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Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes:
a nationally protected ecological community
This information guide is intended to help the public understand what the Wetlands and Inner
Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community is, why it is nationally protected,
what the listing aims to achieve, and what the listing means for people in the region.
Map of the Macquarie Marshes wetland system. The Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the
Macquarie Marshes ecological community only occurs in the wettest parts of this broad region,
where there are areas of open and intermittent wetlands and river red gum woodlands.
IN SUMMARY:
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The Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community is now
recognised as critically endangered and protected under Australia's national environment law, the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
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The ecological community occurs within the Macquarie-Castlereagh region in central-west New
South Wales and includes the inner floodplains and wetlands associated with the Macquarie
Marshes. Its boundary extends from north of Warren downstream towards the Barwon and
Castlereagh Rivers.
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The Macquarie Marshes is one of the largest freshwater systems in the Murray-Darling Basin and
one of the most important wetlands in Australia. The ecological community captures the diversity
of flora and fauna that relies on the wettest, most regularly inundated parts of the Macquarie
Marshes. The wetland and river red gum woodlands on the inner floodplain described by the listing
are an integrated system.
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The national Threatened Species Scientific Committee found that the ecological community has
experienced wide-ranging loss of biodiversity and ecological function that is unlikely to be restored
in the short-term.
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The intent of the listing is to prevent its decline and to provide support to on-ground efforts that
ensure its long-term survival and recovery. The conservation advice approved by the Threatened
Species Scientific Committee outlines a range of priority research and management actions that
provide guidance on how to manage; restore and protect the ecological community.
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The listing promotes a co-ordinated, ecosystem-scale approach to threat abatement in the region
and supports existing national protection of the Ramsar wetlands and many threatened and
migratory species that are found within the ecological community.
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EPBC Act protection of the system complements the key Commonwealth, state and local plans
and measures that are in place, including the Water for the Future program and the Murray-Darling
Basin Plan, and its associated environmental watering. The scientific committee noted that the
existing plans, together with the priority research and conservation actions identified in the
conservation advice, are sufficient to guide future recovery of the ecological community.
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Listing under the EPBC Act means that an activity that is likely to have a significant impact on the
ecological community will need to be referred to the Commonwealth environment minister for
assessment and approval.
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Routine property maintenance and land management practices carried out in line with laws and
guidelines covering native vegetation, fishing and water management typically are unlikely to
require referral under national environment law. This includes most farming, fishing and irrigation
activities.
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The national environment law is triggered by activities that are likely to have a significant impact on
the listed ecological community; activities such as large new developments, works or
infrastructures. For example, such activities may involve permanently clearing large areas of intact
and high-quality native vegetation or permanent drainage.
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The Water Act and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, rather than the EPBC Act, are the
Commonwealth legislative mechanisms for water resource management in the Murray-Darling
Basin.
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Background
Australia’s national environmental law, the EPBC Act, protects what are known as Matters of
National Environmental Significance. The Act is only triggered if a particular activity is likely to
have a significant impact on any of these matters.
Threatened species and ecological communities are one of these Matters of National
Environmental Significance. The EPBC Act defines an ecological community as an assemblage
of native species that inhabits a particular area in nature. It is often applied to types of native
vegetation, such as a certain kind of woodland or grassland or rainforest. However, it can also
apply to wetlands and river systems, or marine habitats.
The native plants and animals within an ecological community have different roles and
relationships that, together, contribute to the healthy functioning of the environment. Protecting
native communities also protects ecosystem services such as good quality air and water; healthy
soils; natural prevention or control of erosion, salinity and acid sulphate soils; sustainable
resources; shelter for stock; and the storage of carbon. These all contribute to better productivity
of our land and water, which benefits people and society as well as the wider environment.
Human settlements and infrastructures where an ecological community formerly occurred do not
form part of the natural environment and are therefore not part of the ecological community—e.g.
sites where an ecological community has been cleared or replaced by crops, exotic pastures or
developments. This also applies to sites where the ecological community exists in a highlydegraded or unnatural state. For instance, cropping lands and exotic pastures or areas where
much of the native vegetation has been replaced by exotic species, and are no longer part of a
natural ecological community.
Aerial view over the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, New South Wales © Allan Fox and DSEWPaC
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What is the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological
community?
The Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community occurs
within the Macquarie-Castlereagh region in central-west New South Wales. The boundary of the
community lies just south of the Barwon and Castlereagh rivers in the north, inland of Carinda
and Quambone in the east, upstream beyond Marebone Weir towards Warren in the south, and
east of Marra Creek and Wamboin in the west.
The ecological community captures the diversity of flora and fauna that relies on the wettest, most
regularly inundated parts of the Macquarie Marshes. It comprises a variety of integrated wetland
and vegetation types that share a dependence on inundation, including:
 open water bodies with aquatic vegetation
 seasonal to intermittent wetlands with reedbeds, cumbungi, water couch or mixed marshes
 shrubland wetlands with lignum or river cooba, and
 river red gum woodlands on the inner floodplain (often with a wetland understorey).
The Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community now occurs
within a highly-regulated environment. Some types of dryland and outer floodplain vegetation may
be a part of other listed threatened ecological communities.
The broader Macquarie Marshes is a large, diverse area and has elements that are not part of the
Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community. These include:
 native vegetation of the outer floodplain such as Coolabah Black Box Woodlands
 dryland native vegetation such as Weeping Myall Woodland or chenopod shrublands
 landscapes that are heavily modified by clearing, e.g. for agriculture or infrastructure works, or
degraded by weeds, so that their natural values are gone or in poor condition.
The conservation advice, which provides a detailed description of the ecological community and
an assessment of the threats impacting on it, is available on the department’s website at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=93.
Macquarie Marshes, New South Wales © DSEWPaC
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Why is the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological
community important?
The Macquarie Marshes is one of the largest freshwater systems in the Murray-Darling Basin and
one of the most important wetlands in Australia. It provides habitat for many kinds of plants and
animals that require water in an otherwise dry landscape. The Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of
the Macquarie Marshes ecological community protects the wettest sites of this system and
provides habitat for numerous fauna. Among the most important natural values protected by this
ecological community are:
 Some of Australia’s largest recorded waterbird breeding colonies. Many waterbird species
that visit the region are migratory and use the Macquarie Marshes as important nesting sites.
 A diverse suite of woodland bird species, including the brown treecreeper and diamond
firetail, which rely on the river red gum woodlands.
Diamond firetail, Stagonopleura guttata © Brian Furby and DSEWPaC; Swamp Lily, Ottelia ovalifolia © Matt White and DSEWPaC.
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A variety of native mammal species such as kangaroos, swamp wallabies, sugar gliders,
squirrel gliders, dunnarts, echidnas and more than 15 species of bats.
Almost a third of native fish species found in the Murray–Darling Basin occur in the region,
making it an important site for native fish feeding and breeding.
The highest diversity of frog species of any wetland system in the Murray-Darling Basin.
At least sixty species of reptiles (turtles, dragons, legless lizards, skinks, goannas, geckoes
and snakes) have been recorded in, or near to, the ecological community.
One of the three most extensive river red gum woodlands in the Murray-Darling Basin,
The largest and most extensive common reed beds in the northern basin.
One of only two locations with extensive water couch marsh in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The ecological community includes and connects some important sites:
 Four areas currently listed as wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands);
 Conservation areas, such as the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, and Ginghet Nature
Reserve State Conservation Areas. Some of these reserves overlap with the Ramsar
wetlands.
Importantly, the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community
extends beyond the sites that are in reserves or Ramsar listed. The ecological community listing
includes the wetland and inner floodplain vegetation that lie outside of and connect these sites.
The ecological community coincides with the core traditional country of the Wailwan people. The
Macquarie Marshes retain rich natural, cultural and spiritual value for the Wailwan and indigenous
communities who maintain a custodial relationship with the Marshes.
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Why does it need national protection?
In August 2013, the Commonwealth environment minister listed the Wetlands and Inner
Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community after considering the advice of the
Threatened Species Scientific Committee. As required under national environment law, the
committee’s advice to list this ecological community was based on a rigorous scientific
assessment.
The scientific evidence supported the case for it to be protected as an integrated wetland and
inner floodplain system and that it met the eligibility criteria for critically endangered under
national environment law.
The scientific committee found that this aquatic system has experienced wide-ranging loss of
biodiversity and ecological function that is unlikely to be restored in the short-term.
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This includes the loss or decline of native species or species groups with a key functional role
in maintaining the health of the ecological community, notably the river red gum woodland,
water couch wetlands, and reed beds.
Important ecological processes in the community have been degraded and disrupted through
a decline in the extent of wetlands and their replacement by drier chenopod shrublands.
There also have been long-term declines in the condition and health of the river red gum tree
canopy. Consequently, there is a loss of habitat and foraging resources for wetland fauna
including colonial nesting waterbirds.
The overall aim of listing is to prevent its decline and to provide support to on-ground efforts that
ensure its long-term survival. The conservation advice outlines a range of priority research and
management actions that provide guidance on how to manage, restore and protect the ecological
community. The listing promotes a more co-ordinated approach to threat abatement and
management of the ecological community.
Tangled Lignum flowers in the Wilgara wetland in the Macquarie Marshes © DSEWPaC.
River red Gum, Macquarie Marshes © Matt White and DSEWPaC
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What are the benefits of listing an ecological community as nationally threatened?
There are a number of benefits to listing ecological communities under Australia’s national
environment law:
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Listing an ecological community can help to protect the landscapes that provide connectivity,
corridors and refuge essential to protect and improve the ecological function, health and
biodiversity of this system. It can protect habitat critical for refuge and recruitment for
threatened species and for other species that are under pressure in the region. In turn, this
helps foster the ecosystem services associated with an ecological community.
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Listing threatened ecological communities helps protect them from future significant human
impacts that may cause further decline. The aim of the national environment law is to ensure
the matters of national environmental significance are given due consideration, along with
broader economic, social and other issues in the planning of any large projects. Where
possible, significant adverse impacts to the environment should be avoided, or the impacts
mitigated, reduced or offset, when unavoidable.
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National listing encourages agencies and community/Landcare groups to access
environmental funding opportunities for conservation and recovery works. The Australian
Government has a variety of funding programs to encourage landowners to continue to
conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services on their properties.
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A conservation advice, published at the time of listing, provides guidance and options for
environmental decision-making, including environmental watering and other rehabilitation and
conservation initiatives in the region.
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In the case of the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological
community:
o this listing will provide protection that complements existing national protection of the
Macquarie Marshes Ramsar wetlands and many threatened and migratory species that
are found within the ecological community
o better protection will help ensure greater resilience against the impending threats of
climate change, which have the potential to compound all other threats
o Australia’s national environment law focuses on the biodiversity conservation aspects of
the river system that complements the environmental watering, water use allocation and
other measures through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
o protecting the environmental values, including all the ecosystem services associated with
the ecological community, contributes to the long-term productivity of the landscape,
including food and water security
o the listing also provides a range of environmental amenity benefits that support tourism
and recreation activities, such birdwatching and angling.
© DSEWPaC
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Wetland at "Burrima" (a small wetland property in the North Macquarie Marsh) © Bruce Gray and DSEWPaC
What does the listing mean for landholders?
The national environment law is triggered if an action is likely to have a significant impact on the
Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community. If a proposed
action is likely to have such an impact, it would require:
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referral (determining if the action may have a significant impact on the ecological
community or not)
assessment (the scope of the assessment depends on the complexity of the proposed
action and impacts)
a decision on approval from the Minister (who considers the environmental, social and
economic factors involved).
It is important to note that strict timeframes apply to assessments to ensure decisions are made
as quickly as possible.
The normal activities of individual landholders, fishers and residents are unlikely to be affected by
the listing. Routine property maintenance, land management and other established practices are
unlikely to have a significant impact and so would be unlikely to require referral under national
environment law, particularly if carried out in line with other national and state laws covering
native vegetation, fishing and water management.
For instance, the following actions are unlikely to trigger national environment law:
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ongoing grazing, dairy, horticultural or cropping activities, including continuing approved
irrigation activities or installing new irrigation technology
changing the types of grazing, dairy, horticultural or cropping activities undertaken on a
farm
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environmental watering initiatives
maintaining existing fences, roads, internal access tracks and firebreaks
maintaining farm gardens and orchards
maintaining existing farm dams or water storages
maintaining existing pumps and clearing drainage lines
replacing and maintaining sheds, yards and other farm buildings
controlling weeds and spraying for pests on individual properties
recreational and commercial fishing and other recreational activities, such as boating,
undertaken in line with Commonwealth and state-managed regulations.
Whether or not an action is likely to have a significant impact depends upon the sensitivity, value
and quality of the environment which is impacted, and upon the intensity, duration, magnitude and
geographic extent of the impacts. Examples of activities which may have a significant impact on
the ecological community include:
 permanently clearing large areas of intact and high-quality native vegetation
 new works that lead to permanent drainage or major new or upgraded dams and weirs
 other major developments that adversely affect the ecological community.
Is recreational fishing impacted by the listing?
The threatened ecological community listing only applies to species that are native and natural to
the area. Recreational fishing will not be affected by the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the
Macquarie Marshes ecological community listing. However, recreational fishers should also
comply with any state regulations that apply to recreational fishing, including size and bag limits,
fishing gear restrictions and closed fishing seasons.
Have activities previously been referred under the EPBC Act for this area?
Within the area of the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological
community some developments and activities have previously been referred for consideration
under the EPBC Act due to possible impacts on threatened and migratory species and Ramsar
wetlands that are already nationally protected. No activity has been rejected outright, although
some were approved with conditions to take better account of significant environmental impacts.
Reed bed at "Burrima" © Bruce Gray and DSEWPaC; River Red Gum Swamp © Matt White and DSEWPaC
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How does listing the ecological community relate to agreements already in place
such as the Murray-Darling Basin Plan?
Listing a threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act and implementing the MurrayDarling Basin Plan (basin plan) under the Water Act are quite different processes. The aim of the
national environment law is to protect Australia's unique biodiversity. The basin plan is concerned
with the integrated management of basin water resources, including setting sustainable limits on
water use and new environmental objectives for water-dependent ecosystems.
Listing the Wetlands and Inner Floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes ecological community
does not have any effect on water entitlements and allocation under state-legislated water
resource plans. The Water Act and the basin plan, rather than the EPBC Act, are the legislative
mechanisms for water resource management in the Murray-Darling Basin. Basin state water
resource plans which give effect to the basin plan will be considered for accreditation in
accordance with criteria in the basin plan.
A specific recovery plan for the listed ecological community will not be developed as the
Threatened Species Scientific Committee noted that existing plans, including the basin plan, are
in place. Rather, the listing supports the key state and Commonwealth measures that are
underway, including the basin plan and associated environmental watering, by recognising that
the system currently exists in a critically-endangered state.
The conservation advice does not specify flow volumes or extraction limits as the basin plan sets
new long-term average sustainable diversion limits that reflect an environmentally sustainable
level of water use. The conservation advice does recommend priority research and conservation
actions. Delivery of environmental water, consistent with the basin plan, to restore or protect an
identified environmental asset is unlikely to trigger the EPBC Act.
In terms of implementing irrigation infrastructure efficiency projects and environmental works
supported under the Water for the Future program, which may include works under the
Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism of the basin plan, the ecological community
will need to be considered, along with other matters of environmental significance in the region
such as threatened species and Ramsar sites that are already required to be considered.
Where can I get further information?
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The listing process: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html
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The EPBC referral and approval process: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/
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Australian Government Water policy and programs:
www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs
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Basin plan, Murray-Darling Basin Authority: www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/basin-plan
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Australian Government Natural Resource Management funding initiatives: www.nrm.gov.au/
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The EPBC liaison officer with the National Farmers Federation: by email on
[email protected].
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