Yarram Yarram Landcare Network

Billy Creek Wetlands Revival

Funded

Grant from Communities for Nature. $50,000


Project Period

2014 - 2015


Project Objectives

Protection and enhancement of a significant wetland on the Albert River system on private land
Create a bio-link extension in line with the community's strategic plan for the area.
Reduce the sediment and nutrient levels entering Corner Inlet and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Reserve.


Project Description

The Billy Creek Wetlands Revival project aims to restore and protect valuable wetland areas covering seven hectares adjacent to Billy Creek, a small tributary of the Jack & Albert River Catchment. Remnant vegetation communities to be protected include: Gippsland Plain Swamp Scrub and Swampy Riparian Woodland.


The wetland is currently part of an agricultural operation and subject to intermittent grazing and tramping by cattle. Weed infestation is in low numbers but left unchecked the willow and blackberry will spread and degrade the quality of the biodiversity of the wetland. Water quality is threatened by trampling causing erosion and turbidity. This damages the biodiversity dependant on the water and can impact downstream when the wetland floods and overflows.


On-ground works include fencing to exclude stock, removal of Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and wetland revegetation. The proposed project will be run by the Binginwarri Landcare Group in partnership with the Yarram Yarram Landcare Network (YYLN) & West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA). This community project will enable a larger capacity and value for money outcome on a significant wetland area. It will increase connectivity by providing a vital bio-link between the Hedley Range area and the Strzelecki Ranges. The success of this project will be measured by taking baseline survey of birdlife and follow up surveys at six and twelve month intervals. This project has strong local community and landholder support.


Wetlands are vulnerable to degradation and most wetlands on private land in our region have been lost so this is a golden opportunity for the protection of one of the few remaining high quality areas in our catchment.