This year’s World Environment Day theme is #BeatPlasticPollution. The initiative coincided with World Environment Day which is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages worldwide protection of the environment. LAUNCH TIME: Anchored in the middle of the fish pond at the Marrambidya Wetlands, the reed bed will soon be a safe refuge for native aquatic animals. “However, while they are very young, the seedlings need to be protected from a range of birds that will eat them before they have time to mature, so they will be covered for the time being.” Ms Reid said. “It also helps to improve water quality as the plants act as a kind of water filter. This kind of artificial island provides a place where those problems don’t exist and allows the birds to feel safe. “The native wildlife is under a lot of pressure from feral species, like foxes and cats, as well as unrestrained domestic animals. Wagga Wagga City Council Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid spoke of the benefits reed beds have in local ponds and lagoons to help support the environment. Once established, the plants will provide leaf matter above the bed to support native birds, and roots growing below into the water will become an important habitat for fish and other micro-aquatic critters.įUTURE REFUGE: The reed bed, which was launched at the Marrambidya Wetlands on Monday, will soon be a refuge for native aquatic animals. To highlight World Environment Day, celebrated annually on 5 June, Wagga Wagga City Council worked with students and staff from Mount Austin High School on Monday to create and launch an artificial reed bed which will act as refuge for native wildlife at the Marrambidya Wetland.Ī reed bed is a buoyant framework that is anchored in one of the larger ponds in which native aquatic plant seedlings are planted.

Large plastic pond