WETLAND RESTORATION ON PRIVATE LAND CASE STUDY 3: BEAUFORT DISTRICT

This project was developed to aid the restoration of a five hectare swamp that occurs on a natural watercourse flowing into Fiery Creek.  The site provides important water storage in the local drainage network whilst also supporting a high quality remnant red-gum forest that creates important habitat for local bird populations.

Earthworks undertaken by previous owners that included channel excavation and the construction of levee embankments have caused significant modification to the natural wetland area.  Since purchasing the property the new owners had noticed changes occurring to the natural inundation zone of the swamp which had historically backed up into the standing red-gums. Concerned that the wetland area was impacted by these past works, the landholders were keen to engage with us to help find a possible solution and develop a remedial response to this issue. After preliminary assessments were undertaken we were able to identify that the recently excavated channels constructed by the previous owners had created a new subsurface drainage pathway for the surface water. The channel excavations had been cut through a shallow depth impervious clay layer in the natural soil structure, subsequently providing an exit route for the surface water to drain through a deeper deposited gravel bed, artificially hastening the loss of water from the wetland system.

On ground works were designed to reduce the depth of the excavated drainage channel by relining the channel bed to effectively reinstate the original confining clay layer. Suitable clay material was sourced on site and a local earthworks contractor was engaged to fill and re-line the drainage channels. To ensure that the capping material was suitably impervious, bentonite clay fines were integrated into the material to increase the sealing effectiveness of the bed material.

This Case Study is the third in a series to illustrate wetland restoration in practice, delivered through Nature Glenelg Trust’s Wetland Restoration Program on Private Land and funded by the Australian Government.

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• The Importance of Coastal Wetlands in the Age of Harmful Algal Blooms 30/08/2026
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• Boosting private land conservation in SA’s Fleurieu 30/08/2026
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• A ‘patchy’ season for wetlands in the cross-border zone, but the upgraded outlet structure in the Mt Burr Swamp Stage 2 restoration area is working nicely 30/08/2026
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• Restoration works commence at Devil’s Corner (Moulting Lagoon), east coast Tasmania 30/08/2026
  Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT), in partnership with NRM South, have been undertaking independent eco-hydrological assessments and developing hydrological restoration plans for priority properties within or adjacent to the Moulting Lagoon and Apsley Marshes Ramsar sites since 2020. Investigations at Devil’s Corner commenced in 2025 and previous blogs can be found here: Introducing Devil’s Corner and ...
• Trial restoration approach at Silver Plains, Tasmania’s central highlands 30/08/2026
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• Eaglehawk Waterhole update and funding boost announcement 30/08/2026
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• Students visit Walker Swamp for planting and research 30/08/2026
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• Love birds and nature? Join our upcoming Nature Festival event in SA’s Fleurieu 30/08/2026
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• Spring Plant Sale at NGT’s Community Nursery in Mt Gambier 30/08/2026
  It’s that time of year again! If you’re in the vicinity of Mount Gambier, come and see Angela at our annual spring plant sale. With our planting season coming to a close, it’s time for the remaining plants to find a home. Come and get some hard-to-find plants from a range of beautiful locally grown ...

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