Home / Programs / Fishable Cities / Styles Point, NSW 2023

850 native trees

planted

24kg of rubbish

removed

over 149 hours

volunteered

Lake Macquarie’s delicate saltmarsh communities have faced threats due to coastal development and land reclamation. This development has resulted in significant losses, impacting the fishery. In response, OzFish Unlimited’s Lake Macquarie Chapter set up the Styles Point Saltmarsh Restoration and Clean-Up Project, an impactful restoration effort and community-driven clean-up program to safeguard the critical ecosystem.

Restoring Vital Saltmarsh Communities

Collaborative efforts have restored the saltmarsh along the Styles Point foreshore. The partners of OzFish Lake Macquarie Chapter include Rathmines Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and the Lake Macquarie Volunteer Landcare Network. Together, they planted 850 native saltmarsh and endemic species in strategic locations. These encourage the natural expansion of existing pockets of saltmarsh.

The restoration enhances shoreline stability, improves water quality, and boosts productivity in aquatic food webs. Additionally, Lake Macquarie City Council played a vital role by removing exotic Buffalo grass dominating the site. They also repositioned in-situ fallen trees and branches to protect the project site from future erosion.

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Why We Need Saltmarsh

Saltmarshes are vital ecosystems for coastal environments. They are a natural buffer that protects shorelines from erosion and storm surges. Their dense root systems trap sediment and filter pollutants, improving water quality and fostering aquatic biodiversity.

Saltmarshes provide essential habitats for a wide range of wildlife, including birds, fish, and crustaceans, acting as nurseries for many species. Preserving saltmarshes is critical for coastal resilience and creating fish habitats.

 

Combating Marine Litter Pollution

Part two of the project focused on tackling marine litter pollution in Lake Macquarie. The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance, OzFish Lake Macquarie Chapter and community members collected over 24kg of rubbish at a community clean-up day, entering the rubbish data into the Australian Marine Debris Database. This initiative has empowered the local community to actively contribute to reducing rubbish entering the lake and fostering stewardship for this precious aquatic environment.

 

Empowering Partnerships for a Sustainable Future

The Styles Point Saltmarsh Restoration and Clean-Up project exemplifies the power of collaboration and community engagement. When like-minded organizations and volunteers come together to improve their environment, it is a testament to what can be achieved.

Through this project, the collective impact of native plantings and clean-up efforts will reverberate across Lake Macquarie, preserving this vital ecosystem for generations.

LATEST NEWS

AUGUST 23 | Lake Macquarie community explores saltmarsh restoration

AUGUST 23 | Lake Macquarie community explores saltmarsh restoration

Many people, rec fishers included, may not understand the importance of saltmarshes in marine ecosystems but OzFish Unlimited volunteers do and they’ve been doing their bit to ensure they restore it among the shores of Lake Macquarie. OzFish, Australia’s recreational fishing charity dedicated to restoring fish habitat, has joined forces with Landcare and Hunter Local Land Services to remove exotic Buffalo Grass and plant 850 native trees and shrubs across a small but essential area at Styles Point in Rathmines. The Lake Macquarie Chapter of OzFish, the Lake Macquarie Volunteer Landcare Network, the Rathmines Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and Lake Macquarie City Council combined for the project a

Find Out More

This project is made possible by funding support from the OzFish-Landcare NSW partnership, the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts, Hunter Local Land Services Small Community Grants Program, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.