5 November 2012
Updated 19 August 2016
Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment
WetlandCare Australia, with support through funding from the Australian Government, will protect, manage and enhance the high ecological functional values of the Barratta Creek Catchment which forms the main artery of the Bowling Green Bay wetlands, the only Ramsar site in north Queensland. Barratta Creek is one of the most high integrity floodplain creek systems on the developed east coast of Queensland. Since the introduction of intensive irrigated agriculture the creek and wetlands have suffered serious impacts through a lack of active management and understanding including invasive aquatic and terrestrial weeds, hot frequent fires regimes and excessive and nutrient rich tailwater flows.WetlandCare Australia will unite multiple stakeholders to improve biodiversity outcomes in the Barratta Creek catchment and internationally listed Ramsar wetlands through integrated catchment based management.
For the latest updates on this long-range project, see the list at the bottom of this page.
Wetlands on agricultural farms are an intergral part of sustainable land management in the Barratta Creek Catchment. Photo: WetlandCare Australia
This project is supported by WetlandCare Australia, through funding from the Australian Government.
Project News
Celebrating World Wetlands Day 2017 in Townsville
Local students and environmental volunteers were given an insight into the importance of wetlands in mitigating disasters and their role in a healthy Great Barrier Reef on World Wetlands Day this year. Twenty Year 12 science students from Ayr High School and 23 Townsville environmental volunteers participated in a field trip to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (Reef HQ), hosted by the Lower Burdekin Wetland Committee.
World Wetlands Day in Townsville
A field trip to Reef HQ and the Australian Institute for Marine Science (AIMS) will be held for students from Ayr High School on World Wetlands Day, Thursday February 2 2017. The trip aims to introduce students to the research and science being undertaken in the Townsville region, and what it means for local wetlands.
Sugar Cane Growers Restoring Wetlands in the Burdekin
Why are healthy wetlands good for cane farmers? In this short video 5th generation Burdekin cane farmer Vince Papale talks about the benefits of healthy wetlands on his cane farm.
Healthy Wetlands for a Healthy Reef
The health of the Great Barrier Reef relies on healthy wetlands and catchments. Ducks Unlimited Canada recently interviewed Senior Project Officer Merv Pyott about the work being done to improve the wetlands and waterways draining into the Reef.
Barratta Creek Updates 2016
The Delivering Biodiversity Dividends to the Barratta Creek Catchment project has passed another series of project milestones, and the benefits of the on-going work of our partner organisations are becoming more visible in the region.
National Tree Day for Schools in the Burdekin
On July 29, 2016 Plantation Park in Ayr was transformed into a hive of activity with 260 students from 9 schools and playgroups arriving to plant trees and learn about their local environment and cultural history. WetlandCare Australia, along with 8 other groups delivered activities including tree planting, educational games, weed workshops and Indigenous story telling.
Barratta Fact Sheets Now Online
A series of Fact Sheets about the Delivering Biodiversity Dividends to the Barratta Creek Catchment project is now available to view and download. They cover the project's progress in Fire Management, Aquatic Weed Control and include a brochure about the projects goals and milestones.
Tackling Pest Plants in the Burdekin Shire
WetlandCare Australia partnered with Burdekin Shire Council's Pest Management Team recently to take part in a multi-agency burn off of a reserve near Viv Cox Bridge in the Upper Barratta. Rural Fire Service and Gudjuda Rangers also joined WetlandCare Australia and Council for the three-hour environmental burn.
Barratta Creek Catchment Pest Control Update May 2016
From May 21 to July 3 2016 WetlandCare Australia, with contractor Ridge Contractor Feral Pest Management and project partner Burdekin Productivity Services will be undertaking feral animal management and monitoring in the Barratta Creek catchment.
World Wetlands Day in the Burdekin
On World Wetlands Day, February 2 2016, 40 people including 22 school students joined WetlandCare Australia and partners for a bus tour to Horseshoe Lagoon in the Burdekin and took part in wetland activities.
Horseshoe Lagoon Bus Tour
Join WetlandCare and Conservation Volunteers for a Field Day excursion to Horseshoe Lagoon, Burdekin on World Wetlands Day, Feb 2 2016. Find out more about the diverse fish, birds and invertebrates of this valuable wetland, with talks from experts and hands-on activities.
Tracking Barratta Creek Wetland Restoration Efforts
Working in partnership with WetlandCare Australia, TropWATER has been tracking management efforts in a natural and constructed wetland on the Barratta Creek catchment floodplain, in particular, for nutrient removal and also the control of invasive aquatic plants.Tracking management actions will continue over the next few years and will provide data to evaluate the biodiversity returns on this restoration investment.
Project Revegetation Update
Our 'Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment' project recently hit a new milestone with 21500 trees planted to date in the revegetation part of the project.
Youth Photography Winners
Four local kids from the Burdekin region in Far North Queensland have snapped up prizes in the local World Wetlands Day Youth Photography Prize, with photos promoting the wetlands of their region.
Youth Photography in the Burdekin
Celebrations will be in full swing in the Burdekin next week with local environmental organisations hosting a wetland display at the Burdekin Shire Council library and a wetland photography competition for Burdekin school students.
Barratta Creek Constructed Wetland Update
An important milestone and key feature of the Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment project has been reached with the roll-out of constructed wetlands which capture irrigation and tail-water run-off from several large cane farms in the Burdekin-Haughton Water Supply Scheme in North Queensland.
Pig Numbers Down in the Burdekin
In October 2013 WetlandCare Australia, the Burdekin Shire Council and Burdekin Productivity Services took to the sky to host the annual feral pig control program, and the outcomes are looking positive for a reduction in pig numbers.
Fire Management Strategies in Barratta Creek
Local farmers living and working in the Barratta Creek Catchment will take on new fire management strategies in the coming months, supported by WetlandCare Australia.
Barratta Creek Project Fire Training
The Building Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment Fire Management Plan, training program made good progress on the 24-9-2013 with a controlled burn off on the corner of Orchard and McLain Roads in the Horseshoe lagoon Fire warden’s district. The training was co-ordinated by WetlandCare Australia staff and delivered by Reefcatchments Mackay training officer Andrew Hourley.
Barratta Creek Project Launch
WetlandCare Australia held the public launch of the Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment project in Ayr. The launch was attended by over 40 people including members of the local community, government and non-government agencies, research institutions, industry and media
Two Years Of Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment
We are already well in to our second year of the project, and have been working solidly with our partners and the local community to reach our milestones and are moving forward to achieve success in protecting, managing and enhancing the high ecological functional values of the Barratta Creek Catchment. Keep reading for just some of the examples of what we have been doing!
Constructed Wetlands Development for the Barratta Creek Catchment
Our Delivering Biodiversity Dividends for the Barratta Creek Catchment project is well underway, and recently an important milestone has been reached with the roll-out of constructed wetlands which capture irrigation and tail-water run-off from several large cane farms in the Burdekin-Haughton Water Supply Scheme in North Queensland.