About Macquarie Marshes
The Macquarie Marshes are a non terminal wetland system covering over 200,000ha and is one of the largest inland wetlands in Australia.
The Macquarie Marshes form part of the Murray Darling Basin and is located on the lower reaches of the Macquarie River.
It is home to a range of wetland and woodland birds and is an important destination for migratory birds from Japan, China and Korea. There are several threatened and endangered species supported in the Macquarie Marshes.
The Marshes support a variety of wetland types ranging from semi-permanent marshes and lagoons to ephemeral wetlands that are inundated by large floods.
The vegetation of the marshes plays an important role in absorbing, recycling and releasing nutrients and trapping sediment.
The Ngiyampaa Wailwan people are descendants of the traditional owners of Wailwan country which includes the Macquarie Marshes area. The Macquarie Marshes contains significant cultural and traditional ceremonial area and the water, animals and plants are of great importance to the Wailwan people.
About Macquarie Marshes Environmental Landholders Association (MMELA)
The Macquarie Marshes Environmental Landholders Association (MMELA) aims to ensure the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the internationally recognised Macquarie Marshes.
The Macquarie Marshes Environmental Landholders Association (MMELA) was formed in 1995 when there was increasing pressure to reduce water flows to the Macquarie Marshes. Its members are local landholders, many of whom are third and fourth generation landholders in the area, who are dedicated to ensuring a healthy and productive marsh for future generations.
The Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve and “Wilgara” and “the Mole” Wetlands are listed on the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance. The Nature Reserve is also listed on the Japan , China and Republic of Korea Australia Migratory Bird Agreements (JAMBA, CAMBA & RoKAMBA) along with several other agreements. It is the responsibility of the whole community, including State and Federal Governments and the local community to ensure management of the wetland does not compromise values set out in the above mentioned agreements.
The Macquarie Marshes is a large semi permanent, flow through wetland on the lower end of the Macquarie River in central western NSW. It covers an area of approximately 200,000ha of which 12% is a Nature Reserve managed by the NSW National Parks Service (NPWS). The remaining 88% is privately owned freehold land which supports an extensive agricultural industry. Much of the land has been held in families for several generations and the property owners have an extraordinary knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Marshes.
The Macquarie Marshes is unique both environmentally and economically. Research indicates it is the most important colonial nesting waterbird breeding site in Australia for species diversity and nesting density. The majority of the breeding colonies are situated on privately owned land where landholders have looked after and protected them since settlement. The Marshes also support an extensive cattle grazing industry which is its main economic focus. Sustainable grazing is encouraged by the Macquarie Marshes Environmental Landholders Association (MMELA) and the majority of landholders are acutely aware of the environmental needs of the wetland and undertake appropriate management practices.
