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
The sparrows are delighted by the puddles that form on the new tiles. A toddler was seen quenching his thirst on one of the many dog drinking bowls. No birdbaths were spotted anywhere for wildlife. The generous deposited dog faeces go a long way on the smooth terrazzo flooring. Pedestrians navigate commercial furniture, speeding skateboards on the private public partnerships (PPP) 'footpath' and hope they can run fast enough to cross the zebra crossings...
