Pictured: Mundoo Island Station
The Government has initiated a major $17 million Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program, aimed at enhancing and restoring more than 30 wetlands in South Australia. These critical environments are crucial for a diversity of wildlife, including migratory shorebirds and various threatened species.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the federal and South Australian governments and will focus on several areas including the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth, which are part of the internationally recognised Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar wetland, as well as Southeast regions of the state.
Covering 25 projects across 35 wetland sites and extending over 120 kilometres, the program aims to improve ecosystems within the Lower Murray River region, recently classified as critically endangered. The efforts include the implementation of new water management infrastructure, enhancement of breeding habitats for waterbirds, and intensified control measures for invasive species like feral foxes and cats.
Among the projects is the acquisition of Mundoo Island Station, a significant ecological and cultural site at the Murray Mouth. This former grazing property will be incorporated into an expanded Coorong National Park, undergoing extensive wetland restoration and rehabilitation to support numerous migratory bird species.
Birdlife Australia is leading another critical initiative to protect beach-nesting shorebirds and seabirds in the Coorong. This project involves safeguarding breeding colonies of fairy terns and eastern hooded plovers, specifically around the Murray Mouth and along the Coorong Ocean Beach. In collaboration with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation, efforts will include the installation of protective fencing and signage, and public engagement to support successful breeding seasons.
Additional projects involve technical enhancements like the inlet upgrade at Butchers Lake by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board. The project aims to replace an outdated regulator to enhance water level management and increase water availability, supporting sustainable habitats for foraging wildlife.
Further south on Kumarangk, Hindmarsh Island, the Grey Creek Channel network is undergoing improvements by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board. The project will enhance water flow by removing obstructions and re-introducing native fish species, benefiting a wide range of aquatic life and bird species.
The Mount Burr Swamp Habitat Restoration Reserve, led by Nature Glenelg Trust, will see the construction of a small flow-regulating structure to expand wetland habitat by up to 40 hectares, simultaneously preventing invasive species from harming native wildlife.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water will play an instrumental role in making sure these projects are effectively planned and delivered with the cooperation of local community groups, landholders, and Landscape Boards.
First Nations groups are integral to the program, providing insights that connect to the Country and fulfil cultural obligations, which supports the preservation and prosperity of shorebird populations and the broader wetland ecosystem.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt shared, “The Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program will support water management, habitat restoration and feral pest and weed control across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions. These wetlands provide crucial habitat for migratory shorebirds while delivering economic value to South Australian communities.”
South Australian Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Lucy Hood added, “The Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions are recognised globally for their biodiversity and wetlands of environmental significance.
“This program will restore and create vital shorebird habitat, provide foraging and breeding environments for at-risk species and improve wetland ecosystems needed for the Murray-Darling Basin.
“It builds on the projects already underway across our regions so they can become more resilient and continue to support the wildlife who calls them home.”
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