Wetlands are, as the name suggests, shallow and seasonal ponds and marshes where land and water meet and mingle. The arrival of water after rain is the key ingredient to new life because it triggers breeding of aquatic animals and germination of plants. Wetlands are the most vital, productive and diverse systems on the planet, and they are even more precious in a dry landscape like Australia where more than 50% of them have been destroyed. They are the lifeline of inland Australia and our wellbeing is dependent upon them. Nearly 70% of the River Murray's wetlands have been degraded or altered in some way, which threatens the survival of the river, the plants and animals that live in it, and the industries and towns that depend upon it.
Banrock Station recognised the need to rejuvenate the wetlands, and has committed itself to working towards improving the surrounding area. By recreating the natural drying and flooding cycle of the wetland, it is once more full of life. Much native vegetation has been replanted and become successfully established. The addition of fish barriers between the river and the wetlands has excluded introduced European Carp from the wetland. Banrock Station’s main lagoon covers 120 hectares and the eastern lagoon 130 hectares. The natural seasonal cycle of the lagoons was interrupted in 1925 but has been reinstated under our guardianship, to restore the natural balance.
These restoration activities and the interpretive walking trails through the wetlands have led to international recognition of the wetland. In November 2002, the world's peak wetland organisation, Ramsar, listed the Banrock Station Wetland Complex as one of 1,200 Wetlands of International Importance.
Drying Management
A dry phase is a natural and necessary phase in a wetland as it allows soils to mineralise nutrients, oxygen to enter the soil, and it triggers millions of microscopic animals to lay drought resistant eggs in readiness for the next flood. As a result there will be a readily available food source when next the wetland floods, that will trigger colonisation and breeding by insects, frogs, fish, reptiles and birds.
A drying phase in a wetland provides a moist soil bed, enabling seeds to germinate. A dry period in summer and autumn also saves water that would otherwise be lost to evaporation. Today we are more aware of the vital role that a healthy wetland plays in storing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
In 1992, Wetland Care Australia (a group of wetland enthusiasts) developed a wetland management plan. They built the structures to allow the lagoon’s natural drying phase and also built screens to prevent large carp entering when it was re-filled. This practice continues today with the lagoon dried out on average once every two years, followed by a carefully-managed spring flood. Recent severe and ongoing drought has prompted the South Australian Government to put in place new water restrictions. Banrock Station has been advised that to reduce water loss from evaporation, it will not be allocated water to flood its wetlands under these exceptionally dry conditions. Banrock Station management fully supports this decision and will continue to monitor and advise the Government of the health of its internationally-significant wetlands during this longer than expected dry phase. Meanwhile, donations from sales of Banrock Station wines are continuing to support the health of more wetlands and waterways.
Boardwalk
Situated in one of the most serene locations on Australia’s biggest waterway, the Banrock Station Boardwalk Trails provide unprecedented public access to River Murray wetlands. For a small fee, visitors can walk through the mallee, around the wetland foreshore and across the wetland; travelling through rehabilitated lagoons, reed beds and bird habitats.
The eight kilometres of trails are complete with four bird-hides, 10 story centres,two information huts and seating to enable walkers to rest and listen to nature along the way. At 1.4 metres wide, the 800 metre boardwalk section is suitable for assisted wheelchair access. The seasonal nature of the Banrock Station wetlands provides visitors with new experiences each time they visit.
