The Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program is helping to restore wetlands in South Australia. These wetlands provide important habitat for shorebirds and other wildlife.
The program spans 25 projects across 35 wetland sites in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth. It also includes parts of the South-East, including the:
- Coorong wetland
- Lakes Alexandrina wetland
- Albert Ramsar wetland
- South East regions.
The program is supported by $17 million in Australian government funding. It is delivered by the South Australian government.
The funding will help:
- deliver new infrastructure for better water management
- enhance places for waterbirds and other threatened species to breed
- strengthen weed control
- reduce threats to key species from feral animals and pest fish.
First Nations groups are important partners in this work. Their cultural knowledge helps guide work on Country. The Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South East are the Traditional Owners of these areas. They care for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and South East regions.
The program established strong working relationships with First Nations representative bodies, including:
- Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (representing Ngarrindjeri Nations)
- Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation (representing First Nations of the South East).
Projects include:
Protecting shorebirds
Protecting beach nesting birds such as the fairy tern and the eastern hooded plover that are at risk.
New fences and signs at the Murray Mouth and along 28 kilometres of Coorong Ocean Beach will help protect nests from disturbance. Community education will also help improve breeding success.
Restoring key sites
Mundoo Island Station is being changed from a grazing property into National Park. This work will support migratory shorebirds. It will also strengthen protection and management of parts of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site.
On Hindmarsh Island, old structures in the Grey Creek Channel will be removed to let water flow more naturally. This will help native fish and support waterbirds, frogs, turtles and aquatic plants.
At Butchers Lake, an old water regulator is being replaced. This will improve water levels and create more feeding areas for waterbirds.
At Mount Burr Swamp Habitat Restoration Reserve, Nature Glenelg Trust is leading work to restore wetland habitat by up to 40 hectares. A small structure will be built to better control water flow and stop mosquitofish from entering the restored wetland. This will help protect the eggs and tadpoles of the threatened southern bell frog. Planting native vegetation will create shelter and feeding areas around the wetland. This will support threatened birds such as the Australasian bittern, as well as native species like the brolga.
These projects keep habitats safe for birds and other animals. A full list of projects is available from the Department for Environment and Water website.
