Mount Burr Swamp (SA)

Nature Glenelg Trust

Introduction

The Mount Burr Swamp Habitat Restoration Reserve is the vision of Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT), a charitable not-for-profit environmental organisation based in south-eastern Australia.

A partnership agreement between NGT, the Native Vegetation Council and OneFortyOne Plantations intially secured over 90 per cent of the funds needed for NGT to establish the reserve and commence restoration works.

And then prior to settlement in September 2016, thanks to an incredible response from the local community, the remaining $110,000 required to purchase the site was raised.

Origins

Back in February 2012, only a few weeks after Nature Glenelg Trust began, we were alerted to a potential site for purchase and restoration, only half an hour from Mt Gambier in the lower South East of South Australia.

The concept immediately looked like a great idea. After all, the site was situated next door to The Marshes (a nationally recognised wetland complex) and would enable the overall conservation area to be expanded by 50%. The property contains dozens of drained wetlands with excellent restoration potential.

One of these wetlands, Mt Burr Swamp, is a large, former deep freshwater marsh that forms a natural centrepiece for the site. With a secure water supply, all the ingredients for successful restoration are in place…

The Future Mount Burr Swamp Habitat Restoration Reserve

Outcomes

Mt Burr Swamp is providing a rare demonstration of what sustainable water management, threatened species recovery and large-scale native revegetation actually look like on the ground, while providing an opportunity for the community to actively participate in the exciting journey that lies ahead.

The site provides the opportunity to restore habitat for six nationally threatened species (as shown, in order): Little (formerly Dwarf) Galaxias (fish), Growling Grass Frog, Australasian Bittern, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Southern Bent-wing Bat, as well as a range of other important or iconic species, such as the Brolga.

The biodiversity of the general area is best illustrated by the adjacent Marshes wetland reserve, known to support hundreds of species of native flora and fauna, including a host of significant species that will directly benefit from the restoration of the Mount Burr Swamp property.

The facts

The property is 300 hectares (750 acres) in size, and is located adjacent to an existing 600 hectare wetland reserve.

The initial community fundraising target we set and achieved back in 2016 was $110,000 – and we’re continuing to accept donations to help us cover reserve establishment costs and set aside funding for future on-ground works.

Get on board

There will be many opportunities in the future to get involved and see for yourself what we have achieved together; plus you will be kept updated on the progress of the restoration story over the years ahead through our newsletter.

You also have our commitment and guarantee that 100% of your donated money will be go towards making a difference on the ground.

All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

To donate

  • call the NGT office on 08 8797 8596 for further details

or

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