It strikes at the heart of our beautiful city of Orange.

Extreme hot dry days in summer, extreme frosts in winter and below average rainfall.

We are all now, unfortunately, too familiar with these issues.

But how can our local wetlands at Ploughmans Creek, Escort Way, Somerset Park, Waratahs, Burrendong Way, Lake Canobolas, Gossling Creek and Spring Creek play a role in combating climate change?

A big ask – definitely – but every step is an important one, we are not powerless.

At a grassroots level:

1. Stop draining wetlands to provide residential space – drained wetlands release carbon.

Vast stores of carbon have accumulated in wetlands, in some cases over thousands of years.

This has reduced atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and methane – two key greenhouse gases that are changing Earth’s climate.

If ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands, did not remove atmospheric carbon, concentrations of carbon dioxide from human activities would increase by  28 percent more each year.

2. In all new subdivisions provide overflow stormwater solutions - The Blackmans Swamp Creek stormwater harvesting scheme was the first large scale, indirect-to potable stormwater harvesting project in NSW.

The Ploughmans Creek Stormwater Harvesting Scheme is another Orange City Council initiative.

This scheme will transfer a portion of the overflow stormwater from the Ploughmans Creek wetlands catchment into Suma Park Dam where it will supplement the City’s raw water supplies.

3. Minimise the impact on wetlands by humans and domestic animals.

Use your wetlands as you would any finite asset.

Green space promotes wellbeing and will be essential for a sustainable urban future.

Your grandchildren will thank you.

4. “Drain the swamp” has long meant getting rid of something distasteful.

Actually, the world needs more swamps and bogs, fens, marshes and other types of wetlands.

World Wetlands Day marks the day the International Convention on the Wise Use of Wetlands were signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971.

In 2019 come along to your local wetland in Ploughmans Lane. 

On Saturday 2nd February 10am – 12pm.

See what a glorious piece of swampy, marshy, boggy wetland we are lucky enough to have on our own doorstep.