Celebrating World Environment Day 2024
Published on 05 June 2024
Kiama Council is pleased to mark World Environment Day today (5 June), with news we’ve secured NSW Government funding for restoration work around the Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Facility.
While Council decommissioned the landfill site in 2008, the remaining facility still provides green waste and recycling services.
Weed management is part of the environmental conditions Council must meet to continue to operate and maintain the facility.
The $20,000 from the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants program, added to the $20,000 of Council money being invested, means we’ll be able to commence our weed control and bush restoration program.
The three-year program will help restore and protect surrounding coastal wetland, which includes, Swamp Oak Flood Plain Forest, Bangalay Sand Forest and Coastal Salt Marsh, all listed as Endangered Ecological Communities.
This will significantly reduce weeds around the site, Lantana, Asparagus fern and Madeira vine, all Weeds of National Significance.
The primary focus will be weeds to the south, adjacent the Minnamurra River. Later work will then tackle the eastern and northern edges of the site.
The weed management project will include assessing the risk to local flora and fauna as well as strict environmental safeguards and measures to minimise potential impacts.
The aim of the program is to reduce weed coverage over the three years to a level that can be easily managed on an ongoing basis.
The work will also benefit wetland areas downstream and the lower Minnamurra River estuary in general.
This includes the restoration work already being done by Minnamurra Landcare at Carson Place.
The Minnamurra River estuary is nationally significant due to its extensive mangrove habitats containing Endangered Ecological Communities.
The project will also benefit the estuary as a popular tourist and recreation destination. It marks the start of the iconic Kiama Coast Walk and is also a hotspot for kayakers and paddleboarders.
Photo: the old Minnamurra landfill site operating in 1995