BirdLife Australia's Ken Cross and Greg Roberts on the new bridge |
The Yandina Creek Wetland is finally open to the public, eight years
after efforts began to protect one of the Sunshine Coast's
biodiversity hotspots. Unitywater, which acquired the site as part of
its nutrient offsets program in 2016, has built an 850-metre elevated
bitumen walking track that leads to a bird hide from a new carpark at
the end of River Road.
Visitors are able to look out over an open area of wetland that is
favoured by a resident pair of Black-necked Storks. Some interesting
and scarce birds have been recorded in this part of the wetland
including Australian Little Bittern, Black Bittern, Lewin's Rail and Australasian
Shoveler. Great Egret, White-faced Heron and many other more common
waterbirds are numerous. Several pairs of Black Swan nest in this area. To date, 168 species of birds have been
recorded from the wetland.
Black-necked Stork pair seen from the hide |
En route, visitors on the wheelchair-friendly track pass through areas of Allocasuarina and Melaleuca
woodland and mangroves adjoining Yandina Creek. Signs at the hide
illustrate various bird species, while signs along the path highlight
vegetation, tidal influence and other environmental factors. Just a
small proportion of the 200-hectare site is accessed from the new
facilities, with the remainder off-limits to visitors as Unitywater
continues to undertake research and other activities. Those areas that remain off-limits include the main feeding and roosting sites used by migratory and resident shorebirds.
The announcement of
the opening today allows the public to take advantage of newly
relaxed Covid-19 restrictions that begin this weekend.
New wetland bird hide |
The wetland is part
of the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast project, a partnership between
Unitywater, Sunshine Coast Council and the Queensland Department of
Environment and Science to protect and manage more
than 5000 hectares of natural floodplain in the Maroochy River
Catchment.
Unitywater executive manager of
Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions,
Amanda Creevey, said plants in the Yandina Creek Wetland took up
nutrients and sediments from the water to improve water quality and
overall river health, adding: “An added
bonus of the wetland is the boost in biodiversity we’re seeing,
including increased marine life, mangroves and wetland plants, and
birds, with some migratory birds even returning to the site.”
Yandina Creek Wetland |
Sign in carpark |
The Sunshine Coast mayor, Mark Jamieson, said: “Through the Blue Heart we’re continuing to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and enhancing our natural assets. Importantly, the Blue Heart is another tangible demonstration of how our Council is working with its partners to strengthen our region’s climate resilience and taking real action to assist our communities to adapt to a changing climate.”
Black Swans seen from the hide |
I began efforts to protect wetland in the area in 2012 when I proposed to the Sunshine Coast Council that it acquire a 12-hectare property at the end of River Road, near where the new car park has been built. I was struck by the variety of birds in the area including the endangered Australian Painted-Snipe.
In 2014, I put to the council a much larger proposal for the acquisition of three properties covering 212 hectares. Both proposals were rejected. At the same time, I began a campaign to lobby the Queensland and federal government to intervene to deter the landholders from proceeding with their initial plan to convert the site to cattle pasture, and later efforts to re-establish sugarcane plantations.
Great Egret seen from the hide |
The floodgates were reopened and some were destroyed to make way for a bridge over the canal along the new walking track. A full account of the Yandina Creek Wetland campaign can be found here.
Visitors are warned: mosquitoes can be in considerable numbers at this site, be prepared. Unitywater's efforts to protect this important site are to be applauded. It's a big win for the birds!
White-faced Herons seen from the hide |
This is a wonderful win for all of Nature particularly the birds that abound on Yandina Wetlands. Well done Unity Water - this facility will be greatly enjoyed and appreciated. Huge shout out to Greg Roberts for never giving up.
ReplyDeleteAwesome effort Greg. Thank you so much for your persistence and foresight in acquiring this area for the birds.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your efforts, we are planning a visit in April!
ReplyDeleteIs there another entrance to Yandina Wetlands besides 352 River Road entrance...Emma Meyer
ReplyDelete