Field day at lagoon

The Community Environment Network will hold a free Wetland Education Field Day at the Everglades Lagoon Wetland on Saturday, September 27.

"Wetlands are places which become covered in fresh, salty or brackish shallow water for some period of time," wetlands project officer Ms Narelle Leite said.

"They are found all along the NSW coast as well as in inland areas, and are vitally important habitats for countless native plant and animal species.

"However, the need for land all along our coastline and the public perception of wetlands as nothing more than mosquito ridden bogs has meant that they have traditionally been cleared of vegetation, filled in and then built upon.

"As a result, NSW has lost 60 per cent of its coastal wetlands in the last 200 years."

Ms Leite said CEN's Wetland Education Project is aimed to educate local residents about the value and importance of wetland habitats.

"The Network hopes to increase public awareness and understanding of the important roles wetlands play within our environment, as breeding sites and nurseries for fish, as feeding areas for migratory shorebirds, as habitats for waterbirds, frogs and crustaceans, and as water purification systems," Ms Leite said.

"In its bid to halt the endless destruction of these fascinating natural areas, CEN's Wetland Education Project has an ultimate goal of encouraging the community to become involved in protecting wetlands into the future.

"Local residents can get involved by joining a bushcare group, becoming a water quality monitor or getting involved in CEN's Adopt-a-Wetland program.

"The Everglades Lagoon Wetland is a beautiful example of a rare type of freshwater wetland that contains an endangered ecological community of wetland plants, and is in immediate danger of extinction.

"It is located alongside the Everglades Golf Course within a Melaleuca Wetland Reserve, and is managed by Gosford Council."

Ms Leite said the field day will include a talk about mosquitoes in wetlands from Dr Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney, a wetland talk and tour by the local bush care group and a water quality testing demonstration.

The day will begin from 10am at the Everglades Country Club star room.

A free lunch will also be provided following the completion of the day at 12.30pm.

Reservations are essential and must be made before Thursday, September 24.

To make a booking or for more information please phone 4349 4756 or email wetlands@cccen.org.au

Press release, 5 Sep 2008 Narelle Lette, Community Environment Network