Wetlands Australia 32: Tedlands Wetlands – brolgas, barramundi and bulrush

Author: Jessica Sabatino, Reef Catchments (Mackay Whitsunday Isaac) Limited

Reef Catchments, with funding from the Queensland Government, is improving the condition of Tedlands Wetlands. The wetlands host an impressive array of wildlife, from the tiny keelback snake that can eat cane toads to the mighty saltwater crocodile.

One of Reef Catchments’ project sites, Tedlands Wetland in Koumala, south of Mackay, epitomises wetland biodiversity. The palustrine wetland forms part of the Sarina Inlet-Ince Bay Aggregation, a nationally important wetland. The wetland complex includes endangered floodplain ecosystems, estuarine wetlands and tea-tree forests; it is as biodiverse as it is picturesque. Driving along the dirt road that borders the wetland, it is immediately obvious just how important this place is for wildlife. One doesn’t need to be an eagle-eyed birdwatcher to spot black swans corralling their young, a Brahminy kite swooping to snatch a fish or amorous brolgas dancing their elaborate courtship ritual.

Birds roosting

We often think of the coastal marine waters as being very separate to freshwater rivers and inland wetlands. In reality the two are often intrinsically linked; diadromous fish such as the iconic barramundi need to move from estuarine and marine waters to fresh water at different stages of their lifecycle. Freshwater wetlands, such as Tedlands Wetland, act as critical nursery habitats and feeding sites for many native fish.

While the wetland is a wildlife haven, it is not without certain pressures. This is evidenced by animal tracks present in the wetland’s mudflats. One such flat has an enormous croc slide right through the middle, leading from the adjacent estuary and dense mangroves to the freshwater wetland, dotted with lilies. Bird prints and wallaby tracks traverse the same mudflat, alongside feral pig and wild dog prints.

Croc track

Reef Catchments, with funding from the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investment Program, is improving the condition of this wetland, in particular by controlling hymenachne weed and feral pig incursion. Fish passage is also improved with the installation of a rock-ramp fishway with several more improvements to follow. The success of such fishway construction is monitored by electrofishing surveys. On-ground works in the area require special care – indicative of the ecological value of the wetland is the presence of saltwater crocodiles, one of which was measured at 3.9 metres. Locals who flock to the wetland and nearby Rocky Dam Creek in pursuit of barramundi share dire warnings and stories of close encounters.

Tedlands Wetland is home to a variety of fauna and flora and, through the Reef Catchments’ wetlands project, these values continue to be improved and protected.

Landing road fishway

Further information

Website: Reef Catchments