Winton Wetlands temporary closure sparks concern pest numbers could ‘explode’

An ecologist is sounding the alarm on thetemporary closure of Victoria’s world-class Winton Wetlands, warning the decision could lead to decades of research going down the drain and that the site could be overrun by feral species.

The wetlands, about 20 kilometres from the town of Benalla in the state’s north-east, span 9,000 hectares and are home to hundreds of species of birds, plants and reptiles. 

Last week, a committee managing the nationally significant site announced in a statement that despite support from the state government and its partners, it was unable to establish a sustainable business model for the wetlands. 

“After a brief transition period, land management responsibilities will revert to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

“DEECA has indicated that it will explore alternative management options for the reserve in collaboration with traditional owners, other stakeholders and the community.”

The decision has led to the closure of the Mokoan Hub and Cafe at the wetlands and the pausing of environmental and research programs.

Ecologist Dylan McWhinney, who lives in the area, told ABC Statewide Mornings that the decision had left him devastated and angry on behalf of the staff at the site.

“Twelve months ago, the committee of management and DEECA came out and told locals and stakeholders that they had an exciting announcement about the future management of the site,” Mr McWhinney said.

“There was a tender process that went out for that land management and then we’ve never heard a word since.

“There have been rumours of tenders being awarded to different land management but this recent statement suggests that tender process was absolutely bungled and now the site is left without any committed funding or active management.”

Environmental programs could go

Mr McWhinney, who formerly worked on the site as a ranger over a decade ago, said the area was incredibly important as wetlands declined across the state. 

The site was touted as the largest wetland restoration project in the Southern Hemisphere, he said. 

The decision was a risk to threatened species such as white-bellied sea eagles, brolgas, Australasian bitterns and grass frogs, as well as programs to re-wild other species, he said. 

“So much work in the last 20 years has gone into the site by the staff there, particularly in terms of managing declared pests and weeds,” Mr McWhinney said. 

“So there has been routine and regular fox baiting and shooting, [and] weed control, and without that continuation, all these threatened species, all these breeding and reintroduction programs, will just go down the gurgler.”

Concern for pests 

Mr McWhinney said he was also concerned that an uncertain future and management could lead to an explosion of pests in the area. 

“This area, this site has really the potential to become the source population for and just explode in terms of fox numbers and weeds that could leave the site and impact not just the ecology in the site but the adjacent land use as well,” he said.

“I would hope that the site can be funded and actively managed.

“I’m concerned in the short term that DEECA won’t be able to manage it because if they had the funding to manage it they would just fund the committee of management to manage it. 

“That’s really concerning.”

Winton Wetlands CEO Dennis O’Brien told ABC Shepparton Breakfast that the decision affected about 20 staff. 

Mr O’Brien said since the development of the wetlands, it had been managed by a number of committees combining government and the private sector. 

There was an expectation that the site would become financially self-sustaining, which did not eventuate, he said. 

Mr O’Brien said the main thing following the announcement was not to let “any of the great work go backwards”. 

In a statement, DEECA’s Hume regional director Courtney Bertram said the wetlands were an “environmentally significant site that delivers a range of benefits to local communities”.

“DEECA is working on arrangements for the future management of the reserve following a decision of the current committee of management to relinquish the site.”