Memorial lecture on 'Conserving the Coorong'

Sep 17, 2004

This year's University of Wollongong 2004 Allan Sefton Memorial Lecture is entitled 'Conserving the Coorong' and will be given by Associate Professor David Paton from the University of Adelaide, in the UniCentre Function Rooms 1&2 on Tuesday September 21 at 6.30pm.

This annual lecture is held in recognition of Dr Allan Sefton's contributions to the conservation of the environment in the Illawarra.

The Coorong is a long, narrow and shallow body of water that stretches from the mouth of the Murray River, 110km to the south-east along the South Australian coastline. Up to 5km wide and barely 3m deep, the Coorong and lower lakes of the Murray River were listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance in the 1980s because of the large number of waterbirds and migratory waders that used the area, particularly during summer.

The wetlands of the Coorong provide a diversity of food resources for waterbirds and waders, however, their numbers have declined in recent years.

Professor Paton will explore the reason for these declines, which are correlated with reduced flows along the Murray River that allow coarse marine sands to enter the mouth, restricting both the mouth and associated channels in the northern Coorong.

He will also speak about the results of this restriction, which involve the area of mudflats being affected, reducing the amount of habitat and food availability for wading birds.

The lecture will review the scientific research and community efforts aimed at understanding and conserving the Coorong and its water birds. A range of issues will be described including the outcomes of modelling changes in environmental flows and their impacts.

There will also be light refreshments and a poster display before the start of the lecture. All are welcome to attend.

For further information (and to RSVP) contact Sandra Quin: 4221 4134.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128