During National Reconciliation Week, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service shared some of their partnerships which enable them to better care for Country. Here’s one of them…
Clybucca and Yarrahapinni Wetlands
Clybucca and Yarrahapinni Wetlands on the Macleay River are culturally significant for the Ngambaa, Dunghutti, Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Biripi people. The area was historically a meeting place, and a place to undertake important ceremony. It also contains the largest midden in temperate Australia, stretching more than 14km along the banks of Clybucca Creek.
This large-scale project involved removing man-made levees within Yarrahapinni Wetlands National Park that were built in the 1960s and ‘70s, which damaged the river’s natural flow and caused serious acid sulphate soil problems.
The removal of the levees was completed late last year, and allows tidal waters to flow back into the system over hundreds of hectares, reverting the ecosystem to its original saltwater state. The wetlands support a vast array of species including waterbirds, migratory waders, and fish. The return to a saltwater environment has resulted in a massive boost to the local plant and wildlife, while also improving the water quality in the Macleay River.
It’s the culmination of nearly 30 years of restoration work, which has included extensive consultation, research, surveys, and monitoring. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has closely collaborated with organisations such as the Clybucca Custodian Committee, the Soil Conservation Service, and NSW Department of Primary Industries, and are proud to work alongside Traditional Owners on projects across the state to help restore and care for the environment.
For more information, visit nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
