completed in early 2003, it involved 32 landholders in works at 17 sites. Wetland Care Australia and the Gurra Wetland Care Group have re-established water flow along a 15 kilometre corridor between Lyrup and Bookpurnong covering more than 3,000 hectares of floodplain, adjacent to the main flow of the Murray River.

Indian Myna Control Project

Kroehns Landing, SA
Identified as a high priority wetland in the Mid Murray Local Action Plan (MMLAP 2000) the project addressed key wetland degradation issues associated with changes to the natural hydrological regime, past and present management practices, and the invasion of pest plant species.

Little Broadwater: Wetland Rehabilitation, Fish Passage
Wetland Care Australia has secured Recreational Fishing Trust funds administered by NSW Fisheries for its project – Little Broadwater: Wetland Rehabilitation, Fish Passage, which will restore natural tidal flow to approximately 100 ha of former fish habitat by opening floodgates to a former estuarine wetland known as Little Broadwater Swamp.

Local & Regionally Significant Wetlands (Parts 1 & 2)
The project required the development and implementation of management plans for the protection and rehabilitation of locally and regionally significant wetlands in northern NSW.

Lower Bungawalbin Riparian Restoration Project
This 3-year project is funded by NSW Environmental Trust, and work commenced in January 2004. WCA is providing contract services to the Bungawalbin Catchment Management Group to deliver this project.

Lower Burdekin Grazing Project - Queensland
This new Wetland Care Australia project is in the Lower Burdekin – Bowen Floodplain Sub-region, Queensland. The area has one of the highest concentrations of wetlands on the east coast of Australia, ranging from ephemeral swamps to deep water lagoons, to coastal salt pans and mangrove forested tidal channels and estuaries.

Mynumai Lagoon Restoration and Protection Works

North Coast Wetland Action - Practical Support for Landholders
Wetland Care Australia has coordinated a series of projects in the North Coast region, including the 2001 NSW Environment Trust funded "Model Management Sites" project, all of which have identified the further awareness-raising needs of landholders and wetland managers.

Northern Rivers Model Management, North Coast, NSW
This project addressed the significant loss of riparian vegetation and degradation of wetlands in Northern NSW. The development of 'Model Management Sites' along the coast has provided a demonstration, on-ground, of how to achieve successful riparian habitat rehabilitation. In most cases, the community group or landholders are now managing the project, including running field days and accessing funding for continuing works. This project is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust.

Paringa Paddock & Goat Island, Paringa, SA
The Wetland Management Plan was prepared in 1998. This project encompasses vegetation management, reinstatement of flow paths, control of exotic plants and feral animals and fire track maintenance. Funding for the initial works has allowed construction of two fords in 2002.

Recovery Plan Implementation for Threatened Flora-Scented Acronychia, Moonee Quassia, Beadles Grevillea And Square Stemmed Spike Rush
This project is funded by the NRCMA and involves the implementation or recovery plans for various threatened plants occurring on private property. The project has commenced with field assessments for each species and planning for restoration and conservation actions in a number of sites on the Mid North Coast (Port Macquarie - Coffs Harbour) and Northern Rivers (Ballina - Grafton).

Reedy Creek, Paringa SA
This project to rehabilitated the Reedy Creek Lagoon at Paringa by the enhancement of flows to halt silt accumulation. This will be achieved by larger flow capacity in the causeway through the installation of 4 600mm pipes.

Restoration of Montane Wetland Endangered Ecological Communities

Restoration Strategy for Belongil-Cumbebin Wetland
The Wetland Restoration Strategy (WRS) for the Belongil-Cumbebin Wetland Complex (B-CWC) is part of the North Coast Catchment Management Authority strategy to provide better management of the natural resources. The WRS builds on previous work conducted by a number of organisations and stakeholder groups working on issues such as acid sulfate soils, estuary management, stormwater management and weed control.

UNC – Fencing Initiatives to Promote Private Wetland Rehabilitation
The primary focus of the project is to promote and direct landholders to the various options for funding and management assistance for aquatic ecosystems on private land that they can access.

Upper Clarence High Conservation Value Wetlands Project (NSW)
The Upper Clarence High Conservation Value Wetlands project is funded by the NRCMA as part of their cross-regional NHT - funded regional Border Ranges Hotspot Program. The project is being undertaken in partnership with West of the Ranges Landcare Inc and Granite Borders Landcare Inc - both key networks within the communities of the project area. The project involves working with property owners in the restoration and conservation of a number of wetlands between Casino, Kyogle, Tenterfield and Glen Innes. The majority of landholders have now been contacted and planning for wetland restoration has commenced at several sites.

Upper Tweed Streambank Stabilisation and Riparian Enhancement Project

Vegetative Filter Strips, North Coast NSW
The project developed vegetation filter strip technology to provide a cost effective model to improve biodiversity and water quality. The project was primarily aimed at cane farming. Several species of native and some exotic grasses were trailed for their values to attenuate pesticides and also to test their physical properties for use in a cane framing environment. This is an NHT funded project.

Wetland Care Australia's Living Wetlands Fund Project
The Living Wetlands Fund was a monetary grant provided by Environment Australia to aid wetland rehabilitation throughout Australia. The fund was devolved to community groups and managed by Wetland Care Australia. It was first launched in 2000 and has continued through to 2003, during which time 33 local organisations across Australia have received funding.

Wetland Mapping & Classification for the Central West
WetlandCare Australia has recently kicked-off our wetland mapping and classification project in the Central West.

Australian Wetland Repair Program Summary Achievements:

Funded by Natural Heritage Trust, the program incorporated:

Expanding Australian Wetland Repair facilitation services for on-ground wetland projects and implementation of wetland rehabilitation projects through established offices located in Adelaide (in South Australia) and Ballina (in New South Wales).
Extending the system of Living Wetlands devolved grants to implement existing approved wetland management plans and prepare more action plans.
Supporting communication, education and public awareness activities for groups involved in Wetland management throughout Australia.

The Australian Wetland Repair Program is a creation of Wetland Care Australia and its goal is:

'To increase the delivery of wetland rehabilitation services on a national scale and increase corporate sponsorship opportunities for wetland activities.'

Wetland Care Australia specifically aims to use the Australian Wetland Repair Program to:

increase the rate of effective wetland rehabilitation projects at priority sites on a national scale
increase community awareness and active support for wetland projects
increase corporate sponsorship of national wetland rehabilitation activities
provide a focus of active support for national wetland activities.