Friday marks World Wetlands Day, which has as its theme “Wetlands for a sustainable urban future”.

Nigel Dique, the Ramsar working group’s facilitator, said the day was particularly relevant as urban development generally continued to threaten wetlands both at home and abroad.

He said any development of a six-hectare site by Hunter developer Paul Unicomb should not prevent the wetlands from being named in the convention but he was adamant it demonstrated the “folly” of the state government’s sell-off.

“The sale to a private developer is inconsistent with, and has complicated what the working group is trying to achieve,” Mr Dique said.

“Development would result in habitat fragmentation and destruction, which is the prime threatening process for all species of threatened flora and fauna. Ideally the section should be reincorporated into the wider wetland as it is an essential part of the ecosystem, however, regardless of the outcome for this section, the working group is determined to continue pursuing Ramsar wetlands-recognition for Mambo Wanda.”

A spokesman for Mr Unicomb said plans to develop part of the site had taken into account extensive flora and fauna studies, and stressed that no habitat or feed trees would be removed.

“The reports from these studies have been provided as matter of course to Port Stephens Council to assist their deliberation,” he said.

“These studies have been completed by recognised experts in their field and include a detailed catalogue of all recognised habitat trees on the site. [Only] one species of recognised preferred koala food tree, Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany), was found to be present within the study area.” 

While the wetlands extend across six of the lots under Mr Unicomb’s control his spokesman said the application was for a separate site.

“The design and location of the proposed single-storey dwelling has been developed to blend with the surrounding environment and to minimise any possible impact,” he said. “No recognised habitat trees are being disturbed by the proposed dwelling.

“The proposed dwelling is deliberately sited on the extreme western end of the site and incorporates an energy efficiency and eco-friendly reverse brick veneer design. The location of the proposed dwelling meets, and in most cases exceeds, all of the established requirements regarding the adjoining wetland habitat.”

The Ramsar working team has spent the past two years building a case for the wetlands’ inclusion on the list of significant sites. This work was based on advice from Hunter Wetlands CEO Stuart Blanch.

Studies of the Mambo Wanda Wetlands have confirmed the site is teeming with wildlife.

The research is expected to underpin an application to make the site a Ramsar-significant wetland.

“The Mambo Wanda Wetlands Ramsar working group has identified seven criteria that it believes could satisfy Ramsar requirements,” Nigel Dique said.

“This comes from a recent literature review by Mark Clifton, one of its members, that finds the wetlands exhibit a rich diversity of vegetation and a unique variety of habitat for a diverse assortment of species.”

It finds the wetlands also support endangered and vulnerable species, particularly certain birds and the koala, as well as providing a refuge for birds and migratory shorebirds.

Mr Dique said the wetlands support fish species at critical life cycle stages, namely fry during feeding and spawning periods.

The importance of the area’s ecology has been further backed up by the work of another of the group’s members, Neil Fraser, a retired geologist from Shoal Bay. Mr Fraser has reviewed the findings of numerous reports on the wetlands. Since 1999 there’s been 29 sets of bird studies alone. 

“I’ve been going out once a week looking at a different species in distinct areas within the wetlands,” Mr Fraser said.

“I haven’t necessarily found anything new but I have brought about a higher degree of certainty around what these previous studies have found.”

His reviews have confirmed the presence of six mammals including koalas, brushtail phascogale, squirrel gliders, grey-headed flying foxes, bent wing bats and greater broad nose bats.

Some of the birds also found to frequent the area include the eastern curlew, eastern osprey, white bellied sea eagle and powerful owl. The latter feeding in squirrel gliders. Mr Fraser also named the glossy black cockatoo, little lorikeet and varied sittela.

“Our community can’t just exist as a series of residences, shops and roads in a sterile environment,” he said. 

“We rely on these species being in balance otherwise we end up with a mono culture.”

Two years has passed since Hunter Wetlands CEO Stuart Blanch addressed volunteers at Salamander Bay with advice on how to achieve such a listing. Most crucially, the agreement and cooperation of all agencies and stakeholders.

”The working group is taking advice from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, with which it in close contact. OEH is providing advice on what criteria have the potential to meet the National Framework and what further evidence needs to be researched,” Mr Dique said. “We’ve got this wetland right in the middle of an urban area but it’s remarkably healthy and doing well. But there’s run-off issues and weeds present a constant challenge that require regular attention from volunteers to help look after it.”

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 each year to help raise awareness and recognition of these water bodies to the environment.

The day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands approved ‘Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future’ for this year.

The Australia Government (Department of Environment and Energy) observes World Wetlands Day each year. 

It acknowledges that urban wetlands make cities liveable in many important ways; they reduce flooding, replenish drinking water, filter waste, provide urban green spaces, and are a source of livelihoods.

For more visit: worldwetlandsday.org