Popular wetlands reopen as upgrades complete

Part of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland Ramsar site, the reserve is one of South Australia’s premier bird-watching wetlands due largely to the rich foraging habitat it provides for Coorong waterbirds, including migratory shorebirds.

Jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments as part of the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program, the major wetland restoration project began in January 2025 and has increased the site’s managed wetland by approximately 50 hectares - a 60 percent increase.

The wetlands, located on the northern banks of Lake Alexandrina, now boast 150 hectares of foraging habitat for migratory and non-migratory shorebirds for the majority of the shorebird season, which typically runs from September to March.

Previous water management facilities at the site restricted how water was distributed throughout the reserve, reducing habitat availability.

The installation of new pump infrastructure and supporting earthworks have improved water management to enable water to be delivered more evenly and efficiently across the reserve.

The project was delivered by the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) in collaboration with Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation, Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, and the local volunteer-run Tolderol Wetlands Working Group, which has a long history of site management and stewardship of Tolderol.

DEW Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Program Leader, Tom Overall said the completion of the works were another crucial step to supporting shorebird species in the Coorong region.

“Tolderol is an important refuge for a wide variety of migratory and non-migratory shorebirds species,” Mr Overall said.

“Restoring wetland habitat at Tolderol is not only important in enhancing the ecological health of the reserve and resilience in the wider Coorong region, but it can also play a role in reversing the decline of shorebird habitat globally.

“We’re pleased that the site is re-opening and we’re looking forward to both visitors and shorebirds flocking to the reserve in the coming seasons.”

Wetland restoration works delivered under the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Regional Bird Refugia project are on-track to restore or improve the availability of more than 1,800 hectares of preferred shorebird habitat at Tolderol Game Reserve, Teringie Wetlands and Lake Hawdon North.

For more information, visit Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin. For Tolderol visitor information please visit the National Parks and Wildlife SA website.