Lippia (Phyla canescens) is a significant weed in the Gwydir wetlands. It spreads along the ground smothering native grasses, reducing both our native habitat and our natural pastures for cattle. Water couch and lippia tend to live in the same areas. What we have found is that the delivery of environmental water can benefit water couch, allowing it to dramatically out compete the lippia weed.

To the west of Moree the land gets flat, very flat. So flat that the Gwydir River disperses into several channels and flow paths, forming the Gwydir wetlands. These wetlands support some of the largest breeding colonies of waterbirds in Australia and include areas that are listed as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar convention).

Do you know that the Warrego River is a super-rich nursery for yellowbelly (Golden Perch)?

The Warrego river is having its best flow in ages.  The floodplain is connected to the channel and hundreds of hectares of habitat is being inundated.  We can’t get out there to have a look because we are in our homes helping to keep the community safe.  But we can guarantee the frogs are having a field day.

Flows have enabled the revival of ecosystems within the Lower Balonne with monitoring showing good responses in waterbird activities and others.