8 | BURDEKIN DRY TROPICS COASTAL COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PROJECT PROSPECTUS
Community Wetland restoration at Parker ’ s Lag
This is a community-driven wetland restoration project to improve the ecological condition of Parker ’ s Lagoon , a waterway in the Burdekin region connected to the Great Barrier Reef . Removing pest plants and restoring native riparian vegetation would improve water quality and wildlife habitat .
Background and project information
Parker ’ s Lagoon is in Ayr , one of the major population centres in the Burdekin catchment area . It is part of Upper Lilliesmere Creek , which connects Plantation Creek and Liliesmere Lagoon — both of which release water into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park .
Mangrove jack and barramundi are amongst the iconic fish species relying on these connections between wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef to complete their life cycle .
The Burdekin community values these wetlands , which deliver water to cropping areas , provide beautiful areas to visit , and support recreational activities such as birdwatching , fishing , and boating .
Local community group Lower Burdekin Landcare Association ( LBLA ) would lead this proposed project , supported by multiple stakeholders already working on complementary activities at the project site .
Project activities would include : managing weeds such as salvinia , hymenachne and paragrass ; planting native trees along the riparian zone to provide bird habitat , and shade the creek — lowering water temperatures and reducing the chances of fish kills during periods of extreme heat ; and creating an informative native plant walk for public enjoyment .
Youth and other community groups would be involved in multiple aspects of this project , such as tree planting and monitoring . A local school would adopt and maintain the site , supported by Burdekin Shire Council and LBLA .
Lower Burdekin Landcare Association
The Lower Burdekin Landcare Association leads local landcare efforts within the Ayr community . Since 1998 , its volunteers have been involved with collecting and propagating plants native to the riparian zone of local waterways .
Priority areas for the group include ecologically important sites in the Ayr and greater Burdekin region such as the Bowling Green Bay Wetlands , listed as internationally-important under the Ramsar Convention , as well as other key areas for bird and fish habitat along the coast .