Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve - Statement of Management Intent
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Statement of
Management Intent
Mother of Ducks Lagoon
Nature Reserve
1. Introduction
This statement outlines the main values, issues, management directions and priorities of the
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for managing Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature
Reserve. This statement, together with relevant NPWS policies, will guide the management of
the reserve until a plan of management has been prepared in accordance with the National
Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act). The NPWS Managing Parks Prior to Plan of
Management Policy states that parks and reserves without a plan of management are to be
managed in a manner consistent with the intent of the NPW Act and the ‘precautionary
principle’ (see Principle 15).
2. Management principles
Nature reserves are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas containing
outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural
phenomena. Under the NPW Act (section 30J), nature reserves are managed to:
• conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, and protect geological and
geomorphological features and natural phenomena
• conserve places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value
• promote public appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the reserve’s natural and
cultural values
• provide for appropriate research and monitoring.
The primary purpose of nature reserves is to conserve nature. Nature reserves differ from
national parks in that they do not have the provision of visitor use as a management purpose or
principle.
3. Context
Reservation details: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve was reserved in 1973, with
further additions made to the reserve in 2005, 2010 and 2011.
Size: 194 hectares.
Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve is located 38 kilometres north of Armidale and adjoins
the township of Guyra on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. It is located in the New
England Tablelands Bioregion and within the administrative areas of Guyra Local Aboriginal
Land Council, Northern Tablelands Local Land Services and Guyra Shire Council.
Page 1 Statement of Management Intent: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature ReserveLocated in the flat upper valley of Laura Creek and bounded by the Great Dividing Range to the
east and south, water draining from the lagoon flows into the Gwydir River, 53 kilometres to the
west and then onto the Murray–Darling system. The lagoon is one of 57 natural temporary
freshwater wetlands on the New England Tablelands, and one of only three within NPWS
estate. The lagoon has a small catchment and is referred to as a watershed wetland. Although
once considered permanent water, the lagoon is ephemeral and subject to an irregular cycle of
drying and wetting.
These wetlands support a variety of native plant species for both wet and dry conditions and
have generally low numbers of introduced plant species. Waterbird habitat within the reserve is
dominated by areas of grassy meadow and swamps that are intermittently inundated by shallow
water, with small areas of more permanent, deeper open water. Over 87 species of water and
terrestrial birds have been observed in and around the reserve. Birdwatching is the main
attraction for visitors to this reserve.
4. Values
• Uniquely amongst the New England Tableland lagoons, the bed of Mother of Ducks
Lagoon has a relatively deep (300 to 500 mm) formation of peaty soils supporting an
extremely dense and varied assemblage of native aquatic plant species.
Page 2 Statement of Management Intent: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve• The wetlands of this reserve are consistent with the Upland Wetlands of the Drainage
Divide of the New England Tableland Bioregion (Upland Wetlands), an endangered
ecological community listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
(TSC Act). The wetlands are also considered likely to conform to the definition of the
Upland Wetlands of the New England Tablelands and the Monaro Plateau endangered
ecological community listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
• The reserve provides habitat for two threatened plant species: bluegrass (Dichanthium
setosum) and the small snake orchid (Diuris pedunculata), which are listed as
vulnerable and endangered, respectively, under both the TSC and EPBC Acts.
• The reserve provides a wide variety of habitats for both water and terrestrial birds, as
well as for amphibians, reptiles and some mammals. Fifteen of the bird species are
listed as vulnerable or endangered under the TSC Act. Among these, the Australian
painted snipe (Rostratula australis) is also of national concern and listed under the
EPBC Act. Eight species recorded for this reserve are also identified under a range of
international agreements on migratory birds.
• The Booroolong frog (Litoria booroolongensis), listed as endangered under both the
TSC Act and EPBC Act, also resides within the reserve.
• As an area of unusual hydrological and biotic interest and the site of significant resident,
endemic/nomadic and international migratory bird populations, the reserve offers
considerable potential for future research and educational opportunities.
• There are no known Aboriginal sites within the reserve, although there are a number of
recorded sites in the vicinity.
• The lagoons and surrounding lands have been subject to a history of cattle grazing,
recreation and changes to the hydrology of the lagoon. Grazing rights were revoked in
1978, and in 1987 a levee bank was constructed with the aim of restoring the water
body to a more natural state. No historic heritage sites have been identified in the
reserve.
• Visitor use of the reserve is variable and often dependant on the abundance of bird life
using the lagoon at the time. Visitor facilities within the reserve consist of a bird
observation platform located over the lagoon and associated interpretive signage.
• Council facilities adjacent to and associated with the reserve include a picnic shelter,
picnic tables, a walking track to the bird observation platform including footbridges over
wetter areas, an information structure and a carpark. Walking access is limited to the
track between the carpark and the platform, and current visitation is centred on
birdwatching. No camping or fires are permitted. There is no public vehicle access to the
reserve.
5. Issues
• The greatest threat to these wetlands is the alteration of their natural water regime. The
lagoon’s water regime has been highly modified by past uses and the levee bank. In its
current state the reserve provides two unique variants on the Upland Wetlands
endangered ecological communities, with both intermittent and ephemeral ecosystems
being able to occur at the same time. It is for this reason that maintenance of the levee
bank and the water regime are important and will be continued in conjunction with Guyra
Shire Council and Guyra Golf Club.
• Wetlands such as Mother of Ducks Lagoon were cleared, and in some cases drained,
by the early settlers to improve grazing potential. As a result, there is little, if any of the
Page 3 Statement of Management Intent: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserveoriginal natural timber left growing in or around the reserve. Grazing by domestic stock,
and pest and weed intrusions are also threats to this community.
• Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have colonised the levee
bank. Foxes prey heavily on birds within the reserve, and in drier times may access the
centre of the levied lagoon and impact upon ground-dwelling birds at peak nesting
times. Both these species are listed as key threatening processes under the TSC Act
and the fox is subject to a threat abatement plan. It is expected, due to the proximity of
Guyra, that cats may also occur within or frequent the reserve.
• Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are present within the lagoon, and at high densities may
compete with waterbirds for invertebrate food resources. The plague minnow or
mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) is also present and is listed as a key threatening
process under the TSC Act.
• Five weed species have been identified as a priority for control in the reserve: Bathurst
burr (Xanthium spinosum), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), nodding thistle (Carduus
nutans), Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale) and St John’s wort (Hypericum
perforatum). Isolated occurrences of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and willow
(Salix spp.) are also present in the reserve.
6. Key management directions
• Fire is managed in accordance with the Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve Fire
Management Strategy.
• Pest management programs will be implemented in accordance with the NPWS
Regional Pest Management Strategy: Northern Tablelands Region.
• Further draining or damming of the endangered ecological community will be prevented.
• Stock intrusions into the reserve will continue to be controlled in cooperation with
neighbours. Subject to available resourcing, assistance may be provided to neighbours
to install stock-proof park boundary fencing in accordance with the NPWS Boundary
Fencing Policy.
• All management activities will be preceded by the preparation of an environmental
assessment or heritage assessment where this is a requirement of NPWS policy or
legislation.
• Environmental repair and threat management programs, such as erosion mitigation
measures, pest management, and activities arising from threatened species
requirements may be implemented in accordance with NPWS policies and procedures.
• Non-intrusive works may be undertaken where necessary to protect cultural heritage
items from further deterioration, to ensure the safety of visitors and wildlife or to prevent
damage to park assets.
• A plan of management will be prepared to set out the ongoing management objectives
for the reserve. The plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act
which will be available for public comment. NPWS will also encourage the community to
contribute to the ongoing conservation of the reserve by promoting and raising public
awareness of its special values.
For additional information or enquiries about any aspect of this reserve or this statement,
contact the NPWS Walcha Area Office on (02) 6777 4700 or 188W North Street, Walcha, NSW
2354.
Page 4 Statement of Management Intent: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature ReserveDisclaimer: This is a statement of intent to Published by: guide the management of the reserve prior to the development of a plan of Office of Environment and Heritage management. Any statements made in this 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 publication are made in good faith and do PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232 not render the Office of Environment and Phone: (02) 9995 5000 Heritage liable for any loss or damage. Provisions in the final plan of management ISBN 978 1 74359 689 0 may vary from those identified in this OEH 2013/0472 document as a result of new information and June 2014 community consultation. The maps in this statement are intended to show the reserve’s location and basic features only, and are not suitable for use when navigating to or exploring within parks. Page 5 Statement of Management Intent: Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve
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