Swamp The Swamp For Wetlands Day

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday January 31, 2006

By ANDREW DRUMMOND

ENDANGERED plant and animal species in the state's largest freshwater wetland at Shoalhaven Heads are about to be given a reprieve.

Coomonderry Swamp, about 50km south of Wollongong, is home to native animals such as the long-necked tortoise, the royal spoonbill, Australasian bittern and the greater glider.

On Thursday, World Wetlands Day, volunteers will be at the swamp improving the habitat for these and other native species.

"The area is home to a fair few threatened species and that's why we have chosen to focus on it," Conservation Volunteers project officer Jen Byrne said.

"We have been working in the area for a little while now, mainly doing weed removal and tree planting, seed collection and photo monitoring."

Coomonderry Swamp covers about 670ha, representing 40 per cent of all NSW wetlands.

"The ecological attributes of the swamp are unparalleled elsewhere on the South Coast and remain relatively unspoiled," she said.

"About a third of the wetland is on council land, a little bit around Seven Mile Beach belongs to National Parks and the rest is privately owned."

As part of the plan for World Wetlands Day, Ms Byrne hopes to attract the private landowners as volunteers.

"We are hoping to get quite a few people along and have sent out invitations to neighbours in the area - about 750 people," she said.

"Working with the private land owners means we will have access to their land where we can work on fencing and tree planting."

On Thursday, volunteers will be involved with seed collection and tree planting.

"We are planting tree species of local provenance from the National Park's wildlife list," Ms Byrne said.

"National Parks provide the seedlings and we provide the labour."

Everyone is welcome to be part of the day.

Volunteers should take drinking water, morning tea, sturdy boots, long pants, sleeves and a hat and meet at the Seven Mile Beach picnic area car park at the end of Crooked River Rd.

For more information, phone Ms Byrne on 4228 9246.