Monday 6, Sep 2010
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The Southern Rivers CMA and a South Coast dairy farmer are nearing the end of a mammoth project aimed at revitalising the health of the Tuross Lake estuary on the far south coast of New South Wales.
The 320 hectare Coopers Island dairy, owned and managed by veteran dairy farmer Gary Evans lies in the heart of the complex Tuross estuary.. It is not only home to a thriving 350 cow dairy but also a number of very significant ecological communities which underpin the health of the estuary itself.
Southern Rivers CMA catchment officer and manager of the Coopers Island Wetland Recovery Project, Prue Woodford, said today that the project was a very important one for Tuross Lake and the community that relies on it.
“Coopers Island might only be 320 hectares in size but is has 25 kilometres of shoreline surrounded by mangrove, salt marsh and swamp oak communities which are listed as endangered. They are rare and they perform a vital ecological function.
“Dairying is an intensive land use with associated management issues of high nutrient run-off, impacts on the shoreline caused by grazing cattle and sedimentation of the estuary.
“These issues can impact on the Tuross Oyster industry, the recreational fishery for which Tuross Lake is famous and of course the environment.
“To address these issues veteran dairy farmer, Gary Evans, has been working with Southern Rivers CMA to carry out significant recovery work under a ten year landholder agreement.
“Through funding support from the National Landcare Program the Southern Rivers CMA has contributed $65,000 towards the project with Mr Evans investing an equivalent amount in cash and labour.
“The funding has enabled the fencing of impacted shorelines and the replanting of mangroves and swamp oak with almost 6 kilometres fenced and planted with 6,000 seedlings. A further area of shoreline is yet to be completed. The project has also had the added benefit of providing local employment for 6 people for approximately 6 months..
“This major project is a win, win, win for improved production for dairying and oyster farming, recreational fishing and the environment.” Prue said.
