Enhancing and Restoring Estuary Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs)

Council has been undertaking weed management and revegetation at several locations to regenerate mapped Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs). The works were funded by a grant from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Lake Conjola

An initial 18-month program of works has recently been completed for areas located at Cunjurong Point, Fishermans Paradise, and in the sand dunes on the southern side of the Lake. TECs mapped in these areas include Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, Bangalay Sand Forest and Coastal Saltmarsh.

The works have focussed on managing invasive weeds such as Senna, Bitou Bush and Asparagus, and replanting native vegetation found in the mapped TECs to encourage the areas to regenerate and be more resilient. Not only does this enhance the biodiversity of these ecosystems, but healthy, vegetated foreshores also play a crucial role in protecting coastal areas from flooding and erosion during storm events.

St Georges Basin

Works are underway along stretches of the Basin Walking Track in areas of mapped TECs that include Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest and Bangalay Sand Forest. Works have included planting native vegetation found in the mapped TECs to encourage the areas to regenerate and be more resilient in the face of future storms and climate change. Vegetation has been planted around existing trees on the foreshore bank in ‘bubbles’ to protect these trees and stabilise the foreshore during storm and flood events. Seaweed has also been placed around these areas to support plant growth by providing vital nutrients to the new plants.

Swan Lake

Works are underway along the foreshore of the Lake within areas of mapped TECs that include Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, Bangalay Sand Forest and Coastal Saltmarsh. The works have focussed on managing invasive weeds such as Senna, Bitou Bush and Asparagus, and replanting native vegetation found in the mapped TECs to encourage the areas to regenerate and be more resilient. Not only does this enhance the biodiversity of these ecosystems, but healthy, vegetated foreshores also play a crucial role in protecting coastal areas from flooding and erosion during storm events.

Works have included bank restoration and stabilisation at Ski Beach using fencing, jute mesh and new plants to manage erosion. This work will also protect large tree species such as the Bangalay (Eucalyptus botryoides) and Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) which are key species in the Bangalay Sand Forest and Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest TECs.

Council will continue working in all these areas until late 2026 to ensure the best outcomes for these ecosystems.