1. NSW Wetland Recovery Program
Renee Shepherd
Program Coordinator
February 2007

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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