Coastal wetland rehabilitation

Coastal floodplain wetlands are a significant estuarine habitat type, particularly on the northern NSW coast.

Many of these coastal floodplain wetlands have been artificially drained through the installation of complex floodplain drainage infrastructure for many decades. This has led to degradation of this important habitat and environmental asset. Drainage has also increased the risk of impacts to the downstream estuary after floods, including the 2022 floods, via de-oxygenated (blackwater) and acidic water pollution events.

This Action will work with project partners to increase the environmental resilience of estuaries to floods through coastal floodplain wetland rehabilitation at several locations.