List of Ramsar sites in Australia

This is a list of wetlands in Australia that are designated by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance. Under the convention, the wetlands are considered as being of significant value not only for the Australian community, but for humanity as a whole.

Ramsar logo

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Australia on 21 December 1975 (1975-12-21). As of 28 February 2018, Australia has 66 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total area of 8,342,175 hectares (20,613,960 acres).[1][2][3]

Management of Ramsar wetlands in the Australian jurisdiction

The management of Ramsar sites listed within Australia is controlled at national level by the Australian government via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and its accompanying regulations, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.[4][5]

The act, as of 2015, lists the principles required for meeting treaty obligations in respect to "wetlands of international importance" including "environmental approvals" (i.e. sections 16-17B), the prerequisites for the making of both "declarations" and "bilateral agreements" (i.e. sections 34C and 37F, and 52 respectively), the approval process (i.e. section 138), "strategic assessments" (i.e. section 134J), and the management approach (i.e. sections 325 to 336 inclusive).[4]

The applicable regulation (i.e. regulation 10.02) lists three requirements as of 2015. Firstly, a set of general principles for management is described including the need for "public consultation," the involvement of parties with an interest and/or who may be affected by the management of wetland, as well as allowing for "continuing community and technical input." Secondly, the requirements for the management plan to be prepared for each listed wetland are described. Thirdly, the requirements for the "environmental impact assessment and approval" are described for parties wishing to undertake activities that are likely to have "a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland."[5][6]

Australian Capital Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Australian Capital Territory:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the Australian Capital Territory
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Ginini Flats Subalpine Bog ComplexNamadgi National Park35°31′S 148°46′E125 ha (309 acres)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)RS793

New South Wales

The following wetlands are located in New South Wales:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of New South Wales
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Blue LakeKosciuszko National Park36°24′S 148°19′E320 hectares (790 acres)17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)RS800
Caryapundy SwampNarriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park29°15′S 142°31′E70,176.2 hectares (173,409 acres)17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)RS2520
Fivebough and Tuckerbil SwampsRiverina34°30′S 146°23′E689 hectares (1,700 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1224
Gwydir WetlandsNorth West Slopes34°30′S 146°23′E823 hectares (2,030 acres)14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)RS993
Hunter Estuary WetlandsNewcastle32°52′S 151°43′E2,971 hectares (7,340 acres)21 February 1984 (1984-02-21)RS287
Little Llangothlin LagoonNorthern Tablelands30°05′S 151°47′E258 hectares (640 acres)17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)RS798
Lake PinarooSturt National Park, Far West29°06′S 141°13′E800 hectares (2,000 acres)17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)RS799
Macquarie MarshesNorth West Slopes30°45′S 147°44′E18,726 hectares (46,270 acres)1 August 1986 (1986-08-01)RS337
Myall LakesMid North Coast32°30′S 152°17′E44,612 hectares (110,240 acres)14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)RS994
Narran WetlandsNorth West Slopes29°43′S 147°26′E5,530 hectares (13,700 acres)14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)RS995
Central Murray ForestsRiverina35°39′S 144°39′E84,028 hectares (207,640 acres)20 May 2003 (2003-05-20)RS1291
Paroo River WetlandsFar West30°20′S 143°51′E138,304 hectares (341,760 acres)13 September 2007 (2007-09-13)RS1716
Towra Point Nature ReserveSutherland Shire, Sydney34°00′S 151°10′E386 hectares (950 acres)21 February 1984 (1984-02-21)RS286

Northern Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the Northern Territory
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Cobourg PeninsulaGarig Gunak Barlu National Park11°15′S 132°15′E220,700 hectares (545,000 acres)8 May 1974 (1974-05-08)RS1
Kakadu National Park (Stage 1)Alligator Rivers,
Kakadu National Park
12°40′S 132°45′E683,000 hectares (1,690,000 acres)12 June 1980 (1980-06-12)RS204
Kakadu National Park (Stage 2)12°30′S 132°30′E692,940 hectares (1,712,300 acres)15 September 1989 (1989-09-15)RS441

Queensland

The following wetlands are located in Queensland:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Queensland
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Bowling Green BayNorth Queensland19°27′S 147°15′E35,500 hectares (88,000 acres)22 October 1993 (1993-10-22)RS632
Currawinya LakesSouth West Queensland28°45′S 144°19′E151,300 hectares (374,000 acres)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)RS791
Great Sandy StraitWide Bay–Burnett25°28′S 152°54′E93,160 hectares (230,200 acres)14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)RS992
Moreton BaySouth East Queensland27°20′S 153°10′E113,314 hectares (280,000 acres)22 October 1993 (1993-10-22)RS631
Shoalwater and Corio BaysCentral Queensland22°40′S 150°17′E239,100 hectares (591,000 acres)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)RS792

South Australia

The following wetlands are located in South Australia:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of South Australia
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Banrock Station Wetland ComplexRiverland34°11′S 140°20′E1,375 hectares (3,400 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1221
Bool and Hacks LagoonsLimestone Coast37°08′S 140°41′E3,200 hectares (7,900 acres)1 November 1985 (1985-11-01)RS322
Coongie LakesLake Eyre Basin27°27′S 140°00′E1,980,000 hectares (4,900,000 acres)1 June 1987 (1987-06-01)RS376
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert WetlandLake Alexandrina35°56′S 139°18′E140,500 hectares (347,000 acres)1 November 1985 (1985-11-01)RS321
Piccaninnie Ponds Karst WetlandsLimestone Coast38°3′3″S 140°56′11″E862 hectares (2,130 acres)[7]21 December 2012 (2012-12-21)RS2136
Riverland Ramsar site[8][9]Riverland34°02′S 140°51′E30,600 hectares (76,000 acres)23 September 1987 (1987-09-23)RS377

Tasmania

The following wetlands are located in Tasmania:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Tasmania
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Apsley MarshesFreycinet Peninsula41°56′S 148°12′E880 hectares (2,200 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS255
Cape Barren Island, east coast lagoonsFurneaux Group40°22′S 148°23′E4,370 hectares (10,800 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS255
Interlaken Lakeside ReserveCentral Highlands42°09′S 147°10′E520 hectares (1,300 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS259
Jocks LagoonSt Helens41°21′S 148°18′E18 hectares (44 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS258
LaviniaKing Island39°45′S 144°05′E7,020 hectares (17,300 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS253
Little Waterhouse LakeNorth East40°52′S 147°37′E57 hectares (140 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS260
Logan LagoonFlinders Island,
Furneaux Group
40°10′S 148°17′E2,320 hectares (5,700 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS252
Lower Ringarooma RiverNorth East40°54′S 147°56′E4,160 hectares (10,300 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS257
Moulting Lagoon Nature ReserveFreycinet Peninsula42°05′S 148°10′E4,580 hectares (11,300 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS251
Pittwater-Orielton LagoonSouthern Tasmania42°48′S 147°30′E3,175 hectares (7,850 acres)16 November 1982 (1982-11-16)RS254

Victoria

The following wetlands are located in Victoria:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Victoria
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Barmah ForestGoulburn Valley, Hume35°55′S 145°08′E28,515 hectares (70,460 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS262
Corner InletSouth Gippsland38°45′S 146°32′E67,186 hectares (166,020 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS261
Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar SiteGlenelg Shire38°05′S 141°07′E22,289 hectares (55,080 acres)28 February 2018 (2018-02-28)RS2344[3]
Edithvale-Seaford WetlandsPort Phillip38°04′S 145°07′E261 hectares (640 acres)29 August 2001 (2001-08-29)RS1096
Gippsland LakesEast Gippsland38°00′S 147°36′E60,015 hectares (148,300 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS269

Gunbower Forest35°49′S 144°19′E19,931 hectares (49,250 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS263
Hattah-Kulkyne LakesMurray Mallee34°41′S 142°26′E955 hectares (2,360 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS264
Kerang WetlandsMurray Mallee35°40′S 143°56′E9,419 hectares (23,270 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS265
Lake AlbacutyaWimmera35°46′S 141°58′E5,731 hectares (14,160 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS270
Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine PeninsulaPort Phillip,
Bellarine Peninsula
38°04′S 144°36′E22,897 hectares (56,580 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS266
Western District LakesWestern District38°10′S 143°31′E32,898 hectares (81,290 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS268
Western Port BayWestern Port38°22′S 145°17′E59,297 hectares (146,530 acres)15 December 1982 (1982-12-15)RS267

Western Australia

The following wetlands are located in Western Australia:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Western Australia
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Becher Point WetlandsSwan Coastal Plain32°23′S 115°44′E677 hectares (1,670 acres)5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)RS1048
Eighty Mile BeachKimberley19°31′S 120°40′E125,000 hectares (310,000 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS480
Forrestdale and Thomsons LakesSwan Coastal Plain32°09′S 115°52′E754 hectares (1,860 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS481
Lake GoreGoldfields-Esperance33°47′S 121°29′E4,017 hectares (9,930 acres)5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)RS1049
Lake Warden SystemGoldfields-Esperance33°48′S 121°56′E2,300 hectares (5,700 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS485
Lakes Argyle and KununurraKimberley16°19′S 128°44′E150,000 hectares (370,000 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS478
Muir-Byenup SystemSouth West34°29′S 116°43′E10,631 hectares (26,270 acres)5 January 2001 (2001-01-05)RS1050
Ord River FloodplainKimberley15°15′S 128°22′E141,453 hectares (349,540 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS477
Peel-Yalgorup SystemSwan Coastal Plain32°49′S 115°42′E26,530 hectares (65,600 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS482
Roebuck BayKimberley18°07′S 122°16′E55,000 hectares (140,000 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS479
Toolibin LakeWheatbelt32°55′S 117°36′E493 hectares (1,220 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS483
Vasse-Wonnerup SystemSouth West33°37′S 115°25′E1,115 hectares (2,760 acres)7 June 1990 (1990-06-07)RS484

External territories

The following wetlands are located in the External territories:[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the External territories
Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description[2] Image
Ashmore Reef National Nature ReserveAshmore and Cartier Islands12°15′S 123°02′E58,300 hectares (144,000 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1220
Coral Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef and Cays)Coral Sea Islands Territory17°04′S 150°39′E1,729,200 hectares (4,273,000 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1222
The DalesChristmas Island10°28′S 105°33′E57 hectares (140 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1225
Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature ReserveCoral Sea Islands Territory29°41′S 159°06′E188,000 hectares (460,000 acres)21 October 2002 (2002-10-21)RS1223
Hosnies SpringChristmas Island10°28′S 105°41′E1 hectare (2.5 acres)11 December 1990 (1990-12-11)RS512
Pulu Keeling National ParkCocos (Keeling) Islands11°50′S 96°49′E122 hectares (300 acres)17 March 1996 (1996-03-17)RS797

See also

References

  1. "The List of Wetlands of International Importance" (PDF) (PDF). The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. "The Annotated Ramsar List: Australia". The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. "Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site" (PDF). Ramsar Convention Secretriat. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  4. "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  5. "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 - Reg 10.02". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  6. "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 - Schedule 6". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  7. Peddie, Clare. "Piccaninnie Ponds now a wetland world wonder". The Advertiser. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  8. "Riverland Ramsar site". Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia. 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. "New partnership to restore Riverland Ramsar site (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office media release)". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australia. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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