This will safeguard significant human health and cultural values, rich biodiversity and evidence of evolution, waters that flow into the Tarwin River and on to Andersons Inlet (a wetland of National Importance), and soils capable of supporting a diversity of life and sequestering greenhouse gases. The 2015-2016 South Gippsland Shire Community Grants provided funding for Nerrena Tarwin Valley Landcare Group to develop the Black Spur Creek Wetland plan. Restoration of the wetlands and floodplains, weed control and revegetation are our priorities. Our challenges include a multitude of different land managers and the scale of work required.The Major Road Projects Authority (MRPA) has worked with us to incorporate our values in highway planning and implementation. As part of their offset requirements, approximately 8.7 hectares, including the wetlands, will be managed and regenerated for 10 years, and the rail trail for three years. The new highway footprint will be planted with indigenous species and parts of the old highway will be removed altogether and revegetated.

The Tarwin River marks the boundary between the Gunaikurnai and Bunurong people. They have salvaged artefacts at the site providing evidence of human activity and travel for many thousands of years before the historic trestle railway bridges were built in 1892. Now the Great Southern Rail Trail provides public access and recreation for wheelchairs, walkers, horse riders, and bikes.

Strzelecki Gum woodlands, swamp scrub and (potentially) deep freshwater marsh provide habitat for a wide range of birds and animals. There are towering Eucalyptus Strzelecki trees, threatened Australian Grayling fish, koalas, platypus, echidnas, and sugar gliders. Lace Monitors are seen nearby. Along the rail trail we’ve established three bird observing sites, which are now live on Birdlife Australia’s BIRDATA App. Geologists have been fascinated by the interesting landforms and complex folds and faults at this junction of Lowland, Foothill and Damp/Wetland Forest vegetation communities. Visit Museum Victoria or search online to see 115-million-year-old Koonwarra fossils that were discovered here. These fossils provide insights into primitive fish, insects, plants and feathered dinosaurs when Australia was still part of Gondwana. The wetlands are at the confluence of the Black Spur Creek and Tarwin River West Branch. Early European settlers remarked on abundant Black Fish in the stream and many lyrebirds cultivating the forest floor. Today, the Tarwin River provides water for Meeniyan township and the wetlands provide a range of services including flood mitigation and water quality. The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority also supports the Black Spur Creek Wetland project vision. Recent catastrophic bushfires in East Gippsland highlight the importance of even small wildlife refuges. We hope that the Black Spur Wetlands can be linked by river, rail trail, and other wildlife corridors to more South Gippsland biodiversity pockets. Perhaps one day lyrebirds and black fish will abound once more.

Kate Walsh-Koonwarra

Reprinted from justcommunitysg.com with permission under (CC BY 4.0)