The Cattai Wetlands Project will give the Three Brothers Region a wonderful public asset

Rob Oakeshott recently toured one of the hidden gems in our Three Brothers region, the Cattai Wetland between Moorland and Coopernook, just east of the Pacific Highway.

Council started the restoration project in 2003 by arranging with a local dairy farmer to acquire his land and return it to it's natural state along Coopernook Creek and Cattai Creeks (see map on right).

Federal funding has been vital to making meaningful headway with the project, and once Council had a Plan of Management in place, work began in earnest. After much planning, the first of a series of boardwalks was built through the beautiful tea tree and mixed swamps in the heart of the wetland along the two creeks.

Rob Oakeshott visited the Cattai Wetlands last week to have a look at progress on the project, also going up towards Moorland to see the Big Swamp area as well.

Rob was in Harrington last week and mentioned to the Three Brothers Network in an interview that funding of about 2 million dollars has come from the federal government.

"I am very impressed by both Big Swamp and the Cattai Wetlands, and I also note that 2 million dollars isn't enough.  There will be some further requests and we'll do our best to get some more".

A Group Effort

Council and Rob Oakeshott are guided by the Lower Manning Wetland Advisory Group through the Cattai Wetlands

The Lower Manning Wetland Advisory Group has been key in the super progress of the project, a Council body where the public, Council staff and various interested agencies work together to rehabilitate and get the area ready for public use and enjoyment.

Mayor Paul Hogan, who was accompanied by Deputy Mayor David West, Councillor Trent Jennison, and General Manager Gerard Jose thanked Rob Oakeshott for the much-needed injection of Federal funds into the Cattai Wetlands project, saying, "Although the approach to the Big Swamp area is likely to be different in nature, it will have the same aim - to reduce the acid sulphate discharge into surrounding waterways.

"We have already achieved great success with this project which has been greatly assisted by working in partnership with the landowners in the area and with this additional Federal funding we can only go on to achieve greater success to fulfil our ambitions for this magnificent area."

On approaching the ponds, great flocks of birds raise up, although the black swans are likely to remain reticent on the water, just a few of the over 175 species of bird so far observed at the wetlands. Recent fauna identified in the wetlands include the giant dragonfly, black necked stalk, koalas, glossy black cockatoos, osprey and green golden bell frog. The project has reduced runoff of acid sulphate soils into the Manning River, whilst restoring a significant site for flora and fauna for community enjoyment over the coming years.

Just a section of the new Cattai Wetlands Boardwalk

A Natural and Cultural Asset

The Biripi community was represented on the recent tour through the Cattai Wetlands by Pastor Russell Saunders. The Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Lands Council and other Land Councils have been working with the Three Brothers Network's Aboriginal Heritage Group to develop cultural tours and tourism maps of the Three Brothers Region, with the Cattai Wetlands and Big Swamp areas to be highlighted (once open to the public).

The Three Brothers map will highlight local sites of interest, local businesses and incorporate local cultural, historical and natural assets to present our beautiful region to travellers, businesses and locals alike.  The maps are an integral part of the 3BN Village Tourism and Transport Stations ("VttS"), which propose combined public transport and tourism facilities at Moorland South (Coralville Road intersection, Moorland (Hannam Vale Road and Pacific Highway), Johns River (Johns River Road and Koolyangarra Way), and Kew (Golf Course outlook).    All locations were chosen by their communities for busses/toilets and the application was favourably received by Regional Development Australia - Mid North Coast.   For more info on the VttS program, see the VttS Executive Summary