Marrambidya Wetland to be officially opened on Friday

Marrambidya Wetland to be officially opened on Friday

The Marrambidya Wetland will be officially unveiled on Friday 3 June.

Earthworks have transformed the former Narrung Street treatment ponds into a vibrant wetland with native plants and wildlife.

Following the official opening, the community will get its first chance to tour the wetland on Sunday 5 June to mark World Environment Day.

Council’s Director Environment and Community Services Janice Summerhayes said the free event will feature everything from Wiradjuri Storytelling to surveying fauna nest boxes.

“The Marrambidya Wetland is a great asset to our community – it improves our natural environment, celebrates our Wirdajuri heritage and culture as well as being a fantastic attraction for visitors,” Ms Summerhayes said.

“There’s no better way to spend World Environment Day than taking in the natural beauty of the wetland and learning about our environment.”

The wetland features three pond areas and a deep water channel, which will allow aquatic animals refuge from warmer surface temperatures during the hot summer months.

Large red gum logs have also been retained on site to help construct a habitat for aquatic and terrestrial animals.

“With the all the hard work done over the past year, the next step is to let Mother Nature run its course,” Ms Summerhayes said.

“This time next year the wetland will be even more colourful once the plants flourish and native animals start to make it their home. We’re already seeing plenty of wildlife at the wetland – different types of native birds and frogs.”

The Marrambidya Wetland project is a joint initiative of Council, the NSW Environmental Trust, with support from Riverina Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government, together with the Federal Government’s Green Army program planting about 18,000 seedlings.

The wetland has links to the Wiradjuri Reserve, Wilks Park and the Riverside Precinct via the Wiradjuri Walking Track. For more information on the Marrambidya Wetland, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/wetland.

Media opportunity

What: Official opening of Marrambdiya Wetland

Where: Wetland site, Narrung Street

When: Friday 3 June, 11am

Who: Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Rod Kendall, General Manager Alan Eldridge, Director Environment and Community Services Janice Summerhayes, Riverina Local Land Services General Manager Rob Kelly

Community open day

When: Sunday 5 June, 10am-2pm

Where: Narrung Street, Wagga Wagga

Come and celebrate World Environment Day by coming to the official community opening of the Marrambidya Wetland. Council staff will be coordinating activities with a free sausage sizzle at noon.

Ongoing free activities:

• Fauna nest box surveys
• Reed planting
• Treasure hunt
• Face painting
• Spear throwing

Free scheduled activities:

10.30am Water sampling/ water bugs activity

11am Seed balls

11.30am Wiradjuri Storytelling

Noon Free sausage sizzle

12:30pm Maliyaa Dance Group

1pm Water sampling/ water bugs activity

1.30pm Wiradjuri Storytelling

Benefits of the Marrambidya Wetland project

The project will create an aquatic, passive reaction facility with a range of benefits for the wider community, including:

• Reducing the impact of nutrient discharge on the river
• Developing a wildlife habitat that will attract water birds, and encourage the return of migratory birds
• Recreating links to the Indigenous heritage of the area
• Enhancing our region’s biodiversity
• Promoting the stocking and breeding of endangered fish species
• Providing an educational resource focusing on aquatic ecology
• Establishing an environmental management showpiece
• Creating a new tourist attraction for the city