Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce Trial Wetland Restoration Project – North Esk

The Trial Wetland Restoration Project - North Esk is a key initiative under the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce’s (TEMT) implementation plan for the 10-year Vision for the Kanamaluka / Tamar estuary.

The project aims to restore the natural connection between tidal floodplains and the North Esk River channel, rehabilitate native habitats, and improve the health of the river system. Through these actions, it seeks to help manage sediment within the river and estuary, enhance water quality and expand aquatic habitat for native species.

The project site lies adjacent to the lower North Esk River between Henry Street and Hoblers Bridge in Launceston. This Crown Land area has been used for agriculture for several decades and has undergone significant modification since European settlement. Informal levee banks, drainage channels, and hardstand tracks now restrict natural flows between the river and its floodplain.

Much of the lower North Esk River and its floodplain form a rare environment known as a tidal freshwater zone. Here, tidal movement from the Kanamaluka / Tamar estuary pushes fresh water back up the river, creating water level variations up to 10 km upstream of the Tamar confluence and regularly inundating the floodplains with predominantly fresh water.

By restoring and improving the ecological functions of the wetland, the project will improve habitat for threatened species and test whether wetland rehabilitation and an increased tidal prism can help reduce sediment accumulation in the upper Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.

Initiated in 2024, key work to date has focused on comprehensive planning and the collection of baseline environmental data. Under the guidance of the Project Steering Committee, NRM North commissioned a wide range of surveys to understand the site’s natural values, including assessments of flora and fauna, water quality, topography, and tidal flow patterns.

Regular water monitoring and seasonal surveys have provided insight into the health of aquatic ecosystems and surrounding habitats. Early findings show good bird and bat diversity, while reptile and frog populations are relatively low, highlighting opportunities for ecological improvement. Additional field and desktop studies captured information on native and non-native species, topography and landforms, aquatic health, soil condition, and the site’s resilience to historical and current pressures, including climate change.

With a strong data foundation in place, the next phase focuses on detailed modelling and evaluation of restoration options, leading to a final design for the preferred wetland configuration. Meanwhile, essential groundwork such as invasive weed control and native seed collection for future revegetation has commenced.

Once designs and approvals processes are finalised on-ground restoration works will begin, followed by ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure the wetland’s ecological recovery and community benefits over time.