Second Creek Wetland Clean Up
Second Creek Wetland Clean Up
Grant Funding offered: $339,550 (ex GST)
Funding Body: South Australian Government’s Algal Bloom Response: Local Government Grant Fund
Location: Second Creek Wetland - Trinity Haven Road
Project Background
The Tumby Bay Wetland is a nationally significant coastal wetland system covering approximately 100 hectares, located on Crown land under the care and control of the District Council of Tumby Bay. The wetland comprises interconnected mangrove, saltmarsh, and seagrass habitats and supports a diversity of marine and avian species. It provides important breeding, foraging, and refuge habitat, including for numerous marine species and migratory and threatened bird species such as the Eastern Curlew and Fairy Tern.
The wetland’s ecological function is underpinned by a network of tidal creeks, with First Creek and Second Creek forming integral components of the system’s hydrology. These creeks facilitate tidal exchange, nutrient cycling, and sediment movement, and play a key role in regulating the quality of water in adjacent coastal environments.
Mapping and site inspections undertaken with the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board identified areas of historical dumping within the Second Creek corridor, including:
- a concentrated historical dump footprint of approximately 0.63 hectares; and
- a broader search and hand collection area of approximately 4.0 hectares where scattered debris is present.
Historical illegal dumping has predominantly consisted of inert waste such as construction rubble, metal, with plastic piping and netting also identified for priority removal due to the risk of plastic fragmentation over time.
Project Information
Subject to the funding agreement and any required approvals, works are expected to include:
- removal of historical dumped waste (including rubble, construction debris, plastic piping and netting);
- on-ground sorting (where possible) and staged removal of materials;
- transport and disposal of waste at licensed facilities in accordance with EPA requirements;
- Work largely confined to existing tracks and previously disturbed areas within the main dumping footprint;
- Post removal stabilisation (including track ripping where required) to support natural vegetation regeneration; and
photographic and basic spatial records for reporting and ongoing monitoring.
Timing
Following execution of the funding agreement with the South Australian State Government and completion of any required approvals, works are anticipated to be completed by late 2026, with timing of works completion influenced by relevant approvals, weather, and site access.
Strategic Alignment
The Second Creek Wetland Clean-Up demonstrates strong alignment with the objectives of the Algal Bloom Local Government Grant Fund and with State, regional, and local environmental and strategic frameworks.
The initiative addresses risk through a preventative, land based intervention that strengthens wetland function and coastal ecosystem resilience.
Alignment with Algal Bloom Response Local Government Grant Fund objectives
This project directly addresses the Fund’s objectives by:
- Improving coastal and estuarine environmental conditions at a site hydrologically connected to Spencer Gulf, within a region that has experienced algal bloom events.
- Removing accumulated debris and pollutants, including metal, plastic, concrete, and farm related waste, that currently impede wetland function and contribute to long-term ecological degradation.
- Supporting improved habitat quality and ecosystem resilience within a tidally influenced wetland system that plays a role in regulating water quality prior to discharge to coastal waters.
- Delivering a one-off, high impact clean-up intervention that reduces environmental stressors known to influence algal bloom dynamics, including the physical trapping of nutrients and organic material within dumped waste.
- Reducing future environmental risk through preventative site management measures, including fencing and signage to deter further dumping and ensure the longevity of project outcomes.
Project Updates
Council will provide further updates once the funding agreement has been executed and project planning and scheduling progresses.
Project Documents