Barker Inlet Wetlands: Adelaide Coast Region of South Australia

It's an oasis and it's located within ear shot of what's called the Connector Road at Wingfield. Up to forty thousand vehicles use it but it doesn't seem to worry the avocets which trawl the bottom for a good feed.

Up until 1995 this was a cesspool but now the trash racks start a cleaning process - trapping plastic sheeting, cartons…you name it, in runoff from a suburban catchment area that extends all the way to Collinswood and North Adelaide. Wetlands Ranger, Andrew Cowley explains:

“This is it. This is what most people want to see - beautiful clean water coming out the other side of the wetlands. Unfortunately when it flows through these drains this is generally how it looks - full of sediments, full of organic matter. All sorts of nasties.”

Before the Barker Inlet Wetlands were constructed a concrete drain used to take stormwater from Gepps Cross and dump it straight into the Port River mangroves.

“What we're trying to do here now is actually keeping the water here longer. So now it meanders around the base of the hill, down passed the islands there where you can see the pelicans sitting. Then it snakes its way around the base of the hill on the other side, down around passed the Weather Station and back to the road, out through the culvert and out the other side.”

Water is trapped for ten days in a wetland where the reeds, paperbarks, sheoaks and gums have all been specially planted. Pollutants fall to the bottom and soon sunlight can penetrate the gloom killing off pathogens and any other nasties. All of which makes for a frog friendly environment. As an environmental indicator they are number one. On one of Andrew Cowley's sunset tours you're likely to encounter plenty.

The spotted marsh frogs are back in large numbers in a wetland bounded by salt mounds, power stations and industrial parks. But despite all that, Mr Percival and his mates will persevere in this environment if we clean it up.

“The red necked avocet - It's beak actually curves up. He's dipping sideways. He gets his head down in the mud and you just won't see what he's feeding on.”

From avocets to swans and sharp-tailed sandpipers from Siberia and Alaska - more than one hundred and twenty species have been identified in this wetland where fresh and saltwater meet.

“This rather innocuous little drain is absolutely vital to the success of this entire wetlands system. In low tide the water level in these mud flats falls away and is ultimately replaced by fresh water from the city side which has been purified and cleaned in the masses of reeds which you see all around here.”

It's fresh water that ultimately makes it's way into the nearby mangroves - a major breeding ground for King George Whiting and a haven for dolphins. To get a better understanding of how wetlands work and why we desperately need them join one of Andrew's Barker Inlet Wetland tours. You can book on 8405 6560. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards.sa.com.au