Wetlands Australia 32: Banrock Station – a boost for biodiversity

Author: Sally Hatton, Banrock Station

Known for its floodplain wetland and delicious wine, Banrock Station is located on the Murray River in the Riverland Region, South Australia. Over the past 17 years, wetland managers at Banrock Station have worked with state and federal government agencies to preserve and improve the ecosystems and biodiversity in this region of the Murray River.

Historically the Banrock Lagoon was permanently inundated. The installation of wetland management structures now allow for the water level to be varied across seasons and even dried, representing a more natural floodplain wetland system. Since the change in water regime management, the site has seen many improvements, the most obvious of which is the increase in red gums.

The Banrock Station Wetland Complex was designated as a Ramsar site in 2002, in acknowledgement of the ecological values of the site. The regent parrot and southern bell frog, both listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act, have been observed breeding at Banrock Station. The wetlands also support other plant and animal species at critical life history stages and provide important refuge habitat in an arid landscape.

The conservation area at Banrock Station provides habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. Over 170 bird species have been recorded at the site, of which 60 are waterbirds and five are wetland dependent species. The diversity of habitats provides varying water levels within the wetland for foraging and breeding, which are essential for these waterbird communities. The different habitat types include:

• Mudflats
• Intermittent open water of differing depths
• Reed beds and other macrophyte habitat
• Wetland fringing vegetation - river red gum woodlands, shrub dominated wetlands

New species are continuously being added to the Banrock Station species lists, most likely because of the habitat variability created by the delivery of environmental water and ongoing monitoring at the site. The Banrock Station wetland staff implement an integrated pest management plan as part of their operations to continue to protect species at the site.

Banrock Station combines wetland conservation and rehabilitation, agricultural activities, and recreation and tourism. The Wine and Wetland Centre at Banrock Station is a hub where visitors can access the wetland and learn about the important conservation work that has been completed at Banrock Station while enjoying a glass of wine, which will support the wetland into the future.

Before and after Banrock Station.

Further information

Website: Banrock Station

Contact the Ramsar Wetland Team on 08 8328 0585