NSW Wetland Recovery Program Renee Shepherd Program Coordinator February 2007

Background Stressed wetlands created through combination of drought, water extraction, land use practices Need to restore critical ecological functions Ensure wetlands are ‘event ready’ for flows Provide guide for efficient water and landuse practices Number of compounding issues: Drought, lack of flows (following years of good flows) Water extraction Grazing Ecologically critical habitats and fauna at risk of dying and disappearing at unprecedented rates. Needed to initiate a program where the resilience of the system was improved and was more responsive.

Commencement $13.4M announced in June 2005 by NSW Government Additional $13.4M announced in August 2006 through Australian Government Water Fund National Water Initiative objectives addressed - over-allocation and achieving environmental outcomes

Overview Four year program Suite of projects aimed to improve health of wetlands Water efficiency Weed removal, research and mapping Water purchase Environmental Management Plans Projects will provide: Better knowledge and decision making Environmental improvements More water and improved flow for wetlands

Target Wetlands Macquarie Marshes Ramsar listed Terminal wetlands Nature Reserve and privately owned 200,000 hectares flooded One of largest River Red Gum woodlands and reed beds remaining in Australia Macquarie Marshes: Macquarie River in central NSW No significant bird breeding in marshes since 2000 (longest period of breeding failure in history) 30,000 individuals in 1980s to 15 birds in October 2004 Several thousand ha of RRG showing signs of severe stress

Target Wetlands Gwydir Wetlands Ramsar listed Terminal wetlands Wholly privately owned Over 100,000 hectares flooded 134 species of nesting and breeding waterbirds Gwydir wetlands 4 separate Ramsar sites Gwydir River downstream of Moree in northern NSW Core wetland reduced from 47,000 ha to 8,400 ha by early 1990s due to water diversion. Area of irrigation doubled along Gwydir since early 1980s to more than 90,000 ha

Ecological Characterisation & EMPs Identify ecological assets requiring protection Identify water needs of wetlands Investigate Aboriginal cultural heritage values Determine appropriate management actions Covers Macquarie and Gwydir Ecological characterisation will provide scientific basis to EMP EMP will provide direction to future management, research and policy Total $3.46M

Weed Management Lippia (Lippia canescens) Grazing management Biological control Mapping through CMAs Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Integrated control Lippia: Grazing management – does resting of grazing reduce spread, distribution and abundance? Rest may allow native species to out-compete Lippia Post-doctral fellow employed through UNE Biological control – traditional weed control through spraying and mechanical harvesting often not practical Approved for testing for biological control Find natural enemies and undertake field trials on effectiveness Through CSIRO and USDA in Argentina BRG and CWCMA to undertake extent mapping, historical evidence, and rate of change over time. Water hyacinth in Gingham channel – Gwydir wetlands Spraying Mechanical harvesting Biocontrol Total funding is $1.42M

Project Investigation Water recovery for environment Gwydir and Macquarie Developing agency-identified projects Community consultation Framework for analysis Other projects Fishways, infrastructure Water recovery – external consultant SKM Covers Macquarie and Gwydir Create final wish-list for funding using a multi-criteria analysis North Marsh channel/ Cap and Pipe the Bores Marebone fishway Total $340,000

Infrastructure Improvements Marebone Choke rehabilitation Road upgrade Deliver larger flows without restricting access Willow removal 70 kms along Macquarie River Pipeline projects Gingham Gunningbar Marebone choke in conjunction with removal of willows. Gingham – in conjunction with Cap and Pipe Gunningbar – possibility of pipeline, other projects for water recovery. Total $7.1M

Water Purchase Macquarie Marshes Catchment Management Authorities Border Rivers-Gwydir - $5M Central West - $5M Possibility of land purchase also.

Beyond 2009 Outcomes from Program: Provide better management Inform Government policy Focus future funding programs Target knowledge gaps Better management in: Gwydir and Macquarie Other wetlands By government By private landholders