Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation on Youtube
30th June 2022
Over the years there have been several Conference presentations about the Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project, which involved opening floodgates to reinstate tidal flow from the Hunter River to valuable estuarine wetlands.
Hexham Swamp is located near Newcastle and covers a vast area of almost 2000 ha. The swamp supports a range of wetland types including mangroves and saltmarsh – an endangered ecological community.
In the early 1970s floodgates were installed on Ironbark Creek as part of the Lower Hunter Flood Mitigation Scheme, to prevent floodwater from the Hunter River entering the swamp.
However, the floodgates were permanently shut to eliminate tidal flows and the negative environmental impacts became evident almost immediately, with notable reductions in fish, prawns and birds due to changes in water quality and vegetation communities.
In response to increasing concern from the community and fishing industry, the rehabilitation project was proposed, and after 12 years of planning, research and stakeholder consultation, the project was approved in 2006. The gates were progressively opened from 2008 to 2013, in four stages, to gradually re-introduce saltwater tidal flows from the Hunter River.
Environmental monitoring continues today, managed by FMA Member Hunter Local Land Services (HLLS) in accordance with NSW state government requirements. The most recent surveys of vegetation communities and mosquitoes were conducted in 2020-21, and seasonal sampling of fish and crustaceans, and creekbank condition assessments were conducted in 2021-22. Results showed estuarine habitat has improved and continues to develop and increase in area.
HLLS has produced a Youtube video on progress of the rehabilitation, it includes great drone footage showing the mosaic of habitats forming from an aerial view.
View the Youtube clip here and subscribe to Hunter Local Land Services channel for more project updates - https://youtu.be/Jp1Yso5EKDk
For more information call Hunter Local Land Services 1300 795 299 or visit the website - www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/hunter
