Human effects Towra Point Nature Reserve

looking west air on towra point

humans can maximise area of healthy, functioning intertidal wetlands minimising impacts , developing management strategies protect, , possible rehabilitate these ecosystems @ risk.

the following positive ways of trying protect or rehabilitate intertidal wetlands.

exclusion – responsible management of wetland areas facilitate public access small, designated area while restricting access other areas. provision of defined boardwalks , walkways management strategy used restrict access vulnerable areas, issuing of permits whilst visiting towra point nature reserve.
education – in past, wetlands regarded waste-lands. education campaigns have helped change public perceptions , foster public support wetlands. due location in water catchment area, education programs need teach total catchment management programs. educational programs include guided tours general public, school visits, media liaison, information centres, conference presentations, interpretive signage, publications , facts sheets. staff should include education officers.
action – little known intertidal wetland system reinstate natural conditions. management plans focus on rehabilitation of site , removal of human-induced stresses. example, fox , rabbit baiting, removal of weeds (at weedy pond).
design – design interventions have proved successful in minimising sources of natural stress. @ towra point beach, example, there sandbag wall prevent salt water leaking fresh-water towra lagoon.
legislation – legislation , regulations used protect towra point wetlands. conventions australia has signed in regard towra point wetlands ramsar convention, japan australia migratory bird agreement , china australia migratory bird agreement (camba). legislation australia , new south wales has passed in regard towra point wetlands australian wetlands policy, new south wales wetlands management policy (1996) , state , environmental planning policy 14 on coastal wetlands.

negative effects

changed wind patterns – due high-rise near wetland areas e.g. bicentennial park south, @ rockdale.
alteration of water flows – through construction of roads.
removal of resources urban , industrial land uses – these increase turbidity , toxins in water supplied mangroves. (the removal can result in changed energy flows , nutrient cycles, affecting food chains both sedentary , migratory fauna)
replacement of wetland areas – parks, playing fields or pasture.
destruction of sea grasses – in areas adjoining wetlands can affect energy flows , nutrient cycles species levels affected.
introduction of exotic species – e.g. foxes, rabbits, sheep, cattle, pigs. – change energy flows , nutrient cycles. birds particularly affected, example little tern.
indirect influences adjacent sites – e.g. weed infestation (lantana – towra point) – carried wetlands horses nearby stables.
trampling – illegal access
threat of oil spills – kurnell refinery near towra point, 31 oil spills between 1957 , 1987 averaging 49,000 litres (11,000 imp gal; 13,000 us gal).
recreational horse-riding – on reserve , unsupervised recreational use of reserve (e.g. dog walking)
boating – disturbs wildlife in park, , creates pollution.
fishing – kills fish, affects food chains operating within reserve.
erosion of towra beach – due wave refraction sydney airport runway causes freshwater towra point lagoon become saline
fragmentation of reserve – private land ownership
bay development – in general, including sydney airport runway , oil refinery. there have been concerns sydney desalination plant impact negatively on reserve.
illegal rubbish dumping – has occurred both in reserve , near entrance. in late 2004, large amount of dumped asbestos discovered.
land destabilisation – due extensive mining of larger dunes on towra point during twenieth century has been suggested if site ravaged strong enough storms breaks in point occur , breach gentle lagoons of towra point.
runoff – due of surrounding land being used urban , industrial purposes. stormwater kurnell refinery runs through ramsar-listed area of towra point nature reserve.
subsidence – near walkway, subsidence has been recorded, has encouraged establishment of mangroves in upper swamp.




^ cite error: named reference autogenerated1 invoked never defined (see page).
^ towra point nature reserve (pdf). information sheet on ramsar wetlands (pdf). ramsar. april 2012. retrieved 2 october 2014. 
^ water management report: appendix e: water , wastewater management (pdf). environmental impact statement (pdf). caltex australia. 3 may 2013. retrieved 2 october 2014. 
^ hickey, deanne; bruce, eleanor (january 2010). examining tidal inundation , salt marsh vegetation distribution patterns using spatial analysis (botany bay, australia) . journal of coastal research. 261: 94–102. doi:10.2112/08-1089.1.