What do fish kills, acidic water, storm damage, erosion, and job losses all have in common? They are all results of destroyed coastal wetlands. Yet, in some parts of NSW, up to 90% of low-lying wetlands have been lost.

Drained wetlands less than 0.5 meters above sea level cause the worst acid and blackwater pollution in coastal rivers.

They are also becoming increasingly unsuitable for farming as extreme weather, flooding, and sea level rise all increase with climate change.

If we want to stop the fish kills, clean our waterways, absorb carbon, and provide habitat for endangered animals, we need to restore more wetlands.

We know what’s possible – from Hexham Swamp at Newcastle, to Yarrahapinni Wetlands near Kempsey, we’ve seen how beneficial these projects can be for communities.

But currently, state planning laws mean these projects must get through expensive and time-consuming red tape before going ahead – the same system developers use to build a block of flats.

If a landholder wants to restore wetlands on their property, it shouldn’t be impossible to get approval to do so.

Let’s make sure NSW does not get left behind as other states move forward with reforms that encourage wetland investment.