What is a Wetland ?

Wetlands are areas of land that are either temporarily or permanently covered by water. They support a large variety of plant and animal species that are adapted to fluctuating water levels.

Why Are Wetlands Important ?

• Wetlands provide protective buffer zones between the land and our shorelines, estuaries and river systems, protecting these waterways from siltation and nutrient runoff

• They are strategically placed in the catchment to intercept runoff and floodwater, hence regulating stream flow and decreasing flood peaks

• Wetlands also provide either temporary or permanent habitats for many important aquatic species

How You Can Help Protect Your Wetlands

• Compost your leaves and grass clippings.

• Reduce your fertiliser use.

• Wash your car on the grass not the driveway.

• Pick up your dog’s waste and put it in a bin or worm farm.

• Don’t tip paint, thinners, oil, herbicides or other chemicals down the drain.

• Grow local native plants in your garden. They need less water and fertiliser and attract native birds, lizards and insects.

• Keep garden weeds away from drains. They may end up in the wetland as invasive weeds.

• Backwash your pool into a soakwell, not into a roadside drain.

• Keep stormwater drains free from rubbish.

• Bin all your rubbish, secure overflowing bins and keep gutters litter free.

• Clean up soil, sand, mud or other material as soon as possible.

See attachments for more information on local wetlands and how you can help protect them.