Panboola wetland

Panboola wetland covers an area of low-lying coastal floodplain spanning 82 hectares, south of the small town of Pambula. Historically the wetland had been cleared for a racecourse and was the original township settlement, however due to frequent flooding the town relocated to higher ground. 

Since 2003, the wetland has been successfully administered by the Panboola Wetland Volunteers for the purpose of conservation, protection and restoration of habitat, as well as for education and recreation for the community. 

The old racecourse has become an extremely popular walking track valued by the community, however the track acts as a levee, reducing natural tidal flows to a section of the estuary and floodplain.

WRL partnered with NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries to complete extensive technical investigations into the hydrological conditions across the site to understand the dynamic linkages between freshwater and tidal environments. 

The investigations resulted in several management recommendations designed to support the positive work already being achieved by the community and to help ensure the values provided by the wetland are protected well into the future. The project also included the design of adaptation works, replacing drainage pipes with two bridged channels, to improve the sites resilience to future threats such as sea level rise and climate change.

WRL continues to assist and support the local community by providing specialist advice and closely monitoring the ongoing health of the rehabilitated wetland with the installation of two live stream cameras.