Patonga saltmarsh to be restored

Gosford Council has been awarded a $66,000 grant application to restore and protect 30 hectares of saltmarsh on the northern shore of Patonga Creek, according to council's natural resource officer Dr Peter Freewater.

Trail bikes will also be banned from the site, in an effort to restore the area.

Residents in Patonga received a letter outlining the grant and the project it would support.

Dr Freewater said that council, in partnership with National Parks, was awarded the grant by the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority to undertake the works.

The works would involve foreshore stabilization works and "improvements to public amenity along the creek".

"Saltmarsh habitats are arguably the most critical of estuarine habitats because of their importance in providing both food and shelter for estuarine fishes and invertebrates," Dr Freewater said.

"Saltmarsh crabs, worms and snails release their young (called larvae) into the outgoing tide.

"It has been demonstrated that invertebrate larvae exported from the saltmarsh can exceed 5000 larvae per cubic metre of outgoing tidal water.

"The larvae are a major food source for commercially important fisheries, including oysters, squid and prawns; as well as recreational fishes, such as bream, mullet and flathead.

"Smaller fish, feeding on the larvae, become food for larger fish, such as jewfish and trevalley."

Dr Freewater said that Saltmarsh was also an important habitat and food source for a diverse array of rare and endangered bats, other mammals such as wallabies; owls and other birds, both migratory and local, such as sea eagles.

"Saltmarsh has been extensively cleared and filled and is now and endangered habitat," Dr Freewater said.

"The saltmarsh vegetation also binds the soil and prevents it from washing into the creek.

"For decades trail bikes have been ripping up the vegetation, which has resulted in significant damage and removal of more than 15 hectares of saltmarsh plants.

"This has resulted in significant sediment loads entering Patonga Creek and forming large extensive sand shoals."

Dr Freewater said the loss of both productivity and navigability in Patonga Creek was directly linked to the activities of trail bikes.

"Therefore, a key component of this restoration project will be the permanent exclusion of trail bikes from the site," Dr Freewater said.

"Fencing will be erected to prevent trail bike access, while still allowing pedestrian access to the saltmarsh."

Dr Freewater said Saltmarsh was listed as an endangered ecological community in NSW and was protected under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 as well as the Fisheries Management Act, 1994.

The Patonga Creek Saltmarsh also comes under the protection of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 and the Local Government Act, 1993.

"Signage will be erected to explain the importance of conserving the saltmarsh and highlight the legislation and fines that can be levied to those in breach of the legislation," Dr Freewater said.

"National Parks and Council rangers will be monitoring the site and enforcing legislation.

"The saltmarsh can easily be restored and once the trail bikes are excluded, large areas will grow back with little effort.

"The return of the saltmarsh vegetation will result in an increase in the animal and fish communities within the saltmarsh, the creek and adjacent waterways.

"It will also drastically reduce the sediment load currently entering the creek and limiting boat passage.

"While some may regret the loss of trail bike access, the wider community will reap the benefits of a healthier and more navigable waterway for generations to come."

Letter, 11 Jan 2007 Peter Freewater, Gosford Council