Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance

Submitted by Tessa Barratt, Member Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands Group 

IMAGINE you are sitting on a bench in a quiet, green area, listening to the calls of birds whilst watching lizards tan on the rocks by the stream.  You’re in a well maintained clearing, surrounded by indigenous trees and bushes that host a variety of native animals.  Now imagine this same area overgrown with weeds and cluttered with rubbish and car parts, the stream choked with litter and foreign plants.  This is what the De Freitas Wetland used to look like, but now, thanks to council workers and dedicated volunteers, it is the haven formerly described.

The De Freitas Wetland is located near the Make Peace Oval athletics track and is fed by Prospect Creek, which meanders through Smithfield, Fairfield and Carramar.  The area was purchased by the Fairfield Council in the mid 90’s.  Since then, contractors and council workers have weeded and cleared the area, created a beautiful natural garden for visitors, planted new trees and installed Gross Pollutant Traps in the stormwater drains to protect the area from litter. 

More recently, members of the Fairfield Council and the Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands group participated in a tree planting event, the purpose of which was to enrich the area with native vegetation.  From 10 in the morning til noon, workers and volunteers filled a barren piece of land with new shoots.  After that they celebrated with a barbeque in the nearby garden.

The planting of native vegetation is essential for the regeneration of the area.  Without efforts to protect and restore our wetlands, they could soon disappear and the consequences to both humans and the environment could be dire. Wetlands play an important part in the health of our streams.  They filter silt and other pollutants, intercept runoff and protect the surrounding areas from flooding by regulating the flow of water.  They also provide vital habitats and breeding grounds for birds, fish and other creatures.  Many species of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) are endangered in our region and without community vigilance face a high risk of extinction.  

If you’re interested in preserving the local environment and want to contribute, the best way you can help is by joining one of the environmental community groups.  Fairfield City’s website (http://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au) provides a list of groups and a volunteer membership form.  If you sign up to this, you will be alerted of tree planting events, clean ups and more. 

Participating in community events provides people with an opportunity to work together to protect our natural surroundings; it is also a good way of making new friends and expanding your knowledge.  After taking part in such events as the tree planting in De Freitas, one comes away with a positive feeling of accomplishment and community spirit. 

For more information about these groups, contact the Fairfield Council on 9725 0222.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 1343 and is filed under Australian Fauna, Australian Flora, Bushcare, Environment, Georges River, Uncategorized, Water Quality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.