Belmont
In 2005, the Department of Lands declared Belmont Wetlands as NSW’s 10th State Park. Lands’ Public Reserves Management Fund supplied initial seed funding for the community based trust, as caretakers of the park, to undertake revegetation. In addition, Lands has provided $250,000 for the trust to prepare of a draft plan of management to address immediate on-ground management needs.
Some benefits of the project:
- Environmental rehabilitation of degradation caused by sand mining
- Environmental rehabilitation following 4WD and trail bike use
- Protection of the park from illegal dumping, arson and other antisocial activities
- An extensive weed and feral animal control program to help protect biodiversity and sensitive habitats
- Protection and rehabilitation from soil erosion
- Continual bush fire mitigation works to protect wildlife and surrounding communities
- Extensive revegetation and dune stabilisation works utilising Green Corps volunteers
- Protection of important cultural heritage sites for future generations
- Enhancement of the environmental and recreation values of the reserve
- Engagement of community members in the long-term care of the park
- Achievement of better outcomes for native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways as per the NSW State Plan.
Belmont Wetlands State Park comprises seven coastal wetlands, some of which drain into Lake Macquarie. It is the largest single open water wetland in Lake Macquarie and is fed by an extensive wetland system from the north and north east.
Belmont Wetlands also has sites of value to our cultural heritage, with evidence of Aboriginal occupation and early European settlement.
