WONDERFUL WETLANDS

When my husband and I arrived on Russell Island in 2006, for almost a year we were ignorant of the existence and extent of wetlands and other conservation areas on the island. They were all around us, but so well hidden and inaccessible. But when we finally went looking for them, we found a treasure. We also found sad evidence of the effects of urbanization on fragile wetlands. We went to see the council to find out what plans they had both to protect these areas and to make them more accessible to public. Council was busy with projects elsewhere and suggested we come back in five years’ time to ask again.  The result was the beginning of Friends of the Wetlands, a loose group of enthusiastic locals.  With support letters from other island organizations, associations, also from council and our local councillor, an application was prepared and submitted to the federal government for a small amount of funds to start a project .

It was going to be a three-stage project, in conjunction with the council. The main initial focus was to be Whistling Kite and Turtle Swamp wetlands.  Apart from protecting the wetlands, the aim was to provide controlled public access to these fragile areas. The wetlands and public areas are such that a continuous path/bicycle track can weave its way, only seldom needing to leave the wetlands.

Stage one included data collection with a GIS survey and many, many photos, being a core part of raising public awareness (a website, http://www.russellislandwetlands.com.au was created).

To establish what was there the following was done:

1. Mapping, collecting data and photos of the areas for their flora diversity.

2. Endeavoring to find, document and photograph as many of the fauna species as was possible.

3. Finding, photographing and documenting invasive species, urban impact and the general state of the areas involved.

Stage two was to be designing, planning and preparing tenders.

Stage three was to be the implementation of plans for paths/walkways / bicycle tracks.

As, at the time , Friends of the Wetlands was not an incorporated body, in order to obtain federal funding for stage one, Bay Islands Community Services on Russell Island agreed to act as our auspicing body.

In many ways  the work in the wetlands grew to be an exciting experience: we fought our way through this natural environment,  finding ourselves – on more than one occasion – crashing down any which way.

Friends of the Wetlands has since became incorporated and, with a new president and committee, changed its name to Bay Islands Conservation Inc.

… and the band plays on …