Porter Novelli Adelaide

Six months after receiving a much-needed drink, the Banrock Station wetland is again alive with a variety of wildlife, new plant growth and revived red gums, boosting the overall health of the vital River Murray system.

Potentially irreversible damage to the Ramsar-listed wetland has been prevented by its reconnection to the River Murray system in June this year, while scientists have gained a wealth of important knowledge about wetland management from observing the changes taking place.

Banrock Station manager Tony Sharley said the wetland had been under critical stress due a prolonged dry period, with 10% of red gums in the complex dying and another 30% severely stressed.

“Had the wetland not received the water when it did, up to 70% of the red gums would have been lost,” Mr Sharley said. “Most of them are now responding positively to their first drink in a long time.

“Banrock Station voluntarily disconnected the wetland from the River Murray system in January 2007 to conserve water and simulate a natural drying out period, saving more than 1600 ML of water from evaporation losses over 18 months.

“In winter last year, via an allocation of environmental water from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, the wetland was partially refilled to prevent irreversible damage and to fulfil Australia’s obligations under the international Ramsar Convention.”

Mr Sharley said the refill had been crucial in preventing large numbers of red gum deaths,  and had helped to revive a critical ecosystem.

“The response from animal life has been spectacular, with an instant increase in bird numbers and species, including the rare musk duck which has bred in the wetland,” he said.

“We’ve also had three species of turtle return, including the rare broad-shelled turtle, and several species of frog, including the endangered Southern Bell frog. Within 12 weeks of the refill commencing we began to see the first ducklings and cygnets.”

Mr Sharley said scientists from the CSIRO and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) had learned a great deal from observations of the wetland during the refill.

“SARDI Aquatic Sciences researchers conducting a European carp trial kept 5000 specimens of the exotic pest species – many of them breeding females – from invading the wetland,” he said.

Mr Sharley said an important finding from the drying out and refill process was that 18 months of disconnection from the river system was “just about the limit” for the wetland before it began to exhibit permanent damage.

“The dry period from January 2007 to June 2008 was the first time the wetland had been fully dry since the construction of the River Murray locks in the 1920s,” he said. “We have learned a great deal about wetland management from this process, and this knowledge will assist managers of other wetlands on the Murray-Darling system.”

Banrock Station was established 14 years ago on the philosophy of good earth, fine wine. This is a philosophy that carries through from the vineyard to winemaking, to packaging, to our Wine & Wetland Centre, the wetland area and through to the global conservation projects we have supported in this time, with more than $5m from sales proceeds contributed.

The Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre is the heart of Banrock Station wines in South Australia’s Riverland region, incorporating internationally accredited wetlands, vineyards, the Banrock Station cellar door – with a range of cellar door only wines available – as well as our restaurant, focusing on regional produce by chef Peter Kent.