A celebration of the turtle island which was launched at Springfield a month ago was held on Sunday, November 10, at the wetland.
About 100 people enjoyed a free sausage sandwich and caught up with neighbours at the event, which was organised by Springfield Residents Association as part of the NSW Government Community Building Partnership grant, which also funded the island.
Mayor Lawrie McKinna and Dr Ricky Spencer from University of Western Sydney and the 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program talked about the significance of the turtle island project.
It is a world-first citizen science project and the first of its kind for the Central Coast.
Spencer said the Springfield Wetland could support 100-200 turtles as residents learnt more about the local turtles and how to protect them.
Spokesperson Glenys Ray said residents were excited to learn more about the eastern long neck and Murray River short neck turtles that live in the wetland.
“I had no idea so many people were enthusiastic about turtles and wanting to be involved in their protection and future,” she said.
“It is incredibly encouraging to have so much passion shared with other locals.
“The island concept is designed to provide a safe nesting place for turtles away from foxes which roam the wetland.”
Ray said the future of turtles hangs in the balance, with 95 per cent of turtle eggs in NSW destroyed by foxes and eggs further threatened by road kill and wetland destruction.
She said that until the wetland was cleared of its devastating weed infestation she had no idea turtles were inhabiting it and it was a surprise to the community when they appeared.
“It is hard to protect something if you don’t even know it’s there,” she said.
Spencer swam out to the island and estimated at least three or four turtles had used the nesting box already.
The nesting box in the centre of the wetland can accommodate about 20 lots of eggs.
Georgina and Greg Shaw, Peter Ray and Irma Smith were among residents who attended
Spencer also explained that plants which had been put in vegetation pods on the side of the island hadn’t died but had been scavenged by the waterbirds.
His underwater footage under the pods showed that native vegetation is taking hold and is already putting down root systems which will provide habitat for the hatchlings as well as filter the water.
Spencer also put a motion sensitive camera on the island which sends an alert when there’s activity.
“The same night he installed the camera a turtle was recorded laying eggs around 8.15pm,” Ray said.
“Locals were surprised yet again, learning that the turtles also lay at night, and were thrilled to see the footage.”
Central Coast Council is set to install another information sign to explain the turtle island and to provide a QR code so observers can connect to TurtleSAT to record turtle sightings, nesting and other relevant information.
Data recorded will significantly improve the understanding of turtles in Australia and how to help with their conservation.
Ray said turtles were vital to ecosystems like this wetland as they are scavengers which clean up any decayed material, keeping the wetland as healthy as possible.
“Their future here at Springfield Wetland seems more positive than ever,” she said.