Residents of NSW’s North Coast know better than most the importance of healthy coastal wetlands and rivers. They’ve seen what happens when they’re destroyed, from water as acidic as lemon juice, to mass fish kills along riverbanks and beaches. 

That’s why in September, NCC’s coastal wetlands team travelled to the region to see these waterways and learn from communities in person. 

Over a week, we visited over a dozen sites alongside local wetland legends, ranging from Traditional Owners and fishers to bush regenerators and environmental scientists.  

We saw first-hand the impacts of waterway mismanagement, including lagoons poisoned by pesticide runoff, rivers acidified by floodplain drainage infrastructure, and struggling ecosystems where First Nations people have been denied access to care for Country.  

But, everywhere we looked, communities were selflessly working to help their local wetlands. We visited saltmarsh and mangrove restoration projects, riparian corridors freed from suffocating weeds by Traditional Owners, artists changing public perceptions of wetlands, and even a flourishing rehabilitated wetland in what was previously the most heavy metal-contaminated site in NSW.

Forming these valuable connections during our trip has further energized us in pursuing our goal to build a powerful grassroots movement for coastal wetlands in NSW. We have a huge task ahead of us, but we’re confident we can make a difference with your support. 

Grassroots environmentalists have the local knowledge and the commitment to seeing nature in their communities thrive. And we have the connections to decision-makers to be able to secure positive and lasting change within government policy and legislation. When we come together, we have what it takes to win. Trips like these are the foundational work needed for mobilising grassroots campaigns into a powerful political force. And it is a core part of the way NCC creates positive change for nature. Real power comes when communities are empowered to advocate for their patch within the halls of government. Our strongest campaigns are those with a range of voices all advocating for the same thing. This is the beginning of NCC forming a united front, fighting for our wetlands where the decisions are made.

Wetlands are critical habitat for countless species, they protect communities from extreme weather, and they are the world's foremost carbon sink. With your help we can secure the political and policy change needed so wetlands can be restored across the state and play their vital role for ecological and community health.

Stay tuned to our social media pages as we share some of the many coastal wetland community stories we recorded in the North Coast over the coming months.