16/12/2024 

The Albanese Labor Government is restoring the Hunter Estuary Wetlands in Newcastle thanks to a 200 million Urban Rivers and Catchments Program which is restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs to better protect communities and native species.

This project will address threats including hydrology and water quality impacts on threatened ecological communities and migratory shorebirds.

Important on-ground works to be delivered by the project include:

• Restoring a degraded freshwater wetland into an estuarine (saltwater) wetland, to improve habitat diversity and climate resilience.
• Improving water quality in two significant ponds at the Hunter Wetlands Centre, by increasing water circulation and aeration.
• Bush regeneration and vegetation management, which will be carried out over three years to improve the vegetation on site, tackle invasive weeds, and improve native vegetation.

The project will be delivered by Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia in partnership with City of Newcastle and support from Hunter Local Land Services and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Hunter Estuary Wetlands are internationally significant, recognised under the Ramsar convention for their importance to wetland conservation. The project will address significant threats impacting a sub-site within the wetlands.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

"We want to leave nature better off for our kids and grandkids - and that's why we're restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs with a 556,095 in grant funding from the Albanese Labor Government will help protect these internationally recognised wetlands, making sure our kids and future generations can continue to enjoy our unique plants, animals, habitats and places."

Quotes attributable to Hunter Wetlands Centre General Manager James Willson:

"This grant represents a significant opportunity for the Hunter Wetlands Centre, with this funding we will be able to improve the native vegetation on site, improve the water quality and help show how wetlands can adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.

"This will directly impact the thousands of students who visit us each year to learn about our unique biodiversity.

"By restoring critical habitats and improving site resilience, we're ensuring the Centre remains a thriving educational and ecological resource for future generations.

Partnerships like this demonstrate how collaborative efforts can secure the long-term health of our natural spaces."