Wetlands Management

Download the Management Plan for Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps, September 2002 [PDF 2.6 MB]

Objectives

1. Waterbird Conservation
   To conserve, and where possible, enhance the wetlands as habitat for waterbirds. This includes as a priority
   • Conserving, and where possible, enhancing the habitat for listed threatened species, migratory waders, and those species found at the site in numbers greater than their 1% population estimate – see Statement of ‘ecological character’ above; and
   • Creating, and maintaining, a range of habitats to optimise waterbird diversity.
2. Education and Eco-Tourism
   • To provide opportunities for learning and enjoyment of the swamps generally, and the birdlife in particular (by being able to see large numbers of birds, and many different species.)
   • To provide facilities for wetland/environmental education
   • To use Fivebough Swamp to generate increased sustainable eco-tourism for Leeton
   • The above to be done in such a way as to minimise disturbance of the waterbird species referred to under 1. above.
3. Acknowledgment of the Indigenous importance of the sites
   • To acknowledge and respect the cultural significance of the sites to the local Wiradjuri people.
4. Demonstration site for using a wetland wisely
   • To manage the swamps as a demonstration site for the Ramsar Convention principle of wise use – to show the co-existence of waterbird conservation with flood mitigation, grazing, sewage treatment, eco-tourism etc

Statement of ‘ecological character’

Ecological Character of the Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps Ramsar Site. Final Report, May 2006 [PDF 5.4 MB]

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 both require that for designated Wetlands of International Importance the so-called ‘ecological character’ of the site be retained. The ‘ecological character’ is a detailed description of the biological, physical and chemical attributes of the site and their interactions. For Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps a highly detailed description of ‘ecological character’ is not possible at present, however, the following, which is based on the official Ramsar Information Sheet, is provided as the best possible surrogate for a full description of ‘ecological character’ that is possible at present. As such it constitutes the benchmarks against which management of the site is determined for now.

Note that there is a clear expectation that the management plan is designed to ensure the retention of all of the following attributes of the Ramsar site. None has precedence over another, and for this reason the management plan uses zoning (on Fivebough Swamp), and other management tools to ensure that balance is achieved and that the site continues to meet all of the Ramsar criteria against which it qualified for designation. These two Swamps provide important habitat for many species of migratory wader, and this takes on extra significance at the regional scale. Acknowledging this, the management plan seeks to maximise the habitats needed by these species at both Fivebough and Tuckerbil, while balancing this against the habitat needs of the other noteworthy species, the recorded presence of which has contributed toward recognition of two wetlands as a Ramsar site. To do otherwise would be contrary to the obligations Australia and NSW have under the Ramsar Convention.

Providing habitat for listed “threatened species”

Among the management priorities will be to ensure the two swamps continue to support those species listed as “threatened” at international, national or State level. This includes Australasian Bittern which is considered ‘vulnerable’ at the global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and those species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. This includes seven species at Fivebough Swamp; namely Australasian Bittern, Magpie Goose, Freckled Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Brolga, Painted Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit and at Tuckerbil Swamp, four species; namely, Australasian Bittern, Painted Snipe, Freckled Duck and Brolga.

Providing habitat for species listed under Australia’s migratory bird agreements and Conventions

Management will also seek to provide significant areas of viable habitat for the 24 species listed under the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA), the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) and/or the Convention on Migratory Species which have been observed at the site. It is acknowledged that the habitat needs of some of these species do not coincide with some of the other listed “threatened” species, and the challenge for the site managers is to offer an appropriate balance, and sufficient diversity of habitat types, to continue to provide an environment which meets all of the Ramsar criteria against which it qualified as a Wetland of International Importance.

Providing habitat for those species occurring at Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps in numbers which represent greater than 1% of their population estimate

Management will also seek to provide the desired habitat of the following species which have been recorded at the site in numbers (at times) representing greater than 1% of the estimated population; Glossy Ibis, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Australasian Bittern and Brolga.

Providing habitat, breeding and otherwise, for a large diversity and numbers of waterbirds

Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps are regarded as regionally, and nationally significant for the aggregations of waterbirds which occur there at certain times, some for the purposes of breeding. While recognising that management action may not be able to ensure suitable habitat for all species that have been recorded there over time, every effort will be made to provide the broad range of the habitat types required by these many species.