The NSW Minister for the Environment, Rob Stokes, announced
the creation of a new national park in the Clarence Valley early in November . The Government purchased 1700 hectares of the
Everlasting Swamp which will be added to the area already protected as the
Everlasting Swamp State Conservation Area.
In his media release, Mr Stokes said: "The Everlasting
Swamp and the adjacent Imersons Swamp form one of the largest coastal
floodplain wetlands remaining in NSW and an intact ecosystem of this size is
extremely rare and globally significant."
“With the support of the local
community, the National Parks and Wildlife Service plans to restore the wetland
to a more natural hydrological cycle and functioning wetland which will
alleviate the acid flush risk and support a more sustainable fishing industry
for the Clarence River."
Clarence Valley ecologist Dr Greg Clancy who has been
visiting these wetlands since the late 1970s is delighted that the Everlasting Swamp has
become a national Park. He said this
wetland is very important for brolgas. "We've had up to 100 brolgas in
that area and that's very rare in NSW. And
there's a whole range of other waterbirds like whiskered terns, which come in
their hundreds, and glossy ibis. The abundance and diversity is just
incredible."
Because many
wetlands in the Clarence have been drained, the Everlasting Swamp has become
increasingly important as a habitat for birds. But Dr Clancy notes it is not
pristine. Parts of the swamp have been invaded by feral pigs, weirs have been
built to prevent salt water flowing in and cattle have turned some areas into
temporary dustbowls. "It's going to be an interesting management challenge,"
said Dr Clancy.
"Now
that it's a national park, I would certainly be keen to take tourists or
birdwatchers into the area."
