22.2.18

The Urunga Boardwalk Environment



Urunga is on the mid-north coast of NSW. The 'long place' of the Gumbaynggirr people is where the Kalang River, the Bellinger River, the Urunga lagoon and the Pacific ocean meet. A junction of mangrove forest, floodplain forests and coastal suburbia. The Urunga Boardwalk structure allows human access through these environments. A domesticated coast line that served to ship the extracted timber. Today rapid urbanisation and mobile sprawl (tourism) are the life blood.

The area is part of the Bellinger Heads State Park NSW. To the South, Picket Hill (Nunguu Miirlal) is a very distinctive landmark, the Great Dividing Range frames the North.



The walk starts at Urunga town where visitor facilities, their cars and dogs mingle with endangered birds.  Brahminy Kites are hunting and the endangered Beach Stone Curlews ( Esacus magnirostris) and Curlew sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) make a nervous appearance.



The narrow wooden structure of the boardwalk is crowded with a procession of recreational anglers and their plastic gear. Pet lovers are encouraged to bring their dogs into this shorebird habitat. Even when the walk is not congested, various birds flee at the sight of even a quiet human presence. One is aware of the impact.

 
The mangrove ground is alive with marine life. The estuary stingray (Dasyatis fluviorum) inhabits shallow, mangrove-lined tidal rivers and estuaries. The endemic and "once-abundant estuary stingray has declined substantially across its range." (source) Living in shallow tidal and mangrove habitats, they are often killed by recreational anglers and shellfish farmers. Sometimes they are just mutilated. Habitat degradation and loss due to foreshore development are just a few of the anthropogenic impacts.



Links: 

Destined to decline? Intrinsic susceptibility of the threatened estuary stingray to anthropogenic impacts, CSIRO

National Parks warn of growing threats to endangered shorebirds on NSW North Coast, abc 27.10.2016

'Fantasy documents': recovery plans failing Australia's endangered species, Guardian 20.02.2018

Threatened Species, NSW gov au

Dasyatis and extinction risks, IUCN, pdf

Updates:

Dredging Urunga lagoon in times of sea level rise. Marine life (pdf) will be delighted by fossil fuel dredging. 'A win for a swim - finally', Bellingen Courier, 27.02.2018

Images:
Photos, Urunga public mural