GENERAL

• This project covers approximately 3.35 hectares located in the Davistown/ Saratoga area, New South Wales, Australia.
• Rehabilitation site is surrounded on four sides by wetland of good condition.
• The aim of the project is to restore saline wetlands, regenerate native plants by the removal of weeds, provide walking track linkages and create an area for public use, both passive recreational and educational

HISTORY:

In the early 1980s this parcel of land was acquired to hold dredging waste from the Gosford sewerage project. A bund wall of sandstone and clay approximately 3m high was constructed and dredged sludge material pumped into the enclosure to settle. A clay cap of approximately 0.5m was placed over the material to form a containment zone and about 60% of the bunded site was used as a Public Works Dept. works depot.

The property was sold to the local oyster farmers in the mid 1980s who sought to rezone and set up a major Oyster Purification Plant. Strong community objection to this plan, and proposals for residential development led to it being quashed. Council purchased the land in 1993 but the title “Oyster Farmers Land” has stuck.

DRAFT SCOPE OF WORKS

• Enhancement of the health of existing wetland areas surrounding the bunded site area through improved tidal flow opportunities
• Restoration of saline wetlands in the lower western part of the bunded site area
• Establishment of a potential Green and Gold Bell Frog (GGBF) breeding habitat
• Weed removal from the total site area by a range or initiatives
• Provision of a boardwalk link from Malinya Rd through the site to Morton Cr
• Provision of community access to a wetland and coastal bushland area for educational and passive recreation purposes.

For further information see, click on the Project Links outlined to the left.