Updates

Critical Incident: Long Swamp Track Update from Crown Lands

9/7/2025

By the BFFRLM

For your safety, keep off the eroded track. 

Please avoid damaging the vegetation or forging new paths over the fragile dunes.

Crown Lands response in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure:

• Severe weather caused significant coastal erosion impacting the beachfront and the adjacent Long Swamp Walking Track.

• Pedestrian access is still available via the beach.

• Given the extent of erosion, and the location in a high-risk coastal erosion area adjacent to wetland, it may not be feasible to rebuild the walking track in its current location.

• Crown Lands can offer support and advice to Bega Valley Shire Council and the Bermagui Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager on their future considerations about the track.

• Any future repair works would be subject to confirmation of feasibility and funding availability.

Note for submissions: Please email the BFFRLM with any stories or photographs you might like to share with us about the importance or history of the Long Swamp Track. Thank you.

For more information or submissions contact 

Critical Incident: Long Swamp Track

7/7/2025

By the BFFRLM

For your safety, keep off the eroded track.

Recent weather events have had significant impact on the Long Swamp track, which has since been closed at both ends due to safety and conservation issues. Our role as the Bermagui Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager (BFFLRM) is to protect the flora and fauna of Long Swamp, and Bermagui North Lagoon. Both of these areas are Crown Land. 

BFFLRM and the Bega Valley Shire Council are both awaiting further instruction from Crown Lands regarding the rehabilitation of this area.

Long Swamp's unique substrate is rare along the east coast. Its water is fresh, not yet having had interchange with the sea. It is crucial to gather all information necessary to protect it. 

We understand the depth of community feeling around the value of this track. Due to the impact of increasingly intense weather events along the east coast, and the subsequent erosion, long-term sustainable options must be considered. 

For further inquiries contact 

Atlas of Life volunteer Deb Taylor, who has a passion for insect species, led the second group to the home of her favourite native bee, the masked banksia bee. These industrious little creatures hang out in a clump of wetland banksia trees but were absent on the day of the bioblitz.

Deb also pointed out habitat for the wetland creatures, including feathered mosquito fern; and water reeds loved by black swans.

Chair of the Atlas of Life, Raymond Daley, says the project is focused on citizen science and works to get people to connect with their natural environment and record what they see with

iNaturalist, an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information. Globally, iNaturalist has recorded 215 million observations to date and 492 thousand species, and in the Bega Valley, Raymond says there have been 125 thousand observations, covering around 6,000 different species - from fish, to marsupials, mushrooms and spiders.

Autumn

24/03/2024

By webmaster

As autumn arrives in the wetland, the Dusky Moorhen chicks are growing well, and the evenings are growing cooler.

Frogs seek out secluded shelter in which to hibernate during the colder months.

Visitors to the wetlands will notice signs regarding weed spraying in the area. Note that this is done as a last resort to control noxious weeds, and great care is taken to protect native flora and fauna.