Management

PCW is Darkinjung country and was utilised by local Aboriginal groups.

The wetland and nearby Wyong River were a supply of fresh water, food supply and other resources such as plants used as medicines and for canoe making.

Some species were hunted in the wetland and management focused on the sustainable use of these resources.

SEE SUMMARY NOTES

The high conservation value of PCW has been recognised by Wyong Shire Council and more recently Central Coast Council ( since amalgamation).

Management at a local scale has focused on a catchment management approach to control threats from developments and activities within the catchment.

Strategies include

• Landuse zoning (State conservation zoning 7g)

• Environmental Management Plans - Central Coast Council - Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Plan.

• Development Control Plans that incorporate Water Sensitive Urban Design including water tanks on new homes.

• Environmental monitoring

• Wildlife Corridors

• Education

• Weed removal and tree planting (Community and CC Council)

• Citizen Science and volunteerism (Waterwatch and Friends of PCW)

International, National and State Frameworks

A variety of legislation and international law (treaties) provide a framework which helps lead to the protection of freshwater wetlands such as PCW. These include

• RAMSAR Convention on wetlands of International significance

• The Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia

• National Water Management Policy

• State Environment Protection Plans

SEE SUMMARY NOTES FOR MORE DETAIL

The Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Plan includes actions relating to water quality and ecology relevant to Porters Creek Wetland

• urban stream rehabilitation

• rural stream rehabilitation

• wetland conservation and restoration

• gross pollutant traps

• constructed wetlands

• Extensive research & innovation to improve future management

Some of the key findings of the Independent Expert Panel include:

• Changes to the hydrologic regime resulting from urban development were identified as the largest risk to the future health of the Porters Creek Wetland (Sainty & Associates, 2002).

• Due to large areas of future development in the catchment, poor erosion and sediment control presents a key risk to receiving water quality during the construction phase.

• Council’s Development Control Plan contains specific provisions to incorporate water sensitive urban design into most new developments and includes comprehensive requirements for some locations. However, it is uncertain whether these requirements are being effectively implemented.

• The predicted impact of the current growth strategy in the Regional Plan on catchment pollutant loads and the health of the Porters Creek wetland is unknown.

A Conservation Agreement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) has been proposed by Central Coast Council for the Porters Creek Wetland Conservation Area and awaiting a final decision.

The proposed Conservation Agreement covers Council-own land and would provide permanent legal protection meaning it could not be developed or modified in ways that detract from the biodiversity values. Under current protection the Conservation Area of PCW is operational land. The proposal is to reclassify the wetland to Community land.

The controversial plans for Warnervale Airport continue to this day. On 13 April 2021, whilst Council was under Administration and had no elected Councillors, the Administrator resolved:

That Council authorise the Chief Executive Officer to immediately suspend the development of the Warnervale conservation agreement and any agreement with the NSW biodiversity Conservation Trust to permanently protect the Porters Creek Wetland until the Airport Masterplan, plan of Management and a subdivision plan is registered that subdivides the Wetland and surrounding E2 land from the employment land in Warnervale.

Genetic diversity

High species diversity for all types of wildlife (birds, mammals, invertebrates).

Threatened and endangered bird, mammal, and amphibian species as well as migratory species.

Heritage value

Natural heritage of the Central Coast and Australia including the largest population of squirrel gliders in Australia, the Swamp Mahogany recognised as a keystone species and classified as endangered. Aboriginal heritage and source of fresh water, food, medicines, and tools. 15 known Aboriginal Places on, or near, the Conservation Area.

Intrinsic value

Wetlands are unique environments that are a value in themselves with only two significant freshwater wetlands left on the Central Coast. Australians need to PRESERVE their ecosystem diversity as wetlands Aesthetic value to break up the broad expanse of urban development.

Unimpeded natural change

The size of the wetland, if fully protected is possibly large enough to allow evolutionary processes to operate as they would in nature. Only time will tell if the wetland can support natural change in the core area that is relatively undisturbed. We are still learning about wetland functioning and importance. Monitoring programs give us valuable information on which to base management strategies for othe small wetlands across Australia.

Refer to the case study notes for more details about management strategies and comments about effectiveness.

Use the template below to organise information about management strategies using the different directive terms you will come across in assessments and exams.