Wetlands Australia 33: Wetlands are important for people and people are important for wetlands
Authors: Christine Prietto, Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia Ramsar officer, Ken Bayliss, CEO, Hunter Wetlands Centre
Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia near Newcastle owns and manages the freshwater component of the Hunter Estuary Ramsar Site and operates a wetland centre that is open to the public.
Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia is self-funded and all wetland management is done by volunteers. Community-participatory management transformed a degraded sporting complex into functioning wetlands with sufficient values to qualify for Ramsar listing in 2002.
Shortland Wetlands Centre opened to visitors in 1986. Local businesses helped excavate and shape paths, and willing hands contributed time and enthusiasm to transform a degraded sporting complex back into functioning wetlands.
In 2002 the 43 hectares of Shortland Wetlands were added to the existing Ramsar site as an extension and the whole area was renamed Hunter Estuary Wetlands, becoming Australia’s 24th Ramsar site.
Aerial view of Hunter Wetlands Centre looking west towards Hexham Wetlands. Photo: Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia library.
Although the Shortland complex represents only 1% of the wetlands in the Hunter estuary, it is a unique complex of wetland types. Both natural and human-made wetlands occur there, including restored semi- freshwater ponds and marshes, natural brackish ponds and marshes, freshwater swamp forests and a coastal estuarine creek.
We believe our little patch of wetlands is the most visited and the most well-loved in the estuary. For over 30 years it has provided opportunities for many people to develop skills and understanding to manage wetlands wisely.
Our greatest asset is our dedicated and very skilled volunteers, who underpin all aspects of our operations. The job of maintaining wetland values is dependent on these volunteers and we would never be able to pay for the labour they provide. In exchange, our volunteers feel ownership and pride, but they have also learned a lot about wetlands.
Today the site provides habitat for a diverse range of wetland species, including waterbirds at a critical stage of their lifecycles, as well as threatened species. This urban wetland has been restored through community participation with the key objectives of wetland conservation, education and community involvement. Hunter Wetlands Centre is a tribute to its owners and volunteers. We would like to say thank you to everyone who has walked through our gates.
Wetlands volunteers perform many valuable tasks even including bridge building – from right to left – Bruce Tozer, Paddy Lightfoot, Col Vickers, Peter Wood, Steve Wisniewski. Photo: Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia library.