Whitehead Street Wetlands
2024-09-29 Whitehead Street Wetlands Working BEE
This morning our hard working Rotarians have commenced work repairing the boardwalk at Whitehead Street Wetland. At the same time they are making it harder for the vandals/thieves that have taken over thirty panels from the boardwalk.
Missing panels make the area unsafe and unusable. The cost to replace the stolen infrastructure also means less funds other improvements.
Rotarians attaching new screws to aid with security
Hard at work!
Some of the 37 missing panels from the boardwalk
Smoko over - back to work!
As part of our ongoing commitment to this project we will also be working with Corowa Mens Shed to replace the stolen tables, chairs and shelter. Yes - they even took those!
2024-05-08 Whitehead Street Wetlands
Gary has brought to the Club's attention the fact that some damage has occurred at the wetlands. Unfortunately after fire destroyed some of the fencing earlier in the year, the ease of access to the wetlands has given some people the opportunity to take wood and damage some of the structures in the wetlands. There are 37 boardwalk panels which have been stolen from the project, and there is damage to seating and shelters.
A Committee has been formed to repair the fencing in the first instance and also to work towards bringing the project back to its original state.
Whitehead Street Wetlands Working Bee - 7 May 2023
Gary, Howard and Ted spent a busy time working on some necessary jobs last Sunday 7th May. Howard tackled the peeling paint on the door of the bird hide, the inside of the bird hide was cleaned out and Ted used his mower to tame the overgrown pathways. The overgrown bushes on the path in from Honour Avenue / Albury Road were trimmed by all three Rotarians. Unfortunately they discovered some of the panels from the elevated walkway had been removed and new ones will need to be purchased to replace them.
Many thanks Gary, Howard and Ted for a job well done!
2021-10-16 Our District, Our Voice Article "Corowa's wonderful Wetlands"
2021-08-14 Reptile Habitat
Rotarians Neil Davis and Graham Brown enjoyed a wonderful morning at the Whitehead Street Wetlands.
The morning was facilitated by Sally Hughes from Corowa District Landcare, being part of a program initiated by the 'Youth, Create and Celebrate' group of Corowa youngsters.
There were about 15 school students present, along with representatives of Corowa District Landcare, Rotary, Apex, Community Gardens and interested teachers and community members. There was also a wildlife ecologist, herpetologist and environmental consultant from CSU - Dr Damien Michael - who was very knowledgeable about reptiles and had written some books on the subject.
The lizard habitat was established - the Apexians assisted the children with the heavy work of lifting and placing of logs and the spreading of bark chips.
Neil and Graham were busy digging holes and planting many Billy Button daisies, Melaleucas and Hardenbergias near the bird hide and the picnic seats.
2021-03-09 Water Station at the Wetlands
Thank you to Federation Council and their Community Grants! The Rotary Club, with Federation Council’s assistance, has installed a Water Filling station at the Whitehead Street Wetland. A bubbler, water bottle filler and place for our four legged friends to get a drink too. Also not far off the bike track. Enjoy!
2018-11-07
Wetlands Working Bee
2018-10-31 Wetlands Birdhide and Viewing Platform
Work is currently being carried out on the viewing platform in the wetlands.
2018-10-10 Wetlands Update
The Corowa Wetlands Boardwalk and Birdhide is progressing well and will be hopefully finished soon. Here is a picture of it being built.
Thanks to Rotarian Meredith (and many others in the club and community) for their hard work with this project. It is great for our club to be associated with the Wetlands Project!
2018-08-01 RC of Corowa - Wetlands Project
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Corowa Whitehead Street Wetlands, the Rotary Club, Corowa Landcare, Planet Ark and Students from Corowa High and Corowa Public School, planted trees and shrubs last week. Our club provided a BBQ lunch for all the helpers and a large number of plants were planted at the site.
Don’t forget to take a walk around the Wetlands when you have a chance.
Picture: Students planting trees and shrubs
2018-02-08 Corowa Wetlands
The wetland development is going along well. The Men’s Shed has finished putting in the benches and window sills, the signs have been installed and the pathway has been completed. Most of the plants that the school planted in July are also doing well!!
2017-12-04 Special Celebrations – Wetlands
The Corowa community braved the wet weather on Monday evening to celebrate the newly installed facilities at the Wetlands at Whitehead Street, Corowa.
After a BBQ dinner provided by The Rotary Club, Corowa South Public School entertained the locals with a performance of the Sloane's Froglet song.
The evening was finished off with a frog talk by Alex Knight from Charles Sturt University's Institute for Land, Water & Society. The event was held by Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group and Murray Local Land Services in conjunction with The Rotary Club of Corowa and supported by Federation Council.
2017-11-09 The Whitehead Street Wetlands Update
Bird Hide: the bird hide is now in situ, with access path constructed. The Mens’ Shed will be installing benches for seating inside and a roof in the coming week.
Signage: Interpretive signage layout and information is currently being proofed before the actual signs are ordered - hopefully next week.
Opening BBQ: Monday 4th December @ 5.30 / 6.00 pm.
2017-07-28 National Schools Tree Day
July 28th 2017, was National Schools Tree Day and 50 year 9 students from Corowa High School planted 240 trees along the Chocolate Factory side of the wetland. The students were supervised by Natasha, Sarah and Susanne from the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Carbon Project, who also provided the trees.
This is the Corowa Rotary Club’s long term project and everyone involved was thanked by Club President Gary Poidevin.
Corowa Rotary Club also provided a bus, to get the students to and from the wetlands, as well as a sausage sizzle and drink when finished. The Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group also gave each student a “show bag” with information about the trees they had planted, as well as other information about the wetlands.
A highlight of the planting was the unexpected appearance of three brolgas on the Whitehead Street side of the wetlands.
2016-07 Whitehead Street Wetlands Project
As part of the Club's strategic planning it was identified that we needed a long term project and in June 2016, The Rotary Club of Corowa adopted the Whitehead Street Wetland as a major ongoing project. Whilst some paths and seating were installed in 2004 the area had fallen into disrepair and had become an underutilized area within our community.
The Rotary Club is very excited to have received two grants in April and May 2017, which will enable work to begin on the area.
The funding provided through the Murray Local Services and Murray darling Wetlands Working Group's, Murray Wetland Carbon Storage Project and supported by Federation Council is for the rehabilitation of the Whitehead Street Wetland and includes the enhancement of pathways, shade shelters for existing tables and chairs, new signage and revegetation along the site perimeter.
The second grant was obtained through the Federation Council's, Stronger Communities Grant Program and will allow the placement of a birdhide in the area adjacent to the lake and further enhancement of the pathways throughout the area.
In total the grants come to $120,000 and this together with the funds the Club as committed will give this project a good start. It is however a long way short of the amount that will be required to give it all the features and functionality it needs.
Whitehead Street Wetland is located in central Corowa and is environmentally significant. It provides habitat for the Sloane’s Froglet (listed as Vulnerable in NSW), brolgas and a rare wetland plant community. The site is readily accessed from the bike track and is known locally as a place to see wildlife, including brolgas and kangaroos.
The project aims to create a wonderful all access area for recreational pursuits such as walking, bike riding and bird watching whilst also providing visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the Wetland environment. By educating the public about the importance of Wetlands we will ensure that they are not lost in the future.
Work has already commenced at the site and it is hoped that community groups will become involved in the project. The newly formed Men’s Shed will be providing a roof for the Birdhide and tree planting days are being planned for schools and the community. The works will be completed before the end of 2017 and will benefit large sections of the community, providing tourism, education, biodiversity and wellness opportunities.
The Rotary Club is committed to continuing to raise funds for the area to enable further improvements and maintenance.
Below is an application map of the wetlands that shows the size of the area to be worked on and some of the work to be done.
